freckles-第30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！



He　left　her　and　picked　up　the　wheel：　as　he　had　surmised；　he　knew　it。

This；　then；　was　Freckles'　Swamp　Angel。　　There　was　trouble　in　the

Limberlost；　and　she　had　broken　down　racing　to　McLean。　　Duncan　turned

the　bays　into　a　fence…corner；　tied　one　of　them；　unharnessed　the

other；　fastened　up　the　trace　chains；　and　hurried　to　the　nearest

farmhouse　to　send　help　to　the　Angel。　　He　found　a　woman；　who　took　a

bottle　of　camphor；　a　jug　of　water；　and　some　towels；　and　started　on

the　run。



Then　Duncan　put　the　bay　to　speed　and　raced　to　camp。



The　Angel；　left　alone；　lay　still　for　a　second；　then　she　shivered

and　opened　her　eyes。　　She　saw　that　she　was　on　the　grass　and　the

broken　wheel　beside　her。　　Instantly　she　realized　that　someone　had

carried　her　there　and　gone　after　help。　　She　sat　up　and　looked

around。　　She　noticed　the　load　of　logs　and　the　one　horse。　　Someone　was

riding　after　help　for　her！



〃Oh；　poor　Freckles！〃　she　wailed。　　〃They　may　be　killing　him　by　now。

Oh；　how　much　time　have　I　wasted？〃



She　hurried　to　the　other　bay；　her　fingers　flying　as　she　set　him　free。　

Snatching　up　a　big　blacksnake　whip　that　lay　on　the　ground；　she

caught　the　hames；　stretched　along　the　horse's　neck；　and；　for

the　first　time；　the　fine；　big　fellow　felt　on　his　back　the　quality

of　the　lash　that　Duncan　was　accustomed　to　crack　over　him。　　He　was

frightened；　and　ran　at　top　speed。



The　Angel　passed　a　wildly　waving；　screaming　woman　on　the　road；　and

a　little　later　a　man　riding　as　if　he；　too；　were　in　great　haste。　

The　man　called　to　her；　but　she　only　lay　lower　and　used　the　whip。　

Soon　the　feet　of　the　man's　horse　sounded　farther　and　farther　away。



At　the　South　camp　they　were　loading　a　second　wagon；　when　the　Angel

appeared　riding　one　of　Duncan's　bays；　lathered　and　dripping；　and

cried：　　〃Everybody　go　to　Freckles！　　There　are　thieves　stealing　trees；

and　they　had　him　bound。　　They're　going　to　kill　him！〃



She　wheeled　the　horse　toward　the　Limberlost。　　The　alarm　sounded

through　camp。　　The　gang　were　not　unprepared。　　McLean　sprang　to

Nellie's　back　and　raced　after　the　Angel。　　As　they　passed　Duncan；　he

wheeled　and　followed。　　Soon　the　pike　was　an　irregular　procession　of

barebacked　riders；　wildly　driving　flying　horses　toward　the　swamp。



The　Boss　rode　neck…and…neck　with　the　Angel。　　He　repeatedly　commanded

her　to　stop　and　fall　out　of　line；　until　he　remembered　that　he　would

need　her　to　lead　him　to　Freckles。　　Then　he　gave　up　and　rode　beside

her；　for　she　was　sending　the　bay　at　as　sharp　a　pace　as　the　other

horses　could　keep　and　hold　out。　　He　could　see　that　she　was　not

hearing　him。　　He　glanced　back　and　saw　that　Duncan　was　close。　

There　was　something　terrifying　in　the　appearance　of　the　big　man；　and

the　manner　in　which　he　sat　his　beast　and　rode。　　It　would　be　a　sad　day

for　the　man　on　whom　Duncan's　wrath　broke。　　There　were　four　others

close　behind　him；　and　the　pike　filling　with　the　remainder　of　the

gang；　so　McLean　took　heart　and　raced　beside　the　Angel。　　Over　and

over　he　asked　her　where　the　trouble　was；　but　she　only　gripped　the

hames；　leaned　along　the　bay's　neck；　and　slashed　away　with　the

blacksnake。　　The　steaming　horse；　with　crimson　nostrils　and　heaving

sides；　stretched　out　and　ran　for　home　with　all　the　speed　there　was

in　him。



When　they　passed　the　cabin；　the　Bird　Woman's　carriage　was　there　and

Mrs。　Duncan　in　the　door　wringing　her　hands；　but　the　Bird　Woman　was

nowhere　to　be　seen。　　The　Angel　sent　the　bay　along　the　path　and

turned　into　the　west　trail；　while　the　men　bunched　and　followed　her。

When　she　reached　the　entrance　to　Freckles'　room；　there　were　four

men　with　her；　and　two　more　very　close　behind。　　She　slid　from　the

horse；　and　snatching　the　little　revolver　from　her　pocket；　darted

toward　the　bushes。　　McLean　caught　them　back；　and　with　drawn　weapon；

pressed　beside　her。　　There　they　stopped　in　astonishment。



The　Bird　Woman　blocked　the　entrance。　　Over　a　small　limb　lay

her　revolver。　　It　was　trained　at　short　range　on　Black　Jack　and

Wessner；　who　stood　with　their　hands　above　their　heads。



Freckles；　with　the　blood　trickling　down　his　face；　from　an　ugly　cut

in　his　temple；　was　gagged　and　bound　to　the　tree　again；　the

remainder　of　the　men　were　gone。　　Black　Jack　was　raving　as　a　maniac；

and　when　they　looked　closer　it　was　only　the　left　arm　that　he　raised。　

His　right；　with　the　hand　shattered；　hung　helpless　at　his　side；

while　his　revolver　lay　at　Freckles'　feet。　　Wessner's　weapon

was　in　his　belt；　and　beside　him　Freckles'　club。



Freckles'　face　was　white；　with　colorless　lips；　but　in　his　eyes　was

the　strength　of　undying　courage。　　McLean　pushed　past　the　Bird

Woman　crying。　　〃Hold　steady　on　them　only　one　minute　more！〃



He　snatched　the　revolver　from　Wessner's　belt；　and　stooped　for　Jack's。



At　that　instant　the　Angel　rushed　past。　　She　tore　the　gag　from

Freckles；　and　seizing　the　rope　knotted　on　his　chest；　she　tugged　at

it　desperately。　　Under　her　fingers　it　gave　way；　and　she　hurled　it

to　McLean。　　The　men　were　crowding　in；　and　Duncan　seized　Wessner。　

As　the　Angel　saw　Freckles　stand　out；　free；　she　reached　her　arms　to　him

and　pitched　forward。　　A　fearful　oath　burst　from　the　lips　of　Black　Jack。

To　have　saved　his　life；　Freckles　could　not　have　avoided　the　glance

of　triumph　he　gave　Jack；　when　folding　the　Angel　in　his　arms　and

stretching　her　on　the　mosses。



The　Bird　Woman　cried　out　sharply　for　water　as　she　ran　to　them。

Someone　sprang　to　bring　that；　and　another　to　break　open　the　case

for　brandy。　　As　McLean　arose　from　binding　Wessner；　there　was　a　cry

that　Jack　was　escaping。



He　was　already　far　in　the　swamp；　running　for　its　densest　part　in

leaping　bounds。　　Every　man　who　could　be　spared　plunged　after　him。



Other　members　of　the　gang　arriving；　were　sent　to　follow　the　tracks

of　the　wagons。　　The　teamsters　had　driven　from　the　west　entrance；　and

crossing　the　swale；　had　taken　the　same　route　the　Bird　Woman　and　the

Angel　had　before　them。　　There　had　been　ample　time　for　the　drivers　to

reach　the　road；　after　that　they　could　take　any　one　of　four　directions。　

Traffic　was　heavy；　and　lumber　wagons　were　passing　almost　constantly；

so　the　men　turned　back　and　joined　the　more　exciting　hunt　for　a　man。　

The　remainder　of　the　gang　joined　them；　also　farmers　of　the　region

and　travelers　attracted　by　the　disturbance。



Watchers　were　set　along　the　trail　at　short　intervals。　　They　patrolled

the　line　and　roads　through　the　swamp　that　night；　with　lighted　torches；

and　the　next　day　McLean　headed　as　thorough　a　search　as　he　felt　could

be　made　of　one　side；　while　Duncan　covered　the　other；　but　Black　Jack

could　not　be　found。　　Spies　were　set　around　his　home；　in　Wildcat

Hollow；　to　ascertain　if　he　reached　there　or　aid　was　being　sent　in

any　direction　to　him；　but　it　was　soon　clear　that　his　relatives　were

ignorant　of　his　hiding…place；　and　were　searching　for　him。



Great　is　the　elasticity　of　youth。　　A　hot　bath　and　a　sound　night's

sleep　renewed　Freckles'　strength；　and　it　needed　but　little　more　to

work　the　same　result　with　the　Angel。　　Freckles　was　on　the　trail

early　the　next　morning。　　Besides　a　crowd　of　people　anxious　to　witness

Jack's　capture；　he　found　four　stalwart　guards；　one　at　each　turn。　

In　his　heart　he　was　compelled　to　admit　that　he　was　glad　to　have

them　there。　　Close　noon；　McLean　placed　his　men　in　charge　of　Duncan；

and　taking　Freckles；　drove　to　town　to　see　how　the　Angel　fared。　

McLean　visited　a　greenhouse　and　bought　an　armload　of　its　finest

products；　but　Freckles　would　have　none　of　them。　　He　would　carry

his　message　in　a　glowing　mass　of　the　Limberlost's　first　goldenrod。



The　Bird　Woman　received　them；　and　in　answer　to　their　eager

inquiries；　said　that　the　Angel　was　in　no　way　seriously　injured；

only　so　bruised　and　shaken　that　their　doctor　had　ordered　her　to　lie

quietly　for　the　day。　　Though　she　was　sore　and　stiff；　they　were

having　work　to　keep　her　in　bed。　　Her　callers　sent　up　their　flowers

with　their　grateful　regards；　and　the　Angel　promptly　returned　word

that　she　wanted　to　see　them。



She　reached　both　hands　to　McLean。　　〃What　if　one　old　tree　is　gone？

You　don't　care；　sir？　　You　feel　that　Freckles　has　kept　his　trust　as

nobody　ever　did　before；　don't　you？　　You　won't　forget　all　those　long

first　days　of　fright　that　you　told　us　of；　the　fearful　cold　of

winter；　the　rain；　heat；　and　lonesomeness；　and　the　brave　days；　and

lately；　nights；　too；　and　let　him　feel　that　his　trust　is　broken？　

Oh；　Mr。　McLean；〃　she　begged；　〃say　something　to　him！　　Do　something　to

make　him　feel　that　it　isn't　for　nothing　he　has　watched　and　suffered

it　out　with　that　old　Limberlost。　　Make　him　see　how　great　and　fine　it

is；　and　how　far；　far　better　he　has　done　than　you　or　any　of　us　expected！　

What's　one　old　tree；　anyway？〃　she　cried　passionately。



〃I　was　thinking　before　you　came。　　Those　other　men　were　rank

big　cowards。　　They　were　scared　for　their　lives。　　If　they　were　the

drivers；　I　wager　you　gloves　against　gloves　they　never　took　those

logs　out　to　the　pike。　　My　coming　upset　them。　　Before　you　feel　bad　any

more；　you　go　look　and　see　if　they　didn't　lose　courage　the　minute

they　left　Wessner　and　Black　Jack；　dump　that　timber　and　run。　　I　don't

believe　they　ever　had　the　grit　to　drive　out　with　it　in　daylight。　

Go　see　if　they　didn't　figure　on　leaving　the　way　we　did　the　other

morning；　and　you'll　find　the　logs　before　you　reach　the　road。　

They　never　risked　taking　them　into　the　open；　when　they　got　away

and　had　time　to　think。　　Of　course　they　didn't！



〃And；　then；　another　thing。　　You　haven't　lost　your　wager！　　It　never

will　be　claimed；　because　you　made　it　with　a　stout；　dark；　red…faced

man　who　drives　a　bay　and　a　gray。　　He　was　right　back　of　you；　Mr。

McLean；　when　I　came　yesterday。　　He　went　deathly　white　and　shook　on

his　feet　when　he　saw　those　men　probably　would　be　caught。　　Some　one

of　them　was　something　to　him；　and　you　can　just　spot　him　for　one　of

the　men　at　the　bottom　of　your　troubles；　and　urging　those　younger

fellows　to　steal　from　you。　　I　suppose　he'd　promised　to　divide。