When the hair was freed at last from the hold of the wire ends, Mrs. James advised Frances to remain standing where she was to hold down the netting where it belonged.
“I’ll hold it with my hands and when you want to drag it over to the post, just call to me and I will crawl over with it, while holding it to keep it from jumping again,” said Frances.
As this was considered a very clever plan, it was approved and Mrs. James again took hold of the wire to nail it fast to a post.
“There now, Janet, while Belle holds it right in this position, you can nail it down all along the edge. Drive the nails about six inches apart, from the top of the post to the bottom,” said Mrs. James, handing the tools to Janet.
“Where are you going?” wondered the stock-farmer.
“I’m going back to the house to get a large pair of shears. We will need them to cut off the ragged ends of wire when we reach the side of the chicken-house.”
When Mrs. James had gone, Janet said: “Let’s see if we can have all the wire up before she gets back. It looks awfully easy to nail.”
They were so engrossed in nailing the wire, beginning at the top of the post and fastening it down the outside of the post, that neither of them realized the mistake they were making. Having nailed it securely for halfway the length of the post, Janet found the netting resist her efforts to fit in closely. She stood back to seek an explanation for this and cried, “Oh!”
“What’s the matter?” asked Belle, seeing her angry face.
“I never thought to measure the old post. Neither did Jimmy. Our wire is five feet wide and that post can’t be more than three and a half feet high. Now just look at that wire!”