Веснянки

           TheotherfollowedthepathFreckleshadworntoLittleChicken’stree,andpresentlyhereportedthatthewiresweredownandtwoteamswiththeloadingapparatuscomingtotakeoutthetimber.Allthetimethesawwasslowlyeating,eatingintothebigtree.

           Wessnerwenttothetrailandremovedthewire.HepickedupFreckles’wheel,thatdidnotseemtobeinjured,andleaneditagainstthebushessothatifanyonedidpassonthetrailhewouldnotseeitdoubledintheswamp-grass.

           ThenhecameandstoodinfrontofFrecklesandlaughedindevilishhate.Tohisownamazement,Frecklesfoundhimselflookingfearintheface,andmarveledthathewasnotafraid.Fourtoone!Thetreehalfwayeatenthrough,thewagonscominguptheinsideroad—he,boundandgagged!ThemenwithBlackJackandWessnerhadbelongedtoMcLean’sgangwhenlasthehadheardofthem,butwhothosecomingwiththewagonsmightbehecouldnotguess.

           Iftheysecuredthattree,McLeanlostitsvalue,losthiswager,andlosthisfaithinhim.ThewordsoftheAngelhammeredinhisears.“Oh,Freckles,dowatchclosely!”

           Thesawworkedsteadily.

           Whenthetreewasdownandloaded,whatwouldtheydo?Pullout,andleavehimtheretoreportthem?Itwasnottobehopedfor.Theplacealwayshadbeenlawless.Itcouldmeanbutonething.

           Amistsweptbeforehiseyes,whilehisheadswam.WasitonlylastnightthathehadworshipedtheAngelinadeliriumofhappiness?Andnow,what?Wessner,releasedfromaturnatthesaw,walkedtotheflowerbed,andtearingupahandfulofrarefernsbytheroots,startedtowardFreckles.