We have neither beam, scales, nor weights." "Pooh!" replied Karl, with that tone of confidence imparted by superior knowledge.

"There's no difficulty in obtaining all these.

Any piece of straight stick becomes a beam, when properly balanced; and as for scales, they can be had as readily as a beam." "But the weights ?" interrupted Caspar.

"What about them?
Your beam and scales would be useless, I apprehend, without proper weights?
I think we should be `stumped' for the want of the pounds and ounces." "I am surprised, Caspar, you should be so unreflecting, and allow your ingenuity to be so easily discouraged and thwarted.

I believe I could make a set of weights under any circumstances in which you might place me--giving me only the raw material, such as a piece of timber and plenty of stones." "But how, brother?
Pray, tell us!" "Why, in the first place, I know the weight of my own body." "Granted.