Веснянки

           Itwasalwaysaplacefullofinterest,soFreckleslovedtolingeronthebridge,watchingthemarshandwaterpeople.Healsotransactedaffairsofimportancewiththewildflowersandsweetmarsh-grass.Heenjoyedsplashingthroughtheshallowpoolsoneithersideofthebridge.

           Then,too,wherethecreekenteredtheswampwasaplaceofunusualbeauty.Thewaterspreadindarksome,mossy,greenpools.Water-plantsandliliesgrewluxuriantly,throwinguplarge,rank,greenleaves.NowhereelseintheLimberlostcouldbefoundfrog-musictoequalthatofthemouthofthecreek.Thedrummingandpipingrolledinnever-endingorchestraleffect,whilethefullchorusrangtoitsaccompanimentthroughouttheseason.

           Frecklesslowlyfollowedthepathleadingfromthebridgetotheline.Itwastheonespotatwhichhemightrelaxhisvigilance.Theboldesttimberthieftheswampeverhadknownwouldnothaveattemptedtoenteritbythemouthofthecreek,onaccountofthewaterandbecausetherewasnoprotectionfromsurroundingtrees.Hewasbendingtherankgrasswithhiscudgel,andthinkingoftheshadethedenserswampafforded,whenhesuddenlydodgedsidewise;thecudgelwhistledsharplythroughtheairandFrecklessprangback.

           Fromtheclearskyabovehim,firstlevelwithhisface,thenskimming,dipping,tilting,whirlinguntilitstruck,quilldown,inthepathinfrontofhim,cameaglossy,iridescent,bigblackfeather.Asittouchedtheground,Frecklessnatcheditupwithalmostacontinuousmovementfacingthesky.Therewasnotatreeofanysizeinalargeopenspace.Therewasnowindtocarryit.