equal parts? Can anyone here do it?"

"That's easy," said Bill.

"Well, then, how about this one? If a pint cup----"

"Your question about dividing the board is too interesting to pass over
so hastily," interrupted Professor Search. "If you will pardon me, I
would suggest that Brown go to the board and demonstrate it."

"Will you let Grier do it? He knows that old trick, and he is handier
with the chalk than I."

Gus went forward, took a two-foot rule from his pocket and laying off
two parallel lines seventeen and three-eighths inches apart, laid the
rule diagonally across them so that the space would measure twenty
inches. Then he ticked off at the figures four, eight, twelve and
sixteen. Laying the rule straight across from an outer line to the first
tick he turned and announced:

"Each space is practically three and fifteen-thirty-seconds inches."

This brought forth something like applause, along with many very audible
remarks, such as: "Pretty cute." "Handy." "Where'd he get it?" "Can't
fool either of 'em, can you?" "Those fellows are practical, that's
sure."

Mr. Davidson smiled sort of absently. He had to give approval, but
dropped the question rather abruptly, going back to his last problem.

"Now, see if you can tell me this: I have a half-pint cup even full of
water, the liquid exactly level with the edge of the glass. About how
many one-inch brads must I drop into the cup before the water overflows?
Water, you understand--not oil, nor molasses. This is an old experiment
and it concerns a well-known physical law. If anyone has seen it done he
will kindly remain silent. Now, who will make a guess as to the number
of nails?"

Every brow was wrinkled, except those of a few conclusion jumpers of
whom there must be some in every crowd. One of these latter fellows
shouted at once: "About a half dozen and it'll slop over!"

"It'll take only one or two," said another.

"Not more than a dozen, anyway."

But the others, mostly lads capable of real mental exercise, were all
cudgeling their brains. It was a subject which had much to be taken into
consideration. Presently one senior spoke up:

"It ought to take more than an ounce of them."

"Nearly as much, anyway."

"More. That'll fool you mightily."

"It looks as though a few brads would do it, but it will take a lot."

"And why?" asked Mr. Davidson. "Come, what do you say about this?" He
again appealed to Bill, turning then also to Gus.

"Well,