"
"Let me see it," said Zeke, taking the string. Making his own measurements
he soon declared that Grant was almost correct in his statement. "We can't
get within a half-inch of it anyway," he said.
"A half-inch on a yard would mean four hundred and forty-four inches for a
half-mile," said Grant. "Now four hundred and forty inches is thirty-six
and three-quarter feet. If we get as far as that out of our way it will
take us from now until Christmas to find old Simon Moultrie's lost mine."
"It doesn't make any difference," said John, "that's the best we can do
and that's all we've got to work on."
The elongated Go Ahead Boy already had measured twenty yards of the ground
and after every yard had been indicated he was walking over the distance
trying to see how closely he could adjust his footsteps to the
measurements which had been made.
"We'll try it anyway," said Grant. "There's nothing else to be done, but
it won't be safe to start until to-morrow morning, will it, Zeke?"
"That's what it won't," said the guide quietly. "We'll stay here at Split
Rock until sunrise to-morrow morning."
In accordance with the directions of the guide preparations were at once
made for passing the night at the place where they had halted.
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