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he exchanged a dozen words with his parents； for he had even been
forced to eat his dinner and supper away from home。 This Sunday he
had promised himself to make his deferred but much…desired call on
Jane Hubbardand her guest。 He turned out the gas with a shrug of
resignation。 For the first tile eyes and the hair with the soft shadows。 With
a
sigh he felt asleep。
Some time in the night he was awakened by a persistent tapping on
the door。 In the woodsman's manner； he was instantly broad awake。
He lit the gas and opened the door to admit Newmark； partially
dressed over his night gown。
〃Orde；〃 said he briefly and without preliminary； 〃didn't you tell me
the other day that rollways were piled both on the banks and IN the
river？〃
〃Yes； sometimes；〃 said Orde。 〃Why？
〃Then they might obstruct the river？〃
〃Certainly。〃
〃I thought so！〃 cried Newmark； with as near an approach to
exultation as he ever permitted himself。 〃Now； just one other
thing： aren't Heinzman's rollways below most of the others？〃
〃Yes； I believe they are；〃 said Orde。
〃And； of course； it was agreed； as usual； that Heinzman was to break
out his own rollways？〃
〃I see；〃 said Orde slowly。 〃You think he intends to delay things
enough so we can't deliver on the date agreed on。〃
〃I know it；〃 stated Newmark positively。
〃But if he refuses to deliver the logs； no court of law will〃
〃Law！〃 cried Newmark。 〃Refuse to deliver！ You don't know that
kind。 He won't refuse to deliver。 There'll just be a lot of
inevitable delays； and his foreman will misunderstand； and all that。
You ought to know more about that than I do。〃
Orde nodded； his eye abstracted。
〃It's a child…like scheme；〃 commented Newmark。 〃If I'd had more
knowledge of the business； I'd have seen still above them the marshes and the
flats
where the river widened below the Big Bend。 That would be the
location for the booms of the new companya cheap property on which
the partners had already secured a valuation。 And below he dropped
in imagination with the slackening current until between two greater
sand…hills than the rest the river ran out through the channel made
by two long piers to the lakeblue； restless； immeasurable。 To
right and left stretched the long Michigan coast； with its low
yellow it sooner。〃
〃I'd never have seen it at all；〃 said Orde humbly。 〃You seem to be
the valuable member of this firm； Joe。〃
〃In my way；〃 said Newmark； 〃you in yours。 We ought to make a good
team。〃
XII
Sunday afternoon； Orde； leaving Newmark to devices of his own；
walked slowly up the main street； turned to the right down one of
the shaded side residence streets that ended finally in a beautiful
glistening sand…hill。 Up this he toiled slowly； starting at every
step avalanches and streams down the slope。 Shortly he found
himself on the summit； and paused for a breath of air from the lake。
He was just above the tops of the maples； which seen from this angle
stretched away like a forest through which occasionally thrust roofs
and spires。 Some distance beyond a number of taller buildings and
the red of bricks were visible。 Beyond them still were other sand…
hills； planted raggedly with wind…twisted and stunted trees。 But
between the brick buildings and these sand…hills flowed the river
wide； deep； and stillbordered by the steamboat landings on the
town side and by fishermen's huts and net…racks and small boats on
the other。 Orde seated himself on the smooth； clean sand and
removed his hat。 He saw these things； and in imagination the far
upper stretches of the river； with the mills and yards and booms
extending for miles； andhills topped with the green of twisted pines； firs； and
beeches； with always its beach of sand； deep and dry to the very
edge of its tideless sea； strewn with sawlogs； bark； and the ancient
remains of ships。
After he had cooled he arose and made his way back to a pleasant
hardwood forest of maple and beech。 Here the leaves were just
bursting from their buds。 Underfoot the early spring flowersthe
hepaticas； the anemones； the trilium； the dog…tooth violets； the
quaint； early； bright…green undergrowthswere just reaching their
perfection。 Migration was in full tide。 Birds； little and big；
flashed into view and out again； busy in the mystery of their
northward pilgrimage； giving the appearance of secret and silent
furtiveness； yet each uttering his characteristic call from time to
time； as though for a signal to others of the host。 The woods were
swarming as city streets； yet to Orde these little creatures were as
though invisible。 He stood in the middle of a great multitude； he
felt himself under the observation of many bright eyes； he heard the
murmuring and twittering that proclaimed a throng； he sensed an
onward movement that flowed slowly but steadily toward the pole；
nevertheless； a flash of wings； a fluttering little body； the dip of
a hasty short flight； represented the visible tokens。 Across the
pale silver sun of April their shadows flickered； and with them
flickered the tracery of new leaves and the delicacy of the lace…
like upper branches。
Orde walked slowly farther and farther into the forest； lost in an
enjoyment which he could not have defined accur snatched at the sand and sprayed
it
away in a beautiful plume。
〃Isn't this REAL fun？〃 she asked him。
〃Why； Miss Bishop！〃 cried Orde； finding his voice。 〃What are you
doing here？〃
A faint shade of annoyance crossed her brow。
〃Oh； I could ask the same of you； and then we'd talk about how
surprised we are； world without end；〃 said she。 〃The important
thing is that here is sand to play in； and there is the Lake； and
here are we； and the day is charmed； and it's good to be alive。 Sit
down and dig a hole！ We've all the common days to explain things
in。〃
Orde laughed and seated himself to face her。 Without further talk；
and quite gravely； they commenced to scoop out an excavation between
them； piling the sand over themselves and on either side as was most
convenient。 As the hole grew deeper they had to lean over more and
more。 Their heads sometimes brushed ever so lightly； their hands
perforce touched。 Always the dry sand flowed from the edges
partially to fill in the result their efforts。 Faster and faster
they scooped it out again。 The excavation thus took on the shape of
a funnel。 Her cheeks glowed pink； her eyes shone like stars。
Entirely was she absorbed in the task。 At last a tiny commotion
manifested itself in the bottom of the funnel。 Impulsively she laid
her hand on Orde's； to stop them。 Fascinated； they watched。 After
incredible though lilliputian upheavals； at lenately； but which was
so integral a portion of his nature that it had drawn him from the
banks and wholesale grocerie