Веснянки
Chapter XI
Growingrestiveatlastunderthestrain,heplungedboldlyintotheswampandsearchedminutelyallaroundhisroom,buthecouldnotdiscovertheleastthingtogivehimfurthercauseforalarm.Heunlockedhiscase,tookouthiswheel,andfortheremainderofthedayherodeandwatchedasheneverhadbefore.Severaltimeshelockedthewheelandcrossedtheswamponfoot,zigzaggingtocoverallthespacepossible.Everyrodhetraveledheusedthecautionthatsprangfromknowledgeofdangerandthedirectionfromwhichitprobablywouldcome.SeveraltimeshethoughtofsendingforMcLean,butforhislifehecouldnotmakeuphismindtodoitwithnothingmoretangiblethanonefootprinttojustifyhim.
HewaiteduntilhewassureDuncanwouldbeathome,ifhewerecomingforthenight,beforehewenttosupper.Thefirstthinghesawashecrossedtheswalewasthebigbaysintheyard.
Therehadbeennoonepassingthatday,andDuncanreadilyagreedtowatchuntilFrecklesrodetotown.HetoldDuncanofthefootprint,andurgedhimtoguardclosely.Duncansaidhemightresteasy,andfillinghispipeandtakingagoodrevolver,thebigmanwenttotheLimberlost.
Frecklesmadehimselfcleanandneat,andracedtotown,butitwasnightandthestarswereshiningbeforehereachedthehomeoftheBirdWoman.Fromafarhecouldseethatthehousewasablazewithlights.Thelawnandverandawerestrungwithfancylanternsandalivewithpeople.Hethoughthiserrandimportant,sototurnbackneveroccurredtoFreckles.Thiswasallthetimeoropportunityhewouldhave.
