Веснянки
Chapter VII
TheBirdWomantoldherdistinctlytolielowandblazeawayhigh,justtohelpscarethem.Thespunkylittlethingfollowedthemrightoutintothewestroad,spittingleadlikehail,andclippingallaroundtheheadsandheelsofthem;andI’mdamned,sir,ifIbelieveshe’dcaredarapifshe’dhit.Ineversawmuchshooting,butifthatwasn’tthenearesttomissIeverwanttosee!Scaredthelifenearoutofmebodywiththefearthatshe’ddroponeofthem.AslongasI’dnoonetohelpmebutacoupleofwomenthatdidn’tdarebemixedupinit,allIcoulddowastoletthemgetaway.”
“Now,willtheycomeback?”askedMcLean.
“Ofcourse!”saidFreckles.“They’renotgoingtobetakingthat.Youcouldstakeyourlifeonit,they’llbecomingback.Atleast,BlackJackwill.Wessnermaynothavethepluck,unlessheishalfdrunk.Thenhe’dbeaterror.Andthenexttime—”Freckleshesitated.
“What?”
“Itwillbeaquestionofwhoshootsfirstandstraightest.”
“Thentheonlythingformetodoistodoubletheguardandbringthegangherethefirstminutepossible.AssoonasIfeelthatwehavetherarestofthestuffoutbelow,wewillcome.Thefactis,inmanycases,untilitisfelledit’sdifficulttotellwhatatreewillprovetobe.Itwon’tdotoleaveyouherelongeralone.Jackhasbeenshootingtwentyyearstoyourone,anditstandstoreasonthatyouarenomatchforhim.Whoofthegangwouldyoulikebesttohavewithyou?”
“Noone,sir,”saidFrecklesemphatically.“NexttimeiswhereIrun.Iwon’ttrytofightthemalone.
