the answer in the stars?"
continued Will.

"See that bright star a little way above the horizon?" asked Frank.
"Well, that's Mercury, and when it drops out of sight to-night it'll
be just eleven. When that other brighter planet goes down, look for
the moon to peep up. That will be at twelve-seven, according to the
almanac."

"You've certainly got it all down pat," chuckled the other, satisfied
that what Frank said must be exactly so; for he did not make a
practice of simply guessing at things.

It happened that when the big star did pass out of sight behind the
far distant horizon Will was watching, being wide awake.

"It's time for the moon to show up, thank goodness!" he was heard to
say, whereupon Bluff from his bed of dead leaves close by called back:

"If you look close you can see the sky lighting up over in the
northeast a bit. Trouble was you didn't remember that in summer the
moon makes a different sweep, and to do that often rises far away from
the true east."

They could all see that Bluff spoke truly, and that before long the
darkness that hung over the woods would be partly dispersed. Will had
been impressed with what the other had said concerning the phases of
the moon. He made up his mind that when he got home again, and could
find books on astronomy in the town library, he would study up on the
subject, for it promised to be interesting.

They did not start immediately, for it would be some time before the
light became strong enough to be of benefit to them. After the moon
could be fairly seen the boys sat around and made comments that were
not at all complimentary to the heavenly luminary.

"Wow! looks like she'd been out all night on a tear," commented Jerry;
"her face is that battered."

"Makes a regular practice of these all-night affairs, I reckon,"
chuckled Bluff; "no wonder she looks so peaked. Nobody can stand that
sort of life for long and not show it."

"Please quit looking a gift horse in the mouth," pleaded Will. "We're
staking a whole lot on that same old moon, it seems to me; and you
fellows are an ungrateful bunch. What if you hurt her feelings so she
puts her hands over her face, in the shape of black clouds? Where
would we be then, tell me?"

Finally Frank decided that they should start.

"Of course we must use an extra amount of care at first," he told
them; "and as the moon gets higher up the thing will come easier. But
be careful how you go."

"Yes, watch your step!