The guard would take him to the woods with an ax, and he would make two or three chops on a tree and look up at it and say: "Woodman, spare that tree; touch not a single bough; In youth it sheltered me, and I'll protect it now." He would then go to another tree; but at no tree would he make more than two or three licks before he would go to another.

He would hit a limb and then a log; would climb a tree and cut at a limb or two, and keep on this way until he came to a hard old stump, which on striking his ax would bound and spring back.

He had found his desire; the top of that stump became fun and pleasure.

Well, his time of misdemeanor expired and he was relieved.

He went back and reported to Colonel Field, who informed him that he had been reduced to the ranks.