the scarecrow of oz-第9节
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we are three and you are one； and the balance of power
lies with us。〃
The little man made no reply to this； although as they
walked back to the shed his face wore its fiercest scowl。
Cap'n Bill gathered a lot of leaves and； assisted by
Trot； prepared two nice beds in opposite corners of the
shed。 Pessim slept in a hammock which he swung between
two trees。
They required no dishes； as all their food consisted of
fruits and nuts picked from the trees； they made no fire；
for the weather was warm and there was nothing to cook；
the shed had no furniture other than the rude stool which
the little man was accustomed to sit upon。 He called it
his 〃throne〃 and they let him keep it。
So they lived upon the island for three days； and
rested and ate to their hearts' content。 Still； they were
not at all happy in this life because of Pessim。 He
continually found fault with them； and all that they did；
and all their surroundings。 He could see nothing good or
admirable in all the world and Trot soon came to
understand why the little man's former neighbors had
brought him to this island and left him there； all alone；
so he could not annoy anyone。 It was their misfortune
that they had been led to this place by their adventures；
for often they would have preferred the company of a wild
beast to that of Pessim。
On the fourth day a happy thought came to the Ork。 They
had all been racking their brains for a possible way to
leave the island； and discussing this or that method；
without finding a plan that was practical。 Cap'n Bill had
said he could make a raft of the trees； big enough to
float them all； but he had no tools except those two
pocketknives and it was not possible to chop down tree
with such small blades。
〃And s'pose we got afloat on the ocean；〃 said Trot；
〃where would we drift to； and how long would it take us
to get there？〃
Cap'n Bill was forced to admit he didn't know。 The Ork
could fly away from the island any time it wished to； but
the queer creature was loyal to his new friends and
refused to leave them in such a lonely； forsaken place。
It was when Trot urged him to go； on this fourth
morning； that the Ork had his happy thought。
〃I will go；〃 said he； 〃if you two will agree to ride
upon my back。〃
〃We are too heavy； you might drop us；〃 objected
Cap'n Bill。
〃Yes； you are rather heavy for a long journey；〃
acknowledged the Ork； 〃but you might eat of those
lavender berries and become so small that I could carry
you with ease。〃
This quaint suggestion startled Trot and she looked
gravely at the speaker while she considered it； but Cap'n
Bill gave a scornful snort and asked：
〃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 bore the magic
fruits。 The Ork remembered very well where the lavender
berries grew and led his companions quickly to the spot。
Cap'n Bill gathered two berries and placed them
carefully in his pocket。 Then they went around to the
east side of the island and found the tree that bore the
dark purple berries。
〃I guess I'll take four of these；〃 said the sailor…man；
so in case one doesn't make us grow big we can eat
another。〃
〃Better take six；〃 advised the Ork。 〃It's well to
be on the safe side； and I'm sure these trees grow
nowhere else in all the world。〃
So Cap'n Bill gathered six of the purple berries and
with their precious fruit they returned to the shed to
big good…bye to Pessim。 Perhaps they would not have
granted the surly little man this courtesy had they not
wished to use him to tie the sunbonnet around the Ork's
neck。
When Pessim learned they were about to leave him he at
first looked greatly pleased； but he suddenly recollected
that nothing ought to please him and so began to grumble
about being left alone。
〃We knew it wouldn't suit you；〃 remarked Cap'n Bill。
〃It didn't suit you to have us here； and it won't suit
you to have us go away。〃
〃That is quite true；〃 admitted Pessim。 〃I haven't been
suited since I can remember； so it doesn't matter to me
in the least whether you go or stay。〃
He was interested in their experiment； however； and
willingly agreed to assist； although he prophesied
they would fall out of the sunbonnet on their way and
be either drowned in the ocean or crushed upon some
rocky shore。 This uncheerful prospect did not daunt
Trot； but it made Cap'n Bill quite nervous。
〃I will eat my berry first；〃 said Trot； as she placed
her sunbonnet on the ground； in such manner that they
could get into it。
Then she ate the lavender berry and in a few seconds
became so small that Cap'n Bill picked her up gently with
his thumb and one finger and placed her in the middle of
the sunbonnet。 Then he placed beside her the six purple
berries each one being about as big as the tiny Trot's
head and all preparations being now made the old
sailor ate his lavender berry and became very small
wooden leg and all！
Cap'n Bill stumbled sadly in trying to climb over the
edge of the sunbonnet and pitched in beside Trot
headfirst； which caused the unhappy Pessim to laugh with
glee。 Then the King of the Island picked up the sunbonnet
so rudely that he shook its occupants like peas in a
pod and tied it； by means of its strings； securely
around the Ork's neck。
〃I hope； Trot； you sewed those strings on tight；〃 said
Cap'n Bill anxiously。
〃Why； we are not very heavy； you know；〃 she replied；
〃so I think the stitches will hold。 But be careful and
not crush the berries； Cap'n。〃
〃One is jammed already；〃 he said； looking at them。
〃All ready？〃 asked the Ork。
〃Yes！〃 they cried together； and Pessim came close to
the sunbonnet and called out to them： 〃You'll be smashed
or drowned； I'm sure you will！ But farewell； and good
riddance to you。〃
The Ork was provoked by this unkind speech； so he
turned his tail toward the little man and made it revolve
so fast that the rush of air tumbled Pessim over backward
and he rolled several times upon the ground before he
could stop himself and sit up。 By that time the Ork was
high in the air and speeding swiftly over the ocean。
Chapter Six
