ned
a refreshing drink.

"Some day I suppose this whole forest will fall before the woodman's
ax," remarked Songbird. "Too bad!" and then he murmured to himself:

"The sturdy woodman with his ax
Will strike full many a blow,
And as the chips go flying fast
He'll lay these giants low,
Until the ground is bare and void
Of all this grateful shade--"

"And then the planter beans can plant
With plow, and hoe, and spade," finished Tom. "Beans would pay better
than trees any day."

"Beans!" snorted Songbird in disgust. "What have beans to do with
poetry?" and he walked ahead so that he might make up his verses
without further interruption.

They soon found the ground getting very rough, and the tangle through
which Sam and Dick had passed made them do not a little complaining.

"Mine cracious! How long vos dis to last, hey?" cried poor Hans as
he found himself in a tangle from which he could not escape. "Hellup,
somepody, oder I ton't vos git out of dis annyhow!"

"Hans is stuck on this brushwood," sang out Fred. "He loves it so he
can't bear to leave it."

"This way, Hansy, my boy," came from Tom. "Now then, a long pull, a
strong pull and a pull altogether!"

With might and main he hauled on the German boy's arm, and with a
tearing sound Hans came loose and almost pitched forward on his face.

"Hi! hi! let go alretty kvick!" he bawled. "Mine clothes vos most
tore off of me." He felt of his trousers and the back of his jacket.
"Too pad! Da vos full of vinders now!"

"Never mind, Hansy, you need the openings for ventilation," returned
Tom smoothly.

"Vendilations, hey? Vot you know about him, hey? I vos look like a
ragpickers alretty!" And he surveyed the damaged suit dubiously.

"Now is the time to have your picture taken," suggested Fred. "You
can send it to your best girl, Hans."

"I ton't vos got no girls."

"Then send it to your grandma," suggested Tom blandly. "Maybe she'll
take pity on you and send you a new suit. That would suit, wouldn't it?"

"I ton't vos do noddings, but ven ve go to camp again, I make you
all sit town und blay tailors," answered the German boy; and then
the whole crowd pushed forward as before.

They had to cross a tiny brook, and then began to scramble over some
rather rough rocks. This was hard work for the horses, and a consultation
was held regarding the advisability of leaving them behind.

"I would do it in a minute," said Tom. "But it may not suit us