Веснянки
Chapter XI
”
Hereachedhisroomandcautiouslyscannedtheentrancebeforehesteppedin.Thenhepushedthebushesapartwithhisrightarmandentered,hislefthandonthebuttofhisfavoriterevolver.Instantlyheknewthatsomeonehadbeenthere.Hesteppedtothecenteroftheroom,closelyscanningeachwallandthefloor.Hecouldfindnotraceofacluetoconfirmhisbelief,yetsointimatewashewiththespiritoftheplacethatheknew.
Howheknewhecouldnothavetold,yethedidknowthatsomeonehadenteredhisroom,satonhisbenches,andwalkedoverhisfloor.Hewassurestaroundthecase.Nothingwasdisturbed,yetitseemedtoFrecklesthathecouldseewherepryingfingershadtriedthelock.Hesteppedbehindthecase,carefullyexaminingthegroundallaroundit,andclosebesidethetreetowhichitwasnailedhefoundadeep,freshfootprintinthespongysoil—along,narrowprint,thatwasnevermadebythefootofWessner.Hishearttuggedinhisbreastashementallymeasuredtheprint,buthedidnotlinger,fornowthefeelingarosethathewasbeingwatched.Itseemedtohimthathecouldfeeltheeyesofsomeintruderathisback.Heknewhewasexaminingthingstooclosely:ifanyonewerewatching,hedidnotwanthimtoknowthathefeltit.
Hetookthemostopenway,andcarriedwaterforhisflowersandmossasusual;butheputhimselfintonopositioninwhichhewasfullyexposed,andhishandwasclosehisrevolverconstantly.
