Веснянки

           “I’vebeenawaytooslowandtooeasy,believingthere’dbenogreaterharmthanthelossofatree.I’vesentforacoupleoffirst-classdetectives.Wewillputthemonhistrack,androuthimoutandridthecountryofhim.Idon’tproposeforhimtostopeitherourworkorourpleasure.Asforhisbeingintheswampnow,Idon’tbelieveit.He’dfindawayoutlastnight,inspiteofus.Don’tyouworry!Iamatthehelmnow,andI’llseetothatgentlemaninmyownway.”

           “Iwishtomysoulyouhadseenandheardhim!”saidFreckles,unconvinced.

           Theyenteredtheswamp,takingtheroutefollowedbytheBirdWomanandtheAngel.Theyreallydidfindthelogs,almostwheretheAngelhadpredictedtheywouldbe.McLeanwenttotheSouthcampandhadaninterviewwithCrowenthatcompletelyconvincedhimthattheAngelwascorrecttherealso.Buthehadnoproof,soallhecoulddowastodischargetheman,althoughhisguiltwassoapparentthatheofferedtowithdrawthewager.

           ThenMcLeansentforapackofbloodhoundsandputthemonthetrailofBlackJack.Theyclungtoit,onandon,intothedepthsoftheswamp,leadingtheirfollowersthroughwhathadbeenconsideredimpassableandimpenetrableways,andfinally,aroundnearthewestentranceandintotheswale.Herethedogsbellowed,raved,andfellovereachotherintheirexcitement.Theyracedbackandforthfromswamptoswale,butfollowthescentfarthertheywouldnot,eventhoughcruellydriven.Atlasttheirownerattributedtheiractionstosnakes,andastheywereveryvaluabledogs,abandonedtheefforttourgethemon.