Веснянки

           ItwastrainedatshortrangeonBlackJackandWessner,whostoodwiththeirhandsabovetheirheads.

           Freckles,withthebloodtricklingdownhisface,fromanuglycutinhistemple,wasgaggedandboundtothetreeagain;theremainderofthemenweregone.BlackJackwasravingasamaniac,andwhentheylookedcloseritwasonlytheleftarmthatheraised.Hisright,withthehandshattered,hunghelplessathisside,whilehisrevolverlayatFreckles’feet.Wessner’sweaponwasinhisbelt,andbesidehimFreckles’club.

           Freckles’facewaswhite,withcolorlesslips,butinhiseyeswasthestrengthofundyingcourage.McLeanpushedpasttheBirdWomancrying.“Holdsteadyonthemonlyoneminutemore!”

           HesnatchedtherevolverfromWessner’sbelt,andstoopedforJack’s.

           AtthatinstanttheAngelrushedpast.ShetorethegagfromFreckles,andseizingtheropeknottedonhischest,shetuggedatitdesperately.Underherfingersitgaveway,andshehurledittoMcLean.Themenwerecrowdingin,andDuncanseizedWessner.AstheAngelsawFrecklesstandout,free,shereachedherarmstohimandpitchedforward.AfearfuloathburstfromthelipsofBlackJack.Tohavesavedhislife,FrecklescouldnothaveavoidedtheglanceoftriumphhegaveJack,whenfoldingtheAngelinhisarmsandstretchingheronthemosses.

           TheBirdWomancriedoutsharplyforwaterassherantothem.Someonesprangtobringthat,andanothertobreakopenthecaseforbrandy.AsMcLeanarosefrombindingWessner,therewasacrythatJackwasescaping.