Веснянки

           ”Past“veery”and“vireo”hewent,downthelineuntilhisfinger,tremblingwitheagerness,stoppedat“vulture.”

           “’GreatblackCaliforniavulture,’”heread.

           “Humph!ThissidetheRockieswilldoforus.”

           “’Commonturkey-buzzard.’”

           “Well,weain’thuntingcommonturkeys.McLeansaidchickens,andwhathesaysgoes.”

           “’BlackvultureoftheSouth.’”

           “Herewearearrivedatonce.”

           Freckles’fingerfollowedtheline,andhereadscrapsaloud.

           “’CommonintheSouth.SometimescalledJimCrow.NearestequivalenttoC-a-t-h-a-r-t-e-sA-t-r-a-t-a.’”

           “HowthedivilamIevertolearnthemcorkin’bigwordsbymesel’?”

           “’—thePharaoh’sChickensofEuropeanspecies.SometimesstraynorthasfarasVirginiaandKentucky——’”

           “Andsometimesfarther,”interpolatedFreckles,“’cosIgotthemrighthereinIndianasolikethesepicturesIcanjustseemebigchickenbobbinguptogethisearsboxed.Hey?”

           “’Light-blueeggs’——”

           “Golly!Igottobeseeingthem!”

           “’—bigasacommonturkey’s,butshapedlikeahen’s,heavilysplotchedwithchocolate——’”

           “Caramels,Isuppose.And——”

           “’—inhollowlogsorstumps.’”

           “Oh,hagginy!Wasn’tIbarkingupthewrongtree,though?Oughttobeenlookingclosethegroundallthistime.Nowit’salltodoover,andIsuspectthesoonerIstartthesoonerI’llbelikelytofindthem.”

           Frecklesputawayhisbook,dampenedthesmudge-fire,withoutwhichthemosquitoesmadetheswampalmostunbearable,tookhiscudgelandlunch,andwenttotheline.