III. 



"DRIVING TREES" BENIGHTED IN THE WOODS. 



Indian Lake, June 30. 



Dear H- 



Did you ever fall a tree ? If not, the experiment is 

 worth your while — for the consciousness of power it 

 awakens, and the absolute terror it inspires, as the 

 noble and towering fabric at length yields to your as- 

 saults, amply repay the labor. The first stroke into 

 the huge trunk sends a slight shiver through all the 

 green top ; but as stroke follows stroke, the old king 

 of the woods seems to despise your puny efforts, and 

 receives the blows in silent contempt. But as fibre 

 after fibre is severed, and the heart is at last reached 

 and pierced, a groan passes up through the lofty stem. 

 Then comes a cracking, as if the very seat of life was 

 broken up, and the frightened thing sways and stag- 

 gers a moment, as if to steady its enormous bulk, then 



