Веснянки
Chapter II
Afterafewweeks,whenFreckleslearnedthathewasstillliving,thathehadahome,andtheveryfirstmoneyheeverhadpossessedwassafeinhispockets,hebegantogrowproud.Heyetside-stepped,dodged,andhurriedtoavoidbeinglateagain,buthewasgraduallydevelopingthefearlessnessthatmeneveracquireofdangerstowhichtheyarehourlyaccustomed.
Hisheartseemedtobeleapingwhenhisfirstrattlerdisputedthetrailwithhim,buthemusteredcouragetoattackitwithhisclub.Afteritsheadhadbeencrushed,hemasteredanIrishman’sinbornrepugnanceforsnakessufficientlytocutoffitsrattlestoshowDuncan.Withthisvictory,hisgreatestfearofthemwasgone.
Thenhebegantorealizethatwiththeabundanceoffoodintheswamp,flesh-hunterswouldnotcomeonthetrailandattackhim,andhehadhisrevolverfordefenceiftheydid.Hesoonlearnedtolaughatthebig,floppybirdsthatmadehorriblenoises.Oneday,watchingbehindatree,hesawacranesolemnlyperformingafewmeasuresofabelatednuptialsong-and-dancewithhismate.Realizingthatitwasintendedintenderness,nomatterhowitappeared,thelonely,starvedheartoftheboysympathizedwiththem.
Beforethefirstmonthpassed,hewasfairlyeasyabouthisjob;bythenextheratherlikedit.Naturecanbetrustedtoworkherownmiracleintheheartofanymanwhosedailytaskkeepshimaloneamonghersights,sounds,andsilences.
