We are told by Alma the prophet that "there cannot any man work after the manner of so curious a workmanship." It was prepared by the Lord to show unto Lehi and his company the course which they should travel in the wilderness. And it worked for them according to their faith in the Lord--the pointers moving according to the faith, and diligence and heed which they gave unto them. There was another peculiarity about this curious instrument: there was written upon these pointers a writing plain to be read, which gave them understanding concerning the ways of the Lord; and this was written and changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which they gave unto it. Had they always paid strict attention to this writing, and not been slothful and careless, they would have traveled a direct course, and made greater progress in the wilderness, and would not have been so much afflicted by hunger and thirst; but Laman and Lemuel and their brothers-in-law, the sons of Ishmael, were frequently in transgression. The children of Israel were led through the wilderness in the days of Moses "by the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night." We are told that "God went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them the way." In like manner the Lord designed that Lehi and his company should be led by the compass which had been so wonderfully given them. After receiving the compass they gathered up all that they could carry with them, and the remainder of the provisions which the Lord had given them, and seed of every kind, and their tents, and crossing the river Laman, they traveled for four days, in nearly a south by south-east direction until they came to a place which they called Shazer. Here they camped until they could hunt for game to sustain their families. We suppose that in the wilderness in this neighborhood wild animals were numerous, and they, therefore selected it as a temporary stopping place. Their method of hunting was with bows and arrows, stones and slings. After collecting what they had killed they returned to their families at Shazer. From this place they traveled in the same course--S.S.E--following the direction of the compass, which led in the most fertile parts of the desert, and which were near the Red Sea. CHAPTER VIII. Travel in Desert--Kill Game by the Way--Uncooked Meat their Food--Nephi Breaks his Bow--Fails to Obtain Food--Laman and Others Complain Bitterly--Lehi, also, Murmurs--Nephi Keeps his Patience and Courage--Remonstrates with his Brothers--Makes a Wooden Bow--Lehi very Sorrowful--Sees Writing on the Brass Ball--Nephi Goes for Game in Direction Indicated--Company Filled with Joy through his Obtaining Food--Resume Travel--Ishmael's Death--His Character--Outbreak and Rebellion of Part of his Children against Lehi and Nephi--Laman proposes to Kill the Two Latter--Attachment to Birthplace.