“It is ten minutes to seven. To-day is Monday, the fifth of August, and the sun sets in sixteen minutes past seven. It will be dark when we get to headquarters.”
“How far do you think it is?”
“We have followed such an aimless course that it is hard to tell, but it must be a mile at least; what do you think, Arthur?”
“I should say it is a good deal more than that, but what’s the odds? We’re not likely to meet any Indians or to run afoul any wild beasts.”
“We must keep to the right course, however,” said Gerald, “or we shall have to camp out.”
“It won’t hurt us if we do, even when we have made no preparations,” replied Jack, who added:
“We went south from the lake, but the points of the compass are all twisted.”
“It would do us no good if they weren’t, for we haven’t an instrument with us.”
“Yes; we have,” remarked Jack, who still held his watch in hand. “Have you forgotten that a watch is a good compass when the sun is shining?”
“Mr. Hall showed us while we were on our way here,” laughed Arthur, “but I have forgotten what he said.”