Веснянки

           Iftheywerethedrivers,Iwageryouglovesagainstglovestheynevertookthoselogsouttothepike.Mycomingupsetthem.Beforeyoufeelbadanymore,yougolookandseeiftheydidn’tlosecouragetheminutetheyleftWessnerandBlackJack,dumpthattimberandrun.Idon’tbelievetheyeverhadthegrittodriveoutwithitindaylight.Goseeiftheydidn’tfigureonleavingthewaywedidtheothermorning,andyou’llfindthelogsbeforeyoureachtheroad.Theyneverriskedtakingthemintotheopen,whentheygotawayandhadtimetothink.Ofcoursetheydidn’t!

           “And,then,anotherthing.Youhaven’tlostyourwager!Itneverwillbeclaimed,becauseyoumadeitwithastout,dark,red-facedmanwhodrivesabayandagray.Hewasrightbackofyou,Mr.McLean,whenIcameyesterday.Hewentdeathlywhiteandshookonhisfeetwhenhesawthosemenprobablywouldbecaught.Someoneofthemwassomethingtohim,andyoucanjustspothimforoneofthemenatthebottomofyourtroubles,andurgingthoseyoungerfellowstostealfromyou.Isupposehe’dpromisedtodivide.Yousettlewithhim,andthatbusinesswillstop.”

           SheturnedtoFreckles.“Andyoubethehappiestmanalive,becauseyouhavekeptyourtrust.GolookwhereItellyouandyou’llfindthelogs.Icanseejustaboutwheretheyare.Whentheygoupthatsteeplittlehill,intothenextwoodsafterthecornfield,why,theycouldunloosethechainsandthelogswouldrollfromthewagonsthemselves.Now,yougolook;andMr.