The deep snow of the unusually cold autumn had now disappeared from the tops of the stumps.

Down in the swamp the covey of partridges were beginning to hope that in a few days more they might discover a bare spot in the burnings.

It even stopped freezing during the night.

At times Dyer's little thermometer marked as high as forty degrees.
"I often heard this was a sort 'v summer resort," observed Tom Broadhead, "but danged if I knew it was a summer resort all the year 'round." The weather got to be the only topic of conversation.

Each had his say, his prediction.