Веснянки
Chapter XIV
It’skillingmebyinches!BlackJack’shandmaynothavebeenhurtsobad.Anyhourhemaybecreepingupbehindher!Anyminutetheawfulrevengehesworetobetakingmayinsomewayfallonher,andIhaven’tevenwarnedherfather.Ican’tstayheredoingnothinganotherhour.ThefivenightsgoneI’vewatchedunderherwindows,butthere’sthewholeoftheday.She’sherownhorseandlittlecart,and’sfreetobedrivingthroughthetownandcountryasshepleases.IfanyevilcomestoherthroughBlackJack,itcomesfromherangel-likegoodnesstome.Somewherehe’shiding!Somewhereheiswaitinghischance!Somewhereheisreachingoutforher!ItellyouIcannot,Idarenotbebearingitlonger!”
“Freckles,bequiet!”saidMcLean,hiseyeshumidandhisvoicequiveringwiththepityofitall.“Believeme,Ididnotunderstand.IknowtheAngel’sfatherwell.Iwillgotohimatonce.Ihavetransactedbusinesswithhimforthepastthreeyears.Iwillmakehimsee!Iamonlybeginningtorealizeyouragony,andtherealdangerthereisfortheAngel.Believeme,IwillseethatsheisfullyprotectedeveryhourofthedayandnightuntilJackislocatedanddisposedof.AndIpromiseyoufurther,thatifIfailtomoveherfatherormakehimunderstandthedanger,IwillmaintainaguardoverheruntilJackiscaught.Nowwillyougobathe,drinksomemilk,gotobed,andsleepforhours,andthenbemybrave,brightoldboyagain?”
“Yis,”saidFrecklessimply.
ButMcLeancouldseethefleshwastwitchingonthelad’sbones.
