freckles-第5部分

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reddened　hand　and　pressed　it　to　his　lips　in　a　long　kiss。　　Then　he

hurried　away　to　hide　the　happy；　embarrassing　tears　that　were　coming

straight　from　his　swelling　heart。



Mrs。　Duncan；　sobbing　unrestrainedly；　swept　into　the　adjoining　room

and　threw　herself　into　Duncan's　arms。



〃Oh；　the　puir　lad！〃　she　wailed。　　〃Oh；　the　puir　mither…hungry　lad！　

He　breaks　my　heart！〃



Duncan's　arms　closed　convulsively　around　his　wife。　　With　a　big；

brown　hand　he　lovingly　stroked　her　rough；　sorrel　hair。



〃Sarah；　you're　a　guid　woman！〃　he　said。　　〃You're　a　michty　guid　woman！　

Ye　hae　a　way　o'　speakin'　out　at　times　that's　like　the　inspired

prophets　of　the　Lord。　　If　that　had　been　put　to　me；　now；　I'd　‘a'　felt

all　I　kent　how　to　and　been　keen　enough　to　say　the　richt　thing；　but

dang　it；　I'd　‘a'　stuttered　and　stammered　and　got　naething　out　that

would　ha'　done　onybody　a　mite　o'　good。　　But　ye；　Sarah！　　Did　ye　see

his　face；　woman？　　Ye　sent　him　off　lookin'　leke　a　white　light　of

holiness　had　passed　ower　and　settled　on　him。　　Ye　sent　the　lad　away

too　happy　for　mortal　words；　Sarah。　　And　ye　made　me　that　proud　o'　ye！　

I　wouldna　trade　ye　an'　my　share　o'　the　Limberlost　with　ony　king　ye

could　mention。〃



He　relaxed　his　clasp；　and　setting　a　heavy　hand　on　each　shoulder；　he

looked　straight　into　her　eyes。



〃Ye're　prime；　Sarah！　　Juist　prime！〃　he　said。



Sarah　Duncan　stood　alone　in　the　middle　of　her　two…roomed　log　cabin

and　lifted　a　bony；　clawlike　pair　of　hands；　reddened　by　frequent

immersion　in　hot　water；　cracked　and　chafed　by　exposure　to　cold；

black…lined　by　constant　battle　with　swamp…loam；　calloused　with

burns；　and　stared　at　them　wonderingly。



〃Pretty…lookin'　things　ye　are！〃　she　whispered。　　〃But　ye　hae　juist

been　kissed。　　And　by　such　a　man！　　Fine　as　God　ever　made　at　His

verra　best。　　Duncan　wouldna　trade　wi'　a　king！　　Na！　　Nor　I　wadna

trade　with　a　queen　wi'　a　palace；　an'　velvet　gowns；　an'　diamonds

big　as　hazelnuts；　an'　a　hundred　visitors　a　day　into　the　bargain。　

Ye've　been　that　honored　I'm　blest　if　I　can　bear　to　souse　ye　in

dish…water。　　Still；　that　kiss　winna　come　off！　　Naething　can　take　it

from　me；　for　it's　mine　till　I　dee。　　Lord；　if　I　amna　proud！　　Kisses　on

these　old　claws！　　Weel；　I　be　drawed　on！〃







　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　III



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Wherein　a　Feather　Falls　and　a　Soul　Is　Born



So　Freckles　fared　through　the　bitter　winter。　　He　was　very　happy。　

He　had　hungered　for　freedom；　love；　and　appreciation　so　long！　

He　had　been　unspeakably　lonely　at　the　Home；　and　the　utter

loneliness　of　a　great　desert　or　forest　is　not　so　difficult　to

endure　as　the　loneliness　of　being　constantly　surrounded　by　crowds

of　people　who　do　not　care　in　the　least　whether　one　is　living　or　dead。



All　through　the　winter　Freckles'　entire　energy　was　given　to　keeping

up　his　lines　and　his　〃chickens〃　from　freezing　or　starving。　　When　the

first　breath　of　spring　touched　the　Limberlost；　and　the　snow　receded

before　it；　when　the　catkins　began　to　bloom；　when　there　came　a　hint

of　green　to　the　trees；　bushes；　and　swale；　when　the　rushes　lifted

their　heads；　and　the　pulse　of　the　newly　resurrected　season　beat

strongly　in　the　heart　of　nature；　something　new　stirred　in　the

breast　of　the　boy。



Nature　always　levies　her　tribute。　　Now　she　laid　a　powerful　hand　on　the

soul　of　Freckles；　to　which　the　boy's　whole　being　responded；　though

he　had　not　the　least　idea　what　was　troubling　him。　　Duncan　accepted

his　wife's　theory　that　it　was　a　touch　of　spring　fever；　but　Freckles

knew　better。　　He　never　had　been　so　well。　　Clean；　hot；　and　steady

the　blood　pulsed　in　his　veins。　　He　was　always　hungry；　and　his　most

difficult　work　tired　him　not　at　all。　　For　long　months；　without　a

single　intermission；　he　had　tramped　those　seven　miles　of　trail　twice

each　day；　through　every　conceivable　state　of　weather。　　With　the

heavy　club　he　gave　his　wires　a　sure　test；　and　between　sections；

first　in　play；　afterward　to　keep　his　circulation　going；　he　had

acquired　the　skill　of　an　expert　drum　major。　　In　his　work　there　was

exercise　for　every　muscle　of　his　body　each　hour　of　the　day；　at

night　a　bath；　wholesome　food；　and　sound　sleep　in　a　room　that　never

knew　fire。　　He　had　gained　flesh　and　color；　and　developed　a　greater

strength　and　endurance　than　anyone　ever　could　have　guessed。



Nor　did　the　Limberlost　contain　last　year's　terrors。　　He　had　been

with　her　in　her　hour　of　desolation；　when　stripped　bare　and

deserted；　she　had　stood　shivering；　as　if　herself　afraid。　　He　had

made　excursions　into　the　interior　until　he　was　familiar　with　every

path　and　road　that　ever　had　been　cut。　　He　had　sounded　the　depths　of

her　deepest　pools；　and　had　learned　why　the　trees　grew　so　magnificently。　

He　had　found　that　places　of　swamp　and　swale　were　few　compared　with

miles　of　solid　timber…land；　concealed　by　summer's　luxuriant　undergrowth。



The　sounds　that　at　first　had　struck　cold　fear　into　his　soul　he　now

knew　had　left　on　wing　and　silent　foot　at　the　approach　of　winter。　

As　flock　after　flock　of　the　birds　returned　and　he　recognized　the

old　echoes　reawakening；　he　found　to　his　surprise　that　he　had

been　lonely　for　them　and　was　hailing　their　return　with　great　joy。　

All　his　fears　were　forgotten。　　Instead；　he　was　possessed　of　an

overpowering　desire　to　know　what　they　were；　to　learn　where　they　had

been；　and　whether　they　would　make　friends　with　him　as　the　winter

birds　had　done；　and　if　they　did；　would　they　be　as　fickle？　　For；　with

the　running　sap；　creeping　worm；　and　winging　bug；　most　of　Freckles'

〃chickens〃　had　deserted　him；　entered　the　swamp；　and　feasted　to　such

a　state　of　plethora　on　its　store　that　they　cared　little　for　his

supply；　so　that　in　the　strenuous　days　of　mating　and　nest…building

the　boy　was　deserted。



He　chafed　at　the　birds'　ingratitude；　but　he　found　speedy

consolation　in　watching　and　befriending　the　newcomers。　　He　surely

would　have　been　proud　and　highly　pleased　if　he　had　known　that　many

of　the　former　inhabitants　of　the　interior　swamp　now　grouped　their

nests　beside　the　timber…line　solely　for　the　sake　of　his　protection

and　company。



The　yearly　resurrection　of　the　Limberlost　is　a　mighty　revival。　

Freckles　stood　back　and　watched　with　awe　and　envy　the　gradual

reclothing　and　repopulation　of　the　swamp。　　Keen…eyed　and　alert

through　danger　and　loneliness；　he　noted　every　stage　of　development；

from　the　first　piping　frog　and　unsheathing　bud；　to　full　leafage　and

the　return　of　the　last　migrant。



The　knowledge　of　his　complete　loneliness　and　utter　insignificance

was　hourly　thrust　upon　him。　　He　brooded　and　fretted　until　he　was　in

a　fever；　yet　he　never　guessed　the　cause。　　He　was　filled　with　a　vast

impatience；　a　longing　that　he　scarcely　could　endure。



It　was　June　by　the　zodiac；　June　by　the　Limberlost；　and　by　every

delight　of　a　newly　resurrected　season　it　should　have　been　June　in

the　hearts　of　all　men。　　Yet　Freckles　scowled　darkly　as　he　came　down

the　trail；　and　the　running　TAP；　TAP　that　tested　the　sagging　wire

and　telegraphed　word　of　his　coming　to　his　furred　and　feathered

friends　of　the　swamp；　this　morning　carried　the　story　of　his

discontent　a　mile　ahead　of　him。



Freckles'　special　pet；　a　dainty；　yellow…coated；　black…sleeved；　cock

goldfinch；　had　remained　on　the　wire　for　several　days　past　the

bravest　of　all；　and　Freckles；　absorbed　with　the　cunning　and　beauty

of　the　tiny　fellow；　never　guessed　that　he　was　being　duped。　　For　the

goldfinch　was　skipping；　flirting；　and　swinging　for　the　express

purpose　of　so　holding　his　attention　that　he　would　not　look　up　and

see　a　small　cradle　of　thistledown　and　wool　perilously　near　his　head。　

In　the　beginning　of　brooding；　the　spunky　little　homesteader　had　clung

heroically　to　the　wire　when　he　was　almost　paralyzed　with　fright。　

When　day　after　day　passed　and　brought　only　softly　whistled

repetitions　of　his　call；　a　handful　of　crumbs　on　the　top　of　a　locust

line…post；　and　gently　worded　coaxings；　he　grew　in　confidence。　

Of　late　he　had　sung　and　swung　during　the　passing　of　Freckles；　who；

not　dreaming　of　the　nest　and　the　solemn…eyed　little　hen　so　close　above；

thought　himself　unusually　gifted　in　his　power　to　attract　the　birds。

This　morning　the　goldfinch　scarcely　could　believe　his　ears；　and

clung　to　the　wire　until　an　unusually　vicious　rap　sent　him　spinning

a　foot　in　air；　and　his　〃PTSEET〃　came　with　a　squall　of　utter　panic。



The　wires　were　ringing　with　a　story　the　birds　could　not　translate；

and　Freckles　was　quite　as　ignorant　of　the　trouble　as　they。



A　peculiar　movement　beneath　a　small　walnut　tree　caught　his　attention。　

He　stopped　to　investigate。　　There　was　an　unusually　large　Luna

cocoon；　and　the　moth　was　bursting　the　upper　end　in　its　struggles

to　reach　light　and　air。　　Freckles　stood　and　stared。



〃There's　something　in　there　trying　to　get　out；〃　he　muttered。　

〃Wonder　if　I　could　help　it？　　Guess　I　best　not　be　trying。　　If　I　hadn't

happened　along；　there　wouldn't　have　been　anyone　to　do　anything；　and

maybe　I'd　only　be　hurting　it。　　It'sit'sOh；　skaggany！　　It's　just

being　born！〃



Freckles　gasped　with　surprise。　　The　moth　cleared　the　opening；　and

with　many　wabblings　and　contortions　climbed　up　the　tree。　　He　stared

speechless　with　amazement　as　the　moth　crept　around　a　limb　and　clung

to　the　under　side。　　There　was　a　big　pursy　body；　almost　as　large　as

his　thumb；　and　of　the　very　snowiest　white　that　Freckles　ever　had　seen。　

There　was　a　band　of　delicate　lavender　across　its　forehead；　and　its

feet　were　of　the　same　colour；　there　were　antlers；　like　tiny；

straw…colored　ferns；　on　its　head；　and　from　its　shoulders　hung

the　crumpled　wet　wings。　　As　Freckles　gazed；　tense　with　astonishment；

he　saw　that　these　were　expanding；　drooping；　taking　on　color；　and

small；　oval　markings　were　beginning　to　show。



The　minutes　passed。　　Freckles'　steady　gaze　never　wavered。　

Without　realizing　it；　he　was　trembling　with　eagerness　and　anxiety。　

As　he　saw　what　was　taking　place；　〃It's　going　to　fly；〃　he　breathed

in　hushed　wonder。　　The　mornin