36 THE TROI/LER'S GUIDE. 



you are mending the rod with, and pass the end of it be- 

 tween the under side of your left-hand finger and the rod, 

 (see the cut) now draw away (gradually) your left-hand 

 finger, and with your right-hand finger and thumb take 

 hold of the second from the top of the bows or hoops and 

 draw it tight, which will make the first bow or hoop lay 

 close and secure over the broken rod, then draw tjie khird 

 which will secure the second, and* so on till all lays smooth 

 and close to the last turn, to fasten and fix which, take 

 the end of the waxed silk or twine, which lays under the 

 bows or hoops just described, and draw it upwards till all 

 layg smooth and tight, then cut off the spare part and all 

 will be fast and strong This way of mending and fasten^ 

 ing off, without tying, is called the hidden or invisible 

 knot. If you mend a broken rod at home, spread a little 

 softened shoe-makers wax on each slope of the broken 

 rod, before you bind the parts together, and it will in- 

 crease the security of the broken parts. When you have 

 occasion to mend a small joint of a rod, then a bodkin or a 

 disgorger should be used, instead of the left-hand finger, be- 

 cause the bodkin or disgorger does not require that the bow 

 or hooped wipping should be so large as if passed over the 

 finger, and in consequence thereof are with less difficulty 

 drawn and confined to their proper places ; when the bod 

 kin or disgorger is used, you pass the waxed silk or twine 

 through the eye of either of those instruments, which 

 enables you to draw from under those bows or hoops 

 before described 



