Веснянки
Chapter IX
ThechildrenaddedtheirwailingtoFreckles’panic.
Thistimehewassoclosethecabinthathecouldcarryherintothehouseandlayheronthebed.Hesenttheoldestboyscuddingdownthecorduroyforthenearestneighbor,andbetweenthemtheyundressedMrs.Duncananddiscoveredthatshewasnotbitten.Theybathedandboundthebleedingwristandcoaxedherbacktoconsciousness.Shelaysobbingandshuddering.Thefirstintelligentwordshesaidwas:“Freckles,lookatthatjaronthekitchentableandseeifmyyeastisnorunningower.”
SeveraldayspassedbeforeshecouldgiveDuncanandFrecklesanydetailedaccountofwhathadhappenedtoher,eventhenshecouldnotdoitwithoutcryingastheleastofherbabies.Freckleswasalmostheartbroken,andnursedheraswellasanywomancouldhavedone;whilebigDuncan,withaheartfullforthemboth,workedearlyandlatetochinkeverycrackofthecabinandexamineeveryspotthatpossiblycouldharborasnake.Theeffectsofhermorningonthetrailkepthershiveringhalfthetime.ShecouldnotrestuntilshesentforMcLeanandbeggedhimtosaveFrecklesfromfurtherrisk,inthatplaceofhorrors.TheBosswenttotheswampwithhismindfullydeterminedtodoso.
Frecklesstoodandlaughedathim.“Why,Mr.McLean,don’tyouletawoman’snervoussystemsetyouworryingaboutme,”hesaid.“I’mnotdenyinghowshefelt,becauseI’vebeenthroughitmeself,butthat’salloverandgone
