There one is ascending the stem of another, the arms of
which in its fall, have stuck among the tangled tojos of
the neighboring trees. See how cautiously he proceeds,
barefooted, and with a handkerchief around his head ;
now he has climbed to the height of about forty fcjet from
the ground ; he stops, and squaring himself with the trunk
on which he so boldly stands, he wields with sinewy ai ms
his tiTisty blade, the repeated blows of which, — although
the tree be as tough as it is large, — will soon sever it in
two. He has changed sides, and his back is turned to
you. The trunk now remains connected by only a thin
strip of wood. He places his feet on the part which is
lodged, and shakes it with all his might. Now swings
the huge log under his leaps, now it suddenly gives way,
and as it strikes upon the ground, its echoes are repeated
through the hummock, and every wild turkey within hear-
ing utters his gobble of recognition. The woodcutter,
however, remains 'collected and composed,' but the next
moment he throws his axe to the ground, and assisted by
the nearest grape-vine, slides down, and reaches the earth
in an instant. Several men approach and examine the pros-
trate tiiink. They cut at both extremities, and sound the
whole of the bark, to enable them to judge if the tree



2 1 8 Life of Audubon.
