The Scarecrow of Oz

e

bright and mild in expression, and the queer addition to their party made no a

hispered Trot

ature in a shrill, high-pitc

girl. "But wh

ny wings; "and if ever an Ork was glad to be out of the water and on dry

ed Cap'n Bill, thinking it only polite to

ine minutes and sixty seconds too long for comfort," was the reply. "But las

e whirlpool, too?"

nce that was some

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, an

that happened to us," cried Trot

ver, 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-monste

her biscuit from his pocket and held it out. The Ork promptly seized it in one of its fro

ailor-man, "but we're willin' to s

a cheerful manner, and then for a few minutes there was silen

ard of an Ork before.

eply. "In the country where I was born we are the absol

is that?" as

kla

does

y race are quiet and contented Orks and seldom stray far from home. From childhood days I loved to

in parts of it live queer two-legged creatures called Men, who war upon

. 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

friendly tone and harmless appearance of the Ork they judged he was not likely

hing 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 boat

're a pretty

ks are admitted to b

eem to amount to mu

to and fro, "but they serve to support my body in the air while I speed along by me

y. "For an Ork," said he, "you're a wonder. I've never s

making its way easily up the slope. While it was gone, Trot and Cap'n Bil

exit-an outlet!" exclai

Trot. "We foun

ead into the black hole and sniffing once or twice. "The air seems

-man got up and climbed

e," explained Cap'n Bill; "but it's a dangerous place t

andle?" inqu

in a minute,

eft-side pocket. When he lighted the match the Ork gave a startled jump and eyed the flame suspic

"is valuable in a hole of this sort.

Trot, "but that's about the worst it can do-

wasn't any too big for a grown man, but after he had crawled a few fee

r-man, who was creeping along awkwardly because o

rns and sometimes slanted downward and sometimes upward. Finally Cap'n Bill stopped short, wit

could see nothing because the sailo

he end of our travels

blocked?" inq

the edge of a precipice. Wait a minute an' I'll move along a

e to follow him. The Ork came next and now all three knelt on a narrow ledge of rock which dropped

n't look very promising, I'll admit. But let me take y

u afraid?"

cape we can't stay on this shelf forever. So, as I notice you poor

. 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

did that happen?

s," shouted Cap'n Bi

here you are,"

and its flame enabled the Ork to fly back to them. It

op burning?" ask

t. "You must be more

ce like?" inqui

ere must be a bottom to it

wly. Down, down, down it went, till the candle was a mere spark, and the

lighted candle the Ork made straight toward them. It was only a few yards distant when suddenly it d

e matter?"

ar slowly as soon as I took it in my claw, and it grew smaller and smaller until ju

ned Cap'n Bill, with a grin. "You have to handle 'em mig

ch 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 l

t seems to me, since all you can do is crawl upon the earth's surface. But you may

to carry us?" asked C

uld find a place to sit," was the reply; "but there's only room be

l go first," de

the Ork on his return to her, and then the old sailor got upon the Ork'

asp your arms around my n

good night an' pleasant

y?" asked

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

el. Now, then, get aboard and I'

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 b

d of time and soon Trot stood safely beside Cap'n Bill on the level floor of a big arched tunnel. The sailo

ed Cap'n Bill, "but it surely looks more pro

said Trot, "we'll travel

would allow. "That bit of flying didn't tire me at all. I'm

ghted candle, so Trot blew out the other flame and placed her candle in the

tunnel began about two miles from the cavern where they had been cast by the whirlpool, but now it was impossible

'n Bill sto

ad dolefully. "Here's three candles gone a'ready, an' only three more left us, yet the tun

a light?" asked Trot. "T

we are likely to come to another gulf, or somethin' jes' a

"I don't fear a fall, you know, and if an

thought so, too. So the Ork started off ahead, quite

e 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 cre

sed to walking and this rocky passage is so une

fly along?"

is too low,"

would never end. When Cap'n Bill noticed how tired the little girl w

ght through the middle of the world, an' mebbe is a circle-in which case we can keep walkin' till doomsday. Not knowin

oan. "My feet are hurting me dreadfully and for

ailor, looking for a smooth plac

imes as much as you possibly can. Here; hold the candle while I look at the bottoms of my claws. I d

ery glad to sit down beside her

e corns," protested the creature

you call 'em, Cap'n Bill? Something '

" said Ca

bbe you've g

whatever they are, another day of suc

," said Cap'n Bill, encouragingly. "Go t

man, who didn't see it. Then the creature aske

nows how long we'll have to stay in this dark tunnel, where there's nothin

k. "If I'm going to starve, I'll

gry and whispered to Cap'n Bill that she'd take part of her share; but the old man secr

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, for hobbling on a wo

another da