ow, and find out by
hook or by crook exactly when she is to sail. Now, how do we begin upon
the chart?"

"Well," said Dick, "to be of any use it must be tolerably accurate, and
drawn to scale; and the top of this hill is admirably adapted for our
purpose. Our first business must be to measure off as correctly as
possible the longest line we can get--and, with a little management, I
think we ought to be able to make that line a mile in length, which will
be long enough for our purpose. Then, having measured off our line, and
taken its compass bearing, all that will remain to be done will be to
take, from each end of the line, the compass bearing of as many objects
as we require; and where the several bearings intersect will be the
correct positions of those objects. Then we can complete the chart
accurately enough for our purpose by sketching in the details between
the objects, the positions of which we have determined. See, this is
the sort of thing I mean." And, drawing a scrap of paper from his
pocket, Chichester rapidly sketched a diagram illustrating his meaning.

Marshall took the sketch and considered it attentively. "Yes," he said
at length, "that ought to be near enough for our purpose. But how are
you going to measure your line?"

"Quite easily," answered Dick. "When I learned that I was to accompany
you, the idea of drawing a chart of the harbour at once occurred to me,
and I thought out the plan that I have just explained to you. I also
borrowed from the carpenter a ball of fine cord, which I then proceeded
to knot very carefully at every foot, measured with the carpenter's
rule. Here it is, just one hundred feet long; and with the help of it
we ought to have no difficulty in measuring our line."

Nor had they: for the hilltop was quite level enough for their purpose.
They measured it twice, going and returning, in order to ensure the
greater accuracy, and, laying down their work on paper to scale as they
proceeded, managed before dark to secure an exceedingly useful and
tolerably complete chart of the upper bay and inner harbour, with the
help of which they felt that they ought to be able to find their way to
the town, even on the darkest night. Of course they were not able to
ascertain the depth of water by this means; but the even colour of it
seemed to indicate that there were no hidden dangers to guard against
anywhere except just inside the entrance of the inner harbour, where the
presen