have walked this
great distance, it will be little additional trouble to climb a tree."

He had encouraged me to my work at exactly the proper moment.

"You are right," said I, taking him warmly by the hand, "I will climb
the tree in any case."

As the hour approached we began to cast about for the proper oak. I am
sure they were all the same to me, but Doctor Chord was very
particular.

"'Tis logical to contend," said he, "that the question of the girth of
the tree will enter importantly into our devices. For example, if a
tree be so huge that your hands may not meet on the far side of it, a
successful ascension will be impossible. On the other hand, a very
slim tree is like to bend beneath your weight, and even precipitate
you heavily to the ground, which disaster might retard events for an
indefinite period."

"Science your science, then," said I. "And tell me what manner of tree
best suits the purpose of a true lover."

"A tree," said the Doctor, "is a large vegetable arising with one
woody stem to a considerable height. As to the appearance and quality
of a tree, there are many diversifications, and this fact in itself
constitutes the chief reason for this vegetable being of such great
use to the human family. Ships are made of nought but trees, and if it
were not for ships we would know but little of the great world of
which these English islands form less than a half. Asia itself is
slightly larger than all Scotland, and if it were not for the ships we
would be like to delude ourselves with the idea that we and our
neighbours formed the major part of the world."

With such wise harangues the Doctor entertained my impatience until it
was time for me to climb a tree. And when this time came I went at my
work without discussion or delay.

"There," said I resolutely, "I will climb this one if it kills me."

I seized the tree; I climbed. I will not say there was no groaning and
puffing, but any how I at last found myself astride of a branch and
looking over the wall into the Earl of Westport's garden.

But I might have made myself less labour and care by having somebody
paint me a large landscape of this garden and surveyed it at my
leisure. There I was high in a tree, dangling my legs, and staring at
smooth lawns, ornamental copses, and brilliant flower-beds without
even so much as a dog to enliven the scene. "O'Ruddy," said I to
myself after a long time, "you've hung yourself here in mid-air like a
baco