Their situation was perplexing in the extreme. In fact, it was a double perplexity. They did not know where Phil was, and they did not know where they themselves were. They wanted to find Phil; but by reason of their loss of all knowledge of locality, they were unable to form even a theory of the particular direction in which it might be best to renew their search after him. And this it was that made any discussion particularly difficult. Then, again, though they had a distinct remembrance of the river itself, yet they had formed no definite idea about its course. Bart thought it ran north. Pat thought it ran south. Why they thought so, neither could give any reason. But this mattered nothing now. Even if they had known most perfectly the actual course of the river,--nay, even if they had been perfectly acquainted with the geography of the district,--it would have availed them nothing whatever in their present position, nor could they have been in any better position to decide about the best direction which they could take. “We ought to be moving,” said Bart; “but where? I’m sure I don’t know.” “Well, thin,” said Pat, “I’ll tell you what it is. Let’s be off, and thrust to luck. Let’s walk ahead anywheres, and we’ll come out somewheres.” “Can’t we tell something by the clouds?” asked Bart, looking up at the rolling masses overhead. “Deed an I’ve thought o’ that,” said Pat, “an I’ve been watchin thim; but sorra one o’ me can make out any thin about thim same at all, at all. They’re jist rowlin an tumblin every which way. An that same they were doin this mornin; for I watched thim, an cudn’t make any thin out o’ thim at all, at all, no more’n I can now at this blissed momint. An they won’t be afther tellin you any more’n they towld me, I’ll go bail.” “It seems to me,” said Bart, “that they are moving in some direction. I remember noticing this morning that they moved, or seemed to move, across the river. Now, if the river ran north--” “South,” interrupted Pat. “North,” persisted Bart. “If it ran north, why, these clouds must be moving east.” “West,” cried Pat. “East,” persisted Bart. “If I’m certain of anything, I’m certain that they must be going east.” “Deed an I’m dead sure that they’re a goin west. “An I’m as likely to be right as you are.” “O, well,” said Bart, “we can’t come to any decision at all.” “Surely no; not from thim clouds,” said Pat. “For afther all, I don’t think they’re movin anywheres. They’re jist rowlin round and round. Niver mind thim clouds.” “But we must go somewhere,” said Bart, impatiently. “Deed an so we must; an so I say.” “Then where shall we go?” “Jist wheriver you say. You laid ahead, an I’ll toiler till the wurruld’s ind, so I will, an that’s all about it.” Bart now rose, and so did the others; and after a little natural hesitation, they all set out once more upon their journey.