Spanish windlass

Using a Spanish windlass to pull out a tree stump.
Hum. Not too many years ago just about everyone in every country would recognize a Spanish windlass (even though it's name might be different in different countries) but today, perhaps I'd better explain:

So! You need a simple way to gain a tremendous mechanical advantage to pull a stump out of the ground! You don't have your 10 pulley block and tackle handy?

OK here's what you do; Take a strong rope, loop it a few times around the stump and a handy immovable object, like a big tree. Place a strong stick between the loops, somewhere around half way between the tree and the stump, and start turning the stick and twisting the rope loops. As the loops twist the rope becomes shorter and shorter easily pulling the stump up out of the ground. The mechanical advantage depends on the length of the stick. It's easy to gain a 50 to 1 advantage, were 10 pounds (or 10 kg) of effort results in a pull of 500 pounds (or 500 kg).
PS: DO cut the stump's roots before trying to pull it though. :-)