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 then, 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 carry all three of us.”

“Very well,” said Button-Bright.  “Where shall we go?”

“Let’s go as far as Smuggler’s Cove an’ then turn ‘round an’ come back.  If all’s right an’ shipshape, then we can start for the island.”