Suppose someone wants to cut down trees and build a shopping center where they used to be. how would this affect the amount of sediment in the river? be clear and to the point.

Trees serve as a natural force to prevent erosion and hold soil together during rainfall and other periods of weather that might impact the integrity of the soil. However, trees were cut down to build a new shopping center there could be an increased flow of water to a river and also lead to great soil erosion nearby thus increasing the amount of sediment being deposited into the river. Also this new shopping mall could increase the pollutants in a river as well. 

It erodes into the river and goes through the rock cycle

Early in the story when tom finds an indian skull in the woods which he kicks in temper. the devil then makes his appearance and, as tom surveys him, he notices that the devil is neither "negro" nor "indian." in fact, he has a "swarthy" complexion and is "begrimed with soot."