freckles-第29部分

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of　the　curious　grasses　that　grew　all　around　her。　　When　she　straightened；

she　took　a　step　backward　and　called：　　〃Ho！　　Freckles；　the　Bird　Woman

wants　that　natural　history　pamphlet　returned。　　It　belongs　to　a　set

she　is　going　to　have　bound。　　That's　one　of　the　reasons　we　put　it

under　the　box。　　You　be　sure　to　get　them　as　you　go　home　tonight；　for

fear　it　rains　or　becomes　damp　with　the　heavy　dews。〃



〃All　right；〃　said　Freckles；　but　it　was　in　a　voice　that　he　never　had

heard　before。



Then　the　Angel　turned　and　sent　a　parting　glance　at　Jack。　　She　was

overpoweringly　human　and　bewitchingly　lovely。



〃You　won't　forget　that　ride　and　the　red　tie；〃　she　half　asserted；

half　questioned。



Jack　succumbed。　　Freckles　was　his　captive；　but　he　was　the　Angel's；

soul　and　body。　　His　face　wore　the　holiest　look　it　ever　had　known　as

he　softly　re…echoed　Freckles'　〃All　right。〃　　With　her　head　held　well

up；　the　Angel　walked　slowly　away；　and　Jack　turned　to　the　men。



〃Drop　your　damned　staring　and　saw　wood；〃　he　shouted。　　〃Don't　you

know　anything　at　all　about　how　to　treat　a　lady？〃　It　might　have　been

a　question　which　of　the　cronies　that　crouched　over　green　wood　fires

in　the　cabins　of　Wildcat　Hollow；　eternally　sucking　a　corncob　pipe

and　stirring　the　endless　kettles　of　stewing　coon　and　opossum；　had

taught　him　to　do　even　as　well　as　he　had　by　the　Angel。



The　men　muttered　and　threatened　among　themselves；　but　they　began

working　desperately。　　Someone　suggested　that　a　man　be　sent　to　follow

the　Angel　and　to　watch　her　and　the　Bird　Woman　leave　the　swamp。

Freckles'　heart　sank　within　him；　but　Jack　was　in　a　delirium　and

past　all　caution。



〃Yes；〃　he　sneered。　　〃Mebby　all　of　you　had　better　give　over　on　the

saw　and　run　after　the　girl。　　I　guess　not！　　Seems　to　me　I　got　the

favors。　　I　didn't　see　no　bouquets　on　the　rest　of　you！　　If　anybody

follows　her；　I　do；　and　I'm　needed　here　among　such　a　pack　of　idiots。

There's　no　danger　in　that　baby　face。　　She　wouldn't　give　me　away！　

You　double　and　work　like　forty；　while　me　and　Wessner　will　take　the

axes　and　begin　to　cut　in　on　the　other　side。〃



〃What　about　the　noise？〃　asked　Wessner。



〃No　difference　about　the　noise；〃　answered　Jack。　　〃She　took　us　to　be

from　McLean's　gang；　slick　as　grease。　　Make　the　chips　fly！〃



So　all　of　them　attacked　the　big　tree。



Freckles　sat　on　one　of　his　benches　and　waited。　　In　their　haste　to

fell　the　tree　and　load　it；　so　that　the　teamsters　could　start；　and

leave　them　free　to　attack　another；　they　had　forgotten　to　rebind　him。



The　Angel　was　on　the　trail　and　safely　started。　　The　cold

perspiration　made　Freckles'　temples　clammy　and　ran　in　little

streams　down　his　chest。　　It　would　take　her　more　time　to　follow　the

trail；　but　her　safety　was　Freckles'　sole　thought　in　urging　her　to

go　that　way。　　He　tried　to　figure　on　how　long　it　would　require　to

walk　to　the　carriage。　　He　wondered　if　the　Bird　Woman　had　unhitched。

He　followed　the　Angel　every　step　of　the　way。　　He　figured　on　when　she

would　cross　the　path　of　the　clearing；　pass　the　deep　pool　where　his

〃find…out〃　frog　lived；　cross　Sleepy　Snake　Creek；　and　reach　the　carriage。



He　wondered　what　she　would　say　to　the　Bird　Woman；　and　how　long　it

would　take　them　to　pack　and　start。　　He　knew　now　that　they　would

understand；　and　the　Angel　would　try　to　get　the　Boss　there　in　time

to　save　his　wager。　　She　could　never　do　it；　for　the　saw　was　over　half

through；　and　Jack　and　Wessner　cutting　into　the　opposite　side　of

the　tree。　　It　appeared　as　if　they　could　fell　at　least　that　tree；

before　McLean　could　come；　and　if　they　did　he　lost　his　wager。



When　it　was　down；　would　they　rebind　him　and　leave　him　for　Wessner

to　wreak　his　insane　vengeance　on；　or　would　they　take　him　along　to

the　next　tree　and　dispose　of　him　when　they　had　stolen　all　the

timber　they　could？　　Jack　had　said　that　he　should　not　be　touched

until　he　left。　　Surely　he　would　not　run　all　that　risk　for　one　tree；

when　he　had　many　others　of　far　greater　value　marked。　　Freckles　felt

that　he　had　some　hope　to　cling　to　now；　but　he　found　himself　praying

that　the　Angel　would　hurry。



Once　Jack　came　to　Freckles　and　asked　if　he　had　any　water。　　Freckles

arose　and　showed　him　where　he　kept　his　drinking…water。　　Jack　drank

in　great　gulps；　and　as　he　passed　back　the　bucket；　he　said：　　〃When　a

man's　got　a　chance　of　catching　a　fine　girl　like　that；　he　ought　not

be　mixed　up　in　any　dirty　business。　　I　wish　to　God　I　was　out　of　this！〃



Freckles　answered　heartily：　　〃I　wish　I　was；　too！〃



Jack　stared　at　him　a　minute　and　then　broke　into　a　roar　of　rough　laughter。



〃Blest　if　I　blame　you；〃　he　said。　　〃But　you　had　your　chance！　

We　offered　you　a　fair　thing　and　you　gave　Wessner　his　answer。　

I　ain't　envying　you　when　he　gives　you　his。〃



〃You're　six　to　one；〃　answered　Freckles。　　〃It　will　be　easy　enough　for

you　to　be　killing　the　body　of　me；　but；　curse　you　all；　you　can't

blacken　me　soul！〃



〃Well；　I'd　give　anything　you　could　name　if　I　had　your　honesty；〃

said　Jack。



When　the　mighty　tree　fell；　the　Limberlost　shivered　and　screamed

with　the　echo。　　Freckles　groaned　in　despair；　but　the　gang　took　heart。　

That　was　so　much　accomplished。　　They　knew　where　to　dispose　of　it

safely；　with　no　questions　asked。　　Before　the　day　was　over；　they

could　remove　three　others；　all　suitable　for　veneer　and　worth　far

more　than　this。　　Then　they　would　leave　Freckles　to　Wessner　and

scatter　for　safety；　with　more　money　than　they　had　ever　hoped　for　in

their　possession。







　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　XIII



　　　　　Wherein　the　Angel　Releases　Freckles；　and　the　Curse　of　Black　Jack

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Falls　upon　Her



On　the　line；　the　Angel　gave　one　backward　glance　at　Black　Jack；　to

see　that　he　had　returned　to　his　work。　　Then　she　gathered　her　skirts

above　her　knees　and　leaped　forward　on　the　run。　　In　the　first　three

yards　she　passed　Freckles'　wheel。　　Instantly　she　imagined　that　was

why　he　had　insisted　on　her　coming　by　the　trail。　　She　seized　it　and

sprang　on。　　The　saddle　was　too　high；　but　she　was　an　expert　rider　and

could　catch　the　pedals　as　they　came　up。　　She　stopped　at　Duncan's

cabin　long　enough　to　remedy　this；　telling　Mrs。　Duncan　while　working

what　was　happening；　and　for　her　to　follow　the　east　trail　until　she

found　the　Bird　Woman；　and　told　her　that　she　had　gone　after　McLean

and　for　her　to　leave　the　swamp　as　quickly　as　possible。



Even　with　her　fear　for　Freckles　to　spur　her；　Sarah　Duncan　blanched

and　began　shivering　at　the　idea　of　facing　the　Limberlost。　　The　Angel

looked　her　in　the　eyes。



〃No　matter　how　afraid　you　are；　you　have　to　go；〃　she　said。　　〃If　you

don't　the　Bird　Woman　will　go　to　Freckles'　room；　hunting　me；　and

they　will　have　trouble　with　her。　　If　she　isn't　told　to　leave　at

once；　they　may　follow　me；　and；　finding　I'm　gone；　do　some　terrible

thing　to　Freckles。　　I　can't　gothat's　flatfor　if　they　caught　me；

then　there'd　be　no　one　to　go　for　help。　　You　don't　suppose　they　are

going　to　take　out　the　trees　they're　after　and　then　leave　Freckles

to　run　and　tell？　　They　are　going　to　murder　the　boy；　that's　what　they

are　going　to　do。　　You　run；　and　run　for　life！　　For　Freckles'　life！　

You　can　ride　back　with　the　Bird　Woman。〃



The　Angel　saw　Mrs。　Duncan　started；　then　began　her　race。



Those　awful　miles　of　corduroy！　　Would　they　never　end？　　She　did　not

dare　use　the　wheel　too　roughly；　for　if　it　broke　she　never　could

arrive　on　time　afoot。　　Where　her　way　was　impassable　for　the　wheel；

she　jumped　off；　and　pushing　it　beside　her　or　carrying　it；　she　ran

as　fast　as　she　could。　　The　day　was　fearfully　warm。　　The　sun　poured

with　the　fierce　baking　heat　of　August。　　The　bushes　claimed　her　hat；

and　she　did　not　stop　for　it。



Where　it　was　at　all　possible；　the　Angel　mounted　and　pounded　over

the　corduroy　again。　　She　was　panting　for　breath　and　almost　worn　out

when　she　reached　the　level　pike。　　She　had　no　idea　how　long　she　had

beenand　only　two　miles　covered。　　She　leaned　over　the　bars；　almost

standing　on　the　pedals；　racing　with　all　the　strength　in　her　body。

The　blood　surged　in　her　ears　while　her　head　swam；　but　she　kept　a

straight　course；　and　rode　and　rode。　　It　seemed　to　her　that　she　was

standing　still；　while　the　trees　and　houses　were　racing　past　her。



Once　a　farmer's　big　dog　rushed　angrily　into　the　road　and　she

swerved　until　she　almost　fell；　but　she　regained　her　balance；　and

setting　her　muscles；　pedaled　as　fast　as　she　could。　　At　last　she

lifted　her　head。　　Surely　it　could　not　be　over　a　mile　more。　　She　had

covered　two　of　corduroy　and　at　least　three　of　gravel；　and　it　was

only　six　in　all。



She　was　reeling　in　the　saddle；　but　she　gripped　the　bars　with　new

energy；　and　raced　desperately。　　The　sun　beat　on　her　bare　head　and

hands。　　Just　when　she　was　choking　with　dust；　and　almost　prostrate

with　heat　and　exhaustioncrash；　she　ran　into　a　broken　bottle。

Snap！　went　the　tire；　the　wheel　swerved　and　pitched　over。　　The　Angel

rolled　into　the　thick　yellow　dust　of　the　road　and　lay　quietly。



From　afar；　Duncan　began　to　notice　a　strange；　dust…covered　object　in　the

road；　as　he　headed　toward　town　with　the　first　load　of　the　day's　felling。



He　chirruped　to　the　bays　and　hurried　them　all　he　could。　　As　he

neared　the　Angel；　he　saw　it　was　a　woman　and　a　broken　wheel。　　He　was

beside　her　in　an　instant。　　He　carried　her　to　a　shaded　fence…corner；

stretched　her　on　the　grass；　and　wiped　the　dust　from　the　lovely　face

all　dirt…streaked；　crimson；　and　bearing　a　startling　whiteness

around　the　mouth　and　nose。



Wheels　were　common　enough。　　Many　of　the　farmers'　daughters　owned　and

rode　them；　but　he　knew　these　same　farmers'　daughters；　this　face　was

a　stranger's。　　He　glanced　at　the　Angel's　tumbled　clothing；　the

silkiness　of　her　hair；　with　its　pale　satin　ribbon；　and　noticed　that

she　had　lost　her　hat。　　Her　lips　tightened　in　an　ominous　quiver。　

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

Limber