MAKING A SHED 49 



where a large creeper had been cut away; and 

 which annoyed my eye dreadfully from the house. 

 The Burra Sahib and the Ancient examined the 

 bits of iron, and pronounced them useless, being of 

 different lengths ; so there they lay on the grass. 



" Ah," I said to myself, "the Professor will be 

 able to make them into a shed for me when he 

 comes; with a little cutting." He came; looked 

 at them carefully, but said : 



" No, I'm afraid it can't be done ; there is not 

 enough iron." So still they lay there unused, 

 encumbering the ground ; till one day I made some 

 measurements and plans, and did it all myself, with 

 of course the assistance of a Tubal Cain. We 

 finished it in a week, and covered the wire-netting 

 roof with thin layers of dried grass, and then ran 

 about everywhere, collecting all the pot plants we 

 could find with colour, that required only morning 

 sun ; till it looked ravishing. Caladiums, Coleus, 

 Begonias, Amaryllis, Eucharis, Dracaenas, Mar- 

 antas, Dieffenbachias ; all banked up in groups; 

 and in front of the pots, a row of black edging, 

 which effectively showed up the colours above. 

 Up the iron supports were wound trails of Cissus, 



