This gave Cap'n Bill an idea pocket and drew out several pieces of stout string Moving very quietly, so not alarm the birds, he crept several biggest ones and tied cords around their legs, thus making them prisoners The birds were so intent on their eating that notice what had happened , and when about twenty captured manner Cap'n Bill tied the ends of all the strings together and fastened them to huge stone, so escape

The Bumpy Man watched the old sailor's actions with much curiosity

"The birds quiet until they've eaten up all the snow," , "but then want to fly away homes Tell me, sir, the poor things do find 't fly ? "

"It may worry 'em little," replied Cap'n Bill, "but they're not going hurt take it easy and behave themselves "

Our friends had all made good breakfast delicious popcorn and now they walked toward the house again Button-Bright walked beside Trot and held her hand , because they were old friends and he liked the little girl The boy was not so old as Trot, and small as she was half head shorter in height The most remarkable thing about Button-Bright always quiet and composed, whatever happened, and nothing was ever able to astonish him Trot liked him because not rude and never tried to plague her Cap'n Bill liked him because he had found the boy cheerful and brave at all times, and willing anything asked

came house Trot sniffed the air and asked "Don't I smell perfume ? "

" ," said the Bumpy Man "You smell violets, proves breeze springing up south All our winds and breezes are perfumed and reason them blow direction The south breeze always has violet odor; the north breeze fragrance of wild roses; the east breeze is perfumed with lilies-of-the-valley west wind with lilac blossoms So no weathervane us the wind is blowing only to smell the perfume and it informs us at once "

Inside the house they found the Ork, and Button-Bright regarded the strange, birdlike creature with curious interest After examining it closely for time he asked:

" does your tail whirl ? "

"Either way," said the Ork

Button-Bright put out his hand and tried to spin it

"Don't ! " exclaimed the Ork

" ? " inquired the boy

"Because it happens my tail, and I reserve the right to whirl it myself," explained the Ork

"Let's go out and fly somewhere," proposed Button- Bright " how the tail works "

"Not now," said the Ork "I appreciate your interest in me, which I fully deserve; but I only fly when going somewhere, and if I got started I stop "

"That reminds me," remarked Cap'n Bill, "to , friend Ork, how going away from here ? "

"Get away ! " exclaimed the Bumpy Man "Why don't you stay here ? You won't find any nicer place than Mo "

" been anywhere else, sir ? "

"No; 't say that ," admitted the Mountain Ear

"Then permit me you're no judge," declared Cap'n Bill "But you haven't answered my question, friend Ork How are we away mountain ? "

The Ork reflected while before he answered

" carry one of you -- the boy or the girl --upon my back," said he, "but three big people are more than manage, although carried two of you for short distance You ought not eaten those purple berries so soon "

"P'r'aps make mistake," Cap'n Bill acknowledged

"Or brought lavender berries , instead of purple ones," suggested Trot regretfully

Cap'n Bill made no reply statement, which showed fully agree little girl; but he fell into deep thought, with wrinkled brows, and finally :

"If those purple berries would make anything grow bigger, whether it'd eaten the lavender ones or not, find way out troubles "

understand this speech and looked old sailor expecting him to explain what he meant But just then chorus of shrill cries rose from outside

"Here ! Let me go -- let me go ! " the voices seemed "Why are we insulted ? Mountain Ear, come and ! "

Trot ran window and looked out

"It's the birds you caught, Cap'n," she said "I didn't know talk "

"Oh, yes; all the birds in Mo are educated ," said the Bumpy Man Then he looked at Cap'n Bill uneasily and added: "Won't you let the poor things go ? "

"I'll see," replied the sailor, and walked out to where the birds were fluttering and complaining because the strings allow them to fly away

"Listen ! " he cried, and at once they became still "We three people strangers in your land want to some other country, and three of you birds to carry us there asking great favor, but it's the only way think of -- excep' walkin', an' I'm not much good because I've wooden leg Besides, Trot an' Button-Bright are too small to undertake long and tiresome journey Now, tell me: Which three of you birds will consent to carry us ? "

The birds looked at one another greatly astonished Then replied: " crazy, old man Not one of us is big enough to fly with even the smallest of your party "

"I'll fix the matter of size," promised Cap'n Bill "If three of agree to carry us, I'll make you big an' strong enough , so it won't worry you bit "

The birds considered this gravely Living in magic country, they had but strange one- legged man could do what After little, asked:

" make us big, would we stay big always ? "

" so," replied Cap'n Bill

They chattered while among themselves and then the bird that had first spoken said: "I'll go, "

"So will I," said another; and after pause third said: "I'll go, too "

Perhaps more volunteered, seemed that for some reason they all longed bigger than they were; but three were enough for Cap'n Bill's purpose and so he promptly released all the others, who immediately flew away

The three that remained were cousins, and all were same brilliant plumage and in size about as large as eagles When Trot questioned them she found they were quite young, having only abandoned their nests few weeks before They were strong young birds, with clear, brave eyes, little girl decided they were the most beautiful of all the feathered creatures she had ever seen

Cap'n Bill now took pocket the wooden box sliding cover and removed the three purple berries, which were still in good condition

"Eat these," , and gave one to each birds They obeyed, finding the fruit very pleasant to taste In few seconds they began to grow in size and grew so fast that Trot feared never stop But they finally did stop growing, and then they were much larger Ork, and nearly the size of full-grown ostriches

Cap'n Bill was much pleased result

" carry us now, all right," said he

The birds strutted around with pride, highly pleased with their immense size

"I don't see, though," said Trot doubtfully, "how we're going to ride on their backs without falling off "

"We're not going to ride on their backs," answered Cap'n Bill "I'm going swings to ride in "

He then asked the Bumpy Man for some rope, but the man had no rope He had, however, an old suit of gray clothes which he gladly presented to Cap'n Bill, who cut the cloth into strips and twisted it so almost as strong as rope material he attached to each bird swing that dangled below its feet, and Button- Bright made trial flight in safe and comfortable When all this arranged birds asked:

"Where wish us you ? "

"Why, just follow the Ork," said Cap'n Bill " our leader, and wherever the Ork flies to fly, and wherever the Ork lands to land satisfactory ? "

The birds declared quite satisfactory, so Cap'n Bill took counsel Ork

" way here," said that peculiar creature, "I noticed broad, sandy desert left of me, on no living thing "

"Then we'd better keep away ," replied the sailor

"Not so," insisted the Ork " found, on my travels, most pleasant countries often lie midst of deserts; so it wise to fly over this desert and discover what lies beyond it For direction we came from lies the ocean, well know, and beyond here strange Land of Mo, which care to explore On one side, as mountain, is broad expanse of plain, and other the desert part, I vote desert "

"What say, Trot ? " inquired Cap'n Bill

"It's all the same ," she replied

No one thought of asking Button-Bright's opinion, so decided to fly over the desert They bade good-bye Bumpy Man and thanked him kindness and hospitality Then they seated themselves swings -- one for each bird -- and told the Ork to start away and follow

The whirl Ork's tail astonished the birds at first, but after he had gone short distance they rose air, carrying their passengers easily, and flew with strong, regular strokes great wings wake leader

Chapter Nine

The Kingdom of Jinxland