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the pool or they would not bite the crab bait。 But
Cap'n Bill was an old fisherman and not easily
discouraged。 When the crab got away he put another on
the hook。 When the crabs were all gone he climbed up
the rocks and found some more。
Meantime Trot tired of watching him and lay down upon
the sands； where she fell fast asleep。 During the next
two hours her clothing dried completely； as did that of
the old sailor。 They were both so used to salt water
that there was no danger of taking cold。
Finally the little girl was wakened by a splash
beside her and a grunt of satisfaction from Cap'n Bill。
She opened her eyes to find that the Cap'n had landed a
silver…scaled fish weighing about two pounds。 This
cheered her considerably and she hurried to scrape
together a heap of seaweed； while Cap'n Bill cut up the
fish with his jackknife and got it ready for cooking。
They had cooked fish with seaweed before。 Cap'n Bill
wrapped his fish in some of the weed and dipped it in
the water to dampen it。 Then he lighted a match and set
fire to Trot's heap； which speedily burned down to a
glowing bed of ashes。 Then they laid the wrapped fish
on the ashes； covered it with more seaweed； and allowed
this to catch fire and burn to embers。 After feeding
the fire with seaweed for some time； the sailor finally
decided that their supper was ready； so he scattered
the ashes and drew out the bits of fish； still encased
in their smoking wrappings。
When these wrappings were removed； the fish was found
thoroughly cooked and both Trot and Cap'n Bill ate of
it freely。 It had a slight flavor of seaweed and would
have been better with a sprinkling of salt。
The soft glow which until now had lighted the cavern；
began to grow dim； but there was a great quantity of
seaweed in the place； so after they had eaten their
fish they kept the fire alive for a time by giving it a
handful of fuel now and then。
From an inner pocket the sailor drew a small flask of
battered metal and unscrewing the cap handed it to
Trot。 She took but one swallow of the water although
she wanted more； and she noticed that Cap'n Bill merely
wet his lips with it。
〃S'pose；〃 said she； staring at the glowing seaweed
fire and speaking slowly； 〃that we can catch all the
fish we need； how 'bout the drinking…water； Cap'n？〃
He moved uneasily but did not reply。 Both of them
were thinking about the dark hole； but while Trot had
little fear of it the old man could not overcome his
dislike to enter the place。 He knew that Trot was
right； though。 To remain in the cavern； where they now
were； could only result in slow but sure death。
It was nighttime up on the earth's surface； so the
little girl became drowsy and soon fell asleep。 After a
time the old sailor slumbered on the sands beside her。
It was very still and nothing disturbed them for hours。
When at last they awoke the cavern was light again。
They had divided one of the biscuits and were
munching it for breakfast when they were startled by a
sudden splash in the pool。 Looking toward it they saw
emerging from the water the most curious creature
either of them had ever beheld。 It wasn't a fish； Trot
decided； nor was it a beast。 It had wings； though； and
queer wings they were： shaped like an inverted
chopping…bowl and covered with tough skin instead of
feathers。 It had four legs much like the legs of a
stork； only double the number and its head was
shaped a good deal like that of a poll parrot； with a
beak that curved downward in front and upward at the
edges； and was half bill and half mouth。 But to call it
a bird was out of the question； because it had no
feathers whatever except a crest of wavy plumes of a
scarlet color on the very top of its head。 The strange
creature must have weighed as much as Cap'n Bill； and
as it floundered and struggled to get out of the water
to the sandy beach it was so big and unusual that both
Trot and her companion stared at it in wonder in
wonder that was not unmixed with fear。
Chapter Three
The Ork
The eyes that regarded them； as the creature stood
dripping before them； were bright and mild in
expression； and the queer addition to their party made
no attempt to attack them and seemed quite as surprised
by the meeting as they were。
〃I wonder；〃 whispered Trot； 〃what it is。〃
〃Who； me？〃 exclaimed the creature in a shrill； high…
pitched voice。 〃Why； I'm an Ork。〃
〃Oh！〃 said the girl。 〃But what is an Ork？〃
〃I am；〃 he repeated； a little proudly； as he shook
the water from his funny wings； 〃and if ever an Ork was
glad to be out of the water and on dry land again； you
can be mighty sure that I'm that especial； individual
Ork！〃
〃Have you been in the water long？〃 inquired Cap'n
Bill； thinking it only polite to show an interest in
the strange creature。
〃why； this last ducking was about ten minutes； I
believe； and that's about nine minutes and sixty
seconds too long for comfort；〃 was the reply。 〃But last
night I was in an awful pickle； I assure you。 The
whirlpool caught me； and 〃
〃Oh； were you in the whirlpool； too？〃 asked Trot
eagerly
He gave her a glance that was somewhat reproachful。
〃I believe I was mentioning the fact； young lady；
when your desire to talk interrupted me；〃 said the Ork。
〃I am not usually careless in my actions； but that
whirlpool was so busy yesterday that I thought I'd see
what mischief it was up to。 So I flew a little too near
it and the suction of the air drew me down into the
depths of the ocean。 Water and I are natural enemies；
and it would have conquered me this time had not a bevy
of pretty mermaids come to my assistance and dragged me
away from the whirling water and far up into a cavern；
where they deserted me。〃
〃Why； that's about the same thing that happened to
us；〃 cried Trot。 〃Was your cavern like this one？〃
〃I haven't examined this one yet；〃 answered the Ork；
〃but if they happen to be alike I shudder at our fate；
for the other one was a prison； with no outlet except
by means of the water。 I stayed there all night；
however； and this morning I plunged into the pool； as
far down as I could go； and then swam as hard and as
far as I could。 The rocks scraped my back； now and
then； and I barely escaped the clutches of an ugly sea…