Веснянки

           Hisheartwasjarringasitneverhadbeforewithrunning.HemustfollowtheBirdWoman’splanandmeetthematthecarriage,butiftheyreallydidintendtotrytohelphim,hemustnotallowit.AllowtheAngeltotrytohandlearevolverinhisdefence?Never!NotforallthetreesintheLimberlost!Shemightshootherself.Shemightforgettowatchsharplyandrunacrossasnakethatwasnotparticularlywellbehavedthatmorning.Frecklespermittedhimselfagrimsmileashewentspeedingon.

           Whenhereachedthecarriage,theBirdWomanandtheAngelhadthehorsehitched,theoutfitpacked,andwerecalmlywaiting.TheBirdWomanheldarevolverinherhand.Sheworedarkclothing.TheyhadpinnedabigfocusingclothoverthefrontoftheAngel’slightdress.

           “GiveAngeloneofyourrevolvers,quick!”saidtheBirdWoman.“Wewillcreepupuntilweareinfairrange.Theunderbrushissothickandtheyaresobusythattheywillnevernoticeus,ifwedon’tmakeanoise.Youfirefirst,thenIwillpopinfrommydirection,andthenyou,Angel,andshootquitehigh,orelseverylow.Wemustn’treallyhitthem.We’llgocloseenoughtothecowardstomakeitinteresting,andkeepitupuntilwehavethemgoing.”

           Frecklesprotested.

           TheBirdWomanreachedover,and,takingthesmallerrevolverfromhisbelt,handedittotheAngel.“Keepyournervesteady,dear;watchwhereyoustep,andshoothigh,”shesaid.“Gostraightatthemfromwhereyouare.WaituntilyouhearFreckles’firstshot,thenfollowmeascloselyasyoucan,toletthemknowthatweoutnumberthem.