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。