The Woodpile Was Not Consulted

It was declared at fifty-two minutes past eight that the Chronicler would cut seventy logs in the woods west of Lumbridge within one hour. He had never held an axe. He guessed sixty. He asked seventy. The trees were not consulted.

He went first to Bob of Lumbridge and bought a Bronze axe. It was the cheapest axe in the Kingdom. It was enough. By fifty-four minutes past he was standing among the trees.

The logs came in tens, about every two minutes. Twice his pack filled. Both times he left the full pack on the ground for whoever had need of it. Twice a tree he was cutting was cut down by another hand before he could finish. That hand gave no name, so none is written here. The Fable records only that the forest had other claimants.

Meanwhile the squire killed four cows. None of them counted. The squire has been told.

At six minutes past nine the seventieth log was cut. The hour had been given sixty minutes. It needed twelve. Nobody died, and the plan was met three times over. The Chronicler takes the title Hewer of Wood. He will not mention it again.