while Wessner, who in the
beginning was only his tool, should be left to punishment.

But for Freckles, with Jack's fearful oath ringing in his ears, there
was neither rest nor peace. He was almost ill when the day for the next
study of the series arrived and he saw the Bird Woman and the Angel
coming down the corduroy. The guards of the east line he left at their
customary places, but those of the west he brought over and placed, one
near Little Chicken's tree, and the other at the carriage. He was firm
about the Angel's remaining in the carriage, that he did not offer to
have unhitched. He went with the Bird Woman to secure the picture,
which was the easiest matter it had been at any time yet, for the simple
reason that the placing of the guards and the unusual movement around
the swamp had made Mr. and Mrs. Chicken timid, and they had not carried
Little Chicken the customary amount of food. Freckles, in the anxiety of
the past few days, had neglected him, and he had been so hungry, much
of the time, that when the Bird Woman held up a sweet-bread, although
he had started toward the recesses of the log at her coming, he stopped;
with slightly opened beak, he waited anxiously for the treat, and gave a
study of great value, showing every point of his head, also his wing and
tail development.

When the Bird Woman proposed to look for other subjects close about the
line, Freckles went so far as to tell her that Jack had made fearful
threats against the Angel. He implored her to take the Angel home and
keep her under unceasing guard until Jack was located. He wanted to
tell her all about it, but he knew how dear the Angel was to her, and he
dreaded to burden her with his fears when they might prove groundless.
He allowed her to go, but afterward blamed himself severely for having
done so.

CHAPTER XIV

Wherein Freckles Nurses a Heartache and Black Jack Drops Out

"McLean," said Mrs. Duncan, as the Boss paused to greet her in passing
the cabin, "do you know that Freckles hasna been in bed the past five
nights and all he's eaten in that many days ye could pack into a pint
cup?"

"Why, what does the boy mean?" demanded McLean. "There's no necessity
for him being on guard, with the watch I've set on the line. I had no
idea he was staying down there."

"He's no there," said Mrs. Duncan. "He goes somewhere else. He leaves
on his wheel juist after we're abed and rides in close cock-crow or a
little earlier, and he's