Chapter XV

           AweeklatereverythingattheLimberlostwaspreciselyasithadbeenbeforethetragedy,exceptthecaseinFreckles’roomnowrestedonthestumpofthenewlyfelledtree.Enoughofthevineswerelefttocoveritprettily,andeveryvestigeofthehavocofafewdaysbeforewasgone.Newguardswerepatrollingthetrail.Freckleswasroughlylayingofftheswampinsectionsandsearchingformarkedtrees.Inthattimehehadfoundonedeeplychippedandthechipcunninglyreplacedandtackedin.Itpromisedtobequiterare,sohewasjubilant.HealsofoundsomanysubjectsfortheBirdWomanthathercomingwasofalmostdailyoccurrence,andthehourshespentwithherandtheAngelwerenothinglessthangolden.

           TheLimberlostwasnowarrayedastheQueenofShebainallherglory.Thefirstfrostsofautumnhadbejewelledhercrowninflashingtopaz,ruby,andemerald.Aroundherfeettrailedthepurpleofhergarments,whileinherhandwashergoldenscepter.Everythingwasatfulltide.Itseemedasifnothingcouldgrowlovelier,anditwasallstandingstillafewweeks,waitingcomingdestruction.

           Theswampwaspalpitantwithlife.Everypairofbirdsthathadflockedtoitinthespringwasnowmultipliedbyfromtwototen.TheyoungweretamefromFreckles’tri-parenthood,andsoplumpandsleekthattheywerequiteasbeautifulastheirelders,evenifinmanycasestheylackedtheirbrilliantplumage.Itwasthesamestoryofincreaseeverywhere.Therewerechubbylittleground-hogsscuddingonthetrail.Therewerecunningbabycoonsandopossumspeepingfromhollowlogsandtrees.