Chapter X 



HAT with fences, firewood, 

 outbuildings, and plant- 

 beds, Major Baker had to 

 clear more or less land 

 each season. But it was 

 only now and again he 

 had a big new ground, 

 such as the one which ran out into the old 

 pigeon-roost. The pigeon-roost was part of 

 his late purchase, lying upon the edge of it 

 away from the flat-woods. That is to say, 

 along the hills bounding the creek valley, lower 

 down than White Oaks itself. The soil 

 was quick and lively, especially upon the 

 benches. The hills were high, and sloped 

 gradually half way down, then fell in a sharp 

 ramp to broad almost level spaces, at whose 

 outer edges the slopes began anew. 



The hills had been well-timbered before 

 the pigeons came. A hurricane could hardly 

 have served the trees worse. Looking the 



