At first their fall was swift as an arrow, but presently they seemed going more moderately and Trot was almost sure that unseen arms were about her, supporting her and protecting her She 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 full stop , began to ascend again

But it seemed to Trot rising straight surface from where they had come The water was no longer whirling them seemed drawn in slanting direction through still, cool ocean depths And then -- in much quicker time than told it -- up they popped surface and were cast at full length upon sandy beach, where they lay choking and gasping for breath and wondering what had happened

Trot 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 soft, bluish-green glow lighted the place, which seemed sort of cavern, for above and on either side of her were rugged rocks They cast upon beach of clear sand, which slanted upward pool of water at their feet -- pool which doubtless led big ocean that fed it Above the reach waves pool were more rocks, and still more and more, dim windings and recesses the glowing light water 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 rid water he had swallowed Both were soaked through, yet the cavern was warm and comfortable and wetting dismay the little girl least

She crawled up the slant of sand and gathered in her hand bunch of dried seaweed, she mopped the face of Cap'n Bill and cleared the water 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 gurgling voice:

"Mighty good, Trot; mighty good ! We didn't reach Davy Jones's locker , 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, being "

He squeezed the water bottoms loose trousers and felt wooden leg and arms and head, and finding he had brought all person he gathered courage to examine closely their surroundings

"Where d'ye think , Trot ? " he presently asked

"Can't say, Cap'n P'r'aps in 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 distance we went down; an' you'll notice there ain't any outside entrance cavern whatever It's reg'lar dome over this pool o' water, and unless there's some passage back, up yonder, we're fast pris'ners "

Trot looked thoughtfully over her shoulder

"When we're rested," she said, " crawl up there if there's way out "

Cap'n Bill reached pocket oilskin coat and took out his pipe still dry, for he kept it in an oilskin pouch tobacco His matches were in tight tin box, so in the old sailor was smoking contentedly Trot knew it helped him when in any difficulty Also, the pipe did much to restore the old sailor's composure, after his long ducking terrible fright -- 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 much like her old self again By and by they got upon their feet and crept up the incline scattered boulders above were of huge size, but by passing between some and around others, they were able to reach the extreme rear cavern

"Yes," said Trot, with interest, "here's 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, where it goes, 'cause it's the only poss'ble way get out place "

Cap'n Bill eyed the hole doubtfully

"It way out o' here, Trot," , "but it way into 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 light After awhile she made her way back sands again, and Cap'n Bill followed her sat down, the child looked thoughtfully sailor's bulging pockets

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

"Half dozen ship's biscuits an' hunk o' cheese," he replied "Want some now, Trot ? "

She shook her head, saying:

"That ought us alive 'bout three days 're careful of it "

"Longer'n that, Trot," said Cap'n Bill, but his voice was little troubled and unsteady

"But stay here we're bound to starve ," continued the girl, "while go dark hole --"

"Some things are more hard 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 way that out," she persisted

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

Trot watched him cast the line second time, and third She decided that either there were no fishes pool or not bite the crab bait But Cap'n Bill was an old fisherman and not easily discouraged crab got away he put another hook crabs were all gone he climbed up the rocks and found some more

Meantime Trot tired of watching him and lay down sands, where she fell fast asleep During the next two hours her clothing dried completely, as did that old sailor They were both so used to salt water that no danger of taking cold

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

They had cooked fish with seaweed before Cap'n Bill wrapped his fish in weed and dipped it water to dampen it Then he lighted match and set fire to Trot's heap, which speedily burned down to glowing bed of ashes Then they laid the wrapped fish ashes, covered it with more seaweed, and allowed this to catch fire and burn to embers After feeding the fire with seaweed for , 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 slight flavor of seaweed and better with sprinkling of salt

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

From an inner pocket the sailor drew small flask of battered metal and unscrewing the cap handed it to Trot She took but one swallow water although she wanted more, and she noticed that Cap'n Bill merely wet his lips with it

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

He moved uneasily but reply Both were thinking dark hole, but while Trot had little fear of it the old man overcome his dislike to enter the place that Trot was right, though To remain cavern, where they now were, could only result in slow but sure death

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

They had divided biscuits and were munching it for breakfast were startled by sudden splash pool Looking toward it they saw emerging water the most curious creature either had ever beheld It wasn't fish, Trot decided, nor 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 stork, only double the number -- and its head was shaped like that of poll parrot, with beak that curved downward in front and upward edges, and was half bill and half mouth But it bird was , because it had no feathers whatever except crest of wavy plumes of scarlet color very top head The strange creature weighed as Cap'n Bill, and as it floundered and struggled water sandy beach 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