Free Voyage of the Dolphin by Gilbert L. Morris Page B

pitifully. “It'll be all right,” he called out to everyone. “We'll be out of this soon. You'll see.”
    It was hard to judge the time, but finally they heard the giant speak to someone, and a voice answered. They heard the sound of his footsteps on what seemed to be steps. Then the box was slammed down, throwing them all to their knees.
    â€œI guess we're here,” Daybright said and looked up as the top of the box disappeared.
    The light came flooding in, blinding Josh for a moment. Then he saw a woman's huge face peering over the side.
    The woman screamed slightly. “What are they, Gant?”
    Josh understood this sentence and got to his feet. He waved at the woman. “That must be his wife,” he said, “and his name must be Gant. Hello, Mrs. Gant,” he called out.
    When the woman heard her name in Josh's tiny voice, she clamped a hand over her mouth and stepped back.
    At once another face appeared. This time it was the face of a girl—a giant girl. She stared at them.
    No more than ten or twelve, Josh thought.
    â€œHello,” Daybright called, waving. “How are you, little girl?”
    The girl giggled and poked her finger down toward him.
    Daybright reached out and touched the finger but could not get his hand around the end of it. He pulled off his cap and bowed gracefully, saying, “My name is Daybright. What's yours?”
    She did not appear to understand him, but her father did. “Tell the Little People your name.”
    The girl stared back, then smiled. She had bright teeth that looked very large. “Olina,” she said.
    Suddenly the girl reached into the box and snatched up Sarah.
    Sarah gave a cry of alarm. She kicked and gave a little scream, which seemed to delight the girl.
    Olina said, “Nama?”
    â€œShe wants to know your name,” Josh yelled. “Tell her.”
    â€œMy name is Sarah!” Sarah shouted.
    The girl squealed. “Sarah!” she said. With her free hand she touched Sarah's clothes in wonder. “Sarah!” she repeated.
    â€œPut her down,” Gant said. “You might hurt her.”
    Gant reached into the box, carefully lifting out therest of the party one by one. Soon all were standing on a tabletop, and Josh had a chance to look around.
    It was a typical farmhouse scene. In a huge fireplace at one end was a black pot containing some kind of bubbling stew. There was rough wooden furniture, all handmade. There was only one window to let in light.
    Gant spoke rapidly to his wife, telling her how he had found the “Little People.”
    Josh discovered he was quickly remembering his Middle English. When Gant turned back, he motioned until the giant leaned toward him. “Could we have something to eat?” he shouted. “We're hungry.”
    Gant turned to his wife and said, “Feed them.”
    She looked at them and asked, “In what?”
    It was a problem, but they managed to find what was presumably the smallest vessels they had.
    Josh and Sarah moved to one side of a bowl of stew, while Dave and Jake got on the other side. “Well, we don't have any spoons,” Josh said, “so I guess we'll do the best we can.”
    The stew contained some sort of meat and vegetables and was actually very good.
    Dawn, eating at another bowl beside Daybright, suddenly looked down at her hands and laughed. “I never ate like this before,” she marveled, “but it's so good.”
    â€œIt is a little messy—” Daybright grinned “—but we'll make the best of it. And it is good stew.”
    After they had eaten, the giant and his family pulled up chairs, and for a long time, with much shouting, Josh tried to explain where they had come from. But he turned finally and shrugged his shoulders. “It's no use. They think this island is the whole world. They can't imagine there being another place—especially with strange little people in it like