“Well, you’re using cut nails, and you ought to use wire ones there, as the boards are old and dry. Then you have to nail so close to the edge that they split easier than they would if you could put the nails nearer the middle. But use wire nails.”
“You mean those round ones?”
“Yes. The cut nails are those black, square-headed ones, and when you do use them, drive ’em with the widest part of the end at right angles to the grain of the wood.”
“What’s that, a lesson in geometry, young gentlemen?” asked a voice, and the students turned quickly, to observe President Churchill observing them with an amused smile.
“No, sir,” answered Sid. “Tom was telling me how to drive nails.”
“Ah, yes, a very useful accomplishment, I believe,” remarked the doctor. “Though I never could do it without hitting my thumb. A very useful accomplishment, very.”
He looked at the grandstand, which was nearing completion, and, as he passed on, with a book of Sanskrit under his arm, he remarked:
“You are doing very well, young gentlemen—very well. Randall has reason to be proud of her resourceful students.”
“Prexy looks worried,” remarked Sid, as the good doctor passed on out of hearing.
“Yes, I shouldn’t wonder but what that legal business is bothering him,” admitted Tom. “It’s a blamed shame it had to happen, but it’s just like the Langridge breed to want to stir up trouble. Now, Sid, put plenty of nails in when you fasten two scantling together, and use the big cut ones. We don’t want this stand to come down with a lot of pretty girls on it.”