The clear, ringing echo of strongly swung axes came crashing through the Limberlost.

“’Tis the gang!” shouted Freckles.  “They’re clearing a place to make the camp.  Let’s go help!”

“Hadn’t we better mark that tree again?” cautioned the Angel.  “It’s away in here.  There’s such a lot of them, and all so much alike.  We’d feel good and green to find it and then lose it.”

Freckles lifted the sapling to replace it, but the Angel motioned him away.

“Use your hatchet,” she said.  “I predict this is the most valuable tree in the swamp.  You found it.  I’m going to play that you’re my knight.  Now, you nail my colors on it.”

She reached up, and pulling a blue bow from her hair, untied and doubled it against the tree.  Freckles turned his eyes from her and managed the fastening with shaking fingers.  The Angel had called him her knight!  Dear Lord, how he loved her!  She must not see his face, or surely her quick eyes would read what he was fighting to hide.  He did not dare lay his lips on that ribbon then, but that night he would return to it.  When they had gone a little distance, they both looked back, and the morning breeze set the bit of blue waving them a farewell.

They walked at a rapid pace.

“I am sorry about scaring the birds,” said the Angel, “but it’s almost time for them to go anyway.  I feel dreadfully over having the swamp ruined, but isn’t it a delight to hear the good, honest ring of those axes, instead of straining your ears for stealthy sounds?  Isn’t it fine to go openly and freely, with nothing worse than a snake or a poison-vine to fear?”

“Ah!” said Freckles, with a long breath, “it’s better than you can dream, Angel.  Nobody will ever be guessing some of the things I’ve been through trying to keep me promise to the Boss, and to hold out until this day.  That it’s come with only one fresh stump, and the log from that saved, and this new tree to report, isn’t it grand?  Maybe Mr. McLean will be forgetting that stump when he sees this tree, Angel!”

“He can’t forget it,” said the Angel; and in answer to Freckles’ startled eyes she added, “because he never had any reason to remember it.  He couldn’t have done a whit better himself.  My father says so.  You’re all right, Freckles!”

She reached him her hand, and as two children, they broke into a run when they came closer the gang.  They left the swamp by the west road and followed the trail until they found the men.  To the Angel it seemed complete charm.  In the shadiest spot on the west side of the line, at the edge of the swamp and very close Freckles’ room, they were cutting bushes and clearing space for a big tent for the men’s sleeping-quarters, another for a dining-hall, and a board shack for the cook.  The teamsters were unloading, the horses were cropping leaves from the bushes, while each man was doing his part toward the construction of the new Limberlost quarters.