human
I reckon we've been going about west-northwest since we left the settlement, one of the men said to Gerald.
gpt
Where does that put you?
human
Some way to the south of where I meant to be. Twenty degrees off our line is a big angle; you can see how it lengthens the base we've been working along while McCarthy makes his two sides. That means we've lost most of our advantage in cutting across the corner. Then we were held up once or twice, and we'll probably be behind instead of ahead of him at the intersection of the lines. Tell me the distances you think we have made.
gpt
If you're right about course and distance, our position's somewhere here,
human
If we head a few points north, we'll certainly cut McCarthy's track.
gpt
Yes; but we'd be behind him and he can't wait.
human
Then if we stick to the line we're on, we'll join.
gpt
If we run it far enough, but we'll have to go a long way first. It's difficult to catch a man who's marching as fast as you are when you have to converge at a small angle upon his track.
human
What are you going to do about it?
gpt
We want food first of all, and we'll have to sacrifice a day or two in finding the cache. To do so, we'll cut McCarthy's line; this won't be hard if he's blazed it.
human
You'll follow him after you find the grub?
gpt
No, said Gerald,
human
I don't think so. He can't leave us much, and we'd probably use it all before we caught him up. The best thing we can do is to strike nearly north for the Hudson Bay post. We might get there before the food runs out.