Веснянки
Chapter I
WehavejustleasedtwothousandacresoftheLimberlost.Manyofthesetreesareofgreatvalue.Wecan’tleaveourcamp,sixmilessouth,foralmostayearyet;sowehaveblazedatrailandstrungbarbedwiressecurelyaroundthislease.Beforewereturntoourwork,Imustputthispropertyinthehandsofareliable,brave,strongmanwhowillguarditeveryhouroftheday,andsleepwithoneeyeopenatnight.Ishallrequiretheentirelengthofthetrailtobewalkedatleasttwiceeachday,tomakesurethatourlinesareupandthatnoonehasbeentrespassing.”
Freckleswasleaningforward,absorbingeverywordwithsuchintenseeagernessthathewasbeguilingtheBossintoexplanationshehadneverintendedmaking.
“Butwhywouldn’tthatbethefinestjobintheworldforme?”hepleaded.“Iamneversick.Icouldwalkthetrailtwice,threetimeseveryday,andI’dbewatchingsharpallthewhile.”
“It’sbecauseyouarescarcelymorethanaboy,andthiswillbeatryingjobforawork-hardenedman,”answeredMcLean.“Yousee,inthefirstplace,youwouldbeafraid.Instretchingourlines,wekilledsixrattlesnakesalmostaslongasyourbodyandasthickasyourarm.It’sthepriceofyourlifetostartthroughthemarshgrasssurroundingtheswampunlessyouarecoveredwithheavyleatheraboveyourknees.
“YoushouldbeabletoswimincasehighwaterunderminesthetemporarybridgewehavebuiltwhereSleepySnakeCreekenterstheswamp.Thefallandwinterchangesofweatherareabruptandsevere,whileIwouldwantstrictwatchkepteveryday.
