So immediately they began marching through
the fog behind the elephant, and as the great beast advanced the
frogs scrambled out of his way and hid themselves in the moist banks
until he had passed them by.
Cap'n Bill had to mind his wooden leg carefully, and the old sailor
was so excited that he mumbled queer sentences about "Araby Ann
Knights" and "ding-donged magic" and the "fool foolishness of
fussin' with witches an' sich," until Trot wondered whether her old
friend had gone crazy or was only badly scared.
It was a long journey, and all the Pinkies were dripping water from
their raincoats, and their fat little legs were tired and aching
when the pink glow showing through the fog at last announced that
they were nearing the Pink Country.
At the very edge of the Fog Bank the elephant halted, winked at
Button-Bright, lowered its head and began to shrink in size and
dwindle away. By the time the boy came up to it, closely followed by
Trot and Cap'n Bill, the thing was only the well-known Magic
Umbrella, with the carved elephant's head for a handle, and it lay
motionless upon the ground. Button-Bright picked it up, and as he
examined it he thought the tiny eyes still twinkled a little, as if
with triumph and pride.
Trot drew a long breath.
"That was SOME magic, I guess!" she exclaimed. "Don't you think so,
Rosalie?"
"It was the most wonderful thing I ever saw," admitted the Witch.
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