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The birds looked at one another as if greatly astonished. Then one of them

replied: "You must be crazy, old man. Not one of us is big enough to fly with

even the smallest of your party."

I'll fix the matter of size," promised Cap'n Bill. "If three of you will agree to

carry us, I'll make you big an' strong enough to do it, so it won't worry you a

bit."

The birds considered this gravely. Living in a magic country, they had no

doubt but that the strange one-legged man could do what he said. After a

little, one of them asked:

If you make us big, would we stay big always?"

I think so," replied Cap'n Bill.

They chattered a while among themselves and then the bird that had first

spoken said: "I'll go, for one."

So will I," said another; and after a pause a third said: "I'll go, too."

Perhaps more would have volunteered, for it seemed that for some reason they

all longed to be bigger than they were; but three were enough for Cap'n Bill's

purpose and so he promptly released all the others, who immediately flew

away.

The three that remained were cousins, and all were of the same brilliant

plumage and in size about as large as eagles. When Trot questioned them she

found they were quite young, having only abandoned their nests a few weeks

before. They were strong young birds, with clear, brave eyes, and the little girl

decided they were the most beautiful of all the feathered creatures she had

ever seen.

Cap'n Bill now took from his pocket the wooden box with the sliding cover and

removed the three purple berries, which were still in good condition.

Eat these," he said, and gave one to each of the birds. They obeyed, finding

the fruit very pleasant to taste. In a few seconds they began to grow in size

and grew so fast that Trot feared they would never stop. But they finally did

stop growing, and then they were much larger than the Ork, and nearly the

size of full-grown ostriches.

Cap'n Bill was much pleased by this result.

The Scarecrow of Oz