Веснянки

           IfyouwanttosaveMcLean’swageronyou,nowyougo!”shecommandedFreckles,who,withanagonizedglanceattheAngel,rantowardtheeast.

           TheBirdWomanchosethemiddledistance,andforalasttimecautionedtheAngelasshemovedawaytoliedownandshoothigh.

           ThroughtheunderbrushtheBirdWomancreptevenmorecloselythanshehadintended,foundaclearrange,andwaitedforFreckles’shot.Therewasonelongminuteofsickeningsuspense.Themenstraightenedforbreath.Workwasdifficultwithahandsawintheheatoftheswamp.Astheyrested,thebigdarkfellowtookabottlefromhispocketandbeganoilingthesaw.

           “Wegottokeepmightyquiet,”hesaid,“andwaittofellituntilthatdamnedguardhasgonetohisdinner.”

           Againtheybenttotheirwork.Freckles’revolverspatfire.Leadspangedonsteel.Thesaw-handleflewfromWessner’shandandhereeledfromthejaroftheshock.BlackJackstraightened,utteringafearfuloath.Thehatsailedfromhisheadfromthefarnortheast.TheAngelhadnotwaitedfortheBirdWoman,andhershotscarcelycouldhavebeencalledhigh.Atalmostthesameinstantthethirdshotwhistledfromtheeast.BlackJacksprangintotheairwithayellofcompletepanic,foritrippedaheelfromhisboot.Frecklesemptiedhissecondchamber,andtheearthspatteredoverWessner.Shotspouredinrapidly.Withoutevenreachingforaweapon,bothmenrantowardtheeastroadingreatleapingbounds,whileleadenslugssungandhissedaroundthemindeadlyearnest.