the north," said Harris, "and I'll tell you
why."

"You needn't trouble," said George; "I am quite prepared to believe it
isn't."

"You said just now it was," said Harris, reproachfully.

"I said nothing of the sort," retorted George. "I said you said it was--a
very different thing. If you think it isn't, let's go the other way.
It'll be a change, at all events."

So Harris worked things out according to the contrary calculation, and
again we plunged into the wood; and again after half an hour's stiff
climbing we came in view of that same village. True, we were a little
higher, and this time it lay between us and the sun.

"I think," said George, as he stood looking down at it, "this is the best
view we've had of it, as yet. There is only one other point from which
we can see it. After that, I propose we go down into it and get some
rest."

"I don't believe it's the same village," said Harris; "it can't be."

"There's no mistaking that church," said George. "But maybe it is a case
on all fours with that Prague statue. Possibly, the authorities
hereabout have had made some life-sized models of that village, and have
stuck them about the Forest to see where the thing would look best.
Anyhow, which way do we go now?"

"I don't know," said Harris, "and I don't care. I have done my best;
you've done nothing but grumble, and confuse me."

"I may have been critical," admitted George "but look at the thing from
my point of view. One of you says he's got an instinct, and leads me to
a wasps' nest in the middle of a wood."

"I can't help wasps building in a wood," I replied.

"I don't say you can," answered George. "I am not arguing; I am merely
stating incontrovertible facts. The other one, who leads me up and down
hill for hours on scientific principles, doesn't know the north from the
south, and is never quite sure whether he's turned round or whether he
hasn't. Personally, I profess to no instincts beyond the ordinary, nor
am I a scientist. But two fields off I can see a man. I am going to
offer him the worth of the hay he is cutting, which I estimate at one
mark fifty pfennig, to leave his work, and lead me to within sight of
Todtmoos. If you two fellows like to follow, you can. If not, you can
start another system and work it out by yourselves."

George's plan lacked both originality and aplomb, but at the moment it
appealed to us. Fortunately, we had worked round to a very short
distance aw