Веснянки

           Gatheringherskirtshigher,withhairflyingaroundherfaceandhereyesalmostburstingfromtheirsockets,sheranstraighttowardit.Thesoundofherfeetandthehummingofthebeesalarmedtherattler,soitstoppedacrossthetrail,liftingitsheadabovethegrassesoftheswaleandrattlinginquiringly—rattleduntilthebeeswereoutdone.

           Straighttowarditwentthepanic-strickenwoman,runningwildlyanduncontrollably.Shetookoneleap,clearingitsbodyonthepath,thenflewaheadwithwingedfeet.Thesnake,coiledtostrike,missedMrs.Duncanandlandedamongthebeesinstead.Theysettledoverandaroundit,andrealizingthatithadfoundtrouble,itsankamongthegrassesandwentthreshingtowarditsdeninthedeepwillow-fringedlowground.Theswaleappearedasifareaperwerecuttingawideswath.Themassofenragedbeesdartedangrilyaround,searchingforit,andstrikingthescrub-thorn,beganatemporarysettlingtheretodiscoverwhetheritwereasuitableplace.Completelyexhausted,Mrs.Duncanstaggeredonafewstepsfarther,fellfacingthepath,whereFrecklesfoundher,andlayquietly.

           Frecklesworkedoverheruntilshedrewalong,quiveringbreathandopenedhereyes.

           Whenshesawhimbendingaboveher,sheclosedthemtightly,andgrippinghim,struggledtoherfeet.Hehelpedher,andwithhisarmaroundandhalfcarryingher,theymadetheirwaytotheclearing.Sheclungtohimwithallherremainingstrength,butopenhereyesshewouldnotuntilherchildrencameclusteringaroundher.Then,brawny,bigScotswomanthoughshewas,shequietlykeeledoveragain.