The words, or parts of words "dire," in the first line, and "30 gues" in the second line, together with[p. 39] the letters "Walt" are the only absolutely clear things to be noticed.
"The writing is right across the V-shaped marks, and the arrow is plain enough. It may be though, that the arrow has nothing to do with the V-shaped mark." And George held the paper away from his eyes to get the proper effect at a distance.
"I wonder how close the mountain is to the sea?" ventured Harry.
"I don't see what difference that would make," replied George. "That 30 must mean some measurement. It is either feet, or miles, or yards, or,—"
"Why can't you see that 'gues' is a part of the word 'leagues.'"
Harry jumped up as though shot. "Well, that was stupid of us, sure enough."
"With that key before us, we can make some headway. I believe the V-shape is the lower end of the mountain, probably a headland, and the arrow points to a place 30 leagues to the,—see here, in the last line is a W. and there is a blur before it and after it. That may be SWE, EWS, SWW, SWS, and,—"
"Don't go so fast," shrieked Harry. "What do you suppose the capital I stands for at the beginning of the third line?"
"I—I—, why,—Island, of course," said George, with an air of superiority. "But it cannot be west."