Веснушки

           WithMcLeanitwasacaseoflettinghissober,betterjudgmentbeoverriddenbytheboyhewasgrowingsotolovethathecouldnotenduretoopposehim,andtohaveFreckleskeephistrustandwinalonemeantmorethananymoneytheBossmightlose.

           ThefollowingmorningMcLeanbroughtthewheel,andFrecklestookittothetrailtotestit.Itwasnew,chainless,withaslittleaspossibletocatchinhurriedriding,andineverywaythebestofitskind.Freckleswentskimmingaroundthetrailonitonapreliminarytripbeforehelockeditinhiscaseandstartedhisminuteexaminationofhislineonfoot.Heglancedaroundhisroomasheleftit,andthenstoodstaring.

           OnthemossbeforehisprettiestseatlaytheAngel’shat.Intheexcitementofyesterdayallofthemhadforgottenit.Hewentandpickeditup,oh!socarefully,gazingatitwithhungryeyes,buttouchingitonlytocarryittohiscase,wherehehungitontheshininghandlebarofthenewwheelandlockeditamonghistreasures.Thenhewenttothetrail,withanewexpressiononhisfaceandastrangethrobbinginhisheart.Hewasnotintheleastafraidofanythingthatmorning.HefelthewastheveriestDaniel,butallhislionsseemedweakandharmless.

           WhatBlackJack’snextmovewouldbehecouldnotimagine,butthattherewouldbeamoveofsomekindwascertain.Thebigbullywasnotamantogiveuphispurpose,ortohavethehatsweptfromhisheadwithabulletandbearitmeekly.Moreover,WessnerwouldclingtohisrevengewithaDutchman’ssinglenessofmind.