to add to her troubles the night was now creeping on, gray clouds overhead changed to inky blackness But the wind, satisfied at last with its mischievous pranks, stopped blowing this ocean and hurried away to another part world to blow something else; so waves, not being joggled any more, began to quiet down and behave themselves

lucky for Dorothy, , storm subsided; otherwise, brave though she was, she perished Many children, in her place, wept and given way to despair; but because Dorothy had encountered adventures and come safely through them it occur to her especially afraid She was wet and uncomfortable, true; but, after sighing that one sigh you of, she managed to recall some of her customary cheerfulness and decided to patiently await whatever her fate

By and black clouds rolled away and showed blue sky overhead, with silver moon shining sweetly middle of it and little stars winking merrily at Dorothy when she looked their way The coop toss around any more, but rode the waves more gently--almost like cradle rocking--so floor Dorothy stood was no longer swept by water coming slats Seeing this, and being quite exhausted excitement past few hours, the little girl decided that sleep the best thing to restore her strength easiest way pass the time The floor was damp and she was herself wringing wet, but fortunately warm climate and she feel at all cold

So she sat down in corner coop, leaned her back against the slats, nodded friendly stars before she closed her eyes, and was asleep in half minute

2 The Yellow Hen

strange noise awoke Dorothy, who opened her eyes that day had dawned sun was shining brightly in clear sky She dreaming that she was back in Kansas again, and playing old barn-yard calves and pigs and chickens all around her; and at first, as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes, she really imagined she was there

"Kut-kut-kut, ka-daw-kut ! Kut-kut-kut, ka-daw-kut ! "

Ah; here again strange noise that had awakened her Surely hen cackling ! But her wide-open eyes first saw, slats coop, the blue waves ocean, now calm and placid, and her thoughts flew back past night, so full of danger and discomfort Also she began to remember that she was waif storm, adrift upon treacherous and unknown sea

"Kut-kut-kut, ka-daw-w-w--kut ! "

"What's that ? " cried Dorothy, starting to her feet

"Why, I've just laid an egg, that's all," replied small, but sharp and distinct voice, and looking around her the little girl discovered yellow hen squatting opposite corner coop

"Dear me ! " she exclaimed, in surprise; " been here all night, too ? "

" ," answered the hen, fluttering her wings and yawning " coop blew away ship I clung fast corner, with claws and beak, for if I fell water I'd surely be drowned Indeed, I nearly drowned, as , with all that water washing over me I never was so wet before in my life ! "

"Yes," agreed Dorothy, " pretty wet, for time, But feel comfor'ble now ? "

"Not very The sun has helped to dry my feathers, as it has your dress, and better since I laid my morning egg But what's of us, like , afloat big pond ? "

"I'd like that, too," said Dorothy "But, tell me; how does it happen that able ? hens could only cluck and cackle "

"Why, as ," answered the yellow hen thoughtfully, "I've clucked and cackled all my life, and never spoken word before , that remember But asked question, minute ago, it seemed the most natural thing to answer you So I spoke, and I seem on speaking, just and other human beings do Strange, isn't it ? "

"Very," replied Dorothy " were Land of Oz, I wouldn't think it so queer, because animals can talk fairy country But out here ocean good long way from Oz "

"How is my grammar ? " asked the yellow hen, anxiously "Do I speak quite properly, in your judgment ? "

"Yes," said Dorothy, " , for beginner "

"I'm that," continued the yellow hen, in confidential tone; "because, if one is going , it's best correctly The red rooster has often said that my cluck and my cackle were quite perfect; and now it's comfort talking properly "

"I'm beginning hungry," remarked Dorothy "It's breakfast time; but there's no breakfast "

" my egg," said the yellow hen "I don't care , "

"Don't to hatch it ? " asked the little girl, in surprise

"No, indeed; I never care to hatch eggs unless I've nice snug nest, in some quiet place, with baker's dozen of eggs under me That's thirteen, , and it's lucky number for hens So eat this egg "

"Oh, I couldn't POSS'BLY eat it, unless cooked," exclaimed Dorothy "But I'm much obliged for your kindness, just the same "

"Don't mention it, my dear," answered the hen, calmly, and began preening her feathers

For moment Dorothy stood looking out over the wide sea She was still thinking egg, though; so presently she asked:

"Why lay eggs, don't expect to hatch them ? "

"It's habit ," replied the yellow hen "It has always been my pride to lay fresh egg every morning, except when I'm moulting I never feel like having my morning cackle till the egg is properly laid, and without the chance to cackle I happy "

"It's strange," said the girl, reflectively; "but as I'm not hen 't be 'spected to understand that "

"Certainly not, my dear "

Then Dorothy fell silent again The yellow hen was some company, and bit of comfort, too; but dreadfully lonely out big ocean, nevertheless

After time the hen flew up and perched topmost slat coop, little above Dorothy's head when she was sitting bottom, as she doing for some moments past

"Why, far from land ! " exclaimed the hen

"Where ? Where ? " cried Dorothy, jumping up in great excitement

"Over there little way," answered the hen, nodding her head in certain direction "We drifting toward it, before noon we ought ourselves upon dry land again "

" like that ! " said Dorothy, with little sigh, for her feet and legs were still wetted sea-water that came open slats

"So shall I," answered her companion " nothing so miserable as wet hen "

The land, which they seemed rapidly approaching, since it grew more distinct , was quite beautiful as viewed little girl floating hen-coop Next water was broad beach of white sand and gravel, and farther back were several rocky hills, while beyond these appeared strip of green trees that marked the edge of forest But there were no houses seen, nor any sign of people inhabit this unknown land

" find something to eat," said Dorothy, looking eagerly pretty beach toward which they drifted "It's long past breakfast time, now "

"I'm trifle hungry, myself," declared the yellow hen

"Why don't you eat the egg ? " asked the child "You don't need your food cooked, as "

" take me for cannibal ? " cried the hen, indignantly " know what said or done that leads you to insult me ! "

"I beg your pardon, I'm sure Mrs -- Mrs -- , may I inquire , ma'am ? " asked the little girl

"My name is Bill," said the yellow hen, somewhat gruffly

"Bill ! Why, that's boy's name "

"What difference does that make ? "

"You're lady hen, aren't you ? "

" But when first hatched out no one could tell whether going hen or rooster; so the little boy farm where born called me Bill, and made pet of me because I only yellow chicken whole brood When I grew up, and that I didn't crow and fight, as all the roosters do, think my name, and every creature barn-yard, people house, knew me as 'Bill ' So Bill I've always been called, and Bill is my name "

"But it's all wrong, ," declared Dorothy, earnestly; "and, don't mind, call you 'Billina ' Putting the 'eena' end makes it girl's name, "

"Oh, I don't mind it least," returned the yellow hen "It doesn't matter at all what you call me, as the name means ME "