Ordefellintodeepthought，fromwhichheemergedoccasionallytoscribbleonthebackofhismemoranda。
\"Isupposesomewhereaboutadollar，\"heannouncedatlast。Helookedupatriflestartled。\"Why，\"hecried，\"thatlookslikebigmoney！Ahundredpercent！\"
Newmarkwatchedhimforamoment，aquizzicalsmilewrinklingthecornersofhiseyes。
\"Holdyourhorses，\"saidheatlast。\"Idon’tknowanythingaboutthisbusiness，butIcanseeafewthings。Inthefirstplace，closefiguringwillprobablyaddafewcentstothatdollar。Andthen，ofcourse，allourimprovementswillbeabsolutelyvaluelesstoanybodyafterwe’vegotthroughusingthem。Yousaidyesterdaythey’dprobablystandusinseventy—fivethousanddollars。Evenatadollarprofit，we’dhavetodriveseventy—fivemillionbeforewegotacentback。And，ofcourse，we’vegottoagreetodriveforalittlelessthantheycouldthemselves。\"
\"That’sso，\"agreedOrde，hiscrestfalling。
\"However，\"saidNewmarkbriskly，ashearose，\"there’sgoodmoneyinit，asyousay。Now，howsooncanyouleaveDaly？\"
\"Bythemiddleoftheweekweoughttobethroughwiththisjob。\"
\"That’sgood。Thenwe’llgointothismatterofexpensethoroughly，andestablishourscheduleofratestosubmittothedifferentfirms。\"
NewmarksaidapunctiliousfarewelltoMr。andMrs。Orde。
\"Bytheway，\"saidOrdetohimatthegate，\"whereareyoustaying？\"
\"AttheGrand。\"
\"Iknowmostofthepeoplehere——alltheyoungfolks。I’dbegladtotakeyouaroundandgetyouacquainted。\"
\"Thankyou，\"repliedNewmark，\"youareverykind。ButIdon’tgoinmuchforthatsortofthing，andIexpecttobeverybusynowonthisnewmatter；soIwon’ttroubleyou。\"
XI
Thenewpartners，assoonasOrdehadreleasedhimselffromDaly，gavealltheirtimetoworkingoutascheduleoftolls。Ordedrewonhisintimateknowledgeoftheriveranditstributaries，andthelocationsofthedifferentrollways，toestimateascloselyaspossiblethetimeitwouldtaketodrivethem。HealsohuntedupTomNorthandothersoftheoldermendomiciledinthecheapboarding—housesofHell’sHalf—Mile，talkedwiththem，andverifiedhisownimpressions。Together，heandNewmarkvisitedthesupplyhouses，gotprices，obtainedlists。Alltheeveningstheyfiguredbusily，untilatlastNewmarkexpressedhimselfassatisfied。
\"Now，Orde，\"saidhe，\"hereiswhereyoucomein。It’snowyourjobtogooutandinterviewthesemenandgettheircontractsfordrivingtheirnextwinter’scut。\"
ButOrdedrewback。
\"Lookhere，Joe，\"heobjected，\"that’smoreinyourline。YoucantalkbusinesstothembetterthanIcan。\"
\"Notabit，\"negativedNewmark。\"Theydon’tknowmefromAdam，andtheydoknowyou，andallaboutyou。We’vegottocarrythisthingthroughatfirstonourface，andthey’dbemoreapttoentrustthemattertoyoupersonally。\"
\"Allright，\"agreedOrde。\"I’llstartinonDaly。\"
Hedidsothefollowingmorning。Dalyswunghisbulkaroundinhisrevolvingoffice—chairandlistenedattentively。
\"Well，Jack，\"saidhe，\"Ithinkyou’reagoodriverman，andI
believeyoucandoit。I’dbeonlytoogladtogetridofthenuisanceofit，letalonegetitdonecheaper。Ifyou’lldrawupyourcontractandbringitinhere，I’llsignit。Isupposeyou’llbreakouttherollways？\"
\"No，\"saidOrde；\"wehadn’tthoughtofdoingmorethanthedrivinganddistributing。You’llhavetodeliverthelogsintheriver。
Maybeanotheryear，afterwegetbetterorganised，we’llbeabletobreakrollways——atapriceperthousand——butuntilwegeta—goingwe’llhavetorushherthrough。\"
Orderepeatedthistohisassociate。
\"Thatwassmoothenoughsailing，\"heexulted。
\"Yes，\"ponderedNewmark，removinghisglassesandtappinghisthumbwiththeiredge。\"Yes，\"herepeated，\"thatwassmoothsailing。
Whatwasthataboutrollways？\"
\"Oh，Itoldhimwe’dexpecthimtobreakouthisown，\"saidOrde。
\"Yes，butwhatdoesthatmeanexactly？\"
\"Why，\"explainedOrde，withaslightstareofsurprise，\"whenthelogsarecutandhauledduringthewinter，theyarebankedontheriver—banks，andevenintheriver—channelitself。Then，whenthethawscomeinthespring，thesepilesarebrokendownandsetafloatintheriver。\"
\"Isee，\"saidNewmark。\"Well，butwhyshouldn’tweundertakethatpartofit？Ishouldthinkthatwouldhemorethejoboftheriver—
drivers。\"
\"Itwouldholdbackourdrivetoomuchtohavetostopandbreakrollways，\"explainedOrde。
ThenextmorningtheytooktheearlytrainforMonrovia，whereweresituatedthebigmillsandtheofficesofthenineotherlumbercompanies。Withinanhourtheyhaddescendedatthesmallframeterminalstation，andwerewalkingtogetherupthevillagestreet。
Monroviawasatthattimeaveryspread—outlittleplaceofperhapstwothousandpopulation。ItwassituatedahalfmilefromLakeMichigan，behindthesparselywoodedsandhillsofitsshore。Fromtheriver，whichhadheregrowntoagreatdepthandwidth，itsmainstreetrandirectlyatrightangles。Fourbrickblocksofthreestorieslentimpressivenesstothevista。Thestoresingeneral，however，werelowframestructures。Allfacedbroadplanksidewalksraisedabovethestreettothelevelofawaggonbody。Fromthismainstreetranoff，torightandleft，otherstreets，renderedlovelybymapletreesthatfairlymetacrosstheway。Insummer，oversidewalkandroadwayalikerestedadense，refreshingdarkshadowthatseemedtothrowfromitselfanodourofcoolness。Thiswasrenderedfurtherattractivebythewarmspicyodourofdamppinethatarosefromtheresilientsurfaceofsawdustandshinglesbrokenbeneaththewheelsoftraffic。Backfromthesetrees，inwide，well—cultivatedlawns，stoodthebetterresidences。Theywerealmostinvariablybuiltofmanycorners，withsteeproofsmeetingeachotheratallangles，withwideandornamentedredchimneys，numerouswindows，andmuchscrollworkadorningeachapexandcornice。Theridgepolesbristledinfancyfoot—highpalisadesofwood。Chimneyswereprovidedwithlightning—rods。Occasionallyanolderstructure，onsquarelines，recordedtheeraofamoredignifiedarchitecture。Everywhereranbroadsidewalksandpicketfences。Beyondthebetterresidencedistrictsweretheboardshantiesofthemillworkers。
OrdeandNewmarktrampeduptheplankwalktothefarthestbrickbuilding。Whentheycametoacrossstreet，theyhadtodescendtoitbyashortflightofstepsononeside，andascendfromitbyacorrespondingflightontheother。Atthehotel，Newmarkseatedhimselfinarocking—chairnextthebigwindow。
\"Goodluck！\"saidhe。
Ordemountedawide，darkflightofstairsthatledfromthestreettoadarkerhall。Thesmellofstalecigarsandcocoamattingwasintheair。Downthedimlengthofthishallhemadehiswaytoadoor，whichwithoutceremonyhepushedopen。
Hefoundhimselfinarailed—offspace，separatedfromthemainpartoftheroombyahighwalnutgrill。
\"Mr。Heinzmanin？\"heaskedofaclerk。
\"Ithinkso，\"repliedtheclerk，towhomevidentlyOrdewasknown。
OrdespenttherestofthemorningwithHeinzman，averyrotund，cautiouspersonofGermanextractionandaccent。Heinzmanoccupiedthetimeinaskingquestionsofallsortsaboutthenewenterprise。
Attwelvehehadnotinanywaycommittedhimselfnorexpressedanopinion。He，however，instructedOrdetoreturntheafternoonofthefollowingday。
\"IvillseeProctor，\"saidhe。
Orde，ratherexhausted，returnedtofindNewmarkstillsittingintherocking—chairwithhisunlightedcigar。Thetwohadlunchtogether，afterwhichOrde，somewhatrefreshed，startedout。Hesucceededingettingtwomorepromisesofcontractsandtwomoredeferredinterviews。
\"That’sgoingalittlefaster，\"hetoldNewmarkcheerfully。
Thefollowingmorning，also，hewasmuchencouragedbythereceptionhisplangainedfromtheotherlumbermen。AtlunchherecapitulatedtoNewmark。
\"That’sfourcontractsalready，\"saidhe，\"andthreemorepracticallyasurething。ProctorandHeinzmanareslowerthanmolassesabouteverything，andmeanaspusley，andJohnson’supintheair，thewayhealwaysis，forfearsomeone’sgoingtodohim。\"
\"Itisn’tabadoutlook，\"admittedNewmark。
ButHeinzmanofferedanewproblemforOrde’sconsideration。
\"IhaftalkedwithProctor，\"saidhe，\"andvelikeyourscheme。Ifyoucandelifferourlogsherefortwodollarsandaquarter，why，thatisbetterasvecandoit；buthowdoveknowyouvilldoit？\"
\"I’llguaranteetogetthemhereallright，\"laughedOrde。
\"Butwhatisyourguaranteegoodfor？\"persistedHeinzmanblandly，lockinghisfingersoverhisrotundlittlestomach。\"Supposethelogsarenotdeliffered——whatthen？Howresponsibleareyoufinancially？\"
\"Well，we’reinvestingseventy—fivethousanddollarsorso。\"
Heinzmanrubbedhisthumbandforefingertogetherandwaftedtheimaginarypulverisationaway。
\"Worththatforajudgment，\"saidhe。
Heallowedapausetoensue。
\"Ifyouvillgiveabondfortheperformanceofyourcontract，\"
pursuedHeinzman，\"thatvouldbesatisfactory。\"
Orde’smindwasstruckchaoticbythereasonablenessofthisrequest，andtheutterimpossibilityofaccedingtoit。
\"Howmuchofabond？\"heasked。
\"Twenty—fifethousandvouldsatisfyus，\"saidHeinzman。\"Bringusasuitablebondforthatamountandvevillsignyourcontract。\"
OrderandownthestairstofindNewmark。\"Heinzmanwon’tsignunlesswegivehimabondforperformance，\"hesaidinalowtone，ashedroppedintothechairnexttoNewmark。
Newmarkremovedhisunlightedcigar，lookedatthechewedend，andreturnedittothecornerofhismouth。
\"Heinzmanhassense，\"saidhedrily。\"Iwaswonderingifordinarybusinesscautionwasunknownouthere。\"
\"Canwegetsuchabond？Nobodywouldgoonmybondforthatamount。\"
\"Mineeither，\"saidNewmark。\"We’lljusthavetoletthemgoanddriveaheadwithoutthem。Ionlyhopetheywon’tspreadtheidea。
Bettergetthoseothercontractssignedupassoonaswecan。\"
Withthisobjectinview，Ordestartedoutearlythenextmorning，carryingwithhimtheduplicatecontractsonwhichNewmarkhadbeenbusy。
\"Rope’emin，\"advisedNewmark。\"It’sSaturday，andwedon’twanttoletthingssimmeroverSunday，ifwecanhelpit。\"
Abouteleveno’clockaclerkoftheWeltonLumberCo。enteredMr。
Welton’sprivateofficetodelivertoOrdeanote。
\"Thisjustcamebyspecialmessenger，\"heexplained。
Orde，withanapology，toreitopen。ItwasfromHeinzman，andrequestedanimmediateinterview。OrdedelayedonlylongenoughtogetMr。Welton’ssignature，thenhastenedasfastashishorsecouldtakehimacrossthedrawbridgetothevillage。
Heinzmanhefoundawaitinghim。ThelittleGerman，withhisround，rosycheeks，hisdotofanose，hisbigspectacles，andhisrotundbody，lookedevenmorethanusuallikeaspideroraSantaClause——
Ordecouldnotdecidewhich。
\"Ihafbeenthinkingofthatbond，\"hebegan，wavingapudgyhandtowardaseat，\"andIhafbeentalkingwithProctor。\"
\"Yes，\"saidOrdehopefully。
\"Isupposeyouwouldnotbepreparedtogifabond？\"
\"Ihardlythinkso。\"
\"Vell，supposevefixhimthisway，\"wentonHeinzman，claspinghishandsoverhisstomachandbeamingthroughhisspectacles。\"
ProctorandIhaftalkeditofer，andveareagreetthattheprobositionisagoodone。Alsovethinkitisvelltohelptheyoungfellersalong。\"Helaughedsilentlyinsuchamannerastoshakehimselfallover。\"Vedonotvishtobetoosevere，andyetvemustbeassuredthatvegetourlogsontime。Now，Iunterstoodyoutosaythatthisnewconcernisastockcompany。\"
Ordedidnotrememberhavingsaidso，buthenodded。
\"Vell，ifyougifusabondsecuredwithstockinthenewcompany，thatwouldbesatisfactorytous。\"
Orde’sfacecleared。
\"Doyoumeanthat，Mr。Heinzman？\"
\"Sure。Vemusthafsomesecurity，butvedonotvishtobetoohardonyouboys。\"
\"Now，Icallthatamightygoodwayout！\"criedOrde。
\"Makeyourcontractoutaccordingtotheseterms，then，\"saidHeinzman，handinghimapaper，\"andbringitinMonday。\"
Ordeglancedovertheslip。Itrecitedtwoandaquarterastheagreedprice；specifiedthedateofdeliveryatHeinzmanandProctor’sbooms；namedtwenty—fivethousanddollarsastheamountofthebond，tobesecuredbyfiftythousanddollars’worthofstockinthenewcompany。Thislookedsatisfactery。Ordearose。
\"I’mmuchobligedtoyou，Mr。Heinzman，\"saidhe。\"I’llbringitaroundMonday。\"
HehadreachedthegatetothegrillbeforeHeinzmancalledhimback。
\"Bythevay，\"thelittleGermanbeamedupathim，swinginghisfatlegsastheoffice—chairtippedbackonitssprings，\"ifitistobeastockcompany，youvillbesellingsomeofthestocktoraisemoney，isitnotso？\"
\"Yes，\"agreedOrde，\"Iexpectso。\"
\"Howmuchvillyoucapitalisefor？\"
\"Weexpectahundredthousandoughttodothetrick，\"repliedOrde。
\"Vell，\"saidHeinzman，\"venyouputitonthemarket，comeandseeme。\"HenoddedpaternallyatOrde，beamingthroughhisthickspectacles。
Thatevening，wellaftersix，Ordereturnedtothehotel。Afterfresheningupinthemarbledandboardedwashroom，hehuntedupNewmark。
\"Well，Joe，\"saidhe，\"I’mashungryasabear。Comeon，eat，andI’lltellyouallaboutit。\"
Theydepositedtheirhatsontheracksandpushedopentheswingingscreendoorsthatledintothedining—room。Theretheyweretakeninchargebyamarvellouslyhaughtyandredundanthead—waitress，whosignalledthemtofollowdownthroughranksofsmalltableswatchedbymorestatelydamsels。Newmark，reservedandprecise，irreproachablycorrectinhisneatgray，seemedenvelopedinanaloofnessasimpenetrableasthatofthehead—waitressherself。
Orde，however，wasasbreezyasever。Hehastenedhisstridetoovertakethehead—waitress。
\"Annie，begood！\"hesaidinhisjollyway。\"We’vegotbusinesstotalk。Putussomewherealone。\"
Newmarknoddedapproval，andthrusthishandinhispocket。ButAnnielookedupintoOrde’sfrank，laughingface，andherlipscurvedeversofaintlyinthecondescensionofasmile。
\"Sure，sorr，\"saidshe，inamostunexpectedbrogue。
\"Well，I’vegot’emall，\"saidOrde，assoonasthewaitresshadgonewiththeorder。\"Butthebeststrokeofbusinessyou’dneverguess。IropedinHeinzman。\"
\"Good！\"approvedNewmarkbriefly。
\"ItwasreallyprettydecentofthelittleDutchman。Heagreedtoletusputupourstockassecurity。Ofcourse，thatsecurityisgoodonlyifwewinout；andifwewinout，why，thenhe’llgethislogs，sohewon’thaveamehisbrainclearedofitsturmoilofcalculations，ofguesses，ofestimates，andofmen。Hesawclearlythelimitedilluminationcastdownwardbythelampbeneathitswideshade，thegraceful，whitefigureagainsttheshadowoftheeasychair，theovalfacecutinhalfbythelamplighttoshowplainlytheredlipswiththequaintupwardquirksatthecorners，anddimlytheinscrutabnyuseforsecurity。Soit’sjustonewayofbeatingthedevilaroundthebush。Heevidentlywantedtogiveusthebusiness，buthehatedlikethedeviltopassuphisrules——
youknowhowthoseoldshellbacksare。\"
\"H’m，yes，\"saidNewmark。
Thewaitresssailedinthroughaviolentlykickedswingingdoor，bearingaloftatintrayheapedperilously。Sheslantedaroundacorneringracefuloppositiontothecentrifugal，broughtthetraytoportonasortoflandingstagebyapillar，andbeganenergeticallytodistributesmall\"iron—ware\"dishes，eachcontainingadabofsomething。Whentheclashofarrivalhaddied，Ordewenton：
\"Igotintoyourdepartmentalittle，too。\"
\"How’sthat？\"askedNewmark，spearingabakedpotato。\"Heinzmansaidhe’dbuysomeofourstock。Heseemstothinkwehaveaprettygoodshow。\"
Newmarkpaused，hispotatohalf—waytohisplate。
\"Kindofhim，\"saidheafteramoment。\"Didhesignacontract？\"
\"Itwasn’tmadeout，\"Orderemindedhim。\"I’vethememorandahere。
We’llmakeitoutto—night。IamtobringitinMonday。\"
\"Iseewe’rehunguphereoverSunday，\"observedNewmark。\"NoSundaytrainstoRedding。\"
Ordebecamegrave。
\"Iknowit。Itriedtohurrymatterstocatchthesixo’clock，butcouldn’tmakeit。\"Hisround，jollyfacefellsombre，asthoughalightwithinhadbeenextinguished。Afteramomentthelightreturned。\"Can’tbehelped，\"saidhephilosophically。
Theyatehungrily，thendriftedoutintotheofficeagain，whereOrdelitacigar。
\"Now，let’sseeyourmemoranda，\"saidNewmark。
Hefrownedoverthethreesimpleitemsforsometime。
\"It’sgotme，\"heconfessedatlast。
\"What？\"inquiredOrde。
\"WhatHeinzmanisupto。\"
\"Whatdoyoumean？\"askedOrde，turninginhischairwithanairofslowsurprise。
\"Italllooksqueertome。He’sgotsomethinguphissleeve。Whyshouldhetakeabondwiththatsecurityfromus？Ifwecan’tdeliverthelogs，ourcompanyfails；thatmakesthestockworthless；
thatmakesthebondworthless——justwhenitisneeded。Ofcourse，it’sasplainasthenoseonyourfacethathethinksthepropositionagoodoneandistryingtogetcontrol。\"
\"Oh，no！\"criedOrde，astounded。
\"Orde，you’reallrightontheriver，\"saidNewmark，withadrylittlelaugh，\"butyou’reababeinthewoodsatthisgame。\"
\"ButHeinzmanishonest，\"criedOrde。\"Why，heisachurchmember，andhasaclassinSunday—school。\"
Newmarkselectedacigarfromhiscase，examineditfromendtoend，finallyputitbetweenhislips。Thecornersofhismouthweretwitchingquietlywithamusement。
\"Besides，heisgoingtobuysomestock，\"addedOrde，afteramoment。
\"Heinzmanhasnottheslightestintentionofbuyingadollar’sworthofstock，\"assertedNewmark。
\"Butwhy——\"
\"——Didhemakethatbluff？\"finishedNewmark。\"Becausehewantedtofindouthowmuchstockwouldbeissued。Youtoldhimitwouldbeahundredthousanddollars，didn’tyou？\"
\"Why——yes，IbelieveIdid，\"saidOrde，pondering。Newmarkthrewbackhisheadandlaughednoiselessly。
\"Sonowheknowsthatifweforfeitthebondhe’llhavecontrollinginterest，\"hepointedout。
Ordesmokedrapidly，hisbrowtroubled。
\"ButwhatIcan’tmakeout，\"reflectedNewmark，\"iswhyhe’ssosurewe’llhavetoforfeit。\"
Ithinkhe’sjusttakingalongshotatit，\"suggestedOrde，whoseemedfinallytohavedecidedagainstNewmark’sopinion。\"I
believeyou’reshyingatmare’snests。\"
\"Nothe。Hehassomegoodreasonforthinkingwewon’tdeliverthelogs。Whydoesheinsistonputtinginadatefordelivery？Noneoftheothersdoes。\"
\"Idon’tknow，\"repliedOrde。\"Justtoputsomesortofatimelimitonthething，Isuppose。\"
\"Yousayyousurelycangetthedrivethroughbythen？\"
Ordelaughed。
\"Sure？Why，itgivesmetwoweeks’leewayovertheworstpossibleluckIcouldhave。You’retooalmightysuspicious，Joe。\"
Newmarkshookhishead。
\"Youletmefigurethisout，\"saidhe。
Butbedtimefoundhimwithoutasolution。HeretiredtohisroomunderfireofOrde’sgood—naturedraillery。Ordehimselfshuthisdoor，thesmilestillonhislips。Ashebeganremovinghiscoat，however，thesmiledied。Theweekhadbeenabusyone。Hardlyhadheexchangedadozenwordswithhisparents，forhehadevenbeenforcedtoeathisdinnerandsupperawayfromhome。ThisSundayhehadpromisedhimselftomakehisdeferredbutmuch—desiredcallonJaneHubbard——andherguest。Heturnedoutthegaswithashrugofresignation。Forthefirsttileeyesandthehairwiththesoftshadows。Withasighhefeltasleep。
Sometimeinthenighthewasawakenedbyapersistenttappingonthedoor。Inthewoodsman’smanner，hewasinstantlybroadawake。
HelitthegasandopenedthedoortoadmitNewmark，partiallydressedoverhisnightgown。
\"Orde，\"saidhebrieflyandwithoutpreliminary，\"didn’tyoutellmetheotherdaythatrollwayswerepiledbothonthebanksandINtheriver？\"
\"Yes，sometimes，\"saidOrde。\"Why？
\"Thentheymightobstructtheriver？\"
\"Certainly。\"
\"Ithoughtso！\"criedNewmark，withasnearanapproachtoexultationasheeverpermittedhimself。\"Now，justoneotherthing：aren’tHeinzman’srollwaysbelowmostoftheothers？\"
\"Yes，Ibelievetheyare，\"saidOrde。
\"And，ofcourse，itwasagreed，asusual，thatHeinzmanwastobreakouthisownrollways？\"
\"Isee，\"saidOrdeslowly。\"Youthinkheintendstodelaythingsenoughsowecan’tdeliveronthedateagreedon。\"
\"Iknowit，\"statedNewmarkpositively。
\"Butifherefusestodeliverthelogs，nocourtoflawwill——\"
\"Law！\"criedNewmark。\"Refusetodeliver！Youdon’tknowthatkind。Hewon’trefusetodeliver。There’lljustbealotofinevitabledelays，andhisforemanwillmisunderstand，andallthat。
YououghttoknowmoreaboutthatthanIdo。\"
Ordenodded，hiseyeabstracted。
\"It’sachild—likescheme，\"commentedNewmark。\"IfI’dhadmoreknowledgeofthebusiness，I’dhaveseenstillabovethemthemarshesandtheflatswheretheriverwidenedbelowtheBigBend。Thatwouldbethelocationfortheboomsofthenewcompany——acheappropertyonwhichthepartnershadalreadysecuredavaluation。Andbelowhedroppedinimaginationwiththeslackeningcurrentuntilbetweentwogreatersand—hillsthantheresttheriverranoutthroughthechannelmadebytwolongpierstothelake——blue，restless，immeasurable。TorightandleftstretchedthelongMichigancoast，withitslowyellowitsooner。\"
\"I’dneverhaveseenitatall，\"saidOrdehumbly。\"Youseemtobethevaluablememberofthisfirm，Joe。\"
\"Inmyway，\"saidNewmark，\"youinyours。Weoughttomakeagoodteam。\"
XII
Sundayafternoon，Orde，leavingNewmarktodevicesofhisown，walkedslowlyupthemainstreet，turnedtotherightdownoneoftheshadedsideresidencestreetsthatendedfinallyinabeautifulglisteningsand—hill。Upthishetoiledslowly，startingateverystepavalanchesandstreamsdowntheslope。Shortlyhefoundhimselfonthesummit，andpausedforabreathofairfromthelake。
Hewasjustabovethetopsofthemaples，whichseenfromthisanglestretchedawaylikeaforestthroughwhichoccasionallythrustroofsandspires。Somedistancebeyondanumberoftallerbuildingsandtheredofbrickswerevisible。Beyondthemstillwereothersand—
hills，plantedraggedlywithwind—twistedandstuntedtrees。Butbetweenthebrickbuildingsandthesesand—hillsflowedtheriver——
wide，deep，andstill——borderedbythesteamboatlandingsonthetownsideandbyfishermen’shutsandnet—racksandsmallboatsontheother。Ordeseatedhimselfonthesmooth，cleansandandremovedhishat。Hesawthesethings，andinimaginationthefarupperstretchesoftheriver，withthemillsandyardsandboomsextendingformiles；andhillstoppedwiththegreenoftwistedpines，firs，andbeeches，withalwaysitsbeachofsand，deepanddrytotheveryedgeofitstidelesssea，strewnwithsawlogs，bark，andtheancientremainsofships。
Afterhehadcooledhearoseandmadehiswaybacktoapleasanthardwoodforestofmapleandbeech。Heretheleaveswerejustburstingfromtheirbuds。Underfoottheearlyspringflowers——thehepaticas，theanemones，thetrilium，thedog—toothviolets，thequaint，early，bright—greenundergrowths——werejustreachingtheirperfection。Migrationwasinfulltide。Birds，littleandbig，flashedintoviewandoutagain，busyinthemysteryoftheirnorthwardpilgrimage，givingtheappearanceofsecretandsilentfurtiveness，yeteachutteringhischaracteristiccallfromtimetotime，asthoughforasignaltoothersofthehost。Thewoodswereswarmingascitystreets，yettoOrdetheselittlecreatureswereasthoughinvisible。Hestoodinthemiddleofagreatmultitude，hefelthimselfundertheobservationofmanybrighteyes，heheardthemurmuringandtwitteringthatproclaimedathrong，hesensedanonwardmovementthatflowedslowlybutsteadilytowardthepole；
nevertheless，aflashofwings，aflutteringlittlebody，thedipofahastyshortflight，representedthevisibletokens。AcrossthepalesilversunofApriltheirshadowsflickered，andwiththemflickeredthetraceryofnewleavesandthedelicacyofthelace—
likeupperbranches。
Ordewalkedslowlyfartherandfartherintotheforest，lostinanenjoymentwhichhecouldnothavedefinedaccursnatchedatthesandandsprayeditawayinabeautifulplume。
\"Isn’tthisREALfun？\"sheaskedhim。
\"Why，MissBishop！\"criedOrde，findinghisvoice。\"Whatareyoudoinghere？\"
Afaintshadeofannoyancecrossedherbrow。
\"Oh，Icouldaskthesameofyou；andthenwe’dtalkabouthowsurprisedweare，worldwithoutend，\"saidshe。\"Theimportantthingisthathereissandtoplayin，andthereistheLake，andherearewe，andthedayischarmed，andit’sgoodtobealive。Sitdownanddigahole！We’veallthecommondaystoexplainthingsin。\"
Ordelaughedandseatedhimselftofaceher。Withoutfurthertalk，andquitegravely，theycommencedtoscoopoutanexcavationbetweenthem，pilingthesandoverthemselvesandoneithersideaswasmostconvenient。Astheholegrewdeepertheyhadtoleanovermoreandmore。Theirheadssometimesbrushedeversolightly，theirhandsperforcetouched。Alwaysthedrysandflowedfromtheedgespartiallytofillintheresulttheirefforts。Fasterandfastertheyscoopeditoutagain。Theexcavationthustookontheshapeofafunnel。Hercheeksglowedpink，hereyesshonelikestars。
Entirelywassheabsorbedinthetask。Atlastatinycommotionmanifesteditselfinthebottomofthefunnel。ImpulsivelyshelaidherhandonOrde’s，tostopthem。Fascinated，theywatched。Afterincrediblethoughlilliputianupheavals，atlenately，butwhichwassointegralaportionofhisnaturethatithaddrawnhimfromthebanksandwholesalegroceriestothewoods。Afterawhilehesatdownonalogandlithispipe。Aheadthegroundslopedupward。
Dimlythroughthehalf—frondsoftheearlyseasonhecouldmakeouttheyellowofsandsandthedeepcomplementaryblueoftheskyabovethem。HeknewtheLaketoliejustbeyond。Withthethoughthearose。Afewmomentslaterhestoodontopthehill，gazingoutoverthebluewaters。
Verybluetheywere，withacontrastingsnowywhitefringeofwavesbreakinggentlyasfarupthecoastastheeyecouldreach。Thebeach，onthesetidelesswaters，washardandsmoothonlyinthenarrowstripoverwhichranthewashofthelowsurf。Alltherestoftheexpanseofsandbacktothecliff—likehillslaydryandtumbledintohummocksanddrifts，fromwhichprojectedhereasawlogcastinlandfromaraftbysomelong—paststorm，thereaslab，againaship’sribstickinggauntanddefiantfromtheshifting，restlessmediumthatwouldsmotherit。Andjustbeyondtheedgeofthehardsand，followingthelongcurvesofthewash，layadark，narrowlineofbarkfragments。
Theairwasveryclearandcrystalline。Thelight—housesontheendsofthetwinpiers，thoughsomemilesdistant，seemedcloseathand。Whiteherringgulls，cruisingagainsttheblue，flashedwhiteasthesailsofadistantship。Afreshbreezedarkenedthebluevelvetsurfaceofthewater，tumbledthewhitefoamhissingupthebeach，blewforwardoverthedunesafinehurryingmistofsand，andboretoOrdeatlasttherefreshmentofthewidespaces。Awoman，walkingslowly，bentherheadagainsttheforceofthiswind。
Ordewatchedheridly。Sheheldtothebetterfootingofthesmoothsand，whichmadeitnecessarythatsheretreatoftenbeforetheinrushingwash，sometimesratherhastily。Ordecaughthimselfadmiringthegraceofherdeftandsuddenmovements，andtheswayofherwillowyfigure。Everyfewmomentssheturnedandfacedthelake，herheadthrownback，thewindwhippinghergarmentsabouther。
Asshedrewnearer，Ordetriedinvaintocatchsightofherface。
Shelookeddown，watchingthewatersadvanceandrecede；sheworeabrimmedhatbentaroundherheadbymeansofsomesortofveiltiedoverthetopandbeneathherchin。WhenshehadarrivednearlyoppositeOrdesheturnedabruptlyinland，andamomentlaterbeganlaboriouslytoclimbthesteepsand。
Theprocessseemedtoamuseher。Sheturnedherheadsidewisetowatchwithinterestthehurrying，tumblinglittlecascadesthatslidfromhereverystep。Fromtimetotimeshewouldraiseherskirtsdaintilywiththetipsofherfingers，andleanfaroverinordertoobservewithinteresthowherfeetsanktotheankles，andhowthesandrushedfromeithersidetofillinthedepressions。ThewindcarrieduptoOrdelow，joyouschucklesofdelight，likethoseofahappychild。
Asthoughdirectedbysomeunseenguide，hercourseveeredmoreandmoreuntilitleddirectlytothespotwhereOrdestood。Whenshewaswithintenfeetofhimsheatlastraisedherheadsotheyoungmancouldseesomethingbesidesthetopofherhat。Ordelookedplumpintohereyes。
\"Hullo！\"shesaidcheerfullyandunsurprised，andsankdowncross—
leggedathisfeet。
