Part 39 (1/2)
”Just what I have in mind, Eleanor. I shall have you all start practical and c.u.mbersome work this time,” smiled Miss Miller, but to the eager questions of the girls, she maintained strict silence, merely saying:
”'Sufficient unto the day'-then you'll see what I have in mind for you.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN-WINTER WOODCRAFT WORK
”Girls, how many are willing to start making a tent?” said the Guide, at the next meeting in the gymnasium.
”A tent! Good gracious!” exclaimed Zan, while the other girls echoed their Chief's amazement.
”Easy as hemming a towel, if you know how,” laughed Miss Miller.
”It sounds like a stupendous work, but I suppose Miss Miller will explain it so that a child like Teddy Remington can sit down and make one every day,” laughed Jane.
”If you will try I will order the material to-day and show you how to begin the work,” urged the Guide.
”All right, go ahead! I'm willing to sew my fingers to the bone if you say so,” sighed Zan, who detested sewing.
The other girls laughed and Miss Miller immediately took up the telephone receiver and called up a department store. Her conversation showed that she had already priced materials and had all information at hand to start the tents without delay.
”Now, then, the stuff will be here Monday morning and we can start any time you like. We will allow fifteen yards of stuff for each tent. Four of you can work on one, for the completed tent will accommodate four cots. There being enough girls to work on five tents, I have ordered the material for five.”
Once launched on this unusual task, the girls felt a certain pride in saying, ”We are making our own tents for camp, you know,” and when they heard the large bundle of canvas had arrived they were eager to work.
”First I will cut two strips of the goods, each strip being thirteen feet long. Then lap the selvage of one side over the other, about a quarter of an inch, and sew it down firmly with back-st.i.tching. If we had a machine it would be better still. There must be a double row of st.i.tching in case one row breaks in a strain or sudden yank.
”Now we will spread the whole piece out flat on the floor and fold over each end crosswise of the long strip toward the centre, and about two feet three inches from each end.
”These seams must be st.i.tched or double-seamed on the folds all the way down each fold, about three or four inches in from the outer edge of the fold. As this will be the place where the tent-ropes are fastened, you can st.i.tch it over and over four or five times, for it will have considerable strain come on it.
”The two unfinished ends of the strips will then have a narrow hem which will complete the roof and sides of the tent. ”Cut the rest of the cloth into two strips about two feet and seven inches long for the front and back ends of the tent. Each of these is to be cut into two pieces with a slanting cut running from a side two feet one inch at one end to a point two feet one inch on the other side.
”The sharp pointed corners are cut off by folding over the cloth three inches from the edge and by cutting the first slanting edge. You can save these pieces to use for patches when you reinforce the roof at the ends of the ridge-pole.
”Now lay the two pieces together and lap so the points at the top are in the same position. St.i.tch down one selvage for a length of two feet and then straight across to the other selvage, and up to the top again.
”The section left loose is for a door-flap and tapes are to be sewed at places a foot from the bottom and also two feet up from the bottom. Hem each end of bottom and then sew the edges of the sides and slanting top to the sides and roof of the tent-body.
”For the ropes, you have to cut holes about half an inch in diameter right through the folds you st.i.tched down on each side of the roof section. These holes can be bound or b.u.t.ton-holed with a string, or those who prefer can use metal eyelets.
”You will need about eight feet of tent-rope for each pole, and a loop of rope should be sewed at the bottom of the tent below each hole to hold down the sides.
”When the tent is completed it should be raised between two straight tree trunks about five or six feet high, or two poles about the same height. A pole about six feet long will answer for the ridge-pole. When these are up, drive some pegs slant-ways into the ground about three feet away from each side of the tent, to fasten the ropes to, and then drive more pegs slant-ways for the loops of rope to slip over and hold firm.
”Now you will have a neat little tent ready for camping, but two important things still remain to be done-can anyone tell me what they are?” asked Miss Miller, as she concluded reading the directions she had written down on a paper.
The girls thought earnestly for a time, but no one seemed to grasp the need of anything else. Finally the Guide said:
”What would happen in case of a heavy rain-storm?”