Several days passed before she could give Duncan and Freckles any detailed account of what had happened to her, even then she could not do it without crying as the least of her babies.  Freckles was almost heartbroken, and nursed her as well as any woman could have done; while big Duncan, with a heart full for them both, worked early and late to chink every crack of the cabin and examine every spot that possibly could harbor a snake.  The effects of her morning on the trail kept her shivering half the time.  She could not rest until she sent for McLean and begged him to save Freckles from further risk, in that place of horrors.  The Boss went to the swamp with his mind fully determined to do so.

Freckles stood and laughed at him.  “Why, Mr. McLean, don’t you let a woman’s nervous system set you worrying about me,” he said.  “I’m not denying how she felt, because I’ve been through it meself, but that’s all over and gone.  It’s the height of me glory to fight it out with the old swamp, and all that’s in it, or will be coming to it, and then to turn it over to you as I promised you and meself I’d do, sir.  You couldn’t break the heart of me entire quicker than to be taking it from me now, when I’m just on the home-stretch.  It won’t be over three or four weeks yet, and when I’ve gone it almost a year, why, what’s that to me, sir?  You mustn’t let a woman get mixed up with business, for I’ve always heard about how it’s bringing trouble.”

McLean smiled.  “What about that last tree?” he said.

Freckles blushed and grinned appreciatively.

“Angels and Bird Women don’t count in the common run, sir,” he affirmed shamelessly.

McLean sat in the saddle and laughed.

CHAPTER X

Wherein Freckles Strives Mightily and the Swamp Angel Rewards Him

The Bird Woman and the Angel did not seem to count in the common run, for they arrived on time for the third of the series and found McLean on the line talking to Freckles.  The Boss was filled with enthusiasm over a marsh article of the Bird Woman’s that he just had read.  He begged to be allowed to accompany her into the swamp and watch the method by which she secured an illustration in such a location.

The Bird Woman explained to him that it was an easy matter with the subject she then had in hand; and as Little Chicken was too small to be frightened by him, and big enough to be growing troublesome, she was glad for his company.  They went to the chicken log together, leaving to the happy Freckles the care of the Angel, who had brought her banjo and a roll of songs that she wanted to hear him sing.  The Bird Woman told them that they might practice in Freckles’ room until she finished with Little Chicken, and then she and McLean would come to the concert.

It was almost three hours before they finished and came down the west trail for their rest and lunch.  McLean walked ahead, keeping sharp watch on the trail and clearing it of fallen limbs from overhanging trees.  He sent a big piece of bark flying into the swale, and then stopped short and stared at the trail.