freckles-第36部分

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investigate　something　or　to　chatter　over　some　natural　history　wonder。　

The　Angel　had　quick　eyes；　she　seemed　to　see　everything；　but　Freckles'

were　even　quicker；　for　life　itself　had　depended　on　their　sharpness

ever　since　the　beginning　of　his　work　at　the　swamp。　　They　saw　it　at

the　same　time。



〃Someone　has　been　making　a　flagpole；〃　said　the　Angel；　running　the

toe　of　her　shoe　around　the　stump；　evidently　made　that　season。

〃Freckles；　what　would　anyone　cut　a　tree　as　small　as　that　for？〃



〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Freckles。



〃Well；　but　I　want　to　know！〃　said　the　Angel。　　〃No　one　came　away　here

and　cut　it　for　fun。　　They've　taken　it　away。　　Let's　go　back　and　see　if

we　can　see　it　anywhere　around　there。〃



She　turned；　retraced　her　footsteps；　and　began　eagerly　searching。

Freckles　did　the　same。



〃There　it　is！〃　he　exclaimed　at　last；　〃leaning　against　the　trunk　of

that　big　maple。〃



〃Yes；　and　leaning　there　has　killed　a　patch　of　dried　bark；〃　said

the　Angel。　　〃See　how　dried　it　appears？〃



Freckles　stared　at　her。



〃Angel！〃　he　shouted；　〃I　bet　you　it's　a　marked　tree！〃



〃Course　it　is！〃　cried　the　Angel。　　〃No　one　would　cut　that　sapling　and

carry　it　away　there　and　lean　it　up　for　nothing。　　I'll　tell　you！　　This

is　one　of　Jack's　marked　trees。　　He's　climbed　up　there　above　anyone's

head；　peeled　the　bark；　and　cut　into　the　grain　enough　to　be　sure。

Then　he's　laid　the　bark　back　and　fastened　it　with　that　pole　to　mark　it。　

You　see；　there're　a　lot　of　other　big　maples　close　around　it。　　Can　you

climb　to　that　place？〃



〃Yes；〃　said　Freckles；　〃if　I　take　off　my　wading…boots　I　can。〃



〃Then　take　them　off；〃　said　the　Angel；　〃and　do　hurry！　　Can't　you　see

that　I　am　almost　crazy　to　know　if　this　tree　is　a　marked　one？〃



When　they　pushed　the　sapling　over；　a　piece　of　bark　as　big　as　the

crown　of　Freckles'　hat　fell　away。



〃I　believe　it　looks　kind　of　nubby；〃　encouraged　the　Angel；　backing

away；　with　her　face　all　screwed　into　a　twist　in　an　effort　to

intensify　her　vision。



Freckles　reached　the　opening；　then　slid　rapidly　to　the　ground。　

He　was　almost　breathless　while　his　eyes　were　flashing。



〃The　bark's　been　cut　clean　with　a　knife；　the　sap　scraped　away；　and

a　big　chip　taken　out　deep。　　The　trunk　is　the　twistiest　thing　you

ever　saw。　　It's　full　of　eyes　as　a　bird　is　of　feathers！〃



The　Angel　was　dancing　and　shaking　his　hand。



〃Oh；　Freckles；〃　she　cried；　〃I'm　so　delighted　that　you　found　it！〃



〃But　I　didn't；〃　said　the　astonished　Freckles。　　〃That　tree　isn't　my

find；　it's　yours。　　I　forgot　it　and　was　going　on；　you　wouldn't　give

up；　and　kept　talking　about　it；　and　turned　back。　　You　found　it！〃



〃You'd　best　be　looking　after　your　reputation　for　truth　and

veracity；〃　said　the　Angel。　　〃You　know　you　saw　that　sapling　first！〃



〃Yes；　after　you　took　me　back　and　set　me　looking　for　it；〃　scoffed　Freckles。



The　clear；　ringing　echo　of　strongly　swung　axes　came　crashing

through　the　Limberlost。



〃'Tis　the　gang！〃　shouted　Freckles。　　〃They're　clearing　a　place　to

make　the　camp。　　Let's　go　help！〃



〃Hadn't　we　better　mark　that　tree　again？〃　cautioned　the　Angel。　

〃It's　away　in　here。　　There's　such　a　lot　of　them；　and　all　so

much　alike。　　We'd　feel　good　and　green　to　find　it　and　then　lose　it。〃



Freckles　lifted　the　sapling　to　replace　it；　but　the　Angel　motioned

him　away。



〃Use　your　hatchet；〃　she　said。　　〃I　predict　this　is　the　most　valuable

tree　in　the　swamp。　　You　found　it。　　I'm　going　to　play　that　you're

my　knight。　　Now；　you　nail　my　colors　on　it。〃



She　reached　up；　and　pulling　a　blue　bow　from　her　hair；　untied　and

doubled　it　against　the　tree。　　Freckles　turned　his　eyes　from　her　and

managed　the　fastening　with　shaking　fingers。　　The　Angel　had　called

him　her　knight！　　Dear　Lord；　how　he　loved　her！　　She　must　not　see　his

face；　or　surely　her　quick　eyes　would　read　what　he　was　fighting　to　hide。　

He　did　not　dare　lay　his　lips　on　that　ribbon　then；　but　that　night

he　would　return　to　it。　　When　they　had　gone　a　little　distance；

they　both　looked　back；　and　the　morning　breeze　set　the　bit　of　blue

waving　them　a　farewell。



They　walked　at　a　rapid　pace。



〃I　am　sorry　about　scaring　the　birds；〃　said　the　Angel；　〃but　it's

almost　time　for　them　to　go　anyway。　　I　feel　dreadfully　over　having

the　swamp　ruined；　but　isn't　it　a　delight　to　hear　the　good；　honest

ring　of　those　axes；　instead　of　straining　your　ears　for　stealthy

sounds？　　Isn't　it　fine　to　go　openly　and　freely；　with　nothing　worse

than　a　snake　or　a　poison…vine　to　fear？〃



〃Ah！〃　said　Freckles；　with　a　long　breath；　〃it's　better　than　you　can

dream；　Angel。　　Nobody　will　ever　be　guessing　some　of　the　things　I've

been　through　trying　to　keep　me　promise　to　the　Boss；　and　to　hold　out

until　this　day。　　That　it's　come　with　only　one　fresh　stump；　and　the

log　from　that　saved；　and　this　new　tree　to　report；　isn't　it　grand？

Maybe　Mr。　McLean　will　be　forgetting　that　stump　when　he　sees　this

tree；　Angel！〃



〃He　can't　forget　it；〃　said　the　Angel；　and　in　answer　to　Freckles'

startled　eyes　she　added；　〃because　he　never　had　any　reason　to

remember　it。　　He　couldn't　have　done　a　whit　better　himself。　　My　father

says　so。　　You're　all　right；　Freckles！〃



She　reached　him　her　hand；　and　as　two　children；　they　broke　into　a

run　when　they　came　closer　the　gang。　　They　left　the　swamp　by　the　west

road　and　followed　the　trail　until　they　found　the　men。　　To　the　Angel

it　seemed　complete　charm。　　In　the　shadiest　spot　on　the　west　side　of

the　line；　at　the　edge　of　the　swamp　and　very　close　Freckles'　room；

they　were　cutting　bushes　and　clearing　space　for　a　big　tent　for　the

men's　sleeping…quarters；　another　for　a　dining…hall；　and　a　board

shack　for　the　cook。　　The　teamsters　were　unloading；　the　horses　were

cropping　leaves　from　the　bushes；　while　each　man　was　doing　his　part

toward　the　construction　of　the　new　Limberlost　quarters。



Freckles　helped　the　Angel　climb　on　a　wagonload　of　canvas　in　the　shade。　

She　removed　her　leggings；　wiped　her　heated　face；　and　glowed　with

happiness　and　interest。



The　gang　had　been　sifted　carefully。　　McLean　now　felt　that　there　was

not　a　man　in　it　who　was　not　trustworthy。



They　all　had　heard　of　the　Angel's　plucky　ride　for　Freckles'　relief；

several　of　them　had　been　in　the　rescue　party。　　Others；　new　since

that　time；　had　heard　the　tale　rehearsed　in　its　every　aspect　around

the　smudge…fires　at　night。　　Almost　all　of　them　knew　the　Angel　by

sight　from　her　trips　with　the　Bird　Woman　to　their　leases。　　They　all

knew　her　father；　her　position；　and　the　luxuries　of　her　home。

Whatever　course　she　had　chosen　with　them　they　scarcely　would　have

resented　it；　but　the　Angel　never　had　been　known　to　choose　a　course。

Her　spirit　of　friendliness　was　inborn　and　inbred。　　She　loved

everyone；　so　she　sympathized　with　everyone。　　Her　generosity　was　only

limited　by　what　was　in　her　power　to　give。



She　came　down　the　trail；　hand　in　hand　with　the　red…haired；　freckled

timber　guard　whom　she　had　worn　herself　past　the　limit　of　endurance

to　save　only　a　few　weeks　before；　racing　in　her　eagerness　to　reach

them；　and　laughing　her　〃Good　morning；　gentlemen；〃　right　and　left。

When　she　was　ensconced　on　the　wagonload　of　tenting；　she　sat　on　a

roll　of　canvas　as　a　queen　on　her　throne。　　There　was　not　a　man　of　the

gang　who　did　not　respect　her。　　She　was　a　living　exponent　of

universal　brotherhood。　　There　was　no　man　among　them　who　needed　her

exquisite　face　or　dainty　clothing　to　teach　him　that　the　deference

due　a　gentlewoman　should　be　paid　her。　　That　the　spirit　of　good

fellowship　she　radiated　levied　an　especial　tribute　of　its　own；　and

it　became　their　delight　to　honor　and　please　her。



As　they　raced　toward　the　wagon〃Let　me　tell　about　the　tree；

please？〃　she　begged　Freckles。



〃Why；　sure！〃　said　Freckles。



He　probably　would　have　said　the　same　to　anything　she　suggested。

When　McLean　came；　he　found　the　Angel　flushed　and　glowing；　sitting

on　the　wagon；　her　hands　already　filled。　　One　of　the　men；　who　was

cutting　a　scrub…oak；　had　carried　to　her　a　handful　of　crimson　leaves。　

Another　had　gathered　a　bunch　of　delicate　marsh…grass　heads　for　her。　

Someone　else；　in　taking　out　a　bush；　had　found　a　daintily　built　and

lined　little　nest；　fresh　as　when　made。



She　held　up　her　treasures　and　greeted　McLean；　〃Good　morning；　Mr。

Boss　of　the　Limberlost！〃



The　gang　shouted；　while　he　bowed　profoundly　before　her。



〃Everyone　listen！〃　cried　the　Angel；　climbing　a　roll　of　canvas。　

〃I　have　something　to　say！　　Freckles　has　been　guarding　here　over　a　year

now；　and　he　presents　the　Limberlost　to　you；　with　every　tree　in　it

saved；　for　good　measure　he　has　this　morning　located　the　rarest　one

of　them　all：　the　one　in　from　the　east　line；　that　Wessner　spoke　of

the　first　daynearest　the　one　you　took　out。　　All　together！　

Everyone！　　Hurrah　for　Freckles！〃



With　flushing　cheeks　and　gleaming　eyes；　gaily　waving　the　grass　above

her　head；　she　led　in　three　cheers　and　a　tiger。　　Freckles　slipped

into　the　swamp　and　hid　himself；　for　fear　he　could　not　conceal　his

pride　and　his　great　surging；　throbbing　love　for　her。



The　Angel　subsided　on　the　canvas　and　explained　to　McLean　about

the　maple。　　The　Boss　was　mightily　pleased。　　He　took　Freckles　and

set　out　to　re…locate　and　examine　the　tree。　　The　Angel　was　interested

in　the　making　of　the　camp；　so　she　preferred　to　remain　with　the　men。　

With　her　sharp　eyes　she　was　watching　every　detail　of　construction；

but　when　it　came　to　the　stretching　of　the　dining…hall　canvas　she

proceeded　to　take　command。　　The　men　were　driving　the　rope…pins；　when

the　Angel　arose　on　the　wagon　and；　leaning　forward；　spoke　to　Duncan；

who　was　directing　the　work。



〃I　believe　if　you　will　swing　that　around　a　few　feet　farther；　you

will　find　it　better；　Mr。　Duncan；〃　she　said。　　〃That　way　will　let　the

hot　sun　in　at　noon；　while　the　sides　will　cut　off　the　best　breeze。〃



〃That's　a　fact；〃　said　Duncan；　studying　the　conditions。



So；　by　shifting　the　pins　a　little；　they　obtained　comfort　for　which

they　blessed　the　Angel　every　day。　　W