Chapter III

           SoFrecklesfaredthroughthebitterwinter.Hewasveryhappy.Hehadhungeredforfreedom,love,andappreciationsolong!HehadbeenunspeakablylonelyattheHome;andtheutterlonelinessofagreatdesertorforestisnotsodifficulttoendureasthelonelinessofbeingconstantlysurroundedbycrowdsofpeoplewhodonotcareintheleastwhetheroneislivingordead.

           AllthroughthewinterFreckles’entireenergywasgiventokeepinguphislinesandhis“chickens”fromfreezingorstarving.WhenthefirstbreathofspringtouchedtheLimberlost,andthesnowrecededbeforeit;whenthecatkinsbegantobloom;whentherecameahintofgreentothetrees,bushes,andswale;whentherushesliftedtheirheads,andthepulseofthenewlyresurrectedseasonbeatstronglyintheheartofnature,somethingnewstirredinthebreastoftheboy.

           Naturealwayslevieshertribute.NowshelaidapowerfulhandonthesoulofFreckles,towhichtheboy’swholebeingresponded,thoughhehadnottheleastideawhatwastroublinghim.Duncanacceptedhiswife’stheorythatitwasatouchofspringfever,butFrecklesknewbetter.Heneverhadbeensowell.Clean,hot,andsteadythebloodpulsedinhisveins.Hewasalwayshungry,andhismostdifficultworktiredhimnotatall.Forlongmonths,withoutasingleintermission,hehadtrampedthosesevenmilesoftrailtwiceeachday,througheveryconceivablestateofweather.Withtheheavyclubhegavehiswiresasuretest,andbetweensections,firstinplay,afterwardtokeephiscirculationgoing,hehadacquiredtheskillofanexpertdrummajor.