freckles-第23部分

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nerve　in　her　tugged　wildly。　　When　the　disgusted　squirrel　barked

loudly；　she　sprang　to　the　trail。



The　wind　arose　higher；　the　changes　from　light　to　darkness　were　more

abrupt；　while　the　thunder　came　closer　and　louder　at　every　peal。　

In　swarms　the　blackbirds　arose　from　the　swale　and　came　flocking

to　the　interior；　with　a　clamoring　cry：　　〃T'CHECK；　T'CHECK。〃　

Grackles　marshaled　to　the　tribal　call：　　〃TRALL…A…HEE；　TRALL…A…HEE。〃

Red…winged　blackbirds　swept　low；　calling　to　belated　mates：　

〃FOL…LOW…ME；　FOL…LOW…ME。〃　　Big；　jetty　crows　gathered　close　to　her；

crying；　as　if　warning　her　to　flee　before　it　was　everlastingly

too　late。　　A　heron；　fishing　the　near…by　pool　for　Freckles'　〃find…out〃

frog；　fell　into　trouble　with　a　muskrat　and　uttered　a　rasping　note

that　sent　Mrs。　Duncan　a　rod　down　the　line　without　realizing　that

she　had　moved。　　She　was　too　shaken　to　run　far。　　She　stopped　and

looked　around　her　fearfully。



Several　bees　struck　her　and　were　angrily　buzzing　before　she

noticed　them。　　Then　the　humming　swelled　on　all　sides。　

A　convulsive　sob　shook　her；　and　she　ran　into　the　bushes；

now　into　the　swale；　anywhere　to　avoid　the　swarming　bees；　ducking；

dodging；　fighting　for　her　very　life。　　Presently　the　humming

seemed　to　become　a　little　fainter。　　She　found　the　trail　again；

and　ran　with　all　her　might　from　a　few　of　her　angry　pursuers。



As　she　ran；　straining　every　muscle；　she　suddenly　became　aware　that；

crossing　the　trail　before　her；　was　a　big；　round；　black　body；　with

brown　markings　on　its　back；　like　painted　geometrical　patterns。　

She　tried　to　stop；　but　the　louder　buzzing　behind　warned　her　she

dared　not。　　Gathering　her　skirts　higher；　with　hair　flying　around　her

face　and　her　eyes　almost　bursting　from　their　sockets；　she　ran　straight

toward　it。　　The　sound　of　her　feet　and　the　humming　of　the　bees

alarmed　the　rattler；　so　it　stopped　across　the　trail；　lifting　its

head　above　the　grasses　of　the　swale　and　rattling　inquiringlyrattled

until　the　bees　were　outdone。



Straight　toward　it　went　the　panic…stricken　woman；　running　wildly

and　uncontrollably。　　She　took　one　leap；　clearing　its　body　on　the

path；　then　flew　ahead　with　winged　feet。　　The　snake；　coiled　to

strike；　missed　Mrs。　Duncan　and　landed　among　the　bees　instead。　

They　settled　over　and　around　it；　and　realizing　that　it　had　found

trouble；　it　sank　among　the　grasses　and　went　threshing　toward　its

den　in　the　deep　willow…fringed　low　ground。　　The　swale　appeared　as　if

a　reaper　were　cutting　a　wide　swath。　　The　mass　of　enraged　bees　darted

angrily　around；　searching　for　it；　and　striking　the　scrub…thorn；

began　a　temporary　settling　there　to　discover　whether　it　were　a

suitable　place。　　Completely　exhausted；　Mrs。　Duncan　staggered　on　a

few　steps　farther；　fell　facing　the　path；　where　Freckles　found　her；

and　lay　quietly。



Freckles　worked　over　her　until　she　drew　a　long；　quivering　breath

and　opened　her　eyes。



When　she　saw　him　bending　above　her；　she　closed　them　tightly；　and

gripping　him；　struggled　to　her　feet。　　He　helped　her；　and　with　his

arm　around　and　half　carrying　her；　they　made　their　way　to　the　clearing。　

She　clung　to　him　with　all　her　remaining　strength；　but　open　her　eyes

she　would　not　until　her　children　came　clustering　around　her。　

Then；　brawny；　big　Scotswoman　though　she　was；　she　quietly　keeled

over　again。　　The　children　added　their　wailing　to　Freckles'　panic。



This　time　he　was　so　close　the　cabin　that　he　could　carry　her　into

the　house　and　lay　her　on　the　bed。　　He　sent　the　oldest　boy　scudding

down　the　corduroy　for　the　nearest　neighbor；　and　between　them　they

undressed　Mrs。　Duncan　and　discovered　that　she　was　not　bitten。　

They　bathed　and　bound　the　bleeding　wrist　and　coaxed　her　back

to　consciousness。　　She　lay　sobbing　and　shuddering。　　The　first

intelligent　word　she　said　was：　　〃Freckles；　look　at　that　jar　on　the

kitchen　table　and　see　if　my　yeast　is　no　running　ower。〃



Several　days　passed　before　she　could　give　Duncan　and　Freckles　any

detailed　account　of　what　had　happened　to　her；　even　then　she　could

not　do　it　without　crying　as　the　least　of　her　babies。　　Freckles　was

almost　heartbroken；　and　nursed　her　as　well　as　any　woman　could　have

done；　while　big　Duncan；　with　a　heart　full　for　them　both；　worked

early　and　late　to　chink　every　crack　of　the　cabin　and　examine　every

spot　that　possibly　could　harbor　a　snake。　　The　effects　of　her　morning

on　the　trail　kept　her　shivering　half　the　time。　　She　could　not　rest

until　she　sent　for　McLean　and　begged　him　to　save　Freckles　from

further　risk；　in　that　place　of　horrors。　　The　Boss　went　to　the　swamp

with　his　mind　fully　determined　to　do　so。



Freckles　stood　and　laughed　at　him。　　〃Why；　Mr。　McLean；　don't　you

let　a　woman's　nervous　system　set　you　worrying　about　me；〃　he　said。　

〃I'm　not　denying　how　she　felt；　because　I've　been　through　it　meself；

but　that's　all　over　and　gone。　　It's　the　height　of　me　glory　to　fight　it

out　with　the　old　swamp；　and　all　that's　in　it；　or　will　be　coming　to

it；　and　then　to　turn　it　over　to　you　as　I　promised　you　and　meself

I'd　do；　sir。　　You　couldn't　break　the　heart　of　me　entire　quicker　than

to　be　taking　it　from　me　now；　when　I'm　just　on　the　home…stretch。　

It　won't　be　over　three　or　four　weeks　yet；　and　when　I've　gone　it

almost　a　year；　why；　what's　that　to　me；　sir？　　You　mustn't　let　a

woman　get　mixed　up　with　business；　for　I've　always　heard　about　how

it's　bringing　trouble。〃



McLean　smiled。　　〃What　about　that　last　tree？〃　he　said。



Freckles　blushed　and　grinned　appreciatively。



〃Angels　and　Bird　Women　don't　count　in　the　common　run；　sir；〃　he

affirmed　shamelessly。



McLean　sat　in　the　saddle　and　laughed。







　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　X



　　　Wherein　Freckles　Strives　Mightily　and　the　Swamp　Angel　Rewards　Him



The　Bird　Woman　and　the　Angel　did　not　seem　to　count　in　the　common

run；　for　they　arrived　on　time　for　the　third　of　the　series　and　found

McLean　on　the　line　talking　to　Freckles。　　The　Boss　was　filled　with

enthusiasm　over　a　marsh　article　of　the　Bird　Woman's　that　he　just

had　read。　　He　begged　to　be　allowed　to　accompany　her　into　the　swamp

and　watch　the　method　by　which　she　secured　an　illustration　in　such

a　location。



The　Bird　Woman　explained　to　him　that　it　was　an　easy　matter　with　the

subject　she　then　had　in　hand；　and　as　Little　Chicken　was　too　small

to　be　frightened　by　him；　and　big　enough　to　be　growing　troublesome；

she　was　glad　for　his　company。　　They　went　to　the　chicken　log

together；　leaving　to　the　happy　Freckles　the　care　of　the　Angel；　who

had　brought　her　banjo　and　a　roll　of　songs　that　she　wanted　to　hear

him　sing。　　The　Bird　Woman　told　them　that　they　might　practice　in

Freckles'　room　until　she　finished　with　Little　Chicken；　and　then　she

and　McLean　would　come　to　the　concert。



It　was　almost　three　hours　before　they　finished　and　came　down　the

west　trail　for　their　rest　and　lunch。　　McLean　walked　ahead；　keeping

sharp　watch　on　the　trail　and　clearing　it　of　fallen　limbs　from

overhanging　trees。　　He　sent　a　big　piece　of　bark　flying　into　the

swale；　and　then　stopped　short　and　stared　at　the　trail。



The　Bird　Woman　bent　forward。　　Together　they　studied　that　imprint　of

the　Angel's　foot。　　At　last　their　eyes　met；　the　Bird　Woman's　filled

with　astonishment；　and　McLean's　humid　with　pity。　　Neither　said　a

word；　but　they　knew。　　McLean　entered　the　swale　and　hunted　up　the　bark。　

He　replaced　it；　and　the　Bird　Woman　carefully　stepped　over。　　As　they

reached　the　bushes　at　the　entrance；　the　voice　of　the　Angel　stopped

them；　for　it　was　commanding　and　filled　with　much　impatience。



〃Freckles　James　Ross　McLean！〃　she　was　saying。　　〃You　fill　me　with

dark…blue　despair！　　You're　singing　as　if　your　voice　were　glass　and

might　break　at　any　minute。　　Why　don't　you　sing　as　you　did　a　week　ago？　

Answer　me　that；　please。〃



Freckles　smiled　confusedly　at　the　Angel；　who　sat　on　one　of　his

fancy　seats；　playing　his　accompaniment　on　her　banjo。



〃You　are　a　fraud；〃　she　said。　　〃Here　you　went　last　week　and　led　me　to

think　that　there　was　the　making　of　a　great　singer　in　you；　and　now

you　are　singingdo　you　know　how　badly　you　are　singing？〃



〃Yis；〃　said　Freckles　meekly。　　〃I'm　thinking　I'm　too　happy　to　be

singing　well　today。　　The　music　don't　come　right　only　when　I'm

lonesome　and　sad。　　The　world's　for　being　all　sunshine　at　prisint；

for　among　you　and　Mr。　McLean　and　the　Bird　Woman　I'm　after　being

THAT　happy　that　I　can't　keep　me　thoughts　on　me　notes。　　It's　more

than　sorry　I　am　to　be　disappointing　you。　　Play　it　over；　and　I'll　be

beginning　again；　and　this　time　I'll　hold　hard。〃



〃Well；〃　said　the　Angel　disgustedly；　〃it　seems　to　me　that　if　I　had

all　the　things　to　be　proud　of　that　you　have；　I'd　lift　up　my　head

and　sing！〃



〃And　what　is　it　I've　to　be　proud　of；　ma'am？〃　politely　inquired　Freckles。



〃Why；　a　whole　worldful　of　things；〃　cried　the　Angel　explosively。

〃For　one　thing；　you　can　be　good　and　proud　over　the　way　you've　kept

the　timber　thieves　out　of　this　lease；　and　the　trust　your　father　has

in　you。　　You　can　be　proud　that　you've　never　even　once　disappointed

him　or　failed　in　what　he　believed　you　could　do。　　You　can　be　proud

over　the　way　everyone　speaks　of　you　with　trust　and　honor；　and　about

how　brave　of　heart　and　strong　of　body　you　are　I　heard　a　big　man　say

a　few　days　ago　that　the　Limberlost　was　full　of　disagreeable

thingspositive　dangers；　unhealthful　as　it　could　be；　and　that

since　the　memory　of　the　first　settlers　it　has　been　a　rendezvous　for

runaways；　thieves；　and　murderers。　　This　swamp　is　named　for　a　man

that　was　lost　here　and　wandered　around　‘til　he　starved。　　That　man　I

was　talking　with　said　he　wouldn't　take　your　job　for　a　thousand

dollars　a　monthin　fact；　he　said　he　wouldn't　have　it　for　any

money；　and　you've　never　missed　a　day　or　lost　a　tree。　　Proud！　　Why；　I

should　think　you　would　just　parade　around　about　proper　over　that！



〃And　you　can　always　be　proud　that　you　are　born　an　Irishman。　　My

father　is　Irish；　and　if　you　want　to　see　him　get　up　and　strut　give

him　a　teeny　opening　to　enlarg