Веснянки
Chapter IV
SaidDuncan:“Nowtheboyisinforsoretrouble!”
“Ihopenot,”answeredMcLean.“Youneverinallyourlifesawacurwhippedsocompletely.Hewon’tcomebackfortherepetitionofthechorus.Wesurelycanfindthetree.Ifwecan’t,Frecklescan.Iwillbringenoughofthegangtotakeitoutatonce.Thatwillinsurepeaceforatime,atleast,andIamhopingthatinamonthmorethewholegangmaybemovedhere.Itsoonwillbefall,andthen,ifhewillgo,IintendtosendFrecklestomymothertobeeducated.Withhisquicknessofmindandbodyandafewyears’goodhelphecandoanything.Why,Duncan,I’dgiveahundred-dollarbillifyoucouldhavebeenhereandseenforyourself.”
“Yes,andI’d’a’donemurder,”mutteredthebigteamster.“Ihope,sir,yewillmakegoodyourplansforFreckles,thoughI’dassoonseeonybornchildo’myaintakenfromourhome.Welovethelad,meandSarah.”
Locatingthetreewaseasy,becauseitwassowellidentified.WhentherumbleofthebiglumberwagonspassingthecabinonthewaytotheswampwakenedFrecklesnextmorning,hesprangupandwassoonfollowingthem.Hewassosoreandstiffthateverymovementwastortureatfirst,buthegreweasier,andshortlydidnotsuffersomuch.McLeanscoldedhimforcoming,yetinhishearttriumphedovereverynewevidenceoffinenessintheboy.
Thetreewasagiantmaple,andsopreciousthattheyalmostdugitoutbytheroots.Whenitwasdown,cutinlengths,andloaded,therewasyetanemptywagon.
