104 THE PINE-TREE, OR 



and shivering whatever might obstruct their giddy plunge down 

 the steep mountain side, making the valleys reverberate and ring 

 merrily with the concussion. 



In other instances loads are eased down hill sides by the use 

 of " tackel and fall," or by a strong " warp," taking a " bite" 

 round a tree, and hitching to one yoke of the oxen. In this man- 

 ner the load is "tailed down" steeps where it would be impos- 

 sible for the " tongue oxen" to resist the pressure of the load. 

 Sometimes the warp parts under the test to which it is thus sub- 

 jected, when the whole load plunges onward like an avalanche, 

 subjecting the poor oxen to a shocking death. 



But the circumstance which calls forth the most interest and 

 exertion is the " rival load." When teams are located with suf- 

 ficient proximity to admit of convenient intercourse, a spirit of 

 rivalry is often rife between the different crews, on various points. 

 The " largest tree," the " smartest chopper," the " best cook," 

 the " greatest day's work," and a score of other superlatives, all 

 invested with attractions, the greater from the isolated circum- 

 stances of swamp life. 



The " crack" load is preceded by all needful preliminaries. 

 All defective places in the road are repaired. New "skids" are 

 nicely pealed by hewing off the bark smoothly, and plentifully 

 as well as calculatingly laid along the road. All needful repairs 

 are made on the bob-sled, and the team put in contending plight. 

 The trees intended for the " big load" are carefully prepared, and 

 hauled to some convenient place on the main road singly, where 

 they are reloaded, putting on two and sometimes three large 

 trees. All things in readiness, the men follow up with hand- 

 spikes and long levers. Then comes the " tug of war ;" rod by 

 rod, or foot by foot, the whole is moved forward, demanding every 

 ounce of strength, both of men and oxen united, to perform the 

 feat of getting it to the landing. Were life and fortune at stake, 

 more could not be done under the circumstances. The surveyor 



