New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1923-09-13
NOW GO on WITH THE STORY

Ned, deeply appalled, and unspeak
ably revolted. looked to Lenore fol
directions, Her glorious head wa,
on her arms, and she shook IL in utter
misery. II can't go out there now
abe said. ''I'il Just die IL I do--Tn
50 cold still. 30 weakened wish
had died out there In the storm"
Ned turned once more to Dooms.
dorf. She's telling the truth
think she simply can't stand to co.
he urged gravely. But though she's
absolutely In your power. there are
some things even a beast can't do.
You just the same as gave me your
word"
There are things beast can't do.
but I'm not beast. There's nothing
f'can't do that want to do. make
no promises-just the same, for this
time. don't think you need be afraid
don't take everything that comes
along in the way of woman. /
want woman of thews."
XVII
There we're a number of axes In
the little workroom that comprised
one end of the long cabin. and
Doomsdorf flung three of them over
his shoulder. Right up through
here" he urged, pointing to the little
hillside behind the cabin. Dooms-
dorf halted them before one of the
hAlf-grown spruce.
Here's good one" he commented.
Just beyond IL another. You can
each take one-cut them down with
your axes and then hack them into
two-foot lengths for the stove. Bet
ter split each length into three pieces
the larger ones, anyway If you
have time. you can carry It down to
the cabin.'
He took the handle Of the largest
axe In his right hand; with his left
he extended the other two imple-
ments, blades up. to Ned and Bess.
IT suppose you know we've had no
experience" Ned began.
1T doesn't matter. Just be care
full the trees don't fall on you. They
sometimes do. you know, on amateur
woodsmen. The rest is plain brute
strength and awkwardness." He
handed them each, from his pocket,
a piece Of dried substance that looked
like bark. Here's a piece of jerked
caribou each--it ought to keep life in
your bodies. And the sooner you get
your wood cut and split, the sooner
you see any more"
Then he turned and left them to
their toll.
Thus began bitter hour for Ned
He found the mere work of biting
the thick trunk with his axe
cost him BREATH and strained his pa
thence to the limit. 1t wasn't as easy
as it looked. He did not strike true:
the blade made irregular white gashes
In the bark his blows seemed to lack
power The great, ragged wound
leepened slowly
Finally it was half through the
trunk, and yet the tree stood SEEM .
nRly as sturdy as ever Reckless
from fatigue, he chopped on more
fercely than ever. And suddenly,
With the grinding noise of breaking
wood. the tree started to fall.
And at that instant Ned was face
o face with the exigency of leapins
or his life. The tree did not fall
n the direction planned. An instant
before, weary and aching and out of
,reath. Ned would have believed
himself incapable of swift and power
ul motion. AS that young spruce
battered down toward him, like the
lub of giant aimed to strike out
lis life supernatural power seemed
O snatch him to one side With
tut realization Of the effort, the
eeded muscles contracted with
tartling force, and he sprang like
istance jumper to safety
But he didn't jump too toon or too
ar. The branches Of the tree dashed