FELLING TIMBER. 



173 



And now there arose a little difference of 

 opinion between the master and his men. The 

 latter wished to proceed against the tree itself, 

 with axes ; he insisted upon the saw being used ; 

 the reason was soon explained. The chips 

 were the perquisite of the men^ and they well 

 knew that the axe would reduce a large portion 

 of the timber to these chips^ whilst the saw 

 would give them nothing. The master^ too^ 

 was quite aware of this^ and calculated that 

 perhaps a square foot of oak would be saved 

 him by the saw. As he would not give up the 

 point, they rather discontentedly obeyed ; and 

 two of them, taking a pit-saw^ with a handle 

 fixed at each end, set to work ; of course com- 

 mencing on the contrary side to that towards 

 which the tree leaned ; nevertheless, as they 

 had done with the larger branches, they made 

 a small beginning first at the part where the 



