Веснянки
Chapter IV
Astheyweregatheringuptheirtoolstogo,Duncansaid:“There’sabighollowtreesomewheremightycloseherethatI’vebeenwantingforawatering-troughformystock;theoneIhaveissosmall.ThePortlandcompanycutthisforelmbuttslastyear,andit’ssixfeetdiameterandhollowforfortyfeet.Itwasabuster!Whilethemenarehereandthereisanemptywagon,whymightn’tIloaditonandtak’ituptothebarnaswepass?”
McLeansaidhewasverywilling,orderedthedrivertobreaklineandloadthelog,detailingmentoassist.HetoldFrecklestorideonasectionofthemaplewithhim,butnowtheboyaskedtoentertheswampwithDuncan.
“Idon’tseewhyyouwanttogo,”saidMcLean.“Ihavenobusinesstoletyououttodayatall.”
“It’smechickens,”whisperedFrecklesindistress.“Yousee,Iwasjustafterfindingyesterday,frommenewbook,howtheydobenestinginhollowtrees,andthereain’tanytoomanyintheswamp.There’sjustachancethattheymightbeinthatone.”
“Goahead,”saidMcLean.“That’sadifferentstory.Iftheyhappentobethere,whytellDuncanhemustgiveupthetreeuntiltheyhavefinishedwithit.”
Thenheclimbedonawagonandwasdrivenaway.Freckleshurriedintotheswamp.Hewasalittlebehind,yethecouldseethemen.Beforeheovertookthem,theyhadturnedfromthewestroadandhadenteredtheswamptowardtheeast.
Theystoppedatthetrunkofamonstrousprostratelog.
