"Lend you my axe, you damned thief!" roared Tom, with a volley of curses. "I'll lend it to you. Yes! Take that!"
At the word Tom aimed a blow at Jean that would have split his head open, but that he, stepping nimbly aside, let the axe swing harmlessly by, and before Tom could recover, closed with him, wrenched the weapon from his hands and flung him violently to the ground.
"Help, Paddy, help!" yelled Tom. "Kill him, Paddy! For the love of God, kill him, I say!"
But Paddy had no stomach for a fight, and stood aside with mingled amazement and admiration as Jean, turning his back on both his enemies, began to cut the branches of the tree, close to the bark, with great rapidity, until finally he cut away the top and only the bare trunk remained to block the way.
"Now, Paddy," said Jean, throwing down the axe, "if you will help me we'll throw this log out of the way. There, take hold of that end. Now, Paddy, heave!"
Paddy put forth all his strength, but could not lift the end of the log, while Jean lifted his end about three feet, and then let it drop.
"What's the matter, Paddy? Why don't you lift?"
"Cut it in two and I'll lift my end," said Paddy. "Why, man, it weighs a ton at the very least."
"A ton, Paddy, is that all? We can lift it, then. Come--another try."
"Not for me," said Paddy, standing back. "I know what I can do."