Веснушки

           WhenheturnedeastandreachedSleepySnakeCreek,slidingthroughtheswaleasthelongblacksnakeforwhichitwasnamed,hesatonthebridgeandclosedhisburningeyes,buttheywouldnotremainshut.Asifpulledbywires,theheavylidsflewopen,whiletheoutragednervesandmusclesofhisbodydanced,twitched,andtingled.

           Hebentforwardandidlywatchedthelimpidlittlestreamflowingbeneathhisfeet.Stretchingintotheswale,itcamecreepingbetweenanimpenetrablewallofmagnificentwildflowers,vines,andferns.Milkweed,goldenrod,ironwort,fringedgentians,cardinal-flowers,andturtle-headstoodontheveryedgeofthecreek,andeveryflowerofthemhadadoubleinthewater.Wildclematiscrownedwithsnowtheheadsoftreesscatteredhereandthereonthebank.

           Fromafarthecreekappearedtobemurky,dirtywater.Reallyitwasclearandsparkling.Thetingeofblacknesswasgainedfromitsbedofmuckshowingthroughthetransparentcurrent.Hecouldseesmallandwonderfullymarkedfish.Whatbecameofthemwhenthecreekspreadintotheswamp?Foronething,theywouldmakemightyfineeatingforthefamilyofthatself-satisfiedoldblueheron.

           Frecklessatsoquietlythatsoonthebrimofhishatwascoveredwithsnake-feeders,raspingtheircrispwingsandsingingwhiletheyrested.Someofthemsettledontheclub,andoneonhisshoulder.Hewassomotionless;feathers,fur,andgauzeweresoaccustomedtohim,thatallthroughtheswaletheycontinuedtheirdailylifeandforgothewasthere.

           Theheronfamilywerewadingthemouthofthecreek.