Веснянки
Chapter IV
It’seithersettled,orit’sjustbegun,butbetweenus,I’mthatlateIhaven’tstartedfortheafternoonyet.Imustbegoingatonce,forthere’satreeImustfindbeforetheday’sover.”
“Youpluckylittleidiot,”growledMcLean.“Youcan’twalktheline!IdoubtifyoucanreachDuncan’s.Don’tyouknowwhenyouaredoneup?Yougotobed;I’llfinishyourwork.”
“Niver!”protestedFreckles.“Iwasjustalittledoneupfortheprisint,aminuteago.I’mallrightnow.Riding-bootsarefartoolow.Theday’shotandthewalkagoodsevenmiles,sir.Niver!”
Ashereachedfortheoutfithepitchedforwardandhiseyesclosed.McLeanstretchedhimonthemossandappliedrestoratives.WhenFrecklesreturnedtoconsciousness,McLeanrantothecabintotellMrs.Duncantohaveahotbathready,andtobringNellie.Thatworthywomanpromptlyfilledthewash-boiler,startingaroaringfireunderit.Shepushedthehorse-troughfromitsbaseandrolledittothekitchen.
BythetimeMcLeancameagain,leadingNelieandholdingFrecklesonherback,Mrs.Duncanwasreadyforbusiness.SheandtheBosslaidFrecklesinthetroughandpouredonhotwateruntilhesquirmed.Theysoakedandmassagedhim.Thentheydrewoffthehotwaterandclosedhisporeswithcold.Lastlytheystretchedhimonthefloorandchafed,rubbed,andkneadedhimuntilhecriedoutformercy.Astheyrolledhimintobed,hiseyesdroppedshut,butalittlelatertheyflaredopen.
“Mr.McLean,”hecried,“thetree!Oh,dobelookingafterthetree!”
McLeanbentoverhim.
