e it so much, Trot, it would be cruel for me to go
with Butt'n-Bright an' leave you at home," said the sailor. "When I
were younger--which is ancient history--an' afore I had a wooden leg, I
could climb a ship's ropes with the best of 'em, an' walk out on a boom
or stand atop a mast. So you know very well I ain't skeered about the
highupness."

"Why can't we all go together?" asked the boy. "Make another seat,
Cap'n, and swing it right under ours. Then we can all three ride
anywhere we want to go."

"Yes, do!" exclaimed Trot. "And see here, Cap'n, let's take a day off
and have a picnic. Mother is a little cross today, and she wants to
finish knitting your new stockin', so I guess she'll be glad to get rid
of us."

"Where'll we go?" he asked, shifting on his wooden leg uneasily.

"Anywhere. I don't care. There'll be the air-ride there an' the
air-ride back, an' that's the main thing with ME. If you say we'll go,
Cap'n, I'll run in an' pack a basket of lunch."

"How'll we carry it?"

"Swing it to the bottom of your seat."

The old sailor stood silent a moment. He really longed to take the
air-ride but was fearful of danger. However, Trot had gone safely to
town and back and had greatly enjoyed the experience. "All right," he
said. "I'll risk it, mate, although I guess I'm an old fool for
temptin' fate by tryin' to make a bird o' myself. Get the lunch, Trot,
if your mother'll let you have it, and I'll rig up the seat."

He went into the shed and Trot went to her mother. Mrs. Griffith, busy
with her work, knew nothing of what was going on in regard to the
flight of the Magic Umbrella. She never objected when Trot wanted to go
away with Cap'n Bill for a day's picnicking. She knew the child was
perfectly safe with the old sailor, who cared for Trot even better than
her mother would have done. If she had asked any questions today and
had found out they intended to fly in the air, she might have seriously
objected, but Mrs. Griffith had her mind on other things and merely
told the girl to take what she wanted from the cupboard and not bother
her. So Trot, remembering that Button-Bright would be with them and had
proved himself to be a hearty eater, loaded the basket with all the
good things she could find.

By the time she came out, lugging the basket with both hands, Cap'n
Bill appeared with the new seat he had made for his own use, which he
attached by means of ropes to the double seat of the boy and girl. "Now
th