74 THE FORMS OF WATER IN 



177. Inspected by the naked eye alone, the stakes 10 

 and 11, where the glacier reaches its greatest motion, 

 are seen to be considerably to the west of the axis of 

 the glacier. Thus far we have a perfect verification of 

 the guess which prompted us to make these measure- 

 ments. You will here observe that the 6 guesses ' of 

 science are not the work of chance, but of thoughtful 

 pondering over antecedent facts. The guess is the ' in- 

 duction 5 from the facts, to be ratified or exploded by the 

 test of subsequent experiment. 



178. And though even now we have exceedingly 

 strong reason for holding that the point of maximum 

 velocity obeys the law of liquid motion, the strength of 

 our conclusion will be doubled if we can show that the 

 point shifts back to the eastern side of the axis at 

 another place of flexure. Fortunately such a place 

 exists opposite Trelaporte. Here the convex curvature 

 of the valley turns again to the east. Across this por- 

 tion of the glacier a line was set out on July 28, and 

 from measurements on the 31st, the rate of motion per 

 24 hours was determined. 



Fifth Line : E E' upon the Sketch. 



West East 



Stake . 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 



Inches. 11 14 13 15 i5 16 17 19 20 19 20 18 16 15 10 



179. Here, again, the mere estimate of distances by 

 the eye would show us that the three stakes which moved 

 fastest, viz. the 9th,- 10th, and 11th, were all to the east of 



