At some distant forest shrine, the priestly winds were swinging their censers, and the whole temple was pervaded with the breath of worship.

Blue-jays were screaming among leathern-leaved oaks, and the bluer kingfishers made their long diagonal flights from side to side of the river, chattering like magpies.

There was one infallible sign that winter was close upon the woods.

The wild geese, flying over Number Nine, had called to Jim with news from the Arctic, and he had looked up at the huge harrow scraping the sky, and said: "I seen ye, an' I know what ye mean." The timber was cut of appropriate length and rolled upon low scaffoldings, where it could be conveniently hewed during the winter; then two days were spent in hunting and in setting traps for sable and otter, and then the two men were ready to arrange for the lumber.
This involved the necessity of a calculation of the materials required, and definite specifications of the same.

Not only this, but it required that Mr.Benedict should himself accompany Jim on the journey to the mill, three miles beyond Mike Conlin's house.