freckles-第12部分

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　　　　　　　　　　　　　It　was　the　Dutch。　　It　was　the　Dutch〃





Wessner　turned　and　mumbled：　　〃What　you　following　me　for？　　What　are

you　going　to　do　with　me？〃



Freckles　called　the　Limberlost　to　witness：　　〃How's　that　for　the

ingratitude　of　a　beast？　　And　me　troubling　mesilf　to　show　him　off　me

territory　with　the　honors　of　war！〃



Then　he　changed　his　tone　completely　and　added：　　〃Belike　it's

this；　Freddy。　　You　see；　the　Boss　might　come　riding　down　this　trail

any　minute；　and　the　little　mare's　so　wheedlesome　that　if　she'd

come　on　to　you　in　your　prisint　state　all　of　a　sudden；　she'd　stop

that　short　she'd　send　Mr。　McLean　out　over　the　ears　of　her。　

No　disparagement　intinded　to　the　sinse　of　the　mare！〃　he　added　hastily。



Wessner　belched　a　fearful　oath；　while　Freckles　laughed　merrily。



〃That's　a　sample　of　the　thanks　a　generous　act's　always　for

getting；〃　he　continued。　　〃Here's　me　negictin'　me　work　to　eschort　you

out　proper；　and　you　saying　such　awful　words　Freddy；〃　he　demanded

sternly；　〃do　you　want　me　to　soap　out　your　mouth？　　You　don't　seem　to

be　realizing　it；　but　if　you　was　to　buck　into　Mr。　McLean　in　your

prisint　state；　without　me　there　to　explain　matters　the　chance　is

he'd　cut　the　liver　out　of　you；　and　I　shouldn't　think　you'd　be

wanting　such　a　fine　gintleman　as　him　to　see　that　it's　white！〃



Wessner　grew　ghastly　under　his　grime　and　broke　into　a　staggering　run。



〃And　now　will　you　be　looking　at　the　manners　of　him？〃　questioned

Freckles　plaintively。　　〃Going　without　even　a　‘thank　you；'　right　in

the　face　of　all　the　pains　I've　taken　to　make　it　interesting　for　him！〃



Freckles　twirled　the　club　and　stood　as　a　soldier　at　attention　until

Wessner　left　the　clearing；　but　it　was　the　last　scene　of　that

performance。　　When　the　boy　turned；　there　was　deathly　illness　on　his

face；　while　his　legs　wavered　beneath　his　weight。　　He　staggered　to

the　case；　and　opening　it　he　took　out　a　piece　of　cloth。　　He　dipped　it

into　the　water；　and　sitting　on　a　bench；　he　wiped　the　blood　and　grime

from　his　face；　while　his　breath　sucked　between　his　clenched　teeth。　

He　was　shivering　with　pain　and　excitement　in　spite　of　himself。　

He　unbuttoned　the　band　of　his　right　sleeve；　and　turning　it　back；

exposed　the　blue…lined；　calloused　whiteness　of　his　maimed　arm；

now　vividly　streaked　with　contusions；　while　in　a　series　of　circular

dots　the　blood　oozed　slowly。　　Here　Wessner　had　succeeded　in　setting

his　teeth。　　When　Freckles　saw　what　it　was　he　forgave　himself　the

kick　in　the　pit　of　Wessner's　stomach；　and　cursed　fervently　and　deep。



〃Freckles；　Freckles；〃　said　McLean's　voice。



Freckles　snatched　down　his　sleeve　and　arose　to　his　feet。



〃Excuse　me；　sir；〃　he　said。　　〃You'll　surely　be　belavin'　I　thought

meself　alone。〃



McLean　pushed　him　carefully　to　the　seat；　and　bending　over　him；

opened　a　pocket…case　that　he　carried　as　regularly　as　his　revolver　and

watch；　for　cuts　and　bruises　were　of　daily　occurrence　among　the　gang。



Taking　the　hurt　arm；　he　turned　back　the　sleeve　and　bathed　and　bound

the　wounds。　　He　examined　Freckles'　head　and　body　and　convinced

himself　that　there　was　no　permanent　injury；　although　the　cruelty　of

the　punishment　the　boy　had　borne　set　the　Boss　shuddering。　　Then　he

closed　the　case；　shoved　it　into　his　pocket；　and　sat　beside　Freckles。　

All　the　indescribable　beauty　of　the　place　was　strong　around　him；

but　he　saw　only　the　bruised　face　of　the　suffering　boy；　who　had

hedged　for　the　information　he　wanted　as　a　diplomat；　argued　as　a

judge；　fought　as　a　sheik；　and　triumphed　as　a　devil。



When　the　pain　lessened　and　breath　reieved　Freckles'　pounding　heart；

he　watched　the　Boss　covertly。　　How　had　McLean　gotten　there　and　how

long　had　he　been　there？　　Freckles　did　not　dare　ask。　　At　last　he

arose；　and　going　to　the　case；　took　out　his　revolver　and　the　wire…

mending　apparatus　and　locked　the　door。　　Then　he　turned　to　McLean。



〃Have　you　any　orders；　sir？〃　he　asked。



〃Yes；〃　said　McLean；　〃I　have；　and　you　are　to　follow　them　to

the　letter。　　Turn　over　that　apparatus　to　me　and　go　straight　home。　

Soak　yourself　in　the　hottest　bath　your　skin　will　bear　and　go　to

bed　at　once。　　Now　hurry。〃



〃Mr。　McLean；〃　said　Freckles；　〃it's　sorry　I　am　to　be　telling　you；

but　the　afternoon's　walking　of　the　line　ain't　done。　　You　see；　I　was

just　for　getting　to　me　feet　to　start；　and　I　was　on　time；　when　up

came　a　gintleman；　and　we　got　into　a　little　heated　argument。　

It's　either　settled；　or　it's　just　begun；　but　between　us；　I'm　that

late　I　haven't　started　for　the　afternoon　yet。　　I　must　be　going

at　once；　for　there's　a　tree　I　must　find　before　the　day's　over。〃



〃You　plucky　little　idiot；〃　growled　McLean。　　〃You　can't　walk　the　line！　

I　doubt　if　you　can　reach　Duncan's。　　Don't　you　know　when　you　are

done　up？　　You　go　to　bed；　I'll　finish　your　work。〃



〃Niver！〃　protested　Freckles。　　〃I　was　just　a　little　done　up　for　the

prisint；　a　minute　ago。　　I'm　all　right　now。　　Riding…boots　are　far

too　low。　　The　day's　hot　and　the　walk　a　good　seven　miles；　sir。　　Niver！〃



As　he　reached　for　the　outfit　he　pitched　forward　and　his　eyes　closed。　

McLean　stretched　him　on　the　moss　and　applied　restoratives。　

When　Freckles　returned　to　consciousness；　McLean　ran　to　the　cabin　to

tell　Mrs。　Duncan　to　have　a　hot　bath　ready；　and　to　bring　Nellie。　

That　worthy　woman　promptly　filled　the　wash…boiler；　starting　a

roaring　fire　under　it。　　She　pushed　the　horse…trough　from　its　base

and　rolled　it　to　the　kitchen。



By　the　time　McLean　came　again；　leading　Nelie　and　holding　Freckles

on　her　back；　Mrs。　Duncan　was　ready　for　business。　　She　and　the　Boss

laid　Freckles　in　the　trough　and　poured　on　hot　water　until　he　squirmed。　

They　soaked　and　massaged　him。　　Then　they　drew　off　the　hot　water　and

closed　his　pores　with　cold。　　Lastly　they　stretched　him　on　the　floor

and　chafed；　rubbed；　and　kneaded　him　until　he　cried　out　for　mercy。　

As　they　rolled　him　into　bed；　his　eyes　dropped　shut；　but　a　little

later　they　flared　open。



〃Mr。　McLean；〃　he　cried；　〃the　tree！　　Oh；　do　be　looking　after　the　tree！〃



McLean　bent　over　him。　　〃Which　tree；　Freckles？〃



〃I　don't　know　exact〃　sir；　but　it's　on　the　east　line；　and　the　wire

is　fastened　to　it。　　He　bragged　that　you　nailed　it　yourself；　sir。　

You'll　know　it　by　the　bark　having　been　laid　open　to　the　grain

somewhere　low　down。　　Five　hundred　dollars　he　offered　meto　be

selling　you　outsir！〃



Freckles'　head　rolled　over　and　his　eyes　dropped　shut。　　McLean　towered

above　the　lad。　　His　bright　hair　waved　on　the　pillow。　　His　face　was

swollen；　and　purple　with　bruises。　　His　left　arm；　with　the　hand

battered　almost　out　of　shape；　stretched　beside　him；　and　the　right；

with　no　hand　at　all；　lay　across　a　chest　that　was　a　mass　of　purple　welts。　

McLean's　mind　traveled　to　the　night；　almost　a　year　before；　when　he

had　engaged　Freckles；　a　stranger。



The　Boss　bent；　covering　the　hurt　arm　with　one　hand　and　laying　the

other　with　a　caress　on　the　boy's　forehead。　　Freckles　stirred　at　his

touch；　and　whispered　as　softly　as　the　swallows　under　the　eaves：　

〃If　you're　coming　this　waytomorrowbe　pleased　to　step　over

and　we'll　repatethe　chorus　softly！〃



〃Bless　the　gritty　devil；〃　muttered　McLean。



Then　he　went　out　and　told　Mrs。　Duncan　to　keep　close　watch　on

Freckles；　also　to　send　Duncan　to　him　at　the　swamp　the　minute　he

came　home。　　Following　the　trail　to　the　line　and　back　to　the　scent

of　the　fight；　the　Boss　entered　Freckles'　study　quietly；　as　if　his

spirit；　keeping　there；　might　be　roused；　and　gazed　around　with

astonished　eyes。



How　had　the　boy　conceived　it？　　What　a　picture　he　had　wrought　in

living　colors！　　He　had　the　heart　of　a　painter。　　He　had　the　soul　of

a　poet。　　The　Boss　stepped　carefully　over　the　velvet　carpet　to　touch

the　walls　of　crisp　verdure　with　gentle　fingers。　　He　stood　long

beside　the　flower　bed；　and　gazed　at　the　banked　wall　of　bright　bloom

as　if　he　doubted　its　reality。



Where　had　Freckles　ever　found；　and　how　had　he　transplanted

such　ferns？　　As　McLean　turned　from　them　he　stopped　suddenly。



He　had　reached　the　door　of　the　cathedral。　　That　which　Freckles　had

attempted　would　have　been　patent　to　anyone。　　What　had　been　in　the

heart　of　the　shy；　silent　boy　when　he　had　found　that　long；　dim

stretch　of　forest；　decorated　its　entrance；　cleared　and　smoothed

its　aisle；　and　carpeted　its　altar？　　What　veriest　work　of　God　was

in　these　mighty　living　pillars　and　the　arched　dome　of　green！　

How　similar　to　stained　cathedral　windows　were　the　long　openings

between　the　trees；　filled　with　rifts　of　blue；　rays　of　gold；　and　the

shifting　emerald　of　leaves！　　Where　could　be　found　mosaics　to　match

this　aisle　paved　with　living　color　and　glowing　light？　　Was　Freckles

a　devout　Christian；　and　did　he　worship　here？　　Or　was　he　an　untaught

heathen；　and　down　this　vista　of　entrancing　loveliness　did　Pan　come

piping；　and　dryads；　nymphs；　and　fairies　dance　for　him？



Who　can　fathom　the　heart　of　a　boy？　　McLean　had　been　thinking　of

Freckles　as　a　creature　of　unswerving　honesty；　courage；　and

faithfulness。　　Here　was　evidence　of　a　heart　aching　for　beauty；　art；

companionship；　worship。　　It　was　writ　large　all　over　the　floor；

walls；　and　furnishing　of　that　little　Limberlost　clearing。



When　Duncan　came；　McLean　told　him　the　story　of　the　fight；　and　they

laughed　until　they　cried。　　Then　they　started　around　the　line　in

search　of　the　tree。



Said　Duncan：　　〃Now　the　boy　is　in　for　sore　trouble！〃



〃I　hope　not；〃　answered　McLean。　　〃You　never　in　all　your　life　saw　a

cur　whipped　so　completely。　　He　won't　come　back　for　the　repetition　of

the　chorus。　　We　surely　can　find　the　tree。　　If　we　can't；　Freckles　can。

I　will　bring　enough　of　the　gang　to　take　it　out　at　once。　　That　will

insure　peace　for　a　time；　at　least；　and　I　am　hoping　that　in　a　month

more　the　whole　gang　may　be　moved　here。　　It　soon　will　be　fall；　and

then；　if　he　will　go；　I　intend　to　send　Freckles　to　my　mother　to

be　educated。　　With　his　quickness　of　mind　and　body　and　a　few　years'

good　help　he　can　do　anything。　　Why；　Duncan；　I'd　give　a　hundre