The Nutcracker grew red with rage. He pulled
up his pigtail, snapping his jaws together,--CRACK,
--and the bad boy's head was off.
THE PUMPKIN PIRATES
A TALE FROM LUCIAN
BY ALFRED J. CHURCH (ADAPTED)
Once upon a time, one Lucian the Greek was
filled with a desire to see strange countries, and
especially to discover whether there was any
opposite shore to the ocean by which he lived.
So having purchased a vessel, he strengthened
it for a voyage, that he knew would without doubt
be long and stormy. Then he chose fifty stout
young fellows having the same love of adventure
as himself, and next he hired the best captain that
could be got for money, and put a store of provisions
and water on board.
All this being done, he set sail. For many days
he and his companions voyaged on deep waters
and in strange seas. At times the wind was fair
and gentle, and at others it blew so hard that the
sea rose in a terrible manner.
One day there came a violent whirlwind which
twisted the ship about, and, lifting it into the air,
carried it upward into the sky, until it reached
the Moon. There Lucian and his comrades disembarked
and visited the inhabitants of Moonland.
They took part in a fierce battle between the
Moon-Folk, the Sun-Folk, and an army of Vulture-
Horsemen; and, after many other wonderful
adventures, they departed from Moonland, and
sailing through the sky, visited the Morning Star.
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