The　sand　was　dry　where　they　sat；　and　soaked　up　the
  water　that　dripped　from　their　clothing。　When　Trot　had
  squeezed　the　wet　out　of　her　hair　she　began　to　feel　much
  like　her　old　self　again。　By　and　by　they　got　upon　their
  feet　and　crept　up　the　incline　to　the　scattered　boulders
  above。　Some　of　these　were　of　huge　size；　but　by　passing
  between　some　and　around　others；　they　were　able　to　reach
  the　extreme　rear　of　the　cavern。
  〃Yes；〃　said　Trot；　with　interest；　〃here's　a　round
  hole。〃
  〃And　it's　black　as　night　inside　it；〃　remarked　Cap'n
  Bill。
  Just　the　same；〃　answered　the　girl；　〃we　ought　to
  explore　it；　and　see　where　it　goes；　'cause　it's　the　only
  poss'ble　way　we　can　get　out　of　this　place。〃
  Cap'n　Bill　eyed　the　hole　doubtfully
  〃It　may　be　a　way　out　o'　here；　Trot；〃　he　said；　〃but　it
  may　be　a　way　into　a　far　worse　place　than　this。　I'm　not
  sure　but　our　best　plan　is　to　stay　right　here。〃
  Trot　wasn't　sure；　either；　when　she　thought　of　it　in
  that　light。　After　awhile　she　made　her　way　back　to　the
  sands　again；　and　Cap'n　Bill　followed　her。　As　they　sat
  down；　the　child　looked　thoughtfully　at　the　sailor's
  bulging　pockets。
  〃How　much　food　have　we　got；　Cap'n？〃　she　asked。
  〃Half　a　dozen　ship's　biscuits　an'　a　hunk　o'　cheese；〃
  he　replied。　〃Want　some　now；　Trot？〃
  She　shook　her　head；　saying：
  〃That　ought　to　keep　us　alive　'bout　three　days　if
  we're　careful　of　it。〃
  〃Longer'n　that；　Trot；〃　said　Cap'n　Bill；　but　his　voice
  was　a　little　troubled　and　unsteady。
  〃But　if　we　stay　here　we're　bound　to　starve　in　time；〃
  continued　the　girl；　〃while　if　we　go　into　the　dark　hole
  〃
  〃Some　things　are　more　hard　to　face　than　starvation；〃
  said　the　sailor…man；　gravely。　〃We　don't　know　what's
  inside　that　dark　hole：　Trot；　nor　where　it　might　lead　us
  to。〃
  〃There's　a　way　to　find　that　out；〃　she　persisted。
  Instead　of　replying；　Cap'n　Bill　began　searching　in
  his　pockets。　He　soon　drew　out　a　little　package　of　fish…
  hooks　and　a　long　line。　Trot　watched　him　join　them
  together。　Then　he　crept　a　little　way　up　the　slope　and
  turned　over　a　big　rock。　Two　or　three　small　crabs　began
  scurrying　away　over　the　sands　and　the　old　sailor　caught
  them　and　put　one　on　his　hook　and　the　others　in　his
  pocket。　Coming　back　to　the　pool　he　swung　the　hook　over
  his　shoulder　and　circled　it　around　his　head　and　cast　it
  nearly　into　the　center　of　the　water；　where　he　allowed
  it　to　sink　gradually；　paying　out　the　line　as　far　as　it
  would　go。　When　the　end　was　reached；　he　began　drawing　it
  in　again；　until　the　crab　bait　was　floating　on　the
  surface。
  Trot　watched　him　cast　the　line　a　second　time；　and　a
  third。　She　decided　that　either　there　were　no　fishes　in
  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