“Well,” said Jonas, “perhaps I will. Then you must hollow out a little place in the bare spot I make by taking up the turf, and make your pile of wood there, leaving a hole in the middle.”
“How can I leave a hole?” asked Rollo.
“Why, you can take three short pieces of board, as long as you intend the height of your pile to be, and stand them up on the ground, so as to leave a three-cornered space between them, and then pile your wood around the three boards.”
“So I can,” said Rollo.
“Your wood must be small,” continued Jonas, “or else you can’t pile it very snugly in a small pile. You had better take small round sticks, and saw them short, and lean them up against your boards all around, and so make a snug pile. After the pile is ready, you must bank up a little against the bottom of your heap with the loose earth, and then begin to put on the turf. But that will be a nice business.”
“Why?” asked Rollo.
“Because you must fit them carefully all around; and, as the heap will be round, and will grow smaller towards the top, square pieces of turf will not fit. You will have to cut them into shape with a knife. You can get an old knife to cut them with, and so fit them together. But you must fit them together well, or the air will get in, and your heap of wood will blaze up, and so it will be spoiled for charcoal.”
“I can make it tight,” said Rollo, “I know. I’ll shave away the sides of every turf, till it fits its place exactly.”
“There must be some air,” said Jonas, “or else the wood will not burn at all. You must leave a few holes around at the bottom, to let a little air in, then you can plug some of them up, if you find the fire burns too fast.”
“Well,” said Rollo, “I mean to make some charcoal some day. I’ll get my cousin James to come and help me. I’ll begin to saw up some wood for it to-morrow.