Веснянки
Chapter IX
Thoroughlyfrightened,hestoppedonlylongenoughtoslipthemon,andthenspedwithallhisstrengthfortheLimberlost.Tothewest,thelong,black,hard-beatentraillayclear;butfaruptheeastside,straightacrossthepath,hecouldseewhatwascertainlyalimp,brownfigure.Frecklesspunwithallhismight.
Facedown,SarahDuncanlayacrossthetrail.WhenFrecklesturnedherover,hisbloodchilledatthelookofhorrorsettledonherface.Therewasalowhummingandsomethingspattedagainsthim.Glancingaround,Frecklesshiveredinterror,fortherewasaswarmofwildbeessettledonascrub-thornonlyafewyardsaway.Theairwasfilledwithexcited,unsettledbeesmakingreadytoleadfartherinsearchofasuitablelocation.Thenhethoughtheunderstood,andwithaprayerofthankfulnessinhisheartthatshehadescaped,evensonarrowly,hecaughtherupandhurrieddownthetrailuntiltheywerewelloutofdanger.Helaidherintheshade,andcarryingwaterfromtheswampinthecrownofhishat,hebathedherfaceandhands;butshelayinunbrokenstillness,withoutasignoflife.
ShehadfoundFreckles’bootssolargeandheavythatshehadgonebackandtakenthemoff,althoughshewasmortallyafraidtoapproachtheswampwithoutthem.Thethoughtofitmadehernervous,andthefactthatsheneverhadbeentherealoneaddedtoherfears.Shehadnotfollowedthetrailmanyrodswhenhertroublebegan.ShewasnotFreckles,sonotabirdofthelinewasgoingtobefooledintothinkingshewas.
