28 FOREST LIFE IN ACADIE. 



tower to the height of some 120 feet, two or three mas- 

 sive branches being thrown out in twisted and fantastic 

 attitudes. As if aware of its proud position as monarch 

 of the forest, it is often found on the summit of a preci- 

 pice ; and these conspicuous positions, which it seems to 

 prefer, have doomed this noble specimen of the cone- 

 bearing evergreens to ultimate extermination as certain 

 as that of the red man or the larger game of this conti- 

 nent. Some half-century since, the pine was found on 

 the margins of all the large lakes and streams, but of late 

 the axe and devastating fires have, as it were, driven the 

 tree far back into the remoter solitudes of the forest, and 

 long and expensive expeditions must be undertaken ere 

 the head-quarters of a gang of lumber-men can be fixed 

 upon for a winter employment. At the head waters of 

 some insignificant brook, and in the neighbourhood of 

 good timber, these hardy sons of the forest fell the trees, 

 and cut and square them into logs, dragging them to the 

 edge of the stream, into whose swollen waters they are 

 rolled at the breaking up of winter and melting of the 

 snow, to find their way through almost endless difiiculties 

 to the sea. That most useful animal in the woods, the 

 ox, accompanies the lumberers to their remote forest 

 camps, and drags the logs to the side of the stream. It 

 is really wonderful to watch these animals, well managed, 

 performing their laborious tasks in the forest : urged on 

 and directed solely by the encouraging voice of the team- 

 ster, the honest team drag the huge pine-log over the 

 rough inequalities of the ground, over rocks, and through 

 treacherous swamps and thickets, with almost unaccount- 

 able ease and safety, where the horse would at once be- 

 come confused, frightened, and injured, besides failing on 



