pulled out a
pocket-book, took the pencil from its loop, and, spreading the book
wide, began after a fashion to draw what learned people call a diagram,
but which we may more simply speak of as a sketch or figure of what he
wished to explain.

It was very roughly done in straight lines, but sufficiently
explanatory, especially as Will carefully followed the example of the
sign-painter, who wrote underneath his artistic work, "This is a bear."

Will began by drawing a horizontal line, and under it he wrote, "The
sea." Then he turned the horizontal line into a right angle by adding
to it a perpendicular line, by which he wrote: "The cliff." From the
top of that perpendicular he drew another horizontal line, and above
that he wrote, "Top of the cliff."

"Now, then," he said, "these little arrows stand for the wind blowing
right across the sea till they come to the face of the cliff;" and he
drew some horizontal arrows.

"Yes, I see," said Dick, helping with a finger to keep down the
fluttering leaves.

"Well; now the wind has got as far as the cliff. It can't go through
it, can it?"

"No," said Dick.

"And it can't go down for the sea."

"Of course not."

"It can't go backwards, because the wind is forcing on the wind."

"Yes," said Dick. "Hold still, stupid!" This last to the fluttering
leaf.

"Where is the wind to go, then?" asked Will.

"Why, upwards of course," cried Dick.

"To be sure," said Will. "Well, it strikes against the face of the
cliff, and that seems to make it so angry like that it rushes straight
up to get over the top."

"Of course it does," said Dick; "any stupid could understand that."

"Well," said Will, "the top's like a corner, isn't it?"

"No!" cried Dick; "how can it be?"

"Yes, it is," said Will sturdily; "just like a corner, only lying down
instead of standing up."

"Oh! very well; just as you like," cried Dick.

"Now suppose," said Will, "you were running very fast along beside a row
of houses like they are at Corntown."

"Very well: what then?"

"And suppose you wanted to run sharp round the edge of the corner, and I
was hiding behind it, and you wanted to catch me."

"Well, I should catch you," said Dick.

"No, you would not. You couldn't turn short round, because you were
going so fast; and you'd go some distance before you did, and you'd be
right beyond me, and you'd make quite a big curve."

"Should I? Well, suppose I should," said Dick, rubbing one