"I don't know as I ever came across a bit of woodland as was so utterly, hopelessly rotten.

Why, the wood crumbles when you touch it, and the men have to be within reach of one another the whole of the time, though we've a matter of five hundred planks down there." "Come across anything unusual yet ?" "We ain't come across anything that isn't unusual so far, sir.

My men are all wearing extra leggings to keep them from being bitten by them adders--as long as my arm, some of 'em.

And there's fungus there which, when you touch it, sends out a smell enough to make a man faint.

We killed a cat the first day, as big and as fierce as a young tigress.
It's a queer job, sir." "How long will it take ?" "Matter of three weeks, sir, and when we've got the timber out you'll be well advised to burn it.