.

"Positive," answered George "but don't let that influence your
calculations. In all probability you were wrong."

Harris thought for a while; then his brow cleared.

"That's all right," he said; "of course, it's the north. It must be the
north. How could it be the south? Now we must make for the west. Come
on."

"I am quite willing to make for the west," said George; "any point of the
compass is the same to me. I only wish to remark that, at the present
moment, we are going dead east."

"No we are not," returned Harris; "we are going west."

"We are going east, I tell you," said George.

"I wish you wouldn't keep saying that," said Harris, "you confuse me."

"I don't mind if I do," returned George; "I would rather do that than go
wrong. I tell you we are going dead east."

"What nonsense!" retorted Harris; "there's the sun."

"I can see the sun," answered George, "quite distinctly. It may be where
it ought to be, according to you and Science, or it may not. All I know
is, that when we were down in the village, that particular hill with that
particular lump of rock upon it was due north of us. At the present
moment we are facing due east."

"You are quite right," said Harris; "I forgot for the moment that we had
turned round."

"I should get into the habit of making a note of it, if I were you,"
grumbled George; "it's a manoeuvre that will probably occur again more
than once."

We faced about, and walked in the other direction. At the end of forty
minutes' climbing we again emerged upon an opening, and again the village
lay just under our feet. On this occasion it was south of us.

"This is very extraordinary," said Harris.

"I see nothing remarkable about it," said George. "If you walk steadily
round a village it is only natural that now and then you get a glimpse of
it. Myself, I am glad to see it. It proves to me that we are not
utterly lost."

"It ought to be the other side of us," said Harris.

"It will be in another hour or so," said George, "if we keep on."

I said little myself; I was vexed with both of them; but I was glad to
notice George evidently growing cross with Harris. It was absurd of
Harris to fancy he could find the way by the sun.

"I wish I knew," said Harris, thoughtfully, "for certain whether that
bisecting line points to the north or to the south."

"I should make up my mind about it," said George; "it's an important
point."

"It's impossible it can be