finally
sank into slumber. Then he dreamed about it, and waking or dreaming he
found the tale hard to believe.

A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE

CHAPTER 3

They had early breakfasts at Trot's house, because they all went to bed
early, and it is possible to sleep only a certain number of hours if
one is healthy in body and mind. And right after breakfast Trot claimed
Button-Bright's promise to take her to town with the Magic Umbrella.

"Any time suits me," said the boy. He had taken his precious umbrella
to bed with him and even carried it to the breakfast table, where he
stood it between his knees as he ate; so now he held it close to him
and said he was ready to fly at a moment's notice. This confidence
impressed Cap'n Bill, who said with a sigh:

"Well, if you MUST go, Trot, I've pervided a machine that'll carry you
both comf'table. I'm summat of an inventor myself, though there ain't
any magic about me."

Then he brought from the shed the contrivance he had made the night
before. It was merely a swing seat. He had taken a wide board that was
just long enough for both the boy and girl to sit upon, and had bored
six holes in it, two holes at each end and two in the middle. Through
these holes he had run stout ropes in such a way that the seat could
not turn and the occupants could hold on to the ropes on either side of
them. The ropes were all knotted together at the top, where there was a
loop that could be hooked upon the crooked handle of the umbrella.

Button-Bright and Trot both thought Cap'n Bill's invention very clever.
The sailor placed the board upon the ground while they sat in their
places, Button-Bright at the right of Trot, and then the boy hooked the
rope loop to the handle of the umbrella, which he spread wide open. "I
want to go to the town over yonder," he said, pointing with his finger
to the roofs of the houses that showed around the bend in the cliff.

At once the umbrella rose into the air, slowly at first, but quickly
gathering speed. Trot and Button-Bright held fast to the ropes and were
carried along very easily and comfortably. It seemed scarcely a minute
before they were in the town, and when the umbrella set them down just
in front of the store--for it seemed to know just where they wanted to
go--a wondering crowd gathered around them. Trot ran in and changed the
yarn, while Button-Bright stayed outside and stared at the people who
stared at him. They asked questions, too, wanting to