CHAPTER XII.
HOW TO HAVE A "LONG HEAD." Two hours steady walking, over logs and brush, through canebrakes, across a creek, and through a tangle of vines, brought the party to the leaning pine tree.

From that point the old sycamore tree looked not at all as it did from the point of starting.

The boys had taken pains to watch its changes of appearance, however, and were able to point it out with certainty to Sam.
"But what's the good of knowing it now ?" asked Sid Russell, "we aint a goin' back that way agin'." "No," said Sam, "but it is necessary to know it, nevertheless.

How would you know which way to go without it, Sid ?" "Well, I'd pick out another tree ahead an' walk towards it." "Well, but how would you know what tree to select ?" "Why I'd take one in a line with the pine." "Well, every tree is in a line with the pine.

It depends on where you stand to take sight." "That's so; but how's the old sycamore to help us ?" "By giving us a point to take sight from.