freckles-第26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！





〃You　won't　come　in？〃　she　pleaded。



〃I　must　not；〃　said　Freckles。　　〃I　am　not　dressed　to　be　among　your

friends；　and　I　might　be　forgetting　meself　and　stay　too　long。〃



〃Then；〃　said　the　Angel；　〃we　mustn't　go　through　the　house；　because

it　would　disturb　the　story；　but　I　want　you　to　come　the　outside　way

to　the　conservatory　and　have　some　of　my　birthday　lunch　and　some

cake　to　take　to　Mrs。　Duncan　and　the　babies。　　Won't　that　be　fun？〃



Freckles　thought　that　it　would　be　more　than　fun；　and　followed　delightedly。



The　Angel　gave　him　a　big　glass；　brimming　with　some　icy；　sparkling

liquid　that　struck　his　palate　as　it　never　had　been　touched　before；

because　a　combination　of　frosty　fruit　juices　had　not　been　a

frequent　beverage　with　him。　　The　night　was　warm；　and　the　Angel　most

beautiful　and　kind。　　A　triple　delirium　of　spirit；　mind；　and　body

seized　upon　him　and　developed　a　boldness　all　unnatural。　　He　slightly

parted　the　heavy　curtains　that　separated　the　conservatory　from　the

company　and　looked　between。　　He　almost　stopped　breathing。　　He　had

read　of　things　like　that；　but　he　never　had　seen　them。



The　open　space　seemed　to　stretch　through　half　a　dozen　rooms；　all

ablaze　with　lights；　perfumed　with　flowers；　and　filled　with

elegantly　dressed　people。　　There　were　glimpses　of　polished　floors；

sparkling　glass；　and　fine　furnishings。　　From　somewhere；　the　voice　of

his　beloved　Bird　Woman　arose　and　fell。



The　Angel　crowded　beside　him　and　was　watching　also。



〃Doesn't　it　look　pretty？〃　she　whispered。



〃Do　you　suppose　Heaven　is　any　finer　than　that？〃　asked　Freckles。



The　Angel　began　to　laugh。



〃Do　you　want　to　be　laughing　harder　than　that？〃　queried　Freckles。



〃A　laugh　is　always　good；〃　said　the　Angel。　　〃A　little　more

avoirdupois　won't　hurt　me。　　Go　ahead。〃



〃Well　then；〃　said　Freckles；　〃it's　only　that　I　feel　all　over　as　if

I　belonged　there。　　I　could　wear　fine　clothes；　and　move　over　those

floors；　and　hold　me　own　against　the　best　of　them。〃



〃But　where　does　my　laugh　come　in？〃　demanded　the　Angel；　as　if　she

had　been　defrauded。



〃And　you　ask　me　where　the　laugh　comes　in；　looking　me　in　the　face

after　that；〃　marveled　Freckles。



〃I　wouldn't　be　so　foolish　as　to　laugh　at　such　a　manifest　truth　as

that；〃　said　the　Angel。　　〃Anyone　who　knows　you　even　half　as　well　as

I　do；　knows　that　you　are　never　guilty　of　a　discourtesy；　and　you

move　with　twice　the　grace　of　any　man　here。　　Why　shouldn't　you　feel

as　if　you　belonged　where　people　are　graceful　and　courteous？〃



〃On　me　soul！〃　said　Freckles；　〃you　are　kind　to　be　thinking　it。　

You　are　doubly　kind　to　be　saying　it。〃



The　curtains　parted　and　a　woman　came　toward　them。　　Her　silks　and

laces　trailed　across　the　polished　floors。　　The　lights　gleamed　on　her

neck　and　arms；　and　flashed　from　rare　jewels。　　She　was　smiling

brightly；　and　until　she　spoke；　Freckles　had　not　realized　fully　that

it　was　his　loved　Bird　Woman。



Noticing　his　bewilderment；　she　cried：　　〃Why；　Freckles！　　Don't　you

know　me　in　my　war　clothes？〃



〃I　do　in　the　uniform　in　which　you　fight　the　Limberlost；〃　said　Freckles。



The　Bird　Woman　laughed。　　Then　he　told　her　why　he　had　come；　but　she

scarcely　could　believe　him。　　She　could　not　say　exactly　when　she

would　go；　but　she　would　make　it　as　soon　as　possible；　for　she　was

most　anxious　for　the　study。



While　they　talked；　the　Angel　was　busy　packing　a　box　of　sandwiches；

cake；　fruit；　and　flowers。　　She　gave　him　a　last　frosty　glass；　thanked

him　repeatedly　for　bringing　news　of　new　material；　then　Freckles

went　into　the　night。　　He　rode　toward　the　Limberlost　with　his　eyes　on

the　stars。　　Presently　he　removed　his　hat；　hung　it　to　his　belt；　and

ruffled　his　hair　to　the　sweep　of　the　night　wind。　　He　filled　the　air

all　the　way　with　snatches　of　oratorios；　gospel　hymns；　and　dialect

and　coon　songs；　in　a　startlingly　varied　programme。　　The　one　thing

Freckles　knew　that　he　could　do　was　to　sing。　　The　Duncans　heard　him

coming　a　mile　up　the　corduroy　and　could　not　believe　their　senses。

Freckles　unfastened　the　box　from　his　belt；　and　gave　Mrs。　Duncan　and

the　children　all　the　eatables　it　contained；　except　one　big　piece　of

cake　that　he　carried　to　the　sweet…loving　Duncan。　　He　put　the　flowers

back　in　the　box　and　set　it　among　his　books。　　He　did　not　say

anything；　but　they　understood　it　was　not　to　be　touched。



〃Thae's　Freckles'　flow'rs；〃　said　a　tiny　Scotsman；　〃but；〃　he　added

cheerfully；　〃it's　oor　sweeties！〃



Freckles'　face　slowly　flushed　as　he　took　Duncan's　cake　and　started

toward　the　swamp。　　While　Duncan　ate；　Freckles　told　him　something

about　the　evening；　as　well　as　he　could　find　words　to　express

himself；　and　the　big　man　was　so　amazed　he　kept　forgetting　the　treat

in　his　hands。



Then　Freckles　mounted　his　wheel　and　began　a　spin　that　terminated

only　when　the　biggest　Plymouth　Rock　in　Duncan's　coop　saluted　a　new

day；　and　long　lines　of　light　reddened　the　east。　　As　he　rode　he　sang；

while　he　sang　he　worshiped；　but　the　god　he　tried　to　glorify　was　a

dim　and　faraway　mystery。　　The　Angel　was　warm　flesh　and　blood。



Every　time　he　passed　the　little　bark…covered　imprint　on　the　trail

he　dismounted；　removed　his　hat；　solemnly　knelt　and　laid　his　lips　on

the　impression。　　Because　he　kept　no　account　himself；　only　the

laughing…faced　old　man　of　the　moon　knew　how　often　it　happened；　and

as　from　the　beginning；　to　the　follies　of　earth　that　gentleman　has

ever　been　kind。



With　the　near　approach　of　dawn　Freckles　tuned　his　last　note。

Wearied　almost　to　falling；　he　turned　from　the　trail　into　the　path

leading　to　the　cabin　for　a　few　hours'　rest。







　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　XII



　　　Wherein　Black　Jack　Captures　Freckles　and　the　Angel　Captures　Jack



As　Freckles　left　the　trail；　from　the　swale　close　the　south

entrance；　four　large　muscular　men　arose　and　swiftly　and　carefully

entered　the　swamp　by　the　wagon　road。　　Two　of　them　carried　a　big　saw；

the　third；　coils　of　rope　and　wire；　and　all　of　them　were　heavily　armed。　

They　left　one　man　on　guard　at　the　entrance。　　The　other　three　made

their　way　through　the　darkness　as　best　they　could；　and　were　soon

at　Freckles'　room。　　He　had　left　the　swamp　on　his　wheel　from　the

west　trail。　　They　counted　on　his　returning　on　the　wheel　and　circling

the　east　line　before　he　came　there。



A　little　below　the　west　entrance　to　Freckles'　room；　Black　Jack

stepped　into　the　swale；　and　binding　a　wire　tightly　around　a　scrub

oak；　carried　it　below　the　waving　grasses；　stretched　it　taut　across

the　trail；　and　fastened　it　to　a　tree　in　the　swamp。　　Then　he

obliterated　all　signs　of　his　work；　and　arranged　the　grass　over

the　wire　until　it　was　so　completely　covered　that　only　minute

examination　would　reveal　it。　　They　entered　Freckles'　room　with

coarse　oaths　and　jests。　　In　a　few　moments；　his　specimen　case　with

its　precious　contents　was　rolled　into　the　swamp；　while　the　saw　was

eating　into　one　of　the　finest　trees　of　the　Limberlost。



The　first　report　from　the　man　on　watch　was　that　Duncan　had　driven

to　the　South　camp；　the　second；　that　Freckles　was　coming。　　The　man

watching　was　sent　to　see　on　which　side　the　boy　turned　into　the

path；　as　they　had　expected；　he　took　the　east。　　He　was　a　little　tired

and　his　head　was　rather　stupid；　for　he　had　not　been　able　to　sleep

as　he　had　hoped；　but　he　was　very　happy。　　Although　he　watched　until

his　eyes　ached；　he　could　see　no　sign　of　anyone　having　entered　the　swamp。



He　called　a　cheery　greeting　to　all　his　chickens。　　At　Sleepy　Snake

Creek　he　almost　fell　from　his　wheel　with　surprise：　the　saw…bird

was　surrounded　by　four　lanky　youngsters　clamoring　for　breakfast。　

The　father　was　strutting　with　all　the　importance　of　a　drum　major。



〃No　use　to　expect　the　Bird　Woman　today；〃　said　Freckles；　〃but　now

wouldn't　she　be　jumping　for　a　chance　at　that？〃



As　soon　as　Freckles　was　far　down　the　east　line；　the　watch　was

posted　below　the　room　on　the　west　to　report　his　coming。　　It　was　only

a　few　moments　before　the　signal　came。　　Then　the　saw　stopped；　and　the

rope　was　brought　out　and　uncoiled　close　to　a　sapling。　　Wessner　and

Black　Jack　crowded　to　the　very　edge　of　the　swamp　a　little　above　the

wire；　and　crouched；　waiting。



They　heard　Freckles　before　they　saw　him。　　He　came　gliding　down　the

line　swiftly；　and　as　he　rode　he　was　singing　softly：





　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Oh；　do　you　love；

　　　　　　　　　　　　　Oh；　say　you　love〃





He　got　no　farther。　　The　sharply　driven　wheel　struck　the　tense　wire

and　bounded　back。　　Freckles　shot　over　the　handlebar　and　coasted　down

the　trail　on　his　chest。　　As　he　struck；　Black　Jack　and　Wessner　were

upon　him。　　Wessner　caught　off　an　old　felt　hat　and　clapped　it　over

Freckles'　mouth；　while　Black　Jack　twisted　the　boy's　arms　behind　him

and　they　rushed　him　into　his　room。　　Almost　before　he　realized　that

anything　had　happened；　he　was　trussed　to　a　tree　and　securely　gagged。



Then　three　of　the　men　resumed　work　on　the　tree。　　The　other　followed

the　path　Freckles　had　worn　to　Little　Chicken's　tree；　and　presently

he　reported　that　the　wires　were　down　and　two　teams　with　the　loading

apparatus　coming　to　take　out　the　timber。　　All　the　time　the　saw　was

slowly　eating；　eating　into　the　big　tree。



Wessner　went　to　the　trail　and　removed　the　wire。　　He　picked　up

Freckles'　wheel；　that　did　not　seem　to　be　injured；　and　leaned　it

against　the　bushes　so　that　if　anyone　did　pass　on　the　trail　he　would

not　see　it　doubled　in　the　swamp…grass。



Then　he　came　and　stood　in　front　of　Freckles　and　laughed　in

devilish　hate。　　To　his　own　amazement；　Freckles　found　himself

looking　fear　in　the　face；　and　marveled　that　he　was　not　afraid。　

Four　to　one！　　The　tree　halfway　eaten　through；　the　wagons　coming

up　the　inside　roadhe；　bound　and　gagged！　　The　men　with　Black

Jack　and　Wessner　had　belonged　to　McLean's　gang　when　last　he

had　heard　of　them；　but　who　those　coming　with　the　wagons　might

be　he　could　not　guess。



If　they　secured　that　tree；　McLean　lost　its　value；　lost　his　wager；

and　lost　his　faith　in　him。　　The　w