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I'm afraid I can't let you out, and there is no one near to help me."

This was at first discouraging, but after a little thought Cap'n Bill said:

If you don't mind, Trot, I can cut a slit in your sunbonnet with my knife."

Do," she replied. "The slit won't matter, 'cause I can sew it up again

afterward, when I am big."

So Cap'n Bill got out his knife, which was just as small, in proportion, as he

was, and after considerable trouble managed to cut a long slit in the

sunbonnet. First he squeezed through the opening himself and then helped

Trot to get out.

When they stood on firm ground again their first act was to begin eating the

dark purple berries which they had brought with them. Two of these Trot had

guarded carefully during the long journey, by holding them in her lap, for

their safety meant much to the tiny people.

I'm not very hungry," said the little girl as she handed a berry to Cap'n Bill,

but hunger doesn't count, in this case. It's like taking medicine to make you

well, so we must manage to eat 'em, somehow or other."

But the berries proved quite pleasant to taste and as Cap'n Bill and Trot

nibbled at their edges their forms began to grow in size--slowly but steadily.

The bigger they grew the easier it was for them to eat the berries, which of

course became smaller to them, and by the time the fruit was eaten our

friends had regained their natural size.

The little girl was greatly relieved when she found herself as large as she had

ever been, and Cap'n Bill shared her satisfaction; for, although they had seen

the effect of the berries on the Ork, they had not been sure the magic fruit

would have the same effect on human beings, or that the magic would work in

any other country than that in which the berries grew.

What shall we do with the other four berries?" asked Trot, as she picked up

her sunbonnet, marveling that she had ever been small enough to ride in it.

They're no good to us now, are they, Cap'n?"

I'm not sure as to that," he replied. "If they were eaten by one who had never

eaten the lavender berries, they might have no effect at all; but then,

contrarywise, they might. One of 'em has got badly jammed, so I'll throw it

The Scarecrow of Oz