第17章

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。"