244 Tommy Twister’s Discovery

and talking seriously to the needle and
quoting a verse or two from Doctor Watts,
the captain leaves it alone until it comes to
reason again, and asks the stars which way
he ought to go; and the stars wink at him
in such a way that he gets the information
he requires.

‘Very soon he comes to the Southern-
Cross-Roads ; and by that time the needle
has shaken off its naughty fit, and is begin-
ning to stare steadily at the South Pole as
though it wanted to get to that.

“This is not a good trait in its charac-
ter; for one should not forget an old friend
because one is far away from him, and prefer
an utter stranger.”

“No,” replied Tommy: for he was natur-
ally a good boy, and knew almost at once
that the right thing to say here was “No,”
and not “ Yes.”

“What is the needle like?” asked Tommy.

“Like this,” replied his father, taking out
a pocket compass; “only rather larger.”

Tommy thought a moment, and then
said—