“Oh no, not I, squire. It’s a very pretty little map, and took the poor chap a long time to do; but it seems to me that it’s no good at all.”
“I don’t understand you,” said Wilton sharply. “Look here, he gives a starting-place marked with a big dot, and the little arrows go right across to the three mountains and the temple.”
“That is how he described it to me,” said the doctor.
“Just so, sir. That’s how I understand it, neighbours; but what then?”
“Why, of course!” came in chorus, as every one at the table grasped the hitch that the American had seen.
“Ah, you all hit it now,” said Griggs, laughing.
“I think I understand what you mean,” said the doctor thoughtfully.
“So do I,” came in chorus, and then Bourne said quickly—
“Suppose you speak out and say what you mean, Lee.”
“It seems to me,” said the doctor gravely, “that though this chart has been prepared so carefully, and points out the trend of the deserts and mountains, and also where the gold-hills, the city, and the temple stand, while the points of the compass are shown as well, it might be a chart of any part of the country, a mere patch, or a territory of great extent.”