know what sort of
an aeroplane this was and where his power was stored and lots of other
things, but the boy answered not a sound. When the little girl came
back and took her seat, Button-Bright said, "I want to go to Trot's
house."

The simple villagers could not understand how the umbrella suddenly
lifted the two children into the air and carried them away. They had
read of airships, but here was something wholly beyond their
comprehension.

Cap'n Bill had stood in front of the house, watching with a feeling
akin to bewilderment the flight of the Magic Umbrella. He could follow
its course until it descended in the village, and he was so amazed and
absorbed that his pipe went out. He had not moved from his position
when the umbrella started back. The sailor's big blue eyes watched it
draw near and settle down with its passengers upon just the spot it had
started from.

Trot was joyous and greatly excited. "Oh, Cap'n, it's gal-lor-ious!"
she cried in ecstasy. "It beats ridin' in a boat or--or--in anything
else. You feel so light an' free an'--an'--glad! I'm sorry the trip
didn't last longer, though. Only trouble is, you go too fast."

Button-Bright was smiling contentedly. He had proved to both Trot and
Cap'n Bill that he had told the truth about the Magic Umbrella, however
marvelous his tale had seemed to them. "I'll take you on another trip,
if you like," said he. "I'm in no hurry to go home, and if you will let
me stay with you another day, we can make two or three little trips
with the family luck."

"You mus' stay a whole week," said Trot decidedly. "An' you mus' take
Cap'n Bill for an air-ride, too."

"Oh, Trot! I dunno as I'd like it," protested Cap'n Bill nervously.

"Yes you would. You're sure to like it."

"I guess I'm too heavy."

"I'm sure the umbrella could carry twenty people if they could be
fastened to the handle," said Button-Bright.

"Solid land's pretty good to hold on to," decided Cap'n Bill. "A rope
might break, you know."

"Oh, Cap'n Bill! You're scared stiff," said Trot.

"I ain't, mate. It ain't that at all. But I don't see that human
critters has any call to fly in the air, anyhow. The air were made for
the birds, an'--an' muskeeters, an'--"

"An' flyin'-fishes," added Trot. "I know all that, Cap'n, but why
wasn't it made for humans, too, if they can manage to fly in it? We
breathe the air, an' we can breathe it high up, just as well as down on
the earth."

"Seein' as you lik