Веснянки
Chapter IX
IdohopeFreckleswillhurry.”
Herchinwasquiveringasaterrifiedchild’s.Sheliftedherbonnettoreplaceitandbrushedagainstabushbesideher.WHIRR,almostintoherface,wentanighthawkstretchedalongalimbforitsdaytimenap.Mrs.Duncancriedoutandsprangdownthetrail,alightingonafrogthatwashoppingacross.Thehorriblecroakitgaveasshecrusheditsickenedher.Shescreamedwildlyandjumpedtooneside.Thatcarriedherintotheswale,wherethegrassesreachedalmosttoherwaist,andherhorrorofsnakesreturning,shemadeaflyingleapforanoldloglyingbesidetheline.Shealightedsquarely,butitwassodampandrottenthatshesankstraightthroughittoherknees.Shecaughtatthewireasshewentdown,andmissing,rakedherwristacrossabarbuntilshetoreableedinggash.Herfingersclosedconvulsivelyaroundthesecondstrand.Shewastoofrightenedtoscreamnow.Hertonguestiffened.Sheclungfranticallytothesaggingwire,andfinallymanagedtograspitwiththeotherhand.Thenshecouldreachthetopwire,andsoshedrewherselfupandfoundsolidfooting.Shepickeduptheclubthatshehaddroppedinordertoextricateherself.Leaningheavilyonit,shemanagedtoreturntothetrail,butshewastremblingsothatshescarcelycouldwalk.Goingafewstepsfarther,shecametothestumpofthefirsttreethathadbeentakenout.
Shesatboltuprightandverystill,tryingtocollectherthoughtsandreasonawayherterror.Asquirrelaboveherdroppedanut,andasitcamerattlingdown,bouncingfrombranchtobranch,everynerveinhertuggedwildly.
