Man Discovers Unusual Bump On Tree And Continues To Dig

But there can be some rewards, especially if, like Tony Markins, you find something unusual inside a tree that piques your interest. Tony spent hours digging through the remains of that tree. 

The job was certainly never boring. Each tree presented new logistical and physical challenges, and his team worked together well. In addition, once in a while someone on the team would uncover an interesting find in the forest and share it with the others.  

Like all lumberjacks, Tony was keenly aware of the dangers of the job; they all go through training in safety practices. The possibility of something going wrong, though, did make the job a bit more exciting. But Tony didn’t know how exciting things could get.

Even with his ear protection on, he could hear the steady hum of the chainsaws and the men shouting to each other as they worked. Little did he know that a few trees over from where he stood, he’d stumble upon something extraordinary. 

As he walked carefully over the trees, he spotted one that looked different. Spending his life around trees, he knew something about it was wrong. For one thing, its bark was exceptionally dark, and it was taller than the other trees.

Tony was stumped. He’d been lumberjacking for over ten years and had never seen a tree like this one. He looked at the trees nearby to see if they had similar deformities, but they didn’t. This was the only one, and it was surely a mystery. 

However, for those who have trees on their properties, bark cankers can be dangerous. They are a sign that the tree trunk has begun to rot, which implies that the tree could fall on a home or car. So, Tony looked closer. 

But Tony couldn’t stop thinking about that lone tree with the strange lumps. He just knew that he’d need to go back and examine it. In his mind, the tree was hiding something interesting and unusual. Tony was right, but what he found was totally unexpected.  

The tree plunged to the ground with a loud thumping sound. Now that it was on the ground, Tony was even more curious to look inside the trunk and see what was going on. He just knew this was going to be a unique experience.  

Now that the tree was down, Tony rushed to look at the exposed trunk. He knew right away that something was odd. This trunk did not look normal, and his curiosity only grew at that point. He had to find out the story of this tree.  

The rings of the tree were clear, so Tony could figure out how old it was. By counting the rings, he estimated the tree to be anywhere from 30 to 35 years old. That was good information, but there was more. As Tony peered at the gash, he saw something shiny. 

Without thinking, Tony took out his pocket knife and dug the shiny object out of the tree. He realized he’d come across something totally unique, and had to find out what he’d discovered. He still couldn’t believe he’d stumbled across this odd tree by accident.

Tony studied the object under the bright sunlight to figure out what he was holding. Then, he called his team over to show it to them and see what they thought of it. 

Using his pocket knife, he began to remove even more objects. Tony pried out another three metal lumps. He held them in his hands, turning them. He then held them toward the sky, watching as they glistened and caught the sun’s reflection. But he still had no idea what the metal lumps could be.

One of the other lumberjacks took a piece from Tony and looked at it carefully, but was just as mystified as Tony. Then, one of the older members of the team took a look. As soon as he held the silver item, he announced exactly what it was. 

The man just stood there grinning, then said, “Someone was bored.” OK, now this was getting weird. This piece of metal was 36 years old and embedded inside tree bark. Tony finally asked, “Feel like clueing in the rest of us?” 

The rest of the team started laughing, including Tony. He had simply stumbled upon bullets from a 36-year-old rifle. He was a bit disappointed, but still had a feeling that the tree was hiding other mysteries, and he wasn’t giving up.

So, out came the chainsaw, and Tony kept at it. Maybe there was something else, something valuable or more interesting than bullets, underneath the other bumps. As it happens, Tony’s curiosity won out, and he was on his way to discovering a real treasure. 

When he dug all the way to the bottom of the huge tree trunk, he made the discovery he knew was waiting for him. It was something that had been waiting to be found for 30 years, and Tony was the lucky explorer. 

Although having the bullets in the woods bothered him, his discovery, which was definitely not part of nature, gave him pause. There was something in that tree that should not have been there, but it was fascinating. 

The metallic item was covered in soil, so he swept the dirt away to touch it. This was definitely not a bullet, but something much larger. What had he found? Was it going to be worth all the searching?  

He was blown away. What was something so valuable doing, stuck under a tree in this huge forest? Tony knew he had found something special and couldn’t wait to show his team.

As he wiped off more dirt, he noticed a needle inside the metal case. And, the needle was moving!  Someone had lost or hidden this gorgeous piece of hunting equipment long ago. What was it?

That compass had been lodged in the roots of that tree, probably lost there when a hunter or hiker dropped it by accident. Imagine all of the rain and snow that compass had endured. And with each year, it had gotten buried deeper and deeper, until Lumberjack Tony came along.

His teammates were busy, so Tony put the compass in his coat and kept working. That night when he came home, he decided he’d take it to an antique expert. 

What he told Tony was that the compass was actually over 100 years old!  As a unique piece of craftsmanship, he estimated that it was worth around $200. Tony was ecstatic, but he wanted to keep the compass for himself to remind him of the treasure hunt.

Tony is a man with perseverance and determination. These qualities led him to make an incredible discovery on a regular workday. We hope these qualities lead him to find lots of valuable treasures in the future.