Trimming off the end of one of his small green canes, Sam measured it by the iron rod and trimmed again.

He continued this process until he had the end of the cane a trifle larger than the iron was.

Then taking an iron tube or band out of his pocket, he drove the iron rod firmly into it for the distance of about half an inch, leaving the other end of the tube open.

Into this he forced the end of the small green cane and having made it firm he had a rod about ten feet long.
"There," he said, "I have a rod long enough to reach a good deal more than half way through either one of my big canes.

It isn't iron except at the end, and it doesn't need to be," and with that he thrust the end of the bit of iron into the fire to heat.
"Now, Tom," he said, "you must burn the canes out while I do something else." I wonder if there is any boy who needs a fuller explanation than the one which Sam has already given, of what was going forward.