Веснянки
Chapter XII
Thenhereyesfell,asifbyaccident,onFreckles,andshecried,“Oh,Iknownow!ItwasthosemagazinestheBirdWomanpromisedyou.Icametotellyouthatweputthemundertheboxwherewehidethings,attheentrancetotheswampaswecamein.IknewIwouldneedmyhandscrossingtheswamp,soIhidthemthere.You’llfindthematthesameoldplace.”
ThenFrecklesspoke.
“It’smightyriskyforyoutobecrossingtheswampalone,”hesaid.“I’msurprisedthattheBirdWomanwouldbelettingyoutryit.Iknowit’salittlefarther,butit’sbeggingyouIamtobegoingbackbythetrail.That’sbadenough,butit’sfarsaferthantheswamp.”
TheAngellaughedmerrily.
“Ohstopyournonsense!”shecried.“I’mnotafraid!Notintheleast!TheBirdWomandidn’twantmetotryfollowingapaththatI’dbeenoveronlyonce,butIwassureIcoulddoit,andI’mratherproudoftheperformance.Now,don’tgobabying!YouknowI’mnotafraid!”
“No,”saidFrecklesgently,“Iknowyou’renot;butthathasnothingtodowiththefactthatyourfriendsareafraidforyou.Onthetrailyoucanseeyourwayabitahead,andyou’vealltheworldabetterchanceifyoumeetasnake.”
ThenFreckleshadaninspiration.HeturnedtoJackimploringly.
“Youtellher!”hepleaded.“Tellhertogobythetrail.Shewillforyou.”
TheimplicationofthisstatementwassogratifyingtoBlackJackthatheseemedagaintoexpandandtakeonincreasebeforetheirveryeyes.
“Youbet!”exclaimedJack.AndtotheAngel:“YoubettertakeFreckles’wordforit,miss.
