Веснянки
Chapter XII
Shecouldneverdoit,forthesawwasoverhalfthrough,andJackandWessnercuttingintotheoppositesideofthetree.Itappearedasiftheycouldfellatleastthattree,beforeMcLeancouldcome,andiftheydidhelosthiswager.
Whenitwasdown,wouldtheyrebindhimandleavehimforWessnertowreakhisinsanevengeanceon,orwouldtheytakehimalongtothenexttreeanddisposeofhimwhentheyhadstolenallthetimbertheycould?Jackhadsaidthatheshouldnotbetoucheduntilheleft.Surelyhewouldnotrunallthatriskforonetree,whenhehadmanyothersoffargreatervaluemarked.Frecklesfeltthathehadsomehopetoclingtonow,buthefoundhimselfprayingthattheAngelwouldhurry.
OnceJackcametoFrecklesandaskedifhehadanywater.Frecklesaroseandshowedhimwherehekepthisdrinking-water.Jackdrankingreatgulps,andashepassedbackthebucket,hesaid:“Whenaman’sgotachanceofcatchingafinegirllikethat,heoughtnotbemixedupinanydirtybusiness.IwishtoGodIwasoutofthis!”
Frecklesansweredheartily:“IwishIwas,too!”
Jackstaredathimaminuteandthenbrokeintoaroarofroughlaughter.
“BlestifIblameyou,”hesaid.“Butyouhadyourchance!WeofferedyouafairthingandyougaveWessnerhisanswer.Iain’tenvyingyouwhenhegivesyouhis.”
“You’resixtoone,”answeredFreckles.“Itwillbeeasyenoughforyoutobekillingthebodyofme,but,curseyouall,youcan’tblackenmesoul!”
“Well,I’dgiveanythingyoucouldnameifIhadyourhonesty,”saidJack
