Oz 09: The Scarecrow of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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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 awetting 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 agurgling 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 areg'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 had squeezed the wet out of her hair she began to_feel much like her old self again . by and by they got upon their feet and crept up the incline to_the scattered boulders above . some_of_these were of huge size, but by passing between some and around others, they were able to reach the extreme rear of_the cavern .

" yes," said trot, with interest, " here's a round hole ."

" and it's black as night inside it," remarked Cap'n bill .

just the same," answered the girl, " we ought to explore it, and_see where it goes, ' cause it's the only poss'ble way we_can get out of_this place ."

Cap'n bill eyed the hole doubtfully

" it may_be a way out o' here, trot," he_said, " but it may_be a way into a far worse place than this .I'm not sure but our best plan is to stay right here ."

trot wasn't sure, either, when she thought of it in_that light . after awhile she made her way back to_the sands again, and Cap'n bill followed her . as_they sat down, the child looked thoughtfully at_the sailor's bulging pockets .

" how_much food have we got, Cap'n ? " she asked .

" half a dozen ship's biscuits an' a hunk o' cheese," he replied ." want some now, trot ? "

she shook her head, saying:

" that ought to_keep us alive ' bout three days if_we're careful of it ."

" longer'n that, trot," said Cap'n bill, but his voice was a little troubled and unsteady .

" but if_we stay here we're bound to starve in_time," continued the girl, " while if_we go into_the dark hole --"

" some things are more hard to_face than starvation," said the sailor- man, gravely ." we don't know what's inside that dark hole: trot, nor where it might lead us to ."

" there's a way to_find that out," she persisted .

instead of replying, Cap'n bill began searching in_his pockets . he soon drew out a little package of fish- hooks and a long line . trot watched him join them together . then he crept a little way up the slope and turned over a big rock . two_or_three small crabs began scurrying away over the sands and_the old sailor caught them and put one on_his hook and_the others in_his pocket .Coming back to_the pool he swung the hook over his shoulder and circled it around his head and cast it nearly into_the center of_the water, where he allowed it to sink gradually, paying out the line as far as it would go . when_the end was reached, he began drawing it in again, until the crab bait was floating on_the surface .

trot watched him cast the line a second time, and a third . she decided that either there were no fishes in_the pool or they_would not bite the crab bait . but Cap'n bill was an old fisherman and not easily discouraged . when_the crab got away he put another on_the hook . when_the crabs were all gone he climbed up the rocks and found some more .

meantime trot tired of watching him and lay down upon_the sands, where she fell fast asleep . during the next two hours her clothing dried completely, as did that of_the old sailor . they were both so used to salt water that there_was no danger of taking cold .

finally the little girl was wakened by a splash beside her and a grunt of satisfaction from Cap'n bill . she opened her eyes to_find that_the Cap'n had landed a silver- scaled fish weighing about two pounds . this cheered her considerably and she hurried to scrape together a heap of seaweed, while Cap'n bill cut up the fish with_his jackknife and got it ready for cooking .

they had cooked fish with seaweed before .Cap'n bill wrapped his fish in some_of_the weed and dipped it in_the water to dampen it . then he lighted a match and set fire to trot's heap, which speedily burned down to aglowing bed of ashes . then they laid the wrapped fish on_the ashes, covered it with more seaweed, and allowed this to catch fire and burn to embers . after feeding the fire with seaweed for some_time, the sailor finally decided that their supper was ready, so he scattered the ashes and drew out the bits of fish, still encased in their smoking wrappings .

when these wrappings were removed, the fish was found thoroughly cooked and both trot and Cap'n bill ate of it freely . it had a slight flavor of seaweed and would_have_been better with asprinkling of salt .

the soft glow which until now had lighted the cavern, began to grow dim, but there_was a great quantity of seaweed in_the place, so after they had eaten their fish they kept the fire alive for a time by giving it a handful of fuel now_and_then .

from an inner pocket the sailor drew a small flask of battered metal and unscrewing the cap handed it to trot . she took but one swallow of_the water although she wanted more, and she noticed that Cap'n bill merely wet his lips with it .

"S' pose," said she, staring at_the glowing seaweed fire and speaking slowly, " that we_can catch all the fish we_need; how ' bout the drinking- water, Cap'n ? "

he moved uneasily but did_not reply . both of_them were thinking about_the dark hole, but while trot had little fear of it the old man could_not overcome his dislike to enter the place . he_knew that trot was right, though . to remain in_the cavern, where they now were, could only result in slow but sure death .

it_was nighttime up on_the earth's surface, so the little girl became drowsy and soon fell asleep . after a time the old sailor slumbered on_the sands beside her . it_was very still and nothing disturbed them for hours . when at last they awoke the cavern was light again .

they had divided one_of_the biscuits and were munching it for breakfast when_they were startled by a sudden splash in_the pool . looking toward it they saw emerging from_the water the most curious creature either of_them had ever beheld . it wasn't a fish, trot decided, nor was_it a beast . it had wings, though, and queer wings they were: shaped like an inverted chopping- bowl and covered with tough skin instead of feathers . it had four legs -- much like the legs of a stork, only double the number -- and its head was shaped a good_deal like that of a poll parrot, with a beak that curved downward in front and upward at_the edges, and was half bill and half mouth . but to_call it a bird was out_of_the_question, because it had no feathers whatever except a crest of wavy plumes of a scarlet color on_the very top of_its head . the strange creature must_have weighed as_much as Cap'n bill, and as it floundered and struggled to_get out_of_the water to_the sandy beach it_was so big and unusual that both trot and her companion stared at it in wonder -- in wonder that was not unmixed with fear .

chapter three

the Ork

the eyes that regarded them, as_the creature stood dripping before them, were bright and mild in expression, and_the queer addition to_their party made no attempt to attack them and seemed quite as surprised by_the meeting as_they were .

"I wonder," whispered trot, " what it_is ."

" who, me ? " exclaimed the creature in a shrill, high- pitched voice ." why, I'm an Ork ."

"Oh ! " said the girl ." but what_is an Ork ? "

" I_am," he repeated, a little proudly, as he shook the water from_his funny wings; " and if ever an Ork was glad to_be out_of_the water and on dry land again, you_can_be mighty sure that I'm that especial, individual Ork ! "

" have_you been in_the water long ? " inquired Cap'n bill, thinking it only polite to show an interest in_the strange creature .

" why, this last ducking was about ten minutes, I believe, and_that's about nine minutes and sixty seconds too long for comfort," was_the reply ." but last night i_was in an awful pickle, I assure you . the whirlpool caught me, and --"

"Oh, were you in_the whirlpool, too ? " asked trot eagerly

he_gave her a glance that was somewhat reproachful .

"I believe i_was mentioning the fact, young lady, when your desire to_talk interrupted me," said the Ork ." I_am not usually careless in my actions, but that whirlpool was so busy yesterday that i_thought I'd see what mischief it_was up_to . so I flew a little too near it and_the suction of_the air drew me down into_the depths of_the ocean . water and I are natural enemies, and it would_have conquered me this_time had_not a bevy of pretty mermaids come to my assistance and dragged me away from_the whirling water and far up into a cavern, where they deserted me ."

" why, that's about_the same thing that happened to_us," cried trot ." was your cavern like this_one ? "

"I haven't examined this_one yet," answered the Ork; " but if_they happen to_be alike I shudder at our fate, for_the other one was a prison, with no outlet except by_means of_the water .I stayed there all night, however, and this_morning I plunged into_the pool, as far down as I_could go, and then swam as hard and as far as I_could . the rocks scraped my back, now_and_then, and I barely escaped the clutches of an ugly sea- monster; but by and by I_came to_the surface to catch my breath, and found myself here . that's the whole story, and as I_see you_have something to eat I entreat you to_give_me a share of it . the truth is, I'm half starved ."

with_these words the Ork squatted down beside them . very reluctantly Cap'n bill drew another biscuit from_his pocket and held it out . the Ork promptly seized it in one of_its front claws and began to nibble the biscuit in much the same manner a parrot might_have done .

" we haven't much grub," said the sailor- man, " but we're willin' to share it with a comrade in distress ."

" that's right," returned the Ork, cocking its head sidewise in a cheerful manner, and then for_a_few_minutes there_was silence while they

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