ort of French that George is trying to bring into
it?"

"Absolutely," said Fred with great conviction. "'Take a course' is
right, and the next word is d-u-e, due."

"Correct," cried Grant. "Why, this is easy. Just see if I can't read the
whole thing right off now."

"Try it anyway," said John. "Take it slow."

Grant studied the letters in front of him for some moments in silence.
"I've got it," he exclaimed at length. "Just listen to this," and he
began to read slowly, "'Take a course due north one hundred feet from
the south--'" he paused.

"From the southern, isn't it?" queried John.

"That's it. 'Take a course due north one hundred feet from the southern
extremity of shark rock, then east fifty feet and north by east
thirty-three dig.'"

"Correct," cried John, "only you ought to have read the last of it like
this: 'and north by east thirty-three. Dig!" and he shouted the final
word with all his might.

"We're going to find the gold, we're going to find the gold!" shouted
Fred, borrowing John's chant, and a moment later every one in the little
party had joined hands and was dancing joyously about singing and
laughing and shouting. Finally they stopped from sheer exhaustion.

"Read dat again, will yo'?" demanded Sam eagerly.

"Read it, Grant," shouted George. "We're going to find the gold, we're
going to find the gold!"

"If you'll keep quiet a minute I'll read it," said Grant, and while
every one listened with rapt attention he read again the words it had
taken them so many days and weeks to discover. "'Take a course due north
one hundred feet from the southern extremity of shark rock, then east
fifty feet and north by east thirty-three. Dig.'"

"Say, I just happened to think," exclaimed Fred in dismay. "How are we
going to get those directions right? How can we tell north from south
except in a general sort of way?"

"Fred," said George, pretending to be greatly disappointed in his
comrade, "how long will it take you to learn that whenever anything is
needed, I am the one who always has it? Don't you know that I always
wear a compass and don't you remember Captain Dodge on board the
_Josephine_ complimenting me on the fact one time? You are a great
trial to me, Fred," and George shook his head sorrowfully.

"Well, I'm glad you've got it anyway," said Fred shortly. "I still don't
see, though, how we are going to measure distances."

"That will be hard," admitted Grant. "How long are your feet, Strin