"Now, go home, take a ten-foot
pole, and measure the distance from the eaves to the water in the
cistern, then find the diameter of the pipe, and on my way to school
to-morrow morning I will tell you the three things necessary for
recovering your ball."
Johnny fairly flew home, got a pole, measured the distance from eaves
to water and found it to be twelve feet; measured the pipe and found it
to be two inches and one-half. Then he put away the pole, did his
chores, ate a hearty supper, and went to bed.
He was up bright and early next morning, and got quickly through his
chores, so that when the school-master stopped, on his way to school,
he was ready to see about the ball.
"Good morning, Johnny! Glad to see you on hand. How long's the pipe?"
"Twelve feet, sir."
"Diameter?"
"Two inches and a half, sir."
"Ah! 2-1/2 square multiplied by .0034, and that product by twelve feet,
which is--"
"144 inches," Johnny quickly suggested.
"Will give the contents of the pipe in gallons," added the
schoolmaster. "You're quick at figures, tell me the answer."
Johnny groped among the odds and ends of his jacket pocket for a
minute, and then fished out a stubby lead-pencil, much chewed at one
end, and picking up a piece of smooth board, ciphered away swiftly and
carefully a few moments.
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