Eachyearhewouldhavetocountonaproportionatesavingoffifteenthousanddollarstowardpaymentofthenotes。Inaddition，hemustlive。
"TheOrdefamilyisgoingtobemightyhardup，"saidhe，whistlinghumorously。
ButOrdewasbynatureandtrainingsanguineandfondofbigrisks。
"Nevermind；it’sforBobby，"saidhetohimself。"Andmaybetherateofinterestwillgodown。AndI’llbeabletoborrowontheCaliforniatractifanythingdoesgowrong。"
Heputonhishat，thrustabundleofpapersintohispocket，andsteppedacrossthehallintoTaylor’soffice。
Thelawyerhefoundtippedbackinhisrevolvingchair，readingaprintedbrief。
"Frank，"beganOrdeimmediately，"IcametoseeyouaboutthatCaliforniatimbermatter。"
Taylorlaiddownthebriefandremovedhiseye—glasses，withwhichhebeganimmediatelytotapthefingersofhislefthand。
"Sitdown，Jack，"saidhe。"I’mgladyoucamein。Iwasgoingtotrytoseeyousometimeto—day。I’vebeenthinkingthematteroververycarefullysincetheotherday，andI’vecometotheconclusionthatitistoosteepforme。Idon’tdoubttheinvestmentabit，butthereturnsaretoofaroff。Fifteenthousandmeansalotmoretomethanitdoestoyou，andI’vegottothinkoftheimmediatefuture。Ihopeyouweren’tcountingonme——"
"Oh，that’sallright，"brokeinOrde。"AsItoldyou，Icanswingthethingmyself，andonlymentionedittoyouontheoffchanceyoumightwanttoinvest。Now，whatIwantisthis——"heproceededtooutlinecarefullytheagreementbetweenhimselfandNewmarkwhilethelawyertooknotesandoccasionallyinterjectedaquestion。
"Allright，"saidthelatter，whenthedetailshadbeenmastered。
"I’lldrawthenecessarynotesandpapers。"
"Now，"wentonOrde，producingthebundleofpapersfromhispocket，"here’stheabstractoftitle。Iwishyou’dlookitover。It’salongone，butnotcomplicated，asnearasIcanmakeout。Traceseemstohaveacquiredthistractmostlyfromtheoriginalhomesteadersandthelike，who，ofcourse，taketitledirectfromthegovernment。Butnaturallythereareaheapofthem，andIwantyoutolookitovertobesureeverything’sshipshape。"
"Allright，"agreedTaylor，reachingforthepapers。
"Oneotherthing，"concludedOrde，uncrossinghislegs。"Iwantthisinvestmenttogetnofurtherthantheofficedoor。Yousee，thisisforBobby，andI’vegivenalotofthoughttothatsortofthing；andnothingspoilsamansoonerthantoimaginethething’sallcutanddriedforhim，andnothingkeepshimgoinglikethethoughtthathe’sgottorustlehisownopportunities。YouandI
knowthat。Bobby’sgoingtohavethebesteducationpossible；he’sgoingtolearntobealumbermanbypracticalexperience，andthatpracticalexperiencehe’llgetwithotherpeople。NoworkingforhisdadinBobby’s，Icantellyou。Whenhegetsthroughcollege，I’llgethimalittlejobclerkingwithsomegoodfirm，andhe’llhaveachancetoshowwhatisinhimandtolearnthebusinessfromthegroundup，thewayamanoughtto。Ofcourse，I’llmakearrangementsthathehasarealchance。Then，whenhe’sworkedintotheharnessalittle，theoldmanwilltakehimoutandshowhimthefinebigsugarpineandsaytohim，’There，myboy，there’syouropportunity，andyou’veearnedit。HowdoesORDEANDSONsoundtoyou？’Whatdoyouthinkofit，Frank？"
Taylornoddedseveraltimes。
"Ibelieveyou’reontherighttrack，andI’llhelpyouallIcan，"
saidhebriefly。
"So，ofcourse，Iwanttokeepthethingdeadsecret，"continuedOrde。"You’retheonlymanwhoknowsanythingaboutit。I’mnotevengoingtobuydirectlyundermyownname。I’mgoingtoincorporatemyself，"hesaid，withagrin。"Youknowhowthosethingswillgetout，andhowtheyalwaysgetbacktothewrongpeople。"
"Countonme，"Taylorassuredhim。
AsOrdewalkedhomethatevening，afterahotday，hismindwasfullofspeculationastotheimmediatefuture。Hehadalocalreputationforwealth，andnooneknewbetterthanhimselfhowimportantitisforamanindebttokeepupappearances。
Nevertheless，decidedretrenchtnentwouldbenecessary。AfterBobbyhadgonetobed，heexplainedthistohiswife。
"What’sthematter？"sheaskedquickly。"Isthefirmlosingmoney？"
"No，"repliedOrde，"it’samatterofreinvestment。"Hehesitated。
"It’sadeadsecret，whichIdon’twanttogetout，butI’mthinkingofbuyingsomewesterntimberforBobbywhenhegrowsup。"
Carrolllaughedsoftly。
"Yousorelievemymind，"shesmiledathim。"Iwasafraidyou’ddecidedonthestreet—car—driveridea。Why，sweetheart，youknowperfectlywellwecouldgobacktothelittlehousenextthechurchandbeashappyaslarks。"
XXXII
InthemeantimeNewmarkhadclosedhisdesk，pickedhishatfromthenail，andmarchedpreciselydownthestreettoHeinzman’soffice。
HefoundthelittleGermanin。Newmarkdemandedaprivateinterview，andwithoutpreliminaryplungedintothebusinessthathadbroughthim。HehadlongsincetakenHeinzman’smeasure，as，indeed，hehadtakenthemeasureofeveryothermanwithwhomhedidorwaslikelytodobusiness。
"Heinzman，"saidheabruptly，"mypartnerwantstoraiseseventy—
fivethousanddollarsforhispersonaluse。Ihaveagreedtogethimthatmoneyfromthefirm。"
Heinzmansatimmovable，hisroundeyesblinkingbehindhisbigspectacles。
"Proceed，"saidheshrewdly。
"Assecurityincasehecannotpaythenotesthefirmwillhavetogive，hehassignedanagreementtoturnovertomehisundividedone—halfinterestinourenterprises。"
"Vell？Youvanttoborrowdotmoneyofme？"askedHeinzman。"I
couldnotraiseit。"
"Iknowthatperfectlywell，"repliedNewmarkcoolly。"YouaregoingtohavedifficultymeetingyourJulynotes，asitis。"
Heinzmanhardlyseemedtobreathe，butaflickerofredblazedinhiseye。
"Proceed，"herepeatednon—committally，afteramoment。"Iintend，"
wentonNewmark，"tofurnishthismoneymyself。Itmust，however，seemtobeloanedbyanother。Iwantyoutolendthismoneyonmortgage。"
"Whatfor？"asked"ForaonetenthofOrde’sshareincasehedoesnotmeetthosenotes。"
"Buthevillmeetthenotes，"objectedHeinzman。"Youareaprosperousconcern。IknowsomethingsofYOURbusiness，also。"
"Hethinkshewill，"rejoinedNewmarkgrimly。"Iwillmerelypointouttoyouthathisentireincomeisfromthefirm，andthatfromthisincomehemustsavetwenty—oddthousandayear。
"Ifthefirmhashardluck——"saidHeinzman。
"Exactly，"finishedNewmark。
"Vyyoucometome？"demandedHeinzmanatlength。
"Well，I’mofferingyouachancetogetevenwithOrde。Idon’timagineyoulovehim？"
"Vat’sdemattermitmygettin’efenwithyou，too？"criedHeinzman。
"Ain’tyoubeatmeoutatLansing？"
Newmarksmiledcoldlyunderhisclippedmoustache。
"I’mofferingyouthechanceofmakinganywherefromthirtytofiftythousanddollars。"
"Perhaps。Andsupposethisliddleschemedon’tworkout？"
"And，"pursuedNewmarkcalmly，"I’llcarryyouoverinyourpresentobligations。"Hesuddenlyhitthearmofhischairwithhisclenchedfist。"Heinzman，ifyoudon’tmakethoseJulypayments，what’stobecomeofyou？Where’syourtimberandyourmillsandyournewhouse——andthatprettydaughterofyours？"
Heinzmanwincedvisibly。
"Ivillgetanextensionoftime，"saidhefeebly。
"Willyou？"counteredNewmark。
Thetwomenlookedeachotherintheeyeforamoment。
"Vell，maybe，"laughedHeinzmanuneasily。"Itlookstomelikeawinner。"
"Allright，then，"saidNewmarkbriskly。"I’llmakeoutamortgageattenpercentforyou，andyou’lllendthemoneyonit。Atthepropertime，ifthingshappenthatway，youwillforeclose。That’sallyouhavetodowithit。Then，whenthetimberlandcomestoyouundertheforeclose，youwillreconveyanundividednine—tenths’
interest——forproperconsideration，ofcourse，andwithoutrecordingthedeed。"
Heinzmanlaughedwithassumedlightness。
"SupposeIfoolyou，"saidhe。"IguessIjoostkeepitformineself。"
Newmarklookedathimcoldly。
"Iwouldn’t，"headvised。"YoumayrememberthememberfromLapeerCountyinthatcharterfight？Andthefivehundreddollarsforhisvote？Tryiton，andseehowmuchevidenceIcanbringup。It’scalledbriberyinthisState，andmeanspenitentiaryusually。"
"Youdon’ttakeajoke，"complainedHeinzman。
Newmarkarose。
"It’sunderstood，then？"heasked。
"HowsoIknowyouplayfair？"askedtheGerman。
"Youdon’t。It’sacasewherewehavetodependmoreorlessoneachother。ButIdon’tseewhatyoustandtolose——andanywayyou’llgetcarriedoverthoseJulypayments，"Newmarkremindedhim。
Heinzmanwasplainlyuneasyandslightlyafraidofthesenewwatersinwhichheswam。
"Ifyoureducethefirm’sprofits，heissgoingtosuspect，"headmonished。
"Whosaidanythingaboutreducingthefirm’sprofits？"saidNewmarkimpatiently。"Ifitdoesworkoutthatway，we’llwinabigthing；
ifitdoesnot，we’lllosenothing。"
HenoddedtoHeinzmanandlefttheoffice。Hisdemeanourwasasdryandpreciseasever。Noexpressionilluminatedhisimpassivecountenance。Ifhefelttheslightestuneasinessoverhavingpracticallydeliveredhisintentionstothekeepingofanother，hedidnotshowit。Foronething，anaccomplicewasabsolutelyessential。And，too，heheldtheGermanbyhisstrongestpassions——
hisavarice，hisdreadofbankruptcy，hispride，andhisfearofthepenitentiary。Asheenteredtheofficeofhisownfirm，hiseyefellonOrde’sbulkyformseatedatthedesk。Hepausedinvoluntarily，andaslightshivershookhisframefromheadtofoot——thedainty，instinctiverepulsionofacatforalargerobustiousdog。Instantlycontrollinghimself，hesteppedforward。
"I’vemadetheloan，"heannounced。
Ordelookedupwithinterest。
"Thebankswouldn’ttouchnorthernpeninsula，"saidNewmarksteadily，"soIhadtogotoprivateindividuals。"
"Soyousaid。Don’tcarewhodealsitout，"laughedOrde。
"Thayerbackedout，sofinallyIgotthewholeamountfromHeinzman，"Newmarkannounced。
"Didn’tknowtheoldDutchmanwasthatwelloff，"saidOrde，afteraslightpause。
"Can’ttellaboutthosesecretiveoldfellows，"saidNewmark。
Ordehesitated。
"Ididn’tknowhewasfriendlyenoughtolendusmoney。"
"Businessisbusiness，"repliedNewmark。
XXXIII
Thereexiststhelegendofaneasterndespotwho，wishingtoridhimselfofacourtier，armedthemanandshuthiminadarkroom。
Thevictimknewhewastofightsomething，butwhenceitwastocome，when，orofwhatnaturehewasunabletoguess。Intheevent，whilegropingtenseforanenemy，hefellunderthefatalfumesofnoxiousgases。
FromthemomentOrdecompletedthesecretpurchaseoftheCaliforniatimberlandsfromTrace，hebecameanunwittingparticipantinoneofthestrangestduelsknowntobusinesshistory。Newmarkopposedtohimallthesubtleties，alltherusesandexpedientstowhichhispositionlentitself。Orde，sublimelyunconscious，deployedthemagnificentresourcesofstrength，energy，organisation，andcombativespiritthatanimatedhispioneer’ssoul。TheoccultmanoeuveringsofNewmarkcalledoutfreshexertionsonthepartofOrde。
Newmarkworkedunderthisdisadvantage：hehadcarefullytoavoidtheslightestappearanceofanattitudeinimicaltothefirm’sverybestprosperity。Abreathofsuspicionwoulddestroyhisplans。IfthesmallestuntowardincidentshouldeverbringitclearlybeforeOrdethatNewmarkmighthaveaninterestinreducingprofits，hecouldnotfailtotreadoutthelogicofthelatter’sdeviousways。
ForthisreasonNewmarkcouldnotasyetfighteveninthetwilight。
Hedidnotdaremakebadsales，awkwardtransactions。Inspiteofhisbestefforts，hecouldnotsucceed，withouttheaidofchance，instrikingablowfromwhichOrdecouldnotrecover。Theprofitsofthefirstyearwerenotquiteuptotheusualstandard，buttheysufficed。Newmark’sfinessecutintwothefirm’sincomeofthesecondyear。Orderousedhimself。Withhisold—timeenergyofresource，hehurriedthewoodsworkuntilanespeciallybigcutgavepromiseofrecoupingthelossesoftheyearbefore。Newmarkfoundhimselfstrugglingagainstaforcegreaterthanhehadimaginedittobe。Blindedandbound，itneverthelessmadeheadagainsthispolicy。Newmarkwasforcedtoatemporaryquiescence。Heheldhimselfwatchful，intent，awaitingtheopportunitywhichchanceshouldbring。
Chanceseemedbynomeansinhaste。TheendofthefourthyearfoundNewmarkpuzzled。Ordehadpaidregularlytheinterestonhisnotes。Howmuchhehadbeenabletosavetowardtheredemptionofthenotesthemselveshispartnerwasunabletodecide。ItdependedentirelyonhowmuchtheOrdeshaddisbursedinlivingexpenses，whetherornotOrdehadanyprivatedebts，andwhetherornothehadprivateresources。InthemeantimeNewmarkcontentedhimselfwithtyingupthefirm’sassetsinsuchamannerastorenderitimpossibletoraisemoneyonitspropertywhenthetimeshouldcome。
WhatOrderegardedasaseriesofpettyannoyanceshadmadetheproblemofpayingfortheCaliforniatimberamatterofgreaterdifficultythanhehadsupposeditwouldbe。Apressurewhosepointsofsupporthecouldnotplacewasclosingslowlyonhim。
Againstthispressureheexertedhimself。Itmadehimatrifleuneasy，butitdidnotworryhim。Themarginofsafetywasnotasbroadashehadreckoned，butitexisted。Andinanycase，ifworsecametoworst，hecouldalwaysmortgagetheCaliforniatimberforenoughtomakeupthedifference——andmore。Againstthisexpedient，however，heopposedasentimentalobstinacy。ItwasBobby’s，andheobjectedtoencumberingit。Infact，Ordewascapableofaprolongedandbitterstruggletoavoiddoingso。Nevertheless，itwasthere——anasset。Aloanonitssecuritywould，withwhathehadsetaside，morethanpaythenotesonthenorthernpeninsulastumpage。Ordefeltperfectlyeasyinhismind。Hewasinthepositionofmanyofourrichmen’ssonswho，quitesincerelyandearnestly，gopennilesstothecitytomaketheirway。Theyliveontheirninedollarsaweek，andgohungrywhentheylosetheirjobs。
Theystandontheirownfeet，andyet——incaseofsevereillnessoractualstarvation——theoldmanisthere！Itgivesthemacouragetobecontentedonnothing。SoOrdewouldhavegonetoalmostanylengthstokeepfree"Bobby’stract，"butitstoodalwaysbetweenhimselfanddisaster。Andaloanonwesterntimbercouldbepaidoffjustaseasilyasaloanoneasterntimber；whenyoucamerightdowntothat。Evencouldhehaveknownhispartner’sintentions，theywould，onthisaccount，havecausedhimnouneasiness，howeverangrytheywouldhavemadehim，orhoweverdeterminedtobreakthepartnership。EventhoughNewmarkdestroyedutterlythefirm’sprofitsfortheremainingyearandahalfthenoteshadtorun，hecouldnottherebyruinOrde’schances。AloanontheCaliforniatimberwouldsolveallproblemsnow。InthisreasoningOrdewouldhavecommittedthemistakeofalllargeandgeneroustemperamentswhencalledupontomeasurenaturesmoresubtlethantheirown。HewouldhaveunderestimatedbothNewmark’sresourcesandhisowngraspofsituations。*
*TheauthorhasconsideredituselesstoburdenthecourseofthenarrativewithadetailedaccountofNewmark’sfinancialmanoeuvres。
Realising，however，thatalargeclassofhisreadersmightbeinterestedintheexactparticulars，heherewithgivesasketchofthetransactions。
Itwillberememberedthatatthetime——1878——OrdefirstcameinneedofmoneyforthepurposeofbuyingtheCaliforniatimber，thefirm，NewmarkandOrde，ownedinthenorthernpeninsula300，000，000
feetofpine。Onthistheyhadpaid$150，000，andowedstillalikeamount。Theyborrowed$75，000onit，givinganotesecuredbymortgageduein1883。Ordetookthis，givinginreturnhisnotesecuredbytheBoomCompany’sstock。In1879and1880theymadethetwofinalpaymentsonthetimber；sothatbythelatterdatetheyownedthelandfreeofencumbrancesaveforthemortgageof$75，000。
SinceNewmark’splanhadalwayscontemplatedtheeventualforeclosureofthismortgage，itnowbecamenecessaryfurthertoencumbertheproperty。Otherwise，sinceapropertyworthconsiderablyabove$300，000carriedonlya$75，000mortgage，itwouldbepossible，whenthelattercamedue，toborrowafurthersumonasecondmortgagewithwhichtomeettheobligationsofthefirst。ThereforeNewmark，in1881，approachedOrdewiththerequestthatthefirmraise$70，000bymeansofasecondmortgageonthetimber。This$70，000heproposedtoborrowpersonally，givinghisnoteduein1885andputtingupthesamecollateralasOrdehad——
thatistosay，hisstockintheBoomCompany。TothisOrdecouldhardlyinreasonopposeanobjection，asitnearlyduplicatedhisowntransactionof1878。Newmarktherefore，throughHeinzman，lentthissumtohimself。
ItmaynowbepermittedtoforecasteventsinthelineofNewmark’sreasoning。
Ifhisplansshouldworkout，thisiswhatwouldhappen：in1883thefirm’snotefor$75，000wouldcomedue。Ordewouldbeunabletopayit。ThereforeatoncehisstockintheBoomCompanywouldbecomethepropertyofNewmarkandOrde。Newmarkwouldprofesshimselfunabletoraiseenoughfromthefirmtopaythemortgage。Thesecondmortgagefromwhichhehaddrawnhispersonalloanwouldrenderitimpossibleforthefirmtoraisemoremoneyontheland。
Aforeclosurewouldfollow。ThroughHeinzman，Newmarkwouldbuyin。
Ashehadhimselfloanedthemoneytohimself——againthroughHeinzman——onthesecondmortgage，thelatterwouldoccasionhimnoloss。
Thenetresultsofthewholetransactionwouldbe：first，thatNewmarkwouldhaveacquiredpersonallythe300，000，000feetofnorthernpeninsulatimber；and，second，thatOrde’spersonalshareinthestockcompanywouldflowbeheldinpartnershipbythetwo。
Thus，inordertogainsolargeastake，itwouldpayNewmarktosufferconsiderablelossjointlywithOrdeintheinducedmisfortunesofthefirm。
IncidentallyitmightberemarkedthatNewmark，ofcourse，purposedpayinghisownnotetothefirmwhenitshouldfallduein1885，thussavingforhimselftheBoomCompanystockwhichhehadputupascollateral。
Affairsstoodthusintheautumnbeforetheyearthenoteswouldcomedue。Theweatherhadbeenbeautiful。Aperpetualsummerseemedtohaveembalmedtheworldinitsforgetfulnessoftimesandseasons。NavigationremainedopenthroughOctoberandintoNovember。Noseverestormshadasyetsweptthelakes。Thebargeandhertwotowshadmadeonemoretripthanhadbeenthoughtpossible。Ithadbeentheintentiontolaythemupforthewinter，buttheweathercontinuedsomildthatOrdesuggestedtheybeladenwithaconsignmentforJonesandMabley，ofChicago。
"Didintendtoshipbyrail，"saidhe。"They’reall’uppers，’soitwouldpayallright。Butwecansaveallkindsofmoneybywater，andtheyoughttoskipoverthereintwelvetofifteenhours。"
Accordingly，thethreevesselswerelaidalongsidethewharvesatthemill，andasfastaspossibletheselectedlumberwaspassedintotheirholds。Ordedepartedforthewoodstostartthecuttingassoonasthefirstbelatedsnowshouldfall。
Thisconditionseemed，however，todelay。Duringeachnightitgrewcold。Theleaves，aftertheirblazeandriotofcolour，turnedcrispandcracklyandbrown。Someofthelittle，stillpuddleswerefilmedwithwhatwasalmost，butnotquiteice。Asheenoffrostwhitenedthehouseroofsandsilveredeachseparatebladeofgrassonthelawns。Butbynoonthesun，risingredintheveilofsmokethathunglowinthesnappyair，hadmellowedtheatmosphereuntilitlayonthecheeklikeacaress。Nobreathofwindstirred。
Soundscameclearlyfromadistance。LongV—shapedflightsofgeesesweptathwartthesky，veryhighup，buttheirhonkingcamefaintlytotheear。Andyet，whenthesun，swollentothegreatdimensionsoftherisingmoon，dippedblood—redthroughthehaze；thefirstpremonitorytingleofcoldwarnedonethatthegratefulwarmthofthedayhadbeenbutanillusionofaseasonthathadgone。Thiswasnotsummer，but，inthequaintoldphrase，Indiansummer，anditsendwouldbeasthoughthenecromancerhadwavedhiswand。
ToNewmark，sittingathisdesk，reportedCaptainFloydofthesteambargeNORTHSTAR。
"Allloadedbynoon，sir，"hesaid。
Newmarklookedupinsurprise。
"Well，whydoyoutellme？"heinquired。
"Iwantyourorders。"
"Myorders？Why？"
"Thisisabadtimeofyear，"explainedCaptainFloyd，"andthestormsignal’sup。Allthesignsarerightforablow。"
Newmarkwhirledinhischair。
"Ablow！"hecried。"Whatofit？Youdon’tcomeineverytimeitblows，doyou？"
"Youdon’tknowthelakes，sir，atthistimeofyear，"insistedCaptainFloyd。
"Areyouafraid？"sneeredNewmark。
CaptainFloyd’scountenanceburnedadarkred。
"Ionlywantyourorders，"wasallhesaid。"Ithoughtwemightwaittosee。"
"Thengo，"snappedNewmark。"Thatlumbermustgettothemarket。
YouheardMr。Orde’sorderstosailassoonasyouwereloaded。"
CaptainFloydnoddedcurtlyandwentoutwithoutfurthercomment。
Newmarkaroseandlookedoutofthewindow。Thesunshoneasbalmilysoftasever。Englishsparrowstwitteredandfoughtoutside。Thewarmsmellofpineshinglesrosefromthestreet。
Onlyclosedowntothehorizonlurkedcold，flat，greasy—lookingclouds；andinthedirectionoftheGovernmentflag—polehecaughttheflashofredfromthelazilyfloatingsignal。Hewaslittleweatherwise，andheshookhisheadsceptically。Neverthelessitwasachance，andhetookit，ashehadtakenagreatmanyothers。
XXXIV
ToCarroll’sdelight，Ordereturnedunexpectedlyfromthewoodslatethatnight。Hewassobusythesedaysthatshewelcomedanychancetoseehim。Muchtohisdisappointment，Bobbyhadbeentakenduck—
huntingbyhisoldfriend，Mr。Kincaid。Nextmorning，however，OrdetoldCarrollhisstaywouldbeshortandthathisdaywouldbeoccupied。
"I’dtakeoldPrinceandgetsomeair，"headvised。"You’retoomuchindoors。Getsomefriendanddrivearound。It’sfineandblowyout，andyou’llgetsomecolourinyourcheeks。"
AfterbreakfastCarrollaccompaniedherhusbandtothefrontdoor。
Whentheyopeneditablastofairrushedin，whirlingsomedeadleaveswithit。
"Iguessthefineweather’sover，"saidOrde，lookingupatthesky。
Adullleadcolourhadsucceededthesoftgrayoftheprecedingbalmydays。Theheavensseemedtohavesettleddownclosertotheearth。Arisingwindwhistledthroughthebranchesofthebigmapletrees，snatchingtheremainingleavesinhandfulsandtossingthemintotheair。Thetopsswayedlikewhips。Whirlwindsscurriedamongthepilesofdeadleavesonthelawns，scatteringthem，chasingthemmadlyaroundandaroundincircles。
"B—r—r—r！"shiveredCarroll。"Winter’scoming。"