Soapy moved restlessly on his bench in Madison Square. When the wild geese fly high at night, and when men without warm coats grow kind to their wives, and when Soapy moves restlessly on his bench, you may know that winter is near. A dead leaf fell into Soapy's lap. That was the card of Jack Frost. Jack is kind to the people of Madison Square, and gives fair warning before he comes. Soapy understood that the time had come for him to find a shelter for the winter. Soapy's wishes were not great. He did not dream of warm southern skies or sailing in the bay. Three months on the Island was what his soul wanted. Three months of food and a bed, safe from the wind and the cold, seemed to him the best of all things. For years the kind Island had been his winter home. As his richer neighbours bought their tickets to Florida, so Soapy made his small plans to reach the Island. And now the time had come. There were charitable houses in the city where he could get a bed and food. But to a man of Soapy's proud spirit, the gifts of charity came hard. For every kindness you must pay, if not with money, then with shame. So it was better to be a guest of the law. Having decided, Soapy set about reaching the Island. The easiest way was to dine well at a fine restaurant, and then, after saying he had no money, be handed over quietly to a policeman.