just as you can any other number."

"O Waldron!" exclaimed Rollo again. "You can't do any such thing."

[Illustration: ODD OR EVEN.]

"Yes," said Waldron, "I can add nothing to one, and it makes one. So,
I can take nothing away from one, and it leaves one.

"I can multiply nothing, too. I can multiply it by ten. Ten times
nothing are nothing. So I can divide it. Five in nothing no times, and
nothing over."

Rollo was somewhat perplexed by this argument, and he did not know what
to reply. Still he would not admit that nothing was a number--still less
that it was an odd number. He did not believe, he said, that it was any
number at all. The boys continued the discussion[A] for some time, and
then they concluded to go and refer it to Mr. George.

[A] The conversation was a discussion, and not a dispute, for it was
calm, quiet, and good-tempered throughout. A dispute is an _angry_
discussion.

And here I ought to say that Waldron had an artful design in taking
nothing in his hand, when he called upon Rollo to say, odd or even. He
did it in order that whatever answer Rollo might give, he might attempt
to prove it wrong. He was a very ingenious boy, and could as easily
maintain that nothing was even as that it was odd. Whichever Rollo had
said, his plan was to maintain the contrary, and so persuade him to go
to the forecastle.

Mr. George was very much pleased when the boys brought the question to
him. Indeed, almost all people are pleased when boys come to them in an
amicable manner, to have their controversies settled. Then, besides, he
inferred from the nature of the question that had arisen in this case,
that Waldron was a boy of considerable thinking powers, or else he would
not have taken any interest in a purely intellectual question like this.

"Well," said Mr. George, "that is quite a curious question. But before I
decide it you must first both of you give me your reasons. What makes
you think nothing is an odd number, Waldron?"

"I don't know," said Waldron, hesitating. "I think it looks kind of
odd."

Mr. George smiled at this reason, and then asked Rollo what made him
think it was an even number.

"I don't think it is an even number," said Rollo. "I don't think it is
any number at all.

"However," continued Rollo, "that is not the real question, after all.
The real question is, whether we shall go on the forecastle or not, to
have a lookout."

"No," said Mr. George, "it is not according to etiqu