"No! this is not my country. It's a place I have never
seen before, although I have wandered far and wide. It
seems to be all mountains and deserts and green valleys
and queer cities and lakes and rivers --mixed up in a
very puzzling way."
"Most countries are like that," commented Cap'n Bill.
"Are you going to land?"
"Pretty soon," was the reply. "There is a mountain
peak just ahead of me. What do you say to our landing on
that?"
"All right," agreed the sailor-man, for both he and
Trot were getting tired of riding in the sunbonnet and
longed to set foot on solid ground again.
So in a few minutes the Ork slowed down his speed and
then came to a stop so easily that they were scarcely
jarred at all. Then the creature squatted down until the
sunbonnet rested on the ground, and began trying to
unfasten with its claws the knotted strings.
This proved a very clumsy task, because the strings
were tied at the back of the Ork's neck, just where his
claws would not easily reach. After much fumbling he
said:
"I'm afraid I can't let you out, and there is no one
near to help me."
This was at first discouraging, but after a little
thought Cap'n Bill said:
"If you don't mind, Trot, I can cut a slit in your
sunbonnet with my knife."
"Do," she replied. "The slit won't matter, 'cause I can
sew it up again afterward, when I am big."
So Cap'n Bill got out his knife, which was just as
small, in proportion, as he was, and after considerable
trouble managed to cut a long slit in the sunbonnet.
First he squeezed through the opening himself and
then helped Trot to get out.
|