THE WILD GOOSE 111 



rising, the north would be on the left; if setting, 

 the north would be on the right. This direction 

 fixed, I should set out accordingly. " 



"In the supposed case that method is inapplicable. 

 As an experienced traveler husbanding its strength 

 and hence making the most of the cooler hours, the 

 goose travels only at night. " 



"Then I would turn toward the constellation of 

 the Bear, toward the polar star. The north is in 

 that direction." 



"Very good: you would find the north in that 

 way if the night were clear; but if the night were 

 dark and you could not see the stars, what would 

 you doT' 



"I should use a compass, the needle of which 

 always points nearly northward. " 



' ' But if you did not have that precious instrument, 

 the traveler's guide in the midst of the waste soli- 

 tudes of land and sea if you had no compass, how 

 would you find your way, my friend?" 



"In that case, Uncle, I should be very much per- 

 plexed. Perplexed is not the word ; on the contrary, 

 I should see very clearly that there was no possibility 

 of my finding my way. I should not budge from 

 the spot, for I might as well try to guide myself 

 blindfolded." 



"Here, my dear child, the bird reputed to be so 

 stupid, so foolish, towers above us all by a thousand 

 cubits. Without consulting the rising or setting 

 sun, paying no heed to the constellations, for which 

 it has no use, availing itself of no compass but its 



