ree," he said.

Dorry said, "All right, it's a large, popular tree. What about it?"

Westy said, "Take your hands off the swing, you fellows. I'm trying to
get a bee-line on it. Do you know what I'd like to do?"

"Go down to Bennett's for ice cream cones?" I said.

"Come ahead!" Pee-wee shouted.

"You'd be arrested if you went on Main Street looking that way," I told
him.

"Close one eye and look straight at that tree," Westy said. "Get right
behind me. Now. Look."

"All right," I said, "I'm looking."

"Well, what's in a bee-line with that tree?" he asked me.

"A lot of stuff," I said; "buildings and things--and villages and
landscapes."

"The line cuts Allison College right in half," Westy said. "See?"

"If it sliced a couple of slices off the High School that would be
better," I said. "The High School just escapes. It crosses Main Street,
I hope nobody trips over it."

"What do you mean? Trip over an imaginary line!" Pee-wee shouted at me.

"Sure," I said, "if you have a strong enough imagination. Oh, look where
it goes right through Bennett's."

"Where?" the kid shouted. "Show me! _Where?_"

"Excuse me, I'm mistaken," I said. "It goes right--straight--wait a
minute--it goes right straight through the dentist's--Dr. Wade's----"

"You make me tired!" Pee-wee yelled.

"Do you know what I'd like to do?" Westy said. "I'd like to start from
here and go straight for that tree. A bee-line hike, that's what I'd
call it. Let's see your compass, Kid. That tree is--just--wait a minute,
hold still--that tree is just exactly--west. I'd like to start and hike
right straight for it."

"How about buildings?" Hunt Manners wanted to know.

"If we came to buildings we'd have to go through them," Westy said.
"Through them or over them. Or under them. Or else we'd have to move
them out of the way. We'd make a solemn vow that we wouldn't turn to
the right or left for anybody or anything. We'd hike _right straight_
for that tree. What do you say?"

Oh, boy, you should have heard those fellows shout. That shows how crazy
we are.

I said, "Carried by a large minority. All those who are unanimously in
favor of a bee-line hike, eat another peanut. Settled. When shall we
start? To-morrow morning? Righto!"

"No matter what happens we'll go right straight west," Dorry said.

"For the tree," Hunt Manners shouted.

"Even if we have to go a little----" the kid started.

"No, you don't," I said. "We go straight _through