freckles-第32部分

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cock…crow　or　a　little　earlier；　and　he's　looking　like　death　and

nothing　short　of　it。〃



〃But　where　does　he　go？〃　asked　McLean　in　astonishment。



〃I'm　no　given　to　bearing　tales　out　of　school；〃　said　Sarah　Duncan；

〃but　in　this　case　I'd　tell　ye　if　I　could。　　What　the　trouble　is　I

dinna　ken。　　If　it　is　no'　stopped；　he's　in　for　dreadful　sickness；　and

I　thought　ye　could　find　out　and　help　him。　　He's　in　sair　trouble；

that's　all　I　know。〃



McLean　sat　brooding　as　he　stroked　Nellie's　neck。



At　last　he　said：　　〃I　suspect　I　understand。　　At　any　rate；　I　think　I

can　find　out。　　Thank　you　for　telling　me。〃



〃Ye'll　no　need　telling；　once　ye　clap　your　eyes　on　him；〃　prophesied

Mrs。　Duncan。　　〃His　face　is　all　a　glist'ny　yellow；　and　he's　peaked　as

a　starving　caged　bird。〃



McLean　rode　to　the　Limberlost；　and　stopping　in　the　shade；　sat

waiting　for　Freckles；　whose　hour　for　passing　the　foot　of　the　lease

had　come。



Along　the　north　line　came　Freckles；　fairly　staggering。　　When　he

turned　east　and　reached　Sleepy　Snake　Creek；　sliding　through　the

swale　as　the　long　black　snake　for　which　it　was　named；　he　sat　on　the

bridge　and　closed　his　burning　eyes；　but　they　would　not　remain　shut。

As　if　pulled　by　wires；　the　heavy　lids　flew　open；　while　the　outraged

nerves　and　muscles　of　his　body　danced；　twitched；　and　tingled。



He　bent　forward　and　idly　watched　the　limpid　little　stream　flowing

beneath　his　feet。　　Stretching　into　the　swale；　it　came　creeping

between　an　impenetrable　wall　of　magnificent　wild　flowers；　vines；

and　ferns。　　Milkweed；　goldenrod；　ironwort；　fringed　gentians；

cardinal…flowers；　and　turtle…head　stood　on　the　very　edge　of　the

creek；　and　every　flower　of　them　had　a　double　in　the　water。　

Wild　clematis　crowned　with　snow　the　heads　of　trees　scattered

here　and　there　on　the　bank。



From　afar　the　creek　appeared　to　be　murky；　dirty　water。　　Really　it

was　clear　and　sparkling。　　The　tinge　of　blackness　was　gained　from　its

bed　of　muck　showing　through　the　transparent　current。　　He　could　see

small　and　wonderfully　marked　fish。　　What　became　of　them　when　the

creek　spread　into　the　swamp？　　For　one　thing；　they　would　make　mighty

fine　eating　for　the　family　of　that　self…satisfied　old　blue　heron。



Freckles　sat　so　quietly　that　soon　the　brim　of　his　hat　was　covered

with　snake…feeders；　rasping　their　crisp　wings　and　singing　while

they　rested。　　Some　of　them　settled　on　the　club；　and　one　on

his　shoulder。　　He　was　so　motionless；　feathers；　fur；　and　gauze　were

so　accustomed　to　him；　that　all　through　the　swale　they　continued

their　daily　life　and　forgot　he　was　there。



The　heron　family　were　wading　the　mouth　of　the　creek。　　Freckles　idly

wondered　whether　the　nerve…racking　rasps　they　occasionally　emitted

indicated　domestic　felicity　or　a　raging　quarrel。　　He　could　not　decide。　

A　sheitpoke；　with　flaring　crest；　went　stalking　across　a　bare

space　close　to　the　creek's　mouth。　　A　stately　brown　bittern　waded

into　the　clear…flowing　water；　lifting　his　feet　high　at　every

step；　and　setting　them　down　carefully；　as　if　he　dreaded　wetting

them；　and　with　slightly　parted　beak；　stood　eagerly　watching　around

him　for　worms。　　Behind　him　were　some　mighty　trees　of　the　swamp

above；　and　below　the　bank　glowed　a　solid　wall　of　goldenrod。



No　wonder　the　ancients　had　chosen　yellow　as　the　color　to　represent

victory；　for　the　fierce；　conquering　hue　of　the　sun　was　in　it。　

They　had　done　well；　too；　in　selecting　purple　as　the　emblem　of　royalty。　

It　was　a　dignified；　compelling　color；　while　in　its　warm　tone　there

was　a　hint　of　blood。



It　was　the　Limberlost's　hour　to　proclaim　her　sovereignty　and　triumph。　

Everywhere　she　flaunted　her　yellow　banner　and　trailed　the　purple　of

her　mantle；　that　was　paler　in　the　thistle…heads；　took　on　strength

in　the　first　opening　asters；　and　glowed　and　burned　in　the　ironwort。



He　gazed　into　her　damp；　mossy　recesses　where　high…piled　riven　trees

decayed　under　coats　of　living　green；　where　dainty　vines　swayed　and

clambered；　and　here　and　there　a　yellow　leaf；　fluttering　down；

presaged　the　coming　of　winter。　　His　love　of　the　swamp　laid　hold　of

him　and　shook　him　with　its　force。



Compellingly　beautiful　was　the　Limberlost；　but　cruel　withal；　for

inside　bleached　the　uncoffined　bones　of　her　victims；　while　she　had

missed　cradling　him；　oh！　　so　narrowly。



He　shifted　restlessly；　the　movement　sent　the　snake…feeders　skimming。　

The　hum　of　life　swelled　and　roared　in　his　strained　ears。　

Small　turtles；　that　had　climbed　on　a　log　to　sun；　splashed　clumsily

into　the　water。　　Somewhere　in　the　timber　of　the　bridge　a

bloodthirsty　little　frog　cried　sharply。　　〃KEEL'IM！　　KEEL'IM！〃



Freckles　muttered：　　〃It's　worse　than　that　Black　Jack　swore　to　do　to

me；　little　fellow。〃



A　muskrat　waddled　down　the　bank　and　swam　for　the　swamp；　its　pointed

nose　riffling　the　water　into　a　shining　trail　in　its　wake。



Then；　below　the　turtle…log；　a　dripping　silver…gray　head；　with

shining　eyes；　was　cautiously　lifted；　and　Freckles'　hand　slid　to　his

revolver。　　Higher　and　higher　came　the　head；　a　long；　heavy；　furcoated

body　arose；　now　half；　now　three…fourths　from　the　water。　　Freckles

looked　at　his　shaking　hand　and　doubted；　but　he　gathered　his　forces；

the　shot　rang；　and　the　otter　lay　quiet。　　He　hurried　down　and　tried　to

lift　it。　　He　scarcely　could　muster　strength　to　carry　it　to　the　bridge。　

The　consciousness　that　he　really　could　go　no　farther　with　it　made

Freckles　realize　the　fact　that　he　was　close　the　limit　of

human　endurance。　　He　could　bear　it　little；　if　any；　longer。　

Every　hour　the　dear　face　of　the　Angel　wavered　before　him；　and

behind　it　the　awful　distorted　image　of　Black　Jack；　as　he　had　sworn

to　the　punishment　he　would　mete　out　to　her。　　He　must　either　see

McLean；　or　else　make　a　trip　to　town　and　find　her　father。　　Which　should

he　do？　　He　was　almost　a　stranger；　so　the　Angel's　father　might　not　be

impressed　with　what　he　said　as　he　would　if　McLean　went　to　him。　

Then　he　remembered　that　McLean　had　said　he　would　come　that　morning。　

Freckles　never　had　forgotten　before。　　He　hurried　on　the　east　trail

as　fast　as　his　tottering　legs　would　carry　him。



He　stopped　when　he　came　to　the　first　guard；　and　telling　him　of　his

luck；　asked　him　to　get　the　otter　and　carry　it　to　the　cabin；　as　he

was　anxious　to　meet　McLean。



Freckles　passed　the　second　guard　without　seeing　him；　and　hurried　to

the　Boss。　　He　took　off　his　hat；　wiped　his　forehead；　and　stood　silent

under　the　eyes　of　McLean。



The　Boss　was　dumbfounded。　　Mrs。　Duncan　had　led　him　to　expect　that

he　would　find　a　change　in　Freckles；　but　this　was　almost　deathly。　

The　fact　was　apparent　that　the　boy　scarcely　knew　what　he　was　doing。　

His　eyes　had　a　glazed；　far…sighted　appearance；　that　wrung　the　heart　of

the　man　who　loved　him。　　Without　a　thought　of　preliminaries；　McLean

leaned　in　the　saddle　and　drew　Freckles　to　him。



〃My　poor　lad！〃　he　said。　　〃My　poor；　dear　lad！　tell　me；　and　we　will

try　to　right　it！〃



Freckles　had　twisted　his　fingers　in　Nellie's　mane。　　At　the　kind

words　his　face　dropped　on　McLean's　thigh　and　he　shook　with　a

nervous　chill。　　McLean　gathered　him　closer　and　waited。



When　the　guard　came　with　the　otter；　McLean　without　a　word　motioned

him　to　lay　it　down　and　leave　them。



〃Freckles；〃　said　McLean　at　last；　〃will　you　tell　me；　or　must　I　set

to　work　in　the　dark　and　try　to　find　the　trouble？〃



〃Oh；　I　want　to　tell　you！　　I　must　tell　you；　sir；〃　shuddered　Freckles。

〃I　cannot　be　bearing　it　the　day　out　alone。　　I　was　coming　to　you　when

I　remimbered　you　would　be　here。〃



He　lifted　his　face　and　gazed　across　the　swale；　with　his　jaws　set

firmly　a　minute；　as　if　gathering　his　forces。　　Then　he　spoke。



〃It's　the　Angel；　sir；〃　he　said。



Instinctively　McLean's　grip　on　him　tightened；　and　Freckles　looked

into　the　Boss's　face　in　wonder。



〃I　tried；　the　other　day；〃　said　Freckles；　〃and　I　couldn't　seem　to

make　you　see。　　It's　only　that　there　hasn't　been　an　hour；　waking　or

sleeping；　since　the　day　she　parted　the　bushes　and　looked　into　me

room；　that　the　face　of　her　hasn't　been　before　me　in　all　the

tinderness；　beauty；　and　mischief　of　it。　　She　talked　to　me

friendly　like。　　She　trusted　me　entirely　to　take　right　care　of　her。　

She　helped　me　with　things　about　me　books。　　She　traited　me　like　I

was　born　a　gintleman；　and　shared　with　me　as　if　I　were　of　her　own　blood。　

She　walked　the　streets　of　the　town　with　me　before　her　friends　with　all

the　pride　of　a　queen。　　She　forgot　herself　and　didn't　mind　the　Bird

Woman；　and　run　big　risks　to　help　me　out　that　first　day；　sir。　

This　last　time　she　walked　into　that　gang　of　murderers；　took　their

leader；　and　twisted　him　to　the　will　of　her。　　She　outdone　him　and

raced　the　life　almost　out　of　her　trying　to　save　me。



〃Since　I　can　remimber；　whatever　the　thing　was　that　happened　to　me

in　the　beginning　has　been　me　curse。　　I've　been　bitter；　hard；　and

smarting　under　it　hopelessly。　　She　came　by；　and　found　me　voice；　and

put　hope　of　life　and　success　like　other　men　into　me　in　spite　of　it。〃



Freckles　held　up　his　maimed　arm。



〃Look　at　it；　sir！〃　he　said。　　〃A　thousand　times　I've　cursed　it；

hanging　there　helpless。　　She　took　it　on　the　street；　before　all　the

people；　just　as　if　she　didn't　see　that　it　was　a　thing　to　hide　and

shrink　from。　　Again　and　again　I've　had　the　feeling　with　her；　if　I

didn't　entirely　forget　it；　that　she　didn't　see　it　was　gone　and　I

must　he　pointing　it　out　to　her。　　Her　touch　on　it　was　so　sacred…like；

at　times　since　I've　caught　meself　looking　at　the　awful　thing　near

like　I　was　proud　of　it；　sir。　　If　I　had　been　born　your　son　she

couldn't　be　traiting　me　more　as　her　equal；　and　she　can't　help

knowing　you　ain't　truly　me　father。　　Nobody　can　know　the　homeliness

or　the　ignorance　of　me　better　than　I　do；　and　all　me　lack　of　birth；

relatives；　and　money；　and　what's　it　all　to　her？〃



Freckles　stepped　back；　squared　his　shoulders；　and　with　a　royal　lift

of　his　head　looked　straight　into　the　Boss's　eyes。



〃You　saw　her　in　the　beautiful　little　room　of　her；　a