"Where are you going to start with your measurements?" demanded Zeke.
"Why, at Split Rock, of course," said Grant promptly.
"From the middle of the Rock, or the edge? From the near side or the far side? From the top of it or—"
"I say," broke in Fred, "that we start from the edge of the Rock where it touches the sand. Then we can follow the compass and we know just how many paces there will be in a half-mile."
"It will depend on who does the pacing, I guess," said John drolly. "My legs are longer than Fred's and I guess my steps wouldn't be more than half as many as his."
"The best thing for us to do," said Grant confidently, "is to measure off as nearly as we can do it just what a yard is. Then John, who can cover any distance from two inches to two yards, can try to take steps just the required length."
"We can try that," assented Zeke dubiously, "though I'm inclined to think the better plan will be for us to get a stick that will measure a yard as nearly as we can make it. Then we had better measure it off. We can follow the compass all the way and needn't go very far aside even if we don't come to the exact spot."
"It's a long job," remarked Fred dolefully. "You see we've got to turn. We've got to make the half-mile, then stop and change our directions and go a quarter-mile southeast and then stop again and go a quarter of a mile north northeast. I wonder why old Sime didn't make it a straight line anyway."
"We may find out," said Grant, "that he had to go this way. What shall we do, Zeke?" he added, turning to the guide.
"Whichever you say," replied Zeke.