Chapter XVII

           ToreachthetreewasamoredifficulttaskthanMcLeanhadsupposed.Thegangcouldapproachnearestontheoutsidetowardtheeast,butaftertheyreachedtheendoftheeastentrancetherewasyetamileofmostimpenetrablethicket,treesbigandlittle,andbushesofeveryvarietyandstageofgrowth.Inmanyplacesthemuckhadtobefilledtogivethehorsesandwagonsasolidfoundationoverwhichtohaulheavyloads.Itwasseveraldaysbeforetheycompletedaroadtothenoble,bigtreeandwerereadytofellit.

           Whenthesawingbegan,FreckleswaswatchingdowntheroadwhereitmetthetrailleadingfromLittleChicken’stree.Hehadgonetothetreeaheadofthegangtoremovetheblueribbon.Carefullyfolded,itnowlayoverhisheart.Hewaspromisinghimselfmuchcomfortwiththatribbon,whenhewouldleaveforthecitynextmonthtobeginhisstudiesanddreamthesummeroveragain.Itwouldhelptomakethingstangible.Whenhewasdressedasothermen,andathiswork,heknewwherehemeanttohomethatpreciousbitofblue.Itshouldbehisgood-lucktoken,andhewouldwearitalwaystokeepbrightinmemorythedayonwhichtheAngelhadcalledhimherknight.

           Howhewouldstudy,andoh,howhewouldsing!IfonlyhecouldfulfillMcLean’sexpectations,andmaketheAngelproudofhim!Ifonlyhecouldbearealknight!

           HecouldnotunderstandwhytheAngelhadfailedtocome.Shehadwantedtoseetheirtreefelled.Shewouldbetoolateifshedidnotarrivesoon.Hehadtoldheritwouldbereadythatmorning,andshehadsaidshesurelywouldbethere.