Веснянки
Chapter XIII
Hewasalreadyfarintheswamp,runningforitsdensestpartinleapingbounds.Everymanwhocouldbesparedplungedafterhim.
Othermembersofthegangarriving,weresenttofollowthetracksofthewagons.Theteamstershaddrivenfromthewestentrance,andcrossingtheswale,hadtakenthesameroutetheBirdWomanandtheAngelhadbeforethem.Therehadbeenampletimeforthedriverstoreachtheroad;afterthattheycouldtakeanyoneoffourdirections.Trafficwasheavy,andlumberwagonswerepassingalmostconstantly,sothementurnedbackandjoinedthemoreexcitinghuntforaman.Theremainderofthegangjoinedthem,alsofarmersoftheregionandtravelersattractedbythedisturbance.
Watchersweresetalongthetrailatshortintervals.Theypatrolledthelineandroadsthroughtheswampthatnight,withlightedtorches,andthenextdayMcLeanheadedasthoroughasearchashefeltcouldbemadeofoneside,whileDuncancoveredtheother;butBlackJackcouldnotbefound.Spiesweresetaroundhishome,inWildcatHollow,toascertainifhereachedthereoraidwasbeingsentinanydirectiontohim;butitwassoonclearthathisrelativeswereignorantofhishiding-place,andweresearchingforhim.
Greatistheelasticityofyouth.Ahotbathandasoundnight’ssleeprenewedFreckles’strength,anditneededbutlittlemoretoworkthesameresultwiththeAngel.Freckleswasonthetrailearlythenextmorning.BesidesacrowdofpeopleanxioustowitnessJack’scapture,hefoundfourstalwartguards,oneateachturn.
