en, where'll we go?" asked Trot.

"Anywhere suits me," replied Cap'n Bill. They had walked to the high
bluff overlooking the sea, where a gigantic acacia tree stood on the
very edge. A seat had been built around the trunk of the tree, for this
was a favorite spot for Trot and Cap'n Bill to sit and talk and watch
the fleet of fishing boats sail to and from the village. When they came
to this tree, Trot was still trying to think of the most pleasant place
to picnic. She and Cap'n Bill had been every place that was desirable
and nearby, but today they didn't want a nearby spot. They must decide
upon one far enough away to afford them a fine trip through the air.
Looking far out over the Pacific, the girl's eyes fell upon a dim
island lying on the horizon line just where the sky and water seemed to
meet, and the sight gave her an idea.

"Oh, Cap'n Bill!" she exclaimed. "Let's go to that island for our
picnic. We've never been there yet, you know."

The sailor shook his head. "It's a good many miles away, Trot," he
said, "further than it looks to be from here."

"That won't matter," remarked Button-Bright. "The umbrella will carry
us there in no time."

"Let's go!" repeated Trot. "We'll never have another such chance,
Cap'n. It's too far to sail or row, and I've always wanted to visit
that island."

"What's the name of it?" inquired Button-Bright while the sailor
hesitated to decide.

"Oh, it's got an awful hard name to pernounce," replied the girl, "so
Cap'n Bill and I jus' call it 'Sky Island' 'cause it looks as if it was
half in the sky. We've been told it's a very pretty island, and a few
people live there and keep cows and goats and fish for a living. There
are woods and pastures and springs of clear water, and I'm sure we
would find it a fine place for a picnic."

"If anything happened on the way," observed Cap'n Bill, "we'd drop in
the water."

"Of course," said Trot, "and if anything happened while we were flyin'
over the land, we'd drop there. But nothing's goin' to happen, Cap'n.
Didn't Button-Bright come safe all the way from Philydelfy?"

"I think I'd like to go to Sky Island," said the boy. "I've always
flown above the land so far, and it will be something new to fly over
the ocean."

"All right, I'm agree'ble," decided Cap'n Bill. "But afore we starts on
such a long journey, s'pose we make a little trial trip along the
coast. I want to see if the new seat fits me an' make certain the
umbrel will