Part 10 (1/2)

She paid so much attention to the ax that she scarcely looked where the blow might fall, consequently the blade came down almost on a vertical line with the tree-trunk. It glanced off and sank into the soft soil beside the tree, with Ruth holding fast to the handle. So unexpected was this aim and the downward continuation of the ax until it sank into the ground, that Ruth was fairly pulled over and fell upon her face in the vines and bushes.

”You mean old thing! You can stick there as long as you like--I'll never put a finger on you again!” cried the ax-scout, as she got up and felt of the scratches on her face.

”What's the matter, Ruth?” called Mrs. Vernon, seeing the girl slowly returning to camp without the ax.

”That tool is too heavy for me to use. Have you a hatchet or something else to cut with?”

”The ax is the only thing that ought to be used on a small tree; the saw is for thicker trunks, but you can't manage it, either, if you can't handle the ax.”

”Well, what else is there I can do instead of chopping down forests?”

asked Ruth, trying to cover her shortcomings with a laugh.

”Did you bring back the ax? It's a very good one, you know.”

”I thought perhaps one of the other girls would want to change work soon, so I left it by the tree.”

”If one of the others should feel like quitting the work they were given to complete first, then they can take the ax from its place in the tool-chest. Better bring it to me now, Ruth.”

As no other alternative was open, she went back to the tree and kicked viciously at the ax. But the blade was still securely embedded in the ground and that made the handle as resistant as an upright post. So all Ruth got for her kick was a suddenly turned toe that felt lame for days afterwards.

”Oh, o-oh! _how_ I hate camping! I'm going home and tell every one I know what a horrid thing this Girl Scout business is! All hard work and--everything! No fun, no rest--just lame backs and broken bones!” Ruth fairly screamed to herself as she sat down and removed the sneaker from the foot that had tried to crack the ax-handle of hickory.

The Captain heard the crying and hurried over to inquire into the cause of it. Ruth was weeping by this time, so sorry did she feel for herself, and her ill-treatment.

”What ever has happened, Ruth, in this perfectly safe spot?”

”O-ooh! I must have stubbed my toe! Oooo-h, I'm afraid it's broken!”

wailed the girl.

Mrs. Vernon saw the ax with its head deep in the ground but she did not dream how Ruth had ”stubbed” her toe. She sat down and wiggled the injured member tenderly, then said:

”Oh, no, it's not broken, only hurt by the collision. It will be all right in a little while,” the Captain replied cheerfully.

But Ruth did not want cheerfulness--she wanted to be told she had to remain as quiet as possible and have others wait on her.

”Pick up the ax and I'll help you walk over--you can lean upon my arm if you think your toe will feel easier,” suggested Mrs. Vernon.

”I don't believe I can walk,” breathed Ruth, fearfully.

”Oh, yes, you can. The foot is all right, it is only the toe that feels lame for a short time--just as it would have done at home if you ran into a piece of furniture.”

Reaching camp again, Ruth was about to drop the ax on the gra.s.s, when the Captain said: ”The tool-chest is over on the buckboard, Ruth.”

The girl clinched her teeth in anger, but the ax was taken to its right place and left in the box whence she had taken it.

One after another of the girls looked up and felt surprised to find Ruth sitting on a box holding her foot. Then Julie called out:

”Good gracious! Ruth done chopping that tree so soon?”

”No, she and the ax had an argument,” laughed Mrs. Vernon.