turning　first　one　bright　eye　and　then　the　other　to　this
  side　and　that。　Trees　there　were；　in　plenty；　and　shrubs
  and　flowers　and　green　turf。　But　there　were　no　houses；
  there　were　no　paths；　there　was　no　sign　of　civilization
  whatever。
  〃Just　before　I　settled　down　on　the　ground　I　thought　I
  caught　a　view　of　the　ocean；〃　said　the　Ork。　〃Let's　see
  if　I　was　right。〃　Then　he　flew　to　a　little　hill；　near
  by；　and　Trot　and　Cap'n　Bill　followed　him　more　slowly。
  When　they　stood　on　the　top　of　the　hill　they　could　see
  the　blue　waves　of　the　ocean　in　front　of　them；　to　the
  right　of　them；　and　at　the　left　of　them。　Behind　the
  hill　was　a　forest　that　shut　out　the　view。
  〃I　hope　it　ain't　an　island；　Trot；〃　said　Cap'n　Bill
  gravely。
  〃If　it　is；　I　s'pose　we're　prisoners；〃　she　replied。
  〃Ezzackly　so；　Trot。〃
  〃But；　'even　so；　it's　better　than　those　terr'ble
  underground　tunnels　and　caverns；〃　declared　the　girl。
  〃You　are　right；　little　one；〃　agreed　the　Ork。
  〃Anything　above　ground　is　better　than　the　best　that
  lies　under　ground。　So　let's　not　quarrel　with　our　fate
  but　be　thankful　we've　escaped。〃
  〃We　are；　indeed！〃　she　replied。　〃But　I　wonder　if
  we　can　find　something　to　eat　in　this　place？〃
  〃Let's　explore　an'　find　out；〃　proposed　Cap'n　Bill。
  〃Those　trees　over　at　the　left　look　like　cherry…trees。〃
  On　the　way　to　them　the　explorers　had　to　walk
  through　a　tangle　of　vines　and　Cap'n　Bill；　who　went
  first；　stumbled　and　pitched　forward　on　his　face。
  〃Why；　it's　a　melon！〃　cried　Trot　delightedly；　as
  she　saw　what　had　caused　the　sailor　to　fall。
  Cap'n　Bill　rose　to　his　foot；　for　he　was　not　at　all
  hurt；　and　examined　the　melon。　Then　he　took　his　big
  jackknife　from　his　pocket　and　cut　the　melon　open。　It
  was　quite　ripe　and　looked　delicious；　but　the　old　man
  tasted　it　before　he　permitted　Trot　to　eat　any。　Deciding
  it　was　good　he　gave　her　a　big　slice　and　then　offered
  the　Ork　some。　The　creature　looked　at　the　fruit　somewhat
  disdainfully；　at　first；　but　once　he　had　tasted　its
  flavor　he　ate　of　it　as　heartily　as　did　the　others。
  Among　the　vines　they　discovered　many　other　melons；　and
  Trot　said　gratefully：　〃Well；　there's　no　danger　of　our
  starving；　even　if　this　is　an　island。〃
  〃Melons；〃　remarked　Cap'n　Bill；　〃are　both　food　an'
  water。　We　couldn't　have　struck　anything　better。〃
  Farther　on　they　came　to　the　cherry　trees；　where　they
  obtained　some　of　the　fruit；　and　at　the　edge　of　the
  little　forest　were　wild　plums。　The　forest　itself
  consisted　entirely　of　nut　trees　　walnuts；　filberts；
  almonds　and　chestnuts　　so　there　would　be　plenty　of
  wholesome　food　for　them　while　they　remained　there。
  Cap'n　Bill　and　Trot　decided　to　walk　through　the
  forest；　to　discover　what　was　on　the　other　side　of　it；
  but　the　Ork's　feet　were　still　so　sore　and　〃lumpy〃　from
  walking　on　the　rocks　that　the　creature　said　he
  preferred　to　fly　over　the　tree…tops　and　meet　them　on
  the　other　side。　The　forest　was　not　large；　so　by　walking
  briskly　for　fifteen　minutes　they　reached　its　farthest
  edge　and　saw　before　them　the　shore　of　the　ocean。
  〃It's　an　island；　all　right；〃　said　Trot；　with　a　sigh。
  〃Yes；　and　a　pretty　island；　too；〃　said　Cap'n　Bill；
  trying　to　conceal　his　disappointment　on　Trot's　account。
  〃I　guess；　partner；　if　the　wuss　comes　to　the　wuss；　I
  could　build　a　raft　　or　even　a　boat　　from　those
  trees；　so's　we　could　sail　away　in　it。〃
  The　little　girl　brightened　at　this　suggestion。
  〃I　don't　see　the　Ork　anywhere；〃　she　remarked；　looking
  around。　Then　her　eyes　lighted　upon　something　and　she
  exclaimed：　〃Oh；　Cap'n　Bill！　Isn't　that　a　house；　over
  there　to　the　left？〃
  Cap'n　Bill；　looking　closely；　saw　a　shed…like　structure
  built　at　one　edge　of　the　forest。
  〃Seems　like　it；　Trot。　Not　that　I'd　call　it　much　of　a
  house；　but　it's　a　buildin'；　all　right。　Let's　go　over
  an'　see　if　it's　occypied。〃
  Chapter　Five
  The　Little　Old　Man　of　the　Island
  A　few　steps　brought　them　to　the　shed；　which　was　merely
  a　roof　of　boughs　built　over　a　square　space；　with　some
  branches　of　trees　fastened　to　the　sides　to　keep　off　the
  wind。　The　front　was　quite　open　and　faced　the　sea；　and　as
  our　friends　came　nearer　they　observed　a　little　man；　with
  a　long　pointed　beard；　sitting　motionless　on　a　stool　and
  staring　thoughtfully　out　over　the　water。
  〃Get　out　of　the　way；　please；〃　he　called　in　a　fretful
  voice。　〃Can't　you　see　you　are　obstructing　my　view？〃
  〃Good　morning；〃　said　Cap'n　Bill；　politely。
  〃It　isn't　a　good　morning！〃　snapped　the　little　man。
  〃I've　seen　plenty　of　mornings　better　than　this。　　Do
  you　call　it　a　good　morning　when　I'm　pestered　with
  such　a　crowd　as　you？〃
  Trot　was　astonished　to　hear　such　words　from　a
  stranger　whom　they　had　greeted　quite　properly；　and
  Cap'n　Bill　grew　red　at　the　little　man's　rudeness。　But
  the　sailor　said；　in　a　quiet　tone　of　voice：
  〃Are　you　the　only　one　as　lives　on　this　'ere　island？〃
  〃Your　grammar's　bad；〃　was　the　reply。　〃But　this　is　my
  own　exclusive　island；　and　I'll　thank　you　to　get　off　it　as
  soon　as　possible。〃
  〃We'd　like　to　do　that；〃　said　Trot；　and　then　she　and
  Cap'n　Bill　turned　away　and　walked　down　to　the　shore；　to
  see　if　any　other　land　was　in　sight。
  The　little　man　rose　and　followed　them；　although　both
  were　now　too　provoked　to　pay　any　attention　to　him。
  Nothin'　in　sight；　partner；〃　reported　Cap'n　Bill；
  shading　his　eyes　with　his　hand；　〃so　we'll　have　to
  stay　here　for　a　time；　anyhow。　It　isn't　a　bad　place；
  Trot；　by　any　means。〃
  〃That's　all　you　know　about　it！〃　broke　in　the　little
  man。　〃The　trees　are　altogether　too　green　and　the　rocks
  are　harder　than　they　ought　to　be。　I　find　the　sand　very
  grainy　and　the　water　dreadfully　wet。　Every　breeze　makes　a
  draught　and　the　sun　shines　in　the　daytime；　when　there's
  no　need　of　it；　and　disappears　just　as　soon　as　it　begins
  to　get　dark。　If　you　remain　here　you'll　find　the　island
  very　unsatisfactory。〃
  Trot　turned　to　look　at　him；　and　her　sweet　face　was
  grave　and　curious。
  〃I　wonder　who　you　are；〃　she　said。
  〃My　name　is　Pessim；〃　said　he；　with　an　air　of　pride。
  〃I'm　called　the　Observer；〃
  〃Oh。　What　do　you　observe？〃　asked　the　little　girl。
  〃Everything　I　see；〃　was　the　reply；　in　a　more　surly
  tone。　Then　Pessim　drew　back　with　a　startled　exclamation
  and　looked　at　some　footprints　in　the　sand。　〃Why；　good
  gracious　me！〃　he　cried　in　distress。
  〃What's　the　matter　now？〃　asked　Cap'n　Bill。
  〃Someone　has　pushed　the　earth　in！　　Don't　you　see　it？
  〃It　isn't　pushed　in　far　enough　to　hurt　anything；〃　said
  Trot；　examining　the　footprints。
  〃Everything　hurts　that　isn't　right；〃　insisted　the　man。
  〃If　the　earth　were　pushed　in　a　mile；　it　would　be　a　great
  calamity；　wouldn't　it？〃
  〃I　s'pose　so；〃　admitted　the　little　girl。
  〃Well；　here　it　is　pushed　in　a　full　inch！　　That's　a
  twelfth　of　a　foot；　or　a　little　more　than　a　millionth　part
  of　a　mile。　　Therefore　it　is　one…millionth　part　of　a
  calamity　　Oh；　dear！　How　dreadful！〃　said　Pessim　in　a
  wailing　voice。
  〃Try　to　forget　it；　sir；〃　advised　Cap'n　Bill；
  soothingly。　〃It's　beginning　to　rain。　Let's　get　under　your
  shed　and　keep　dry。〃
  〃Raining！　　Is　it　really　raining？〃　asked　Pessim；
  beginning　to　weep。
  〃It　is；〃　answered　Cap'n　Bill；　as　the　drops　began　to
  descend；　〃and　I　don't　see　any　way　to　stop　it　　although
  I'm　some　observer　myself。〃
  〃No；　we　can't　stop　it；　I　fear；〃　said　the　man。　〃Are　you
  very　busy　just　now？〃
  〃I　won't　be　after　I　get　to　the　shed；〃　replied　the
  sailor…man。
  〃Then　do　me　a　favor；　please；〃　begged　Pessim；　walking
  briskly　along　behind　them；　for　they　were　hastening　to　the
  shed。
  〃Depends　on　what　it　is；〃　said　Cap'n　Bill。
  〃I　wish　you　would　take　my　umbrella　down　to　the　shore
  and　hold　it　over　the　poor　fishes　till　it　stops　raining。
  I'm　afraid　they'll　get　wet；〃　said　Pessim。
  Trot　laughed；　but　Cap'n　Bill　thought　the　little　man　was
  poking　fun　at　him　and　so　he　scowled　upon　Pessim　in　a　way
  that　showed　he　was　angry。
  They　reached　the　shed　before　getting　very　wet；　although
  the　rain　was　now　coming　down　in　big　drops。　The　roof　of
  the　shed　protected　them　a