"Well, come to think of it, I don't see why it was necessary for me to help when there are so many other useless hands here Nancy is doing all the work!" retorted Nita.
"You'd better get rid of all the ire you have stored up, Nita, for we are going to pay fines for every mistake I said mistake for politeness' sake after our next council!" warned Zan.
Nita laughed musically, but Zan knew that laugh and was aware that Nita was in one of her most stubborn moods.
She sat down on the heavy cross-bar of the bridge to rest but the other girls had no desire to wait, and Nancy kept on going until the foot of the slope was reached. Here, the wheels were removed and the load of wood was dragged up by the ropes.
With the lumber deposited on the Bluff, Nancy was given a piece of sugar and discharged from duty. The old horse stood watching the girls for a short time until Zan spied her standing
in the foot-path that led down to the cottage.
"Just look at that horse? Did you ever see a more intelligent look in a dumb animal's eyes? She seems to say, 'What under the sun did you want those old boards for I'm going to wait and see!'"
The others turned and laughed at Nancy's look. At that the old horse turned and went down the hill.
"There, now she's insulted at our laughter!" said Miss Miller.
The girls undid the rope that held the wood together, while the Guide went to her tent and gathered her books and papers. Coming back to the group she said, "We will hold a council before further work or play is proposed."
"But Nita isn't here she stopped on the bridge," said Jane.
"I'm afraid Nita will be tardy then, or perhaps miss the meeting altogether!" replied the Guide, positively.
The girls were beginning to understand their teacher better than they had ever thought of comprehending any one; not from her words, for she did not need to say much when her face and voice expressed so much. Thus, they knew that the council called was because of Nita's delinquency.
"Zan, as Big Chief, you will call the roll," said Miss Miller.
This was done and Elena was called upon to read the entries in the Tally Book.
"Now, girls, we must recognize our obligation to each other and not feel as if this camp was started for pure pleasure and indolence. We must feel that a certain amount of fun combines with study or work to make the time well spent. I detest this constant nagging or advising, and regret that it seems necessary to talk so much about duty. I wish to call your attention to a page in the Manual of Woodcraft that I had no idea would ever be needed for us, under the sub-title of Law and Punishments."
The girls looked at each other in dismay. To think that one of their small number should make it necessary to take up the question of punishment!
Miss Miller read: "Punishments are meted out by the Chief and Council, after a hearing of the case. They consist of: Exclusion from the games or boats for a time. Reduction in rank, or of fines, etc. The extreme penalty is 'death'; that is, banishment from the Tribe. Elena, enter these items in the Tally Book."
Silence reigned when Miss Miller finished speaking.
"It is high time our Council took note of the stubborn conduct of one of its members. Last night we were submitted to certain unpleasantness but later the cause of it appeared contrite. Twice to-day the appearance of undesirable qualities has turned our thoughts from duty and pleasure. Now, the Chief is empowered to write down a copy of these fines and place them in Little Chief's possession. Fine will be omitted for any cause occurring before she reads of the Council's decision. After that, penalty will be served on any one committing a fault or omitting a given duty."
Miss Miller was the stern teacher of the school-class as she spoke and the girls felt the same awe with which she inspired them at school.
Nita could not be seen on the bridge or along the road, so Zan placed the paper in their tent on Nita's pillow.
"The Council is adjourned," said the Guide, and they got up with pleasure.
"Now for the cupboard!" cried Miss Miller.
The boards were measured off the same length, and some of the girls began sawing them along the pencil-lines. When the boards had been approved, the two sides were nailed to a bottom section. Then, a top was fastened to the sides. The girls were beginning to thoroughly enjoy the construction work and every one was eager to nail the back on the frame just made. It therefore became necessary for the four to take turns in placing a narrow board at the back. As four boards covered it exactly, one girl after the other took her board and attached it. But Jane had the last board and found it much easier to nail down than the first girl did.
While the back was being fastened firmly, Miss Miller whittled and cut six strips of moulding. These she divided, one for each girl and two for herself. The first two she nailed inside the cupboard on marks made on the side lengths of the boards. The girls saw at once that these strips were rests for the shelves.