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〃Let's go and find the berries；〃 said the Ork。
They said nothing to Pessim； who was sitting on his
stool and scowling dismally as he stared at the ocean；
but started at once to seek the trees that bore the magic
fruits。 The Ork remembered very well where the lavender
berries grew and led his companions quickly to the spot。
Cap'n Bill gathered two berries and placed them
carefully in his pocket。 Then they went around to the
east side of the island and found the tree that bore the
dark purple berries。
〃I guess I'll take four of these；〃 said the sailor…man；
so in case one doesn't make us grow big we can eat
another。〃
〃Better take six；〃 advised the Ork。 〃It's well to
be on the safe side； and I'm sure these trees grow
nowhere else in all the world。〃
So Cap'n Bill gathered six of the purple berries and
with their precious fruit they returned to the shed to
big good…bye to Pessim。 Perhaps they would not have
granted the surly little man this courtesy had they not
wished to use him to tie the sunbonnet around the Ork's
neck。
When Pessim learned they were about to leave him he at
first looked greatly pleased； but he suddenly recollected
that nothing ought to please him and so began to grumble
about being left alone。
〃We knew it wouldn't suit you；〃 remarked Cap'n Bill。
〃It didn't suit you to have us here； and it won't suit
you to have us go away。〃
〃That is quite true；〃 admitted Pessim。 〃I haven't been
suited since I can remember； so it doesn't matter to me
in the least whether you go or stay。〃
He was interested in their experiment； however； and
willingly agreed to assist； although he prophesied
they would fall out of the sunbonnet on their way and
be either drowned in the ocean or crushed upon some
rocky shore。 This uncheerful prospect did not daunt
Trot； but it made Cap'n Bill quite nervous。
〃I will eat my berry first；〃 said Trot； as she placed
her sunbonnet on the ground； in such manner that they
could get into it。
Then she ate the lavender berry and in a few seconds
became so small that Cap'n Bill picked her up gently with
his thumb and one finger and placed her in the middle of
the sunbonnet。 Then he placed beside her the six purple
berries each one being about as big as the tiny Trot's
head and all preparations being now made the old
sailor ate his lavender berry and became very small
wooden leg and all！
Cap'n Bill stumbled sadly in trying to climb over the
edge of the sunbonnet and pitched in beside Trot
headfirst； which caused the unhappy Pessim to laugh with
glee。 Then the King of the Island picked up the sunbonnet
so rudely that he shook its occupants like peas in a
pod and tied it； by means of its strings； securely
around the Ork's neck。
〃I hope； Trot； you sewed those strings on tight；〃 said
Cap'n Bill anxiously。
〃Why； we are not very heavy； you know；〃 she replied；
〃so I think the stitches will hold。 But be careful and
not crush the berries； Cap'n。〃
〃One is jammed already；〃 he said； looking at them。
〃All ready？〃 asked the Ork。
〃Yes！〃 they cried together； and Pessim came close to
the sunbonnet and called out to them： 〃You'll be smashed
or drowned； I'm sure you will！ But farewell； and good
riddance to you。〃
The Ork was provoked by this unkind speech； so he
turned his tail toward the little man and made it revolve
so fast that the rush of air tumbled Pessim over backward
and he rolled several times upon the ground before he
could stop himself and sit up。 By that time the Ork was
high in the air and speeding swiftly over the ocean。
Chapter Six
The Flight of the Midgets
Cap'n Bill and Trot rode very comfortably in the
sunbonnet。 The motion was quite steady； for they
weighed so little that the Ork flew without effort。 Yet
they were both somewhat nervous about their future
fate and could not help wishing they were safe on
land and their natural size again。
〃You're terr'ble small； Trot；〃 remarked Cap'n Bill；
looking at his companion。
〃Same to you； Cap'n；〃 she said with a laugh； 〃but
as long as we have the purple berries we needn't
worry about our size。〃
〃In a circus；〃 mused the old man； 〃we'd be curiosities。
But in a sunbonnet high up in the air sailin' over a
big； unknown ocean they ain't no word in any
booktionary to describe us。〃
〃Why； we're midgets； that's all；〃 said the little girl。
The Ork flew silently for a long time。 The slight swaying
of the sunbonnet made Cap'n Bill drowsy； and he began to
doze。 Trot； however； was wide awake； and after enduring
the monotonous journey as long as she was able she called
out：
〃Don't you see land anywhere； Mr。 Ork？〃
〃Not yet；〃 he answered。 〃This is a big ocean and I've
no idea in which direction the nearest land to that
island lies； but if I keep flying in a straight line I'm
sure to reach some place some time。〃
That seemed reasonable； so the little people in the
sunbonnet remained as patient as possible； that is； Cap'n
Bill dozed and Trot tried to remember her geography
lessons so she could figure out what land they were
likely to arrive at。
For hours and hours the Ork flew steadily； keeping to
the straight line and searching with his eyes the horizon
of the ocean for land。 Cap'n Bill was fast asleep and
snoring and Trot had laid her head on his shoulder to
rest it when suddenly the Ork exclaimed：
〃There！ I've caught a glimpse of land； at last。〃
At this announcement they roused themselves。 Cap'n Bill
stood up and tried to peek over the edge of the
sunbonnet。
〃What does it look like？〃 he inquired。
〃Looks like another island；〃 said the Ork； 〃but I can
judge it better in a minute or two。〃
〃I don't care much for islands； since we visited that
other one；〃 declared Trot。
Soon the Ork made another announcement。
〃It is surely an island； and a little one； too；〃 said
he。 〃But I won't stop； because I see a much bigger land
straight ahead of it。〃
〃That's right；〃 approved Cap'n Bill。 〃The bigger the
land； the better it will suit us。〃
〃It's almost a continent；〃 continued the Ork after a
brief silence； during which he did not decrease the speed
of his flight。 〃I wonder if i