the scarecrow of oz-第2节
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all came from and why Cap'n Bill should treasure them。
The jackknives a big one and a little one the bits
of cord； the fishhooks； the nails： these were handy to
have on certain occasions。 But bits of shell； and tin
boxes with unknown contents； buttons； pincers； bottles
of curious stones and the like； seemed quite
unnecessary to carry around。 That was Cap'n Bill's
business； however； and now that he added the candles
and the matches to his collection Trot made no comment；
for she knew these last were to light their way through
the caves。 The sailor always rowed the boat； for he
handled the oars with strength and skill。 Trot sat in
the stern and steered。 The place where they embarked
was a little bight or circular bay； and the boat cut
across a much larger bay toward a distant headland
where the caves were located； right at the water's
edge。 They were nearly a mile from shore and about
halfway across the bay when Trot suddenly sat up
straight and exclaimed： 〃What's that； Cap'n？〃
He stopped rowing and turned half around to look。
〃That； Trot；〃 he slowly replied； 〃looks to me mighty
like a whirlpool。〃
〃What makes it； Cap'n？〃
〃A whirl in the air makes the whirl in the water。 I
was afraid as we'd meet with trouble； Trot。 Things
didn't look right。 The air was too still。〃
〃It's coming closer；〃 said the girl。
The old man grabbed the oars and began rowing with
all his strength。
〃'Tain't comin' closer to us； Trot；〃 he gasped； 〃it's
we that are comin' closer to the whirlpool。 The thing
is drawin' us to it like a magnet！〃
Trot's sun…bronzed face was a little paler as she
grasped the tiller firmly and tried to steer the boat
away； but she said not a word to indicate fear。
The swirl of the water as they came nearer made a
roaring sound that was fearful to listen to。 So fierce
and powerful was the whirlpool that it drew the surface
of the sea into the form of a great basin； slanting
downward toward the center； where a big hole had been
made in the ocean a hole with walls of water that
were kept in place by the rapid whirling of the air。
The boat in which Trot and Cap'n Bill were riding was
just on the outer edge of this saucer…like slant； and
the old sailor knew very well that unless he could
quickly force the little craft away from the rushing
current they would soon be drawn into the great black
hole that yawned in the middle。 So he exerted all his
might and pulled as he had never pulled before。 He
pulled so hard that the left oar snapped in two and
sent Cap'n Bill sprawling upon the bottom of the boat。
He scrambled up quickly enough and glanced over the
side。 Then he looked at Trot； who sat quite still； with
a serious； far…away look in her sweet eyes。 The boat
was now speeding swiftly of its own accord； following
the line of the circular basin round and round and
gradually drawing nearer to the great hole in the
center。 Any further effort to escape the whirlpool was
useless； and realizing this fact Cap'n Bill turned
toward Trot and put an arm around her； as if to shield
her from the awful fate before them。 He did not try to
speak； because the roar of the waters would have
drowned the sound of his voice。
These two faithful comrades had faced dangers before；
but nothing to equal that which now faced them。 Yet
Cap'n Bill； noting the look in Trot's eyes and
remembering how often she had been protected by unseen
powers； did not quite give way to despair。
The great hole in the dark water now growing
nearer and nearer looked very terrifying； but they
were both brave enough to face it and await the result
of the adventure。
Chapter Two
The Cavern Under the Sea
The circles were so much smaller at the bottom of the
basin； and the boat moved so much more swiftly； that
Trot was beginning to get dizzy with the motion； when
suddenly the boat made a leap and dived headlong into
the murky depths of the hole。 Whirling like tops； but
still clinging together； the sailor and the girl were
separated from their boat and plunged down down
down into the farthermost recesses of the great
ocean。
At first their fall was swift as an arrow； but
presently they seemed to be going more moderately and
Trot was almost sure that unseen arms were about her；
supporting her and protecting her。 She could see
nothing； because the water filled her eyes and blurred
her vision； but she clung fast to Cap'n Bill's
sou'wester； while other arms clung fast to her； and so
they gradually sank down and down until a full stop was
made； when they began to ascend again。
But it seemed to Trot that they were not rising
straight to the surface from where they had come。 The
water was no longer whirling them and they seemed to be
drawn in a slanting direction through still； cool ocean
depths。 And then in much quicker time than I have
told it up they popped to the surface and were cast
at full length upon a sandy beach； where they lay
choking and gasping for breath and wondering what had
happened to them。
Trot was the first to recover。 Disengaging herself
from Cap'n Bill's wet embrace and sitting up； she
rubbed the water from her eyes and then looked around
her。 A soft； bluish…green glow lighted the place；
which seemed to be a sort of cavern； for above and on
either side of her were rugged rocks。 They had been
cast upon a beach of clear sand； which slanted upward
from the pool of water at their feet a pool which
doubtless led into the big ocean that fed it。 Above the
reach of the waves of the pool were more rocks； and
still more and more； into the dim windings and recesses
of which the glowing light from the water did not
penetrate。
The place looked grim and lonely； but Trot was
thankful that she was still alive and had suffered no
severe injury during her trying adventure under water。
At her side Cap'n Bill was sputtering and coughing；
trying to get rid of the water he had swallowed。 Both
of them were soaked through； yet the cavern was warm
and comfortable and a wetting did not dismay the little
girl in the least。
She crawled up the slant of sand and gathered in her
hand a bunch of dried seaweed； with which she mopped
the face of Cap'n Bill and cleared the water from his
eyes and ears。 Presently the old man sat up and stared
at her intently。 Then he nodded his bald head three
times and said in a gurgling voice：
〃Mighty good； Trot； mighty good！ We didn't reach Davy
Jones's locker that time； did we？ Though why we didn't；
an' why we're here； is more'n I kin make out。〃
〃Take it easy； Cap'n；〃 she replied。 〃We're safe
enough； I guess； at least for the time being。〃
He squeezed the water out of the bottoms of his loose
trousers and felt of his wooden leg and arms and head；
and finding he had brought all of his person with him
he gathered courage to examine closely their
surroundings。
〃Where d'ye think we are； Trot？。〃 he presently asked。
〃Can't say； Cap'n。 P'r'aps in one of our caves。〃
He shook his head。 〃No；〃 said he； 〃I don't think
that； at all。 The distance we came up didn't seem half
as far as the distance we went down； an' you'll notice
there ain't any outside entrance to this cavern
whatever。 It's a reg'lar dome over this pool o' water；
and unless there's some passage at the back； up yonder；
we're fast pris'ners。〃
Trot looked thoughtfully over her shoulder。
〃When we're rested；〃 she said； 〃we will crawl up
there and see if there's a way to get out。〃
Cap'n Bill reached in the pocket of his oilskin coat
and took out his pipe。 It was still dry； for he kept it
in an oilskin pouch with his tobacco。 His matches were
in a tight tin box； so in a few moments the old sailor
was smoking contentedly。 Trot knew it helped him to
think when he was in any difficulty。 Also； the pipe did
much to restore the old sailor's composure； after his
long ducking and his terrible fright a fright that
was more on Trot's account than his own。
The sand was dry where they sat； and soaked up the
water that dripped from their clothing。 When Trot ha
