The young pioneer now realized his danger and tried to leap away as bidden. But it was too late, and in an instant more he was caught by one of the tree limbs and pinned to the earth.
All who were looking on gave cries of horror, and even Harry forgot that one of his eyes had been scratched. He ran toward his chum with all speed.
“Joe!” he called. “Joe, get up and out of the way before the tree turns over on you!”
But Joe did not answer, for the reason that he was almost senseless from the shock. Coming closer, Harry saw that one of the branches of the hickory lay directly across his throat, pinning him down to the ground and strangling him!
“Is he—is he dead?” came from Harmony. Her face was ghastly white.
“I—I hope not,” answered Harry. “But he will be soon if I don’t get him free!”
Joe’s ax lay but a few steps away, and Harry caught it up without delay. There was a grave peril there between the limbs of the hickory, for the tree might turn over at any moment, carrying Harry down under it, but just then Harry gave no thought to this. His one idea was to save Joe from strangulation.
But if Harry was brave, the girls and Mrs. Parsons were equally so, and all rushed in to offer what assistance they could. While they held the limb as far up as possible Harry gave it a blow or two with his sharp ax and then the branch was bent back until it snapped and broke.
“Now out of the way, all of you!” panted Harry, and caught Joe up in his arms.
The others leaped away from the tree and Harry followed with his burden. Then the hickory began to crack and groan, and in half a minute more it rolled partly over into a slight hollow and lay still.