www.freeclassicebooks.com

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?"

Never mind that," said Cap'n Bill. "He isn't much good as he is."

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

The Scarecrow of Oz