按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
as collateral。
Affairs stood thus in the autumn before the year the notes would
come due。 The weather had been beautiful。 A perpetual summer
seemed to have embalmed the world in its forgetfulness of times and
seasons。 Navigation remained open through October and into
November。 No severe storms had as yet swept the lakes。 The barge
and her two tows had made one more trip than had been thought
possible。 It had been the intention to lay them up for the winter；
but the weather continued so mild that Orde suggested they be laden
with a consignment for Jones and Mabley； of Chicago。
〃Did intend to ship by rail；〃 said he。 〃They're all 'uppers；' so it
would pay all right。 But we can save all kinds of money by water；
and they ought to skip over there in twelve to fifteen hours。〃
Accordingly； the three vessels were laid alongside the wharves at
the mill； and as fast as possible the selected lumber was passed
into their holds。 Orde departed for the woods to start the cutting
as soon as the first belated snow should fall。
This condition seemed； however； to delay。 During each night it grew
cold。 The leaves； after their blaze and riot of colour； turned
crisp and crackly and brown。 Some of the little； still puddles were
filmed with what was almost； but not quite ice。 A sheen of frost
whitened the house roofs and silvered each separate blade of grass
on the lawns。 But by noon the sun； rising red in the veil of smoke
that hung low in the snappy air； had mellowed the atmosphere until
it lay on the cheek like a caress。 No breath of wind stirred。
Sounds came clearly from a distance。 Long V…shaped flights of geese
swept athwart the sky； very high up； but their honking came faintly
to the ear。 And yet； when the sun； swollen to the great dimensions
of the rising moon； dipped blood…red through the haze； the first
premonitory tingle of cold warned one that the grateful warmth of
the day had been but an illusion of a season that had gone。 This
was not summer； but； in the quaint old phrase； Indian summer； and
its end would be as though the necromancer had waved his wand。
To Newmark； sitting at his desk； reported Captain Floyd of the steam
barge NORTH STAR。
〃All loaded by noon； sir；〃 he said。
Newmark looked up in surprise。
〃Well； why do you tell me？〃 he inquired。
〃I want your orders。〃
〃My orders？ Why？〃
〃This is a bad time of year；〃 explained Captain Floyd； 〃and the
storm signal's up。 All the signs are right for a blow。〃
Newmark whirled in his chair。
〃A blow！〃 he cried。 〃What of it？ You don't come in every time it
blows； do you？〃
〃You don't know the lakes； sir； at this time of year；〃 insisted
Captain Floyd。
〃Are you afraid？〃 sneered Newmark。
Captain Floyd's countenance burned a dark red。
〃I only want your orders；〃 was all he said。 〃I thought we might
wait to see。〃
〃Then go；〃 snapped Newmark。 〃That lumber must get to the market。
You heard Mr。 Orde's orders to sail as soon as you were loaded。〃
Captain Floyd nodded curtly and went out without further comment。
Newmark arose and looked out of the window。 The sun shone as
balmily soft as ever。 English sparrows twittered and fought
outside。 The warm smell of pine shingles rose from the street。
Only close down to the horizon lurked cold； flat； greasy…looking
clouds； and in the direction of the Government flag…pole he caught
the flash of red from the lazily floating signal。 He was little
weatherwise； and he shook his head sceptically。 Nevertheless it was
a chance； and he took it； as he had taken a great many others。
XXXIV
To Carroll's delight； Orde returned unexpectedly from the woods late
that night。 He was so busy these days that she welcomed any chance
to see him。 Much to his disappointment； Bobby had been taken duck…
hunting by his old friend； Mr。 Kincaid。 Next morning； however； Orde
told Carroll his stay would be short and that his day would be
occupied。
〃I'd take old Prince and get some air；〃 he advised。 〃You're too
much indoors。 Get some friend and drive around。 It's fine and
blowy out； and you'll get some colour in your cheeks。〃
After breakfast Carroll accompanied her husband to the front door。
When they opened it a blast of air rushed in； whirling some dead
leaves with it。
〃I guess the fine weather's over；〃 said Orde； looking up at the sky。
A dull lead colour had succeeded the soft gray of the preceding
balmy days。 The heavens seemed to have settled down closer to the
earth。 A rising wind whistled through the branches of the big maple
trees； snatching the remaining leaves in handfuls and tossing them
into the air。 The tops swayed like whips。 Whirlwinds scurried
among the piles of dead leaves on the lawns； scattering them；
chasing them madly around and around in circles。
〃B…r…r…r！〃 shivered Carroll。 〃Winter's coming。〃
She kept herself busy about the house all the morning； ate her lunch
in solitude。 Outside； the fierce wind； rising in a crescendo
shriek； howled around the eaves。 The day darkened； but no rain
fell。 At last Carroll resolved to take her husband's advice。 She
stopped for Mina Heinzman； and the two walked around to the stable；
where the men harnessed old Prince into the phaeton。
They drove； the wind at their backs； across the drawbridge； past the
ship…yards； and out beyond the mills to the Marsh Road。 There； on
either side the causeway； miles and miles of cat…tails and reeds
bent and recovered under the snatches of the wind。 Here and there
showed glimpses of ponds or little inlets； the surface of the water
ruffled and dark blue。 Occasionally one of these bayous swung in
across the road。 Then the two girls could see plainly the fan…like
cat's…paws skittering here and there as though panic…stricken by the
swooping； invisible monster that pursued them。
Carroll and Mina Heinzman had a good time。 They liked each other
very much； and always saw a great deal to laugh at in the things
about them and in the subjects about which they talked。 When；
however； they turned toward home； they were forced silent by the
mighty power of the wind against them。 The tears ran from their
eyes as though they were crying； they had to lower their heads。
Hardly could Carroll command vision clear enough to see the road
along which she was driving。 This was really unnecessary； for
Prince was buffeted to a walk。 Thus they crawled along until they
reached the turn…bridge； where the right…angled change in direction
gave them relief。 The river was full of choppy waves； considerable
in size。 As they crossed； the SPRITE darted beneath them； lowering
her smokestack as she went under the bridge。
They entered Main Street； where was a great banging and clanging of
swinging signs and a few loose shutters。 All the sidewalk display