Веснянки

           Althoughhewatcheduntilhiseyesached,hecouldseenosignofanyonehavingenteredtheswamp.

           Hecalledacheerygreetingtoallhischickens.AtSleepySnakeCreekhealmostfellfromhiswheelwithsurprise:thesaw-birdwassurroundedbyfourlankyyoungstersclamoringforbreakfast.Thefatherwasstruttingwithalltheimportanceofadrummajor.

           “NousetoexpecttheBirdWomantoday,”saidFreckles;“butnowwouldn’tshebejumpingforachanceatthat?”

           AssoonasFreckleswasfardowntheeastline,thewatchwaspostedbelowtheroomonthewesttoreporthiscoming.Itwasonlyafewmomentsbeforethesignalcame.Thenthesawstopped,andtheropewasbroughtoutanduncoiledclosetoasapling.WessnerandBlackJackcrowdedtotheveryedgeoftheswampalittleabovethewire,andcrouched,waiting.

           TheyheardFrecklesbeforetheysawhim.Hecameglidingdownthelineswiftly,andasherodehewassingingsoftly:

           “Oh,doyoulove,

           Oh,sayyoulove——”

           Hegotnofarther.Thesharplydrivenwheelstruckthetensewireandboundedback.Frecklesshotoverthehandlebarandcoasteddownthetrailonhischest.Ashestruck,BlackJackandWessnerwereuponhim.WessnercaughtoffanoldfelthatandclappeditoverFreckles’mouth,whileBlackJacktwistedtheboy’sarmsbehindhimandtheyrushedhimintohisroom.Almostbeforeherealizedthatanythinghadhappened,hewastrussedtoatreeandsecurelygagged.

           Thenthreeofthemenresumedworkonthetree.