A NASTY KNOCK Frost sparkled on the office windows and Cartwright, with his feet on the hearthrug studied an Atlantic weather chart.

The temperature reported by the liners' captains was low, and winter had begun unusually soon.

Since Cartwright had hoped for a mild November, this was unlucky.
As a rule, cargo is plentiful at Montreal shortly before the St.
Lawrence freezes and the last steamers to go down the river do so with heavy loads.

Cartwright's plan was to run a boat across at the last moment and pick up goods the liners would not engage to carry, and he had sent _Oreana_ because she was fast.

When the drift ice began to gather, speed was useful.
A cablegram two or three days since stated that she had sailed, and Cartwright, who knew the St.Lawrence, calculated the progress she ought to have made.