Chapter 2 Summary

The men hear a shot in the woods, and Spunk comes swaggering out, Lena clinging to him and weeping. He claims that Joe attacked him from behind and he had to shoot him. "Joe come out there wid a meatax an' made me kill him," he announces.

He sends Lena home and leads the men to the woods where Joe lies dead, still clutching his razor. Spunk shows them the cut on his back, and even though the men are angry at Spunk, there is nothing they can do. They discuss locking him up and bringing the sheriff from Orlando, but they know it will be futile.

The court declares that it was self-defense after a very short trial. So Joe is dead, Spunk is back at work riding the dangerous log carriage that feeds the circle saw. He roams the woods again...