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〃When the Ork is rested；〃 said Trot； 〃we'll travel on
and see what happens。〃
〃Rested！〃 cried the Ork； as scornfully as his shrill
voice would allow。 〃That bit of flying didn't tire me
at all。 I'm used to flying days at a time； without ever
once stopping。〃
〃Then let's move on；〃 proposed Cap'n Bill。 He still
held in his hand one lighted candle； so Trot blew out
the other flame and placed her candle in the sailor's
big pocket。 She knew it was not wise to burn two
candles at once。
The tunnel was straight and smooth and very easy to
walk through； so they made good progress。 Trot thought
that the tunnel began about two miles from the cavern
where they had been cast by the whirlpool； but now it
was impossible to guess the miles traveled； for they
walked steadily for hours and hours without any change
in their surroundings。
Finally Cap'n Bill stopped to rest。
〃There's somethin' queer about this 'ere tunnel； I'm
certain；〃 he declared； wagging his head dolefully。
〃Here's three candles gone a'ready； an' only three more
left us； yet the tunnel's the same as it was when we
started。 An' how long it's goin' to keep up； no one
knows。〃
〃Couldn't we walk without a light？〃 asked Trot。 〃The
way seems safe enough。〃
〃It does right now；〃 was the reply； 〃but we can't
tell when we are likely to come to another gulf； or
somethin' jes' as dangerous。 In that case we'd be
killed afore we knew it。〃
〃Suppose I go ahead？〃 suggested the Ork。 〃I don't
fear a fall； you know； and if anything happens I'll
call out and warn you。〃
〃That's a good idea；〃 declared Trot； and Cap'n Bill
thought so； too。 So the Ork started off ahead； quite in
the dark； and hand in band the two followed him。
When they had walked in this way for a good long time
the Ork halted and demanded food。 Cap'n Bill had not
mentioned food because there was so little left only
three biscuits and a lump of cheese about as big as his
two fingers but he gave the Ork half of a biscuit；
sighing as he did so。 The creature didn't care for the
cheese； so the sailor divided it between himself and
Trot。 They lighted a candle and sat down in the tunnel
while they ate。
〃My feet hurt me；〃 grumbled the Ork。 〃I'm not used
to walking and this rocky passage is so uneven and
lumpy that it hurts me to walk upon it。〃
〃Can't you fly along？〃 asked Trot。
〃No； the roof is too low；〃 said the Ork。
After the meal they resumed their journey； which Trot
began to fear would never end。 When Cap'n Bill noticed
how tired the little girl was； he paused and lighted a
match and looked at his big silver watch。
〃Why； it's night！〃 he exclaimed。 〃We've tramped all
day； an' still we're in this awful passage； which mebbe
goes straight through the middle of the world； an'
mebbe is a circle in which case we can keep walkin'
till doomsday。 Not knowin' what's before us so well as
we know what's behind us； I propose we make a stop；
now； an' try to sleep till mornin'。〃
〃That will suit me；〃 asserted the Ork； with a groan。
〃My feet are hurting me dreadfully and for the last few
miles I've been limping with pain。〃
〃My foot hurts； too；〃 said the sailor； looking for a
smooth place on the rocky floor to sit down。
〃Your foot！〃 cried the Ork。 〃why； you've only one to
hurt you； while I have four。 So I suffer four times as
much as you possibly can。 Here； hold the candle while I
look at the bottoms of my claws。 I declare；〃 he said；
examining them by the flickering light； 〃there are
bunches of pain all over them！〃
〃P'r'aps；〃 said Trot； who was very glad to sit down
beside her companions； 〃you've got corns。〃
〃Corns？ Nonsense！ Orks never have corns；〃 protested
the creature； rubbing its sore feet tenderly。
〃Then mebbe they're … they're … What do you call 'em；
Cap'n Bill？ Something 'bout the Pilgrim's Progress； you
know。〃
〃Bunions；〃 said Cap'n Bill。
〃Oh； yes； mebbe you've got bunions。〃
〃It is possible；〃 moaned the Ork。 〃But whatever they
are； another day of such walking on them would drive me
crazy。〃
〃I'm sure they'll feel better by mornin'；〃 said Cap'n
Bill； encouragingly。 〃Go to sleep an' try to forget
your sore feet。〃
The Ork cast a reproachful look at the sailor…man；
who didn't see it。 Then the creature asked plaintively：
〃Do we eat now； or do we starve？〃
〃There's only half a biscuit left for you；〃 answered
Cap'n Bill。 〃No one knows how long we'll have to stay
in this dark tunnel； where there's nothing whatever to
eat； so I advise you to save that morsel o' food till
later。〃
〃Give it me now！〃 demanded the Ork。 〃If I'm going to
starve； I'll do it all at once not by degrees。〃
Cap'n Bill produced the biscuit and the creature ate
it in a trice。 Trot was rather hungry and whispered to
Cap'n Bill that she'd take part of her share； but the
old man secretly broke his own half…biscuit in two；
saving Trot's share for a time of greater need。
He was beginning to be worried over the little girl's
plight and long after she was asleep and the Ork was
snoring in a rather disagreeable manner； Cap'n Bill sat
with his back to a rock and smoked his pipe and tried
to think of some way to escape from this seemingly
endless tunnel。 But after a time he also slept； for
hobbling on a wooden leg all day was tiresome； and
there in the dark slumbered the three adventurers for
many hours； until the Ork roused itself and kicked the
old sailor with one foot。
〃It must be another day；〃 said he。
Chapter Four
Daylight at Last
Cap'n Bill rubbed his eyes； lit a match and consulted
his watch。
〃Nine o'clock。 Yes； I guess it's another day； sure
enough。 Shall we go on？〃 he asked。
〃Of course；〃 replied the Ork。 〃Unless this tunnel
is different from everything else in the world； and
has no end； we'll find a way out of it sooner or later。〃
The sailor gently wakened Trot。 She felt much rested
by her long sleep and sprang to her feet eagerly。
〃Let's start； Cap'n；〃 was all she said。
They resumed the journey and had only taken a
few steps when the Ork cried 〃Wow！〃 and made a
great fluttering of its wings and whirling of its tail。
The others； who were following a short