第48章

"I hoped you would consent to carry us over those mountains, into the Land of Oz.My mission here is now finished and I want to get back to the Emerald City.""How did you cross the mountains before?" inquired the Ork.

"I scaled the cliffs by means of a rope, and crossed the Great Gulf on a strand of spider web.Of course I can return in the same manner, but it would be a hard journey -- and perhaps an impossible one -- for Trot and Button-Bright and Cap'n Bill.So I thought that if you had the time you and your people would carry us over the mountains and land us all safely on the other side, in the Land of Oz."The Ork thoughtfully considered the matter for a while.

Then he said:

"I mustn't break my promise to be present at the surprise party; but, tell me, could you go to Oz to-night?"

"What, now?" exclaimed Trot.

"It is a fine moonlight night," said the Ork, "and I've found in my experience that there's no time so good as right away.The fact is," he explained, "it's a long journey to Orkland and I and my cousins here are all rather tired by our day's work.But if you will start now, and be content to allow us to carry you over the mountains and dump you on the other side, just say the word and -- off we go!"Cap'n Bill and Trot looked at one another questioningly.The little girl was eager to visit the famous fairyland of Oz and the old sailor had endured such hardships in Jinxland that he would be glad to be out of it.

"It's rather impolite of us not to say good-bye to the new King and Queen," remarked the Scarecrow, "but I'm sure they're too happy to miss us, and I assure you it will be much easier to fly on the backs of the Orks over those steep mountains than to climb them as I did.""All right; let's go!" Trot decided."But where's Button-Bright?"Just at this important moment Button-Bright was lost again, and they all scattered in search of him.He had been standing beside them just a few minutes before, but his friends had an exciting hunt for him before they finally discovered the boy seated among the members of the band, beating the end of the bass drum with the bone of a turkey-leg that he had taken from the table in the banquet room.

"Hello, Trot," he said, looking up at the little girl when she found him."This is the first chance I ever had to pound a drum with a reg'lar drum stick.And I ate all the meat off the bone myself.""Come quick.We're going to the Land of Oz.""Oh, what's the hurry?" said Button-Bright; but she seized his arm and dragged him away to the park, where the others were waiting.

Trot climbed upon the back of her old friend, the Ork leader, and the others took their seats on the backs of his three cousins.As soon as all were placed and clinging to the skinny necks of the creatures, the revolving tails began to whirl and up rose the four monster Orks and sailed away toward the mountains.They were so high in the air that when they passed the crest of the highest peak it seemed far below them.No sooner were they well across the barrier than the Orks swooped downward and landed their passengers upon the ground.

"Here we are, safe in the Land of Oz!" cried the Scarecrow joyfully.

"Oh, are we?" asked Trot, looking around her curiously.

She could see the shadows of stately trees and the outlines of rolling hills; beneath her feet was soft turf, but otherwise the subdued light of the moon disclosed nothing clearly.

"Seems jus' like any other country," was Cap'n Bill's comment.