Chapter XIII

           Ontheline,theAngelgaveonebackwardglanceatBlackJack,toseethathehadreturnedtohiswork.Thenshegatheredherskirtsaboveherkneesandleapedforwardontherun.InthefirstthreeyardsshepassedFreckles’wheel.Instantlysheimaginedthatwaswhyhehadinsistedonhercomingbythetrail.Sheseizeditandsprangon.Thesaddlewastoohigh,butshewasanexpertriderandcouldcatchthepedalsastheycameup.ShestoppedatDuncan’scabinlongenoughtoremedythis,tellingMrs.Duncanwhileworkingwhatwashappening,andforhertofollowtheeasttrailuntilshefoundtheBirdWoman,andtoldherthatshehadgoneafterMcLeanandforhertoleavetheswampasquicklyaspossible.

           EvenwithherfearforFrecklestospurher,SarahDuncanblanchedandbeganshiveringattheideaoffacingtheLimberlost.TheAngellookedherintheeyes.

           “Nomatterhowafraidyouare,youhavetogo,”shesaid.“Ifyoudon’ttheBirdWomanwillgotoFreckles’room,huntingme,andtheywillhavetroublewithher.Ifsheisn’ttoldtoleaveatonce,theymayfollowme,and,findingI’mgone,dosometerriblethingtoFreckles.Ican’tgo—that’sflat—foriftheycaughtme,thenthere’dbenoonetogoforhelp.Youdon’tsupposetheyaregoingtotakeoutthetreesthey’reafterandthenleaveFrecklestorunandtell?Theyaregoingtomurdertheboy;that’swhattheyaregoingtodo.Yourun,andrunforlife!ForFreckles’life!YoucanridebackwiththeBirdWoman.”

           TheAngelsawMrs.Duncanstarted;thenbeganherrace.