“I can set it pretty rank,” said Raymond, speaking to Madam Rachel at the window, “and then, I think, he can make it run smooth.”
Madam Rachel did not understand what Raymond meant by setting it rank, and so she said,
“How will that help it, Raymond?”
“Why, then it will cut a wide kerf,” said Raymond, “and so the back will follow in easily.”
She did not understand from this much better than she did before; but, as she had great confidence in Raymond, she concluded to let him manage in his own way. She accordingly told him that he might fix the saw, and take Caleb with him.
So Raymond went out into the barn, and took down the saw from a nail. The teeth looked bright and sharp.
“Why, Raymond, how sharp it looks. And the teeth are of different shape from what they were before.”
“Yes,” said Raymond, “I have made a cutting saw of it.”
“A cutting saw?” said Caleb. “Can you cut with a saw? I thought they always sawed with a saw.”
“I mean, cut across the grain,” said Raymond, smiling. “When a saw is filed so as to saw along the board, then it is called a splitting saw; but when it is to saw across the board, then I call it a cutting saw.”