1 82 THE IDYL OF THE SPLIT-BAMBOO 



outline on the two remaining surfaces, and cut away 

 similarly. Next saw the part from F to G down to 

 a full %-inch square. You now have the whole 

 thing in the shape shown in Fig. 3. 



Fig. 3 Wood grasp 



Take your jack-knife and cut away the corners 

 equally, till the whole grasp is reduced from the 

 square to an octagonal shape on cross-section. 



Next we seat the female ferrule. Before cement- 

 ing this, get a winding-taper or -check (A, Fig. 4)' 

 that fits nicely over the ferrule and up against the 

 welt; fit this over the thin edge of the wood, around 

 the mouth of the hole in the grasp, mortising it in 

 flush with the wood by filing a recess to receive it, 

 with the triangular saw-file, and cement it in posi- 

 tion. This will guard against splitting of the grasp 

 as you force the ferrule into it; but for the first 

 attempt, it will be safer to seat the ferrule in the 

 cedar while in block form before starting to shape 

 the grasp. You now can melt some cement, spread 

 it evenly over the whole outside of the ferrule up 

 to the welt, as you hold it over the flame with a pair 

 of pliers, taking pains the while not to get any on the 

 inside; then thrust it into its hole, and by pushing 

 down hard against the floor or the solid door-jamb, 



