Three girls nailed their strips on very nicely, but Zan, impatient to get through with hers, drove the last nail in so that it bent double and forced the strip down from the pencil-line.
"Oh, bother! Will that do, or must I pull the nail out?" asked she, looking up at Jane, who was watching the work.
"Guess Miss Miller wouldn't give a reward for that !" said Jane, meaningly.
"Well, out she comes!" and Zan took the hammer and turned it about to use the forked end on the nail. The head of the wire nail was not broad and the hammer stripped it, leaving the remains of the
wire still sticking in the wood.
"Did you ever! I s'pose the old thing will come off altogether, next!" grumbled Zan.
She tried the hammer in every conceivable position but the nail seemed to be stuck for good. "I'll get you this time!" added Zan, placing the hammer under the strip and bending back the handle of the tool until suddenly the strip cracked and half of it came out with the hammer while the carpenter rolled backward.
Miss Miller and the girls came over to see the cause of the commotion and the Guide soon found that impatience and carelessness had made extra work for Zan and delayed the work.
Zan fully appreciated the cause of the accident and felt repentant the moment she saw the damaged strip.
"Miss Miller, my besetting sin did that! Please let me whittle a new strip while the girls and you continue making the doors. I was just crazy to work on those doors and screw on the hinges, but I'll do the other work as a punishment for impatience?"
Miss Miller heartily approved this attitude and smiled.
"Oh, you needn't show how glad you are that I realise my fault I find it much pleasanter to obey my own dictated punishment than if you had to suggest it!" added Zan, frankly.
The Guide and Zan's companions laughed, for it was a candid statement of truth. Who wouldn't prefer to endure their own suggested punishments than follow some one else's?
"In case your punishment is not sufficient to humble yourself and cure the fault, let us prescribe again," said Miss Miller.
"Foregoing the delight of screwing on those hinges is almost more than I can stand," said Zan, expressing deepest regret in her voice.
The others laughed again and began work on the anticipated treat.
Zan finally whittled a strip similar to the Guide's and this time it was nailed on accurately. The hinges were on the two plain boards that would act as doors of the cupboard and Miss Miller held one in place while the girls screwed them to the side boards. When both doors were on, the finishing touch was the screwing on of a bolt.
Elena whispered something to Miss Miller and the Guide smiled at Zan, who had stood watching the completion of the closet. "We think that your punishment was more severe than the crime, so it is suggested that you be allowed to put in the last screw. Here is the bolt."
"Wh-eee!" squealed Zan, as she jumped to take the screw-driver from Jane and sat down in front of the door and began to fasten the bolt to the door. The others stood close behind and watched, thereby failing to see Nita creep up through the woods and go in her tent.
"Done, giminy crickets! Isn't it a peach!" cried Elena, her hands clasped in admiration.
"Did that rule become effective about slang?" asked Zan, comically.
"That was an important matter the Council failed to discuss this morning," admitted the Guide.
"Well, don't inflict punishment to-day the cupboard is too much for my balance!" begged Elena.
"Then one day's grace is allowed the three members who are so given to crime. Hereafter, the fulness of the law will be meted out!" returned Miss Miller.
"The Chief will have to punish herself some more," laughed Hilda.
While some of the girls shifted the cupboard up to the spot near the fire-place where it would be most convenient, Miss Miller walked over to the tents to replace the papers and book of the Band. She thought she saw something move in Zan's tent, and going over found Nita on the cot, pretending sleep.
When the Guide rejoined the girls she said nothing about finding Nita in the tent. The girls, however, were too busy to notice anything in the Guide's expression and the moment she was within hearing, Zan cried, "Ants! Miss Miller, what shall we do to keep out bugs?"
"And supposin' it rains hard! Won't the water leak in?" wondered Jane, examining the wide chinks.
"I'm afraid it will," laughed the Guide.
The girls stared at her and Hilda asked, "What was the use wasting time on something that leaks?"
"But you've learned the use of tools and constructed a useful article as well. The cupboard will prove most useful as you will find," replied Miss Miller.
"There then, Elena, you've got a swell entry for the Tally Book!" announced Zan.
"And Zan is making most of her day of grace!" laughed Miss Miller, looking at her watch.
"How long did it take us, Guide?" asked Hilda.
"What time do you think it is?" asked Miss Miller.
"Must be 'most eleven," ventured Jane.