the good things Trot's
mother had cooked. Mrs. Griffith was very kind to the children, but not
quite so agreeable toward poor Cap'n Bill. When the old sailorman at
one time spilled some tea on the tablecloth, Trot's mother flew angry
and gave the culprit such a tongue-lashing that Button-Bright was sorry
for him. But Cap'n Bill was meek and made no reply. "He's used to it,
you know," whispered Trot to her new friend, and indeed, Cap'n Bill
took it all cheerfully and never minded a bit.

Then it came Trot's turn to get a scolding. When she opened the parcel
she had bought at the village, it was found she had selected the wrong
color of yarn, and Mrs. Griffith was so provoked that Trot's scolding
was almost as severe as that of Cap'n Bill. Tears came to the little
girl's eyes, and to comfort her the boy promised to take her to the
village next morning with his magic umbrella, so she could exchange the
yarn for the right color.

Trot quickly brightened at this promise, although Cap'n Bill looked
grave and shook his head solemnly. When supper was over and Trot had
helped with the dishes, she joined Button-Bright and the sailorman on
the little porch again. Dusk had fallen, and the moon was just rising.
They all sat in silence for a time and watched the silver trail that
topped the crests of the waves far out to sea.

"Oh, Button-Bright!" cried the little girl presently. "I'm so glad
you're going to let me fly with you way to town and back tomorrow.
Won't it be fine, Cap'n Bill?"

"Dunno, Trot," said he. "I can't figger how both of you can hold on to
the handle o' that umbrel."

Trot's face fell. "I'll hold on to the handle," said Button-Bright,
"and she can hold on to me. It doesn't pull hard at all. You've no idea
how easy it is to fly that way after you get used to it."

"But Trot ain't used to it," objected the sailor. "If she happened to
lose her hold and let go, it's goodbye Trot. I don't like to risk it,
for Trot's my chum, an' I can't afford to lose her."

"Can't you tie us together, then?" asked the boy.

"We'll see, we'll see," replied Cap'n Bill, and began to think very
deeply. He forgot that he didn't believe the umbrella could fly, and
after Button-Bright and Trot had both gone to bed, the old sailor went
out into the shed and worked a while before he, too, turned into his
"bunk." The sandman wasn't around, and Cap'n Bill lay awake for hours
thinking of the strange tale of the Magic Umbrella before he