Oz 09: The Scarecrow of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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but then, contrarywise, they_might . one of 'em has got badly jammed, so I'll throw it away, but the other three I b'lieve I'll carry with me . they're magic things, you_know, and may come handy to_us some_time ."

he now searched in_his big pockets and drew out a small wooden box with asliding cover . the sailor had kept an assortment of nails, of various sizes, in_this box, but those he now dumped loosely into his pocket and in_the box placed the three sound purple berries .

when_this important matter was attended to they found time to look about_them and_see what sort of place the Ork had landed them in .

chapter Seven

the bumpy man

the mountain on_which they had alighted was not a barren waste, but had on its sides patches of green grass, some bushes, a few slender trees and here and there masses of tumbled rocks . the sides of_the slope seemed rather steep, but with care one could climb up or down them with ease and safety . the view from where they now stood showed pleasant valleys and fertile hills lying below the heights . trot thought she saw some houses of queer shapes scattered about_the lower landscape, and there were moving dots that might_be people or animals, yet were too far away for her to_see them clearly .

not far from_the place where they stood was_the top of_the mountain, which seemed to_be flat, so the Ork proposed to_his companions that he_would fly up and_see what_was there .

" that's a good idea," said trot, "' cause it's getting toward evening and we'll have to_find a place to sleep ."

the Ork had_not_been gone more than a few_minutes when_they saw him appear on_the edge of_the top which_was nearest them .

" come on up ! " he_called .

so trot and Cap'n bill began to ascend the steep slope and it did_not take them long to reach the place where the Ork awaited them .

their first view of_the mountain top pleased them very_much . it_was a level space of wider extent than they had guessed and upon it grew grass of a brilliant green color . in_the very center stood a house built of stone and very neatly constructed . no one was in sight, but smoke was coming from_the chimney, so with one accord all three began walking toward the house .

"I wonder," said trot, " in what country we_are, and if_it's very far from my home in California ." " can't say as_to_that, partner," answered Cap'n bill, " but I'm mighty certain we've come a long way since we struck that whirlpool ."

" yes," she agreed, with a sigh, " it must_be miles and miles ! "

" distance means nothing," said the Ork ." I_have flown pretty much all over the world, trying to_find my home, and it_is astonishing how_many little countries there_are, hidden away in_the cracks and corners of_this big globe of earth . if one travels, he_may find some new country at every turn, and a good_many_of_them have never yet been put upon_the maps ."

"P'raps this_is one_of_them," suggested trot .

they reached the house after a brisk walk and Cap'n bill knocked upon_the door . it_was at once opened by a rugged looking man who had "bumps all over him," as trot afterward declared . there were bumps on_his head, bumps on_his body and bumps on_his arms and legs and hands . even his fingers had bumps on_the ends of_them . for dress he wore an old gray suit of fantastic design, which fitted him very badly because of_the bumps it covered but could_not conceal .

but the bumpy man's eyes were kind and twinkling in expression and as_soon_as he_saw his visitors he bowed low and said in a rather bumpy voice:

" happy day ! come in and shut the door, for_it grows cool when_the sun goes down . winter is now upon us ."

" why, it isn't cold a bit, outside," said trot, " so it can't be winter yet ."

" you_will change your mind about_that in a little while," declared the bumpy man ." my bumps always tell me the state of_the weather, and_they feel just now as_if a snowstorm was coming this_way . but make yourselves at home, strangers . supper is nearly ready and there_is food enough for all ."

inside the house there_was but one large room, simply but comfortably furnished . it had benches, a table and a fireplace, all made of stone . on_the hearth a pot was bubbling and steaming, and trot thought it had a rather nice smell . the visitors seated themselves upon_the benches -- except the Ork . which squatted by_the fireplace -- and_the bumpy man began stirring the kettle briskly .

" may I ask what country this_is, sir ? " inquired Cap'n bill .

" goodness me -- fruit- cake and apple- sauce ! --don't you_know where you_are ? " asked the bumpy man, as he stopped stirring and looked at_the speaker in surprise .

" no," admitted Cap'n bill ." we've just arrived ."

" lost your way ? " questioned the bumpy man .

" not exactly," said Cap'n bill ." we didn't have any_way to lose ."

"Ah ! " said the bumpy man, nodding his bumpy head ." this," he announced, in a solemn, impressive voice, " is_the famous land of Mo ."

"Oh ! " exclaimed the sailor and_the girl, both in one breath . but, never having heard of_the land of Mo, they were no wiser than before .

" i_thought that_would startle you," remarked the bumpy man, well pleased, as he resumed his stirring . the Ork watched him a while in silence and then asked:

" who_may you be ? "

" me ? " answered the bumpy man ." haven't you heard of me ? Gingerbread and lemon- juice ! I'm known, far and wide, as_the mountain ear ."

they all received this_information in silence at first, for they were trying to_think what he_could mean . finally trot mustered up courage to ask:

" what_is a mountain ear, please ? "

for answer the man turned around and faced them, waving the spoon with_which he had_been stirring the kettle, as he recited the following verses in asingsong tone of voice:

" here's a mountain, hard of hearing,

that's sad-hearted and needs cheering, so my duty is to listen to all sounds that nature makes,

so the hill won't get uneasy --

get to coughing, or get sneezy -- for_this monster bump, when frightened, is quite liable to quakes .

" you_can hear a bell that's ringing;

I_can feel some people's singing; but a mountain isn't sensible of what goes on, and so

when I hear a blizzard blowing

or it's raining hard, or snowing, I tell it to_the mountain and_the mountain seems to_know .

" thus I benefit all people

while I'm living on_this steeple, for I keep the mountain steady so my neighbors all may thrive .

with my list'ning and my shouting

I prevent this mount from spouting, and_that makes me so important that I'm glad that I'm alive ."

when he had finished these lines of verse the bumpy man turned again to resume his stirring . the Ork laughed softly and Cap'n bill whistled to himself and trot made up her mind that_the mountain ear must_be a little crazy . but the bumpy man seemed satisfied that he had explained his position fully and presently he placed four stone plates upon_the table and then lifted the kettle from_the fire and poured some of_its contents on each of_the plates .Cap'n bill and trot at once approached the table, for they were hungry, but when she examined her plate the little girl exclaimed:

" why, it's molasses candy ! "

" to_be_sure," returned the bumpy man, with a pleasant smile ." eat it quick, while it's hot, for_it cools very quickly this winter weather ."

with_this he seized a stone spoon and began putting the hot molasses candy into his mouth, while the others watched him in astonishment .

"Doesn't it burn you ? " asked the girl .

" no indeed," said he ." why don't you eat ? Aren't you hungry ? "

" yes," she replied, " I_am hungry . but we usually eat our candy when it_is cold and hard . we always pull molasses candy before we eat it ."

"Ha, ha, ha ! " laughed the mountain ear ." what a funny idea ! where in_the_world did you come from ? "

" California," she said .

" California ! Pooh ! there isn't any such place .I've heard of every place in_the land of Mo, but I never before heard of California ."

" it isn't in_the land of Mo," she explained .

" then it isn't worth talking about," declared the bumpy man, helping himself again from_the steaming kettle, for he had_been eating all the time he talked .

" for_my part," sighed Cap'n bill, "I'd like a decent square meal, once more, just by way of variety . in_the last place there_was nothing but fruit to eat, and here it's worse, for there's nothing but candy ."

" molasses candy isn't so bad," said trot ." mine's nearly cool enough to pull, already . wait a bit, Cap'n, and you_can eat it ."

a little later she was able to gather the candy from_the stone plate and begin to work it back and forth with her hands . the mountain ear was greatly amazed at_this and watched her closely . it_was really good candy and pulled beautifully, so_that trot was soon ready to cut it into chunks for eating .

Cap'n bill condescended to eat one_or_two pieces and_the Ork ate several, but the bumpy man refused to_try it . trot finished the plate of candy herself and then asked for a drink of water .

" water ? " said the mountain ear wonderingly ." what_is that ? "

" something to drink .Don't you_have water in Mo ? "

" none that ever I heard of," said he ." but I_can give_you some fresh lemonade .I caught it in a jar the last time it rained, which_was only day before yesterday ."

"Oh, does it rain lemonade here ? " she inquired .

" always; and it_is very refreshing and healthful ."

with_this he brought from a cupboard a stone jar and a dipper, and_the girl found it very nice lemonade, indeed .Cap'n bill liked it, too; but the Ork would_not touch it .

" if_there_is no water in_this country, I_cannot stay here for long," the creature declared ." water means life to man and beast and bird ."

" there_must_be water in lemonade," said trot .

" yes," answered the Ork, "I suppose so; but there_are other things in_it, too, and_they spoil the good water ."

the day's adventures had made our wanderers tired, so the bumpy man brought them some blankets in_which they rolled themselves and then lay down before_the fire, which their host kept alive with fuel all through_the night . trot wakened several_times and found the mountain ear always alert and listening intently for_the slightest sound . but the little girl could hear no sound at all except the snores of Cap'n bill .

chapter Eight

button- bright is lost and found again

" wake up -- wake up ! " called the voice of_the bumpy man ."Didn't I tell you winter was coming ? I_could hear it coming with my left ear, and_the proof is that_it_is now snowing hard outside ."

" is_it ? " said trot, rubbing her eyes and creeping out of her blanket ." where I live, in California, I_have never seen snow, except far away on_the tops of high mountains ."

" well, this_is_the top of a high mountain," returned the bumpy one, " and for_that reason we get our heaviest snowfalls right here ."

the little girl went to_the window and looked out . the air was filled with falling white flakes, so large in size and so queer in form that she was puzzled .

" are_you certain this_is snow ? " she asked .

" to_be_sure . I_must get my snow- shovel and turn out to shovel a path . would you like to_come with me ? "

" yes," she said, and followed the bumpy man out when he opened the door . then she exclaimed: " why, it isn't cold a bit ! "

" of_course not," replied the man ." it_was cold last night, before_the snowstorm; but snow, when it falls, is always crisp and warm ."

trot gathered a handful of it .

" why, it's popcorn ? " she cried .

" certainly; all snow is popcorn . what did you expect it to_be ? "

" popcorn is_not snow in my country ."

" well, it_is_the only snow we_have in_the land of Mo, so you_may as_well make_the best of it," said he, a little impatiently ."I'm not responsible for_the absurd things that happen in your country, and when_you're in Mo you_must do as_the Momen do . eat some_of_our snow, and you_will_find it_is good . the only fault I_find with_our snow is_that we get too_much of it at times ."

with_this the bumpy man set to work shoveling a path and he_was so quick and industrious that he piled up the popcorn in great banks on either side of_the trail that led to_the mountain- top from_the plains below . while he worked, trot ate popcorn and found it crisp and slightly warm, as_well as nicely salted and buttered . presently Cap'n bill came out_of_the house and joined her .

" what's this ? " he asked .

"Mo snow," said she ." but it isn't real snow, although it falls from_the sky . it's popcorn ."

Cap'n bill tasted it; then he sat down in_the path and began to eat . the Ork came out and pecked away with its bill as fast as it could . they all

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