QUERCUS ALBA 



And among the first, again, to 

 recognize and to accept the new 

 challenge was Quercus Alba. Again 

 at either side he felt the slighting 

 touch of hostile companions; this 

 time adversaries worthy of his best 

 effort, for they were oaks like him- 

 self; only one was spotted and the 

 other black. All three were appar- 

 ently equal in size. All were young, 

 as the ages of trees are reckoned, 

 and vital with the lust of life. It 

 was to be a battle royal, the best of 



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