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Trot laughed, but Cap'n Bill thought the little man was poking fun at him and

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 in 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 little 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 lighted 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."

The Scarecrow of Oz