148 TWO WAYS TO GO TO SEA:

and the chain reached up overhead. He
Jooked up, and saw that it was fastened to
a curious-looking machine, so that it could
be hoisted up a little, and then swung over
to the anvil. Presently, the men hove away
upon the machine. The iron came slowly
out of the fire, glowing anc sparkling, so
that you could hardly look at it. They
swung it carefully over to the anvil, and
then pulled a small pole hanging by the side
of it, which set the trip-hammer a-going. It
made a tremendous noise, and the sparks
flew in every direction, while two men
moved the iron back and forth, so as to
make the trip-hammer strike it in the right
places. John thought he should have a
great deal to learn, before he could become
a first-rate blacksmith.

“For some time, John had to run of
errands around town, and wait upon the
workmen in the shop. Presently, they put
him at a great vice, and a man taught him
to file.”

“O, 1 can file,” said Rollo. ‘1 have.”

“Yes, you can file a little, L know ; but it
is very difficult to learn to file square and
true. John paid very close attention to all