QUERCUS ALBA 



Already, though far distant, the end 

 was in sight. 



Again years drifted by; spring 

 rains, summer suns, winter lethar- 

 gy; and as the prophecy had been, 

 so the fulfilment came to pass. 

 A small pole now, six inches in 

 diameter at the height of a man's 

 breast, Quercus Alba was domi- 

 nant in his own clump. The pine 

 had been long overtopped, and was 

 dying gradually. The oak was 



32 



