The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1864-05-06

you miserable, skulking marine
would you fire at man when he is
aloftT
Come down, or I'll bring you down
with bullet through your bead re
turned the rebel.
"Fire away, then, and be Id to
YOU T. cried Tom, MS he suddenly
swung himself into another branch
with the rapidity of n squirrel, and
cnsconccd himself behind one of the
forked projections of the tree
The rebel, however had not dis
charged his piece, for the quick move.
ment OF his enemy had taken him 10y
surprise, and thus prevented him from
changing his aim with sufficient rap.
idity 10 do execution. Percciving
that the Zuave was now screened by
part of the tree which was of suili-
cient thickness to prevent q bullet
from passing through it, the pioneer
cody placed the rifle upon the ground
ahd proceeded to unsling his axe
from his shoulders.
"What are You going to do now
you internal imp of Jonah ? roar
cd Tom.
you'll find out" answered the
rebel, as he threw off his jacket and
grasped the handle of his axe. "If
can't bring you down one way will
bring YOU down another.
"Well, shiver me, if he isn't goin'
to cut away the mastr cried Tom
"Avast there, you lubber, avast!'
But the pioneer swung the instru.
ment over his head, and the keen
edge sank deep into the trunk of the
tree.
"You sec," cried the rebel, as he
paused moment after the first blow.
II came here on hunt for good
wood TO boil our coloners camp ket-
tie, but reckon the boys will lie
/ pleased to hear that I've killed two
birds with one stone"
Disengaging his axe. after he had
spoken, he gave another blow, which
gent huge piece flying from the
trunk, and proclaimed that he was no
green hand at the business. He now
proceeded rapidly with his work, and
the chips few in all directions.
Believing that his enemy was too
intently occupied to notice his move
ments the Zouavc commenced to
slide stealt,lily from his position, for
the purpose OF gaining the ground
and seizing his musket.
But the rebel suddenly threw down
his instrument and sprang toward
inc rile, compelling Tom to scram.
blc quickly back TO his rvrluer posi-.
tion.
ats no use Of your trying any
such game T. shouted the pioneer, as
he resumed his axe. "But il you'll
come down and surrender yourself,
say the word It's Il big height up
there, and as the tree goes, as will
soon be the case, there nothing can
save YOU"
"D--n the lubber!" !" growlcI Tom
che has his weather eye open. -
And then resolving to hold ont to the
last, he added in loud voice: DO
your worst, you rascally shark
At these words up went the rebels
axe, and the chips again began to fly.
Tom watched him keenly, but his
enemy was not to be taken by surprise
At intervals Of every few seconds he
would throw glance out of the cor
ncrs of his eyes, in the direction of
his intended victim.
Presently the tree commenced to
tremblc. At this .juncture the rebel
paused and leaning upon his axe, lift
ed his glance to the Zouave.
Now, them he exclaimed, 4 give
you one more chance, and the last
one for your life. Two more blows
and over goes the tree. Will you
come DOWN.
No; you internal porpus-no, -
yelled Tom, at the top of his voice
Cut away and be Id to you.'
Nevertheless the speaker had nc
intention of allowing himself to tall
with the tree. Confident in his agili
ty, he had formed in his mind n plar
(which he trusted would enable him tc
reach the ground in time TO avoid the
tate which his enemy believed to bC
inevitable Perhaps by the contem
plated manGuvre he would also be
enabled to gain mis- musket before tho
rebel could possess himself of the
weapon, "Say your prayers - shout
, ed the pioneer as he lifted his axe ant
struck another blow.
The tree shook, and posing his axe
again, the rebel gave the final stroke
But before the keen edge OF the in
strument had reached its destination
Tom had commenced to slide will
wonderful rapidity, down the slant
ing projection behind which he haC
screened himself, and as the tree bow
: ed its lofty crest, he ran out upon :
branch which was within twenty fee
of the ground. This branch bending
low with his weight enabled him t
drop unhurt 10 the earth from high
of ten feet, just as the deatening crasl
of the falling tree saluted his ears.
At the same moment q cry of hor
ror escaped his lips as he looked to
ward the huge trunk which was lying
! athwart the body of the rebel. Tn,
latter had evidently supposed that thu
tree would fall IN the opposite direc
ton, and therefore, had not attempt
Ioovo h;a ,,osition nntil ha nor