Веснянки
Chapter XII
Hisintentionwasobvious.BlackJackstoppedhim,withanoath.
“Youseehere,Dutchy,”hebawled,“mebbyyouthinkyou’llwashhisfacewiththat,butyouwon’t.Acontract’sacontract.Weagreedtotakeoutthesetreesandleavehimforyoutodisposeofwhateverwayyouplease,providedyoushuthimupeternallyonthisdeal.ButI’llnotseeatiedmantormentedbyafellowthathecanlickupthegroundwith,loose,andthat’sflat.Itraisesmygorgetothinkwhathe’llgetwhenwe’regone,butyouneedn’tthinkyou’refreetobeginbefore.Don’tyoulayahandonhimwhileI’mhere!Whatdoyousay,boys?”
“Isayyes,”growledoneofMcLean’slatestdeserters.“What’smore,we’reapackoffoolstoriskthedirtyworkofsilencinghim.Youhadhimfacedownandyouonhisback;whythehelldidn’tyoucoverhisheadandrollhimintothebushesuntilweweregone?WhenIwentintothis,Ididn’tunderstandthathewastoseeallofusandthattherewasmurderontheticket.I’mnotuptoit.Idon’tmindliftingtreeswecamefor,butI’mcursedifIwantbloodonmyhands.”
“Well,youain’tgoingtogetit,”bellowedJack.“Youfellowsonlycontractedtohelpmegetoutmymarkedtrees.HebelongtoWessner,anditain’tinourdealwhathappenstohim.”
“Yes,andifWessnerfinisheshimsafely,wearepracticallyinformurderaswellasstealingthetrees;andifhedon’t,allhell’stopay.Ithinkyou’vemadeadamnablebungleofthisthing;that’swhatIthink!”
“Thenkeepyourthoughtstoyourself,”criedJack.
