www.freeclassicebooks.com

What would become of us afterward? We wouldn't be much good if we were

some two or three inches high. No, Mr. Ork, I'd rather stay here, as I am, than

be a hop-o'-my-thumb somewhere else."

Why couldn't you take some of the dark purple berries along with you, to eat

after we had reached our destination?" inquired the Ork. "Then you could

grow big again whenever you pleased."

Trot clapped her hands with delight.

That's it!" she exclaimed. "Let's do it, Cap'n Bill."

The old sailor did not like the idea at first, but he thought it over carefully and

the more he thought the better it seemed.

How could you manage to carry us, if we were so small?" he asked.

I could put you in a paper bag, and tie the bag around my neck."

But we haven't a paper bag," objected Trot.

The Ork looked at her.

There's your sunbonnet," it said presently, "which is hollow in the middle and

has two strings that you could tie around my neck."

Trot took off her sunbonnet and regarded it critically. Yes, it might easily hold

both her and Cap'n Bill, after they had eaten the lavender berries and been

reduced in size. She tied the strings around the Ork's neck and the sunbonnet

made a bag in which two tiny people might ride without danger of falling out.

So she said:

I b'lieve we'll do it that way, Cap'n."

Cap'n Bill groaned but could make no logical objection except that the plan

seemed to him quite dangerous--and dangerous in more ways than one.

I think so, myself," said Trot soberly. "But nobody can stay alive without

getting into danger sometimes, and danger doesn't mean getting hurt, Cap'n;

it only means we might get hurt. So I guess we'll have to take the risk."

Let's go and find the berries," said the Ork.

They said nothing to Pessim, who was sitting on his stool and scowling

dismally as he stared at the ocean, but started at once to seek the trees that

The Scarecrow of Oz