freckles-第38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！





A　terrible　cry　broke　from　the　men；　while　McLean　covered　his　face。

Instantly　Freckles　was　up；　with　the　Angel　in　his　arms；　struggling　on。　

The　outer　limbs　were　on　them　when　they　saw　Freckles　hurl　the

Angel；　face　down；　in　the　muck；　as　far　from　him　as　he　could　send　her。　

Springing　after；　in　an　attempt　to　cover　her　body　with　his　own；

he　whirled　to　see　if　they　were　yet　in　danger；　and　with　outstretched

arms　braced　himself　for　the　shock。　　The　branches　shut　them　from

sight；　and　the　awful　crash　rocked　the　earth。



McLean　and　Duncan　ran　with　axes　and　saws。　　The　remainder　of　the　gang

followed；　and　they　worked　desperately。　　It　seemed　a　long　time　before

they　caught　a　glimpse　of　the　Angel's　blue　dress；　but　it　renewed

their　vigor。　　Duncan　fell　on　his　knees　beside　her　and　tore　the　muck

from　underneath　her　with　his　hands。　　In　a　few　seconds　he　dragged　her

out；　choking　and　stunned；　but　surely　not　fatally　hurt。



Freckles　lay　a　little　farther　under　the　tree；　a　big　limb　pinning

him　down。　　His　eyes　were　wide　open。　　He　was　perfectly　conscious。

Duncan　began　mining　beneath　him；　but　Freckles　stopped　him。



〃You　can't　be　moving　me；〃　he　said。　　〃You　must　cut　off　the　limb　and

lift　it。　　I　know。〃



Two　men　ran　for　the　big　saw。　　A　number　of　them　laid　hold　of　the　limb

and　bore　up。　　In　a　short　time　it　was　removed；　and　Freckles　lay　free。



The　men　bent　over　to　lift　him；　but　he　motioned　them　away。



〃Don't　be　touching　me　until　I　rest　a　bit；〃　he　pleaded。



Then　he　twisted　his　head　until　he　saw　the　Angel；　who　was　wiping

muck　from　her　eyes　and　face　on　the　skirt　of　her　dress。



〃Try　to　get　up；〃　he　begged。



McLean　laid　hold　of　the　Angel　and　helped　her　to　her　feet。



〃Do　you　think　any　bones　are　broken？〃　gasped　Freckles。



The　Angel　shook　her　head　and　wiped　muck。



〃You　see　if　you　can　find　any；　sir；〃　Freckles　commanded。



The　Angel　yielded　herself　to　McLean's　touch；　and　he　assured

Freckles　that　she　was　not　seriously　injured。



Freckles　settled　back；　a　smile　of　ineffable　tenderness　on　his　face。



〃Thank　the　Lord！〃　he　hoarsely　whispered。



The　Angel　leaned　toward　him。



〃Now；　Freckles；　you！〃　she　cried。　　〃It's　your　turn。　　Please　get　up！〃



A　pitiful　spasm　swept　Freckles'　face。　　The　sight　of　it　washed　every

vestige　of　color　from　the　Angel's。　　She　took　hold　of　his　hands。



〃Freckles；　get　up！〃　It　was　half　command；　half　entreaty。



〃Easy；　Angel；　easy！　　Let　me　rest　a　bit　first！〃　implored　Freckles。



She　knelt　beside　him。　　He　reached　his　arm　around　her　and　drew

her　closely。　　He　looked　at　McLean　in　an　agony　of　entreaty　that

brought　the　Boss　to　his　knees　on　the　other　side。



〃Oh；　Freckles！〃　McLean　cried。　　〃Not　that！　　Surely　we　can　do　something！　

We　must！　　Let　me　see！〃



He　tried　to　unfasten　Freckles'　neckband；　but　his　fingers　shook　so

clumsily　that　the　Angel　pushed　them　away　and　herself　laid　Freckles'

chest　bare。　　With　one　hasty　glance　she　gathered　the　clothing

together　and　slipped　her　arm　under　his　head。　　Freckles　lifted　his

eyes　of　agony　to　hers。



〃You　see？〃　he　said。



The　Angel　nodded　dumbly。



Freckles　turned　to　McLean。



〃Thank　you　for　everything；〃　he　panted。　　〃Where　are　the　boys？〃



〃They　are　all　here；〃　said　the　Boss；　〃except　a　couple　who　have　gone

for　doctors；　Mrs。　Duncan　and　the　Bird　Woman。〃



〃It's　no　use　trying　to　do　anything；〃　said　Freckles。　　〃You　won't

forget　the　muff　and　the　Christmas　box。　　The　muff　especial？〃



There　was　a　movement　above　them　so　pronounced　that　it　attracted

Freckles'　attention；　even　in　that　extreme　hour。　　He　looked　up；　and

a　pleased　smile　flickered　on　his　drawn　face。



〃Why；　if　it　ain't　me　Little　Chicken！〃　he　cried　hoarsely。　　〃He　must

be　making　his　very　first　trip　from　the　log。　　Now　Duncan　can　have　his

big　watering…trough。〃



〃It　was　Little　Chicken　that　made　me　late；〃　faltered　the　Angel。　

〃I　was　so　anxious　to　get　here　early　I　forgot　to　bring　his　breakfast

from　the　carriage。　　He　must　have　been　hungry；　for　when　I　passed　the

log　he　started　after　me。　　He　was　so　wabbly；　and　so　slow　flying　from

tree　to　tree　and　through　the　bushes；　I　just　had　to　wait　on　him；　for

I　couldn't　drive　him　back。〃



〃Of　course　you　couldn't！　　Me　bird　has　too　amazing　good　sinse　to　go

back　when　he　could　be　following　you；〃　exulted　Freckles；　exactly　as

if　he　did　not　realize　what　the　delay　had　cost　him。　　Then　he　lay

silently　thinking；　but　presently　he　asked　slowly：　　〃And　so　‘twas　me

Little　Chicken　that　was　making　you　late；　Angel？〃



〃Yes；〃　said　the　Angel。



A　spasm　of　fierce　pain　shook　Freckles；　and　a　look　of　uncertainty

crossed　his　face。



〃All　summer　I've　been　thanking　God　for　the　falling　of　the　feather

and　all　the　delights　it's　brought　me；〃　he　muttered；　〃but　this　looks

as　if〃



He　stopped　short　and　raised　questioning　eyes　to　McLean。



〃I　can't　help　being　Irish；　but　I　can　help　being　superstitious；〃

he　said。　　〃I　mustn't　be　laying　it　to　the　Almighty；　or　to　me　bird；

must　I？〃



〃No；　dear　lad；〃　said　McLean；　stroking　the　brilliant　hair。　

〃The　choice　lay　with　you。　　You　could　have　stood　a　rooted　dolt　like

all　the　remainder　of　us。　　It　was　through　your　great　love　and　your

high　courage　that　you　made　the　sacrifice。〃



〃Don't　you　be　so　naming　it；　sir！〃　cried　Freckles。　　〃It's　just

the　reverse。　　If　I　could　be　giving　me　body　the　hundred　times　over　to

save　hers　from　this；　I'd　be　doing　it　and　take　joy　with　every　pain。〃



He　turned　with　a　smile　of　adoring　tenderness　to　the　Angel。　　She　was

ghastly　white；　and　her　eyes　were　dull　and　glazed。　　She　scarcely

seemed　to　hear　or　understand　what　was　coming；　but　she　bravely　tried

to　answer　that　smile。



〃Is　my　forehead　covered　with　dirt？〃　he　asked。



She　shook　her　head。



〃You　did　once；〃　he　gasped。



Instantly　she　laid　her　lips　on　his　forehead；　then　on　each　cheek；

and　then　in　a　long　kiss　on　his　lips。



McLean　bent　over　him。



〃Freckles；〃　he　said　brokenly；　〃you　will　never　know　how　I　love　you。

You　won't　go　without　saying　good…bye　to　me？〃



That　word　stung　the　Angel　to　quick　comprehension。　　She　started　as　if

arousing　from　sleep。



〃Good…bye？〃　she　cried　sharply；　her　eyes　widening　and　the　color

rushing　into　her　white　face。　　〃Good…bye！　　Why；　what　do　you　mean？

Who's　saying　good…bye？　　Where　could　Freckles　go；　when　he　is　hurt

like　this；　save　to　the　hospital？　　You　needn't　say　good…bye　for　that。

Of　course；　we　will　all　go　with　him！　　You　call　up　the　men。　　We　must

start　right　away。〃



〃It's　no　use；　Angel；〃　said　Freckles。　　〃I'm　thinking　ivry　bone　in　me

breast　is　smashed。　　You'll　have　to　be　letting　me　go！〃



〃I　will　not；〃　said　the　Angel　flatly。　　〃It's　no　use　wasting　precious

time　talking　about　it。　　You　are　alive。　　You　are　breathing；　and　no

matter　how　badly　your　bones　are　broken；　what　are　great　surgeons　for

but　to　fix　you　up　and　make　you　well　again？　　You　promise　me　that

you'll　just　grit　your　teeth　and　hang　on　when　we　hurt　you；　for　we

must　start　with　you　as　quickly　as　it　can　be　done。　　I　don't　know　what

has　been　the　matter　with　me。　　Here's　good　time　wasted　already。〃



〃Oh；　Angel！〃　moaned　Freckles；　〃I　can't！　　You　don't　know　how　bad　it　is。　

I'll　die　the　minute　you　are　for　trying　to　lift　me！〃



〃Of　course　you　will；　if　you　make　up　your　mind　to　do　it；〃　said

the　Angel。　　〃But　if　you　are　determined　you　won't；　and　set　yourself　to

breathing　deep　and　strong；　and　hang　on　to　me　tight；　I　can　get　you　out。　

Really　you　must；　Freckles；　no　matter　how　it　hurts；　for　you　did　this

for　me；　and　now　I　must　save　you；　so　you　might　as　well　promise。〃



She　bent　over　him；　trying　to　smile　encouragement　with　her

fear…stiffened　lips。



〃You　will　promise；　Freckles？〃



Big　drops　of　cold　sweat　ran　together　on　Freckles'　temples。



〃Angel；　darlin'　Angel；〃　he　pleaded；　taking　her　hand　in　his。　

〃You　ain't　understanding；　and　I　can't　for　the　life　of　me　be

telling　you；　but　indade；　it's　best　to　be　letting　me　go。　

This　is　my　chance。　　Please　say　good…bye；　and　let　me　slip

off　quick！〃



He　appealed　to　McLean。



〃Dear　Boss；　you　know！　　You　be　telling　her　that；　for　me；　living　is

far　worse　pain　than　dying。　　Tell　her　you　know　death　is　the　best

thing　that　could　ever　be　happening　to　me！〃



〃Merciful　Heaven！〃　burst　in　the　Angel。　　〃I　can't　endure　this　delay！〃



She　caught　Freckles'　hand　to　her　breast；　and　bending　over　him；

looked　deeply　into　his　stricken　eyes。



〃‘Angel；　I　give　you　my　word　of　honor　that　I　will　keep　right

on　breathing。'　That's　what　you　are　going　to　promise　me；〃　she　said。　

〃Do　you　say　it？〃



Freckles　hesitated。



〃Freckles！〃　imploringly　commanded　the　Angel；　〃YOU　DO　SAY　IT！〃



〃Yis；〃　gasped　Freckles。



The　Angel　sprang　to　her　feet。



〃Then　that's　all　right；〃　she　said；　with　a　tinge　of　her　old…

time　briskness。　　〃You　just　keep　breathing　away　like　a　steam

engine；　and　I　will　do　all　the　remainder。〃



The　eager　men　gathered　around　her。



〃It's　going　to　be　a　tough　pull　to　get　Freckles　out；〃　she　said；　〃but

it's　our　only　chance；　so　listen　closely　and　don't　for　the　lives　of

you　fail　me　in　doing　quickly　what　I　tell　you。　　There's　no　time　to

spend　falling　down　over　each　other；　we　must　have　some　system。　

You　four　there　get　on　those　wagon　horses　and　ride　to　the　sleeping…tent。　

Get　the　stoutest　cot；　a　couple　of　comforts；　and　a　pillow。　　Ride　back

with　them　some　way　to　save　time。　　If　you　meet　any　other　men　of　the

gang；　send　them　here　to　help　carry　the　cot。　　We　won't　risk　the　jolt

of　driving　with　him。　　The　others　clear　a　path　out　to　the　road；　and

Mr。　McLean；　you　take　Nellie　and　ride　to　town。　　Tell　my　father　how

Freckles　is　hurt　and　that　he　risked　it　to　save　me。　　Tell　him　I'm

going　to　take　Freckles　to　Chicago　on　the　noon　train；　and　I　want　him

to　hold　it　if　we　are　a　little　late。　　If　he　can't；　then　have　a

special　ready　at　the　station　and　another　on　the　Pittsburgh　at　Fort

Wayne；　so　we　can　go　straight　through。　　You　needn't　mind　leaving　us。

The　Bird　Woman　will　be　here　soon。　　We　will　rest　awhile。〃



She　dropped　into　the　muc