The Shiralee and the woodcutter.

When ever I walk in the forest and find a branch of one type of tree seemingly growing inside another I always think of this story.

The Shiralee is a forest demon who guards the woods at night, all wood cutters fear him as the story goes that one night the moon was so bright that a wood cutter found himself walking deeper and deeper in to the trees in search of the perfect sample for a beam in his house. It must not be too curvy, nor too thick, on and on he went into the thick forest until at last he found the tree he needed. He lifted his axe and began to chop, for a while he worked in the bright moon light cutting a wedge from the tree until a terrible screech stopped him dead. Suddenly coming towards him was an ancient mossed and gnarled tree, it was moving at great speed with branches flailing and a hideous cavernous hole in it's trunk shaped like a distorted mouth.

The woodcutter screamed himself falling to his knees in fear. 'What do we have hear, a wood cutter in my forest?' screeched the mighty tree, it's voice like ripping bark.

'No I meant no harm' spluttered the wood cutter.

'Too late. the deed is done, you are mine now.' and the tree stooped over the woodcutter to rip him apart. The wood cutter thought fast knowing that he only had moments to live.


'Wait, surly you can't take me yet as I haven't finished the job, the tree still stands.'

'Oh.' said the Shiralee.

'Perhaps you can assist me in finishing the job, you place your hand here and help me push the tree over.' The wood cutter pointed to the slot he had cut in the trees trunk. The Shiralee thought for a second and agreed, so put a branch against the tree as requested.


'After three, push really hard.' said the wood cutter, but in that instance he picked up the wedge from the forest floor and shoved it back in the slot trapping the Shiralee's branch in there aswell. With a swift swing of the axe he drove the wedge home locking it firmly in place, then quickly stepped back out of the Shiralee's reach.

The forest was filled with a mighty roar, a terrible ripping and ear splintering sound but the Shiralee was trapped. The wood cutter fled the wood and never returned.

Sometimes on windy nights you can hear the tearing scream of the Shiralee as he tries to pull himself loose to no avail. But if ever you happen to be in the forest and see a branch of one tree growing inside another what you have found is the entrapped Shiralee, and what ever you do, don't go cutting him free!