n that direction also accounts for the prevailing trade
winds which are from the east to the west."

"In what way should the rotation of the earth cause the drift to move
westwardly?"

"There are two forces which act on a free object on the surface of the
earth, namely, centrifugal and centripetal. The first named is that
action which tends to throw an object outwardly, like dirt flying out
from a rapidly moving wheel; and the latter action is that which draws
inwardly. Thus the spokes might be likened to centripetal force. The
attraction of gravitation in the earth is the centripetal force, and its
rotation produces the centrifugal force. When an object, like a plumb
bob, or an article floating on the water is free to move, it is found to
lag behind the movement of the earth surface, this retarding movement
being sufficient to cause it to creep to the west, with the result you
have noticed."

The hill pointed out by Blakely was fully three miles west of the river.
The four boys, Ralph, Tom, Jim and Will, with Blakely and the Professor,
all armed with guns, made a party strong enough to enable them to
successfully withstand the attack of any animal, and it was proposed to
make a trip through a portion of the forest, so as to get some idea of
its character.

To carry out this plan, their course was directed to the west, and
within an hour and a half were well in the thick of the wood. The first
thing that attracted the attention of all were the magnificent trees,
among them a species of pitch pine, together with immense redwood trees,
and numerous oak species abounded.

Before they had penetrated a mile the first animals were seen. They had
never been hunted, as the natives kept away from the forest fastnesses,
and it was singular to see the familiarity of the animals. An immense
panther, or tree leopard, fascinated the boys, and they maneuvered to
get close enough for a shot. He was very wary, however, and Blakely and
the Professor kept in the background while the boys stalked him from
tree to tree, and finally Ralph had him in range and fired.

He crashed down but alighted on his feet, and without waiting for any
explanations bounded over to the spot where Ralph and Will were crouched
behind a fallen tree. Will saw the movement and called to Jim and Tom,
and the latter, taking careful aim, fired, without, apparently, checking
the animal.

With a powerful spring he landed on the tree, not five feet from the
boy