freckles-第33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！



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



〃You　saw　her　in　the　beautiful　little　room　of　her；　and　you　can't　be

forgetting　how　she　begged　and　plead　with　you　for　me。　　She　touched

me　body；　and　‘twas　sanctified。　　She　laid　her　lips　on　my　brow；　and

‘twas　sacrament。　　Nobody　knows　the　height　of　her　better　than　me。　

Nobody's　studied　my　depths　closer。　　There's　no　bridge　for　the　great

distance　between　us；　sir；　and　clearest　of　all；　I'm　for　realizing　it：

but　she　risked　terrible　things　when　she　came　to　me　among　that　gang

of　thieves。　　She　wore　herself　past　bearing　to　save　me　from　such　an

easy　thing　as　death！　　Now；　here's　me；　a　man；　a　big；　strong　man；　and

letting　her　live　under　that　fearful　oath；　so　worse　than　any　death

‘twould　be　for　her；　and　lifting　not　a　finger　to　save　her。　　I　cannot

hear　it；　sir。　　It's　killing　me　by　inches！　　Black　Jack's　hand　may　not

have　been　hurt　so　bad。　　Any　hour　he　may　be　creeping　up　behind　her！

Any　minute　the　awful　revenge　he　swore　to　be　taking　may　in　some　way

fall　on　her；　and　I　haven't　even　warned　her　father。　　I　can't　stay

here　doing　nothing　another　hour。　　The　five　nights　gone　I've　watched

under　her　windows；　but　there's　the　whole　of　the　day。　　She's　her　own

horse　and　little　cart；　and's　free　to　be　driving　through　the　town　and

country　as　she　pleases。　　If　any　evil　comes　to　her　through　Black　Jack；

it　comes　from　her　angel…like　goodness　to　me。　　Somewhere　he's　hiding！　

Somewhere　he　is　waiting　his　chance！　　Somewhere　he　is　reaching　out

for　her！　　I　tell　you　I　cannot；　I　dare　not　be　bearing　it　longer！〃



〃Freckles；　be　quiet！〃　said　McLean；　his　eyes　humid　and　his　voice

quivering　with　the　pity　of　it　all。　　〃Believe　me；　I　did　not　understand。　

I　know　the　Angel's　father　well。　　I　will　go　to　him　at　once。　　I　have

transacted　business　with　him　for　the　past　three　years。　　I　will　make

him　see！　　I　am　only　beginning　to　realize　your　agony；　and　the　real

danger　there　is　for　the　Angel。　　Believe　me；　I　will　see　that　she

is　fully　protected　every　hour　of　the　day　and　night　until　Jack

is　located　and　disposed　of。　　And　I　promise　you　further；　that　if　I

fail　to　move　her　father　or　make　him　understand　the　danger；　I　will

maintain　a　guard　over　her　until　Jack　is　caught。　　Now　will　you　go

bathe；　drink　some　milk；　go　to　bed；　and　sleep　for　hours；　and　then　be

my　brave；　bright　old　boy　again？〃



〃Yis；〃　said　Freckles　simply。



But　McLean　could　see　the　flesh　was　twitching　on　the　lad's　bones。



〃What　was　it　the　guard　brought　there？〃　McLean　asked　in　an　effort　to

distract　Freckles'　thoughts。



〃Oh！〃　Freckles　said；　glancing　where　the　Boss　pointed；　〃I　forgot　it！

‘Tis　an　otter；　and　fine　past　believing；　for　this　warm　weather。　

I　shot　it　at　the　creek　this　morning。　　‘Twas　a　good　shot；　considering。　

I　expected　to　miss。〃



Freckles　picked　up　the　animal　and　started　toward　McLean　with　it；

but　Nellie　pricked　up　her　dainty　little　ears；　danced　into　the

swale；　and　snorted　with　fright。　　Freckles　dropped　the　otter　and　ran

to　her　head。



〃For　pity's　sake；　get　her　on　the　trail；　sir；〃　he　begged。　　〃She's

just　about　where　the　old　king　rattler　crosses　to　go　into　the

swampthe　old　buster　Duncan　and　I　have　been　telling　you　of。　

I　haven't　a　doubt　but　it　was　the　one　Mother　Duncan　met。　　'Twas　down

the　trail　there；　just　a　little　farther　on；　that　I　found　her；　and

it's　sure　to　be　close　yet。〃



McLean　slid　from　Nellie's　back；　led　her　into　the　trail　farther　down

the　line；　and　tied　her　to　a　bush。　　Then　he　went　to　examine　the　otter。　

It　was　a　rare；　big　specimen；　with　exquisitely　fine；　long；　silky　hair。



〃What　do　you　want　to　do　with　it；　Freckles？〃　asked　McLean；　as　he　stroked

the　soft　fur　lingeringly。　　〃Do　you　know　that　it　is　very　valuable？〃



〃I　was　for　almost　praying　so；　sir；〃　said　Freckles。　　〃As　I　saw　it

coming　up　the　bank　I　thought　this：　　Once　somewhere　in　a　book　there

was　a　picture　of　a　young　girl；　and　she　was　just　a　breath　like　the

beautifulness　of　the　Angel。　　Her　hands　were　in　a　muff　as　big　as　her

body；　and　I　thought　it　was　so　pretty。　　I　think　she　was　some　queen；

or　the　like。　　Do　you　suppose　I　could　have　this　skin　tanned　and　made

into　such　a　muff　as　that？an　enormous　big　one；　sir？〃



〃Of　course　you　can；〃　said　McLean。　　〃That's　a　fine　idea　and　it's

easy　enough。　　We　must　box　and　express　the　otter；　cold　storage；　by　the

first　train。　　You　stand　guard　a　minute　and　I'll　tell　Hall　to　carry

it　to　the　cabin。　　I'll　put　Nellie　to　Duncan's　rig；　and　we'll　drive

to　town　and　call　on　the　Angel's　father。　　Then　we'll　start　the　otter

while　it　is　fresh；　and　I'll　write　your　instructions　later。　　It　would

be　a　mighty　fine　thing　for　you　to　give　to　the　Angel　as　a　little

reminder　of　the　Limberlost　before　it　is　despoiled；　and　as　a

souvenir　of　her　trip　for　you。〃



Freckles　lifted　a　face　with　a　glow　of　happy　color　creeping　into　it

and　eyes　lighting　with　a　former　brightness。　　Throwing　his　arms

around　McLean；　he　cried：　　〃Oh；　how　I　love　you！　　Oh；　I　wish　I　could

make　you　know　how　I　love　you！〃



McLean　strained　him　to　his　breast。



〃God　bless　you；　Freckles；〃　he　said。　　〃I　do　know！　　We're　going　to　have

some　good　old　times　out　of　this　world　together；　and　we　can't　begin

too　soon。　　Would　you　rather　sleep　first；　or　have　a　bite　of　lunch；

take　the　drive　with　me；　and　then　rest？　　I　don't　know　but　sleep　will

come　sooner　and　deeper　to　take　the　ride　and　have　your　mind　set　at

ease　before　you　lie　down。　　Suppose　you　go。〃



〃Suppose　I　do；〃　said　Freckles；　with　a　glimmer　of　the　old　light

in　his　eyes　and　newly　found　strength　to　shoulder　the　otter。　

Together　they　turned　into　the　trail。



McLean　noticed　and　spoke　of　the　big　black　chickens。



〃They've　been　hanging　round　out　there　for　several　days　past；〃

said　Freckles。　　〃I'll　tell　you　what　I　think　it　means。　　I　think　the

old　rattler　has　killed　something　too　big　for　him　to　swallow；　and　he's

keeping　guard　and　won't　let　me　chickens　have　it。　　I'm　just　sure；

from　the　way　the　birds　have　acted　out　there　all　summer；　that　it　is

the　rattler's　den。　　You　watch　them　now。　　See　the　way　they　dip　and

then　rise；　frightened　like！〃



Suddenly　McLean　turned　toward　him　with　blanching　face



〃Freckles！〃　he　cried。



〃My　God；　sir！〃　shuddered　Freckles。



He　dropped　the　otter；　caught　up　his　club；　and　plunged　into　the　swale。　

Reaching　for　his　revolver；　McLean　followed。　　The　chickens

circled　higher　at　their　coming；　and　the　big　snake　lifted　his　head

and　rattled　angrily。　　It　sank　in　sinuous　coils　at　the　report　of

McLean's　revolver；　and　together　he　and　Freckles　stood　beside　Black　Jack。　

His　fate　was　evident　and　most　horrible。



〃Come；〃　said　the　Boss　at　last。　　〃We　don't　dare　touch　him。　　We　will　get

a　sheet　from　Mrs。　Duncan　and　tuck　over　him；　to　keep　these　swarms　of

insects　away；　and　set　Hall　on　guard；　while　we　find　the　officers。〃



Freckles'　lips　closed　resolutely。　　He　deliberately　thrust　his　club

under　Black　Jack's　body；　and；　raising　him；　rested　it　on　his　knee。

He　pulled　a　long　silver　pin　from　the　front　of　the　dead　man's　shirt

and　sent　it　spinning　into　the　swale。　　Then　he　gathered　up　a　few

crumpled　bright　flowers　and　dropped　them　into　the　pool　far　away。



〃My　soul　is　sick　with　the　horror　of　this　thing；〃　said　McLean；　as　he

and　Freckles　drove　toward　town。　　〃I　can't　understand　how　Jack　dared

risk　creeping　through　the　swale；　even　in　desperation。　　No　one　knew

its　dangers　better　than　he。　　And　why　did　he　choose　the　rankest；

muckiest　place　to　cross　the　swamp？〃



〃Don't　you　think；　sir；　it　was　because　it　was　on　a　line　with　the

Limberlost　south　of　the　corduroy？　　The　grass　was　tallest　there；　and

he　counted　on　those　willows　to　screen　him。　　Once　he　got　among　them；

he　would　have　been　safe　to　walk　by　stooping。　　If　he'd　made　it　past

that　place；　he'd　been　sure　to　get　out。〃



〃Well；　I'm　as　sorry　for　Jack　as　I　know　how　to　be；〃　said　McLean；

〃but　I　can't　help　feeling　relieved　that　our　troubles　are　over；　for

now　they　are。　　With　so　dreadful　a　punishment　for　Jack；　Wessner　under

arrest；　and　warrants　for　the　others；　we　can　count　on　their　going

away　and　remaining。　　As　for　anyone　else；　I　don't　think　they　will

care　to　attempt　stealing　my　timber　after　the　experience　of　these　men。　

There　is　no　other　man　here　with　Jack's　fine　ability　in　woodcraft。　

He　was　an　expert。〃



〃Did　you　ever　hear　of　anyone　who　ever　tried　to　locate　any　trees

excepting　him？〃　asked　Freckles。



〃No；　I　never　did；〃　said　McLean。　　〃I　am　sure　there　was　no　one

besides　him。　　You　see；　it　was　only　with　the　arrival　of　our　company

that　the　other　fellows　scented　good　stuff　in　the　Limberlost；　and

tried　to　work　in。　　Jack　knew　the　swamp　better　than　anyone　here。　

When　he　found　there　were　two　companies　trying　to　lease；　he　wanted

to　stand　in　with　the　one　from　which　he　could　realize　the　most。　

Even　then　he　had　trees　marked　that　he　was　trying　to　dispose　of。　

I　think　his　sole　intention　in　forcing　me　to　discharge　him　from

my　gang　was　to　come　here　and　try　to　steal　timber。　　We　had　no　idea；

when　we　took　the　lease；　what　a　gold　mine　it　was。〃



〃That's　exactly　what　Wessner　said　that　first　day；〃　said　Freckles　eagerly。　

〃That　'twas　a　‘gold　mine'！　　He　said　he　didn't　know　where　the　marked

trees　were；　but　he　knew　a　man　who　did；　and　if　I　would　hold　off　and

let　them　get　the　marked　ones；　there　were　a　dozen　they　could　get　out

in　a　few　days。〃



〃Freckles！〃　cried　McLean。　　〃You　don't　mean　a　dozen！〃



〃That's　what　he　said；　sira　dozen。　　He　said　they　couldn't　tell　how

the　grain　of　all　of　them　would　work　up；　of　course；　but　they　were

all　worth　taking　out；　and　five　or　six　were　real　gold　mines。　　This

makes　three　they've　tried；　so　there　must　be　nine　more　marked；　and

several　of　them　for　being　just　fine。〃



〃Well；　I　wish　I　knew　which　they　are；〃　said　McLean；　〃so　I　could　get

them　out　first。〃



〃I　have　been　thinking；〃　said　Freckles。　　〃I　believe　if　you　will　leave

one　of　the　guards　on　the　linesay　Hallthat　I　will　begin　on　the

swamp；　at　the　north　end；　and　lay　it　off　in　sections；　and　try　to

hunt　out　the　marked　trees。　　I　suppose　they　are