high in the air.

The boys could only lift the lower portion; but should they do so, then
the hut would be entirely crushed by the full weight of the tree.

There was no window through which they could get Miller out, and there
was no knowing how long the frail hut could resist the weight of the
tree.

Suddenly a well-known voice was heard shouting;

"Keep your head level, Miller, old chap--we'll hev you out of that in no
time. Hurry up, somebody, and borrow the barkeeper's ropes. While I'm
cuttin', throw a rope over the top, and when she commences to go, haul
all together and suddenly, then 'twill clear the hut."

In an instant later the boys saw, by the bright moonlight, the captain,
bareheaded, barefooted, with open shirt, standing on the tree directly
over the crushed gable, and chopping with frantic rapidity.

"Hooray for cap'en!" shouted some one.

"Hooray!" replied the crowd, and a feeble "hooray"' was heard from
between the logs of old Miller's hut.

Two or three men came hurrying back with the ropes, and one of them was
dexterously thrown across a branch of the tree. Then the boys
distributed themselves along both ends of the rope.

"Easy!" screamed the captain. "Plenty of time. I'll give the word. When