freckles-第35部分

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They　were　becoming　anxious；　for　the　light　soon　would　be　gone；　and

they　had　so　wanted　to　try　for　the　picture。　　At　last　Little　Chicken

lifted　his　head；　opened　his　beak；　and　gaped　widely。　　He　dozed　a

minute　or　two　more。　　The　Angel　said　that　was　his　beauty　sleep。　

Then　he　lazily　gaped　again　and　stood　up；　stretching　and　yawning。　

He　ambled　leisurely　toward　the　gateway；　and　the　Angel　said：　

〃Now；　we　may　have　a　chance；　at　last。〃



〃I　do　hope　so；〃　shivered　Freckles。



With　one　accord　they　arose　to　their　knees　and　trained　their　eyes　on

the　mouth　of　the　log。　　The　light　was　full　and　strong。　　Little　Chicken

prospected　again　with　no　results。　　He　dressed　his　plumage；　polished

his　beak；　and　when　he　felt　fine　and　in　full　toilet　he　began　to

flirt　with　himself。　　Freckles'　eyes　snapped　and　his　breath　sucked

between　his　clenched　teeth。



〃He's　going　to　do　it！〃　whispered　the　Angel。　　〃That　will　come　next。

You'll　best　give　me　that　bulb！〃



〃Yis；〃　assented　Freckles；　but　he　was　looking　at　the　log　and　he　made

no　move　to　relinquish　the　bulb。



Little　Chicken　nodded　daintily　and　ruffled　his　feathers。　　He　gave

his　head　sundry　little　sidewise　jerks　and　rapidly　shifted　his　point

of　vision。　　Once　there　was　the　fleeting　little　ghost　of　a　smirk。



〃Now！No！〃　snapped　the　Angel。



Freckles　leaned　toward　the　bird。　　Tensely　he　waited。　　Unconsciously

the　hand　of　the　Angel　clasped　his。　　He　scarcely　knew　it　was　there。

Suddenly　Little　Chicken　sprang　straight　in　the　air　and　landed　with

a　thud。　　The　Angel　started　slightly；　but　Freckles　was　immovable。

Then；　as　if　in　approval　of　his　last　performance；　the　big；　overgrown

baby　wheeled　until　he　was　more　than　three…quarters；　almost　full

side；　toward　the　camera；　straightened　on　his　legs；　squared　his

shoulders；　stretched　his　neck　full　height；　drew　in　his　chin　and

smirked　his　most　pronounced　smirk；　directly　in　the　face　of　the　lens。



Freckles'　fingers　closed　on　the　bulb　convulsively；　and　the　Angel's

closed　on　his　at　the　instant。　　Then　she　heaved　a　great　sigh　of

relief　and　lifted　her　hands　to　push　back　the　damp；　clustering　hair

from　her　face。



〃How　soon　do　you　s'pose　it　will　be　finished？〃　came　Freckles'

strident　whisper。



For　the　first　time　the　Angel　looked　at　him。　　He　was　on　his　knees；

leaning　forward；　his　eyes　directed　toward　the　bird；　the

perspiration　running　in　little　streams　down　his　red；

mosquito…bitten　face。　　His　hat　was　awry；　his　bright　hair　rampant；

his　breast　heaving　with　excitement；　while　he　yet　gripped　the　bulb

with　every　ounce　of　strength　in　his　body。



〃Do　you　think　we　were　for　getting　it？〃　he　asked。



The　Angel　could　only　nod。　　Freckles　heaved　a　deep　sigh　of　relief。



〃Well；　if　that　ain't　the　hardest　work　I　ever　did　in　me　life！〃

he　exclaimed。　　〃It's　no　wonder　the　Bird　Woman's　for　coming　out　of

the　swamp　looking　as　if　she's　been　through　a　fire；　a　flood；　and　a

famine；　if　that's　what　she　goes　through　day　after　day。　　But　if　you

think　we　got　it；　why；　it's　worth　all　it　took；　and　I'm　glad　as　ever

you　are；　sure！〃



They　put　the　holders　in　the　case；　carefully　closed　the　camera；　set

it　in　also；　and　carried　it　to　the　road。



Then　Freckles　exulted。



〃Now；　let's　be　telling　the　Bird　Woman　about　it！〃　he　shouted；　wildly

dancing　and　swinging　his　hat。



〃We　got　it！　　We　got　it！　　I　bet　a　farm　we　got　it！〃



Hand　in　hand　they　ran　to　the　north　end　of　the　swamp；　yelling　〃We

got　it！〃　like　young　Comanches；　and　never　gave　a　thought　to　what

they　might　do　until　a　big　blue…gray　bird；　with　long　neck　and

trailing　legs；　arose　on　flapping　wings　and　sailed　over　the　Limberlost。



The　Angel　became　white　to　the　lips　and　gripped　Freckles　with

both　hands。　　He　gulped　with　mortification　and　turned　his　back。



To　frighten　her　subject　away　carelessly！　　It　was　the　head　crime　in

the　Bird　Woman's　category。　　She　extended　her　hands　as　she　arose；

baked；　blistered；　and　dripping；　and　exclaimed：　　〃Bless　you；　my

children！　　Bless　you！〃　And　it　truly　sounded　as　if　she　meant　it。



〃Why；　why〃　stammered　the　bewildered　Angel。



Freckles　hurried　into　the　breach。



〃You　must　be　for　blaming　it　every　bit　on　me。　　I　was　thinking　we　got

Little　Chicken's　picture　real　good。　　I　was　so　drunk　with　the　joy　of

it　I　lost　all　me　senses　and；　‘Let's　run　tell　the　Bird　Woman；'　says　I。　

Like　a　fool　I　was　for　running；　and　I　sort　of　dragged　the　Angel　along。〃



〃Oh　Freckles！〃　expostulated　the　Angel。　　〃Are　you　loony？　　Of　course；

it　was　all　my　fault！　　I've　been　with　her　hundreds　of　times。　　I　knew

perfectly　well　that　I　wasn't　to　let　anythingNOT　ANYTHINGscare

her　bird　away！　　I　was　so　crazy　I　forgot。　　The　blame　is　all　mine；　and

she'll　never　forgive　me。〃



〃She　will；　too！〃　cried　Freckles。　　〃Wasn't　you　for　telling　me　that

very　first　day　that　when　people　scared　her　birds　away　she　just

killed　them！　　It's　all　me　foolishness；　and　I'll　never　forgive　meself！〃



The　Bird　Woman　plunged　into　the　swale　at　the　mouth　of　Sleepy　Snake

Creek；　and　came　wading　toward　them；　with　a　couple　of　cameras　and

dripping　tripods。



〃If　you　will　permit　me　a　word；　my　infants；〃　she　said；　〃I　will

explain　to　you　that　I　have　had　three　shots　at　that　fellow。〃



The　Angel　heaved　a　deep　sigh　of　relief；　and　Freckles'　face　cleared

a　little。



〃Two　of　them；〃　continued　the　Bird　Woman；　〃in　the　rushesone

facing；　crest　lowered；　one　light　on　back；　crest　flared；　and　the

last　on　wing；　when　you　came　up。　　I　simply　had　been　praying　for

something　to　make　him　arise　from　that　side；　so　that　he　would　fly

toward　the　camera；　for　he　had　waded　around　until　in　my　position　I

couldn't　do　it　myself。　　See？　　Behold　in　yourselves　the　answer　to　the

prayers　of　the　long…suffering！〃



Freckles　took　a　step　toward　her。



〃Are　you　really　meaning　that？〃　he　asked　wonderingly。　　〃Only　think；

Angel；　we　did　the　right　thing！　　She　won't　lose　her　picture　through

the　carelessness　of　us；　when　she's　waited　and　soaked　nearly　two　hours。　

She's　not　angry　with　us！〃



〃Never　was　in　a　sweeter　temper　in　my　life；〃　said　the　Bird　Woman；

busily　cleaning　and　packing　the　cameras。



Freckles　removed　his　hat　and　solemnly　held　out　his　hand。　　With　equal

solemnity　the　Angel　grasped　it。　　The　Bird　Woman　laughed　alone；　for

to　them　the　situation　had　been　too　serious　to　develop　any　of　the

elements　of　fun。



Then　they　loaded　the　carriage；　and　the　Bird　Woman　and　the　Angel

started　for　their　homes。　　It　had　been　a　difficult　time　for　all　of

them；　so　they　were　very　tired；　but　they　were　joyful。　　Freckles　was

so　happy　it　seemed　to　him　that　life　could　hold　little　more。　　As　the

Bird　Woman　was　ready　to　drive　away　he　laid　his　hand　on　the　lines

and　looked　into　her　face。



〃Do　you　suppose　we　got　it？〃　he　asked；　so　eagerly　that　she　would

have　given　much　to　be　able　to　say　yes　with　conviction。



〃Why；　my　dear；　I　don't　know；〃　she　said。　　〃I've　no　way　to　judge。　

If　you　made　the　exposure　just　before　you　came　to　me；　there　was　yet

a　fine　light。　　If　you　waited　until　Little　Chicken　was　close　the

entrance；　you　should　have　something　good；　even　if　you　didn't　catch

just　the　fleeting　expression　for　which　you　hoped。　　Of　course；　I

can't　say　surely；　but　I　think　there　is　every　reason　to　believe　that

you　have　it　all　right。　　I　will　develop　the　plate　tonight；　make　you

a　proof　from　it　early　in　the　morning；　and　bring　it　when　we　come。

It's　only　a　question　of　a　day　or　two　now　until　the　gang　arrives。　

I　want　to　work　in　all　the　studies　I　can　before　that　time；　for　they

are　bound　to　disturb　the　birds。　　Mr。　McLean　will　need　you　then；　and

I　scarcely　see　how　we　are　to　do　without　you。〃




Moved　by　an　impulse　she　never　afterward　regretted；　she　bent　and

laid　her　lips　on　Freckles'　forehead；　kissing　him　gently　and

thanking　him　for　his　many　kindnesses　to　her　in　her　loved　work。

Freckles　started　away　so　happy　that　he　felt　inclined　to　keep

watching　behind　to　see　if　the　trail　were　not　curling　up　and　rolling

down　the　line　after　him。







　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　XVI



　　　　Wherein　the　Angel　Locates　a　Rare　Tree　and　Dines　with　the　Gang



From　afar　Freckles　saw　them　coming。　　The　Angel　was　standing；　waving

her　hat。　　He　sprang　on　his　wheel　and　raced；　jolting　and　pounding；

down　the　corduroy　to　meet　them。　　The　Bird　Woman　stopped　the　horse

and　the　Angel　gave　him　the　bit　of　print　paper。　　Freckles　leaned　the

wheel　against　a　tree　and　took　the　proof　with　eager　fingers。　

He　never　before　had　seen　a　study　from　any　of　his　chickens。　

He　stood　staring。　　When　he　turned　his　face　toward　them　it　was

transfigured　with　delight。



〃You　see！〃　he　exclaimed；　and　began　gazing　again。　　〃Oh；　me　Little

Chicken！〃　he　cried。　　〃Oh　me　ilegant　Little　Chicken！　　I'd　be　giving

all　me　money　in　the　bank　for　you！〃



Then　he　thought　of　the　Angel's　muff　and　Mrs。　Duncan's　hat；　and

added；　〃or　at　least；　all　but　what　I'm　needing　bad　for　something　else。　

Would　you　mind　stopping　at　the　cabin　a　minute　and　showing　this

to　Mother　Duncan？〃　he　asked。



〃Give　me　that　little　book　in　your　pocket；〃　said　the　Bird　Woman。



She　folded　the　outer　edges　of　the　proof　so　that　it　would　fit　into

the　book；　explaining　as　she　did　so　its　perishable　nature　in

that　state。　　Freckles　went　hurrying　ahead；　and　they　arrived　in　time

to　see　Mrs。　Duncan　gazing　as　if　awestruck；　and　to　hear　her　bewildered

〃Weel　I　be　drawed　on！〃



Freckles　and　the　Angel　helped　the　Bird　Woman　to　establish　herself

for　a　long　day　at　the　mouth　of　Sleepy　Snake　Creek。　　Then　she　sent

them　away　and　waited　what　luck　would　bring　to　her。



〃Now；　what　shall　we　do？〃　inquired　the　Angel；　who　was　a　bundle　of

nerves　and　energy。



〃Would　you　like　to　go　to　me　room　awhile？〃　asked　Freckles。



〃If　you　don't　care　to　very　much；　I'd　rather　not；〃　said　the　Angel。

〃I'll　tell　you。　　Let's　go　help　Mrs。　Duncan　with　dinner　and　play　with

the　baby。　　I　love　a　nice；　clean　baby。〃



They　started　toward　the　cabin。　　Every　few　minutes　they　stopped　to

investigate　something　or　to　chatter　over　some　natural　history　wonder。　

The