He heard in the distance a curious sound, something like the quack of a duck, which, though it was common enough here about this time, was not common to him.
Looking through the trees Fitzpiers soon perceived the origin of the noise.

The barking season had just commenced, and what he had heard was the tear of the ripping tool as it ploughed its way along the sticky parting between the trunk and the rind.

Melbury did a large business in bark, and as he was Grace's father, and possibly might be found on the spot, Fitzpiers was attracted to the scene even more than he might have been by its intrinsic interest.

When he got nearer he recognized among the workmen the two Timothys, and Robert Creedle, who probably had been "lent" by Winterborne; Marty South also assisted.
Each tree doomed to this flaying process was first attacked by Creedle.
With a small billhook he carefully freed the collar of the tree from twigs and patches of moss which incrusted it to a height of a foot or two above the ground, an operation comparable to the "little toilet" of the executioner's victim.

After this it was barked in its erect position to a point as high as a man could reach.