The Army of Children which besieged the Postoffice, conquered the Postmen and delivered to me its imperious Commands, insisted that Trot and Cap'n Bill be admitted to the Land of Oz, where Trot could enjoy the society of Dorothy, Betsy Bobbin and Ozma, while the one- legged sailor-man might become a comrade of the Tin Woodman, the Shaggy Man, Tik-Tok and all the other quaint people who inhabit this wonderful fairyland. It was no easy task to obey this order and land Trot and Cap'n Bill safely in Oz, as you will discover by reading this book. Indeed, it required the best efforts of our dear old friend, the Scarecrow, to save them from a dreadful fate on the journey; but the story leaves them happily located in Ozma's splendid palace and Dorothy has promised me that Button-Bright and the three girls are sure to encounter, in the near future, some marvelous adventures in the Land of Oz, which I hope to be permitted to relate to you in the next Oz Book. Meantime, I am deeply grateful to my little readers for their continued enthusiasm over the Oz stories, as evinced in the many letters they send me, all of which are lovingly cherished. It takes more and more Oz Books every year to satisfy the demands of old and new readers, and there have been formed many "Oz Reading Societies," where the Oz Books owned by different members are read aloud. All this is very gratifying to me and encourages me to write more stories. When the children have had enough of them, I hope they will let me know, and then I'll try to write something different. L. Frank Baum "Royal Historian of Oz." "OZCOT" at HOLLYWOOD in CALIFORNIA, 1915.
CHAPTER 1
THE GREAT WHIRLPOOL
"Seems to me," said Cap'n Bill as he sat beside Trot under the big
acacia tree looking out over the blue ocean, "seems to me, Trot, as how
the more we know, the more we find we don't know."
"I can't quite make that out, Cap'n Bill," answered the little
girl in a serious voice after a moment's thought, during which her eyes
followed those of the old sailor man across the glassy surface of the
sea. "Seems to me that all we learn is jus' so much gained."
"I know, it looks that way at first sight," said the sailor,
nodding his head, "but those as knows the least have a habit of thinkin'
they know all there is to know, while them as knows the most admits what
a turr'ble big world this is. It's the knowing ones that realize one
lifetime ain't long enough to git more'n a few dips o' the oars of
knowledge."
Trot didn't answer. She was a very little girl with big, solemn
eyes and an earnest, simple manner. Cap'n Bill had been her faithful
companion for years and had taught her almost everything she knew.
He was a wonderful man, this Cap'n Bill. Not so very old,
although his hair was grizzled--what there was of it. Most of his head
was bald as an egg and as shiny as oilcloth, and this made his big ears
stick out in a funny way. His eyes had a gentle look and were pale blue
in color, and his round face was rugged and bronzed. Cap'n Bill's left
leg was missing, from the knee down, and that was why the sailor no
longer sailed the seas. The wooden leg he wore was good enough to stump
around with on land, or even to take Trot out for a row or a sail on the
ocean, but when it came to "runnin' up aloft" or performing active duties
on shipboard, the old sailor was not equal to the task. The loss of his
leg had ruined his career, and the old sailor found comfort in devoting
himself to the education and companionship of the little girl.
The accident to Cap'n Bill's leg had happened at about the time
Trot was born, and ever since that he had lived with Trot's mother as "a
star boarder," having enough money saved up to pay for his weekly "keep."
He loved the baby and often held her on his lap; her first ride was on
Cap'n Bill's shoulders, for she had no baby carriage; and when she began
to toddle around, the child and the sailor man became close comrades and
enjoyed many strange adventures together. It is said that the fairies
had been present at Trot's birth and had marked her forehead with their
invisible mystic signs, so that she was able to see and do many wonderful
things.
The acacia tree was on top of a high bluff, but a path ran down
the bank in a zigzag way to the water's edge, where Cap'n Bill's boat was
moored to a rock by means of a stout cable. It had been a hot, sultry
afternoon with scarcely a breath of air stirring, so Cap'n Bill and Trot
had been quietly sitting beneath the shade of the tree waiting for the
sun to get low enough for them to take a row. They had decided to visit
one of the great caves which the waves had washed out of the rocky coast
during many years of steady effort. The waves were a source of continual
delight to both the girl and the sailor, who loved to explore their
awesome depths.
"I b'lieve, Cap'n," remarked Trot at last, "that it's time for us
to start."
The old man cast a shrewd glance at the sky, the sea and the
motionless boat. Then he shook his head. "Mebbe it's time, Trot," he
answered, "but I don't jes' like the looks of things this afternoon."
"What's wrong?" she asked wonderingly.
"Can't say as to that. Things is too quiet to suit me, that's
all. No breeze, not a ripple atop the waves, nary a gull a-flyin'
anywhere, an' the end o' the hottest day o' the year. I ain't no weather
prophet, Trot, but any sailor would know the signs is ominous."
"There's nothing wrong that I can see," said Trot. "If there was
a cloud in the sky even as big as my thumb, we might worry about it;
but--look, Cap'n--the sky is as clear as can be."
He looked again and nodded. "P'r'aps we can make the cave all
right," he agreed, not wishing to disappoint her. "It's only a little
way out, an' we'll be on the watch. So come along, Trot."
Together they descended the winding path to the beach. It was no
trouble for the girl to keep her footing on the steep way, but Cap'n
Bill, because of his wooden leg, had to hold on to rocks and roots now
and then to save himself from tumbling. On a level path he was as spry
as anyone, but to climb uphill or down required some care.
They reached the boat safely, and while Trot was untying the
rope, Cap'n Bill reached into a crevice of the rock and drew out several
tallow candles and a box of wax matches, which he thrust into the
capacious pockets of his "sou'wester." This sou'wester was a short coat
of oilskin which the old sailor wore on all occasions--when he wore a
coat at all--and the pockets always contained a variety of objects,
useful and ornamental, which made even Trot wonder where they all came
from and why Cap'n Bill should treasure them. The jackknives--a big one
and a little one--the bits of cord, the fishhooks, the nails, these were
handy to have on certain occasions. But bits of shell and tin boxes with
unknown contents, buttons, pincers, bottles of curious stones and the
like, seemed quite unnecessary to carry around. That was Cap'n Bill's
business, however, and now that he added the candles and the matches to
his collection, Trot made no comment, for she knew these last were to
light their way through the caves.
The sailor always rowed the boat, for he handled the oars with
strength and skill. Trot sat in the stern and steered. The place where
they embarked was a little bight--or circular bay--and the boat cut
across a much larger bay toward a distant headland where the caves were
located, right at the water's edge. They were nearly a mile from shore
and about halfway across the bay when Trot suddenly sat up straight and
exclaimed, "What's that, Cap'n?"
He stopped rowing and turned half around to look. "That, Trot,"
he slowly replied, "looks to me mighty like a whirlpool."
"What makes it, Cap'n?"
"A whirl in the air makes the whirl in the water. I was afraid
as we'd meet with trouble, Trot. Things didn't look right. The air was
too still."
"It's coming closer," said the girl.
The old man grabbed the oars and began rowing with all his
strength. "'Tain't comin' closer to us, Trot," he gasped. "It's we that
are comin' closer to the whirlpool. The thing is drawin' us to it like a
magnet!"
Trot's sun-bronzed face was a little paler as she grasped the
tiller firmly and tried to steer the boat away, but she said not a word
to indicate fear. The swirl of the water as they came nearer made a
roaring sound that was fearful to listen to. So fierce and powerful was
the whirlpool that it drew the surface of the sea into the form of a
great basin, slanting downward toward the center, where a big hole had
been made in the ocean--a hole with walls of water that were kept in
place by the rapid whirling of the air.
The boat in which Trot and Cap'n Bill were riding was just on the
outer edge of this saucer-like slant, and the old sailor knew very well
that unless he could quickly force the little craft away from the rushing
current, they would soon be drawn into the great black hole that yawned
in the middle. So he exerted all his might and pulled as he had never
pulled before. He pulled so hard that the left oar snapped in two and
sent Cap'n Bill sprawling upon the bottom of the boat.
He scrambled up quickly enough and glanced over the side. Then
he looked at Trot, who sat quite still with a serious, faraway look in
her sweet eyes. The boat was now speeding swiftly of its own accord,
following the line of the circular basin round and round and gradually
drawing nearer to the great hole in the center. Any further effort to
escape the whirlpool was useless, and realizing this fact, Cap'n Bill
turned toward Trot and put an arm around her as if to shield her from the
awful fate before them. He did not try to speak, because the roar of the
waters would have drowned the sound of his voice.
These two faithful comrades had faced dangers before, but nothing
equal to that which now faced them. Yet Cap'n Bill, noting the look in
Trot's eyes and remembering how often she had been protected by unseen
powers, did not quite give way to despair. The great hole in the dark
water--now growing nearer and nearer--looked very terrifying, but they
were both brave enough to face it and await the result of the adventure.
CHAPTER 2
THE CAVERN UNDER THE SEA
The circles were so much smaller at the bottom of the basin and
the boat moved so much more swiftly that Trot was beginning to get dizzy
with the motion when suddenly the boat made a leap and dived headlong
into the murky depths of the hole. Whirling like tops but still clinging
together, the sailor and the girl were separated from their boat and
plunged down, down, down into the farthermost recesses of the great
ocean.
At first their fall was swift as an arrow, but presently they
seemed to be going more moderately and Trot was almost sure that unseen
arms were about her, supporting her and protecting her. She could see
nothing because the water filled her eyes and blurred her vision, but she
clung fast to Cap'n Bill's sou'wester, while other arms clung fast to
her, and so they gradually sank down and down until a full stop was made,
when they began to ascend again.
But it seemed to Trot that they were not rising straight to the
surface from where they had come. The water was no longer whirling them,
and they seemed to be drawn in a slanting direction through still, cool
ocean depths. And then--in much quicker time than I have told it--up
they popped to the surface and were cast at full length upon a sandy
beach, where they lay choking and gasping for breath and wondering what
had happened to them.
Trot was the first to recover. Disengaging herself from Cap'n
Bill's wet embrace and sitting up, she rubbed the water from her eyes and
then looked around her. A soft, bluish-green glow lighted the place,
which seemed to be a sort of cavern, for above and on either side of her
were rugged rocks. They had been cast upon a beach of clear sand, which
slanted upward from the pool of water at their feet--a pool which
doubtless led into the big ocean that fed it. Above the reach of the
waves of the pool were rocks, and still more and more, into the dim
windings and recesses of which the glowing light from the water did not
penetrate.
The place looked grim and lonely, but Trot was thankful that she
was still alive and had suffered no severe injury during her trying
adventure under water. At her side, Cap'n Bill was sputtering and
coughing, trying to get rid of the water he had swallowed. Both of them
were soaked through, yet the cavern was warm and comfortable and a
wetting did not dismay the little girl in the least.
She crawled up the slant of sand and gathered in her hand a bunch
of dried seaweed, with which she mopped the face of Cap'n Bill and
cleared the water from his eyes and ears. Presently the old man sat up
and stared at her intently. Then he nodded his bald head three times and
said in a gurgling voice, "Mighty good, Trot, mighty good! We didn't
reach Davy Jones's locker that time, did we? Though why we didn't an'
why we're here is more'n I kin make out."
"Take it easy, Cap'n," she replied. "We're safe enough, I guess,
at least for the time being."
He squeezed the water out of the bottoms of his loose trousers
and felt of his wooden leg and arms and head, and finding he had brought
all of his person with him, he gathered courage to examine closely their
surroundings. "Where d'ye think we are, Trot?" he presently asked.
"Can't say, Cap'n. P'r'aps in one of our caves."
He shook his head. "No," said he, "I don't think that at all.
The distance we came up didn't seem half as far as the distance we went
down, an' you'll notice there ain't any outside entrance to this cavern
whatever. It's a reg'lar dome over this pool o' water, and unless
there's some passage at the back, up yonder, we're fast prisoners."
Trot looked thoughtfully over her shoulder. "When we're rested,"
she said, "we will crawl up there and see if there's a way to get out."
Cap'n Bill reached in the pocket of his oilskin coat and took out
his pipe. It was still dry, for he kept it in an oilskin pouch with his
tobacco. His matches were in a tight tin box, so in a few moments the
old sailor was smoking contentedly. Trot knew it helped him to think
when he was in any difficulty. Also, the pipe did much to restore the
old sailor's composure after his long ducking and his terrible fright--a
fright that was more on Trot's account than his own.
The sand was dry where they sat, and soaked up the water that
dripped from their clothing. When Trot had squeezed the wet out of her
hair, she began to feel much like her old self again. By and by they got
upon their feet and crept up the incline to the scattered boulders above.
Some of these were of huge size, but by passing between some and around
others, they were able to reach the extreme rear of the cavern. "Yes,"
said Trot with interest, "here's a round hole."
"And it's black as night inside it," remarked Cap'n Bill.
"Just the same," answered the girl, "we ought to explore it and
see where it goes, 'cause it's the only poss'ble way we can get out of
this place."
Cap'n Bill eyed the hole doubtfully. "It may be a way out o'
here, Trot," he said, "but it may be a way into a far worse place than
this. I'm not sure but our best plan is to stay right here."
Trot wasn't sure, either, when she thought of it in that light.
After a while she made her way back to the sands again, and Cap'n Bill
followed her. As they sat down, the child looked doubtfully at the
sailor's bulging pockets.
"How much food have we got, Cap'n?" she asked.
"Half a dozen ship's biscuits an' a hunk o' cheese," he replied.
"Want some now, Trot?"
She shook her head, saying, "That ought to keep us alive 'bout
three days if we're careful of it."
"Longer'n that, Trot," said Cap'n Bill, but his voice was a
little troubled and unsteady.
"But if we stay here, we're bound to starve in time," continued
the girl, "while if we go into the dark hole--"
"Some things are more hard to face than starvation," said the
sailor man gravely. "We don't know what's inside that dark hole, Trot,
nor where it might lead us to."
"There's a way to find that out," she persisted.
Instead of replying, Cap'n Bill began searching in his pockets.
He soon drew out a little package of fishhooks and a long line. Trot
watched him join them together. Then he crept a little way up the slope
and turned over a big rock. Two or three small crabs began scurrying
away over the sands and the sailor caught them and put one on his hook
and the others in his pocket. Coming back to the pool, he swung the hook
over his shoulder and circled it around his head and cast it nearly into
the center of the water, where he allowed it to sink gradually, paying
out the line as far as it would go. When the end was reached, he began
drawing it in again until the crab bait was floating on the surface.
Trot watched him cast the line a second time, and a third. She
decided that either there were no fishes in the pool or they would not
bite the crab bait. But Cap'n Bill was an old fisherman and not easily
discouraged. When the crab got away, he put another on the hook. When
the crabs were all gone, he climbed up the rocks and found some more.
Meantime, Trot tired of watching him and lay down upon the sands,
where she fell fast asleep. During the next two hours her clothing dried
completely, as did that of the old sailor. They were both so used to
salt water that there was no danger of taking cold.
Finally the little girl was wakened by a splash beside her and a
grunt of satisfaction from Cap'n Bill. She opened her eyes to find that
the Cap'n had landed a silver-scaled fish weighing about two pounds.
This cheered her considerably, and she hurried to scrape together a heap
of seaweed while Cap'n Bill cut up the fish with his jackknife and got it
ready for cooking. They had cooked fish with seaweed before. Cap'n Bill
wrapped his fish in some of the weed and dipped it in the water to dampen
it. Then he lighted a match and set fire to Trot's heap, which speedily
burned down to a glowing bed of ashes. Then they laid the wrapped fish
on the ashes, covered it with more seaweed, and allowed this to catch
fire and burn to embers. After feeding the fire with seaweed for some
time, the sailor finally decided that their supper was ready, so he
scattered the ashes and drew out the bits of fish still encased in their
smoking wrappings. When these wrapping were removed, the fish was found
thoroughly cooked, and both Trot and Cap'n Bill ate of it freely. It had
a slight flavor of seaweed and would have been better with a sprinkling
of salt.
The soft glow which until now had lighted the cavern began to
grow dim, but there was a great quantity of seaweed in the place, so
after they had eaten their fish, they kept the fire alive for a time by
giving it a handful of fuel now and then. From an inner pocket the
sailor drew a small flask of battered metal, and unscrewing the cap
handed it to Trot. She took but one swallow of the water, although she
wanted more, and she noticed that Cap'n Bill merely wet his lips with it.
"S'pose," said she, staring at the glowing seaweed fire and
speaking slowly, "that we can catch all the fish we need. How 'bout the
drinking water, Cap'n?"
He moved uneasily, but did not reply. Both of them were thinking
about the dark hole, but while Trot had little fear of it, the old man
could not overcome his dislike to enter the place. He knew that Trot was
right, though. To remain in the cavern where they now were could only
result in slow but sure death.
It was nighttime up on the earth's surface, so the little girl
became drowsy and soon fell asleep. After a time, the old sailor
slumbered on the sands beside her. It was very still and nothing
disturbed them for hours. When at last they awoke, the cavern was light
again.
They had divided one of the biscuits and were munching it for
breakfast when they were startled by a sudden splash in the pool. Looking
toward it, they saw emerging from the water the most curious creature
either of them had ever beheld. It wasn't a fish, Trot decided, nor was
it a beast. It had wings, though, and queer wings they were: shaped like
an inverted chopping bowl and covered with tough skin instead of
feathers. It had four legs--much like the legs of a stork, only double
the number--and its head was shaped a good deal like that of a poll
parrot, with a beak that curved downward in front and upward at the
edges, and was half bill and half mouth. But to call it a bird was out
of the question, because it had no feathers whatever except a crest of
wavy plumes of a scarlet color on the very top of its head. The strange
creature must have weighed as much as Cap'n Bill, and as it floundered
and struggled to get out of the water to the sandy beach, it was so big
and unusual that both Trot and her companion stared at it in wonder--in
wonder that was not unmixed with fear.
CHAPTER 3
THE ORK
The eyes that regarded them as the creature stood dripping before
them were bright and mild in expression, and the queer addition to their
party made no attempt to attack them and seemed quite as surprised by the
meeting as they were.
"I wonder," whispered Trot, "what it is."
"Who, me?" exclaimed the creature in a shrill, high-pitched voice.
"Why, I'm an Ork."
"Oh!" said the girl. "But what is an Ork?"
"I am," he repeated, a little proudly, as he shook the water from
his funny wings, "and if ever an Ork was glad to be out of the water and
on dry land again, you can be sure that I'm that especial, individual Ork!"
"Have you been in the water long?" inquired Cap'n Bill, thinking
it only polite to show an interest in the strange creature.
"Why, this last dunking was about ten minutes, I believe, and
that's about nine minutes and sixty seconds too long for comfort," was
the reply. "But last night I was in an awful pickle, I assure you. The
whirlpool caught me, and--"
"Oh, were you in the whirlpool, too?" asked Trot eagerly.
He gave her a glance that was somewhat reproachful. "I believe I
was mentioning the fact, young lady, when your desire to talk interrupted
me," said the Ork. "I am not usually careless in my actions, but that
whirlpool was so busy yesterday that I thought I'd see what mischief it
was up to. So I flew a little too near it, and the suction of the air
drew me down into the depths of the ocean. Water and I are natural
enemies, and it would have conquered me this time had not a bevy of
pretty mermaids come to my assistance and dragged me away from the
whirling water and far up into a cavern, where they deserted me."
"Why, that's about the same thing that happened to us," cried
Trot. "Was your cavern like this one?"
"I haven't examined this one yet," answered the Ork, "but if they
happen to be alike, I shudder at our fate, for the other one was a prison
with no outlet except by means of the water. I stayed there all night,
however, and this morning I plunged into the pool as far down as I could
go and then swam as hard and as far as I could. The rocks scraped my
back now and then, and I barely escaped the clutches of an ugly sea
monster, but by and by I came to the surface to catch my breath and found
myself here. That's the whole story, and as I see you have something to
eat, I entreat you to give me a share of it. The truth is, I'm half
starved."
With these words, the Ork squatted down beside them. Very
reluctantly, Cap'n Bill drew another biscuit from his pocket and held it
out. The Ork promptly seized it in one of its front claws and began to
nibble the biscuit in much the same manner a parrot might have done.
"We haven't much grub," said the sailor man, "but we're willin'
to share it with a comrade in distress."
"That's right," returned the Ork, cocking its head sidewise in a
cheerful manner, and then for a few minutes there was silence while they
all ate of the biscuits. After a while, Trot said,
"I've never seen or heard of an Ork before. Are there many of you?"
"We are rather few and exclusive, I believe," was the reply. "In
the country where I was born, we are the absolute rulers of all living
things, from ants to elephants."
"What country is that?" asked Cap'n Bill.
"Orkland."
"Where does it lie?"
"I don't know exactly. You see, I have a restless nature for some
reason, while all the rest of my race are quiet and contented Orks and
seldom stray far from home. From childhood days I loved to fly long
distances away, although father often warned me that I would get into
trouble by so doing. 'It's a big world, Flipper, my son,' he would say,
'and I've heard that in parts of it live queer two-legged creatures
called Men, who war upon all other living things and would have little
respect for even an Ork.' This naturally aroused my curiosity, and after
I had completed my education and left school, I decided to fly out into
the world and try to get a glimpse of the creatures called Men. So I
left home without saying goodbye, an act I shall always regret.
Adventures were many, I found. I sighted men several times, but have
never before been so close to them as now. Also, I had to fight my way
through the air, for I met gigantic birds with fluffy feathers all over
them, which attacked me fiercely. Besides, it kept me busy escaping from
floating airships. In my rambling I had lost all track of distance or
direction, so that when I wanted to go home I had no idea where my
country was located. I've now been trying to find it for several months,
and it was during one of my flights over the ocean that I met the
whirlpool and became its victim."
Trot and Cap'n Bill listened to this recital with much interest,
and from the friendly tone and harmless appearance of the Ork they judged
he was not likely to prove so disagreeable a companion as at first they
had feared he might be. The Ork sat upon its haunches much as a cat
does, but used the finger-like claws of its front legs almost as cleverly
as if they were hands. Perhaps the most curious thing about the creature
was its tail, or what ought to have been its tail. This queer
arrangement of skin, bones and muscle was shaped like the propellers used
on boats and airships, having fan-like surfaces and being pivoted to its
body. Cap'n Bill knew something of mechanics, and observing the
propeller-like tail of the Ork, he said, "I s'pose you're a pretty swift
flyer."
"Yes indeed, the Orks are admitted to be Kings of the Air."
"Your wings don't seem to amount to much," remarked Trot.
"Well, they are not very big," admitted the Ork, waving the four
hollow skins gently to and fro, "but they serve to support my body in the
air while I speed along by means of my tail. Still, taken altogether,
I'm very handsomely formed, don't you think?"
Trot did not like to reply, but Cap'n Bill said gravely, "For an
Ork," said he, "you're a wonder. I've never seen one afore, but I can
imagine you're as good as any."
That seemed to please the creature, and it began walking around
the cavern, making its way easily up the slope. While it was gone, Trot
and Cap'n Bill each took another sip from the water flask to wash down
their breakfast.
"Why, here's a hole--an exit--an outlet!" exclaimed the Ork from
above.
"We know," said Trot. "We found it last night."
"Well, then, let's be off," continued the Ork after sticking its
head into the black hole and sniffing once or twice. "The air seems
fresh and sweet, and it can't lead us to any worse place than this."
The girl and the sailor man got up and climbed to the side of the
Ork. "We'd almost decided to explore this hole before you came,"
explained Cap'n Bill, "but it's a dangerous place to navigate in the
dark, so wait till I light a candle."
"What is a candle?" inquired the Ork.
"You'll see in a minute," said Trot.
The old sailor drew one of the candles from the right-side pocket
and the tin matchbox from his left side pocket. When he lighted the
match, the Ork gave a startled jump and eyed the flame suspiciously, but
Cap'n Bill proceeded to light the candle and the action interested the
Ork very much. "Light," it said somewhat nervously, "is valuable in a
hole of this sort. The candle is not dangerous, I hope."
"Sometimes it burns your fingers," answered Trot, "but that's
about the worst it can do--'cept to blow out when you don't want it to."
Cap'n Bill shielded the flame with his hand and crept into the
hole. It wasn't any too big for a grown man, but after he had crawled a
few feet, it grew larger. Trot came close behind him, and the Ork
followed. "Seems like a reg'lar tunnel," muttered the sailor man, who
was creeping along awkwardly because of his wooden leg. The rocks, too,
hurt his knees. For nearly half an hour the three moved slowly along the
tunnel, which made many twists and turns and sometimes slanted downward
and sometimes upward. Finally, Cap'n Bill stopped short, with an
exclamation of disappointment, and held the flickering candle far ahead
to light the scene.
"What's wrong?" demanded Trot, who could see nothing because the
sailor's form completely filled the hole.
"Why, we've come to the end of our travels, I guess," he replied.
"Is the hole blocked?" inquired the Ork.
"No, it's wuss nor that," replied Cap'n Bill sadly. "I'm on the
edge of a precipice. Wait a minute an' I'll move along and let you see
for yourselves. Be careful, Trot, not to fall." Then he crept forward a
little and moved to one side, holding the candle so that the girl could
see to follow him. The Ork came next, and now all three knelt on a
narrow ledge of rock which dropped straight away and left a huge black
space which the tiny flame of the candle could not illuminate.
"Hm!" said the Ork, peering over the edge. "This doesn't look
very promising, I'll admit. But let me take your candle, and I'll fly
down and see what's below us."
"Aren't you afraid?" asked Trot.
"Certainly I'm afraid," responded the Ork. "But if we intend to
escape, we can't stay on this shelf forever. So as I notice you poor
creatures cannot fly, it is my duty to explore the place for you."
Cap'n Bill handed the Ork the candle, which had now burned to
about half its length. The Ork took it in one claw rather cautiously and
then tipped his body forward and slipped over the edge. They heard a
queer buzzing sound as the tail revolved and a brisk flapping of the
peculiar wings, but they were more interested just then in following with
their eyes the tiny speck of light which marked the location of the
candle. This light first made a great circle, then dropped slowly
downward and suddenly was extinguished, leaving everything before them
black as ink.
"Hi there! How did that happen?" cried the Ork.
"It blew out, I guess," shouted Cap'n Bill. "Fetch it here."
"I can't see where you are," said the Ork. So Cap'n Bill got out
another candle and lighted it, and its flame enabled the Ork to fly back
to them. It alighted on the edge and held out the bit of candle.
"What made it stop burning?" asked the creature.
"The wind," said Trot. "You must be more careful this time."
"What's the place like?" inquired Cap'n Bill.
"I don't know yet, but there must be a bottom to it, so I'll try
to find it."
With this, the Ork started out again, and this time sank downward
more slowly. Down, down, down it went till the candle was a mere spark,
and then it headed away to the left and Trot and Cap'n Bill lost all
sight of it. In a few minutes, however, they saw the spark of light
again, and as the sailor still held the second lighted candle, the Ork
made straight toward them. It was only a few yards distant when suddenly
it dropped the candle with a cry of pain and next moment alighted,
fluttering wildly, upon the rocky ledge.
"What's the matter?" asked Trot.
"It bit me!" wailed the Ork. "I don't like your candles. The
thing began to disappear slowly as soon as I took it in my claw, and it
grew smaller and smaller until just now it turned and bit me--a most
unfriendly thing to do. Oh, oh! Ouch, what a bite!"
"That's the nature of candles, I'm sorry to say," explained Cap'n
Bill with a grin. "You have to handle 'em mighty keerful. But tell us,
what did you find down there?"
"I found a way to continue our journey," said the Ork, nursing
tenderly the claw which had been burned. "Just below us is a great lake
of black water, which looked so cold and wicked that it made me shudder.
But away at the left there's a big tunnel which we can easily walk
through. I don't know where it leads to, of course, but we must follow
it and find out."
"Why, we can't get to it," protested the little girl. "We can't
fly as you do, you must remember."
"No, that's true," replied the Ork musingly. "Your bodies are
built very poorly, it seems to me, since all you can do is crawl upon the
earth's surface. But you may ride upon my back, and in that way I can
promise you a safe journey to the tunnel."
"Are you strong enough to carry us?" asked Cap'n Bill doubtfully.
"Yes indeed. I'm strong enough to carry a dozen of you if you
could find a place to sit," was the reply. "But there's only room
between my wings for one at a time, so I'll have to make two trips."
"All right. I'll go first," decided Cap'n Bill. He lit another
candle for Trot to hold while they were gone and to light the Ork on his
return to her, and then the old sailor got upon the Ork's back, where he
sat with his wooden leg sticking straight out sidewise.
"If you start to fall, clasp your arms around my neck," advised
the creature.
"If I start to fall, it's good night an' pleasant dreams," said
Cap'n Bill.
"All ready?" asked the Ork.
"Start the buzz-tail," said Cap'n Bill with a tremble in his
voice. But the Ork flew away so gently that the old man never even
tottered in his seat.
Trot watched the light of Cap'n Bill's candle till it disappeared
in the far distance. She didn't like to be left alone on this dangerous
ledge with a lake of black water hundreds of feet below her, but she was
a brave little girl and waited patiently for the return of the Ork. It
came even sooner than she had expected, and the creature said to her,
"Your friend is safe in the tunnel. Now then, get aboard and I'll carry
you to him in a jiffy."
I'm sure not many little girls would have cared to take that
awful ride through the huge black cavern on the back of a skinny Ork.
Trot didn't care for it herself, but it just had to be done, and so she
did it as courageously as possible. Her heart beat fast, and she was so
nervous she could scarcely hold the candle in her fingers as the Ork sped
swiftly through the darkness. It seemed like a long ride to her, yet in
reality the Ork covered the distance in a wonderfully brief period of
time, and soon Trot stood safely beside Cap'n Bill on the level floor of
a big, arched tunnel. The sailor man was very glad to greet his little
comrade again, and both were grateful to the Ork for his assistance.
"I dunno where this tunnel leads to," remarked Cap'n Bill, "but
it surely looks more promisin' than that other hole we crept through."
"When the Ork is rested," said Trot, "we'll travel on and see
what happens."
"Rested!" cried the Ork as scornfully as his shrill voice would
allow. "That bit of flying didn't tire me at all. I'm used to flying
days at a time without ever once stopping."
"Then let's move on," proposed Cap'n Bill. He still held in his
hand one lighted candle, so Trot blew out the other flame and placed her
candle in the sailor's big pocket. She knew it was not wise to burn two
candles at once.
The tunnel was straight and smooth and very easy to walk through,
so they made good progress. Trot thought that the tunnel began about two
miles from the cavern where they had been cast by the whirlpool, but now
it was impossible to guess the miles traveled, for they walked steadily
for hours and hours without any change in their surrounding. Finally,
Cap'n Bill stopped to rest. "There's somethin' queer about this 'ere
tunnel, I'm certain," he declared, wagging his head dolefully. "Here's
three candles gone a'ready, an' only three more left us, yet the tunnel's
the same as it was when we started. An' how long it's goin' to keep up,
no one knows."
"Couldn't we walk without a light?" asked Trot. "The way seems
safe enough."
"It does right now," was the reply, "but we can't tell when we
are likely to come to another gulf or somethin' jes' as dangerous. In
that case, we'd be killed afore we knew it."
"Suppose I go ahead?" suggested the Ork. "I don't fear a fall,
you know, and if anything happens, I'll call out and warn you."
"That's a good idea," declared Trot, and Cap'n Bill thought so,
too. So the Ork started off ahead, quite in the dark, and hand in hand
the two followed him. When they had walked in this way for a good, long
time, the Ork halted and demanded food. Cap'n Bill had not mentioned
food because there was so little left--only three biscuits and a lump of
cheese about as big as his two fingers--but he gave the Ork half of a
biscuit, sighing as he did so. The creature didn't care for the cheese,
so the sailor divided it between himself and Trot. They lighted a candle
and sat down in the tunnel while they ate.
"My feet hurt me," grumbled the Ork. "I'm not used to walking,
and this rocky passage is so uneven and lumpy that it hurts me to walk
upon it."
"Can't you fly along?" asked Trot.
"No, the roof is too low," said the Ork.
After the meal they resumed their journey, which Trot began to
fear would never end. When Cap'n Bill noticed how tired the little girl
was, he paused and lighted a match and looked at his big silver watch.
"Why, it's night!" he exclaimed. "We've tramped all day, an'
still we're in this awful passage, which mebbe goes straight through the
middle of the world, an' mebbe is a circle--in which case we can keep
walkin' till doomsday. Not known' what's before us so well as we know
what's behind us, I propose we make a stop now an' try to sleep till
mornin'."
"That will suit me," asserted the Ork with a groan. "My feet are
hurting me dreadfully, and for the last few miles I've been limping with
pain."
"My foot hurts, too," said the sailor, looking for a smooth place
on the rocky floor to sit down.
"YOUR foot!" cried the Ork. "Why, you've only one to hurt you,
while I have four. So I suffer four times as much as you possibly can.
Here, hold the candle while I look at the bottoms of my claws. I
declare," he said, examining them by the flickering light, "there are
bunches of pain all over them!"
"P'r'aps," said Trot, who was very glad to sit down beside her
companions, "you've got corns."
"Corns? Nonsense! Orks never have corns," protested the
creature, rubbing its sore feet tenderly.
"Then mebbe they're--they're--What do you call 'em, Cap'n Bill?
Something 'bout the Pilgrim's Progress, you know."
"Bunions," said Cap'n Bill.
"Oh yes, mebbe you've got bunions."
"It is possible," moaned the Ork. "But whatever they are,
another day of such walking on them would drive me crazy."
"I'm sure they'll feel better by mornin'," said Cap'n Bill
encouragingly. "Go to sleep an' try to forget your sore feet."
The Ork cast a reproachful look at the sailor man, who didn't see
it. Then the creature asked plaintively, "Do we eat now, or do we starve?"
"There's only half a biscuit left for you," answered Cap'n Bill.
"No one knows how long we'll have to stay in this dark tunnel where
there's nothing whatever to eat, so I advise you to save that morsel o'
food till later."
"Give it me now!" demanded the Ork. "If I'm going to starve,
I'll do it at once, not by degrees."
Cap'n Bill produced the biscuit, and the creature ate it in a
trice. Trot was rather hungry and whispered to Cap'n Bill that she'd take
part of her share, but the old man secretly broke his own half-biscuit in
two, saving Trot's share for a time of greater need. He was beginning to
be worried over the little girl's plight, and long after she was asleep
and the Ork was snoring in a rather disagreeable manner, Cap'n Bill sat
with his back to a rock and smoked his pipe and tried to think of some
way to escape from this seemingly endless tunnel. But after a time, he
also slept, and there in the dark slumbered the three adventurers for
many hours, until the Ork roused itself and kicked the old sailor with
one foot.
"It must be another day," said he.
CHAPTER 4
DAYLIGHT AT LAST
Cap'n Bill rubbed his eyes, lit a match and consulted his watch.
"Nine o'clock. Yes, I guess it's another day, sure enough. Shall we go
on?" he asked.
"Of course," replied the Ork. "Unless this tunnel is different
from everything else in the world and has no end, we'll find a way out of
it sooner or later."
The sailor gently wakened Trot. She felt much rested by her long
sleep and sprang to her feet eagerly. "Let's start, Cap'n," was all she
said.
They resumed the journey and had only taken a few steps when the
Ork cried "Wow!" and made a great fluttering of its wings and whirling of
its tail. The others, who were following a short distance behind,
stopped abruptly.
"What's the matter?" asked Cap'n Bill.
"Give us a light," was the reply. "I think we've come to the end
of the tunnel." Then, while Cap'n Bill lighted a candle, the creature
added, "If that is true, we needn't have wakened so soon, for we were
almost at the end of this place when we went to sleep."
The sailor man and Trot came forward with a light. A wall of
rock really faced the tunnel, but now they saw that the opening made a
sharp turn to the left. So they followed on, by a narrower passage, and
then made another sharp turn--this time to the right. "Blow out the
light, Cap'n," said the Ork in a pleased voice. "We've struck daylight."
Daylight at last! A shaft of mellow light fell almost at their
feet as Trot and the sailor turned the corner of the passage, but it came
from above, and raising their eyes they found they were at the bottom of
a deep, rocky well, with the top far, far above their heads. And here the
passage ended.
For a while they gazed in silence, at least two of them being
filled with dismay at the sight. But the Ork merely whistled softly and
said cheerfully, "That was the toughest journey I ever had the misfortune
to undertake, and I'm glad it's over. Yet, unless I can manage to fly to
the top of this pit, we are entombed here forever."
"Do you think there is room enough for you to fly in?" asked the
little girl anxiously, and Cap'n Bill added, "It's a straight-up shaft,
so I don't see how you'll ever manage it."
"Were I an ordinary bird--one of those horrid feathered things--I
wouldn't even make the attempt to fly out," said the Ork. "But my
mechanical propeller tail can accomplish wonders, and whenever you're
ready I'll show you a trick that is worthwhile."
"Oh!" exclaimed Trot. "Do you intend to take us up, too?"
"Why not?"
"I thought," said Cap'n Bill, "as you'd go first, an' then send
somebody to help us by lettin' down a rope."
"Ropes are dangerous," replied the Ork, "and I might not be able
to find one to reach all this distance. Besides, it stands to reason
that if I can get out myself, I can also carry you two with me."
"Well, I'm not afraid," said Trot, who longed to be on the
earth's surface again.
"S'pose we fall," suggested Cap'n Bill doubtfully.
"Why, in that case we would all fall together," returned the Ork.
"Get aboard, little girl. Sit across my shoulders and put both your arms
around my neck."
Trot obeyed, and when she was seated on the Ork Cap'n Bill
inquired, "How 'bout me, Mr. Ork?"
"Why, I think you'd best grab hold of my rear legs and let me
carry you up in that manner," was the reply.
Cap'n Bill looked way up at the top of the well, and then he
looked at the Ork's slender, skinny legs and heaved a deep sigh. "It's
goin' to be some dangle, I guess, but if you don't waste too much time on
the way up, I may be able to hang on," said he.
"All ready, then!" cried the Ork, and at once his whirling tail
began to revolve. Trot felt herself rising into the air; when the
creature's legs left the ground, Cap'n Bill grasped two of them firmly
and held on for dear life. The Ork's body was tipped straight upward,
and Trot had to embrace the neck very tightly to keep from sliding off.
Even in this position, the Ork had trouble in escaping the rough sides of
the well. Several times it exclaimed "Wow!" as it bumped its back or a
wing hit against some jagged projection. But the tail kept whirling with
remarkable swiftness, and the daylight grew brighter and brighter. It
was, indeed, a long journey from the bottom to the top, yet almost before
Trot realized they had come so far they popped out of the hole into the
clear air and sunshine, and a moment later the Ork alighted gently upon
the ground.
The release was so sudden that even with the creature's care for
its passengers, Cap'n Bill struck the earth with a shock that sent him
rolling heel over head. But by the time Trot had slid down from her
seat, the old sailor man was sitting up and looking around him with much
satisfaction. "It's sort o' pretty here," said he.
"Earth is a beautiful place!" cried Trot.
"I wonder where on earth we are?" pondered the Ork, turning first
one bright eye and then the other to this side and that. Trees there
were, in plenty, and shrubs and flowers and green turf. But there were
no houses, there were no paths, there was no sign of civilization
whatever. "Just before I settled down on the ground, I thought I caught
a view of the ocean," said the Ork. "Let's see if I was right." Then he
flew to a little hill nearby, and Trot and Cap'n Bill followed him more
slowly. When they stood on the top of the hill, they could see the blue
waves of the ocean in front of them, to the right of them, and at the
left of them. Behind the hill was a forest that shut out the view.
"I hope it ain't an island, Trot," said Cap'n Bill gravely.
"If it is, I s'pose we're prisoners," she replied.
"Ezzackly so, Trot."
"But even so, it's better than those terr'ble underground tunnels
and caverns," declared the girl.
"You are right, little one," agreed the Ork. "Anything above
ground is better than the best that lies underground. So let's not
quarrel with our fate, but be thankful we've escaped."
"We are indeed!" she replied. "But I wonder if we can find
something to eat in this place?"
"Let's explore an' find out," proposed Cap'n Bill. "Those trees
over at the left look like cherry trees."
On the way to them, the explorers had to walk through a tangle of
vines, and Cap'n Bill, who went first, stumbled and pitched forward on
his face. "Why, it's a melon!" cried Trot delightedly as she saw what
had caused the sailor to fall.
Cap'n Bill rose to his foot, for he was not at all hurt, and
examined the melon. Then he took his big jackknife from his pocket and
cut the melon open. It was quite ripe and looked delicious, but the old
man tasted it before he permitted Trot to eat any. Deciding it was good,
he gave her a big slice and then offered the Ork some. The creature
looked at the fruit somewhat disdainfully at first, but once he had
tasted its flavor, he ate of it as heartily as did the others. Among the
vines they discovered many other melons, and Trot said gratefully, "Well,
there's no danger of our starving, even if this IS an island."
"Melons," remarked Cap'n Bill, "are both food and water. We
couldn't have struck anything better."
Farther on they came to the cherry trees, where they obtained
some of the fruit, and at the edge of the little forest were wild plums.
The forest itself consisted almost entirely of nut trees--walnuts,
filberts, almonds and chestnuts--so there would be plenty of wholesome
food for them while they remained there.
Cap'n Bill and Trot decided to walk through the forest to
discover what was on the other side of it, but the Ork's feet were still
so sore and "lumpy" from walking on the rocks, that the creature said he
preferred to fly over the treetops and meet them on the other side. The
forest was not large, so by walking briskly for fifteen minutes, they
reached its farthest edge and saw before them the shore of the ocean.
"It's an island, all right," said Trot with a sigh.
"Yes, and a pretty island, too," said Cap'n Bill, trying to
conceal his disappointment on Trot's account. "I guess, partner, if the
wuss comes to the wuss, I could build a raft, or even a boat, from those
trees, so's we could sail away in it."
The little girl brightened at this suggestion. "I don't see the
Ork anywhere," she remarked, looking around. Then her eyes lighted upon
something, and she exclaimed, "Oh, Cap'n Bill! Isn't that a house over
there to the left?"
Cap'n Bill, looking closely, saw a shed-like structure built at
one edge of the forest. "Seems like it, Trot. Not that I'd call it much
of a house, but it's a buildin', all right. Let's go over an' see if
it's occypied."
CHAPTER 5
THE LITTLE OLD MAN OF THE ISLAND
A few steps brought them to the shed, which was merely a roof of
boughs built over a square space with some branches of trees fastened to
the sides to keep off the wind. The front was quite open and faced the
sea, and as our friends came nearer, they observed a little man with a
long, pointed beard sitting motionless on a stool and staring
thoughtfully out over the water. "Get out of the way, please," he called
in a fretful voice. "Can't you see you're obstructing my view?"
"Good morning," said Cap'n Bill politely.
"It isn't a good morning!" snapped the little man. "I've seen
plenty of mornings better than this. Do you call it a good morning when
I'm pestered with such a crowd as you?"
Trot was astonished to hear such words from a stranger whom they
had greeted quite properly, and Cap'n Bill grew red at the little man's
rudeness. But the sailor said in a quiet tone of voice, "Are you the
only one as lives on this 'ere island?"
"Your grammar's bad," was the reply. "But this is my own
exclusive island, and I'll thank you to get off it as soon as possible."
"We'd like to do that," said Trot, and then she and Cap'n Bill
turned away and walked down to the shore to see if any other land was in
sight. The little man rose and followed them, although both were now too
provoked to pay any attention to him.
"Nothin' in sight, partner," reported Cap'n Bill, shading his
eyes with his hand, "so we'll have to stay here for a time, anyhow. It
isn't a bad place, Trot, by any means."
"That's all you know about it!" broke in the little man. "The
trees are altogether too green, and the rocks are harder than they ought
to be. I find the sand very grainy and the water dreadfully wet. Every
breeze makes a draft, and the sun shines in the daytime when there's no
need of it and disappears just as soon as it begins to get dark. If you
remain here, you'll find the island very unsatisfactory."
Trot turned to look at him, and her sweet face was grave and
curious. "I wonder who you are," she said.
"My name is Pessim," said he with an air of pride. "I'm called
the Observer."
"Oh. What do you observe?" asked the little girl.
"Everything I see," was the reply in a more surly tone. Then
Pessim drew back with a startled exclamation and looked at some
footprints in the sand. "Why, good gracious me!" he cried in distress.
"What's the matter now?" asked Cap'n Bill.
"Someone has pushed the earth in! Don't you see it?"
"It isn't pushed in far enough to hurt anything," said Trot,
examining the footprints.
"Everything hurts that isn't right," insisted the man. "If the
earth were pushed in a mile, it would be a great calamity, wouldn't it?"
"I s'pose so," admitted the little girl.
"Well, here it is pushed in a full inch! That's a twelfth of a
foot, or a little more than a millionth part of a mile. Therefore it is
one-millionth part of a calamity--oh dear! How dreadful!" said Pessim in
a wailing voice.
"Try to forget it, sir," advised Cap'n Bill soothingly. "It's
beginning to rain. Let's get under your shed and keep dry."
"Raining! Is it really raining?" asked Pessim, beginning to
weep.
"It is," answered Cap'n Bill as the drops began to descend, "and
I don't see any way to stop it--although I'm some observer myself."
"No, we can't stop it, I fear," said the man. "Are you very busy
just now?"
"I won't be after I get to the shed," replied the sailor man.
"Then do me a favor, please," begged Pessim, walking briskly
along behind them, for they were hastening to the shed.
"Depends on what it is," said Cap'n Bill.
"I wish you would take my umbrella down to the shore and hold it
over the poor fishes till it stops raining. I'm afraid they'll get wet,"
said Pessim.
Trot laughed, but Cap'n Bill thought the little man was poking
fun at him, so he scowled upon Pessim in a way that showed he was angry.
They reached the shed before getting very wet, although the rain
was now coming down in big drops. The roof of the shed protected them,
and while they stood watching the rainstorm, something buzzed and circled
around Pessim's head. At once the Observer began beating it away with
his hands, crying out, "A bumblebee! A bumblebee! The queerest
bumblebee I ever saw!"
Cap'n Bill and Trot both looked at it, and the girl said in
surprise, "Dear me! It's a wee little Ork!"
"That's what it is, sure enough," exclaimed Cap'n Bill. Really,
it wasn't much bigger than a big bumblebee, and when it came toward Trot,
she allowed it to alight on her shoulder.
"It's me, all right," said a very small voice in her ear, "but
I'm in an awful pickle, just the same."
"What, are you OUR Ork, then?" demanded the girl, much amazed.
"No, I'm my own Ork. But I'm the only Ork you know," replied the
tiny creature.
"What's happened to you?" asked the sailor, putting his head
close to Trot's shoulder in order to hear the reply better. Pessim also
put his head close, and the Ork said, "You will remember that when I left
you, I started to fly over the trees, and just as I got to this side of
the forest I saw a bush that was loaded down with the most luscious fruit
you can imagine. The fruit was about the size of a gooseberry and of a
lovely lavender color. So I swooped down and picked off one in my bill
and ate it. At once, I began to grow small. I could feel myself
shrinking, shrinking away, and it frightened me terribly, so that I
alighted on the ground to think over what was happening. In a few
seconds I had shrunk to the size you now see me, but there I remained,
getting no smaller, indeed, but no larger. It is certainly a dreadful
affliction! After I had recovered somewhat from the shock, I began to
search for you. It is not so easy to find one's way when a creature is
so small, but fortunately I spied you here in this shed and came to you
at once."
Cap'n Bill and Trot were much astonished at this story and felt
grieved for the poor Ork, but the little man Pessim seemed to think it a
good joke. He began laughing when he heard the story and laughed until
he choked, after which he lay down on the ground and rolled and laughed
again, while the tears of merriment coursed down his wrinkled cheeks.
"Oh dear! Oh dear!" he finally gasped, sitting up and wiping his eyes.
"This is too rich! It's almost too joyful to be true."
"I don't see anything funny about it," remarked Trot indignantly.
"You would if you'd had my experience," said Pessim, getting upon
his feet and gradually resuming his solemn and dissatisfied expression of
countenance. "The same thing happened to me."
"Oh, did it? And how did you happen to come to this island?"
asked the girl.
"I didn't come; the neighbors brought me," replied the little man
with a frown at the recollection. "They said I was quarrelsome and
fault-finding and blamed me because I told them all the things that went
wrong or never were right, and because I told them how things ought to
be. So they brought me here and left me all alone, saying that if I
quarreled with myself, no one would be made unhappy. Absurd, wasn't it?"
"Seems to me," said Cap'n Bill, "those neighbors did the proper
thing."
"Well," resumed Pessim, "when I found myself King of this island,
I was obliged to live upon fruits, and I found many fruits growing here
that I had never seen before. I tasted several and found them good and
wholesome. But one day I ate a lavender berry as the Ork did, and
immediately I grew so small that I was scarcely two inches high. It was
a very unpleasant condition, and like the Ork I became frightened. I
could not walk very well nor very far, for every lump of earth in my way
seemed a mountain, every blade of grass a tree and every grain of sand a
rocky boulder. For several days I stumbled around in an agony of fear.
Once a tree toad nearly gobbled me up, and if I ran out from the shelter
of the bushes, the gulls and cormorants swooped down upon me. Finally, I
decided to eat another berry and become nothing at all, since life to one
as small as I was had become a dreary nightmare.
"At last I found a small tree that I thought bore the same fruit
as that I had eaten. The berry was dark purple instead of light
lavender, but otherwise it was quite similar. Being unable to climb the
tree, I was obliged to wait underneath it until a sharp breeze arose and
shook the limbs so that a berry fell. Instantly I seized it, and taking
a last view of the world--as I then thought--I ate the berry in a
twinkling. Then, to my surprise, I began to grow big again until I
became of my former stature, and so I have since remained. Needless to
say, I have never eaten again of the lavender fruit, nor do any of the
beasts or birds that live upon the island eat it."
They had all three listened eagerly to this amazing tale, and
when it was finished, the Ork exclaimed, "Do you think, then, that the
deep purple berry is the antidote for the lavender one?"
"I'm sure of it," answered Pessim.
"Then lead me to the tree at once!" begged the Ork. "For this
tiny form I now have terrifies me greatly."
Pessim examined the Ork closely. "You are ugly enough as you
are," said he. "Were you any larger, you might be dangerous."
"Oh no," Trot assured him. "The Ork has been our good friend.
Please take us to the tree."
Then Pessim consented, although rather reluctantly. He led them
to the right, which was the east side of the island, and in a few minutes
brought them near to the edge of the grove which faced the shore of the
ocean. Here stood a small tree bearing berries of a deep purple color.
The fruit looked very enticing, and Cap'n Bill reached up and selected
one that seemed especially plump and ripe. The Ork had remained perched
upon Trot's shoulder, but now it flew down to the ground. It was so
difficult for Cap'n Bill to kneel down with his wooden leg that the
little girl took the berry from him and held it close to the Ork's head.
"It's too big to go into my mouth," said the little creature,
looking at the fruit sidewise.
"You'll have to make sev'ral mouthfuls of it, I guess," said
Trot, and that is what the Ork did. He pecked at the soft, ripe fruit
with his bill and ate it up very quickly, because it was good. Even
before he had finished the berry, they could see the Ork begin to grow.
In a few minutes he had regained his natural size and was strutting
before them, quite delighted with his transformation.
"Well, well! What do you think of me now?" he asked proudly.
"You are very skinny and remarkably ugly," declared Pessim.
"You are a poor judge of Orks," was the reply. "Anyone can see
that I'm much handsomer than those dreadful things called birds, which
are all fluff and feathers."
"Their feathers make soft beds," asserted Pessim.
"And my skin would make excellent drumheads," retorted the Ork.
"Nevertheless, a plucked bird or a skinned Ork would be of no value to
himself, so we needn't brag of our usefulness after we are dead. But for
the sake of argument, friend Pessim, I'd like to know what good YOU would
be were you not alive."
"I am King of this Island, allow me to say, and you're intruding
on my property," declared the little man, scowling upon them. "If you
don't like me--and I'm sure you don't, for no one else does--why don't
you go away and leave me to myself?"
"Well, the Ork can fly, but we can't," explained Trot in answer.
"We don't want to stay here a bit, but I don't see how we can get away."
"You can go back into the hole you came from."
Cap'n Bill shook his head; Trot shuddered at the thought; the Ork
laughed aloud.
"You may be King here," the creature said to Pessim, "but we
intend to run this island to suit ourselves, for we are three and you are
one, and the balance of power lies with us."
The little man made no reply to this, although as they walked
back to the shed his face wore its fiercest scowl. Cap'n Bill gathered a
lot of leaves and, assisted by Trot, prepared two nice beds in opposite
corners of the shed. Pessim slept in a hammock which he swung between
two trees.
They required no dishes, as all their food consisted of fruits
and nuts picked from the trees. They made no fire, for the weather was
warm and there was nothing to cook. The shed had no furniture other than
the rude stool which the little man was accustomed to sit upon. He called
it his "throne," and they let him keep it.
So they lived upon the island for three days and rested and ate
to their hearts' content. Still, they were not at all happy in this life
because of Pessim. He continually found fault with them, and all that
they did, and all their surroundings. He could see nothing good or
admirable in all the world, and Trot soon came to understand why the
little man's former neighbors had brought him to this island and left him
there all alone so he could not annoy anyone. It was their misfortune
that they had been led to this place by their adventures, for often they
would have preferred the company of a wild beast to that of Pessim.
On the fourth day, a happy thought came to the Ork. They had all
been racking their brains for a possible way to leave the island and
discussing this or that method without finding a plan that was practical.
Cap'n Bill had said he could make a raft of the trees big enough to float
them all, but he had no tools except those two pocketknives, and it was
not possible to chop down trees with such small blades.
"And s'pose we got afloat on the ocean," said Trot, "where would
we drift to and how long would it take us to get there?"
Cap'n Bill was forced to admit he didn't know. The Ork could fly
away from the island any time it wished to, but the queer creature was
loyal to his new friends and refused to leave them in such a lonely,
forsaken place. It was when Trot urged him to go on this fourth morning
that the Ork had his happy thought. "I will go," said he, "if you two
will agree to ride upon my back."
"We are too heavy. You might drop us," objected Cap'n Bill.
"Yes, you are rather heavy for a long journey," acknowledged the
Ork, "but you might eat of those lavender berries and become so small
that I could carry you with ease."
This quaint suggestion startled Trot, and she looked gravely at
the speaker while she considered it, but Cap'n Bill gave a scornful snort
and asked, "What would become of us afterward? We wouldn't be much good
if we were some two or three inches high. No, Mr. Ork, I'd rather stay
here as I am than be a hop-o'-my-thumb somewhere else."
"Why couldn't you take some of the dark purple berries along with
you to eat after we had reached our destination?" inquired the Ork.
"Then you could grow big again whenever you pleased."
Trot clapped her hands with delight. "That's it!" she exclaimed.
"Let's do it, Cap'n Bill."
The old sailor did not like the idea at first, but he thought it
over carefully, and the more he thought the better it seemed. "How could
you manage to carry us if we were so small?" he asked.
"I could put you in a paper bag and tie the bag around my neck."
"But we haven't a paper bag," objected Trot.
The Ork looked at her. "There's your sunbonnet," it said
presently, "which is hollow in the middle and has two strings that you
could tie around my neck."
Trot took off her sunbonnet and regarded it critically. Yes, it
might easily hold both her and Cap'n Bill after they had eaten the
lavender berries and been reduced in size. She tied the strings around
the Ork's neck and the sunbonnet made a bag in which two tiny people
might ride without danger of falling out. So she said, "I b'lieve we'll
do it that way, Cap'n."
Cap'n Bill groaned but could make no logical objection except
that the plan seemed to him quite dangerous--and dangerous in more ways
than one.
"I think so, myself," said Trot soberly. "But nobody can stay
alive without getting into danger sometimes, and danger doesn't mean
getting hurt, Cap'n. It only means we MIGHT get hurt. So I guess we'll
have to take the risk."
"Let's go and find the berries," said the Ork.
They said nothing to Pessim, who was sitting on his stool and
scowling dismally as he stared at the ocean, but started at once to seek
the trees that bore the magic fruits. The Ork remembered very well where
the lavender berries grew and led his companions quickly to the spot.
Cap'n Bill gathered two berries and placed them carefully in his pocket.
Then they went around to the east side of the island and found the tree
that bore the dark purple berries. "I guess I'll take four of these,"
said the sailor man, "so in case one doesn't make us grow big, we can eat
another."
"Better take six," advised the Ork. "It's well to be on the safe
side, and I'm sure these trees grow nowhere else in all the world."
So Cap'n Bill gathered six of the purple berries and with their
precious fruit they returned to the shed to bid goodbye to Pessim.
Perhaps they would not have granted the surly little man this courtesy
had they not wished to use him to tie the sunbonnet around the Ork's
neck. When Pessim learned they were about to leave him, he at first
looked greatly pleased, but he suddenly recollected that nothing ought to
please him, and so began to grumble about being left alone.
"We knew it wouldn't suit you," remarked Cap'n Bill. "It didn't
suit you to have us here, and it won't suit you to have us go away."
"That is quite true," admitted Pessim. "I haven't been suited
since I can remember, so it doesn't matter to me in the least whether you
go or stay."
He was interested in their experiment, however, and willingly
agreed to assist, although he prophesied they would fall out of the
sunbonnet on their way and be either drowned in the ocean or crushed upon
some rocky shore. This uncheerful prospect did not daunt Trot, but it
made Cap'n Bill quite nervous.
"I will eat my berry first," said Trot as she placed her
sunbonnet on the ground in such a manner that they could get into it.
Then she ate the lavender berry and in a few seconds became so small that
Cap'n Bill picked her up gently with his thumb and one finger and placed
her in the middle of the sunbonnet. Then he placed beside her the six
purple berries--each one being about as big as the tiny Trot's head--and
all preparations being now made, the old sailor ate his lavender berry
and became very small, wooden leg and all! Cap'n Bill stumbled sadly in
trying to climb over the edge of the sunbonnet and pitched in beside Trot
headfirst, which caused the unhappy Pessim to laugh with glee. Then the
King of the Island picked up the sunbonnet--so rudely that he shook its
occupants like peas in a pod--and tied it by means of its strings
securely around the Ork's neck.
"I hope, Trot, you sewed those strings on tight," said Cap'n Bill
anxiously.
"Why, we are not very heavy, you know," she replied, "so I think
the stitches will hold. But be careful and not crush the berries,
Cap'n."
"One is jammed already," he said, looking at them.
"All ready?" asked the Ork.
"Yes!" they cried together, and Pessim came close to the
sunbonnet and called out to them, "You'll be smashed or drowned, I'm sure
you will! But farewell, and good riddance to you."
The Ork was provoked by this unkind speech, so he turned his tail
toward the little man and made it revolve so fast that the rush of air
tumbled Pessim over backward, and he rolled several times upon the ground
before he could stop himself and sit up. By that time, the Ork was high
in the air and speeding swiftly over the ocean.
CHAPTER 6
THE FLIGHT OF THE MIDGETS
Cap'n Bill and Trot rode very comfortably in the sunbonnet. The
motion was quite steady, for they weighed so little that the Ork flew
without effort. Yet they were both somewhat nervous about their future
fate and could not help wishing they were safe on land and their natural
size again. "You're terr'ble small, Trot," remarked Cap'n Bill, looking
at his companion.
"Same to you, Cap'n," she said with a laugh, "but as long as we
have the purple berries, we needn't worry about our size."
"In a circus," mused the old man, "we'd be curiosities. But in a
sunbonnet high up in the air sailin' over a big, unknown ocean, they
ain't no word in any booktionary (sic) to describe us."
"Why, we're midgets, that's all," said the little girl.
The Ork flew silently for a long time. The slight swaying of the
sunbonnet made Cap'n Bill drowsy, and he began to doze. Trot, however,
was wide awake, and after enduring the monotonous journey as long as she
was able, she called out, "Don't you see land anywhere, Mr. Ork?"
"Not yet," he answered. "This is a big ocean, and I've no idea
in which direction the nearest land to that island lies, but if I keep
flying in a straight line, I'm sure to reach someplace sometime."
That seemed reasonable, so the little people in the sunbonnet
remained as patient as possible; that is, Cap'n Bill still dozed and Trot
tried to remember her geography lessons so she could figure out what land
they were likely to arrive at. For hours and hours the Ork flew
steadily, keeping to the straight line and searching with his eyes the
horizon of the ocean for land. Cap'n Bill was fast asleep and snoring
and Trot had laid her head on his shoulder to rest it when suddenly the
Ork exclaimed, "There! I've caught a glimpse of land at last."
At this announcement they roused themselves. Cap'n Bill stood up
and tried to peek over the edge of the sunbonnet. "What does it look
like?" he inquired.
"Looks like another island," said the Ork, "but I can judge it
better in a minute or two."
"I don't care much for islands, since we visited that other one,"
declared Trot.
Soon the Ork made another announcement. "It is surely an island,
and a little one, too," said he. "But I won't stop because I see a much
bigger land straight ahead of it."
"That's right," approved Cap'n Bill. "The bigger the land, the
better it will suit us."
"It's almost a continent," continued the Ork after a brief silence
during which he did not decrease the speed of his flight. "I wonder if
it can be Orkland, the place I have been seeking so long?"
"I hope not," whispered Trot to Cap'n Bill so softly that the Ork
could not hear, "for I shouldn't like to be in a country where only Orks
live. This one Ork isn't a bad companion, but a lot of him wouldn't be
much fun."
After a few more minutes of flying, the Ork called out in a sad
voice, "No! This is not my country. It's a place I have never seen
before, although I have wandered far and wide. It seems to be all
mountains and deserts and green valleys and queer cities and lakes and
rivers, mixed up in a very puzzling way."
"Most countries are like that," commented Cap'n Bill. "Are you
going to land?"
"Pretty soon," was the reply. "There is a mountain peak just
ahead of me. What do you say to our landing on that?"
"All right," agreed the sailor man, for both he and Trot were
getting tired of riding in the sunbonnet and longed to set foot on solid
ground again. So in a few minutes the Ork slowed down his speed and then
came to a stop so easily that they were scarcely jarred at all. Then the
creature squatted down until the sunbonnet rested on the ground and began
trying to unfasten with its claws the knotted string.
5 This proved a very clumsy task, because the strings were tied at
the back of the Ork's neck, just where his claws would not easily reach.
After much fumbling, he said, "I'm afraid I can't let you out, and there
is no one near to help me."
This was at first discouraging, but after a little thought, Cap'n
Bill said, "If you don't mind, Trot, I can cut a slit in your sunbonnet
with my knife."
"Do," she replied. "The slit won't matter, 'cause I can sew it
up again afterward when I am big."
So Cap'n Bill got out his knife, which was just as small in
proportion as he was, and after considerable trouble managed to cut a
long slit in the sunbonnet. First, he squeezed through the opening
himself and then helped Trot to get out. When they stood on firm ground
again, their first act was to begin eating the dark purple berries which
they had brought with them. Two of these Trot had guarded carefully
during the long journey by holding them in her lap, for their safety
meant much to the tiny people.
"I'm not very hungry," said the little girl as she handed a berry
to Cap'n Bill, "but hunger doesn't count in this case. It's like taking
medicine to make you well, so we must manage to eat 'em somehow or other."
But the berries proved quite pleasant to taste, and as Cap'n Bill
and Trot nibbled at their edges, their forms began to grow in size,
slowly but steadily. The bigger they grew the easier it was for them to
eat the berries, which of course became smaller to them, and by the time
the fruit was eaten, our friends had regained their natural size.
The little girl was greatly relieved when she found herself as
large as she had ever been, and Cap'n Bill shared her satisfaction, for
although they had seen the effect of the berries on the Ork, they had not
been sure the magic fruit would have the same effect on human beings, or
that the magic would work in any other country than that in which the
berries grew. "What shall we do with the other four berries?" asked Trot
as she picked up her sunbonnet, marveling that she had ever been small
enough to ride in it. "They're no good to us now, are they, Cap'n?"
"I'm not sure as to that," he replied. "If they were eaten by
one who had never eaten the lavender berries, they might have no effect
at all; but then, contrarywise, they might. One of 'em has got badly
jammed, so I'll throw it away, but the other three I b'lieve I'll carry
with me. They're magic things, you know, and may come handy to us
sometime."
He now searched in his big pockets and drew out a small wooden
box with a sliding cover. The sailor man kept an assortment of nails of
various sizes in this box, but those he now dumped loosely into his
pocket and in the box placed the three sound purple berries. When this
important matter was attended to, they found time to look about them and
see what sort of place the Ork had landed them in.
CHAPTER 7
THE BUMPY MAN
The mountain on which they had alighted was not a barren waste,
but had on its sides patches of green grass, some bushes, and few slender
trees and here and there masses of tumbled rocks. The sides of the slope
seemed rather steep, but with care one could climb up or down them with
ease and safety. The view from where they now stood showed pleasant
valleys and fertile hills lying below the heights. Trot thought she saw
some houses of queer shapes scattered about the lower landscape, and
there were moving dots that might be people or animals, yet were too far
away for her to see them clearly. Not far from the place where they
stood was the top of the mountain, which seemed to be flat, so the Ork
proposed to his companions that he would fly up and see what was there.
"That's a good idea," said Trot, " 'cause it's getting toward
evening and we'll have to find a place to sleep."
The Ork had not been gone more than a few minutes when they saw
him appear on the edge of the top which was nearest to them. "Come on
up!" he called.
So Trot and Cap'n Bill began to ascend the steep slope, and it
did not take them long to reach the place where the Ork awaited them.
Their first view of the mountaintop pleased them very much. It was a
level space of wider extent than they had guessed, and upon it grew grass
of a brilliant green color. In the very center stood a house built of
stone and very neatly constructed. No one was in sight, but smoke was
coming from the chimney, so with one accord all three began walking
toward the house. "I wonder," said Trot, "in what country we are and if
it's very far from my home in California."
"Can't say as to that, partner," answered Cap'n Bill, "but I'm
mighty certain we've come a long way since we struck that whirlpool."
"Yes," she agreed with a sigh, "it must be miles and miles!"
"Distance means nothing," said the Ork. "I have flown pretty
much all over the world trying to find my home, and it is astonishing how
many little countries there are hidden away in the cracks and corners of
this big globe of Earth. If one travels, he may find some new country at
every turn, and a good many of them have never yet been put upon the maps."
"P'raps this is one of them," suggested Trot.
They reached the house after a brisk walk, and Cap'n Bill knocked
upon the door. It was at once opened by a rugged-looking man who had
"bumps all over him," as Trot afterward declared. There were bumps on
his head, bumps on his body and bumps on his arms and legs and hands.
Even his fingers had bumps on the ends of them. For dress he wore an old
gray suit of fantastic design, which fitted him very badly because of the
bumps it covered but could not conceal. But the Bumpy Man's eyes were
kind and twinkling in expression, and as soon as he saw his visitors, he
bowed low and said in a rather bumpy voice, "Happy day! Come in and shut
the door, for it grows cool when the sun goes down. Winter is now upon
us."
"Why, it isn't cold a bit outside," said Trot, "so it can't be
winter yet."
"You will change your mind about that in a little while,"
declared the Bumpy Man. "My bumps always tell me of the state of the
weather, and they feel just now as if a snowstorm was coming this way.
But make yourselves at home, strangers. Supper is nearly ready, and
there is food enough for all."
Inside the house there was but one large room, simply but
comfortably furnished. It had benches, a table and a fireplace, all made
of stone. On the hearth a pot was bubbling and steaming, and Trot
thought it had a rather nice smell. The visitors seated themselves upon
the benches--except the Ork, which squatted by the fireplace--and the
Bumpy Man began stirring the kettle briefly.
"May I ask what country this is, sir?" inquired Cap'n Bill.
"Goodness me, fruit-cake and applesauce, don't you know where you
are?" asked the Bumpy Man as he stopped stirring and looked at the
speaker in surprise.
"No," admitted Cap'n Bill. "We've just arrived."
"Lost your way?" questioned the Bumpy Man.
"Not exactly," said Cap'n Bill. "We didn't have any way to lose."
"At!" said the Bumpy Man, nodding his bumpy head. "This," he
announced in a solemn, impressive voice, "is the famous Land of Mo."
"Oh!" exclaimed the sailor and the girl, both in one breath. But
never having heard of the Land of Mo, they were no wiser than before.
"I thought that would startle you," remarked the Bumpy Man, well
pleased, as he resumed his stirring.
The Ork watched him a while in silence and then asked, "Who may
YOU be?"
"Me?" answered the Bumpy Man. "Haven't you heard of me?
Gingerbread and lemon juice! I'm known far and wide as the Mountain Ear."
They all received this information in silence at first, for they
were trying to think what he could mean. Finally, Trot mustered up
courage to ask, "What is a Mountain Ear, please?"
For answer the man turned around and faced them, waving the spoon
with which he had been stirring the kettle as he recited the following
verses in a singsong tone of voice:
"Here's a mountain, hard of hearing,
That's sad-hearted and needs cheering,
So my duty is to listen to all sounds that Nature makes,
So the hill won't get uneasy--
Get to coughing, or get sneezy--
For this monster bump, when frightened, is quite liable to quakes.
YOU can hear a bell that's ringing;
I can feel some people's singing;
But a mountain isn't sensible of what goes on, and so
When I hear a blizzard blowing
Or it's raining hard, or snowing,
I tell it to the mountain and the mountain seems to know.
Thus I benefit all people
While I'm living on this steeple,
For I keep the mountain steady so my neighbors all may thrive.
With my list'ning and my shouting
I prevent this mount from spouting,
And that makes me so important that I'm glad that I'm alive."
When he had finished these lines of verse, the Bumpy Man turned
again to resume his stirring. The Ork laughed softly, and Cap'n Bill
whistled to himself and Trot made up her mind that the Mountain Ear must
be a little crazy. But the Bumpy Man seemed satisfied that he had
explained his position fully, and presently he placed four stone plates
upon the table and then lifted the kettle form the fire and poured some
of its contents on each of the plates. Cap'n Bill and Trot at once
approached the table, for they were hungry, but when she examined her
plate, the little girl exclaimed, "Why, it's molasses candy!"
"To be sure," returned the Bumpy Man with a pleasant smile. "Eat
it quick while it's hot, for it cools very quickly this winter weather."
With this, he seized a stone spoon and began putting the hot molasses
candy into his mouth while the others watched him in astonishment.
"Doesn't it burn you?" asked the girl.
"No indeed," said he. "Why don't you eat? Aren't you hungry?"
"Yes," she replied, "I am hungry. But we usually eat our candy
when it is cold and hard. We always pull molasses candy before we eat
it."
"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed the Mountain Ear. "What a funny idea!
Where in the world did you come from?"
"California," she said.
"California! Pooh! There isn't any such place. I've heard of
every place in the Land of Mo, but I never before heard of California."
"It isn't in the Land of Mo," she explained.
"Then it isn't worth talking about," declared the Bumpy Man,
helping himself again from the steaming kettle, for he had been eating
all the time he talked.
"For my part," sighed Cap'n Bill, "I'd like a decent square meal
once more, just by way of variety. In the last place there was nothing
but fruit to eat, and here it's worse, for there's nothing but candy."
"Molasses candy isn't so bad," said Trot. "Mine's nearly cool
enough to pull, already. Wait a bit, Cap'n, and you can eat it."
A little later she was able to gather the candy from the stone
plate and begin to work it back and forth with her hands. The Mountain
Ear was amazed at this and watched her closely. It was really good candy
and pulled beautifully, so that Trot was soon ready to cut it into chunks
for eating. Cap'n Bill condescended to eat one or two pieces, and the
Ork ate several, but the Bumpy Man refused to try it. Trot finished the
plate of candy herself and then asked for a drink of water.
"Water?" said the Mountain Ear wonderingly. "What is that?"
"Something to drink. Don't you have water to drink?"
"None that ever I heard of," said he. "But I can give you some
fresh lemonade. I caught it in a jar the last time it rained, which was
only day before yesterday."
"Oh, does it rain lemonade here?" she inquired.
"Always. And it is very refreshing and healthful." With this,
he brought from a cupboard a stone jar and a dipper, and the girl found
it very nice lemonade indeed. Cap'n Bill liked it too, but the Ork would
not touch it.
"If there is no water in this country, I cannot stay here for
long," the creature declared. "Water means life to man and beast and
bird."
"There must be water in lemonade," said Trot.
"Yes," answered the Ork, "I suppose so, but there are other
things in it too, and they spoil the good water."
The day's adventures had made our wanderers tired, so the Bumpy
Man brought them some blankets in which they rolled themselves and then
lay down before the fire, which their host kept alive with fuel all
through the night. Trot wakened several times and found the Mountain Ear
always alert and listening intently for the slightest sound. But the
little girl could hear no sound at all except the snores of Cap'n Bill.
CHAPTER 8
BUTTON-BRIGHT IS LOST AND FOUND AGAIN
"Wake up, wake up!" called the voice of the Bumpy Man. "Didn't I
tell you winter was coming? I could hear it coming with my left ear, and
the proof is that it is snowing hard outside."
"Is it?" said Trot, rubbing her eyes and creeping out of her
blanket. "Where I live, in California, I have never seen snow, except far
away on the tops of high mountains."
"Well, this is the top of a high mountain," returned the bumpy
one, "and for that reason we get our heaviest snowfalls right here."
The little girl went to the window and looked out. The air was
filled with falling white flakes so large in size and so queer in form
that she was puzzled. "Are you sure this is snow?" she asked.
"To be sure. I must get my snow shovel and turn out to shovel a
path. Would you like to come with me?"
"Yes," she said, and followed the Bumpy Man out when he opened the
door. Then she exclaimed, "Why, it isn't cold a bit!"
"Of course not,"replied the man. "It was cold last night before
the snowstorm, but snow, when it falls, is always crisp and warm."
Trot gathered a handful of it. "Why, it's popcorn!" she cried.
"Certainly. All snow is popcorn. What did you expect it to be?"
"Popcorn is not snow in my country."
"Well, it is the only snow we have in the Land of Mo, so you may
as well make the best of it," said he a little impatiently. "I'm not
responsible for the absurd things that happen in your country, and when
you're in Mo you must do as the Momen do. Eat some of our snow and you
will find it is good. The only fault I find with our snow is that we get
too much of it at times." With this, the Bumpy Man set to work shoveling
a path, and he was so quick and industrious that he piled up the popcorn
in great banks on either side of the trail that led to the mountaintop
from the plains below. While he worked, Trot ate popcorn and found it
crisp and slightly warm, as well as nicely salted and buttered.
Presently Cap'n Bill came out of the house and joined her.
"What's this?" he asked.
"Mo snow," said she. "But it isn't real snow, although it falls
from the sky. It's popcorn." Cap'n Bill tasted it, then he sat down in
the path and began to eat. The Ork came out and pecked away with its
bill as fast as it could. They all liked popcorn, and they all were
hungry this morning. Meantime, the flakes of "Mo snow" came down so fast
that the number of them almost darkened the air.
The Bumpy Man was now shoveling quite a distance down the
mountainside, while the path behind him rapidly filled up with
fresh-fallen popcorn. Suddenly, Trot heard him call out, "Goodness
gracious, mince pie and pancakes! Here is someone buried in the snow."
She ran toward him at once, and the others followed, wading
through the corn and crunching it underneath their feet. The Mo snow was
pretty deep where the Bumpy Man was shoveling, and from a great bank of
it he had uncovered a pair of feet.
"Dear me! Someone has been lost in the storm," said Cap'n Bill.
"I hope he is still alive. Let's pull him out and see." He took hold of
one foot, and the Bumpy Man took hold of the other. Then they both
pulled, and out from the heap of popcorn came a little boy.
He was dressed in a brown velvet jacket and knickerbockers, with
brown stockings, buckled shoes and a blue shirt-waist that had frills
down its front. When drawn from the heap, the boy was chewing a mouthful
of popcorn and both his hands were full of it. So at first he couldn't
speak to his rescuers, but lay quite still and eyed them calmly until he
had swallowed his mouthful. Then he said, "Get my cap," and stuffed more
popcorn into his mouth.
While the Bumpy Man began shoveling into the corn-bank to find
the boy's cap, Trot was laughing joyfully and Cap'n Bill had a broad grin
on his face. The Ork looked from one to the other and asked, "Who is
this stranger?"
"Why, it's Button-Bright, of course," answered Trot. "If anyone
ever finds a lost boy, he can make up his mind it's Button-Bright. But
how he ever came to be lost in this faraway country is more'n I can make
out."
"Where does he belong?" inquired the Ork.
"His home used to be in Philadelphia, I think, but I'm quite sure
Button-Bright doesn't belong anywhere."
"That's right," said the boy, nodding his head as he swallowed
the second mouthful.
"Everyone belongs somewhere," remarked the Ork.
"Not me," insisted Button-Bright. "I'm half way 'round the world
from Philadelphia, and I've lost my Magic Umbrella that used to carry me
anywhere. Stands to reason that if I can't get back, I haven't any home.
But I don't care much. This is a pretty good country, Trot. I've had
lots of fun here."
By this time, the Mountain Ear had secured the boy's cap and was
listening to the conversation with much interest. "It seems you know
this poor, snow-covered castaway," he said.
"Yes indeed," answered Trot. "We made a journey to Sky Island
together once and were good friends."
"Well then, I'm glad I saved his life," said the Bumpy Man.
"Much obliged, Mr. Knobs," said Button-Bright, sitting up and
staring at him. "But I don't believe you've saved anything except some
popcorn that I might have eaten had you not disturbed me. It was nice
and warm in that bank of popcorn, and there was plenty to eat. What made
you dig me out? And what makes you so bumpy everywhere?"
"As for the bumps," replied the man, looking at himself with much
pride, "I was born with them, and I suspect they were a gift from the
fairies. They make me look rugged and big, like the mountain I serve."
"All right," said Button-Bright, and began eating popcorn again.
It had stopped snowing now, and great flocks of birds were
gathering around the mountainside, eating the popcorn with much eagerness
and scarcely noticing the people at all. There were birds of every size
and color, most of them having gorgeous feathers and plumes. "Just look
at them!" exclaimed the Ork scornfully. "Aren't they dreadful creatures,
all covered with feathers?"
"I think they're beautiful," said Trot, and this made the Ork so
indignant that he went back into the house and sulked. Button-Bright
reached out his hand and caught a big bird by the leg. At once, it rose
into the air, and it was so strong that it nearly carried the little boy
with it. He let go the leg in a hurry, and the bird flew down again and
began to eat of the popcorn, not being frightened in the least. This
gave Cap'n Bill an idea. He felt in his pocket and drew out several
pieces of stout string. Moving very quietly so as not to alarm the
birds, he crept up to several of the biggest ones and tied cords around
their legs, thus making them prisoners. The birds were so intent on
their eating that they did not notice what had happened to them, and when
about twenty had been captured in this manner, Cap'n Bill tied the ends
of all the strings together and fastened them to a huge stone so they
could not escape.
The Bumpy Man watched the old sailor's actions with much
curiosity. "The birds will be quiet until they've eaten up all the snow,"
he said, "but then they will want to fly away to their homes. Tell me,
sir, what will the poor things do when they find they can't fly?"
"It may worry 'em a little," replied Cap'n Bill, "but they're not
going to be hurt if they take it easy and behave themselves."
Our friends had all made a good breakfast of the delicious
popcorn, and now they walked toward the house again. Button-Bright
walked beside Trot and held her hand in his, because they were old
friends, and he liked the little girl very much. The boy was not so old
as Trot, and small as she was, he was half a head shorter in height. The
most remarkable thing about Button-Bright was that he was always quiet
and composed whatever happened, and nothing was ever able to astonish
him. Trot liked him because he was not rude and never tried to plague
here. Cap'n Bill liked him because he had found the boy cheerful and
brave at all times and willing to do anything he was asked to do. When
they came to the house, Trot sniffed the air and asked, "Don't I smell
perfume?"
"I believe you do," said the Bumpy Man. "You smell violets, and
that proves there is a breeze springing up from the south. All our winds
and breezes are perfumed, and for that reason we are glad to have them
blow in our direction. The south breeze always has a violet odor; the
north breeze has the fragrance of wild roses; the east breeze is perfumed
with lilies-of-the-valley; and the west with lilac blossoms. We have only
to smell the perfume, and it informs us at once."
Inside the house, they found the Ork, and Button-Bright regarded
the strange, bird-like creature with curious interest. After examining
it closely for a time, he asked, "Which way does your tail whirl?"
"Either way," said the Ork.
Button-Bright put out his hand and tried to spin it. "Don't do
that!" exclaimed the Ork.
"Why not?" inquired the boy.
"Because it happens to be my tail, and I reserve the right to
whirl it myself," explained the Ork.
"Let's go out and fly somewhere," proposed Button-Bright. "I
want to see how the tail works."
"Not now," said the Ork. "I appreciate your interest in me,
which I fully deserve; but I only fly when I am going somewhere, and if I
got started, I might not stop."
"That reminds me," remarked Cap'n Bill, "to ask you, friend Ork,
how we are going to get away from here?"
"Get away!" exclaimed the Bumpy Man. "Why don't you stay here?
You won't find any nicer place than Mo."
"Have you been anywhere else, sir?"
"No, I can't say that I have, admitted the Mountain Ear.
"Then permit me to say you're no judge," declared Cap'n Bill.
"But you haven't answered my question, friend Ork. How are we to get
away from this mountain?"
The Ork reflected a while before he answered. "I might carry one
of you--the boy or the girl--upon my back," said he, "but three big
people are more than I can manage, although I have carried two of you for
a short distance. You ought not to have eaten those purple berries so
soon."
"Perhaps we did make a mistake," Cap'n Bill acknowledged.
"Or we might have brought some of those lavender berries with us
instead of so many purple ones," suggested Trot regretfully.
Cap'n Bill made no reply to this statement, which showed he did
not fully agree with the little girl. But he fell into deep thought with
wrinkled brows, and finally he said, "If those purple berries would make
anything grow bigger, whether it'd eaten the lavender ones or not, I
could find a way out of our troubles." They did not understand this
speech and looked at the old sailor as if expecting him to explain what
he meant. But just then a chorus of shrill cries rose from outside.
"Here! Let me go, let me go!" the voices seemed to say. "Why
are we insulted in this way? Mountain Ear, come and help us!"
Trot ran to the window and looked out. "It's the birds you
caught, Cap'n," she said. "I didn't know they could talk."
"Oh yes, all the birds in Mo are educated to talk," said the
Bumpy Man. Then he looked at Cap'n Bill uneasily and added, "Won't you
let the poor things go?"
"I'll see," replied the sailor, and walked out to where the birds
were fluttering and complaining because the strings would not allow them
to fly away. "Listen to me!" he cried, and at once they became still.
"We three people who are strangers in your land want to go to some other
country, and we want three of you birds to carry us there. We know we
are asking a great favor, but it's the only way we can think of--excep'
walkin', an' I'm not much good at that because I've got a wooden leg.
Besides, Trot an' Button-Bright are too small to undertake a long and
tiresome journey. Now tell me, which three of you birds will consent to
carry us?"
The birds looked at one another as if greatly astonished. Then
one of them replied, "You must be crazy, old man. Not one of us is big
enough to fly with even the smallest of your party."'
"I'll fix the matter of size," promised Cap'n Bill. "If three of
you will agree to carry us, I'll make you big an' strong enough to do it,
so it won't worry you a bit."
The birds considered this gravely. Living in a magic country,
they had no doubt but that the strange one-legged man could do what he
said. After a little, one of them asked, "If you make us big, would we
stay big always?"
"I think so," replied Cap'n Bill.
They chattered a while among themselves, and then the bird that
had first spoken said, "I'll go, for one."
"So will I," said another. And after a pause, a third said, "I'll
go, too."
Perhaps more would have volunteered, for it seemed that for some
reason they all longed to be bigger than they were, but three were enough
for Cap'n Bill's purpose, and so he promptly released all the others, who
immediately flew away. The three that remained were cousins, and all
were of the same brilliant plumage and in size about as large as eagles.
When Trot questioned them, she found they were quite young, having only
abandoned their nests a few weeks before. They were strong, young birds
with clear, brave eyes, and the little girl decided they were the most
beautiful of all the feathered creatures she had ever seen.
Cap'n Bill now took from his pocket the wooden box with the
sliding cover and removed the three purple berries, which were still in
good condition. "Eat these," he said, and gave one to each of the birds.
They obeyed, finding the fruit very pleasant to taste. In a few seconds
they began to grow in size and grew so fast that Trot feared they would
never stop. But they finally did stop growing, and then they were much
larger than the Ork, and nearly the size of full-grown ostriches. Cap'n
Bill was much pleased by this result. "You can carry us now, all right,"
said he.
The birds strutted around with pride, highly pleased with their
immense size. "I don't see, though," said Trot doubtfully, "how we're
going to ride on their backs without falling off."
"We're not going to ride on their backs," answered Cap'n Bill.
"I'm going to make swings for us to ride in."
He then asked the Bumpy Man for some rope, but the man had no
rope. He had, however, an old suit of gray clothes which he gladly
presented to Cap'n Bill, who cut the cloth into strips and twisted it so
that it was almost as strong as rope. With this material he attached to
each bird a swing that dangled below its feet, and Button-Bright made a
trial flight in one of them to prove that it was safe and comfortable.
When all this had been arranged, one of the birds asked, "Where do you
wish us to take you?"
"Why, just follow the Ork," said Cap'n Bill. "He will be our
leader, and wherever the Ork flies, you are to fly, and wherever the Ork
lands, you are to land. Is that satisfactory?"
The birds declared it was quite satisfactory, so Cap'n Bill took
counsel with the Ork. "On our way here," said that peculiar creature, "I
noticed a broad, sandy desert at the left of me, on which was no living
thing."
"Then we'd better keep away from it," replied the sailor.
"Not so," insisted the Ork. "I have found, on my travels, that
the most pleasant countries often lie in the midst of deserts, so I think
it would be wise for us to fly over this desert and discover what lies
beyond it. For in the direction we came from lies the ocean, as we well
know, and beyond here is this strange Land of Mo, which we do not care to
explore. On one side, as we can see from this mountain, is a broad
expanse of plain, and on the other the desert. For my part, I vote for
the desert."
"What do you say, Trot?" inquired Cap'n Bill.
"It's all the same to me," she replied.
No one thought of asking Button-Bright's opinion, so it was
decided to fly over the desert. They bade g odbye to the Bumpy Man and
thanked him for his kindness and hospitality. Then they seated
themselves in the swings--one for each bird--and told the Ork to start
away and they would follow. The whirl of the Ork's tail astonished the
birds at first, but after he had gone a short distance they rose in the
air, carrying their passengers easily, and flew with strong, regular
strokes of their great wings in the wake of their leader.
CHAPTER 9
THE KINGDOM OF JINXLAND
Trot rode with more comfort than she had expected, although the
swing swayed so much that she had to hold on tight with both hands.
Cap'n Bill's bird followed the Ork, and Trot came next, with
Button-Bright trailing behind her. It was quite an imposing procession,
but unfortunately there was no one to see it, for the Ork had headed
straight for the great, sandy desert, and in a few minutes after starting
they were flying high over the broad waste, where no living thing could
exist. The little girl thought this would be a bad place for the birds
to lose strength or for the cloth ropes to give way, but although she
could not help feeling a trifle nervous and fidgety, she had confidence
in the huge and brilliantly plumaged bird that bore her, as well as in
Cap'n Bill's knowledge of how to twist and fasten a rope so it would hold.
That was a remarkably big desert. There was nothing to relieve
the monotony of view, and every minute seemed an hour and every hour a
day. Disagreeable fumes and gases rose from the sands, which would have
been deadly to the travelers had they not been so high in the air. As it
was, Trot was beginning to feel sick when a breath of fresher air filled
her nostrils, and on looking ahead she saw a great cloud of pink-tinted
mist. Even while she wondered what it could be, the Ork plunged boldly
into the mist, and the other birds followed. She could see nothing for a
time, nor could the bird which carried her see where the Ork had gone,
but it kept flying as sturdily as ever, and in a few moments the mist was
passed and the girl saw a most beautiful landscape spread out below her,
extending as far as her eye could reach.
She saw bits of forest, verdure-clothed hills, fields of waving
grains, fountains, rivers and lakes, and throughout the scene were
scattered groups of pretty houses and a few grand castles and palaces.
Over all this delightful landscape--which from Trot's high perch seemed
like a magnificent painted picture--was a rosy glow such as we sometimes
see in the west at sunset. In this case, however, it was not in the west
only, but everywhere. No wonder the Ork paused to circle slowly over
this lovely country. The other birds followed his action, all eyeing the
place with equal delight. Then, as with one accord, the four formed a
group and slowly sailed downward. This brought them to that part of the
newly discovered land which bordered on the desert's edge. But it was
just as pretty here as anywhere, so the Ork and the birds alighted, and
the three passengers at once got out of their swings. "Oh, Cap'n Bill,
isn't this fine an' dandy?" exclaimed Trot rapturously. "How lucky we
were to discover this beautiful country!"
"The country seems rather high class, I'll admit, Trot," replied
the old sailor man, looking around him, "but we don't know, as yet, what
its people are like."
"No one could live in such a country without being happy and
good, I'm sure of that," she said earnestly. "Don't you think so,
Button-Bright?"
"I'm not thinking just now," answered the little boy. "It tires
me to think, and I never seem to gain anything by it. When we see the
people who live here, we will know what they are like, and no 'mount of
thinking will make them any different."
"That's true enough," said the Ork. "But now I want to make a
proposal. While you are getting acquainted with this new country, which
looks as if it contains everything to make one happy, I would like to fly
along all by myself and see if I can find my home on the other side of
the great desert. If I do, I will stay there, of course. But if I fail
to find Orkland, I will return to you in a week to see if I can do
anything more to assist you."
They were sorry to lose their queer companion, but could offer no
objection to the plan, so the Ork bade them goodbye, and rising swiftly
in the air, he flew over the country and was soon lost to view in the
distance. The three birds which had carried our friends now begged
permission to return by the way they had come to their own homes, saying
they were anxious to show their families how big they had become. So
Cap'n Bill and Trot and Button-Bright all thanked them gratefully for
their assistance, and soon the birds began their long flight toward the
Land of Mo.
Being now left to themselves in this strange land, the three
comrades selected a pretty pathway and began walking along it. They
believed this path would lead them to a splendid castle which they espied
in the distance, the turrets of which towered far above the tops of the
trees which surrounded it. It did not seem very far away, so they
sauntered on slowly, admiring the beautiful ferns and flowers that lined
the pathway and listening to the singing of the birds and the soft
chirping of the grasshoppers.
Presently the path wound over a little hill. In a valley that
lay beyond the hill was a tiny cottage surrounded by flower beds and
fruit trees. On the shady porch of the cottage they saw, as they
approached, a pleasant-faced woman sitting amidst a group of children, to
whom she was telling stories. The children quickly discovered the
strangers and ran toward them with exclamations of astonishment, so that
Trot and her friends became the center of a curious group, all chattering
excitedly. Cap'n Bill's wooden leg seemed to arouse the wonder of the
children, as they could not understand why he had not two meat legs.
This attention seemed to please the old sailor, who patted the heads of
the children kindly and then, raising his hat to the woman, he inquired,
"Can you tell us, madam, just what country this is?"
She stared hard at all three of the strangers as she replied
briefly, "Jinxland."
"Oh!" exclaimed Cap'n Bill with a puzzled look. "And where is
Jinxland, please?"
"In the Quadling Country," said she.
"What!" cried Trot in sudden excitement. "Do you mean to say this
is the Quadling Country of the Land of Oz?"
"To be sure I do," the woman answered. "Every bit of land that is
surrounded by the great desert is the Land of Oz, as you ought to know as
well as I do. But I'm sorry to say that Jinxland is separated from the
rest of the Quadling Country by that row of high mountains you see
yonder, which have such steep sides that no one can cross them. So we
live here all by ourselves and are ruled by our own King instead of by
Ozma of Oz."
"I've been to the Land of Oz before," said Button-Bright, "but
I've never been here."
"Did you ever hear of Jinxland before?" asked Trot.
"No," said Button-Bright.
"It is on the Map of Oz, though," asserted the woman, "and it's a
fine country, I assure you. If only," she added, and then paused to look
around her with a frightened expression. "If only--" Here she stopped
again, as if not daring to go on with her speech.
"If only what, ma'am?" asked Cap'n Bill.
The woman sent the children into the house. Then she came closer
to the strangers and whispered, "If only we had a different King, we
would be very happy and contented."
"What's the matter with your King?" asked Trot curiously. But
the woman seemed frightened to have said so much. She retreated to her
porch, merely saying, "The King punishes severely any treason on the part
of his subjects."
"What's treason?" asked Button-Bright.
"In this case," replied Cap'n Bill, "treason seems to consist of
knockin' the King, but I guess we know his disposition now as well as if
the lady had said more."
"I wonder," said Trot, going up to the woman, "if you could spare
us something to eat. We haven't had anything but popcorn and lemonade
for a long time."
"Bless your heart! Of course I can spare you some food," the
woman answered, and entering her cottage she soon returned with a tray
loaded with sandwiches, cakes and cheese. One of the children drew a
bucket of clear, cold water from a spring, and the three wanderers ate
heartily and enjoyed the good things immensely. When Button-Bright could
eat no more, he filled the pockets of his jacket with cakes and cheese,
and not even the children objected to this. Indeed, they all seemed
pleased to see the strangers eat, so Cap'n Bill decided that no matter
what the King of Jinxland was like, the people would prove friendly and
hospitable.
"Whose castle is that yonder, ma'am?" he asked, waving his hand
toward the towers that rose above the trees.
"It belongs to his Majesty, King Krewl," she said.
"Oh, indeed. And does he live there?"
"When he is not out hunting with his fierce courtiers and war
captains," she replied.
"Is he hunting now?" Trot inquired.
"I do not know, my dear. The less we know about the King's
actions, the safer we are."
It was evident the woman did not like to talk about King Krewl
and so, having finished their meal, they said goodbye and continued along
the pathway. "Don't you think we'd better keep away from that King's
castle, Cap'n?" asked Trot.
"Well," said he, "King Krewl would find out sooner or later that
we are in his country, so we may as well face the music now. Perhaps he
isn't quite so bad as that woman thinks he is. Kings aren't always
popular with their people, you know, even if they do the best they know
how."
"Ozma is pop'lar," said Button-Bright.
"Ozma is diff'rent from any other Ruler, from all I've heard,"
remarked Trot musingly as she walked beside the boy. "And after all, we
are really in the Land of Oz, where Ozma rules ev'ry King and ev'rybody
else. I never heard of anybody getting hurt in her dominions, did you,
Button-Bright?"
"Not when she knows about it," he replied. "But those birds
landed us in just the wrong place, seems to me. They might have carried
us right on over that row of mountains to the Em'rald City."
"True enough," said Cap'n Bill, "but they didn't, an' so we must
make the best of Jinxland. Let's try not to be afraid."
"Oh, I'm not very scared," said Button-Bright, pausing to look at
a pink rabbit that popped its head out of a hole in the field nearby.
"Nor am I," added Trot. "Really, Cap'n, I'm so glad to be
anywhere at all in the wonderful fairyland of Oz that I think I'm the
luckiest girl in all the world. Dorothy lives in the Em'rald City, you
know, and so does the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman and Tik-Tok and the
Shaggy Man--and all the rest of 'em that we've heard so much about--not
to mention Ozma, who must be the sweetest and loveliest girl in the
world!"
"Take your time, Trot," advised Button-Bright. "You don't have
to say it all in one breath, you know. And you haven't mentioned half of
the curious people in the Em'rald City."
"That 'ere Em'rald City," said Cap'n Bill impressively, "happens
to be on the other side o' those mountains that we're told no one is able
to cross. I don't want to discourage of you, Trot, (sic) but we're
a'most as much separated from your Ozma an' Dorothy as we were when we
lived in Californy."
There was so much truth in this statement that they all walked on
in silence for some time. Finally, they reached the grove of stately
trees that bordered the grounds of the King's castle. They had gone
halfway through it when the sound of sobbing, as of someone in bitter
distress, reached their ears and caused them to halt abruptly.
CHAPTER 10
PON, THE GARDENER'S BOY
It was Button-Bright who first discovered, lying on his face
beneath a broad, spreading tree near the pathway, a young man whose body
shook with the force of his sobs. He was dressed in a long, brown smock
and had sandals on his feet, betokening one in humble life. His head was
bare and showed a shock of brown, curly hair. Button-Bright looked down
on the young man and said, "Who cares, anyhow?"
"I do!" cried the young man, interrupting his sobs to roll over,
face upward that he might see who had spoken. "I care, for my heart is
broken!"
"Can't you get another one?" asked the little boy.
"I don't want another!" wailed the young man.
By this time Trot and Cap'n Bill arrived at the spot, and the
girl leaned over and said in a sympathetic voice, "Tell us your troubles
and perhaps we may help you."
The youth sat up, then, and bowed politely. Afterward he got upon
his feet, but still kept wringing his hands as he tried to choke down his
sobs. Trot thought he was very brave to control such awful agony so
well. "My name is Pon," he began. "I'm the gardener's boy."
"Then the gardener of the King is your father, I suppose," said Trot.
"Not my father, but my master," was the reply. "I do the work
and the gardener gives the orders. And it was not my fault in the least
that the Princess Gloria fell in love with me."
"Did she, really?" asked the little girl.
"I don't see why," remarked Button-Bright, staring at the youth.
"And who may the Princess Gloria be?" inquired Cap'n Bill.
"She is the niece of King Krewl, who is her guardian. The
Princess lives in the castle and is the loveliest and sweetest maiden in
all Jinxland. She is fond of flowers and used to walk in the gardens
with her attendants. At such times, if I was working at my tasks, I used
to cast down my eyes as Gloria passed me. But one day I glanced up and
found her gazing at me with a very tender look in her eyes. The next day
she dismissed her attendants and, coming to my side, began to talk with
me. She said I had touched her heart as no other young man had ever
done. I kissed her hand. Just then, the King came around a bend in the
walk. He struck me with his fist and kicked me with his foot. Then he
seized the arm of the Princess and rudely dragged her into the castle."
"Wasn't he awful!" gasped Trot indignantly.
"He is a very abrupt King," said Pon, "so it was the least I
could expect. Up to that time I had not thought of loving Princess
Gloria, but realizing it would be impolite not to return her love, I did
so. We met at evening, now and then, and she told me the King wanted her
to marry a rich courtier named Googly-Goo, who is old enough to be
Gloria's father. She has refused Googly-Goo thirty-nine times, but he
still persists and has brought many rich presents to bribe the King. On
that account, King Krewl had commanded his niece to marry the old man,
but the Princess has assured me time and again that she will wed only me.
This morning we happened to meet in the grape arbor, and as I was
respectfully saluting the cheek of the Princess, two of the King's
guards seized me and beat me terribly before the very eyes of Gloria,
whom the King himself held back so she could not interfere."
"Why, this King must be a monster!" cried Trot.
"He is far worse than that," said Pon mournfully.
"But see here," interrupted Cap'n Bill, who had listened carefully
to Pon. "This King may not be so much to blame, after all. Kings are
proud folks, because they're so high an' mighty, an' it isn't reasonable
for a royal Princess to marry a common gardener's boy."
"It isn't right," declared Button-Bright. "A Princess should
marry a Prince."
"I'm not a common gardener's boy," protested Pon. "If I had my
rights, I would be the King instead of Krewl. As it is, I'm a Prince,
and as royal as any man in Jinxland."
"How does that come?" asked Cap'n Bill.
"My father used to be the King, and Krewl was his Prime Minister.
But one day while out hunting, King Phearse--that was my father's
name--had a quarrel with Krewl and tapped him gently on the nose with the
knuckles of his closed hand. This so provoked the wicked Krewl that he
tripped my father backward so that he fell into a deep pond. At once,
Krewl threw in a mass of heavy stones, which so weighted down my poor
father that his body could not rise again to the surface. It is
impossible to kill anyone in this land, as perhaps you know, but when my
father was pressed down into the mud at the bottom of the deep pool and
the stones held him so he could never escape, he was of no more use to
himself or the world than if he had died. Knowing this, Krewl proclaimed
himself King, taking possession of the royal castle and driving all my
father's people out. I was a small boy then, but when I grew up I became
a gardener. I have served King Krewl without his knowing that I am the
son of the same King Phearse whom he so cruelly made away with."
"My, but that's a terr'bly exciting story!" said Trot, drawing a
long breath. "But tell us, Pon, who was Gloria's father?"
"Oh, he was the King before my father," replied Pon. "Father was
Prime Minister for King Kynd, who was Gloria's father. She was only a
baby when King Kynd fell into the Great Gulf that lies just this side of
the mountains--the same mountains that separate Jinxland from the rest of
the Land of Oz. It is said the Great Gulf has no bottom, but however that
may be, King Kynd has never been seen again, and my father became King in
his place."
"Seems to me," said Trot, "that if Gloria had her rights, she
would be Queen of Jinxland."
"Well, her father was a King," admitted Pon, "and so was my
father, so we are of equal rank, although she's a great lady and I'm a
humble gardener's boy. I can't see why we should not marry if we want
to--except that King Krewl won't let us."
"It's a sort of mixed-up mess, taken altogether," remarked Cap'n
Bill. "But we are on our way to visit King Krewl, and if we get a chance,
young man, we'll put in a good word for you."
"Do, please!" begged Pon.
"Was it the flogging you got that broke your heart?" inquired
Button-Bright.
"Why, it helped to break it, of course," said Pon.
"I'd get it fixed up, if I were you," advised the boy, tossing a
pebble at a chipmunk in a tree. "You ought to give Gloria just as good a
heart as she gives you."
"That's common sense," agreed Cap'n Bill. So they left the
gardener's boy standing beside the path and resumed their journey toward
the castle.
CHAPTER 11
THE WICKED KING AND GOOGLY-GOO
When our friends approached the great doorway of the castle, they
found it guarded by several soldiers dressed in splendid uniforms. They
were armed with swords and lances. Cap'n Bill walked straight up to them
and asked, "Does the King happen to be at home?"
"His Magnificent and Glorious Majesty King Krewl is at present
inhabiting his Royal Castle," was the stiff reply.
"Then I guess we'll go in an' say how-d'ye-do," continued Cap'n
Bill, attempting to enter the doorway. But a soldier barred his way with
a lance.
"Who are you, what are your names, and where do you come from?"
demanded the soldier.
"You wouldn't know if we told you," returned the sailor, "seein'
as we're strangers in a strange land."
"Or, if you are strangers, you will be permitted to enter," said
the soldier, lowering his lance. "His Majesty is very fond of
strangers."
"Do many strangers come here?" asked Trot.
"You are the first that ever came to our country," said the man.
"But his Majesty has often said that if strangers ever arrived in
Jinxland, he would see that they had a very exciting time."
Cap'n Bill scratched his chin thoughtfully. He wasn't very
favorably impressed by this last remark. But he decided that as there
was no way of escape from Jinxland, it would be wise to confront the King
boldly and try to win his favor. So they entered the castle, escorted by
one of the soldiers.
It was certainly a fine castle, with many large rooms, all
beautifully furnished. The passages were winding and handsomely
decorated, and after following several of these, the soldier led them
into an open court that occupied the very center of the huge building.
It was surrounded on every side by high, turreted walls, and contained
beds of flowers, fountains and walks of many-colored marbles which were
matched together in quaint designs. In an open space near the middle of
the court they saw a group of courtiers and their ladies who surrounded a
lean man who wore upon his head a jeweled crown. His face was hard and
sullen, and through the slits of his half-closed eyelids the eyes glowed
like coals of fire. He was dressed in brilliant satins and velvets and
was seated in a golden throne chair.
This personage was King Krewl, and as soon as Cap'n Bill saw him,
the old sailor knew at once that he was not going to like the King of
Jinxland. "Hello! Who's here?" said his Majesty with a deep scowl.
"Strangers, Sire," answered the soldier, bowing so low that his
forehead touched the marble tiles.
"Strangers, eh? Well, well, what an unexpected visit! Advance,
strangers, and give an account of yourselves."
The King's voice was as harsh as his features. Trot shuddered a
little, but Cap'n Bill calmly replied, "There ain't much for us to say,
'cept as we've arrived to look over your country an' see how we like it.
Judgin' from the way you speak, you don't know who we are, or you'd be
jumpin' up to shake hands an' offer us seats. Kings usually treat us
pretty well in the great big Outside World where we come from, but in
this little kingdom--which don't amount to much, anyhow--folks don't seem
to 'a' got much culchure." (sic)
The King listened with amazement to this bold speech, first with
a frown and then gazing at the two children and the old sailor with
evident curiosity. The courtiers were dumb with fear, for no one had
ever dared speak in such a manner to their self-willed, cruel King
before. His Majesty, however, was somewhat frightened, for cruel people
are always cowards, and he feared these mysterious strangers might
possess magic powers that would destroy him unless he treated them well.
So he commanded his people to give the new arrivals seats, and they
obeyed with trembling haste.
After being seated, Cap'n Bill lighted his pipe and began puffing
smoke from it, a sight so strange to them that it filled them with
wonder. Presently, the King asked, "How did you penetrate to this hidden
country? Did you cross the desert or the mountains?"
"Desert," answered Cap'n Bill, talking as if the task were too
easy to be worth talking about.
"Indeed! No one has ever been able to do that before," said the
King.
"Well, it's easy enough if you know how," asserted Cap'n Bill so
carelessly that it greatly impressed his hearers. The King shifted in
his throne uneasily. He was more afraid of these strangers than before.
"Do you intend to stay long in Jinxland?" was his next anxious
question.
"Depends on how we like it," said Cap'n Bill. "Just now I might
suggest to your Majesty to order some rooms got ready for us in your
dinky little castle here. And a royal banquet, with some fried onions
an' pickled tripe, would set easy on our stomicks (sic) an' make us a bit
happier than we are now."
"Your wishes shall be attended to," said King Krewl, but his eyes
flashed from between their slits in a wicked way that made Trot hope the
food wouldn't be poisoned. At the King's command several of the
attendants hastened away to give the proper orders to the castle
servants, and no sooner were they gone than a skinny old man entered the
courtyard and bowed before the King. This disagreeable person was
dressed in rich velvets, with many furbelows and laces. He was covered
with golden chains, finely wrought rings and jeweled ornaments. He
walked with mincing steps and glared at all of the courtiers as if he
considered himself far superior to any or all of them.
"Well, well, your Majesty, what news, what news?" he demanded in
a shrill, cracked voice.
The King gave him a surly look. "No news, Lord Googly-Goo,
except that strangers have arrived."
Googly-Goo cast a contemptuous glance at Cap'n Bill and a
disdainful one at Trot and Button-Bright. Then he said, "Strangers do
not interest me, your Majesty. But the Princess Gloria is very
interesting, very interesting indeed! What does she say, Sire? Will she
marry me?"
"Ask her," retorted the King.
"I have, many times, and every time she has refused."
"Well?" said the King harshly.
"Well," said Googly-Goo in a jaunty tone, "a bird that CAN sing
and WON'T sing must be MADE to sing."
"Huh!" sneered the King. "That's easy, with a bird. But a girl
is harder to manage."
"Still," persisted Googly-Goo, "we must overcome difficulties.
The chief trouble is that Gloria fancies she loves that miserable
gardener's boy, Pon. Suppose we throw Pon into the Great Gulf, your
Majesty?"
"It would do you no good," returned the King. "She would still
love him."
"Too bad, too bad!" sighed Googly-Goo. "I have laid aside more
than a bushel of precious gems, each worth a king's ransom, to present to
your Majesty on the day I wed Gloria."
The King's eyes sparkled, for he loved wealth above everything,
but the next moment he frowned deeply again. "It won't help to kill
Pon," he muttered. "What we must do is kill Gloria's love for Pon."
"That is better, if you can find a way to do it," agreed
Googly-Goo. "Everything would come right if you could kill Gloria's love
for that gardener's boy. Really, Sire, now that I come to think of it,
there must be fully a bushel and a half of those jewels!"
Just then a messenger entered the court to say that the banquet
was prepared for the strangers. So Cap'n Bill, Trot and Button-Bright
entered the castle and were taken to a room where a fine feast was spread
upon the table.
"I don't like that Lord Googly-Goo," remarked Trot as she was
busily eating.
"Nor I," said Cap'n Bill. "But from the talk I heard, I guess
the gardener's boy won't get the Princess."
"Perhaps not," returned the girl, "but I hope old Googly doesn't
get her, either."
"The King means to sell her for all those jewels," observed
Button-Bright, his mouth half full of cake and jam.
"Poor Princess!" sighed Trot. "I'm sorry for her, although I've
never seen her. But if she says no to Googly-Goo and means it, what can
they do?"
"Don't let us worry about a strange Princess," advised Cap'n
Bill. "I've a notion we're not too safe ourselves with this cruel King."
The two children felt the same way, and all three were rather
solemn during the remainder of the meal. When they had eaten, the
servants escorted them to their rooms. Cap'n Bill's room was way to one
end of the castle, very high up, and Trot's room was at the opposite end,
rather low down. As for Button-Bright, they placed him in the middle so
that all were as far apart as they could possibly be. They didn't like
this arrangement very well, but all the rooms were handsomely furnished,
and being guests of the King, they dared not complain.
After the strangers had left the courtyard, the King and
Googly-Goo had a long talk together, and the King said, "I cannot force
Gloria to marry you just now, because these strangers may interfere. I
suspect that the wooden-legged man possesses great magical powers, or he
would never have been able to carry himself and those children across the
deadly desert."
"I don't like him; he looks dangerous," answered Googly-Goo.
"But perhaps you are mistaken about his being a wizard. Why don't you
test his powers?"
"How?" asked the King.
"Send for the Wicked Witch. She will tell you in a moment
whether that wooden-legged person is a common man or a magician."
"Ha! That's a good idea," cried the King. "Why didn't I think
of the Wicked Witch before? But the woman demands rich rewards for her
services."
"Never mind. I will pay her," promised the wealthy Googly-Goo.
So