2. The Yellow Hen

           AstrangenoiseawokeDorothy,whoopenedhereyestofindthatdayhaddawnedandthesunwasshiningbrightlyinaclearsky.ShehadbeendreamingthatshewasbackinKansasagain,andplayingintheoldbarn-yardwiththecalvesandpigsandchickensallaroundher;andatfirst,assherubbedthesleepfromhereyes,shereallyimaginedshewasthere.

           "Kut-kut-kut,ka-daw-kut!Kut-kut-kut,ka-daw-kut!"

           Ah;hereagainwasthestrangenoisethathadawakenedher.Surelyitwasahencackling!Butherwide-openeyesfirstsaw,throughtheslatsofthecoop,thebluewavesoftheocean,nowcalmandplacid,andherthoughtsflewbacktothepastnight,sofullofdangeranddiscomfort.Alsoshebegantorememberthatshewasawaifofthestorm,adriftuponatreacherousandunknownsea.

           "Kut-kut-kut,ka-daw-w-w--kut!"

           "What’sthat?"criedDorothy,startingtoherfeet.

           "Why,I’vejustlaidanegg,that’sall,"repliedasmall,butsharpanddistinctvoice,andlookingaroundherthelittlegirldiscoveredayellowhensquattingintheoppositecornerofthecoop.

           "Dearme!"sheexclaimed,insurprise;"haveYOUbeenhereallnight,too?"

           "Ofcourse,"answeredthehen,flutteringherwingsandyawning."WhenthecoopblewawayfromtheshipIclungfasttothiscorner,withclawsandbeak,forIknewifIfellintothewaterI’dsurelybedrowned.Indeed,Inearlydrowned,asitwas,withallthatwaterwashingoverme.Ineverwassowetbeforeinmylife!"

           "Yes,"agreedDorothy,"itwasprettywet,foratime,Iknow.Butdoyoufeelcomfor’blenow?"

           "Notvery.