human
If there is such a man I'd like to set eyes on him,
gpt
Have you ever been lost in the big woods?
human
More times than I've got hairs in my head.
gpt
Then there isn't much hope for us after we reach the forest yonder,
human
It's easy enough to keep track of yourself if you follow a few simple rules,
gpt
And what are they?
human
Water always runs down hill,
gpt
Eh? Of course it does, scoffed Stacy.
human
Did anyone ever see it run uphill?
gpt
I've known folks that thought it did,
human
Why, I can show you watercourses where you'd be willing to stake your life the water was running in a certain direction, whereas it's going the other way.
gpt
Humph! grunted Chunky.
human
They couldn't fool me that way.
gpt
You think so?
human
I know so,
gpt
Well, now suppose we were standing beside a stream, say like the river before us, only in a place where the direction of the current deceived you. I said the water was running that way, the way it does, and you declared it was moving in the other direction, how would you prove whether you were right or wrong?
human
That's easy.
gpt
Well, answer Mr. Vaughn's question,
human
Why, I'd throw Ned Rector's hat into the water. If it floated that way, I'd win. If it floated the other way, Mr. Vaughn would win. In either case Ned would lose,
gpt
You win,
human
He wouldn't win if he threw _my_ hat in the water, growled Rector.
gpt
Don't let me catch you tossing my hat overboard.
human
Oh, I'd see to it that you didn't catch me,
gpt
That's funny. Even Tad would have laughed at that,
human
I am afraid Tad isn't laughing just now,
gpt
No, I'm laughing for him. Ha, ha, ha! Haw, haw!
human
You were speaking of getting lost,
gpt
Yes. Another important thing to keep in mind is that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. By keeping these things in mind you are likely to find your way.
human
Provided you know where you are going in the first place, observed Stacy.
gpt
I don't. I'm lost before I find myself when I get in the woods.
human
We will take a few lessons in woodcraft when we get into the spruce forest,
gpt
By the way, we don't seem to be making much headway in that direction, answered Rector.
human
We have been loafing here for a whole day. Why the delay?
gpt
We are waiting for Charlie John,