Chapter 1. A Council On Skates
_ CHAPTER I. A COUNCIL ON SKATES A strong southeast wind was blowing up the cañ；on and driving before it the dense yellow smoke which rolled up from the great red chimneys of the smelter. To the east and west of the town, the mountains rose abruptly, their steep sides bare or covered with patches of yellow pine. At the north, the cañ；on closed in to form a narrow gorge between the mountains； but towards the south it opened out into a broad valley, through which the swiftly rushing creek twisted and turned along its willow-bordered bed. A half mile below the town the creek suddenly broadened into a little lake that was now frozen over, forming a sheet of dazzling ice, upon which a quartette of boys and girls were darting about on skates. "Ugh!" gasped one of the boys, as a sudden gust of wind, coming straight from the east, brought the stifling cloud in their direction； "I‘m glad I‘m not up in town this afternoon. It‘s getting ready for a

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