h, but when she
went out there was nobody to be seen. On the morrow, lo and behold! the
body of the old man was brought past on a couch, he having perished in
the snow on the mountain of Tre 'r Castell. Now this is the truth of the
matter."

Many wonderful feats did Tom perform connected with loading and carrying,
which acquired for him the reputation of being the best wood carter of
the south. His dexterity at moving huge bodies was probably never
equalled. Robinson Crusoe was not half so handy. Only see how he moved
a ship into the water, which a multitude of people were unable to do.

"After keeping the gate for two or three years," says he, "I took the
lease of a piece of ground in Llandeilo Fawr and built a house upon it,
which I got licensed as a tavern for my daughters to keep. I myself went
on carrying wood as usual. Now it happened that my employer, the
merchant at Abermarlais, had built a small ship of about thirty or forty
tons in the wood about a mile and a quarter from the river Towy, which is
capable of floating small vessels as far as Carmarthen. He had resolved
that the people should draw it to the river by way of sport, and had
caused proclamation to be made in four parish churches, that on such a
day a ship would be launched at Abermarlais, and that food and drink
would be given to any one who would come and lend a hand at the work.
Four hogsheads of ale were broached, a great oven full of bread was
baked, plenty of cheese and butter bought, and meat cooked for the more
respectable people. The ship was provided with four wheels, or rather
four great rolling stocks, fenced about with iron, with great big
axle-trees in them, well greased against the appointed day. I had been
loading in the wood that day, and sending the team forward, I went to see
the business--and a pretty piece of business it turned out. All the food
was eaten, the drink swallowed to the last drop, the ship drawn about
three roods, and then left in a deep ditch. By this time night was
coming on, and the multitude went away, some drunk, some hungry for want
of food, but the greater part laughing as if they would split their
sides. The merchant cried like a child, bitterly lamenting his folly,
and told me that he should have to take the ship to pieces before he
could ever get it out of the ditch.

"I told him that I could take it to the river, provided I could but get
three or four men to help me; whereupon he said that if