ed him form it. He
was to take some wire, a coil of which he found hanging up in the
shed, and cut it into lengths suitable for the bars of his cage. Then
he was going to bore a row of holes in the top of his box, near the
front edge, with a small gimlet. These holes were to be about half an
inch apart, and to be in a line about half an inch from the front
edge of the top of the box. The wires were to be passed down through
these holes, and then in the bottom of the box, at the points where
the ends of those wires would come, respectively, he was to bore other
holes, partly through the board, to serve as sockets to receive the
lower ends of the wires.

This plan being all agreed upon, Phonny climbed up upon the bench,
with his gimlet in his hand, and taking his seat upon the box, was
beginning to bore the holes.

"Stop," said Stuyvesant, "you ought to draw a line and mark off the
places first."

"Oh no," said Phonny, "I can guess near enough."

"Well," said Stuyvesant, "though I don't think that guessing is a good
way."

Phonny thought that it would take a great while to draw a line and
measure off the distances, and so he went on with his boring, looking
up, however, continually from his work, to watch the squirrel.

"And now," said Stuyvesant, "I will begin my work."

Stuyvesant accordingly went out, taking great care, as he opened and
shut the door, not to let the squirrel escape. Presently he returned,
bringing his materials. There was a short board for the small door,
two long strips for the sides of the ladder, and another long strip,
which was to be sawed up into lengths for the cross-bars.

Stuyvesant began first with his door. He went out to the hen-house,
carrying with him an instrument called a square, on which feet and
inches were marked. With this he measured the hole which his door was
to cover, and then making proper allowance for the extension of the
door, laterally, beyond the hole, he determined on the length to which
he would saw off his board. He determined on the breadth in the same
way.

He then went to the shop and sawed off the board to the proper length,
and then, with the hatchet and plane, he trimmed it to the proper
breadth. Next he made two hinges of leather, and nailed them on in
their places, upon the upper side of the board. He then carried his
work out to the hen-house, and nailed the ends of the hinges to the
cross-bar provided for them. When this was all done, he turned the