172 



FELLING TIMBER 



a hand-saw. The branchy we observed^ was 

 first cut a little underneath, and then above, 

 that it might not split and fall before it was 

 cut through. By this care and skill, many 

 valuable knees, and other shapes, of useful 

 timber, were preserved entire. 



As these preparatory operations occupied 

 some time, our young friends began to be 

 somewhat impatient ; for the grand fall of the 

 whole tree was the event they were longing for. 

 When they saw it stripped, branch after branch, 

 they feared that nothing worth looking at 

 would be left for the last. They were amused, 

 however, by a great hallooing amongst the 

 workmen; for one of them had seated himself, 

 by mistake, on the branch which his companion 

 was cutting ; so that, had he not nimbly sprung 

 to the neighbouring one, he must have fallen 

 with it. 



