Albert said that it would not be possible to get even a wheelbarrow in.
Albert, however, took great pleasure in going back and forth over this road, morning and evening, with his axe upon his shoulder, and a pack upon his back containing his dinner, while felling his trees.

When they were all down, he left them for some weeks drying in the sun, and then set them on fire.

He chose for the burning, the afternoon of a hot and sultry day, when a fresh breeze was blowing from the west, which he knew would fan the flames and increase the conflagration.

It was important to do this, as the amount of subsequent labor which he would have to perform, would depend upon how completely the trees were consumed.

His fire succeeded beyond his most sanguine expectations, and the next day he brought Mary Erskine in to see what a "splendid burn" he had had, and to choose a spot for the log house which he was going to build for her.
Mary Erskine was extremely pleased with the appearance of Albert's clearing.