hom credit is due
for his abundant kindness--I proceeded to fell or cause to fall the
trees of which I proposed constructing our lean-forwards, two or more in
number.

My initial object of attack was a large tree; but, finding its fibres to
be of a singularly hard and resistant nature, and the axe manifesting an
unaccountable tendency to twist in my hands, causing the sides of the
axe rather than its edged portion to strike against the tree, resulting
in painful shocks to my arms and shoulders, I was soon induced to
abandon it for a smaller tree.

In circumference of trunk this second tree was hardly more than a
sapling, yet it required upward of half an hour of the most arduous and
persistent labour, and several large water blisters appeared on the
palms of my hands before it tottered, bent, cracked and finally fell
quivering on the earth. In descending it perversely took the wrong
direction, narrowly escaping striking me in its fall; indeed, one of
its lower limbs severely scratched my left cheek.

Nor did the severed trunk possess the neat and symmetrical appearance I
have noted in the case of trees felled by professional woodsmen. Rather
did it present the aspect of having been gnawed down by slow degrees,
resembling, if I may use the simile, a very hard lead pencil, the point
of which has been renewed with a very dull knife.

A hasty mental calculation now convinced me that at this rate of
progress many hours or possibly days would elapse before I felled a
sufficient number of trees to construct one or more lean-forwards of the
dimensions I had in mind. Desiring opportunity to ponder over this, I
suggested to the lads, who were seated in a row following my movements
with every indication of lively interest, that we desist for the time
from building operations and enjoy luncheon, which announcement was
greeted with audible approval by all.

"Let us build a true woodsmen's camp fire," I said; "and over it I shall
broil for your delectation succulent slices of crisp bacon."

Almost immediately a cheery fire was burning on the shore of the lake.
From the stock of supplies I brought forth a strip of bacon, finding it
much greasier than I had anticipated; I may say I had never before
handled this product in its raw state. I set about removing a suitable
number of slices. Here an unanticipated contingency developed--in the
press of other matters I had failed to provide a knife or other edged
tool with which to slic