freckles-第18部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



for　his　revenge；　aided　by　the　bully　of　the　locality；　that　he　was

going　to　meet。　　He　was　accustomed　to　that　thought　but　not　to　the

complication　of　having　two　women　on　his　hands　who　undoubtedly　would

have　to　be　taken　care　of　in　spite　of　the　Bird　Woman's　offer　to　help　him。　

His　heart　was　jarring　as　it　never　had　before　with　running。　　He　must

follow　the　Bird　Woman's　plan　and　meet　them　at　the　carriage；　but　if

they　really　did　intend　to　try　to　help　him；　he　must　not　allow　it。　

Allow　the　Angel　to　try　to　handle　a　revolver　in　his　defence？　　Never！　

Not　for　all　the　trees　in　the　Limberlost！　　She　might　shoot　herself。　

She　might　forget　to　watch　sharply　and　run　across　a　snake　that　was

not　particularly　well　behaved　that　morning。　　Freckles　permitted

himself　a　grim　smile　as　he　went　speeding　on。



When　he　reached　the　carriage；　the　Bird　Woman　and　the　Angel　had　the

horse　hitched；　the　outfit　packed；　and　were　calmly　waiting。　　The　Bird

Woman　held　a　revolver　in　her　hand。　　She　wore　dark　clothing。　　They　had

pinned　a　big　focusing　cloth　over　the　front　of　the　Angel's　light　dress。



〃Give　Angel　one　of　your　revolvers；　quick！〃　said　the　Bird　Woman。　

〃We　will　creep　up　until　we　are　in　fair　range。　　The　underbrush　is　so

thick　and　they　are　so　busy　that　they　will　never　notice　us；　if　we

don't　make　a　noise。　　You　fire　first；　then　I　will　pop　in　from　my

direction；　and　then　you；　Angel；　and　shoot　quite　high；　or　else　very　low。　

We　mustn't　really　hit　them。　　We'll　go　close　enough　to　the　cowards

to　make　it　interesting；　and　keep　it　up　until　we　have　them　going。〃



Freckles　protested。



The　Bird　Woman　reached　over；　and；　taking　the　smaller　revolver　from

his　belt；　handed　it　to　the　Angel。　　〃Keep　your　nerve　steady；　dear；

watch　where　you　step；　and　shoot　high；〃　she　said。　　〃Go　straight　at

them　from　where　you　are。　　Wait　until　you　hear　Freckles'　first　shot；

then　follow　me　as　closely　as　you　can；　to　let　them　know　that　we

outnumber　them。　　If　you　want　to　save　McLean's　wager　on　you；　now　you

go！〃　she　commanded　Freckles；　who；　with　an　agonized　glance　at　the

Angel；　ran　toward　the　east。



The　Bird　Woman　chose　the　middle　distance；　and　for　a　last　time

cautioned　the　Angel　as　she　moved　away　to　lie　down　and　shoot　high。



Through　the　underbrush　the　Bird　Woman　crept　even　more　closely　than

she　had　intended；　found　a　clear　range；　and　waited　for　Freckles'　shot。　

There　was　one　long　minute　of　sickening　suspense。　　The　men

straightened　for　breath。　　Work　was　difficult　with　a　handsaw　in　the

heat　of　the　swamp。　　As　they　rested；　the　big　dark　fellow　took　a

bottle　from　his　pocket　and　began　oiling　the　saw。



〃We　got　to　keep　mighty　quiet；〃　he　said；　〃and　wait　to　fell　it　until

that　damned　guard　has　gone　to　his　dinner。〃



Again　they　bent　to　their　work。　　Freckles'　revolver　spat　fire。　　Lead

spanged　on　steel。　　The　saw…handle　flew　from　Wessner's　hand　and　he

reeled　from　the　jar　of　the　shock。　　Black　Jack　straightened；　uttering

a　fearful　oath。　　The　hat　sailed　from　his　head　from　the　far　northeast。　

The　Angel　had　not　waited　for　the　Bird　Woman；　and　her　shot　scarcely

could　have　been　called　high。　　At　almost　the　same　instant　the　third

shot　whistled　from　the　east。　　Black　Jack　sprang　into　the　air　with

a　yell　of　complete　panic；　for　it　ripped　a　heel　from　his　boot。　

Freckles　emptied　his　second　chamber；　and　the　earth　spattered

over　Wessner。　　Shots　poured　in　rapidly。　　Without　even　reaching

for　a　weapon；　both　men　ran　toward　the　east　road　in　great　leaping

bounds；　while　leaden　slugs　sung　and　hissed　around　them　in

deadly　earnest。



Freckles　was　trimming　his　corners　as　closely　as　he　dared；　but　if

the　Angel　did　not　really　intend　to　hit；　she　was　taking　risks　in　a

scandalous　manner。



When　the　men　reached　the　trail；　Freckles　yelled　at　the　top　of　his

voice：　　〃Head　them　off　on　the　south；　boys！　　Fire　from　the　south！〃



As　he　had　hoped；　Jack　and　Wessner　instantly　plunged　into　the　swale。

A　spattering　of　lead　followed　them。　　They　crossed　the　swale；　running

low；　with　not　even　one　backward　glance；　and　entered　the　woods

beyond　the　corduroy。



Then　the　little　party　gathered　at　the　tree。



〃I'd　better　fix　this　saw　so　they　can't　be　using　it　if　they　come

back；〃　said　Freckles；　taking　out　his　hatchet　and　making　saw…teeth　fly。



〃Now　we　must　leave　here　without　being　seen；〃　said　the　Bird　Woman　to

the　Angel。　　〃It　won't　do　for　me　to　make　enemies　of　these　men；　for　I

am　likely　to　meet　them　while　at　work　any　day。〃



〃You　can　do　it　by　driving　straight　north　on　this　road；〃　said　Freckles。　

〃I　will　go　ahead　and　cut　the　wires　for　you。　　The　swale　is　almost　dry。　

You　will　only　be　sinking　a　little。　　In　a　few　rods　you　will　strike

a　cornfield。　　I　will　take　down　the　fence　and　let　you　into　that。　

Follow　the　furrows　and　drive　straight　across　it　until　you　come　to

the　other　side。　　Be　following　the　fence　south　until　you　come　to　a

road　through　the　woods　east　of　it。　　Then　take　that　road　and　follow

east　until　you　reach　the　pike。　　You　will　come　out　on　your　way　back

to　town；　and　two　miles　north　of　anywhere　they　are　likely　to　be。　

Don't　for　your　lives　ever　let　it　out　that　you　did　this；〃　he

earnestly　cautioned；　〃for　it's　black　enemies　you　would　be　making。〃



Freckles　clipped　the　wires　and　they　drove　through。　　The　Angel　leaned

from　the　carriage　and　held　out　his　revolver。　　Freckles　looked　at　her

in　surprise。　　Her　eyes　were　black；　while　her　face　was　a　deeper　rose

than　usual。　　He　felt　that　his　own　was　white。



〃Did　I　shoot　high　enough？〃　she　asked　sweetly。　　〃I　really　forgot

about　lying　down。〃



Freckles　winced。　　Did　the　child　know　how　close　she　had　gone？　

Surely　she　could　not！　　Or　was　it　possible　that　she　had　the　nerve

and　skill　to　fire　like　that　purposely？



〃I　will　send　the　first　reliable　man　I　meet　for　McLean；〃　said　the

Bird　Woman；　gathering　up　the　lines。　　〃If　I　don't　meet　one　when　we

reach　town；　we　will　send　a　messenger。　　If　it　wasn't　for　having　the

gang　see　me；　I　would　go　myself；　but　I　will　promise　you　that　you

will　have　help　in　a　little　over　two　hours。　　You　keep　well　hidden。

They　must　think　some　of　the　gang　is　with　you　now。　　There　isn't　a

chance　that　they　will　be　back；　but　don't　run　any　risks。　　Remain

under　cover。　　If　they　should　come；　it　probably　would　be　for

their　saw。〃　　She　laughed　as　at　a　fine　joke。







　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　VII



　　　　Wherein　Freckles　Wins　Honor　and　Finds　a　Footprint　on　the　Trail



Round…eyed；　Freckles　watched　the　Bird　Woman　and　the　Angel　drive

away。　　After　they　were　from　sight　and　he　was　safely　hidden　among　the

branches　of　a　small　tree；　he　remembered　that　he　neither　had　thanked

them　nor　said　good…bye。　　Considering　what　they　had　been　through；

they　never　would　come　again。　　His　heart　sank　until　he　had

palpitation　in　his　wading…boots。



Stretching　the　length　of　the　limb；　he　thought　deeply；　though　he　was

not　thinking　of　Black　Jack　or　Wessner。　　Would　the　Bird　Woman　and　the

Angel　come　again？　　No　other　woman　whom　he　ever　had　known　would。　

But　did　they　resemble　any　other　women　he　ever　had　known？　　He　thought

of　the　Bird　Woman's　unruffled　face　and　the　Angel's　revolver　practice；

and　presently　he　was　not　so　sure　that　they　would　not　return。



What　were　the　people　in　the　big　world　like？　　His　knowledge　was　so

very　limited。　　There　had　been　people　at　the　Home；　who　exchanged　a

stilted；　perfunctory　kindness　for　their　salaries。　　The　visitors　who

called　on　receiving　days　he　had　divided　into　three　classes：　the

psalm…singing　kind；　who　came　with　a　tear　in　the　eye　and　hypocrisy

in　every　feature　of　their　faces；　the　kind　who　dressed　in　silks　and

jewels；　and　handed　to　those　poor　little　mother…hungry　souls　worn

toys　that　their　children　no　longer　cared　for；　in　exactly　the　same

spirit　in　which　they　pitched　biscuits　to　the　monkeys　at　the　zoo；

and　for　the　same　reasonto　see　how　they　would　take　them　and　be

amused　by　what　they　would　do；　and　the　third　class；　whom　he

considered　real　people。　　They　made　him　feel　they　cared　that　he　was

there；　and　that　they　would　have　been　glad　to　see　him　elsewhere。



Now　here　was　another　class；　that　had　all　they　needed　of　the　world's

best　and　were　engaged　in　doing　work　that　counted。　　They　had　things

worth　while　to　be　proud　of；　and　they　had　met　him　as　a　son　and　brother。　

With　them　he　could；　for　the　only　time　in　his　life；　forget　the

lost　hand　that　every　day　tortured　him　with　a　new　pang。　　What　kind

of　people　were　they　and　where　did　they　belong　among　the　classes

he　knew？　　He　failed　to　decide；　because　he　never　had　known　others

similar　to　them；　but　how　he　loved　them！



In　the　world　where　he　was　going　soon；　were　the　majority　like　them；

or　were　they　of　the　hypocrite　and　bun…throwing　classes？



He　had　forgotten　the　excitement　of　the　morning　and　the　passing　of

time　when　distant　voices　aroused　him；　and　he　gently　lifted　his　head。　

Nearer　and　nearer　they　came；　and　as　the　heavy　wagons　rumbled　down

the　east　trail　he　could　hear　them　plainly。　　The　gang　were　shouting

themselves　hoarse　for　the　Limberlost　guard。　　Freckles　did　not　feel

that　he　deserved　it。　　He　would　have　given　much　to　he　able　to　go

to　the　men　and　explain；　but　to　McLean　only　could　he　tell　his　story。



At　the　sight　of　Freckles　the　men　threw　up　their　hats　and　cheered。

McLean　shook　hands　with　him　warmly；　but　big　Duncan　gathered　him

into　his　arms　and　hugged　him　as　a　bear　and　choked　over　a　few　words

of　praise。　　The　gang　drove　in　and　finished　felling　the　tree。　

McLean　was　angry　beyond　measure　at　this　attempt　on　his　property；

for　in　their　haste　to　fell　the　tree　the　thieves　had　cut　too　high

and　wasted　a　foot　and　a　half　of　valuable　timber。



When　the　last　wagon　rolled　away；　McLean　sat　on　the　stump　and

Freckles　told　the　story　he　was　aching　to　tell。　　The　Boss　scarcely

could　believe　his　senses。　　Also；　he　was　much　disappointed。



〃I　have　been　almost　praying　all　the　way　over；　Freckles；〃　he　said；

〃that　you　would　have　some　evidence　by　which　we　could　arrest　those

fellows　and　get　them　out　of　our　way；　but　this　will　never　do。　

We