The little girl thought bad place birds to lose strength, or cloth ropes way; but although help feeling trifle nervous and fidgety she had confidence huge and brilliantly plumaged bird that bore her, as in Cap'n Bill's knowledge of how to twist and fasten rope so it would hold

That was remarkably big desert nothing to relieve the monotony of view and seemed an hour and every hour day Disagreeable fumes and gases rose sands, which deadly travelers had they not been so high air As , Trot was beginning sick, when breath of fresher air filled her nostrils and on looking ahead she saw great cloud of pink-tinted mist Even while she wondered what it , the Ork plunged boldly mist other birds followed She nothing for time, nor could the bird which carried her see where the Ork had gone, but it kept flying as sturdily as ever and in the mist was passed girl saw most beautiful landscape spread out below her, extending as far as her eye could reach

She saw bits of forest, verdure clothed hills, fields of waving grain, fountains, rivers and lakes; and scene were scattered groups of pretty houses and few grand castles and palaces

Over all this delightful landscape -- which from Trot's high perch seemed like magnificent painted picture -- was rosy glow such sometimes see west at sunset In , however, not west only, but everywhere

No wonder the Ork paused to circle slowly over this lovely country The other birds followed his action, all eyeing the place with equal delight Then, as with one accord, the four formed group and slowly sailed downward This brought them part newly- discovered land which bordered desert's edge; but just as pretty here as anywhere, so the Ork birds alighted three passengers at once got out swings

"Oh, Cap'n Bill, isn't this fine an' dandy ? " exclaimed Trot rapturously "How lucky we were to discover this beautiful country ! "

"The country seems rather high class, I'll admit, Trot," replied the old sailor-man, looking around him, "but we don't know, , what its people are like "

"No one could live country without being happy and good -- I'm sure ," she said earnestly "Don't so, Button-Bright ? "

"I'm not thinking, just now," answered the little boy "It tires me , and I never seem to gain anything When we see the people who live here know what like, and no 'mount of thinking will make them any different "

"That's true enough," said the Ork "But now proposal While getting acquainted new country, which looks it contains everything one happy, like to fly along - - all -- if find my home other side great desert If , stay there, But if I fail Orkland return in week, if do anything more to assist you "

They were sorry to lose their queer companion, but could offer no objection plan; so the Ork bade them good-bye and rising swiftly air, he flew over the country and was soon lost to view distance

The three birds which had carried our friends now begged permission to return they had come, own homes, saying they were anxious to show their families how big they had become So Cap'n Bill and Trot and Button-Bright all thanked them gratefully for their assistance and soon the birds began their long flight toward the Land of Mo Being now left to themselves strange land, the three comrades selected pretty pathway and began walking along it They believed this path would lead them to splendid castle which they espied distance, the turrets towered far above the tops trees which surrounded it It seem very far away, so they sauntered on slowly, admiring the beautiful ferns and flowers that lined the pathway and listening singing birds soft chirping grasshoppers

Presently the path wound over little hill In valley that lay beyond the hill was tiny cottage surrounded by flower beds and fruit trees shady porch cottage they saw, approached, pleasant faced woman sitting amidst group of children, she was telling stories The children quickly discovered the strangers and ran toward them with exclamations of astonishment, Trot and her friends became the center of curious group, all chattering excitedly Cap'n Bill's wooden leg seemed to arouse the wonder children, as understand why he two meat legs This attention seemed the old sailor, who patted the heads children kindly and then, raising his hat woman, he inquired:

" tell us, madam, just what country ? "

She stared hard at all three strangers as she replied briefly: "Jinxland "

"Oh ! " exclaimed Cap'n Bill, with puzzled look "And where is Jinxland, please ? "

" Quadling Country," said she

"What ! " cried Trot, in sudden excitement " Quadling Country Land of Oz ? "

" ," the woman answered "Every bit of land surrounded great desert Land of Oz, ought as ; but I'm sorry that Jinxland is separated rest Quadling Country row of high mountains yonder, such steep sides that no one can cross them So we live here all by ourselves, ruled by our own King, instead of by Ozma of Oz "

"I've been Land of Oz before," said Button- Bright, "but I've never been here "

"Did you ever hear of Jinxland before ? " asked Trot

"No," said Button-Bright

" Map of Oz, though," asserted the woman, "and it's fine country, I assure you If only," she added, and then paused to look around her with frightened expression "If only --" here she stopped again, as daring on with her speech

"If only what, ma'am ? " asked Cap'n Bill

The woman sent the children house Then she came closer strangers and whispered: "If only we had different King, very happy and contented "

"What's the matter with your King ? " asked Trot, curiously But the woman seemed frightened said She retreated to her porch, merely saying:

"The King punishes severely any treason subjects "

"What's treason ? " asked Button-Bright

"In ," replied Cap'n Bill, "treason seems to consist of knockin' the King; but I guess his disposition now as lady had said more "

"I wonder," said Trot, going woman, " spare us something to eat We haven't had anything but popcorn and lemonade "

"Bless your heart ! spare you some food," the woman answered, and entering her cottage she soon returned with tray loaded with sandwiches, cakes and cheese children drew bucket of clear, cold water from spring three wanderers ate heartily and enjoyed the good things immensely

When Button-Bright could eat no more he filled the pockets jacket with cakes and cheese, and not even the children objected Indeed they all seemed pleased the strangers eat, so Cap'n Bill decided that no matter what the King of Jinxland was like, the people would prove friendly and hospitable

"Whose castle , yonder, ma'am ? " he asked, waving his hand toward the towers that rose above the trees

"It belongs Majesty, King Krewl " she said

"Oh, indeed; and does he live there ? "

"When out hunting fierce courtiers and war captains," she replied

"Is he hunting now ? " Trot inquired

" know, my dear The less King's actions the safer "

evident the woman like about King Krewl and so, having finished their meal, they said good-bye and continued along the pathway

"Don't we'd better keep away King's castle, Cap'n ? " asked Trot

"Well," said he, "King Krewl would find out, sooner or later, that country, so face the music now Perhaps he isn't quite so bad woman thinks Kings aren't always popular with their people, , even best they know how "

"Ozma is pop'lar," said Button-Bright

"Ozma is diff'rent from Ruler, from all I've heard," remarked Trot musingly, as she walked beside the boy "And, after all, really Land of Oz, where Ozma rules ev'ry King and ev'rybody else I never heard of anybody getting hurt in her dominions, did you, Button-Bright ? "

"Not when she knows ," he replied "But those birds landed us in just the wrong place, seems They carried us right on, over that row of mountains, Em'rald City "

"True enough," said Cap'n Bill; "but they didn't, an' so best of Jinxland Let's try not afraid "

"Oh, I'm not very scared," said Button-Bright, pausing to look at pink rabbit that popped its head out of hole field near by

"Nor am I," added Trot "Really, Cap'n, I'm so glad anywhere at all wonderful fairyland of Oz that I'm the luckiest girl in all the world Dorothy lives Em'rald City, , and so does the Scarecrow Tin Woodman and Tik-Tok Shaggy Man -- and all the rest of 'em that we've heard about -- not to mention Ozma, be the sweetest and loveliest girl in all the world ! "