The result was
startling. The skipper took her calculations, studied them, frowned,
then permitted his face to expand into a wrinkled grin.
"Young lady, did you think this was Noah's Ark!" he demanded.
"No, sir. Wh--y?"
"Because according to your figures the 'Sister Sue' is at this minute
located on a line with Mt. Washington, off yonder in the White Range."
Harriet flushed to the roots of her hair as her companions shouted
gleefully. At last Harriet Burrell had found something that she could
not do. But the captain quickly informed them that to be able to take
observations accurately, and then figure them out, required long and
close application. Some mariners never were really good at theoretical
navigation. Nor had Harriet, as yet, mastered the principles of
trigonometry, which branch of mathematics underlies navigation.
On the following morning the sun came out, and by the time the camp
was awake the mainsails and jibs had been put out to dry. They were
permitted to swing free all day long and by nightfall were dry and
white, ready for the next sail. Captain Billy had promised them a long
sail, though not having told them where. That evening he consulted
with the Chief Guardian in her tent, with the result that the
Meadow-Brook Girls, Miss Elting and five of their companions were
told to prepare themselves for an early departure on the following
morning, provided the day were fair.
Pages:
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201