The rest of the boys, or most of them, looked upon the problem as a puzzle; and they were interested in it, though none appeared to have made up their minds.
“Of course you have to cut six times to get six pieces,” said Phil Gawner. “I think Steve Baxter is right.”
“Let us look at it, and see. When I have made one cut with the saw, how many pieces do I get?” asked Mr. Brookbine.
“One,” shouted half a dozen of the pupils.
“The second cut?”
“Two pieces.”
“Right; and the third, three, and the fourth, four,” continued the instructor. “When I cut the fifth time, how many have I?”
“Five!” shouted the boys triumphantly.
“But what is there left?” asked the instructor, astonished at the answer.
“The rest of the board,” answered Steve Baxter.