[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]By Ernest Thompson Seton[/font]
In case one desires to locate north and has no compass, a watch may be used.
Point the hour hand to the sun. In the morning, halfway between the outside end of the hour hand and noon is due south; in the afternoon, one must reckon halfway backward; for instance, at 8 A. M., point the hour hand to the sun and find the place halfway to noon. It will be at 10, which is due south. At 4 o'clock, point the hour hand at the sun and reckon halfway, and the south will be found at 2 o'clock.
The reason "halfway" is used, is that, while the sun makes a course of 24 hours, the clock makes a course every 12 hours. If our timepieces were rational and had a face showing 24 hours, the hour hand pointed to the sun would make 12 o'clock, noon, always south.
If the sun is clouded and you cannot see it, get into a clear open space. Hold your knife point upright on the watch dial, and it will, unless the clouds are very heavy, cast a faint shadow, showing where the sun really is.
