Веснянки
Chapter V
IfI’mtokeepmetrustasI’vepromisedyouandmeself,I’vetoliveheremostlyuntilthegangcomes.Youmustbeknowingthat,sir.”
“I’mafraidit’strue,Freckles,”saidMcLean.“AndI’vedecidedtodoubletheguarduntilwecome.Itwillbeonlyafewweeks,now;andI’msoanxiousforyouthatyoumustnotbeleftalonefurther.Ifanythingshouldhappentoyou,Freckles,itwouldspoiloneoftheverydearestplansofmylife.”
Frecklesheardwithdismaythepropositiontoplaceasecondguard.
“Oh!no,no,Mr.McLean,”hecried.“Notfortheworld!Iwouldn’tbehavingastrangeraround,scaringmebirdsandtrampingupmestudy,anddisturbingallmeways,foranymoney!Iamalltheguardyouneed!Iwillbefaithful!Iwillturnovertheleasewithnotreemissing—onmelife,Iwill!Oh,don’tbesendinganothermantosetthemsayingIturnedcowardandaskedforhelp.Itwilljustkillthehonorofmeheartifyoudoit.TheonlythingIwantisanothergun.Ifitraillycomestotrouble,sixcartridgesain’tmany,andyouknowIamslow-likeaboutreloading.”McLeanreachedintohishippocketandhandedashiningbigrevolvertoFreckles,whoslippeditbesidetheonealreadyinhisbelt.
ThentheBosssatbrooding.
“Freckles,”hesaidatlast,“weneverknowthetimberofaman’ssouluntilsomethingcutsintohimdeeplyandbringsthegrainoutstrong.You’vethemakingofamightyfinepieceoffurniture,myboy,andyoushallhaveyourownwaythesefewweeksyet
