The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-06-27
FRECKLES
BY
Gene SGraGG0m.
Porter
COPYRIGHT. 1904. BY DOUBLEDAY. PAGE
COPYRIGHT. 1904. BY DOUBLEDAY. PACE
ACO


he gained some sort Of mastery over
himself and retraced his steps. When
he again came toward the corduroy
the cudgel fell to test the wire at ev-
cry step.
Sounds that curdled his blood seem
ed to close in about him and shapes
of terror to draw nearer and nearer
Just when he felt that he should fall
dead before he ever reached the clear
ing came Duncan's rolling call. Free
kles. Freckles"' A great shuddering
sob burst in the boys dry throat But
he only told Duncan that finding the
wire down had made him late.
The next morning he started out on
time. Day after day with his heart
pounding like triphammer he ducked,
lodged, ran when he could and fought
like wildcat when he was brought to
bay. II he ever had an idea of giving
up no one knew T. All these things
in so far as he guessed them Duncan,
who had been set to watch the first
weeks Of Freckles' work, carried to the
boss at the south camp. but the inner
most. exquisite torture Of the thing the
big Scotchman never guessed, and Nc
Lean with his finer perceptions came
only a little nearer
After a few weeks, when Freckles
found that he was still living, that he
had home and the very first money
he had ever possessed was safe In his
pockets, he began to grow proud. He
was gradually developing the fearless
ness that men ever acquire Of dangers
to which they are hourly accustomed.
His heart seemed to be in his mouth
trail with him, but he mustered cour-
age and let drive at 1t with his club.
After its head had been crushed he
cut OF Its rattles to show Duncan.
With the mastery Of his first snake
bis greatest fear of them was gone.
Then he began to realize that with
the abundance of food In the swamp
flesh hunters would not come out on
the trail and attack him. and he had
his revolver for defense II they did.
He soon learned to laugh at the foppy
birds that made horrible noises. One
day watching from behind tree he
saw a crane solemnly performing
few measures of belated nuptial
song and dance with his mate. Re
alizing that 1t was intended In tender
ness, no matter how It appeared. the
lonely, starved heart Of the boy went
ont to them In sympathy.
When day after day the only thing
that relieved his utter loneliness was
the companionship of the birds and
beasts Of the swamp Freckles turned
to them for friendship. He began by
instinctively protecting the weak and
helpless. He was astonished at the
quickness with which they became ac-
customed to him once they learned
that he was not a hunter and that the
club he carried was used more fire.
quently for their benefit than his own.
He could scarcely believe what he saw.
When black frosts began stripping
the Limberlost he watched the depart
ing troops of his friends with dismay.
He made special efforts toward friend
illness with the hope that he could In
duce some of them to stay. 1t was
then that he conceived the idea OF
carrying food to the birds, for he saw
that they were leaving for lack Of 1t.
But he could not stop them. Day
after day focks gathered and depart
ed. By the time the first snow whit
ened his trail about the Limberlost
there were left only the little black
and white juncos. the sapsuckers. yell
lowhammers. a few patriarchs among
the flaming cardinals, the bluejays.
the crows and the quail.
Then Freckles began his wizard
work. He cleared space of swale,
and twice a day he spread a birds
banquet. BY the middle of December
the strong winds Of winter had beaten
most Of the seed from the grass and
bushes. The snow fell. covering the
swamp. and food was very scarce and
hard to find. The birds scarcely wait
ed until Freckles' back was turned to
attack his provisions. In few weeks
they few toward the clearing TO meet
him. BY the bitter weather of jan
uary they came halfway to the cabin
every morning aud iuttered about him
like doves all the way to the feeding
ground. BY February they would
perch on his head and shoulders, and
the saucy Jays would try to pry into
his pockets.
Then Freckles added to wheat and
crumbs every scrap of refuse food he
could find about the cabin. One morn
ing, coming 10 his feeding ground I'M
usually early, he found gorgeous
cardinal and a rabbit socially nibbling
cabbage leaf side by side. and that
Instantly gave TO him the idea Of
cracking nuts from the store he had
gathered for Duncan's children. for
the squirrels, in the effort TO add them
TO his family. Soon he had them com
ing-red. gray and black-and he be
came filled with vast Impotence
that he did not know their names nor
habits.
SO the winter passed Every week
Mclean rode over 10 the Limberlost,
never on the same day nor at the same
hour. The boys earnings constituted
HE Dr9t rnapnu .t.han tho hoes nv