Веснянки

           ”

           “Idon’tthinkanythingcouldshakemyfaithinthelad,”answeredMcLean.

           Freckleswaswhistlingmerrily.Hekeptoneeyereligiouslyontheline.Theotherhedividedbetweenthepath,hisfriendsofthewire,andasearchoftheskyforhislatestarrivals.Everydaysincetheircominghehadseenthem,eitherhangingassmall,blackcloudsabovetheswamporbobbingoverlogsandtreeswiththeirqueer,tiltingwalk.Wheneverhecouldsparetime,heenteredtheswampandtriedtomakefriendswiththem,fortheywerethetamestofallhisunnumberedsubjects.Theyducked,dodged,andambledaroundhim,overlogsandbushes,andnotevenanearapproachwoulddrivethemtoflight.

           FortwoweekshehadfoundthemcirclingovertheLimberlostregularly,butonemorningthefemalewasmissingandonlythebigblackchickenhungsentinelabovetheswamp.Hismatedidnotreappearinthefollowingdays,andFrecklesgrewveryanxious.HespokeofittoMrs.Duncan,andshequietedhisfearsbyraisingadelightfulhopeintheirstead.

           “Why,Freckles,ifit’sthehen-birdyearemissing,it’stentooneshe’ssafe,”shesaid.“She’slaid,andissetting,yesilly!Watchhimandmarkwhaurhelichts.Thenfollowandfindthenest.SomeSabbathwe’llallgangseeit.”

           Acceptingthistheory,Frecklesbegansearchingforthenest.Becausethese“chickens”werelarge,asthehawks,helookedamongthetreetopsuntilhealmostsprainedthebackofhisneck.Hehadhalfthecrowandhawknestsintheswamplocated.Hesearchedforthisnestinsteadofcollectingsubjectsforhiscase.