章节正文
him repeatedly for bringing news of new material; then Freckles
went into the night. He rode toward the Limberlost with his eyes on
the stars. Presently he removed his hat, hung it to his belt, and
ruffled his hair to the sweep of the night wind. He filled the air
all the way with snatches of oratorios, gospel hymns, and dialect
and coon songs, in a startlingly varied programme. The one thing
Freckles knew that he could do was to sing. The Duncans heard him
coming a mile up the corduroy and could not believe their senses.
Freckles unfastened the box from his belt, and gave Mrs. Duncan and
the children all the eatables it contained, except one big piece of
cake that he carried to the sweet-loving Duncan. He put the flowers
back in the box and set it among his books. He did not say
anything, but they understood it was not to be touched.
"Thae's Freckles' flow'rs," said a tiny Scotsman, "but," he added
cheerfully, "it's oor sweeties!"
Freckles' face slowly flushed as he took Duncan's cake and started
toward the swamp. While Duncan ate, Freckles told him something
about the evening, as well as he could find words to express
himself, and the big man was so amazed he kept forgetting the treat
in his hands.
Then Freckles mounted his wheel and began a spin that terminated
only when the biggest Plymouth Rock in Duncan's coop saluted a new
day, and long lines of light reddened the east. As he rode he sang,
while he sang he worshiped, but the god he tried to glorify was a
dim and faraway mystery. The Angel was warm flesh and blood.
Every time he passed the little bark-covered imprint on the trail
he dismounted, removed his hat, solemnly knelt and laid his lips on
the impression. Because he kept no account himself, only the
laughing-faced old man of the moon knew how often it happened; and
as from the beginning, to the follies of earth that gentleman has
ever been kind.
With the near approach of dawn Freckles tuned his last note.
Wearied almost to falling, he turned from the trail into the path
leading to the cabin for a few hours' rest.
CHAPTER XII
Wherein Black Jack Captures Freckles and the Angel Captures Jack
As Freckles left the trail, from the swale close the south
entrance, four large muscular men arose and swiftly and carefully
entered the swamp by the wagon road. Two of them carried a big saw,
the third, coils of rope and wire, and all of them were heavily armed.
They left one man on guard at the entrance. The other three made
their way through the darkness as best they could, and were soon
at Freckles' room. He had left the swamp on his wheel from the
west trail. They counted on his returning on the wheel and circling
the east line before he came there.
A little below the west entrance to Freckles' room, Black Jack
stepped into the swale, and binding a wire tightly around a scrub
oak, carried it below the waving grasses, stretched it taut across
the trail, and fastened it to a tree in the swamp. Then he
obliterated all signs of his work, and arranged the grass over
the wire until it was so completely covered that only minute
examination would reveal it. They entered Freckles' room with
coarse oaths and jests. In a few moments, his specimen case with
its precious contents was rolled into the swamp, while the saw was
eating into one of the finest trees of the Limberlost.
The first report from the man on watch was that Duncan had driven
to the South camp; the second, that Freckles was coming. The man
watching was sent to see on which side the boy turned into the
path; as they had expected, he took the east. He was a little tired
and his head was rather stupid, for he had not been able to sleep
as he had hoped, but he was very happy. Although he watched until
his eyes ached, he could see no sign of anyone having entered the swamp.
He called a cheery greeting to all his chickens. At Sleepy Snake
Creek he almost fell from his wheel with surprise: the saw-bird
was surrounded by four lanky youngsters clamoring for breakfast.
The father was strutting with all the importance of a drum major.
"No use to expect the Bird Woman today," said Freckles; "but now
wouldn't she be jumping for a chance at that?"
As soon as Freckles was far down the east line, the watch was
posted below the room on the west to report his coming. It was only
a few moments before the signal came. Then the saw stopped, and the
rope was brought out and uncoiled close to a sapling. Wessner and
Black Jack crowded to the very edge of the swamp a little above the
wire, and crouched, waiting.
They heard Freckles before they saw him. He came gliding down the
line swiftly, and as he rode he was singing softly:
"Oh, do you love,
Oh, say you love----"
He got no farther. The sharplydriven wheel struck the tense wire
and bounded back. Freckles shot over the handlebar and coasted down
the trail on his chest. As he struck, Black Jack and Wessner were
upon him. Wessner caught off an old felt hat and clapped it over
Freckles' mouth, while Black Jack twisted the boy's arms behind him
and they rushed him into his room. Almost before he realized that
anything had happened, he was trussed to a tree and securely gagged.
Then three of the men resumed work on the tree. The other followed
the path Freckles had worn to Little Chicken's tree, and presently
he reported that the wires were down and two teams with the loading
apparatus coming to take out the timber. All the time the saw was
slowly eating, eating into the big tree.
Wessner went to the trail and removed the wire. He picked up
Freckles' wheel, that did not seem to be injured, and leaned it
against the bushes so that if anyone did pass on the trail he would
not see it doubled in the swamp-grass.
Then he came and stood in front of Freckles and laughed in
devilish hate. To his own amazement, Freckles found himself
looking fear in the face, and marveled that he was not afraid.
Four to one! The tree halfway eaten through, the wagons coming
up the inside road--he, bound and gagged! The men with Black
Jack and Wessner had belonged to McLean's gang when last he
had heard of them, but who those coming with the wagons might
be he could not guess.
If they secured that tree, McLean lost its value, lost his wager,
and lost his faith in him. The words of the Angel hammered in
his ears. "Oh, Freckles, do watch closely!"
The saw worked steadily.
When the tree was down and loaded, what would they do? Pull out,
and leave him there to report them? It was not to be hoped for.
The place always had been lawless. It could mean but one thing.
A mist swept before his eyes, while his head swam. Was it only last
night that he had worshiped the Angel in a delirium of happiness?
And now, what? Wessner, released from a turn at the saw, walked to
the flower bed, and tearing up a handful of rare ferns by the
roots, started toward Freckles. His intention was obvious.
Black Jack stopped him, with an oath.
"You see here, Dutchy," he bawled, "mebby you think you'll wash his
face with that, but you won't. A contract's a contract. We agreed
to take out these trees and leave him for you to dispose of whatever
way you please, provided you shut him up eternally on this deal.
But I'll not see a tied man tormented by a fellow that he can
lick up the ground with, loose, and that's flat. It raises my gorge
to think what he'll get when we're gone, but you needn't think
you're free to begin before. Don't you lay a hand on him while
I'm here! What do you say, boys?"
"I say yes," growled one of McLean's latest deserters. "What's more,
we're a pack of fools to risk the dirty work of silencing him.
You had him face down and you on his back; why the hell didn't
you cover his head and roll him into the bushes until we were gone?
When I went into this, I didn't understand that he was to see all
of us and that there was murder on the ticket. I'm not up to it.
I don't mind lifting trees we came for, but I'm cursed if I want
blood on my hands."
"Well, you ain't going to get it," bellowed Jack. "You fellows
only contracted to help me get out my marked trees. He belong to
Wessner, and it ain't in our deal what happens to him."
"Yes, and if Wessner finishes him safely, we are practically in for
murder as well as stealing the trees; and if he don't, all hell's
to pay. I think you've made a damnable bungle of this thing; that's
what I think!"
"Then keep your thoughts to yourself," cried Jack. "We're doing
this, and it's all planned safe and sure. As for killing that
buck--come to think of it, killing is what he needs. He's away too
good for this world of woe, anyhow. I tell you, it's all safe
enough. His dropping out won't be the only secret the old
Limberlost has never told. It's too dead easy to make it look like
he helped take the timber and then cut. Why, he's played right into
our hands. He was here at the swamp all last night, and back again
in an hour or so. When we get our plan worked out, even old fool
Duncan won't lift a finger to look for his carcass. We couldn't
have him going in better shape."
"You just bet," said Wessner. "I owe him all he'll get, and be
damned to you, but I'll pay!" he snarled at Freckles.
So it was killing, then. They were not only after this one tree,
but many, and with his body it was their plan to kill his honor.
To brand him a thief, with them, before the Angel, the Bird Woman,
the dear Boss, and the Duncans--Freckles, in sick despair, sagged
against the ropes.
Then he gathered his forces and thought swiftly. There was no hope
of McLean's coming. They had chosen a day when they knew he had a
big contract at the South camp. The Boss could not come before
tomorrow by any possibility, and there would be no tomorrow for
the boy. Duncan was on his way to the South camp, and the Bird Woman
had said she would come as soon as she could. After the fatigue of
the party, it was useless to expect her and the Angel today, and
God save them from coming! The Angel's father had said they would
be as safe in the Limberlost as at home. What would he think of this?
The sweat broke on Freckles' forehead. He tugged at the ropes
whenever he felt that he dared, but they were passed around the
tree and his body several times, and knotted on his chest.
He was helpless. There was no hope, no help. And after they had
conspired to make him appear a runaway thief to his loved ones,
what was it that Wessner would do to him?
Whatever it was, Freckles lifted his head and resolved that he
would bear in mind what he had once heard the Bird Woman say.
He would go out bonnily. Never would he let them see, if he
grew afraid. After all, what did it matter what they did to his
body if by some scheme of the devil they could encompass his disgrace?
Then hope suddenly rose high in Freckles' breast. They could not
do that! The Angel would not believe. Neither would McLean. He would
keep up his courage. Kill him they could; dishonor him they could not.
Yet, summon all the fortitude he might, that saw eating into the
tree rasped his nerves worse and worse. With whirling brain he
gazed into the Limberlost, searching for something, he knew not
what, and in blank horror found his eyes focusing on the Angel.
She was quite a distance away, but he could see her white lips and
angry expression.
Last week he had taken her and the Bird Woman across the swamp over
the path he followed in going from his room to the chicken tree.
He had told them the night before, that the butterfly tree was on the
line close to this path. In figuring on their not coming that day,
he failed to reckon with the enthusiasm of the Bird Woman. They must
be there for the study, and the Angel had risked crossing the swamp
in search of him. Or was there something in his room they needed?
The blood surged in his ears as the roar of the Limberlost in the
wrath of a storm.
He looked again, and it had been a dream. She was not there.
Had she been? For his life, Freckles could not tell whether he
really had seen the Angel, or whether his strained senses had
played him the most cruel trick of all. Or was it not the kindest?
Now he could go with the vision of her lovely face fresh with him.
"Thank You for that, oh God!" whispered Freckles." `Twas more than
went into the night. He rode toward the Limberlost with his eyes on
the stars. Presently he removed his hat, hung it to his belt, and
ruffled his hair to the sweep of the night wind. He filled the air
all the way with snatches of oratorios, gospel hymns, and dialect
and coon songs, in a startlingly varied programme. The one thing
Freckles knew that he could do was to sing. The Duncans heard him
coming a mile up the corduroy and could not believe their senses.
Freckles unfastened the box from his belt, and gave Mrs. Duncan and
the children all the eatables it contained, except one big piece of
cake that he carried to the sweet-loving Duncan. He put the flowers
back in the box and set it among his books. He did not say
anything, but they understood it was not to be touched.
"Thae's Freckles' flow'rs," said a tiny Scotsman, "but," he added
cheerfully, "it's oor sweeties!"
Freckles' face slowly flushed as he took Duncan's cake and started
toward the swamp. While Duncan ate, Freckles told him something
about the evening, as well as he could find words to express
himself, and the big man was so amazed he kept forgetting the treat
in his hands.
Then Freckles mounted his wheel and began a spin that terminated
only when the biggest Plymouth Rock in Duncan's coop saluted a new
day, and long lines of light reddened the east. As he rode he sang,
while he sang he worshiped, but the god he tried to glorify was a
dim and faraway mystery. The Angel was warm flesh and blood.
Every time he passed the little bark-covered imprint on the trail
he dismounted, removed his hat, solemnly knelt and laid his lips on
the impression. Because he kept no account himself, only the
laughing-faced old man of the moon knew how often it happened; and
as from the beginning, to the follies of earth that gentleman has
ever been kind.
With the near approach of dawn Freckles tuned his last note.
Wearied almost to falling, he turned from the trail into the path
leading to the cabin for a few hours' rest.
CHAPTER XII
Wherein Black Jack Captures Freckles and the Angel Captures Jack
As Freckles left the trail, from the swale close the south
entrance, four large muscular men arose and swiftly and carefully
entered the swamp by the wagon road. Two of them carried a big saw,
the third, coils of rope and wire, and all of them were heavily armed.
They left one man on guard at the entrance. The other three made
their way through the darkness as best they could, and were soon
at Freckles' room. He had left the swamp on his wheel from the
west trail. They counted on his returning on the wheel and circling
the east line before he came there.
A little below the west entrance to Freckles' room, Black Jack
stepped into the swale, and binding a wire tightly around a scrub
oak, carried it below the waving grasses, stretched it taut across
the trail, and fastened it to a tree in the swamp. Then he
obliterated all signs of his work, and arranged the grass over
the wire until it was so completely covered that only minute
examination would reveal it. They entered Freckles' room with
coarse oaths and jests. In a few moments, his specimen case with
its precious contents was rolled into the swamp, while the saw was
eating into one of the finest trees of the Limberlost.
The first report from the man on watch was that Duncan had driven
to the South camp; the second, that Freckles was coming. The man
watching was sent to see on which side the boy turned into the
path; as they had expected, he took the east. He was a little tired
and his head was rather stupid, for he had not been able to sleep
as he had hoped, but he was very happy. Although he watched until
his eyes ached, he could see no sign of anyone having entered the swamp.
He called a cheery greeting to all his chickens. At Sleepy Snake
Creek he almost fell from his wheel with surprise: the saw-bird
was surrounded by four lanky youngsters clamoring for breakfast.
The father was strutting with all the importance of a drum major.
"No use to expect the Bird Woman today," said Freckles; "but now
wouldn't she be jumping for a chance at that?"
As soon as Freckles was far down the east line, the watch was
posted below the room on the west to report his coming. It was only
a few moments before the signal came. Then the saw stopped, and the
rope was brought out and uncoiled close to a sapling. Wessner and
Black Jack crowded to the very edge of the swamp a little above the
wire, and crouched, waiting.
They heard Freckles before they saw him. He came gliding down the
line swiftly, and as he rode he was singing softly:
"Oh, do you love,
Oh, say you love----"
He got no farther. The sharplydriven wheel struck the tense wire
and bounded back. Freckles shot over the handlebar and coasted down
the trail on his chest. As he struck, Black Jack and Wessner were
upon him. Wessner caught off an old felt hat and clapped it over
Freckles' mouth, while Black Jack twisted the boy's arms behind him
and they rushed him into his room. Almost before he realized that
anything had happened, he was trussed to a tree and securely gagged.
Then three of the men resumed work on the tree. The other followed
the path Freckles had worn to Little Chicken's tree, and presently
he reported that the wires were down and two teams with the loading
apparatus coming to take out the timber. All the time the saw was
slowly eating, eating into the big tree.
Wessner went to the trail and removed the wire. He picked up
Freckles' wheel, that did not seem to be injured, and leaned it
against the bushes so that if anyone did pass on the trail he would
not see it doubled in the swamp-grass.
Then he came and stood in front of Freckles and laughed in
devilish hate. To his own amazement, Freckles found himself
looking fear in the face, and marveled that he was not afraid.
Four to one! The tree halfway eaten through, the wagons coming
up the inside road--he, bound and gagged! The men with Black
Jack and Wessner had belonged to McLean's gang when last he
had heard of them, but who those coming with the wagons might
be he could not guess.
If they secured that tree, McLean lost its value, lost his wager,
and lost his faith in him. The words of the Angel hammered in
his ears. "Oh, Freckles, do watch closely!"
The saw worked steadily.
When the tree was down and loaded, what would they do? Pull out,
and leave him there to report them? It was not to be hoped for.
The place always had been lawless. It could mean but one thing.
A mist swept before his eyes, while his head swam. Was it only last
night that he had worshiped the Angel in a delirium of happiness?
And now, what? Wessner, released from a turn at the saw, walked to
the flower bed, and tearing up a handful of rare ferns by the
roots, started toward Freckles. His intention was obvious.
Black Jack stopped him, with an oath.
"You see here, Dutchy," he bawled, "mebby you think you'll wash his
face with that, but you won't. A contract's a contract. We agreed
to take out these trees and leave him for you to dispose of whatever
way you please, provided you shut him up eternally on this deal.
But I'll not see a tied man tormented by a fellow that he can
lick up the ground with, loose, and that's flat. It raises my gorge
to think what he'll get when we're gone, but you needn't think
you're free to begin before. Don't you lay a hand on him while
I'm here! What do you say, boys?"
"I say yes," growled one of McLean's latest deserters. "What's more,
we're a pack of fools to risk the dirty work of silencing him.
You had him face down and you on his back; why the hell didn't
you cover his head and roll him into the bushes until we were gone?
When I went into this, I didn't understand that he was to see all
of us and that there was murder on the ticket. I'm not up to it.
I don't mind lifting trees we came for, but I'm cursed if I want
blood on my hands."
"Well, you ain't going to get it," bellowed Jack. "You fellows
only contracted to help me get out my marked trees. He belong to
Wessner, and it ain't in our deal what happens to him."
"Yes, and if Wessner finishes him safely, we are practically in for
murder as well as stealing the trees; and if he don't, all hell's
to pay. I think you've made a damnable bungle of this thing; that's
what I think!"
"Then keep your thoughts to yourself," cried Jack. "We're doing
this, and it's all planned safe and sure. As for killing that
buck--come to think of it, killing is what he needs. He's away too
good for this world of woe, anyhow. I tell you, it's all safe
enough. His dropping out won't be the only secret the old
Limberlost has never told. It's too dead easy to make it look like
he helped take the timber and then cut. Why, he's played right into
our hands. He was here at the swamp all last night, and back again
in an hour or so. When we get our plan worked out, even old fool
Duncan won't lift a finger to look for his carcass. We couldn't
have him going in better shape."
"You just bet," said Wessner. "I owe him all he'll get, and be
damned to you, but I'll pay!" he snarled at Freckles.
So it was killing, then. They were not only after this one tree,
but many, and with his body it was their plan to kill his honor.
To brand him a thief, with them, before the Angel, the Bird Woman,
the dear Boss, and the Duncans--Freckles, in sick despair, sagged
against the ropes.
Then he gathered his forces and thought swiftly. There was no hope
of McLean's coming. They had chosen a day when they knew he had a
big contract at the South camp. The Boss could not come before
tomorrow by any possibility, and there would be no tomorrow for
the boy. Duncan was on his way to the South camp, and the Bird Woman
had said she would come as soon as she could. After the fatigue of
the party, it was useless to expect her and the Angel today, and
God save them from coming! The Angel's father had said they would
be as safe in the Limberlost as at home. What would he think of this?
The sweat broke on Freckles' forehead. He tugged at the ropes
whenever he felt that he dared, but they were passed around the
tree and his body several times, and knotted on his chest.
He was helpless. There was no hope, no help. And after they had
conspired to make him appear a runaway thief to his loved ones,
what was it that Wessner would do to him?
Whatever it was, Freckles lifted his head and resolved that he
would bear in mind what he had once heard the Bird Woman say.
He would go out bonnily. Never would he let them see, if he
grew afraid. After all, what did it matter what they did to his
body if by some scheme of the devil they could encompass his disgrace?
Then hope suddenly rose high in Freckles' breast. They could not
do that! The Angel would not believe. Neither would McLean. He would
keep up his courage. Kill him they could; dishonor him they could not.
Yet, summon all the fortitude he might, that saw eating into the
tree rasped his nerves worse and worse. With whirling brain he
gazed into the Limberlost, searching for something, he knew not
what, and in blank horror found his eyes focusing on the Angel.
She was quite a distance away, but he could see her white lips and
angry expression.
Last week he had taken her and the Bird Woman across the swamp over
the path he followed in going from his room to the chicken tree.
He had told them the night before, that the butterfly tree was on the
line close to this path. In figuring on their not coming that day,
he failed to reckon with the enthusiasm of the Bird Woman. They must
be there for the study, and the Angel had risked crossing the swamp
in search of him. Or was there something in his room they needed?
The blood surged in his ears as the roar of the Limberlost in the
wrath of a storm.
He looked again, and it had been a dream. She was not there.
Had she been? For his life, Freckles could not tell whether he
really had seen the Angel, or whether his strained senses had
played him the most cruel trick of all. Or was it not the kindest?
Now he could go with the vision of her lovely face fresh with him.
"Thank You for that, oh God!" whispered Freckles." `Twas more than
- presently [´prezəntli]
ad.不久；目前 (初中英语单词) - mystery [´mistəri] n.神秘；秘密；故弄玄虚 (初中英语单词)
- impression [im´preʃən] n.印刷；印象；效果 (初中英语单词)
- account [ə´kaunt] vi.说明 vt.认为 n.帐目 (初中英语单词)
- beginning [bi´giniŋ] n.开始，开端；起源 (初中英语单词)
- swiftly [´swiftli] ad.迅速地，敏捷地 (初中英语单词)
- contents [´kɔ:ntents] n.容纳物；要旨 (初中英语单词)
- stupid [´stju:pid] a.愚蠢的；糊涂的 (初中英语单词)
- sharply [´ʃɑ:pli] ad.锋利地；剧烈地 (初中英语单词)
- driven [´driv(ə)n] drive 的过去分词 (初中英语单词)
- timber [´timbə] n.木材；木料；横梁 (初中英语单词)
- amazement [ə´meizmənt] n.惊愕；惊奇 (初中英语单词)
- intention [in´tenʃən] n.意图；打算；意义 (初中英语单词)
- dispose [di´spəuz] v.处置；安排；布置 (初中英语单词)
- safely [´seifli] ad.安全地；平安地 (初中英语单词)
- despair [di´speə] vi.&n.绝望 (初中英语单词)
- possibility [,pɔsə´biliti] n.可能(性)；希望；前途 (初中英语单词)
- useless [´ju:sləs] a.无用的，无价值的 (初中英语单词)
- forehead [´fɔrid] n.额，前部 (初中英语单词)
- helpless [´helpləs] a.无助的，无依靠的 (初中英语单词)
- scheme [ski:m] n.计划；阴谋，诡计 (初中英语单词)
- horror [´hɔrə] n.恐怖；战栗 (初中英语单词)
- butterfly [´bʌtəflai] n.蝴蝶；蝶式 (初中英语单词)
- reckon [´rekən] v.计算；认为；估计 (初中英语单词)
- enthusiasm [in´θju:ziæzəm] n.热心；狂热；爱好 (初中英语单词)
- vision [´viʒən] n.视觉；想象力；幻影 (初中英语单词)
- gospel [´gɔspəl] n.福音；信条；真理 (高中英语单词)
- solemnly [´sɔləmli] ad.严肃地，庄严地 (高中英语单词)
- muscular [´mʌskjulə] a.肌肉的；强有力的 (高中英语单词)
- tightly [´taitli] ad.紧，紧密地 (高中英语单词)
- specimen [´spesimən] n.标本，样品；抽样 (高中英语单词)
- sleepy [´sli:pi] a.困的，想睡的 (高中英语单词)
- crowded [´kraudid] a.充(拥)满了的 (高中英语单词)
- handful [hændful] n.一把，少数，一小撮 (高中英语单词)
- fatigue [fə´ti:g] n.&vt.(使)疲劳(劳累) (高中英语单词)
- summon [´sʌmən] vt.召集；号召 (高中英语单词)
- repeatedly [ri´pi:tidli] ad.反复地；再三地 (英语四级单词)
- varied [´veərid] a.各种各样的 (英语四级单词)
- plymouth [´pliməθ] n.普利茅斯 (英语四级单词)
- glorify [´glɔ:rifai] vt.赞美，颂扬，美化 (英语四级单词)
- binding [´baindiŋ] a.捆绑的 n.捆绑(物) (英语四级单词)
- cheery [´tʃiəri] a.愉快的；活泼的 (英语四级单词)
- lawless [´lɔ:ləs] a.无法无天的 (英语四级单词)
- carcass [´kɑ:kəs] n.(动物的)尸体 (英语四级单词)
- resolved [ri´zɔlvd] a.决心的；坚定的 (英语四级单词)
- dishonor [dis´ɔnə] n.耻辱 vt.凌辱 (英语四级单词)
- sapling [´sæpliŋ] n.树苗，幼树 (英语六级单词)
- securely [si´kjuəli] ad.安全地；无疑地 (英语六级单词)
- eternally [i:´tə:nli] ad.永久地；不朽地 (英语六级单词)
- contracted [kən´træktid] a.收缩了的；缩略的 (英语六级单词)
- runaway [´rʌnəwei] n.逃跑(者) a.逃亡的 (英语六级单词)
- fortitude [´fɔ:titju:d] n.坚忍；刚毅 (英语六级单词)
文章标签:名著
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