“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 grass, 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.
Ruth glanced at the Captain out of the corners of her eyes, and wondered: “Did she see me kick that old thing?”
“Oh! Well, then, come over and get busy here again,” said Joan, beckoning to Ruth.
“That won’t make your toe hurt, Ruth. You can remain in one spot and weed,” added Mrs. Vernon.