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Chapter IV
DamntheScotch!They’resoslowan’sodumb!”
“Exciptin’prisintcompany?”sweetlyinquiredFreckles.
“No!”growledDuncan.“Headin’thelist!He’dnaebusinesstosetapriceonye,lad,forthat’sabouttheamountofit,an’I’dnaerighttotellye.We’vebothdoneyeill,an’bothmeanin’theverrabest.JuistwhatI’malwayssayin’toSarah.”
“Iammightyproudofwhatyouhavebeentellingme,Duncan,”saidFreckles.“Ineedthewarning,sure.ForwiththebookscomingImightbetimptedtoneglectmeworkwhendoublewatchingisneeded.ThankyoumorethanIcansayforputtingmeontoit.Whatyou’vetoldmemaybethesavingofme.Iwon’tstopfordinnernow.I’llbegettingalongtheeastline,andwhenIcomearoundaboutthree,maybeMotherDuncanwillletmehaveaglassofmilkandabiteofsomething.”
“Yeseenow!”criedDuncanindisgust.“Ye’llstartonthatseven-miletrampwithnabitetostayyourstomach.WhatwasitItoldye?”
“YoutoldmethattheScotchhadthehardestheadsandthesoftestheartsofanypeoplethat’sliving,”answeredFreckles.
Duncangruntedingratifieddisapproval.
Frecklespickeduphisclubandstarteddowntheline,whistlingcheerily,forhehadanunusuallylongrepertoireuponwhichtodraw.
Duncanwentstraighttothelowercamp,andcallingMcLeanaside,repeatedtheconversationverbatim,ending:“Andnaematterwhathappensnoworever,dinnayedareletonythin’makeyebelievethatFreckleshasnaguardedfaithfulasonymancould.
