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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 good-bye, an act I

The Scarecrow of Oz