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 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.