Веснянки
Chapter XIV
Andwhydidhechoosetherankest,muckiestplacetocrosstheswamp?”
“Don’tyouthink,sir,itwasbecauseitwasonalinewiththeLimberlostsouthofthecorduroy?Thegrasswastallestthere,andhecountedonthosewillowstoscreenhim.Oncehegotamongthem,hewouldhavebeensafetowalkbystooping.Ifhe’dmadeitpastthatplace,he’dbeensuretogetout.”
“Well,I’massorryforJackasIknowhowtobe,”saidMcLean,“butIcan’thelpfeelingrelievedthatourtroublesareover,fornowtheyare.WithsodreadfulapunishmentforJack,Wessnerunderarrest,andwarrantsfortheothers,wecancountontheirgoingawayandremaining.Asforanyoneelse,Idon’tthinktheywillcaretoattemptstealingmytimberaftertheexperienceofthesemen.ThereisnoothermanherewithJack’sfineabilityinwoodcraft.Hewasanexpert.”
“Didyoueverhearofanyonewhoevertriedtolocateanytreesexceptinghim?”askedFreckles.
“No,Ineverdid,”saidMcLean.“Iamsuretherewasnoonebesideshim.Yousee,itwasonlywiththearrivalofourcompanythattheotherfellowsscentedgoodstuffintheLimberlost,andtriedtoworkin.Jackknewtheswampbetterthananyonehere.Whenhefoundthereweretwocompaniestryingtolease,hewantedtostandinwiththeonefromwhichhecouldrealizethemost.Eventhenhehadtreesmarkedthathewastryingtodisposeof.Ithinkhissoleintentioninforcingmetodischargehimfrommygangwastocomehereandtrytostealtimber.Wehadnoidea,whenwetookthelease,whatagoldmineitwas.
