Rob pulled out his watch.
"For once your feelings are to be trusted, Tubby. It is one o'clock. We'll get a hasty lunch nearby and try to visit both the Library and the Monument this afternoon."
An hour passed, however, before the boys were again free to go sight-seeing. In Washington, distances are deceptive and time flies.
"Well, which shall it be, boys?" asked Rob. "It is two o'clock, and we have two hours before we must start for the station."
"Let's make it the Monument," suggested Merritt.
"Agreed," said the others.
"And we'll ask this policeman the quickest way to get there," added Rob, jumping after a passing uniform.
The man pointed out a coming street car, gave them a few definite directions, and the boys were off once more.
At the Monument luck favored them again, for they were just in time to catch an ascending elevator. In spite of all that they had seen, they were greatly surprised at the extent and the beauty of the view from the top of the tall shaft. It was fortunately a clear day and they could trace easily the glint of the broad Potomac for many miles.
"Time to be moving if we walk down," said Rob, after they had tried to locate everything visible in the panorama spread out before them.