traced in curves on the two
hemispheres.

"They show the course of the moon through the heavens, and in order to
get the position, the mariner measures the degrees between the moon and
the nearest fixed star."

"But if he hasn't any instrument to measure degrees, how can he tell how
to make the calculation?"

"In that case he simply takes the yardstick of the heavens out of its
box, and uses that as a measure."

"I never heard of such a thing before. Where is the box?"

"In the constellation Orion, which contains the most beautiful cluster
of stars in the heavens, and is visible all over the inhabitable world,
are four stars which form a parallelogram. See them on the map?
Betelguese and Rigel, at the extreme opposite corners, are of the first
magnitude, and the others that form the other corners are Bellatrix of
the second and Saiph of the third magnitude. Two of the stars are in the
northern and two in the southern hemisphere. Within the parallelogram
thus formed, you will note three very bright stars in a line. These are
exactly one degree apart, and is the yardstick the heavens are measured
with."

Harry announced one morning that they had a new calf, and there was a
rush of the boys down to the cattle range to welcome the newcomer. They
had a fine herd, and seemed to be domesticated. From the time they
acquired the first, of these animals there was always an abundance of
milk, and that meant butter, a thing which was very welcome to Ralph and
Tom.

Chief also enjoyed the luxury, but it was a remarkable thing that the
savages had not anywhere in their observations utilized the herds which
ranged to the north of them, and undoubtedly existed in the southern
portions of the island. There was always plenty of beef on hand, and
plenty of game was available whenever they had occasion to go for it,
and their larder was well supplied with the wild vegetables, although
they had to go considerable distances for them at times; but now that
the garden was coming in they did not apprehend so much trouble in that
direction.

There was one thing which none of them could understand in Chief. He
would be seen frequently going over toward the forest, in the direction
of the clay banks. He never tried to do this by stealth, but the
Professor was anxious to ascertain the reason for it.

One day while he was on his way to the same quarter, Harry took his gun,
as though on a little hunting trip, and followed him cautiously.