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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 nodded 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.

The Scarecrow of Oz