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Cap'n Bill isn't around here," he said, letting his eyes wander over the dim

garden, "so we must go somewhere else if we want to find him. Besides, it's

fast getting dark, and if we want to find a place to sleep we must get busy

while we can see where to go."

He rose from the bench as he said this and Trot also jumped up, drying her

eyes on her apron. Then she walked beside him out of the grounds of the

King's castle. They did not go by the main path, but passed through an

opening in a hedge and found themselves in a small but well-worn roadway.

Following this for some distance, along a winding way, they came upon no

house or building that would afford them refuge for the night. It became so

dark that they could scarcely see their way, and finally Trot stopped and

suggested that they camp under a tree.

All right," said Button-Bright, "I've often found that leaves make a good warm

blanket. But--look there, Trot!--isn't that a light flashing over yonder?"

It certainly is, Button-Bright. Let's go over and see if it's a house. Whoever

lives there couldn't treat us worse than the King did."

To reach the light they had to leave the road, so they stumbled over hillocks

and brushwood, hand in hand, keeping the tiny speck of light always in sight.

They were rather forlorn little waifs, outcasts in a strange country and

forsaken by their only friend and guardian, Cap'n Bill. So they were very glad

when finally they reached a small cottage and, looking in through its one

window, saw Pon, the gardener's boy, sitting by a fire of twigs.

As Trot opened the door and walked boldly in, Pon sprang up to greet them.

They told him of Cap'n Bill's disappearance and how they had been turned out

of the King's castle. As they finished the story Pon shook his head sadly.

King Krewl is plotting mischief, I fear," said he, "for to-day he sent for old

Blinkie, the Wicked Witch, and with my own eyes I saw her come from the

castle and hobble away toward her hut. She had been with the King and

Googly-Goo, and I was afraid they were going to work some enchantment on

Gloria so she would no longer love me. But perhaps the witch was only called

to the castle to enchant your friend, Cap'n Bill."

Could she do that?" asked Trot, horrified by the suggestion.

I suppose so, for old Blinkie can do a lot of wicked magical things."

The Scarecrow of Oz