With my list'ning and my shouting

I prevent this mount from spouting, 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 Mountain Ear little crazy But the Bumpy Man seemed satisfied that he had explained his position fully and presently he placed four stone plates table and then lifted the kettle fire and poured some contents on each 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 ! "

" ," returned the Bumpy Man, with pleasant smile "Eat it quick, while it's hot, cools very quickly this winter weather "

he seized 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, " hungry But we usually eat our candy when cold and hard We always pull molasses candy before we eat it "

"Ha, ha, ha ! " laughed the Mountain Ear "What funny idea ! Where did you come from ? "

"California," she said

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

"It isn't Land of Mo," she explained

"Then it isn't worth talking about," declared the Bumpy Man, helping himself again steaming kettle, for he eating all the time he talked

" part," sighed Cap'n Bill, "I'd like decent square meal, once more, just by way of variety last place 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 bit, Cap'n, and eat it "

little later she was able to gather the candy stone plate and begin to work it back and forth with her hands The Mountain Ear was greatly amazed and watched her closely really good candy and pulled beautifully, Trot was soon ready to cut it into chunks for eating

Cap'n Bill condescended to eat pieces Ork ate several, but the Bumpy Man refused it Trot finished the plate of candy herself and then asked for drink of water

"Water ? " said the Mountain Ear wonderingly "What ? "

"Something to drink Don't water in Mo ? "

"None that ever I heard of," said he "But some fresh lemonade I caught it in jar the last time it rained, only day before yesterday "

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

"Always; and very refreshing and healthful "

he brought from cupboard stone jar and dipper, girl found it very nice lemonade, indeed Cap'n Bill liked it, too; but the Ork touch it

" no water country, stay here for long," the creature declared "Water means life to man and beast and bird "

" water in lemonade," said Trot

"Yes," answered the Ork, "I suppose so; but other things , too, spoil the good water "

The day's adventures had made our wanderers tired, so the Bumpy Man brought them some blankets they rolled themselves and then lay down fire, which their host kept alive with fuel all night Trot wakened and found the Mountain Ear always alert and listening intently 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 Bumpy Man "Didn't I tell you winter was coming ? hear it coming with my left ear, proof is now snowing hard outside "

" ? " said Trot, rubbing her eyes and creeping out of her blanket "Where I live, in California, never seen snow, except far away tops of high mountains "

"Well, top of high mountain," returned the bumpy one, "and reason we get our heaviest snowfalls right here "

The little girl went 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

" certain snow ? " she asked

" get my snow-shovel and turn out to shovel path Would you like with me ? "

"Yes," she said, and followed the Bumpy Man out when he opened the door Then she exclaimed: "Why, it isn't cold bit ! "

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

Trot gathered handful of it

"Why, it's popcorn ? " she cried

"Certainly; all snow is popcorn What did you expect it ? "

"Popcorn snow in my country "

"Well, only snow Land of Mo, so best of it," said he, little impatiently "I'm not responsible absurd things that happen in your country, and 're in Mo do Momen do Eat snow, and good The only fault snow we get of it at times "

the Bumpy Man set to work shoveling path and so quick and industrious that he piled up the popcorn in great banks on either side trail that led mountain-top plains below While he worked, Trot ate popcorn and found it crisp and slightly warm, as nicely salted and buttered Presently Cap'n Bill came house and joined her

"What's this ? " he asked

"Mo snow," said she "But it isn't real snow, although it falls sky It's popcorn "

Cap'n Bill tasted it; then he sat down path and began to eat The Ork came out and pecked away with its bill as fast as it could They all liked popcorn all were hungry

Meantime the flakes of "Mo snow" came down so fast number almost darkened the air The Bumpy Man was now shoveling quite distance down the mountain- side, while the path behind him rapidly filled up with fresh-fallen popcorn Suddenly Trot heard him call out:

"Goodness gracious -- mince pie and pancakes ! -- some one buried snow "

She ran toward him at once others followed, wading corn and crunching it underneath their feet The Mo snow was pretty deep where the Bumpy Man was shoveling and from beneath great bank of it he had uncovered pair of feet

"Dear me ! Someone lost storm," said Cap'n Bill " still alive Let's pull him out "

hold of one foot Bumpy Man took hold other Then they both pulled and out heap of popcorn came little boy dressed in brown velvet jacket and knickerbockers, with brown stockings, buckled shoes and blue shirt-waist that had frills down its front When drawn heap the boy was chewing mouthful of popcorn and both his hands were full of it So at first he couldn't speak rescuers but lay quite still and eyed them calmly until he had swallowed his mouthful Then :

"Get my cap," and stuffed more popcorn into his mouth

While the Bumpy Man began shoveling corn-bank the boy's cap, Trot was laughing joyfully and Cap'n Bill had broad grin face The Ork looked from one to another and asked:

"Who stranger ? "

"Why, it's Button-Bright, ," answered Trot "If anyone ever finds lost boy, up his mind it's Button-Bright But how he ever came lost far-away country is more'n make out "

"Where does he belong ? " inquired the Ork

"His home used in Philadelphia, ; but I'm Button-Bright doesn't belong anywhere "

"That's right," said the boy, nodding his head as he swallowed the second mouthful

"Everyone belongs somewhere," remarked the Ork

"Not me," insisted Button-Bright "I'm half way round the world from Philadelphia, and I've lost my Magic Umbrella, that used to carry me anywhere Stands to reason that if 't get back I haven't any home But I don't care much pretty good country, Trot I've had lots of fun here "

the Mountain Ear had secured the boy's cap and was listening conversation with much interest

"It seems this poor, snow-covered cast- away,"

"Yes, indeed," answered Trot " journey together to Sky Island, once, and were good friends "

"Well, then I'm glad I saved his life," said the Bumpy Man

"Much obliged, Mr Knobs," said Button-Bright, sitting up and staring at him, "but I don't believe you've saved anything except some popcorn that eaten had you not disturbed me nice and warm bank of popcorn, and plenty to eat What made you dig me out ? And what makes you so bumpy everywhere ? "

"As bumps," replied the man, looking at himself with much pride, " born and I suspect they were gift fairies They make me look rugged and big, like the mountain I serve "

"All right," said Button-Bright and began eating popcorn again

It had stopped snowing, now, and great flocks of birds were gathering around the mountain-side, eating the popcorn with much eagerness and scarcely noticing the people at all There were birds of every size and color, most having gorgeous feathers and plumes

"Just look at them ! " exclaimed the Ork scornfully "Aren't they dreadful creatures, all covered with feathers ? "

" they're beautiful," said Trot, and this made the Ork so indignant that he went back house and sulked