extending here and there under the trees which had been left. These piles were now, however, partly covered with the snow, which lay light and unsullied all over the surface of the ground. The sticks of wood in these piles were of different sizes, though they were all of the same length. Some had been cut from the tops of the trees, or from the branches, and were, consequently, small in diameter; others were from the trunks, which would, of course, make large logs. These logs had, however, been split into quarters by a beetle and wedges, when the wood had been prepared, so that there were very few sticks or logs so large, but that Jonas could pretty easily get them on to the sled. Jonas drove his team up near to one end of the pile, while Josey and Oliver went to the other, where the wood was generally small. While Jonas was loading, he heard a conversation something like this between the other boys:-- "Let's put some good large logs on our sled," said Josey. "Well," said Oliver, "as large as we can; only we'd better put this small wood on first." "I wish you'd go around to the other side, Oliver," said Josey again; "you're in my way." "No," said Oliver, "I can't work on that side very well." "Then I mean to move the old General round a little." "No," said Oliver, "the sled stands just right now; only you get up on the top of the pile, and I'll stay here." "No," said Josey, "I'd rather stand here myself." So the boys continued at work a few minutes longer, each being in the other's way. At length, Josey said again,-- "O, here is a large log, and I mean to get it out, and put it upon our sled." The log was covered with smaller wood, so that Josey could only get hold of the end of it. He clasped his hands together under this end, and began to lift it up, endeavoring to get it free from the other wood. He succeeded in raising it a little, but it soon got wedged in again, worse than before. "Come, Oliver," said Josey, "help me get out this log. It is rock maple."