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savings and more inspiring flavors. Of

6:02

course. Why,

6:05

of course, he asked. Because

6:08

it's the biggest lot of water in all the world. How

6:12

do you know? Captain

6:14

Bill told me, she said. Who's

6:18

Captain Bill? An

6:21

old sailor man who's a friend of mine. He

6:24

lives at my house, too. The White House,

6:26

you see over there on the block. Oh,

6:30

is that your home? Yeah,

6:33

said Trot proudly. Isn't

6:36

it pretty? It's

6:39

pretty small, seems to me, answered the boy.

6:44

But it's big enough for mother and me, and

6:46

for Captain Bill, said Trot. Haven't

6:50

you any farther? Yes,

6:54

indeed. Captain Griffith is

6:56

my father, but he's gone most

6:58

of the time, sailing on his ship. He

7:01

must be a stranger in these parts, little

7:03

boy. Not to know about Captain Griffith, she

7:05

added, looking at her new

7:07

acquaintance intently. Trot

7:14

wasn't very big or so, but

7:17

the boy was not quite as big as Trot. He

7:20

was thin, with a rather pale complexion,

7:23

and his blue eyes were round and earnest. He

7:28

wore a blouse waist, a short

7:30

jacket, and knickerbockers. Under

7:35

his arm, he held an old umbrella that was

7:37

as tall as he was. Its

7:40

covering had once been of a thick brown

7:42

cloth, but the color had

7:45

faded to a dull drab except in

7:47

the creases, and Trot

7:49

thought it looked very old-fashioned and common.

7:54

The handle, though, was really curious. It

7:58

was a void, and carved to resemble. very

18:00

seriously. That's

18:02

it, he said. Oh,

18:06

an airship, eh? Cried Captain

18:08

Bill in surprise. I've

18:11

heard him tell them sky-courages. Something

18:14

like flying automobiles, ain't they? I

18:19

don't know, said Button Bright. I've never seen one.

18:24

Both Trot and Captain Bill now looked at the

18:26

boy in astonishment. Now,

18:30

let me think a minute, said the sailor

18:32

reflectively. Here's a

18:34

riddle for us to guess, Trot. He

18:37

dropped from the sky, he says, and

18:39

yet he didn't come in an airship. Riddle

18:44

come, riddle ree, what can the

18:46

answer be? Trot

18:50

looked the boy over carefully. She

18:53

didn't see any wings on him. The

18:55

only queer thing about him was his big umbrella. Oh,

19:00

she said suddenly, clapping her hands together.

19:03

I know now. Do

19:06

you, asked Captain Bill, doubtfully. Then

19:10

you're some smarter than your eye on me. He

19:15

sailed down with the umbrella, she cried. He

19:18

used his umbrella as a para, para. Shoot,

19:22

said Captain Bill. They're

19:25

called parachutes, mate. But

19:27

why, I can't say. Did

19:30

you drop down in that way, my lad? He asked

19:32

the boy. Yes,

19:37

said Button Bright. That

19:39

was the way. But

19:42

how did you get up there, asked Trot. You

19:46

had to get up in the air before you could drop down,

19:48

and oh, Captain

19:50

Bill. He says

19:52

he's from Philadelphia, which is a

19:54

big city way at the other end of America. Are

19:59

you? asked the sailor, surprised.

20:04

Buttonbright nodded again. I

20:07

have to tell you my story, he said, and

20:10

then you'd understand. But

20:12

I'm afraid you won't believe me, and... he

20:17

suddenly broke off and looked toward

20:19

the White House in the distance. Didn't

20:22

you say you lived over there, he inquired?

20:27

Yes, I try. Won't

20:29

you come home with us? I'd

20:32

like to, replied Buttonbright. All

20:36

right, let's go then, said the girl, jumping

20:38

up. The

20:42

three walked silently along the path. The

20:45

old sailor man had refilled his pipe and lighted it again, and

20:49

he smoked thoughtfully as he pegged alongside the children.

20:55

Know anyone around here? Yes, Buttonbright. Know

20:59

one but you two, said the boy, following

21:02

after a try, with his umbrella

21:04

tucked carefully underneath his arm. And

21:09

you don't know us very well, remarked Captain Bell.

21:13

Seems to me you're pretty young to be

21:15

traveling so far away from home and among

21:17

strangers. But

21:19

I won't say anything more till we've heard your story.

21:23

Then, if you need my advice, or

21:26

Trot's advice, she's a wise

21:28

little girl for her size, Trot is. We'll

21:31

freely give it and be glad to help you.

21:36

Thank you, replied Buttonbright. I

21:39

need a lot of things, I'm sure. And

21:41

perhaps advice is wonderful. Chapter

21:49

2 The Magic Umbrella

21:56

When they reached the neat frame cottage which stood

21:58

on the high bluff, from

22:00

the sea and was covered with pretty

22:02

green vines. A woman came

22:04

to the door to meet them. She

22:08

seemed motherly and good, and

22:11

when she saw a button bright she exclaimed,

22:14

Goodness me, who's this

22:16

you've got, Tron? It's

22:19

a boy I've just found, explained the girl.

22:22

He lives way off in Philadelphia. Mercy

22:27

sakes alive, cried Mrs. Griffith, looking

22:30

into his upturned face. I

22:33

don't believe he's had a bite to eat since he started.

22:36

Aren't you a hungry child? Yes,

22:40

said Button Bright. Run,

22:44

Tron, and get two slices

22:46

of bread and butter, commanded Mrs. Griffith.

22:49

Cut him thick, dear, and use

22:51

plenty of butter. Sugar

22:55

on him, asked Tron, turning to obey.

22:59

No, said Button Bright. Just

23:02

bread and butter is good enough when you're hungry, and

23:05

it takes time to spread sugar on. We'll

23:10

have supper in an hour, observed Trot's

23:13

mother briskly. But

23:15

a hungry child can't wait a whole hour, I'm sure.

23:19

What are you grinning at, Captain Bill? How

23:22

dare you laugh when I'm talking? Stop

23:25

at this minute, you old pirate, or

23:28

I'll know the reason why. I

23:32

didn't, Mom, said Captain Bill

23:34

Meekly. I only... Stop

23:38

right there, sir. How

23:40

dare you speak when I'm talking? She

23:43

turned to Button Bright, and her

23:45

tone changed to one of much gentleness, as

23:47

she said. Come

23:49

in the house, my poor boy, and

23:52

rest yourself. Now, you

23:54

seem tired, Al. Here,

23:57

give me that clumsy umbrella. No,

24:01

please," said Botanbrite, holding the

24:03

umbrella tighter. Then

24:09

put it in the rack behind the doors, she urged. The

24:14

boy seemed a little frightened. I…

24:18

I'd rather keep it with me if you please,

24:20

he pleaded. Never

24:24

mind, Captain Bill ventured to say. It

24:27

won't worry him so much to hold the umbrella,

24:29

Mom, as to let it go. Guess

24:33

he's afraid he'll lose him, but

24:35

it ain't any great shakes to my notion. Why,

24:40

see here, Botanbrite, we've got

24:42

half a dozen umbrellas in the closet, that's

24:44

better than yours. Perhaps,

24:48

said the boy, yours may

24:51

look a heap better, sir, but I'll

24:53

keep this one, if you please. Where

24:58

did he get it? asked Trot, appearing

25:00

just then with a plate of bread and butter. It…

25:06

It belongs in our family, said Botanbrite,

25:08

beginning to eat, and speaking between

25:11

bites. This

25:14

umbrella has been in our family years

25:16

and years and years, but

25:19

it was tucked away up in her attic, and

25:21

no one ever used it because it wasn't pretty. Don't

25:27

blame a much, remarked Captain Bill, gazing

25:29

at it curiously. It's

25:32

a pretty old-looking bumbershoo. They

25:36

were all seated in the vine-shaded porch of

25:38

the cottage, all by

25:40

Mrs. Griffith, who had gone into

25:42

the kitchen to look after the supper. And

25:45

Trot was on one side of the boy, holding

25:48

the plate for him, while Captain Bill

25:50

sat on the other side. One

25:57

of my great-great-grandfathers was a knight.

26:00

An Arabian night, and

26:02

it was he who first found this umbrella. An

26:07

Arabian night exclaimed Tra. Why,

26:10

that was a magic night, wasn't it? There's

26:15

different sorts of nights, may, said

26:17

the sailor, and the night,

26:19

but in bright means, ain't the

26:21

same night you mean. Soldiers

26:24

used to be called nights, but

26:27

thou were in the dark ages, I

26:29

guess, and likely enough, Buttonbright's

26:31

great-grandfather were that sort of

26:33

night. But

26:36

he said an Arabian night persisted

26:38

Tra. Well,

26:42

if he went to Arabia or was born there,

26:45

he'd be an Arabian night, wouldn't he? The

26:49

lad's grandfather were probably a foreigner, and

26:52

yours and mine were too, Tra, if you go

26:54

back far enough. For

26:56

America wasn't discovered in them days.

27:03

There, said Tra triumphantly, didn't

27:06

I tell you, Buttonbright, that Captain

27:08

Bill knows everything? He

27:12

knows a lot, I expect, soberly

27:14

answered the boy, finishing the

27:16

last slice of bread and butter, and

27:18

then looking at the empty plate with a sigh. But

27:23

if he really knows everything, he knows about the magic

27:25

umbrella, so I won't have to

27:27

tell you anything about it. Magic,

27:32

cried Tra with big, eager eyes.

27:36

Did you say magic umbrella, Buttonbright? I

27:41

said magic, but none of

27:43

our family knew it was a magic umbrella, till I found it

27:45

out for myself. You're the

27:47

first people I've told the

27:49

secret to, he added, glancing

27:52

into their faces rather uneasily. Glory

27:57

me, exclaimed the girl. clapping

28:00

your hands in ecstasy. It

28:03

must be just elegant to have a magic

28:05

umbrella. Captain

28:08

Bill caught. He

28:11

had a way of coughing when he was suspicious. Magic,

28:15

he observed gravely, was once lying

28:17

around loose in the world. That

28:20

was in the Dark Ages, I guess, when

28:23

the magic Arabian Nights was. But

28:26

the light of civilization has scared it away long ago, and

28:30

magic's been a lost star since long before you and I was

28:32

born, Trot. I

28:37

know that fairy is still there, said Trot reflectively. She

28:42

didn't like to contradict Captain Bill, who knew everything. So

28:48

do I, as Sput and Bright, that

28:50

I know there's magic still in the

28:52

world, or in my umbrella anyhow. Tell

28:55

us about it, begged the girl excitedly.

29:02

Well, said the boy, I found it all out by

29:04

accident. I reigned

29:07

in Philadelphia for three whole days, and

29:10

all the umbrellas in our house were carried out by the family, and

29:12

lost or mist laid or something. It's

29:17

then when I wanted to go to town to Uncle Bob's house, which

29:20

is that German town, there

29:22

wasn't an umbrella to be found. My

29:25

governess wouldn't let me go without one, and...

29:30

Oh, said Trot, do

29:32

you have a governess? Yes,

29:37

but I don't like her. She's

29:40

cross. She said

29:42

I couldn't go to Uncle Bob's house because I

29:44

had no umbrella. Instead,

29:47

she told me to go up in the attic and play. I

29:51

was sorry about that, but

29:53

I went up into the attic, and pretty soon I found

29:55

in a corner of this old umbrella. I

29:59

didn't care about it. how I looked. It

30:02

was whole and strong and big. It

30:04

would keep me from getting wet on the way to Uncle

30:06

Bob's. So

30:08

off I started for the car, but

30:11

I found the streets awful muddy, and

30:14

once I stepped in a mud hole way up

30:16

to my ankle. Gee,

30:18

I said, I wish

30:20

I could fly through the air to Uncle Bob's. I

30:26

was holding up the open umbrella when I

30:28

said that, and as soon as I spoke,

30:31

the umbrella began lifting me up into the

30:33

air. I

30:37

was awful scared at first, but

30:39

I held on tight to the handle, and

30:41

it didn't pull very much either. I

30:45

was going pretty fast, for when

30:47

I looked down all the big buildings were sliding

30:49

past me so swift that it made me dizzy.

30:53

Before I really knew what had happened, the

30:56

umbrella settled down and stood me on my

30:58

feet at Uncle Bob's front gate. I

31:04

didn't tell anybody about the wonderful thing that

31:06

had happened, because I thought no one would

31:08

believe me. Uncle

31:11

Bob looked sharp at the thing and said, Buttonbright,

31:15

how did your father happen to let you take that

31:17

umbrella? He

31:20

didn't, I said. Father

31:22

was away at the office, so I

31:24

found it in the attic and I just took it. Then

31:29

Uncle Bob shook his head and said I had to

31:31

leave it alone. He

31:34

said it was a family relic that

31:36

had been handed down from my father to

31:38

son for many generations. But

31:42

I told him my father had never handed it to me, though

31:44

I'm his son. Uncle

31:48

Bob said our family always believed that and

31:50

brought him good luck to own this umbrella.

31:53

He couldn't say why, not knowing

31:56

its early history, but

31:58

he was afraid that if I lost my son, I'd lost the umbrella. Bad

32:01

luck would happen to us. So

32:04

he made me go right home to put the umbrella

32:06

back where I got it. I

32:10

was sorry Uncle Bob was so cross, and

32:12

I didn't want to go home yet, or the governess

32:15

was crosser than he was. I wonder

32:18

why folks get cross when it rains. But

32:22

by the time it had stopped raining, for

32:24

a while, anyhow, and Uncle

32:26

Bob told me to go straight home and put

32:28

the umbrella in the attic and never

32:30

touch it again. When

32:35

I was around the corner, I thought I'd

32:37

see if I could fly as I had before.

32:41

I'd heard of Buffalo, but

32:43

I didn't know just where it was, so I

32:46

said to the umbrella, take me to Buffalo. Up

32:51

in the air I went, just as soon

32:53

as I said it, and the

32:55

umbrella sailed so fast that I

32:57

felt as if I was in a gale of wind. It

33:04

was a long, long trip, and

33:06

I got awful tired of holding on to the handle.

33:10

But just as I thought I'd have to let go, I began

33:13

to drop down slowly, and

33:15

then I found myself in the streets of a big

33:18

city. I

33:20

put down the umbrella, then asked a man

33:22

what the name of the city was, and

33:24

he said, Buffalo. How

33:29

wonderful, gas, trot. Captain

33:32

Bill kept on smoking and said nothing.

33:37

It was magic, I'm sure, said Buttonbright.

33:40

It surely couldn't have been anything else. Perhaps,

33:44

suggested trot, the

33:46

umbrella can do other magic things. No,

33:50

said the boy, I've tried it. When

33:53

I landed in Buffalo, I was hot

33:55

and thirsty. I had ten

33:57

cents car fare, but I was afraid of it.

34:00

to spend it. So I

34:02

held up the umbrella, then I wished I had an

34:04

ice cream soda. But I didn't

34:06

get it. Then I wished

34:08

for a nickel to buy an ice cream soda with. But

34:11

I didn't get that either. I

34:14

got frightened and was afraid the umbrella didn't have

34:16

any magic left. So to

34:19

try it, I said, take me

34:21

to Chicago. I

34:24

didn't want to go to Chicago, but

34:26

that was the first place I thought of. And

34:28

I soon saw this was going to be another long

34:31

journey, so I called out to

34:33

the umbrella. Never mind. Stop.

34:37

I guess I won't go to Chicago. I've

34:39

changed my mind. So take me

34:41

home again. But

34:44

the umbrella wouldn't. It

34:46

kept right on flying, and I

34:48

shot my eyes and held on. At

34:53

last I landed in Chicago, and then I was

34:55

in a pretty fix. It was

34:57

nearly dark, and I was too tired and

34:59

hungry to make the trip home again. I

35:03

knew I'd get an awful scolding, too, for

35:06

running away and taking the family luck with

35:08

me. So I

35:10

thought that as long as I was in for it, I'd

35:12

better see a good deal of the country while I had

35:14

the chance. I

35:17

wouldn't be allowed to come away again, you know. No,

35:21

of course not, said Try. I

35:25

bought some buns and milk with my ten cents, and

35:28

then I walked around the streets of Chicago for

35:30

a time and afterwards, left on a bench in

35:32

one of the parks. In

35:36

the morning, I tried to get the umbrella

35:38

to give me a magic breakfast, but

35:41

I won't do anything but fly. I

35:44

went to a house and asked a woman for something

35:46

to eat, and she gave

35:48

me all I wanted and advised me to go

35:50

straight home before my mother worried about me. She

35:54

didn't know I lived in Philadelphia. That

35:57

was this morning. This

36:01

morning, exclaimed Captain Bell, while

36:04

at it takes three or

36:06

four days for railroad trains to get to

36:09

this coast from Chicago. I

36:12

know, replied Buttonbright, but

36:15

I didn't come on a railroad train. This

36:18

umbrella goes faster than any train ever did.

36:22

This morning, I flew from Chicago to

36:24

Denver, but no one there would

36:26

give me any lunch. A

36:29

policeman said he'd put me in jail if he caught

36:31

me begging, so I got away

36:33

and told the umbrella to take me to the Pacific

36:35

Ocean. When

36:38

I stopped, I landed over there by the

36:40

big rock. I shut up

36:42

the umbrella and saw a girl sitting on the rock,

36:45

so I went up and spoke to her. That's

36:51

all. Goodness me, said Try. If

36:53

that isn't a fairy story, I never

36:56

heard one. It

36:59

is a fairy story, agreed Buttonbright. Anyhow,

37:03

it's a magic story, and

37:05

the funny part of it is, it's true. I

37:09

hope you believe me, but I

37:11

don't know as I'd believe it myself if

37:13

it hadn't been me that it happened to. I

37:17

believe every word of it, declared Try, earnestly.

37:22

As for me, said Captain Bill slowly, I'm

37:25

going to believe it too, by

37:27

and by, when I've seen the umbrella

37:30

fly once. You'll

37:33

see me fly away with it, assert of the boy.

37:37

But at present, it's pretty late

37:39

in the day, when Philadelphia's a good

37:41

way all. Do

37:44

you suppose, Try, your mother would let me stay

37:46

here all night? Of

37:49

course she would, answered Try. We've

37:52

got an extra room with a nice bed in it, and

37:54

we'd love to have you stay just as long as you want

37:56

to. Couldn't we, Captain Bill? "'Right

38:01

you are, mate,' replied the old man, nodding

38:04

his bald head. Whether

38:06

the umbrella is magic or not, Buttonbright

38:09

is welcome." Miss

38:13

Griffith came out soon after and seconded

38:16

the invitation, so

38:18

the boy felt quite at home in the little cottage. It

38:22

was not long before supper was on the table,

38:25

and in spite of all the bread and butter

38:27

he had eaten, Buttonbright

38:29

had a fine appetite for the good things

38:31

Trotts mother had cooked. Mrs.

38:35

Griffith was very kind to the children, but

38:37

not quite so agreeable toward poor

38:39

Captain Bill. When

38:44

the old sailor man at one time spilled some

38:46

tea on the tablecloth, Trotts mother

38:49

flew angry and gave the culprit such

38:51

a tongue-lashing that Buttonbright was sorry for

38:53

him. But

38:56

Captain Bill was meek and made no

38:58

reply. "'He's used

39:00

to it,' whispered Trotts to her new friend.

39:03

And indeed, Captain Bill took it

39:06

all cheerfully, never mind it a bit."

39:11

Then it came Trotts' turn to get a scolding. When

39:14

she opened the parcels she had bought at the village,

39:17

it was found she had selected the wrong color

39:19

of yarn. Mrs. Griffith

39:21

was so provoked that Trotts' scolding was

39:23

almost as severe as that of Captain

39:25

Bill. Tears

39:29

came to the little girl's eyes, and

39:31

to comfort her the boy promised to take her

39:34

to the village next morning with his

39:36

magic umbrella so she could exchange

39:38

the yarn for the right color. Trotts

39:43

quickly brightened at this promise, although

39:46

Captain Bill looked grave and shook his

39:48

head solemnly. When

39:51

supper was over and Trotts had helped

39:53

with the dishes, she joined Buttonbright

39:56

and the Sailor Man on the little

39:58

porch again. Dusk

40:01

had fallen, and the moon

40:03

was just rising. They

40:05

all sat in silence for a time and watched

40:07

the silver trail that topped the crest of the

40:09

waves far out to sea. Oh,

40:14

Buttonbright cried the little girl

40:16

presently, I'm so glad you're going to let

40:19

me fly with you to town and

40:21

back tomorrow. Won't

40:23

be fine, Captain Bill. Don't

40:26

know Trot, said he. I can't

40:29

figure how both of you can hold on to the handle

40:31

of that umbrella. Trot's

40:34

face fell. I'll

40:37

hold on to the handle, said Buttonbright, and

40:39

she can hold on to me. It doesn't

40:42

pull hard at all. You

40:44

have no idea how easy it is to fly that way after

40:46

you get used to it. But

40:50

Trot ain't used to it, objected the

40:52

sailor. If she happened to lose her hold and let

40:54

go, it's

40:56

goodbye Trot. I

40:58

don't like to risk it, for Trot's my

41:00

chum, and I can't afford to lose her. Can

41:05

you tie us together then, and ask the boy? We'll

41:09

see, we'll see, replied Captain Bill,

41:11

and began to think very deeply. He

41:15

forgot that he didn't believe the umbrella

41:18

could fly, and after Buttonbright and Trot had

41:20

both gone to bed, the old

41:22

sailor went out to the shed and

41:24

worked a while before he too turned into his

41:26

bunk. The

41:29

Sandman wasn't around, and

41:31

Captain Bill lay awake for hours thinking

41:33

of the strange tale of the magic

41:35

umbrella before he finally sank into slumber.

41:39

Then he dreamed about it, and waking or dreaming, he

41:43

found the tale hard to believe. Chapter

41:50

3 A Wonderful Experience

41:57

They had early breakfasts at Trot's

41:59

house because of the as they all went to bed early. And

42:02

it is possible to sleep only a certain number

42:04

of hours if one is healthy and body in

42:06

mind. And

42:09

right after breakfast, Trot claimed

42:11

Buttonbright's promise to take her to town

42:13

with the magic umbrella. "'Anytime

42:17

suits me,' said the boy. He

42:20

had taken his precious umbrella to bed with him and

42:23

even carried it to the breakfast table where

42:25

he stood it between his knees as he ate. So

42:30

now he held it close to him and

42:32

said he was ready to fly at a moment's notice. This

42:36

confidence impressed Cap'n Bill, who

42:39

said with a sigh, "'Well, if

42:42

you must go, Trot, I

42:44

provided a machine that'll carry you both

42:46

comfortable. I'm somewhat

42:48

of an inventor myself, but

42:51

there ain't any magic about me.' Then

42:55

he brought from the shed the contrivance he made

42:57

the night before. It

43:02

was merely a swing seat. He had taken a wide

43:04

board that was just long enough for both the boy and girl

43:07

to sit upon, and it

43:10

bore six holes in it, two

43:12

holes at each end and two in the middle. Through

43:17

these holes, he had run stout ropes in such a way

43:19

that the seat could not turn and the occupants could hold

43:21

onto the ropes on

43:23

either side of them. The

43:27

ropes were all knotted together at the top. But

43:30

there was a loo that could be hooked upon

43:32

the crooked handle of the umbrella. Buttonbright

43:36

and Trot both thought Cap'n Bill's

43:39

invention very clever. The

43:42

sailor placed the board upon the ground while they

43:44

sat in their places. Buttonbright

43:47

met the right of Trot, and

43:49

then the boy hooked the rope loop to the handle of

43:51

the umbrella, which he spread wide

43:53

open. I

43:57

want to go to the town over yonder, he said. pointing

44:00

with his finger to the roofs of the houses that

44:02

showed around the bend in the cliff. At

44:07

once the umbrella rose into the air, slowly

44:10

at first, but quickly

44:12

gathering speed. Trough

44:15

and button bright held fast to the ropes and

44:18

were carried along very easily and comfortably. It

44:21

seemed scarcely a minute before they were in the town,

44:25

and when the umbrella set them down just

44:27

in front of the store, for it seemed to know

44:29

where they wanted to go, a wondering

44:31

crowd gathered around them. Trott

44:35

ran in and changed the yarn, while button

44:37

bright stayed outside and stared at the people

44:40

who stared at him. They

44:43

asked questions too, wanting

44:45

to know what sort of an airplane this was

44:48

and where his power was stored and lots

44:50

of other things, but

44:52

the boy answered not a sound. When

44:57

the little girl came back and took her seat,

44:59

button bright said, I

45:01

want to go to Trott's house. The

45:05

simple villagers could not understand how the

45:07

umbrella suddenly lifted the two children into

45:10

the air and carried them away. They

45:13

had read of airships, but here

45:15

was something wholly beyond their comprehension. Captain

45:20

Bill had stood in front of the house, watching

45:23

with a feeling akin to bewilderment the

45:25

flight of the magic umbrella. He

45:28

could follow its course until it descended

45:30

into the village, and he

45:32

was so amazed and absorbed that his pipe

45:34

went out. The

45:40

sailors' big blue eyes watched it draw

45:42

near and settle down with its passengers

45:44

upon just the spot it had started

45:46

from. Trott

45:49

was joyous and greatly excited.

45:53

Oh, captain, it's glorious,

45:55

she cried in ecstasy. It beats

45:59

riding to both. with

50:00

her work, knew nothing of what was going on

50:02

in regard to the flight of the magic umbrella.

50:07

She never objected when Trott wanted to go

50:09

away with Cap and Bill for a day's

50:11

picnicking. She knew

50:13

the child was perfectly safe with the old sailor,

50:16

who cared for Trott even better than her mother would

50:18

have done. If

50:21

she had asked any questions today and

50:23

had found out they intended to fly in the air, she

50:26

might have seriously objected. But

50:29

Mrs. Griffith had her mind on other things and

50:32

merely told the girl to take what she wanted from

50:34

the cupboard and not to bother her. So

50:38

Trott, remembering that Buttonbright would

50:40

be with them and it proved

50:42

himself to be a hearty eater, loaded

50:44

the basket with all the good things she could find. By

50:52

the time she came out, lugging the

50:54

basket with both hands, Cap and

50:56

Bill appeared with a new seat he had made for

50:58

his own use, which he attached

51:00

by means of robes to the double seat of

51:02

the boy and girl. Now

51:06

then, where will we go, asked

51:08

Trott. Anywhere

51:10

suits me, replied Cap and Bill. They

51:15

had walked to the high block overlooking the sea, where

51:18

a gigantic acacia tree stood on the very edge. A

51:23

sea had been built around the trunk of the tree, for this

51:26

was a favorite spot for Trott and Cap and

51:28

Bill to sit and talk and watch the fleet

51:30

of fishing boats sail to and from the village.

51:32

When they came to this

51:36

tree, Trott was still trying to think of the most

51:38

pleasant place to picnic. She

51:41

and Cap and Bill had

51:43

been every place that was desirable and nearby, but

51:46

today they didn't want a nearby spot. They

51:52

must decide upon one far enough away to afford them a fine trip through

51:54

the air. Looking

51:57

far away, the sea was not as high

51:59

as the sea, Far out over the Pacific, the

52:02

girl's eyes fell upon a dim island lying

52:04

on the horizon line just where the sky

52:06

and water seemed to meet, and

52:08

the sight gave her an idea. Oh,

52:13

Captain Bill, she exclaimed, let's

52:15

go to that island for our picnic. We've

52:18

never been there yet, you know. The

52:22

sailor shook his head. It's

52:24

a good many miles away at Trot, he said, further

52:27

than it looks to be from here. That

52:31

won't matter, remarked Buttonbrite. The

52:34

umbrella will carry us there in no time. Let's

52:38

go, repeated Trot. We'll never

52:40

have another such a chance, Captain. It's

52:43

too far to sail a row, and

52:45

I've always wanted to visit that island. What's

52:49

the name of it? inquired Buttonbrite while

52:52

the sailor hesitated to decide. It's

52:56

got an awful hard name to pronounce, replied the girl.

52:59

So, Captain Bill and I just call it Sky Island,

53:03

because it looks as if it was half in the sky. We've

53:06

been told it's a very pretty island, and

53:09

few people live there, and keep

53:11

cows and goats and fish for a living. There

53:14

are woods and pastures and springs of clear water,

53:17

and I'm sure we could

53:19

find a defined place for a picnic. If

53:25

anything happened on the way, observed Captain,

53:28

we drop in the

53:30

water. Of course, said Trot,

53:33

if anything happened while we were flying over the land, we

53:35

drop there, but

53:38

nothing's going to happen, Captain.

53:40

Didn't Buttonbrite come safe all the way

53:42

from Philadelphia? I

53:46

think I'd like to go to Sky Island, said the boy.

53:49

I've always flown above the land so far, and

53:52

it will be something new to fly over the ocean. All

53:57

right, I'm agreeable, decided Captain

53:59

Bill. Looking

56:03

downward, Captain Bill suddenly

56:05

exclaimed, Why, does a

56:08

boat cast loose and it's gonna smash

56:10

on those rocks? Hold

56:12

on a minute, button bright, till we

56:15

can land and drag

56:17

it ashore. Hold on a

56:19

minute, Umbrella, cried the boy, but

56:22

the magic umbrella kept steadily upon its way.

56:26

I made a circle over the cove and

56:29

then started straight back to

56:31

the way it had come.

56:33

It's no use, sir, said button bright to

56:35

the sailor. If I

56:37

once tell it to go to a certain place, the

56:40

umbrella will go there and nowhere else. I

56:43

found that out before this. You

56:46

simply can't stop it. Won't

56:50

let you change your mind, eh? replied Captain

56:52

Bill. Well, that

56:55

has its advantages and

56:57

its disadvantages. If

56:59

your old umbrella hadn't been so obstinate, we

57:02

could have saved the boat. Never

57:06

mind, said Trot briskly, here

57:08

we are safe back again. Wasn't

57:11

it just the fascinating

57:13

ride you ever took, Captain? It's

57:18

pretty good fun, admitted Captain Bill. Beats

57:21

them aeroplanes and things all holler, because

57:24

they don't need any regulating. If

57:29

we're going to that island, we may as well

57:31

start right away, said button bright, when they'd safely

57:33

landed. All

57:36

right, I'll tie on the lunch basket,

57:38

answered the sailor. He

57:41

fastened it so it'd swing underneath his own sea,

57:44

and they all took their places again. Ready?

57:49

asked the boy. Let

57:51

her go, my lad. I

57:54

want to go to Sky Island, said button bright

57:57

to the umbrella, using the name

57:59

Trot had given him.