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diff --git a/old/07woz10.txt b/old/07woz10.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 2e3e70a..0000000 --- a/old/07woz10.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,9748 +0,0 @@ -*Project Gutenberg's Etext of The Patchwork Girl of Oz by Baum* -#7 in the L. Frank Baum's Wonderful World Of Oz Series -We are now naming the files as they are numbered in the books-- -i.e. This is #7 in the series so the file name is 07wozxxx.xxx, -where the x's are place holders for editon # and file type such -as 07woz10.txt and 07woz10.zip, when we do a .htm, 07woz10h.htm - - -Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check -the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! - -Please take a look at the important information in this header. -We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an -electronic path open for the next readers. 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If you - don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are - payable to "Project Gutenberg Association/Carnegie-Mellon - University" within the 60 days following each - date you prepare (or were legally required to prepare) - your annual (or equivalent periodic) tax return. - -WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? -The Project gratefully accepts contributions in money, time, -scanning machines, OCR software, public domain etexts, royalty -free copyright licenses, and every other sort of contribution -you can think of. Money should be paid to "Project Gutenberg -Association / Carnegie-Mellon University". - -*END*THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* - - - - - -THE PATCHWORK GIRL OF OZ - -by L. FRANK BAUM - -Affectionately dedicated to my young friend -Sumner Hamilton Britton of Chicago - - -Prologue - -Through the kindness of Dorothy Gale of Kansas, -afterward Princess Dorothy of Oz, an humble writer -in the United States of America was once appointed -Royal Historian of Oz, with the privilege of -writing the chronicle of that wonderful fairyland. -But after making six books about the adventures of -those interesting but queer people who live in the -Land of Oz, the Historian learned with sorrow that -by an edict of the Supreme Ruler, Ozma of Oz, her -country would thereafter be rendered invisible to -all who lived outside its borders and that all -communication with Oz would, in the future, be cut off. - - -The children who had learned to look for the -books about Oz and who loved the stories about the -gay and happy people inhabiting that favored -country, were as sorry as their Historian that -there would be no more books of Oz stories. They -wrote many letters asking if the Historian did not -know of some adventures to write about that had -happened before the Land of Oz was shut out from -all the rest of the world. But he did not know of -any. Finally one of the children inquired why we -couldn't hear from Princess Dorothy by wireless -telegraph, which would enable her to communicate -to the Historian whatever happened in the far-off -Land of Oz without his seeing her, or even knowing -just where Oz is. - -That seemed a good idea; so the Historian rigged -up a high tower in his back yard, and took lessons -in wireless telegraphy until he understood it, -and then began to call "Princess Dorothy of Oz" by -sending messages into the air. - -Now, it wasn't likely that Dorothy would be -looking for wireless messages or would heed the -call; but one thing the Historian was sure of, and -that was that the powerful Sorceress, Glinda, -would know what he was doing and that he desired -to communicate with Dorothy. For Glinda has a big -book in which is recorded every event that takes -place anywhere in the world, just the moment that -it happens, and so of course the book would tell -her about the wireless message. - -And that was the way Dorothy heard that the -Historian wanted to speak with her, and there was -a Shaggy Man in the Land of Oz who knew how to -telegraph a wireless reply. The result was that -the Historian begged so hard to be told the latest -news of Oz, so that he could write it down for the -children to read, that Dorothy asked permission of -Ozma and Ozma graciously consented. - -That is why, after two long years of waiting, -another Oz story is now presented to the children -of America. This would not have been possible had -not some clever man invented the "wireless" and an -equally clever child suggested the idea of -reaching the mysterious Land of Oz by its means. - -L. Frank Baum. - -"OZCOT" -at Hollywood -in California - - - -LIST OF CHAPTERS -1 - Ojo and Unc Nunkie -2 - The Crooked Magician -3 - The Patchwork Girl -4 - The Glass Cat -5 - A Terrible Accident -6 - The Journey -7 - The Troublesome Phonograph -8 - The Foolish Owl and the Wise Donkey -9 - They Meet the Woozy -10 - Shaggy Man to the Rescue -11 - A Good Friend -12 - The Giant Porcupine -13 - Scrapes and the Scarecrow -14 - Ojo Breaks the Law -15 - Ozma's Prisoner -16 - Princess Dorothy -17 - Ozma and Her Friends -18 - Ojo is Forgiven -19 - Trouble with the Tottenhots -20 - The Captive Yoop -21 - Hip Hopper the Champion -22 - The Joking Horners -23 - Peace is Declared -24 - Ojo Finds the Dark Well -25 - They Bribe the Lazy Quadling -26 - The Trick River -27 - The Tin Woodman Objects -28 - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz - - - - - -The Patchwork Girl of Oz - - - - -Chapter One - -Ojo and Unc Nunkie - - -"Where's the butter, Unc Nunkie?" asked Ojo. - -Unc looked out of the window and stroked his -long beard. Then he turned to the Munchkin boy and -shook his head. - -"Isn't," said he. - -"Isn't any butter? That's too bad, Unc. Where's -the jam then?" inquired Ojo, standing on a stool -so he could look through all the shelves of the -cupboard. But Unc Nunkie shook his head again. - -"Gone," he said. - -"No jam, either? And no cake--no jelly--no -apples--nothing but bread?" - -"All," said Unc, again stroking his beard as he -gazed from the window. - -The little boy brought the stool and sat be side -his uncle, munching the dry bread slowly and -seeming in deep thought. - -"Nothing grows in our yard but the bread -tree," he mused, "and there are only two more -loaves on that tree; and they're not ripe yet. Tell -me, Unc; why are we so poor?" - -The old Munchkin turned and looked at Ojo. He -had kindly eyes, but he hadn't smiled or laughed -in so long that the boy had forgotten that Unc -Nunkie could look any other way than solemn. And -Unc never spoke any more words than he was obliged -to, so his little nephew, who lived alone with -him, had learned to understand a great deal from -one word. - -"Why are we so poor, Unc?" repeated the - -"Not," said the old Munchkin. - -"I think we are," declared Ojo. "What have we -got?" - -"House," said Unc Nunkie. - -"I know; but everyone in the Land of Oz -has a place to live. What else, Unc?" - -"Bread." - -"I'm eating the last loaf that's ripe. There; -I've put aside your share, Unc. It's on the table, -so you can eat it when you get hungry. But when -that is gone, what shall we eat, Unc?" - -The old man shifted in his chair but merely -shook his head. - -"Of course," said Ojo, who was obliged to talk -because his uncle would not, "no one starves in -the Land of Oz, either. There is plenty for -everyone, you know; only, if it isn't just where -you happen to be, you must go where it is." - -The aged Munchkin wriggled again and stared at -his small nephew as if disturbed by his argument. - -"By tomorrow morning," the boy went on, we must -go where there is something to eat, or we shall -grow very hungry and become very unhappy." - -"Where?" asked Unc. - -"Where shall we go? I don't know, I'm sure," -replied Ojo. "But you must know, Unc. You must -have traveled, in your time, because you're so -old. I don't remember it, because ever since I -could remember anything we've lived right here in -this lonesome, round house, with a little garden -back of it and the thick woods all around. All -I've ever seen of the great Land of Oz, Unc dear, -is the view of that mountain over at the south, -where they say the Hammerheads live--who won't let -anybody go by them--and that mountain at the -north, where they say nobody lives." - -"One," declared Unc, correcting him. - -"Oh, yes; one family lives there, I've heard. -That's the Crooked Magician, who is named -Dr. Pipt, and his wife Margolotte. One year you -told me about them; I think it took you a whole -year, Unc, to say as much as I've just said about -the Crooked Magician and his wife. They live -high up on the mountain, and the good Munchkin -Country, where the fruits and flowers grow, is -just the other side. It's funny you and I should -live here all alone, in the middle of the forest, -Isn't it?" - -"Yes," said Unc. - -"Then let's go away and visit the Munchkin -Country and its jolly, good-natured people. I'd -love to get a sight of something besides woods, -Unc Nunkie." - -"Too little," said Unc. - -"Why, I'm not so little as I used to be," -answered the boy earnestly. "I think I can walk -as far and as fast through the woods as you -can, Unc. And now that nothing grows in our -back yard that is good to eat, we must go where -there is food." - -Unc Nunkie made no reply for a time. Then -he shut down the window and turned his chair -to face the room, for the sun was sinking behind -the tree-tops and it was growing cool. - -By and by Ojo lighted the fire and the logs -blazed freely in the broad fireplace. The two sat -in the firelight a long time--the old, white- -bearded Munchkin and the little boy. Both were -thinking. When it grew quite dark out-side, Ojo -said: - -"Eat your bread, Unc, and then we will go to -bed." - -But Unc Nunkie did not eat the bread; neither -did he go directly to bed. Long after his little -nephew was sound asleep in the corner of the room -the old man sat by the fire, thinking. - - - - -Chapter Two - -The Crooked Magician - - -Just at dawn next morning Unc Nunkie laid his hand -tenderly on Ojo's head and awakened him. - -"Come," he said. - -Ojo dressed. He wore blue silk stockings, blue -knee pants with gold buckles, a blue ruffled -waist and a jacket of bright blue braided with -gold. His shoes were of blue leather and turned up -at the toes, which were pointed. His hat had a -peaked crown and a flat brim, and around the brim -was a row of tiny golden bells that tinkled when -he moved. This was the native costume of those -who inhabited the Munchkin Country of the Land of -Oz, so Unc Nunkie's dress was much like that of -his nephew. Instead of shoes, the old man wore -boots with turnover tops and his blue coat had -wide cuffs of gold braid. - -The boy noticed that his uncle had not eaten -the bread, and supposed the old man had not -been hungry. Ojo was hungry, though; so he -divided the piece of bread upon the table and -ate his half for breakfast, washing it down with -fresh, cool water from the brook. Unc put the -other piece of bread in his jacket pocket, after -which he again said, as he walked out through -the doorway: "Come." - -Ojo was well pleased. He was dreadfully -tired of living all alone in the woods and wanted -to travel and see people. For a long time he had -wished to explore the beautiful Land of Oz -in which they lived. When they were outside, -Unc simply latched the door and started up the -path. No one would disturb their little house, -even if anyone came so far into the thick forest -while they were gone. - -At the foot of the mountain that separated the -Country of the Munchkins from the Country of the -Gillikins, the path divided. One way led to the -left and the other to the right--straight up the -mountain. Unc Nunkie took this right--hand path and -Ojo followed without asking why. He knew it would -take them to the house of the Crooked Magician, -whom he had never seen but who was their nearest -neighbor. - -All the morning they trudged up the mountain path -and at noon Unc and Ojo sat on a fallen tree-trunk -and ate the last of the bread which the old -Munchkin had placed in his pocket. Then they -started on again and two hours later came in sight -of the house of Dr. Pipt. - -It was a big house, round, as were all the -Munchkin houses, and painted blue, which is the -distinctive color of the Munchkin Country of Oz. -There was a pretty garden around the house, where -blue trees and blue flowers grew in abundance and -in one place were beds of blue cabbages, blue -carrots and blue lettuce, all of which were -delicious to eat. In Dr. Pipt's garden grew bun- -trees, cake-trees, cream-puff bushes, blue -buttercups which yielded excellent blue butter and -a row of chocolate-caramel plants. Paths of blue -gravel divided the vegetable and flower beds and a -wider path led up to the front door. The place was -in a clearing on the mountain, but a little way -off was the grim forest, which completely -surrounded it. - -Unc knocked at the door of the house and -a chubby, pleasant-faced woman, dressed all in -blue, opened it and greeted the visitors with a -smile. - -"Ah," said Ojo; "you must be Dame Margolotte, -the good wife of Dr. Pipt." - -"I am, my dear, and all strangers are welcome -to my home." - -"May we see the famous Magician, Madam?" - -"He is very busy just now," she said, shaking -her head doubtfully. "But come in and let me -give you something to eat, for you must have -traveled far in order to get our lonely place." - -"We have," replied Ojo, as he and Unc entered -the house. "We have come from a far lonelier place -than this." - -"A lonelier place! And in the Munchkin Country?" -she exclaimed. "Then it must be somewhere in the -Blue Forest." - -"It is, good Dame Margolotte." - -"Dear me!" she said, looking at the man, "you -must be Unc Nunkie, known as the Silent One." Then -she looked at the boy. "And you must be Ojo the -Unlucky," she added. - -"Yes," said Unc. - -"I never knew I was called the Unlucky," -said Ojo, soberly; "but it is really a good name -for me." - -"Well," remarked the woman, as she bustled -around the room and set the table and brought food -from the cupboard, "you were unlucky to live all -alone in that dismal forest, which is much worse -than the forest around here; but perhaps your luck -will change, now you are away from it. If, during -your travels, you can manage to lose that 'Un' at -the beginning of your name Unlucky,' you will -then become Ojo the Lucky, which will be a great -improvement." - -"How can I lose that 'Un,' Dame Margolotte?" - -"I do not know how, but you must keep the -matter in mind and perhaps the chance will -come to you," she replied. - -Ojo had never eaten such a fine meal in all -his life. There was a savory stew, smoking hot, -a dish of blue peas, a bowl of sweet milk of a -delicate blue tint and a blue pudding with blue -plums in it. When the visitors had eaten heartily -of this fare the woman said to them: - -"Do you wish to see Dr. Pipt on business or -for pleasure?" - -Unc shook his head. - -"We are traveling," replied Ojo, "and we -stopped at your house just to rest and refresh -ourselves. I do not think Unc Nunkie cares -very much to see the famous Crooked Magician; -but for my part I am curious to look at such -a great man. - -The woman seemed thoughtful. - -"I remember that Unc Nunkie and my husband used -to be friends, many years ago," she said, "so -perhaps they will be glad to meet again. The -Magician is very busy, as I said, but if you will -promise not to disturb him you may come into his -workshop and watch him prepare a wonderful charm." - -"Thank you," replied the boy, much pleased. -"I would like to do that." - -She led the way to a great domed hall at the -back of the house, which was the Magician's -workshop. There was a row of windows extending -nearly around the sides of the circular room, -which rendered the place very light, and there was -a back door in addition to the one leading to the -front part of the house. Before the row of windows -a broad seat was built and there were some chairs -and benches in the room besides. At one end stood -a great fireplace, in which a blue log was blazing -with a blue flame, and over the fire hung four -kettles in a row, all bubbling and steaming at a -great rate. The Magician was stirring all four of -these kettles at the same time, two with his -hands and two with his feet, to the latter, wooden -ladles being strapped, for this man was so very -crooked that his legs were as handy as his arms. - -Unc Nunkie came forward to greet his old -friend, but not being able to shake either his -hands or his feet, which were all occupied in -stirring, he patted the Magician's bald head and -asked: "What?" - -"Ah, it's the Silent One," remarked Dr. Pipt, -without looking up, "and he wants to know -what I'm making. Well, when it is quite finished -this compound will be the wonderful Powder -of Life, which no one knows how to make but -myself. Whenever it is sprinkled on anything, -that thing will at once come to life, no matter -what it is. It takes me several years to make this -magic Powder, but at this moment I am pleased -to say it is nearly done. You see, I am making it -for my good wife Margolotte, who wants to use -some of it for a purpose of her own. Sit down -and make yourself comfortable, Unc Nunkie, -and after I've finished my task I will talk to -you. - -"You must know," said Margolottte, when they -were all seated together on the broad window-seat, -"that my husband foolishly gave away all the -Powder of Life he first made to old Mombi the -Witch, who used to live in the Country of the -Gillikins, to the north of here. Mombi gave to Dr. -Pipt a Powder of Perpetual Youth in exchange for -his Powder of Life, but she cheated him wickedly, -for the Powder of Youth was no good and could work -no magic at all." - -"Perhaps the Powder of Life couldn't either," -said Ojo. - -"Yes; it is perfection," she declared. "The first -lot we tested on our Glass Cat, which not only -began to live but has lived ever since. She's -somewhere around the house now." - -"A Glass Cat!" exclaimed Ojo, astonished. - -"Yes; she makes a very pleasant companion, but -admires herself a little more than is considered -modest, and she positively refuses to catch mice," -explained Margolotte. "My husband made the cat -some pink brains, but they proved to be too high- -bred and particular for a cat, so she thinks it is -undignified in her to catch mice. Also she has a -pretty blood-red heart, but it is made of stone--a -ruby, I think--and so is rather hard and unfeeling. -I think the next Class Cat the Magician makes will -have neither brains nor heart, for then it will -not object to catching mice and may prove of some -use to us." - -"What did old Mombi the Witch do with the -Powder of Life your husband gave her?" asked -the boy. - -"She brought Jack Pumpkinhead to life, for -one thing," was the reply. "I suppose you've -heard of jack Pumpkinhead. He is now living -near the Emerald City and is a great favorite -with the Princess Ozma, who rules all the Land -of Oz." - -"No; I've never heard of him," remarked -Ojo. "I'm afraid I don't know much about the -Land of Oz. You see, I've lived all my life with -Unc Nunkie, the Silent One, and there was no -one to tell me anything." - -"That is one reason you are Ojo the Unlucky," -said the woman, in a sympathetic tone. "The more -one knows, the luckier he is, for knowledge is the -greatest gift in life." - -"But tell me, please, what you intend to do -With this new lot of the Powder of Life, which -Dr. Pipt is making. He said his wife wanted it -for some especial purpose. - -"So I do," she answered. "I want it to bring -my Patchwork Girl to life." - -"Oh! A Patchwork Girl? What is that?" Ojo -asked, for this seemed even more strange and -unusual than a Glass Cat. - -"I think I must show you my Patchwork -Girl," said Margolotte, laughing at the boy's -astonishment, "for she is rather difficult to -explain. But first I will tell you that for many -years I have longed for a servant to help me with -the housework and to cook the meals and wash the -dishes. No servant will come here because the -place is so lonely and out-of-the-way, so my -clever husband, the Crooked Magician, proposed -that I make a girl out of some sort of material -and he would make her live by sprinkling over her -the Powder of Life. This seemed an excellent -suggestion and at once Dr. Pipt set to work to -make a new batch of his magic powder. He has been -at it a long, long while, and so I have had plenty -of time to make the girl. Yet that task was not so -easy as you may suppose. At first I couldn't think -what to make her of, but finally in searching -through a chest I came across an old patchwork -quilt, which my grandmother once made when she was -young. - -"What is a patchwork quilt?" asked Ojo. - -"A bed-quilt made of patches of different kinds -and colors of cloth, all neatly sewed together. -The patches are of all shapes and sizes, so a -patchwork quilt is a very pretty and gorgeous -thing to look at. Sometimes it is called a -'crazyquilt,' because the patches and colors are -so mixed up. We never have used my grand-mother's -manycolored patchwork quilt, hand-some as it is, -for we Munchkins do not care for any color other -than blue, so it has been packed away in the chest -for about a hundred years. When I found it, I said -to myself that it would do nicely for my servant -girl, for when she was brought to life she would -not be proud nor haughty, as the Glass Cat is, for -such a dreadful mixture of colors would discourage -her from trying to, be as dignified as the blue -Munchkins are. - -"Is blue the only respectable color, then?" -inquired Ojo. - -"Yes, for a Munchkin. All our country is blue, -you know. But in other parts of Oz the people -favor different colors. At the Emerald City, -where our Princess Ozma lives, green is the -popular color. But all Munchkins prefer blue -to anything else and when my housework girl -is brought to life she will find herself to be of -so many unpopular colors that she'll never dare -be rebellious or impudent, as servants are -sometimes liable to be when they are made the same -way their mistresses are." - -Unc Nunkie nodded approval. - -"Good idea," he said; and that was a long -speech for Unc Nunkie because it was two -words. - -"So I cut up the quilt," continued Margolotte, -"and made from it a very well-shaped girl, -which I stuffed with cotton-wadding. I will -show you what a good job I did," and she went -to a tall cupboard and threw open the doors. - -Then back she came, lugging in her arms the -Patchwork Girl, which she set upon the bench -and propped up so that the figure would not -tumble over. - - - - -Chapter Three - -The Patchwork Girl - - -Ojo examined this curious contrivance with wonder. -The Patchwork Girl was taller than he, when she -stood upright, and her body was plump and rounded -because it had been so neatly stuffed with cotton. -Margolotte had first made the girl's form from the -patchwork quilt and then she had dressed it with a -patchwork skirt and an apron with pockets in it-- -using the same gay material throughout. Upon the -feet she had sewn a pair of red leather shoes with -pointed toes. All the fingers and thumbs of the -girl's hands had been carefully formed and stuffed -and stitched at the edges, with gold plates at the -ends to serve as finger-nails. - -"She will have to work, when she comes to -life," said Marglotte. - -The head of the Patchwork Girl was the most -curious part of her. While she waited for her -husband to finish making his Powder of Life the -woman had found ample time to complete the head as -her fancy dictated, and she realized that a good -servant's head must be properly constructed. The -hair was of brown yarn and hung down on her neck -in several neat braids. Her eyes were two silver -suspender-buttons cut from a pair of the -Magician's old trousers, and they were sewed on -with black threads, which formed the pupils of the -eyes. Margolotte had puzzled over the ears for -some time, for these were important if the servant -was to hear distinctly, but finally she had made -them out of thin plates of gold and attached them -in place by means of stitches through tiny holes -bored in the metal. Gold is the most common metal -in the Land of Oz and is used for many purposes -because it is soft and pliable. - -The woman had cut a slit for the Patchwork -Girl's mouth and sewn two rows of white pearls -in it for teeth, using a strip of scarlet plush for -a tongue. This mouth Ojo considered very artistic -and lifelike, and Margolotte was pleased when the -boy praised it. There were almost too many patches -on the face of the girl for her to be considered -strictly beautiful, for one cheek was yellow and -the other red, her chin blue, her forehead purple -and the center, where her nose had been formed and -padded, a bright yellow. - -"You ought to have had her face all pink," -suggested the boy. - -"I suppose so; but I had no pink cloth," replied -the woman. "Still, I cannot see as it matters -much, for I wish my Patchwork Girl to be useful -rather than ornamental. If I get tired looking at -her patched face I can whitewash it." - -"Has she any brains?" asked Ojo. - -"No; I forgot all about the brains!" exclaimed -the woman. "I am glad you reminded me of -them, for it is not too late to supply them, by -any means. Until she is brought to life I can -do anything I please with this girl. But I must -be careful not to give her too much brains, and -those she has must be such as are fitted to the -station she is to occupy in life. In other words, -her brains mustn't be very good." - -"Wrong," said Unc Nunkie. - -"No; I am sure I am right about that," returned -the woman. - -"He means," explained Ojo, "that unless your -servant has good brains she won't know how to obey -you properly, nor do the things you ask her to -do." - -"Well, that may be true," agreed Margolotte; -"but, on the contrary, a servant with too much -brains is sure to become independent and high- -and-mighty and feel above her work. This is a -very delicate task, as I said, and I must take -care to give the girl just the right quantity of -the right sort of brains. I want her to know just -enough, but not too much." - -With this she went to another cupboard which was -filled With shelves. All the shelves were lined -With blue glass bottles, neatly labeled by the -Magician to show what they contained. One whole -shelf was marked: "Brain Furniture," and the -bottles on this shelf were labeled as follows: -"Obedience," "Cleverness," "Judgment," "Courage," -"Ingenuity," "Amiability," "Learning," "Truth," -"Poesy," "Self Reliance." - -"Let me see," said Margolotte; "of those -qualities she must have 'Obedience' first of all," -and she took down the bottle bearing that label -and poured from it upon a dish several grains of -the contents. "'Amiability' is also good and -'Truth.'" She poured into the dish a quantity from -each of these bottles. "I think that will do," she -continued, "for the other qualities are not needed -in a servant." - -Unc Nunkie, who with Ojo stood beside her, -touched the bottle marked "Cleverness." - -"Little," said he. - -"A little 'Cleverness'? Well, perhaps you are -right, sir," said she, and was about to take down -the bottle when the Crooked Magician suddenly -called to her excitedly from the fireplace. - -"Quick, Margolotte! Come and help me." - -She ran to her husband's side at once and -helped him lift the four kettles from the fire. -Their contents had all boiled away, leaving in -the bottom of each kettle a few grains of fine -white powder. Very carefully the Magician removed -this powder, placing it all together in a golden -dish, where he mixed it with a golden spoon. When -the mixture was complete there was scarcely a -handful, all told. - -"That," said Dr. Pipt, in a pleased and -triumphant tone, "is the wonderful Powder of Life, -which I alone in the world know how to make. It -has taken me nearly six years to prepare these -precious grains of dust, but the little heap on -that dish is worth the price of a kingdom and many -a king would give all he has to possess it. When -it has become cooled I will place it in a small -bottle; but meantime I must watch it carefully, -lest a gust of wind blow it away or scatter it.' - -Unc Nunkie, Margolotte and the Magician -all stood looking at the marvelous Powder, but -Ojo was more interested just then in the Patchwork -Girl's brains. Thinking it both unfair and unkind -to deprive her of any good qualities that were -handy, the boy took down every bottle on the shelf -and poured some of the contents in Margolotte's -dish. No one saw him do this, for all were looking -at the Powder of Life; but soon the woman -remembered what she had been doing, and came back -to the cupboard. - -"Let's see," she remarked; "I was about to give -my girl a little 'Cleverness,' which is the -Doctor's substitute for 'Intelligence'--a quality -he has not yet learned how to manufacture." Taking -down the bottle of "Cleverness" she added some of -the powder to the heap on the dish. Ojo became a -bit uneasy at this, for he had already put quite -a lot of the "Cleverness" powder in the dish; but -he dared not interfere and so he comforted himself -with the thought that one cannot have too much -cleverness. - -Margolotte now carried the dish of brains to -the bench. Ripping the seam of the patch on -the girl's forehead, she placed the powder within -the head and then sewed up the seam as neatly -and securely as before. - -"My girl is all ready for your Powder of Life, -my dear," she said to her husband. But the -Magician replied: - -"This powder must not be used before tomorrow -morning; but I think it is now cool enough to be -bottled." - -He selected a small gold bottle with a pepper- -box top, so that the powder might be sprinkled on -any object through the small holes. Very carefully -he placed the Powder of Life in the gold bottle -and then locked it up in a drawer of his cabinet. - -"At last," said he, rubbing his hands together -gleefully, "I have ample leisure for a good talk -with my old friend Unc Nunkie. So let us sit -down cosily and enjoy ourselves. After stirring -those four kettles for six years I am glad to -have a little rest." - -"You will have to do most of the talking," -said Ojo, "for Unc is called the Silent One and -uses few words." - -"I know; but that renders your uncle a -most agreeable companion and gossip," declared -Dr. Pipt. "Most people talk too much, so it is -a relief to find one who talks too little." - -Ojo looked at the Magician with much awe -and curiosity. - -"Don't you find it very annoying to be so -crooked?" he asked. - -"No; I am quite proud of my person," was -the reply. "I suppose I am the only Crooked -Magician in all the world. Some others are accused -of being crooked, but I am the only genuine." - -He was really very crooked and Ojo wondered how -he managed to do so many things with such a -twisted body. When he sat down upon a crooked -chair that had been made to fit him, one knee was -under his chin and the other near the small of his -back; but he was a cheerful man and his face bore -a pleasant and agreeable expression. - -"I am not allowed to perform magic, except -for my own amusement," he told his visitors, -as he lighted a pipe with a crooked stem and -began to smoke. "Too many people were working -magic in the Land of Oz, and so our lovely -Princess Ozma put a stop to it. I think she was -quite right. There were several wicked Witches who -caused a lot of trouble; but now they are all out -of business and only the great Sorceress, Glinda -the Good, is permitted to practice her arts, which -never harm anybody. The Wizard of Oz, who used to -be a humbug and knew no magic at all, has been -taking lessons of Glinda, and I'm told he is -getting to be a pretty good Wizard; but he is -merely the assistant of the great Sorceress. I've -the right to make a servant girl for my wife, you -know, or a Glass Cat to catch our mice--which she -refuses to do--but I am forbidden to work magic for -others, or to use it as a profession." - -"Magic must be a very interesting study," -said Ojo. - -"It truly is," asserted the Magician. "In my -time I've performed some magical feats that were -worthy of the skill of Glinda the Good. For -instance, there's the Powder of Life, and my -Liquid of Petrifaction, which is contained in that -bottle on the shelf yonder-over the window." - -"What does the Liquid of Petrifaction do?" -inquired the boy. - -"Turns everything it touches to solid marble. -It's an invention of my own, and I find it very -useful. Once two of those dreadful Kalidahs, -with bodies like bears and heads like tigers, -came here from the forest to attack us; but I -sprinkled some of that Liquid on them and -instantly they turned to marble. I now use them -as ornamental statuary in my garden. This table -looks to you like wood, and once it really was -wood; but I sprinkled a few drops of the Liquid -of Petrifaction on it and now it is marble. It -will never break nor wear out. - -"Fine!" said Unc Nunkie, wagging his head -and stroking his long gray beard. - -"Dear me; what a chatterbox you're getting -to be, Unc," remarked the Magician, who was -pleased with the compliment. But just then -there came a scratching at the back door and a -shrill voice cried: - -"Let me in! Hurry up, can't you? Let me in!" - -Margolotte got up and went to the door. - -"Ask like a good cat, then," she said. - -"Meeee-ow-w-w! There; does that suit your -royal highness?" asked the voice, in scornful -accents. - -"Yes; that's proper cat talk," declared the -woman, and opened the door. At once a cat entered, -came to the center of the room and stopped short -at the sight of strangers. Ojo and Unc Nunkie both -stared at it with wide open eyes, for surely no -such curious creature had ever existed before-- -even in the Land of Oz. - - - - -Chapter Four - -The Glass Cat - - -The cat was made of glass, so clear and -transparent that you could see through it as -easily as through a window. In the top of its -head, however, Was a mass of delicate pink balls -which looked like jewels, and it had a heart made -of a blood-red ruby. The eyes were two large -emeralds, but aside from these colors all the rest -of the animal was clear glass, and it had a spun- -glass tail that was really beautiful. - -"Well, Doc Pipt, do you mean to introduce us, or -not?" demanded the cat, in a tone of annoyance. -"Seems to me you are forgetting your manners." - -"Excuse me," returned the Magician. "This -is Unc Nunkie, the descendant of the former -kings of the Munchkins, before this country be -came a part of the Land of Oz." - -"He needs a haircut," observed the cat, -washing its face. - -"True," replied Unc, with a low chuckle of -amusement. - -"But he has lived alone in the heart of the -forest for many years," the Magician explained; -"and, although that is a barbarous country, -there are no barbers there." - -"Who is the dwarf?" asked the cat. - -"That is not a dwarf, but a boy," answered -the Magician. "You have never seen a boy before. -He is now small because he is young. With more -years he will grow big and become as tall as Unc -Nunkie." - -"Oh. Is that magic?" the glass animal inquired. - -"Yes; but it is Nature's magic, which is more -wonderful than any art known to man. For -instance, my magic made you, and made you -live; and it was a poor job because you are -useless and a bother to me; but I can't make you -grow. You will always be the same size--and -the same saucy, inconsiderate Glass Cat, with -pink brains and a hard ruby heart." - -"No one can regret more than I the fact that you -made me," asserted the cat, crouching upon the -floor and slowly swaying its spun-glass tail from -side to side. "Your world is a very uninteresting -place. I've wandered through your gardens and in -the forest until I'm tired of it all, and when I -come into the house the conversation of your fat -wife and of yourself bores me dreadfully." - -"That is because I gave you different brains -from those we ourselves possess--and much too -good for a cat," returned Dr. Pipt. - -"Can't you take 'em out, then, and replace -em with pebbles, so that I won't feel above my -station in life?" asked the cat, pleadingly. - -"Perhaps so. I'll try it, after I've brought the -Patchwork Girl to life," he said. - -The cat walked up to the bench on which -the Patchwork Girl reclined and looked at her -attentively. - -"Are you going to make that dreadful thing -live?" she asked. - -The Magician nodded. - -"It is intended to be my wife's servant maid," -he said. "When she is alive she will do all our -work and mind the house. But you are not to -order her around, Bungle, as you do us. You -must treat the Patchwork Girl respectfully." - -"I won't. I couldn't respect such a bundle -of scraps under any circumstances." - -"If you don't, there will be more scraps than -you will like," cried Margolotte, angrily. - -"Why didn't you make her pretty to look at?" -asked the cat. "You made me pretty--very pretty, -indeed--and I love to watch my pink brains roll -around when they're working, and to see my -precious red heart beat." She went to a long -mirror, as she said this, and stood before it, -looking at herself with an air of much pride. -"But that poor patched thing will hate herself, -when she's once alive," continued the cat. "If -I were you I'd use her for a mop, and make -another servant that is prettier." - -"You have a perverted taste," snapped -Margolotte, much annoyed at this frank criticism. -"I think the Patchwork Girl is beautiful, -considering what she's made of. Even the rainbow -hasn't as many colors, and you must admit that the -rainbow is a pretty thing." - -The Glass Cat yawned and stretched herself -upon the floor. - -"Have your own way," she said. "I'm sorry -for the Patchwork Girl, that's all." - -Ojo and Unc Nunkie slept that night in the -Magician's house, and the boy was glad to stay -because he was anxious to see the Patchwork -Girl brought to life. The Glass Cat was also a -wonderful creature to little Ojo, who had never -seen or known anything of magic before, although -he had lived in the Fairyland of Oz ever since he -was born. Back there in the woods nothing unusual -ever happened. Unc Nunkie, who might have been -King of the Munchkins, had not his people united -with all the other countries of Oz in -acknowledging Ozma as their Sole ruler, had -retired into this forgotten forest nook with his -baby nephew and they had lived all alone there. -Only that the neglected garden had failed to grow -food for them, they would always have lived in the -solitary Blue Forest; but now they had started out -to mingle with other people, and the first place -they came to proved so interesting that Ojo could -scarcely sleep a wink all night. - -Margolotte was an excellent cook and gave -them a fine breakfast. While they were all engaged -in eating, the good woman said: - -"This is the last meal I shall have to cook -for some time, for right after breakfast Dr. Pipt -has promised to bring my new servant to life. -I shall let her wash the breakfast dishes and -sweep and dust the house. What a relief it -will be!" - -"It will, indeed, relieve you of much drudgery," -said the Magician. "By the way, Margolotte, I -thought I saw you getting some brains from the -cupboard, while I was busy with my kettles. What -qualities have you given your new servant?" - -"Only those that an humble servant requires," -she answered. "I do not wish her to feel above -her station, as the Glass Cat does. That would -make her discontented and unhappy, for of -course she must always be a servant." - -Ojo was somewhat disturbed as he listened to -this, and the boy began to fear he had done wrong -in adding all those different qualities of brains -to the lot Margolotte had prepared for the -servant. But it was too late now for regret, since -all the brains were securely sewn up inside the -Patchwork Girl's head. He might have confessed -what he had done and thus allowed Margolotte and -her husband to change the brains; but he was -afraid of incurring their anger. He believed that -Unc had seen him add to the brains, and Unc had -not said a word against it; but then, Unc never -did say anything unless it was absolutely -necessary. - -As soon as breakfast was over they all went -into the Magician's big workshop, where the -Glass Cat was lying before the mirror and the -Patchwork Girl lay limp and lifeless upon the -bench. - -"Now, then," said Dr. Pipt, in a brisk tone, -"we shall perform one of the greatest feats of -magic possible to man, even in this marvelous -Land of Oz. In no other country could it be -done at all. I think we ought to have a little -music while the Patchwork Girl comes to life. -It is pleasant to reflect that the first sounds her -golden ears will hear will be delicious music. - -As he spoke he went to a phonograph, which -screwed fast to a small table, and wound up -the spring of the instrument and adjusted the -big gold horn. - -"The music my servant will usually hear," -remarked Margolotte, "will be my orders to do -her work. But I see no harm in allowing her to -listen to this unseen band while she wakens to -her first realization of life. My orders will beat -the band, afterward." - -The phonograph was now playing a stirring -march tune and the Magician unlocked his -cabinet and took out the gold bottle containing -the Powder of Life. - -They all bent over the bench on which the -Patchwork Girl reclined. Unc Nunkie and Margolotte -stood behind, near the windows, Ojo at one side -and the Magician in front, where he would have -freedom to sprinkle the powder. The Glass Cat came -near, too, curious to watch the important scene. - -"All ready?" asked Dr. Pipt. - -"All is ready," answered his wife. - -So the Magician leaned over and shook from -the bottle some grains of the wonderful Powder, -and they fell directly on the Patchwork Girl's -head and arms. - - - - -Chapter Five - -A Terrible Accident - - - -"It will take a few minutes for this powder to -do its work," remarked the Magician, sprinkling -the body up and down with much care. - -But suddenly the Patchwork Girl threw up one -arm, which knocked the bottle of powder from the -crooked man's hand and sent it flying across the -room. Unc Nunkie and Margolotte were so startled -that they both leaped backward and bumped -together, and Unc's head joggled the shelf above -them and upset the bottle containing the Liquid of -Petrifaction. - -The Magician uttered such a wild cry that Ojo -jumped away and the Patchwork Girl sprang after -him and clasped her stuffed arms around him in -terror. The Glass Cat snarled and hid under the -table, and so it was that when the powerful Liquid -of Petrifaction was spilled it fell only upon the -wife of the Magician and the uncle of Ojo. With -these two the charm worked promptly. They stood -motionless and stiff as marble statues, in exactly -the positions they were in when the Liquid struck -them. - -Ojo pushed the Patchwork Girl away and -ran to Unc Nunkie, filled with a terrible fear -for the only friend and protector he had ever -known. When he grasped Unc's hand it was -cold and hard. Even the long gray beard was -solid marble. The Crooked Magician was -dancing around the room in a frenzy of despair, -calling upon his wife to forgive him, to speak -to him, to come to life again! - -The Patchwork Girl, quickly recovering from her -fright, now came nearer and looked from one to -another of the people with deep interest. Then she -looked at herself and laughed. Noticing the -mirror, she stood before it and examined her -extraordinary features with amazement--her button -eyes, pearl bead teeth and puffy nose. Then, -addressing her reflection in the glass, she exclaimed: - - -"Whee, but there's a gaudy dame! -Makes a paint-box blush with shame. -Razzle-dazzle, fizzle-fazzle! -Howdy-do, Miss What's-your-name?" - - - -She bowed, and the reflection bowed. Then -she laughed again, long and merrily, and the -Glass Cat crept out from under the table and said: - -"I don't blame you for laughing at yourself. -Aren't you horrid?" - -"Horrid?" she replied. "Why, I'm thoroughly -delightful. I'm an Original, if you please, and -therefore incomparable. Of all the comic, absurd, -rare and amusing creatures the world contains, I -must be the supreme freak. Who but poor Margolotte -could have managed to invent such an unreasonable -being as I? But I'm glad--I'm awfully glad!--that -I'm just what I am, and nothing else." - -"Be quiet, will you?" cried the frantic -Magician; "be quiet and let me think! If I don't -think I shall go mad." - -"Think ahead," said the Patchwork Girl, seating -herself in a chair. "Think all you want to. I -don't mind." - -"Gee! but I'm fired playing that tune," called -the phonograph, speaking through its horn in -a brazen, scratchy voice. "If you don't mind, -Pipt, old boy, I'll cut it out and take a rest." - -The Magician looked gloomily at the music- -machine. - -"What dreadful luck!" he wailed, despondently. -"The Powder of Life must have fallen on the -phonograph." - -He went up to it and found that the gold bottle -that contained the precious powder had dropped -upon the stand and scattered its life-giving -grains over the machine. The phonograph was very -much alive, and began dancing a jig with the legs -of the table to which it was attached, and this -dance so annoyed Dr. Pipt that he kicked the thing -into a corner and pushed a bench against it, to -hold it quiet. - -"You were bad enough before," said the Magician, -resentfully; "but a live phonograph is enough to -drive every sane person in the Land of Oz stark -crazy." - -"No insults, please," answered the phonograph in -a surly, tone. "You did it, my boy; don't blame -me. " - -"You've bungled everything, Dr. Pipt," added -the Glass Cat, contemptuously. - -"Except me," said the Patchwork Girl, jumping up -to whirl merrily around the room. - -"I think," said Ojo, almost ready to cry -through grief over Unc Nunkie's sad fate, "it -must all be my fault, in some way. I'm called -Ojo the Unlucky, you know." - -"That's nonsense, kiddie," retorted the -Patchwork Girl cheerfully. "No one can be unlucky -who has the intelligence to direct his own -actions. The unlucky ones are those who beg for a -chance to think, like poor Dr. Pipt here. What's -the row about, anyway, Mr. Magic-maker?" - -"The Liquid of Petrifaction has accidentally -fallen upon my dear wife and Unc Nunkie and -turned them into marble," he sadly replied. - -"Well, why don't you sprinkle some of that -powder on them and bring them to life again?" -asked the Patchwork Girl. - -The Magician gave a jump. - -"Why, I hadn't thought of that!" he joyfully -cried, and grabbed up the golden bottle, with -which he ran to Margolotte. - -Said the Patchwork Girl: - - -"Higgledy, piggledy, dee- -What fools magicians be! -His head's so thick -He can't think quick, -So he takes advice from me." - - - -Standing upon the bench, for he was so -crooked he could not reach the top of his wife's -head in any other way, Dr. Pipt began shaking -the bottle. But not a grain of powder came out. -He pulled off the cover, glanced within, and -then threw the bottle from him with a wail of -despair. - -"Gone-gone! Every bit gone," he cried. -"Wasted on that miserable phonograph when -it might have saved my dear wife!" - -Then the Magician bowed his head on his -crooked arms and began to cry. - -Ojo was sorry for him. He went up to the -sorrowful man and said softly: - -"You can make more Powder of Life, Dr. Pipt." - -"Yes; but it will take me six years--six long, -weary years of stirring four kettles with both -feet and both hands," was the agonized reply. "Six -years! while poor Margolotte stands watching me as -a marble image. " - -"Can't anything else be done?" asked the -Patchwork Girl. - -The Magician shook his head. Then he seemed to -remember something and looked up. - -"There is one other compound that would destroy -the magic spell of the Liquid of Petrifaction and -restore my wife and Unc Nunkie to life," said he. -"It may be hard to find the things I need to make -this magic compound, but if they were found I -could do in an instant what will otherwise take -six long, weary years of stirring kettles with -both hands and both feet." - -"All right; let's find the things, then," -suggested the Patchwork Girl. "That seems a lot -more sensible than those stirring times with the -kettles." - -"That's the idea, Scraps," said the Glass Cat, -approvingly. "I'm glad to find you have decent -brains. Mine are exceptionally good. You can -see em work; they're pink." - -"Scraps?" repeated the girl. "Did you call me -'Scraps'? Is that my name?" - -"I--I believe my poor wife had intended to -name you 'Angeline,'" said the Magician. - -"But I like 'Scraps' best," she replied with a -laugh. "It fits me better, for my patchwork is -all scraps, and nothing else. Thank you for -naming me, Miss Cat. Have you any name of -your own?" - -"I have a foolish name that Margolotte once -gave me, but which is quite undignified for -one of my importance," answered the cat. "She -called me 'Bungle.'" - -"Yes," sighed the Magician; "you were a sad -bungle, taken all in all. I was wrong to make -you as I did, for a more useless, conceited and -brittle thing never before existed." - -"I'm not so brittle as you think," retorted the -cat. "I've been alive a good many years, for -Dr. Pipt experimented on me with the first -magic Powder of Life he ever made, and so -far I've never broken or cracked or chipped any -part of me." - -"You seem to have a chip on your shoulder," -laughed the Patchwork Girl, and the cat went -to the mirror to see. - -"Tell me," pleaded Ojo, speaking to the -Crooked Magician, "what must we find to make -the compound that will save Unc Nunkie?" - -"First," was the reply, "I must have a six- -leaved clover. That can only be found in the green -country around the Emerald City, and six-leaved -clovers are very scarce, even there." - -"I'll find it for you," promised Ojo. - -"The next thing," continued the Magician, -"is the left wing of a yellow butterfly. That -color can only be found in the yellow country -of the Winkies, West of the Emerald City." - -"I'll find it," declared Ojo. "Is that all?" - -"Oh, no; I'll get my Book of Recipes and see -what comes next." - -Saying this, the Magician unlocked a drawer -of his cabinet and drew out a small book covered -with blue leather. Looking through the pages -he found the recipe he wanted and said: "I -must have a gill of water from a dark well." - -"What kind of a well is that, sir?" asked the -boy. - -"One where the light of day never penetrates. -The water must be put in a gold bottle and brought -to me without any light ever reaching it. - -"I'll get the water from the dark well," said -Ojo. - -"Then I must have three hairs from the tip -of a Woozy's tail, and a drop of oil from a live -man's body." - -Ojo looked grave at this. - -"What is a Woozy, please?" he inquired. - -"Some sort of an animal. I've never seen one, -so I can't describe it," replied the Magician. - -"If I can find a Woozy, I'll get the hairs from -its tail," said Ojo. "But is there ever any oil in a -man's body?" - -The Magician looked in the book again, to make -sure. - -"That's what the recipe calls for," he replied, -"and of course we must get everything that is -called for, or the charm won't work. The book -doesn't say 'blood'; it says 'oil,' and there must -be oil somewhere in a live man's body or the -book wouldn't ask for it." - -"All right," returned Ojo, trying not to feel -discouraged; "I'll try to find it." - -The Magician looked at the little Munchkin -boy in a doubtful way and said: - -"All this will mean a long journey for you; -perhaps several long journeys; for you must search -through several of the different countries of Oz -in order to get the things I need." - -"I know it, sir; but I must do my best to save -Unc Nunkie." - -"And also my poor wife Margolotte. If you save -one you will save the other, for both stand there -together and the same compound will restore them -both to life. Do the best you can, Ojo, and while -you are gone I shall begin the six years job of -making a new batch of the Powder of Life. Then, if -you should unluckily fail to secure any one of the -things needed, I will have lost no time. But if -you succeed you must return here as quickly as you -can, and that will save me much tiresome stirring -of four kettles with both feet and both hands." - -"I will start on my journey at once, sir," said -the boy. - -"And I will go with you," declared the Patchwork -Girl. - -"No, no!" exclaimed the Magician. "You have no -right to leave this house. You are only a servant -and have not been discharged." - -Scraps, who had been dancing up and down -the room, stopped and looked at him. - -"What is a servant?" she asked. - -"One who serves. A--a Sort of slave," he -explained. - -"Very well," said the Patchwork Girl, "I'm going -to serve you and your wife by helping Ojo find the -things you need. You need a lot, you know, such as -are not easily found." - -"It is true," sighed Dr. Pipt. "I am well aware -that Ojo has undertaken a serious task." - -Scraps laughed, and resuming her dance she said: - - -"Here's a job for a boy of brains: -A drop of oil from a live man's veins; -A six-leaved clover; three nice hairs -From a Woozy's tail, the book declares -Are needed for the magic spell, -And water from a pitch-dark well. -The yellow wing of a butterfly -To find must Ojo also try, -And if he gets them without harm, -Doc Pipt will make the magic charm; -But if he doesn't get 'em, Unc -Will always stand a marble chunk." - - -The Magician looked at her thoughtfully. - -"Poor Margolotte must have given you some of the -quality of poesy, by mistake," he said. "And, if -that is true, I didn't make a very good article -when I prepared it, or else you got an overdose or -an underdose. However, I believe I shall let you -go with Ojo, for my poor wife will not need your -services until she is restored to life. Also I -think you may be able to help the boy, for your -head seems to contain some thoughts I did not -expect to find in it. But be very careful of -yourself, for you're a souvenir of my dear -Margolotte. Try not to get ripped, or your -stuffing may fall out. One of your eyes seems -loose, and you may have to sew it on tighter. If -you talk too much you'll wear out your scarlet -plush tongue, which ought to have been hemmed on -the edges. And remember you belong to me and must -return here as soon as your mission is -accomplished." - -"I'm going with Scraps and Ojo," announced -the Glass Cat. - -"You can't," said the Magician. - -"Why not?" - -"You'd get broken in no time, and you -couldn't be a bit of use to the boy and the -Patchwork Girl." - -"I beg to differ with you," returned the cat, -in a haughty tone. "Three heads are better -than two, and my pink brains are beautiful. -You can see em work." - -"Well, go along," said the Magician, irritably. -"You're only an annoyance, anyhow, and I'm glad to -get rid of you." - -"Thank you for nothing, then," answered the cat, -stiffly. - -Dr. Pipt took a small basket from a cupboard -and packed several things in it. Then he handed -it to Ojo. - -"Here is some food and a bundle of charms," he -said. "It is all I can give you, but I am sure you -will find friends on your journey who will assist -you in your search. Take care of the Patchwork -Girl and bring her safely back, for she ought to -prove useful to my wife. As for the Glass Cat-- -properly named Bungle--if she bothers you I now -give you my permission to break her in two, for -she is not respectful and does not obey me. I made -a mistake in giving her the pink brains, you see. - -Then Ojo went to Unc Nunkie and kissed the old -man's marble face very tenderly. - -"I'm going to try to save you, Unc," he said, -just as if the marble image could hear him; and -then he shook the crooked hand of the Crooked -Magician, who was already busy hanging the four -kettles in the fireplace, and picking up his -basket left the house. - -The Patchwork Girl followed him, and after -them came the Glass Cat. - - - - -Chapter Six - -The Journey - - -Ojo had never traveled before and so he only knew -that the path down the mountainside led into the -open Munchkin Country, where large numbers of -people dwelt. Scraps was quite new and not -supposed to know anything of the Land of Oz, while -the Glass Cat admitted she had never wandered very -far away from the Magician's house. There was only -one path before them, at the beginning, so they -could not miss their way, and for a time they -walked through the thick forest in silent thought, -each one impressed with the importance of the -adventure they had undertaken. - -Suddenly the Patchwork Girl laughed. It was -funny to see her laugh, because her cheeks -wrinkled up, her nose tipped, her silver button -eyes twinkled and her mouth curled at the -corners in a comical way. - -"Has something pleased you?" asked Ojo, who was -feeling solemn and joyless through thinking upon -his uncle's sad fate. - -"Yes," she answered. "Your world pleases me, for -it's a queer world, and life in it is queerer -still. Here am I, made from an old bedquilt and -intended to be a slave to Margolotte, rendered -free as air by an accident that none of you could -foresee. I am enjoying life and seeing the world, -while the woman who made me is standing helpless -as a block of wood. If that isn't funny enough to -laugh at, I don't know what is." - -"You're not seeing much of the world yet, -my poor, innocent Scraps," remarked the Cat. -"The world doesn't consist wholly of the trees -that are on all sides of us." - -"But they're part of it; and aren't they pretty -trees?" returned Scraps, bobbing her head until -her brown yarn curls fluttered in the breeze. -"Growing between them I can see lovely ferns -and wild-flowers, and soft green mosses. If the -rest of your world is half as beautiful I shall be -glad I'm alive." - -"I don't know what the rest of the world is -like, I'm sure," said the cat; "but I mean to -find out." - -"I have never been out of the forest," Ojo -added; "but to me the trees are gloomy and sad -and the wild-flowers seem lonesome. It must be -nicer where there are no trees and there is room -for lots of people to live together." - -"I wonder if any of the people we shall meet -will be as splendid as I am," said the Patchwork -Girl. "All I have seen, so far, have pale, -colorless skins and clothes as blue as the country -they live in, while I am of many gorgeous colors-- -face and body and clothes. That is why I am bright -and contented, Ojo, while you are blue and sad." - -"I think I made a mistake in giving you so many -sorts of brains," observed the boy. "Perhaps, as -the Magician said, you have an over-dose, and they -may not agree with you." - -"What had you to do with my brains?" asked -Scraps. - -"A lot," replied Ojo. "Old Margolotte meant -to give you only a few--just enough to keep -you going--but when she wasn't looking I added -a good many more, of the best kinds I could -find in the Magician's cupboard." - -"Thanks," said the girl, dancing along the -path ahead of Ojo and then dancing back to his -side. "If a few brains are good, many brains -must be better." - -"But they ought to be evenly balanced," said the -boy, "and I had no time to be careful. From the -way you're acting, I guess the dose was badly -mixed." - -"Scraps hasn't enough brains to hurt her, so -don't worry," remarked the cat, which was trotting -along in a very dainty and graceful manner. "The -only brains worth considering are mine, which are -pink. You can see 'em work." - -After walking a long time they came to a little -brook that trickled across the path, and here Ojo -sat down to rest and eat something from his -basket. He found that the Magician had given him -part of a loaf of bread and a slice of cheese. He -broke off some of the bread and was surprised to -find the loaf just as large as it was before. It -was the same way with the cheese: however much he -broke off from the slice, it remained exactly the -same size. - -"Ah," said he, nodding wisely; "that's magic. -Dr. Pipt has enchanted the bread and the cheese, -so it will last me all through my journey, however -much I eat." - -"Why do you put those things into your mouth?" -asked Scraps, gazing at him in astonishment. "Do -you need more stuffing? Then why don't you use -cotton, such as I am stuffed with?" - -"I don't need that kind," said Ojo. - -"But a mouth is to talk with, isn't it?" - -"It is also to eat with," replied the boy. "If I -didn't put food into my mouth, and eat it, I would -get hungry and starve. - -"Ah, I didn't know that," she said. "Give me -some." - -Ojo handed her a bit of the bread and she put it -in her mouth. - -"What next?" she asked, scarcely able to speak. - -"Chew it and swallow it," said the boy. - -Scraps tried that. Her pearl teeth were unable -to chew the bread and beyond her mouth there was -no opening. Being unable to swallow she threw away -the bread and laughed. - -"I must get hungry and starve, for I can't eat," -she said. - -"Neither can I," announced the cat; "but I'm -not fool enough to try. Can't you understand -that you and I are superior people and not made -like these poor humans?" - -"Why should I understand that, or anything -else?" asked the girl. "Don't bother my head by -asking conundrums, I beg of you. Just let me -discover myself in my own way." - -With this she began amusing herself by leaping -across the brook and hack again. - -"Be careful, or you'll fall in the water," -warned Ojo. - -"Never mind." - -"You'd better. If you get wet you'll be soggy -and can't walk. Your colors might run, too," -he said. - -"Don't my colors run whenever I run?" she asked. - -"Not in the way I mean. If they get wet, the -reds and greens and yellows and purples of your -patches might run into each other and become -just a blur--no color at all, you know." - -"Then," said the Patchwork Girl, "I'll be -careful, for if I spoiled my splendid colors I -would cease to be beautiful." - -"Pah!" sneered the Glass Cat, "such colors are -not beautiful; they're ugly, and in bad taste. -Please notice that my body has no color at all. -I'm transparent, except for my exquisite red heart -and my lovely pink brains--you can see 'em work." - -"Shoo-shoo-shoo!" cried Scraps, dancing -around and laughing. "And your horrid green eyes, -Miss Bungle! You can't see your eyes, but we can, -and I notice you're very proud of what little -color you have. Shoo, Miss Bungle, shoo-shoo-shoo! -If you were all colors and many colors, as I am, -you'd be too stuck up for anything." She leaped -over the cat and back again, and the startled -Bungle crept close to a tree to escape her. This -made Scraps laugh more heartily than ever, and she -said: - - -"Whoop-tedoodle-doo! -The cat has lost her shoe. -Her tootsie's bare, but she don't care, -So what's the odds to you?" - - - -"Dear me, Ojo," said the cat; "don't you think -the creature is a little bit crazy?" - -"It may be," he answered, with a puzzled look. - -"If she continues her insults I'll scratch off -her suspender-button eyes," declared the cat. - -"Don't quarrel, please," pleaded the boy, rising -to resume the journey. "Let us be good comrades -and as happy and cheerful as possible, for we are -likely to meet with plenty of trouble on our way." - -It was nearly sundown when they came to the edge -of the forest and saw spread out before them a -delightful landscape. There were broad blue fields -stretching for miles over the valley, which was -dotted everywhere with pretty, blue domed houses, -none of which, however, was very near to the place -where they stood. Just at the point where the path -left the forest stood a tiny house covered with -leaves from the trees, and before this stood a -Munchkin man with an axe in his hand. He seemed -very much surprised when Ojo and Scraps and the -Glass Cat came out of the woods, but as the -Patchwork Girl approached nearer he sat down upon -a bench and laughed so hard that he could not -speak for a long time. - -This man was a woodchopper and lived all alone -in the little house. He had bushy blue whiskers -and merry blue eyes and his blue clothes were quite -old and worn. - -"Mercy me!" exclaimed the woodchopper, when at -last he could stop laughing. "Who would think such -a funny harlequin lived in the Land of Oz? Where -did you come from, Crazy-quilt?" - -"Do you mean me?" asked the Patchwork Girl. - -"Of course," he replied. - -"You misjudge my ancestry. I'm not a crazy- -quilt; I'm patchwork," she said. - -"There's no difference," he replied, beginning -to laugh again. "When my old grandmother sews such -things together she calls it a crazy-quilt; but I -never thought such a jumble could come to life." - -"It was the Magic Powder that did it," explained -Ojo. - -"Oh, then you have come from the Crooked -Magician on the mountain. I might have known it, -for--Well, I declare! here's a glass cat. But the -Magician will get in trouble for this; it's -against the law for anyone to work magic except -Glinda the Good and the royal Wizard of Oz. If you -people--or things--or glass spectacles--or crazy- -quilts--or whatever you are, go near the Emerald -City, you'll be arrested." - -"We're going there, anyhow," declared -Scraps, sitting upon the bench and swinging her -stuffed legs. - - -"If any of us takes a rest, -We'll be arrested sure, -And get no restitution -'Cause the rest we must endure." - - -"I see," said the woodchopper, nodding; "you're -as crazy as the crazy-quilt you're made of." - -"She really is crazy," remarked the Glass Cat. -"But that isn't to he wondered at when you -remember how many different things she's made of. -For my part, I'm made of pure glass--except my -jewel heart and my pretty pink brains. Did you -notice my brains, stranger? You can see em work." - -"So I can," replied the woodchopper; "but I -can't see that they accomplish much. A glass cat -is a useless sort of thing, but a Patchwork Girl -is really useful. She makes me laugh, and laughter -is the best thing in life. There was once a -woodchopper, a friend of mine, who was made all of -tin, and I used to laugh every time I saw him." - -"A tin woodchopper?" said Ojo. "That is -strange." - -"My friend wasn't always tin," said the man, -"but he was careless with his axe, and used to -chop himself very badly. Whenever he lost an arm -or a leg he had it replaced with tin; so after a -while he was all tin." - -"And could he chop wood then?" asked the boy. - -"He could if he didn't rust his tin joints. But -one day he met Dorothy in the forest and went with -her to the Emerald City, where he made his -fortune. He is now one of the favorites of -Princess Ozma, and she has made him the Emperor of -the Winkies--the Country where all is yellow." - -"Who is Dorothy?" inquired the Patchwork Girl. - -"A little maid who used to live in Kansas, but -is now a Princess of Oz. She's Ozma's best -friend, they say, and lives with her in the royal -palace." - -"Is Dorothy made of tin?" inquired Ojo. - -"Is she patchwork, like me?" inquired Scraps. - -"No," said the man; "Dorothy is flesh, just as I -am. I know of only one tin person, and that is -Nick Chopper, the Tin Woodman; and there will -never be but one Patchwork Girl, for any magician -that sees you will refuse to make another one like -you." - -"I suppose we shall see the Tin Woodman, for we -are going to the Country of the Winkies," said the -boy. - -"What for?" asked the woodchopper. - -"To get the left wing of a yellow butterfly." - -"It is a long journey," declared the man, "and -you will go through lonely parts of Oz and cross -rivers and traverse dark forests before you get -there." - -"Suits me all right," said Scraps. "I'll get a -chance to see the country." - -"You're crazy, girl. Better crawl into a rag-bag -and hide there; or give yourself to some little -girl to play with. Those who travel are likely to -meet trouble; that's why I stay at home." - -The woodchopper then invited them all to -stay the night at his little hut, but they were -anxious to get on and so left him and continued -along the path, which was broader, now, and -more distinct. - -They expected to reach some other house before -it grew dark, but the twilight was brief and Ojo -soon began to fear they had made a mistake in -leaving the woodchopper. - -"I can scarcely see the path," he said at last. -"Can you see it, Scraps?" - -"No," replied the Patchwork Girl, who was -holding fast to the boy's arm so he could -guide her. - -"I can see," declared the Glass Cat. "My eyes -are better than yours, and my pink brains--" - -"Never mind your pink brains, please," said -Ojo hastily; "just run ahead and show us the -way. Wait a minute and I'll tie a string to you; -for then you can lead us." - -He got a string from his pocket and tied it -around the cat's neck, and after that the creature -guided them along the path. They had proceeded in -this way for about an hour when a twinkling blue -light appeared ahead of them. - -"Good! there's a house at last," cried Ojo. -"When we reach it the good people will surely -welcome us and give us a night's lodging." But -however far they walked the light seemed to get -no nearer, so by and by the cat stopped short, -saying: - -"I think the light is traveling, too, and we -shall never be able to catch up with it. But here -is a house by the roadside, so why go farther?" - -"Where is the house, Bungle?" - -"Just here beside us, Scraps." - -Ojo was now able to see a small house near -the pathway. It was dark and silent, but the boy -was tired and wanted to rest, so he went up to -the door and knocked. - -"Who is there?" cried a voice from within. - -"I am Ojo the Unlucky, and with me are -Miss Scraps Patchwork and the Glass Cat," he -replied. - -"What do you want?" asked the Voice. - -"A place to sleep," said Ojo. - -"Come in, then; but don't make any noise, -and you must go directly to bed," returned the -Voice. - -Ojo unlatched the door and entered. It was -very dark inside and he could see nothing at all. -But the cat exclaimed: "Why, there's no one -here!" - -"There must be," said the boy. "Some one -spoke to me." - -"I can see everything in the room," replied the -cat, "and no one is present but ourselves. But -here are three beds, all made up, so we may as -well go to sleep." - -"What is sleep?" inquired the Patchwork Girl. - -"It's what you do when you go to bed," said Ojo. - -"But why do you go to bed?" persisted the -Patchwork Girl. - -"Here, here! You are making altogether too -much noise," cried the Voice they had heard -before. "Keep quiet, strangers, and go to bed." - -The cat, which could see in the dark, looked -sharply around for the owner of the Voice, hut -could discover no one, although the Voice had -seemed close beside them. She arched her back -a little and seemed afraid. Then she whispered -to Ojo: "Come!" and led him to a bed. - -With his hands the boy felt of the bed and -found it was big and soft, with feather pillows -and plenty of blankets. So he took off his shoes -and hat and crept into the bed. Then the cat -led Scraps to another bed and the Patchwork -Girl was puzzled to know what to do with it. - -"Lie down and keep quiet," whispered the -cat, warningly. - -"Can't I sing?" asked Scraps. - -"Can't I whistle?" asked Scraps. - -"Can't I dance till morning, if I want to?" -asked Scraps. - -"You must keep quiet," said the cat, in a soft -voice. - -"I don't want to," replied the Patchwork Girl, -speaking as loudly as usual. "What right have you -to order me around? If I want to talk, or yell, or -whistle--" - -Before she could say anything more an unseen -hand seized her firmly and threw her out of the -door, which closed behind her with a sharp -slam. She found herself bumping and rolling in -the road and when she got up and tried to open -the door of the house again she found it locked. - -"What has happened to Scraps?" asked Ojo. - -"Never mind. Let's go to sleep, or something -will happen to us," answered the Glass Cat. - -So Ojo snuggled down in his bed and fell -asleep, and he was so tired that he never -wakened until broad daylight. - - - - -Chapter Seven - -The Troublesome Phonograph - - - -When the boy opened his eyes next morning he -looked carefully around the room. These small -Munchkin houses seldom had more than one room in -them. That in which Ojo now found himself had -three beds, set all in a row on one side of it. -The Glass Cat lay asleep on one bed, Ojo was in -the second, and the third was neatly made up and -smoothed for the day. On the other side of the -room was a round table on which breakfast was -already placed, smoking hot. Only one chair was -drawn up to the table, where a place was set for -one person. No one seemed to be in the room except -the boy and Bungle. - -Ojo got up and put on his shoes. Finding a -toilet stand at the head of his bed he washed his -face and hands and brushed his hair. Then he -went to the table and said: - -"I wonder if this is my breakfast?" - -"Eat it!" commanded a Voice at his side, so -near that Ojo jumped; But no person could he -see. - -He was hungry, and the breakfast looked -good; so he sat down and ate all he wanted. -Then, rising, he took his hat and wakened the -Glass Cat. - -"Come on, Bungle," said he; "we must go. - -He cast another glance about the room and, -speaking to the air, he said: "Whoever lives here -has been kind to me, and I'm much obliged." - -There was no answer, so he took his basket -and went out the door, the cat following him. -In the middle of the path sat the Patchwork -Girl, playing with pebbles she had picked up. - -"Oh, there you are!" she exclaimed cheerfully. -"I thought you were never coming out. It has been -daylight a long time." - -"What did you do all night?" asked the boy. - -"Sat here and watched the stars and the -moon," she replied. "They're interesting. I never -saw them before, you know." - -"Of course not," said Ojo. - -"You were crazy to act so badly and get -thrown outdoors," remarked Bungle, as they -renewed their journey. - -"That's all right," said Scraps. "If I hadn't -been thrown out I wouldn't have seen the stars, -nor the big gray wolf." - -"What wolf?" inquired Ojo. - -"The one that came to the door of the house -three times during the night." - -"I don't see why that should be," said the -boy, thoughtfully; "there was plenty to eat in -that house, for I had a fine breakfast, and I -slept in a nice bed." - -"Don't you feel tired?" asked the Patchwork -Girl, noticing that the boy yawned. - -"Why, yes; I'm as tired as I was last night; -and yet I slept very well." - -"And aren't you hungry?" - -"It's strange," replied Ojo. "I had a good -breakfast, and yet I think I'll now eat some of -my crackers and cheese." - -Scraps danced up and down the path. Then -she sang: - - -"Kizzle-kazzle-kore; -The wolf is at the door, -There's nothing to eat but a bone without meat, -And a bill from the grocery store." - - - -"What does that mean?" asked Ojo. - -"Don't ask me," replied Scraps. "I say what -comes into my head, but of course I know nothing -of a grocery store or bones without meat or -very much else." - -"No," said the cat; "she's stark, staring, -raving crazy, and her brains can't be pink, for -they don't work properly." - -"Bother the brains!" cried Scraps. "Who cares -for 'em, anyhow? Have you noticed how beautiful my -patches are in this sunlight?" - -Just then they heard a sound as of footsteps -pattering along the path behind them and all three -turned to see what was coming. To their -astonishment they beheld a small round table -running as fast as its four spindle legs could -carry it, and to the top was screwed fast a -phonograph with a big gold horn. - -"Hold on!" shouted the phonograph. "Wait for -me!" - -"Goodness me; it's that music thing which the -Crooked Magician scattered the Powder of Life -over," said Ojo. - -"So it is," returned Bungle, in a grumpy tone of -voice; and then, as the phonograph overtook them, -the Glass Cat added sternly: "What are you doing -here, anyhow?" - -"I've run away," said the music thing. "After -you left, old Dr. Pipt and I had a dreadful -quarrel and he threatened to smash me to pieces if -I didn't keep quiet. Of course I wouldn't do that, -because a talking-machine is supposed to talk and -make a noise--and sometimes music. So I slipped out -of the house while the Magician was stirring his -four kettles and I've been running after you all -night. Now that I've found such pleasant company, -I can talk and play tunes all I want to." - -Ojo was greatly annoyed by this unwelcome -addition to their party. At first he did not know -what to say to the newcomer, but a little thought -decided him not to make friends. - -"We are traveling on important business," he -declared, "and you'll excuse me if I say we can't -be bothered." - -"How very impolite!" exclaimed the phonograph. - -"I'm sorry; but it's true," said the boy. "You'll -have to go somewhere else." - -"This is very unkind treatment, I must say, -whined the phonograph, in an injured tone. -"Everyone seems to hate me, and yet I was intended -to amuse people." - -"It isn't you we hate, especially," observed -the Glass Cat; "it's your dreadful music. When -I lived in the same room with you I was much -annoyed by your squeaky horn. It growls and -grumbles and clicks and scratches so it spoils -the music, and your machinery rumbles so that -the racket drowns every tune you attempt." - -"That isn't my fault; it's the fault of my -records. I must admit that I haven't a clear -record," answered the machine. - -"Just the same, you'll have to go away," said -Ojo. - -"Wait a minute," cried Scraps. "This music -thing interests me. I remember to have heard -music when I first came to life, and I would like -to hear it again. What is your name, my poor -abused phonograph?" - -"Victor Columbia Edison," it answered. - -"Well, I shall call you 'Vic' for short," said -the Patchwork Girl. "Go ahead and play something." - -"It'll drive you crazy," warned the cat. - -"I'm crazy now, according to your statement. -Loosen up and reel out the music, Vic." - -"The only record I have with me," explained -the phonograph, "is one the Magician attached -just before we had our quarrel. It's a highly -classical composition." - -"A what?" inquired Scraps. - -"It is classical music, and is considered the -best and most puzzling ever manufactured. -You're supposed to like it, whether you do or -not, and if you don't, the proper thing is to look -as if you did. Understand?" - -"Not in the least," said Scraps. - -"Then, listen!" - -At once the machine began to play and in a -few minutes Ojo put his hands to his ears to -shut out the sounds and the cat snarled and -Scraps began to Jaugh. - -"Cut it out, Vic," she said. "That's enough." - -But the phonograph continued playing the dreary -tune, so Ojo seized the crank, jerked it free and -threw it into the road. However, the moment the -crank struck the ground it hounded back to the -machine again and began winding it up. And still -the music played. - -"Let's run!" cried Scraps, and they all started -and ran down the path as fast as they could go. -But the phonograph was right behind them -and could run and play at the same time. It -called out, reproachfully: - -"What's the matter? Don't you love classical -music?" - -"No, Vic," said Scraps, halting. "We will -passical the classical and preserve what joy we -have left. I haven't any nerves, thank goodness, -but your music makes my cotton shrink." - -"Then turn over my record. There's a rag-time -tune on the other side," said the machine. - -"What's rag-time?" - -"The opposite of classical." - -"All right," said Scraps, and turned over the -record. - -The phonograph now began to play a jerky jumble -of sounds which proved so bewildering that after a -moment Scraps stuffed her patchwork apron into the -gold horn and cried: "Stop--stop! That's the other -extreme. It's extremely bad!" - -Muffled as it was, the phonograph played on. - -"If you don't shut off that music I'll smash -your record," threatened Ojo. - -The music stopped, at that, and the machine -turned its horn from one to another and said -with great indignation: "What's the matter -now? Is it possible you can't appreciate rag- -time?" - -"Scraps ought to, being rags herself," said -the cat; "but I simply can't stand it; it makes -my whiskers curl." - -"It is, indeed, dreadful!" exclaimed Ojo, with -a shudder. - -"It's enough to drive a crazy lady mad," -murmured the Patchwork Girl. "I'll tell you what, -Vic," she added as she smoothed out her apron and -put it on again, "for some reason or other you've -missed your guess. You're not a concert; you're a -nuisance. " - -"Music hath charms to soothe the savage -breast," asserted the phonograph sadly. - -"Then we're not savages. I advise you to go -home and beg the Magician's pardon." - -"Never! He'd smash me." - -"That's what we shall do, if you stay here," -Ojo declared. - -"Run along, Vic, and bother some one else," -advised Scraps. "Find some one who is real -wicked, and stay with him till he repents. In -that way you can do some good in the world." - -The music thing turned silently away and -trotted down a side path, toward a distant -Munchkin village. - -"Is that the way we go?" asked Bungle anxiously. - -"No," said Ojo; "I think we shall keep straight -ahead, for this path is the widest and best. -When we come to some house we will inquire -the way to the Emerald City." - - - - -Chapter Eight - -The foolish Owl and the Wise Donkey - - -On they went, and half an hour's steady walking -brought them to a house somewhat better than the -two they had already passed. It stood close to the -roadside and over the door was a sign that read: -"Miss Foolish Owl and Mr. Wise Donkey: Public -Advisers." - -When Ojo read this sign aloud Scraps said -laughingly: "Well, here is a place to get all the -advice we want, maybe more than we need. Let's go -in." - -The boy knocked at the door. - -"Come in!" called a deep bass voice. - -So they opened the door and entered the house, -where a little light-brown donkey, dressed in a -blue apron and a blue cap, was engaged in dusting -the furniture with a blue cloth. On a shelf over -the window sat a great blue owl with a blue -sunbonnet on her head, blinking her big round -eyes at the visitors. - -"Good morning," said the donkey, in his deep -voice, which seemed bigger than he was. "Did -you come to us for advice?" - -"Why, we came, anyhow," replied Scraps, "and now -we are here we may as well have some advice. It's -free, isn't it?" - -"Certainly," said the donkey. "Advice doesn't -cost anything--unless you follow it. Permit me to -say, by the way, that you are the queerest lot of -travelers that ever came to my shop. Judging you -merely by appearances, I think you'd better talk -to the Foolish Owl yonder." - -They turned to look at the bird, which fluttered -its wings and stared back at them with its big -eyes. - -"Hoot-ti-toot-ti-toot!" cried the owl. - - -"Fiddle-cum-foo, -Howdy-do? -Riddle-cum, tiddle-cum, -Too-ra-la-loo!" - - -"That beats your poetry, Scraps," said Ojo. - -"It's just nonsense!" declared the Glass Cat. - -"But it's good advice for the foolish," said -the donkey, admiringly. "Listen to my partner, -and you can't go wrong. - -Said the owl in a grumbling voice: - - -"Patchwork Girl has come to life; -No one's sweetheart, no one's wife; -Lacking sense and loving fun, -She'll be snubbed by everyone." - - -"Quite a compliment! Quite a compliment, I -declare," exclaimed the donkey, turning to look at -Scraps. "You are certainly a wonder, my dear, and -I fancy you'd make a splendid pincushion. If you -belonged to me, I'd wear smoked glasses when I -looked at you." - -"Why?" asked the Patchwork Girl. - -"Because you are so gay and gaudy." - -"It is my beauty that dazzles you," she -asserted. "You Munchkin people all strut around in -your stupid blue color, while I--" - -"You are wrong in calling me a Munchkin," -interrupted the donkey, "for I was born in the -Land of Mo and came to visit the Land of Oz -on the day it was shut off from all the rest of -the world. So here I am obliged to stay, and I -confess it is a very pleasant country to live in." - -"Hoot-ti-toot!" cried the owl; - -"Ojo's searching for a charm, -'Cause Unc Nunkie's come to harm. -Charms are scarce; they're hard to get; -Ojo's got a job, you bet!" - - -"Is the owl so very foolish?" asked the boy. - -"Extremely so," replied the donkey. "Notice what -vulgar expressions she uses. But I admire the owl -for the reason that she is positively foolish. -Owls are supposed to be so very wise, generally, -that a foolish one is unusual, and you perhaps -know that anything or anyone unusual is sure to be -interesting to the wise." - -The owl flapped its wings again, muttering -these words: - - -"It's hard to be a glassy cat-- -No cat can be more hard than that; -She's so transparent, every act -Is clear to us, and that's a fact." - - -"Have you noticed my pink brains?" inquired -Bungle, proudly. "You can see 'em work." - -"Not in the daytime," said the donkey. "She -can't see very well by day, poor thing. But her -advice is excellent. I advise you all to follow it." - -"The owl hasn't given us any advice, as yet," -the boy declared. - -"No? Then what do you call all those sweet -poems?" - -"Just foolishness," replied Ojo. "Scraps does -the same thing." - -"Foolishness! Of course! To be sure! The Foolish -Owl must be foolish or she wouldn't be the Foolish -Owl. You are very complimentary to my partner, -indeed," asserted the donkey, rubbing his front -hoofs together as if highly pleased. - -"The sign says that you are wise," remarked -Scraps to the donkey. "I wish you would prove it." - -"With great pleasure," returned the beast. -"Put me to the test, my dear Patches, and I'll -prove my wisdom in the wink of an eye. - -"What is the best way to get to the Emerald -City?" asked Ojo. - -"Walk," said the donkey. - -"I know; but what road shall I take?" was the -boy's next question. - -"The road of yellow bricks, of course. It leads -directly to the Emerald City." - -"And how shall we find the road of yellow -bricks?" - -"By keeping along the path you have been -following. You'll come to the yellow bricks pretty -soon, and you'll know them when you see them -because they're the only yellow things in the -blue country." - -"Thank you," said the boy. "At last you have -told me something." - -"Is that the extent of your wisdom?" asked -Scraps. - -"No," replied the donkey; "I know many -other things, but they wouldn't interest you. -So I'll give you a last word of advice: move on, -for the sooner you do that the sooner you'll -get to the Emerald City of Oz." - -"Hoot-ti-toot-ti-toot-ti-too!" screeched the owl; - - -"Off you go! fast or slow, -Where you're going you don't know. -Patches, Bungle, Muchkin lad, -Facing fortunes good and bad, -Meeting dangers grave and sad, -Sometimes worried, sometimes glad-- -Where you're going you don't know, -Nor do I, but off you go!" - - -"Sounds like a hint, to me," said the Patchwork Girl. - -"Then let's take it and go," replied Ojo. - -They said good-bye to the Wise Donkey and the -Foolish Owl and at once resumed their journey. - - - - -Chapter Nine - -They Meet the Woozy - - - -"There seem to be very few houses around here, -after all," remarked Ojo, after they had walked -for a time in silence. - -"Never mind," said Scraps; "we are not looking -for houses, but rather the road of yellow bricks. -Won't it be funny to run across something yellow -in this dismal blue country?" - -"There are worse colors than yellow in this -country," asserted the Glass Cat, in a spiteful -tone. - -"Oh; do you mean the pink pebbles you call -your brains, and your red heart and green eyes?" -asked the Patchwork Girl. - -"No; I mean you, if you must know it," growled -the cat. - -"You're jealous!" laughed Scraps. "You'd give -your whiskers for a lovely variegated complexion -like mine." - -"I wouldn't!" retorted the cat. "I've the -clearest complexion in the world, and I don't -employ a beauty-doctor, either." - -"I see you don't," said Scraps. - -"Please don't quarrel," begged Ojo. "This is an -important journey, and quarreling makes me -discouraged. To be brave, one must be cheerful, so -I hope you will be as good-tempered as possible." - -They had traveled some distance when suddenly -they faced a high fence which barred any further -progress straight ahead. It ran directly across -the road and enclosed a small forest of tall -trees, set close together. When the group of -adventurers peered through the bars of the fence -they thought this forest looked more gloomy and -forbidding than any they had ever seen before. - -They soon discovered that the path they had -been following now made a bend and passed -around the enclosure, but what made Ojo stop -and look thoughtful was a sign painted on the -fence which read: - - -"BEWARE OF THE WOOZY!" - - -"That means," he said, "that there's a Woozy -inside that fence, and the Woozy must be a -dangerous animal or they wouldn't tell people -to beware of it." - -"Let's keep out, then," replied Scraps. "That -path is outside the fence, and Mr. Woozy may have -all his little forest to himself, for all we care." - -"But one of our errands is to find a Woozy," -Ojo explained. "The Magician wants me to get -three hairs from the end of a Woozy's tail." - -"Let's go on and find some other Woozy," -suggested the cat. "This one is ugly and -dangerous, or they wouldn't cage him up. Maybe -we shall find another that is tame and gentle." - -"Perhaps there isn't any other, at all," -answered Ojo. "The sign doesn't say: 'Beware a -Woozy'; it says: 'Beware the Woozy,' which may, -mean there's only one in all the Land of Oz. - -"Then," said Scraps, "suppose we go in and -find him? Very likely if we ask him politely to -let us pull three hairs out of the tip of his tail -he won't hurt us." - -"It would hurt him, I'm sure, and that would -make him cross," said the cat. - -"You needn't worry, Bungle," remarked the -Patchwork Girl; "for if there is danger you can -climb a tree. Ojo and I are not afraid; are we, -Ojo?" - -"I am, a little," the boy admitted; "but this -danger must be faced, if we intend to save poor - -Unc Nunkie. How shall we get over the fence?" - -"Climb," answered Scraps, and at once she began -climbing up the rows of bars. Ojo followed and -found it more easy than he had expected. When they -got to the top of the fence they began to get down -on the other side and soon were in the forest. The -Glass Cat, being small, crept between the lower -bars and joined them. - -Here there was no path of any sort, so they -entered the woods, the boy leading the way, -and wandered through the trees until they were -nearly in the center of the forest. They now -came upon a clear space in which stood a rocky -cave. - -So far they had met no living creature, but -when Ojo saw the cave he knew it must be the -den of the Woozy. - -It is hard to face any savage beast without -a sinking of the heart, but still more terrifying -is it to face an unknown beast, which you have -never seen even a picture of. So there is little -wonder that the pulses of the Munchkin boy -beat fast as he and his companions stood facing -the cave. The opening was perfectly square, -and about big enough to admit a goat. - -"I guess the Woozy is asleep," said Scraps. -"Shall I throw in a stone, to waken him?" - -"No; please don't," answered Ojo, his voice -trembling a little. "I'm in no hurry." - -But he had not long to wait, for the Woozy -heard the sound of voices and came trotting out -of his cave. As this is the only Woozy that has -ever lived, either in the Land of Oz or out of -it, I must describe it to you. - -The creature was all squares and flat surfaces -and edges. Its head was an exact square, like -one of the building-blocks a child plays with; -therefore it had no ears, but heard sounds -through two openings in the upper corners. Its -nose, being in the center of a square surface, -was flat, while the mouth was formed by the -opening of the lower edge of the block. The -body of the Woozy was much larger than its -head, but was likewise block-shaped--being -twice as long as it was wide and high. The tail -was square and stubby and perfectly straight, -and the four legs were made in the same way, -each being four-sided. The animal was covered -with a thick, smooth skin and had no hair at all -except at the extreme end of its tail, where there -grew exactly three stiff, stubby hairs. The beast -was dark blue in color and his face was not -fierce nor ferocious in expression, but rather -good-humored and droll. - -Seeing the strangers, the Woozy folded his -hind legs as if they Lad been hinged and sat -down to look his visitors over. - -"Well, well," he exclaimed; "what a queer lot -you are! at first I thought some of those -miserable Munchkin farmers had come to annoy me, -but I am relieved to find you in their stead. It -is plain to me that you are a remarkable group--as -remarkable in your way as I am in mine--and so you -are welcome to my domain. Nice place, isn't it? -But lonesome-dreadfully lonesome." - -"Why did they shut you up here?" asked -Scraps, who was regarding the queer, square -creature with much curiosity. - -"Because I eat up all the honey-bees which -the Munchkin farmers who live around here -keep to make them honey." - -"Are you fond of eating honey-bees?" inquired -the boy. - -"Very. They are really delicious. But the -farmers did not like to lose their bees and so -they tried to destroy me. Of course they couldn't -do that." - -"Why not?" - -"My skin is so thick and tough that nothing can -get through it to hurt me. So, finding they could -not destroy me, they drove me into this forest and -built a fence around me. Unkind, wasn't it?" - -"But what do you eat now?" asked Ojo. - -"Nothing at all. I've tried the leaves from the -trees and the mosses and creeping vines, but they -don't seem to suit my taste. So, there being no -honey-bees here, I've eaten nothing for years. - -"You must be awfully hungry," said the boy. -"I've got some bread and cheese in my basket. -Would you like that kind of food?" - -"Give me a nibble and I will try it; then I -can tell you better whether it is grateful to my -appetite," returned the Woozy. - -So the boy opened his basket and broke a -piece off the loaf of bread. He tossed it toward -the Woozy, who cleverly caught it in his mouth -and ate it in a twinkling. - -"That's rather good," declared the animal. -"Any more?" - -"Try some cheese," said Ojo, and threw down a -piece. - -The Woozy ate that, too, and smacked its long, -thin lips. - -"That's mighty good!" it exclaimed. "Any more?" - -"Plenty," replied Ojo. So he sat down on a Stump -and fed the Woozy bread and cheese for a long -time; for, no matter how much the boy broke off, -the loaf and the slice remained just as big. - -"That'll do," said the Woozy, at last; "I'm -quite full. I hope the strange food won't give -me indigestion. - -"I hope not," said Ojo. "It's what I eat." - -"Well, I must say I'm much obliged, and -I'm glad you came," announced the beast. "Is -there anything I can do in return for your -kindness?" - -"Yes," said Ojo earnestly, "you have it in -your power to do me a great favor, if you will." - -"What is it?" asked the Woozy. "Name the -favor and I will grant it." - -"I--I want three hairs from the tip of your -tail," said Ojo, with some hesitation. - -"Three hairs! Why, that's all I have--on my -tail or anywhere else," exclaimed the beast. - -"I know; but I want them very much." - -"They are my sole ornaments, my prettiest -feature," said the Woozy, uneasily. "If I give -up those three hairs I--I'm just a blockhead." - -"Yet I must have them," insisted the boy, -firmly, and he then told the Woozy all about the -accident to Unc Nunkie and Margolotte, and how the -three hairs were to be a part of the magic charm -that would restore them to life. The beast -listened with attention and when Ojo had finished -the recital it said, with a sigh. - -"I always keep my word, for I pride myself on -being square. So you may have the three hairs, and -welcome. I think, under such circumstances, it -would be selfish in me to refuse you." - -"Thank you! Thank you very much," cried -the boy, joyfully. "May I pull out the hairs -now?" - -"Any time you like," answered the Woozy. - -So Ojo went up to the queer creature and -taking hold of one of the hairs began to pull. -He pulled harder. He pulled with all his might; -but the hair remained fast. - -"What's the trouble?" asked the Woozy, -which Ojo had dragged here and there all -around the clearing in his endeavor to pull out -the hair. - -"It won't come," said the boy, panting. - -"I was afraid of that," declared the beast. -"You'll have to pull harder." - -"I'll help you," exclaimed Scraps, coming to -the boy's side. "You pull the hair, and I'll pull -you, and together we ought to get it out easily." - -"Wait a jiffy," called the Woozy, and then -it went to a tree and hugged it with its front -paws, so that its body couldn't be dragged -around by the pull. "All ready, now. Go ahead!" - -Ojo grasped the hair with both hands and -pulled with all his strength, while Scraps seized -the boy around his waist and added her strength -to his. But the hair wouldn't budge. Instead, it -slipped out of Ojo's hands and he and Scraps -both rolled upon the ground in a heap and never -stopped until they bumped against the rocky -cave. - -"Give it up," advised the Glass Cat, as the -boy arose and assisted the Patchwork Girl to her -feet. "A dozen strong men couldn't pull out -those Hairs. I believe they're clinched on the -under side of the Woozy's thick skin." - -"Then what shall I do?" asked the boy, -despairingly. "If on our return I fail to take -these three hairs to the Crooked Magician, the -other things I have come to seek will be of no -use at all, and we cannot restore Unc Nunkie -and Margolotte to life." - -"They're goners, I guess," said the Patchwork -Girl. - -"Never mind," added the cat. "I can't see that -old Unc and Margolotte are worth all this trouble, -anyhow." - -But Ojo did not feel that way. He was so -disheartened that he sat down upon a stump and -began to cry. - -The Woozy looked at the boy thoughtfully. - -"Why don't you take me with you?" asked the -beast. "Then, when at last you get to the -Magician's house, he can surely find some way to -pull out those three hairs." - -Ojo was overjoyed at this suggestion. - -"That's it!" he cried, wiping away the tears -and springing to his feet with a smile. "If I take -the three hairs to the Magician, it won't matter -if they are still in your body." - -"It can't matter in the least," agreed the -Woozy. - -"Come on, then," said the boy, picking up his -basket; "let us start at once. I have several other -things to find, you know." - -But the Class Cat gave a little laugh and -inquired in her scornful way: - -"How do you intend to get the beast out of this -forest?" - -That puzzled them all for a time. - -"Let us go to the fence, and then we may find a -way," suggested Scraps. So they walked through the -forest to the fence, reaching it at a point -exactly opposite that where they had entered the -enclosure. - -"How did you get in?" asked the Woozy. - -"We climbed over," answered Ojo. - -"I can't do that," said the beast. "I'm a very -swift runner, for I can overtake a honey-bee as -it flies; and I can jump very high, which is the -reason they made such a tall fence to keep me -in. But I can't climb at all, and I'm too big to -squeeze between the bars of the fence." - -Ojo tried to think what to do. - -"Can you dig?" he asked. - -"No," answered the Woozy, "for I have no -claws. My feet are quite flat on the bottom of -them. Nor can I gnaw away the boards, as I -have no teeth." - -"You're not such a terrible creature, after all," -remarked Scraps. - -"You haven't heard me growl, or you wouldn't say -that," declared the Woozy. "When I growl, the -sound echoes like thunder all through the valleys -and woodlands, and children tremble with fear, and -women cover their heads with their aprons, and big -men run and hide. I suppose there is nothing in -the world so terrible to listen to as the growl of -a Woosy." - -"Please don't growl, then," begged Ojo, -earnestly. - -"There is no danger of my growling, for -I am not angry. Only when angry do I utter -my fearful, ear-splitting, soul-shuddering growl. -Also, when I am angry, my eyes flash fire, -whether I growl or not." - -"Real fire?" asked Ojo. - -"Of course, real fire. Do you suppose they'd -flash imitation fire?" inquired the Woozy, in an -injured tone. - -"In that case, I've solved the riddle," cried -Scraps, dancing with glee. "Those fence-boards -are made of wood, and if the Woozy stands -close to the fence and lets his eyes flash fire, -they might set fire to the fence and burn it up. -Then he could walk away with us easily, being -free." - -"Ah, I have never thought of that plan, or I -would have been free long ago," said the Woozy. -"But I cannot flash fire from my eyes unless I am -very angry." - -"Can't you get angry 'bout something, please?" -asked Ojo. - -"I'll try. You just say 'Krizzle-Kroo' to me." - -"Will that make you angry?" inquired the boy~. - -"Terribly angry." - -"What does it mean?" asked Scraps. - -"I don't know; that's what makes me so angry," -re-plied the Woozy. - -He then stood close to the fence, with his -head near one of the boards, and Scraps called out -"Krizzle-Kroo!" Then Ojo said "Krizzle-Kroo!" -and the Glass Cat said "Krizzle-Kroo!" The Woozy -began to tremble with anger and small sparks -darted from his eyes. Seeing this, they all cried -"Krizzle-Kroo!" together, and that made the -beast's eyes flash fire so fiercely that the -fence-board caught the sparks and began to smoke. -Then it burst into flame, and the Woozy stepped -back and said triumphantly: - -"Aha! That did the business, all right. It was -a happy thought for you to yell all together, for -that made me as angry as I have ever been. -Fine sparks, weren't they?" - -"Reg'lar fireworks," replied Scraps, admiringly. - -In a few moments the board had burned to a -distance of several feet, leaving an opening big -enough for them all to pass through. Ojo broke -some branches from a tree and with them -whipped the fire until it was extinguished. - -"We don't want to burn the whole fence -down," said he, "for the flames would attract -the attention of the Munchkin farmers, who -would then come and capture the Woozy again. -I guess they'll be rather surprised when they -find he's escaped." - -"So they will," declared the Woozy, chuckling -gleefully. "When they find I'm gone the farmers -will be badly scared, for they'll expect me to eat -up their honey-bees, as I did before." - -"That reminds me," said the boy, "that you must -promise not to eat honey-bees while you are in our -company." - -"None at all?" - -"Not a bee. You would get us all into trouble, -and we can't afford to have any more trouble than -is necessary. I'll feed you all the bread and -cheese you want, and that must satisfy you." - -"All right; I'll promise," said the Woozy, -cheerfully. "And when I promise anything you -can depend on it, 'cause I'm square." - -"I don't see what difference that makes," -observed the Patchwork Girl, as they found the -path and continued their journey. "The shape -doesn't make a thing honest, does it?" - -"Of course it does," returned the Woozy, very -decidedly. "No one could trust that Crooked -Magician, for instance, just because he is -crooked; but a square Woozy couldn't do anything -crooked if he wanted to." - -"I am neither square nor crooked," said -Scraps, looking down at her plump body. - -"No; you're round, so you're liable to do -anything," asserted the Woozy. "Do not blame me, -Miss Gorgeous, if I regard you with suspicion. -Many a satin ribbon has a cotton back." - -Scraps didn't understand this, but she had an -uneasy misgiving that she had a cotton back -herself. It would settle down, at times, and make -her squat and dumpy, and then she had to roll -herself in the road until her body stretched out again. - - - - -Chapter Ten - -Shaggy Man to the Rescue - - -They had not gone very far before Bungle, who had -run on ahead, came bounding back to say that the -road of yellow bricks was just before them. At -once they hurried forward to see what this famous -road looked like. - -It was a broad road, but not straight, for it -wandered over hill and dale and picked out the -easiest places to go. All its length and breadth -was paved with smooth bricks of a bright yellow -color, so it was smooth and level except in a few -places where the bricks had crumbled or been -removed, leaving holes that might cause the unwary -to stumble. - -"I wonder," said Ojo, looking up and down the -road, "which way to go." - -"Where are you bound for?" asked the Woozy. - -"The Emerald City," he replied. - -"Then go west," said the Woozy. "I know this -road pretty well, for I've chased many a honey-bee -over it." - -"Have you ever been to the Emerald City?" -asked Scraps. - -"No. I am very shy by nature, as you may have -noticed, so I haven't mingled much in society." - -"Are you afraid of men?" inquired the Patchwork -Girl. - -"Me? With my heart-rending growl-my horrible, -shudderful growl? I should say not. I am not -afraid of anything," declared the Woozy. - -"I wish I could say the same," sighed Ojo. "I -don't think we need be afraid when we get to the -Emerald City, for Unc Nunkie has told me that -Ozma, our girl Ruler, is very lovely and kind, and -tries to help everyone who is in trouble. But they -say there are many dangers lurking on the road to -the great Fairy City, and so we must be very -careful." - -"I hope nothing will break me," said the -Glass Cat, in a nervous voice. "I'm a little brittle, -you know, and can't stand many hard knocks." - -"If anything should fade the colors of my lovely -patches it would break my heart," said the -Patchwork Girl. - -"I'm not sure you have a heart," Ojo reminded -her. - -"Then it would break my cotton," persisted -Scraps. "Do you think they are all fast colors, -Ojo?" she asked anxiously. - -"They seem fast enough when you run," he -replied; and then, looking ahead of them, he -exclaimed: "Oh, what lovely trees!" - -They were certainly pretty to look upon and -the travelers hurried forward to observe them -more closely. - -"Why, they are not trees at all," said Scraps; -"they are just monstrous plants." - -That is what they really were: masses of great -broad leaves which rose from the ground far into -the air, until they towered twice as high as the -top of the Patchwork Girl's head, who was a little -taller than Ojo. The plants formed rows on both -sides of the road and from each plant rose a dozen -or more of the big broad leaves, which swayed -continually from side to side, although no wind -was blowing. But the most curious thing about the -swaying leaves was their color. They seemed to -have a general groundwork of blue, but here and -there other colors glinted at times through the -blue--gorgeous yellows, turning to pink, purple, -orange and scarlet, mingled with more sober browns -and grays--each appearing as a blotch or stripe -anywhere on a leaf and then disappearing, to be -replaced by some other color of a different shape. -The changeful coloring of the great leaves was -very beautiful, but it was bewildering, as well, -and the novelty of the scene drew our travelers -close to the line of plants, where they stood -watching them with rapt interest. - -Suddenly a leaf bent lower than usual and -touched the Patchwork Girl. Swiftly it enveloped -her in its embrace, covering her completely in -its thick folds, and then it swayed back upon its -stem. - -"Why, she's gone!" gasped Ojo, in amazement, and -listening carefully he thought he could hear the -muffled screams of Scraps coming from the center -of the folded leaf. But, before he could think -what he ought to do to save her, another leaf bent -down and captured the Glass Cat, rolling around -the little creature until she was completely -hidden, and then straightening up again upon its -stem. - -"Look out," cried the Woozy. "Run! Run -fast, or you are lost." - -Ojo turned and saw the Woozy running -swiftly up the road. But the last leaf of the row -of plants seized the beast even as he ran and -instantly he disappeared from sight. - -The boy had no chance to escape. Half a dozen of -the great leaves were bending toward him from -different directions and as he stood hesitating -one of them clutched him in its embrace. In a -flash he was in the dark. Then he felt himself -gently lifted until he was swaying in the air, -with the folds of the leaf hugging him on all -sides. - -At first he struggled hard to escape, crying -out in anger: "Let me go! Let me go!" But -neither struggles nor protests had any effect -whatever. The leaf held him firmly and he was -a prisoner." - -Then Ojo quieted himself and tried to think. -Despair fell upon him when he remembered that all -his little party had been captured, even as he -was, and there was none to save them. - -"I might have expected it," he sobbed, -miserably. "I'm Ojo the Unlucky, and something -dreadful was sure to happen to me." - -He pushed against the leaf that held him and -found it to be soft, but thick and firm. It was -like a great bandage all around him and he -found it difficult to move his body or limbs in -order to change their position. - -The minutes passed and became hours. Ojo -wondered how long one could live in such a -condition and if the leaf would gradually sap -his strength and even his life, in order to feed -itself. The little Munchkin boy had never heard -of any person dying in the Land of Oz, but he -knew one could suffer a great deal of pain. His -greatest fear at this time was that he would -always remain imprisoned in the beautiful leaf -and never see the light of day again. - -No sound came to him through the leaf; all -around was intense silence. Ojo wondered if Scraps -had stopped screaming, or if the folds of the leaf -prevented his hearing her. By and by he thought he -heard a whistle, as of some one whistling a tune. -Yes; it really must be some one whistling, he -decided, for he could follow the strains of a -pretty Munchkin melody that Unc Nunkie used to -sing to him. The sounds were low and sweet and, -although they reached Ojo's ears very faintly, -they were clear and harmonious. - -Could the leaf whistle, Ojo wondered? Nearer and -nearer came the sounds and then they seemed to be -just the other side of the leaf that was hugging -him. - -Suddenly the whole leaf toppled and fell, -carrying the boy with it, and while he sprawled at -full length the folds slowly relaxed and set him -free. He scrambled quickly to his feet and found -that a strange man was standing before him--a man -so curious in appearance that the boy stared with -round eyes. - -He was a big man, with shaggy whiskers, shaggy -eyebrows, shaggy hair--but kindly blue eyes that -were gentle as those of a cow. On his head was a -green velvet hat with a jeweled band, which was -all shaggy around the brim. Rich but shaggy laces -were at his throat; a coat with shaggy edges was -decorated with diamond buttons; the velvet -breeches had jeweled buckles at the knees and -shags all around the bottoms. On his breast hung a -medallion bearing a picture of Princess Dorothy of -Oz, and in his hand, as he stood looking at Ojo, -was a sharp knife shaped like a dagger. - -"Oh!" exclaimed Ojo, greatly astonished at the -sight of this stranger; and then he added: "Who -has saved me, sir?" - -"Can't you see?" replied the other, with a -smile; "I'm the Shaggy Man." - -"Yes; I can see that," said the boy, nodding. -"Was it you who rescued me from the leaf?" - -"None other, you may be sure. But take care, -or I shall have to rescue you again." - -Ojo gave a jump, for he saw several broad -leaves leaning toward him; but the Shaggy Man -began to whistle again, and at the sound the -leaves all straightened up on their stems and -kept still. - -The man now took Ojo's arm and led him -up the road, past the last of the great plants, -and not till he was safely beyond their reach did -he cease his whistling. - -"You see, the music charms 'em," said he. -"Singing or whistling--it doesn't matter which-- -makes 'em behave, and nothing else will. I always -whistle as I go by 'em and so they always let me -alone. Today as I went by, whistling, I saw a leaf -curled and knew there must be something inside it. -I cut down the leaf with my knife and--out you -popped. Lucky I passed by, wasn't it?" - -"You were very kind," said Ojo, "and I thank -you. Will you please rescue my companions, also?" - -"What companions?" asked the Shaggy Man. - -"The leaves grabbed them all," said the boy. -"There's a Patchwork Girl and--" - -"A what?" - -"A girl made of patchwork, you know. She's -alive and her name is Scraps. And there's a -Glass Cat--" - -"Glass?" asked the Shaggy Man. - -"All glass." - -"And alive?" - -"Yes," said Ojo; "she has pink brains. And -there's a Woozy--" - -"What's a Woozy?" inquired the Shaggy Man. - -"Why, I--I--can't describe it," answered the -boy, greatly perplexed. "But it's a queer animal -with three hairs on the tip of its tail that won't -come out and--" - -"What won't come out?" asked the Shaggy Man; -"the tail?" - -"The hairs won't come out. But you'll see the -Woozy, if you'll please rescue it, and then you'll -know just what it is." - -"Of course," said the Shaggy Man, nodding his -shaggy head. And then he walked back among the -plants, still whistling, and found the three -leaves which were curled around Ojo's traveling -companions. The first leaf he cut down released -Scraps, and on seeing her the Shaggy Man threw -back his shaggy head, opened wide his mouth and -laughed so shaggily and yet so merrily that Scraps -liked him at once. Then he took off his hat and -made her a low bow, saying: - -"My dear, you're a wonder. I must introduce -you to my friend the Scarecrow." - -When he cut down the second leaf he rescued the -Glass Cat, and Bungle was so frightened that she -scampered away like a streak and soon had joined -Ojo, when she sat beside him panting and -trembling. The last plant of all the row had -captured the Woozy, and a big bunch in the center -of the curled leaf showed plainly where he was. -With his sharp knife the Shaggy Man sliced off the -stem of the leaf and as it fell and unfolded out -trotted the Woozy and escaped beyond the reach of -any more of the dangerous plants. - - - - -Chapter Eleven - -A Good Friend - - -Soon the entire party was gathered on the road of -yellow bricks, quite beyond the reach of the -beautiful but treacherous plants. The Shaggy Man, -staring first at one and then at the other, seemed -greatly pleased and interested. - -"I've seen queer things since I came to the Land -of Oz," said he, "but never anything queerer than -this band of adventurers. Let us sit down a while, -and have a talk and get acquainted." - -"Haven't you always lived in the Land of Oz?" -asked the Munchkin boy. - -"No; I used to live in the big, outside world. -But I came here once with Dorothy, and Ozma -let me stay." - -"How do you like Oz?" asked Scraps. "Isn't -the country and the climate grand?" - -"It's the finest country in all the world, even -if it is a fairyland. and I'm happy every minute I -live in it," said the Shaggy Man. "But tell me -something about yourselves." - -So Ojo related the story of his visit to the -house of the Crooked Magician, and how he met -there the Class Cat, and how the Patchwork Girl -was brought to life and of the terrible accident -to Unc Nunkie and Margdotte. Then he told how he -had set out to find the five different things -which the Magician needed to make a charm that -would restore the marble figures to life, one -requirement being three hairs from a Woozy's tail. - -"We found the Woozy," explained the boy, -"and he agreed to give us the three hairs; but -we couldn't pull them out. So we had to bring -the Woozy along with us." - -"I see," returned the Shaggy Man, who had -listened with interest to the story. "But perhaps -I, who am big and strong, can pull those three -hairs from the Woozy's tail." - -"Try it, if you like," said the Woozy. - -So the Shaggy Man tried it, but pull as hard -as he could he failed to get the hairs out of the -Woozy's tail. So he sat down again and wiped -his shaggy face with a shaggy silk handkerchief -and said: - -"It doesn't matter. If you can keep the Woozy -until you get the rest of the things you need, -you can take the beast and his three hairs to -the Crooked Magician and let him find a way -to extract 'em. What are the other things you are -to find?" - -"One," said Ojo, "is a six-leaved clover." - -"You ought to find that in the fields around -the Emerald City," said the Shaggy Man. -"There is a Law against picking six-leaved -clovers, but I think I can get Ozma to let you -have one." - -"Thank you," replied Ojo. "The next thing -is the left wing of a yellow butterfly." - -"For that you must go to the Winkle Country," -the Shaggy Man declared. "I've never noticed any -butterflies there, but that is the yellow country -of Oz and it's ruled, by a good friend of mine, -the Tin Woodman." - -"Oh, I've heard of him!" exclaimed Ojo. "He -must be a wonderful man." - -"So he is, and his heart is wonderfully kind. -I'm sure the Tin Woodman will do all in his -power to help you to save your Unc Nunkie -and poor Margolotte." - -"The next thing I must find," said the -Munchkin boy, "is a gill of water from a dark -well." - -"Indeed! Well, that is more difficult," said -the Shaggy Man, scratching his left ear in a -puzzled way. "I've never heard of a dark well; -have you?" - -"No," said Ojo. - -"Do you know where one may be found?" inquired -the Shaggy Man. - -"I can't imagine," said Ojo. - -"Then we must ask the Scarecrow." - -"The Scarecrow! But surely, sir, a scarecrow -can't know anything." - -"Most scarecrows don't, I admit," answered -the Shaggy Man. "But this Scarecrow of whom -I speak is very intelligent. He claims to possess -the best brains in all Oz." - -"Better than mine?" asked Scraps. - -"Better than mine?" echoed the Glass Cat. -"Mine are pink, and you can see 'em work." - -"Well, you can't see the Scarecrow's brains -work, but they do a lot of clever thinking," -asserted the Shaggy Man. "If anyone knows where a -dark well is, it's my friend the Scarecrow." - -"Where does he live?" inquired Ojo. - -"He has a splendid castle in the Winkle -Country, near to the palace of his friend the -Tin Woodman, and he is often to be found in -the Emerald City, where he visits Dorothy at -the royal palace." - -"Then we will ask him about the dark well," -said Ojo. - -"But what else does this Crooked Magician -want?" asked the Shaggy Man. - -"A drop of oil from a live man's body." - -"Oh; but there isn't such a thing." - -"That is what I thought," replied Ojo; "but -the Crooked Magician said it wouldn't be called -for by the recipe if it couldn't be found, and -therefore I must search until I find it." - -"I wish you good luck," said the Shaggy Man, -shaking his head doubtfully; "but I imagine -you'll have a hard job getting a drop of oil from -a live man's body. There's blood in a body, but -no oil." - -"There's cotton in mine," said Scraps, dancing -a little jig. - -"I don't doubt it," returned the Shaggy Man -admiringly. "You're a regular comforter and as -sweet as patchwork can be. All you lack is -dignity." - -"I hate dignity," cried Scraps, kicking a pebble -high in the air and then trying to catch it as it -fell. "Half the fools and all the wise folks are -dignified, and I'm neither the one nor the other." - -"She's just crazy," explained the Glass Cat. - -The Shaggy Man laughed. - -"She's delightful, in her way," he said. "I'm -sure Dorothy will be pleased with her, and the -Scarecrow will dote on her. Did you say you -were traveling toward the Emerald City?" - -"Yes," replied Ojo. "I thought that the best -place to go, at first, because the six-leaved clover -may be found there." - -"I'll go with you," said the Shaggy Man, "and -show you the way." - -"Thank you," exclaimed Ojo. "I hope it won't -put you out any." - -"No," said the other, "I wasn't going anywhere -in particular. I've been a rover all my life, and -although Ozma has given me a suite of beautiful -rooms in her palace I still get the wandering -fever once in a while and start out to roam the -country over. I've been away from the Emerald City -several weeks, this time, and now that I've met -you and your friends I'm sure it will interest me -to accompany you to the great city of Oz and -introduce you to my friends." - -"That will be very nice," said the boy, -gratefully. - -"I hope your friends are not dignified," -observed Scraps. - -"Some are, and some are not," he answered; -"but I never criticise my friends. If they are -really true friends; they may be anything they -like, for all of me." - -"There's some sense in that," said Scraps, -nodding her queer head in approval. "Come on, and -let's get to the Emerald City as soon as -possible." With this she ran up the path, skipping -and dancing, and then turned to await them. - -"It is quite a distance from here to the Emerald -City," remarked the Shaggy Man, "so we shall not -get there to-day, nor to-morrow. Therefore let us -take the jaunt in an easy manner. I'm an old -traveler and have found that I never gain anything -by being in a hurry. 'Take it easy' is my motto. -If you can't take it easy, take it as easy as you -can." - -After walking some distance over the road of -yellow bricks Ojo said he was hungry and would -stop to eat some bread and cheese. He offered a -portion of the food to the Shaggy Man, who thanked -him but refused it. - -"When I start out on my travels," said he, -"I carry along enough square meals to last me -several weeks. Think I'll indulge in one now, -as long as we're stopping anyway." - -Saying this, he took a bottle from his pocket -and shook from it a tablet about the size of one -of Ojo's finger-nails. - -"That," announced the Shaggy Man, "is a square -meal, in condensed form. Invention of the great -Professor Woggle-Bug, of the Royal College of -Athletics. It contains soup, fish, roast meat, -salad, apple-dumplings, ice cream and chocolate- -drops, all boiled down to this small size, so it -can be conveniently carried and swallowed when you -are hungry and need a square meal." - -"I'm square," said the Woozy. "Give me one, -please." - -So the Shaggy Man gave the Woozy a tablet from -his bottle and the beast ate it in a twinkling. - -"You have now had a six course dinner," -declared the Shaggy Man. - -"Pshaw!" said the Woozy, ungratefully, "I -want to taste something. There's no fun in that -sort of eating." - -"One should only eat to sustain life," replied -the Shaggy Man, "and that tablet is equal to a -peck of other food." - -"I don't care for it. I want something I can -chew and taste," grumbled the Woozy. - -"You are quite wrong, my poor beast," said -the Shaggy Man in a tone of pity. "Think how -tired your jaws would get chewing a square -meal like this, if it were not condensed to the -size of a small tablet--which you can swallow -in a jiffy." - -"Chewing isn't tiresome; it's fun, maintained -the Woozy. "I always chew the honey-bees when I -catch them. Give me some bread and cheese, Ojo." - -"No, no! You've already eaten a big dinner!" -protested the Shaggy Man. - -"May be," answered the Woozy; "but I guess -I'll fool myself by munching some bread and -cheese. I may not be hungry, having eaten all -those things you gave me, but I consider this -eating business a matter of taste, and I like to -realize what's going into me." - -Ojo gave the beast what he wanted, but the -Shaggy Man shook his shaggy head reproachfully and -said there was no animal so obstinate or hard to -convince as a Woozy. - -At this moment a patter of footsteps was heard, -and looking up they saw the live phonograph -standing before them. It seemed to have passed -through many adventures since Ojo and his comrades -last saw the machine, for the varnish of its -wooden case was all marred and dented and -scratched in a way that gave it an aged and -disreputable appearance. - -"Dear me!" exclaimed Ojo, staring hard. -"What has happened to you?" - -"Nothing much," replied the phonograph in -a sad and depressed voice. "I've had enough -things thrown at me, since I left you, to stock -a department store and furnish half a dozen -bargain-counters." - -"Are you so broken up that you can't play?" -asked Scraps. - -"No; I still am able to grind out delicious -music. Just now I've a record on tap that is -really superb," said the phonograph, growing more -cheerful. - -"That is too bad," remarked Ojo. "We've no -objection to you as a machine, you know; but -as a music-maker we hate you." - -"Then why was I ever invented?" demanded -the machine, in a tone of indignant protest. - -They looked at one another inquiringly, but -no one could answer such a puzzling question. -Finally the Shaggy Man said: - -"I'd like to hear the phonograph play." - -Ojo sighed. "We've been very happy since we -met you, sir," he said. - -"I know. But a little misery, at times, makes -one appreciate happiness more. Tell me, Phony, -what is this record like, which you say you have -on tap?" - -"It's a popular song, sir. In all civilized lands -the common people have gone wild over it." - -"Makes civilized folks wild folks, eh? Then -it's dangerous." - -"Wild with joy, I mean," explained the -phonograph. "Listen. This song will prove a -rare treat to you, I know. It made the author -rich--for an author. It is called 'My Lulu.'" - -Then the phonograph began to play. A strain -of odd, jerky sounds was followed by these -words, sung by a man through his nose with -great vigor of expression: - - -"Ah wants mah Lulu, mah coal-black Lulu; -Ah wants mah loo-loo, loo-loo, loo-loo, Lu! -Ah loves mah Lulu, mah coal-black Lulu, -There ain't nobody else loves loo-loo, Lu!" - - -"Here-shut that off!" cried the Shaggy Man, -springing to his feet. "What do you mean by -such impertinence?" - -"It's the latest popular song," declared the -phonograph, speaking in a sulky tone of voice. - -"A popular song?" - -"Yes. One that the feeble-minded can remember -the words of and those ignorant of music can -whistle or sing. That makes a popular song -popular, and the time is coming when it will take -the place of all other songs." - -"That time won't come to us, just yet," said -the Shaggy Man, sternly: "I'm something of a -singer myself, and I don't intend to be throttled -by any Lulus like your coal-black one. I shall -take you all apart, Mr. Phony, and scatter your -pieces far and wide over the country, as a matter -of kindness to the people you might meet if -allowed to run around loose. Having performed -this painful duty I shall--" - -But before he could say more the phonograph -turned and dashed up the road as fast as its four -table-legs could carry it, and soon it had entirely -disappeared from their view. - -The Shaggy Man sat down again and seemed -well pleased. "Some one else will save me the -trouble of scattering that phonograph," said he; -"for it is not possible that such a music-maker -can last long in the Land of Oz. When you are -rested, friends, let us go on our way." - -During the afternoon the travelers found -themselves in a lonely and uninhabited part of the -country. Even the fields were no longer cultivated -and the country began to resemble a wilderness. -The road of yellow bricks seemed to have been -neglected and became uneven and more difficult to -walk upon. Scrubby under-brush grew on either side -of the way. while huge rocks were scattered around -in abundance. - -But this did not deter Ojo and his friends from -trudging on, and they beguiled the journey with -jokes and cheerful conversation. Toward evening -they reached a crystal spring which gushed from a -tall rock by the roadside and near this spring -stood a deserted cabin. Said the Shaggy Man, -halting here: - -"We may as well pass the night here, where -there is shelter for our heads and good water to -drink. Road beyond here is pretty bad; worst -we shall have to travel; so let's wait until -morning before we tackle it." - -They agreed to this and Ojo found some brushwood -in the cabin and made a fire on the hearth. The -fire delighted Scraps, who danced before it until -Ojo warned her she might set fire to herself and -burn up. After that the Patchwork Girl kept at a -respectful distance from the darting flames, but -the Woozy lay down before the fire like a big dog -and seemed to enjoy its warmth. - -For supper the Shaggy Man ate one of his -tablets, but Ojo stuck to his bread and cheese as -the most satisfying food. He also gave a portion -to the Woozy. - -When darkness came on and they sat in a circle -on the cabin floor, facing the firelight--there -being no furniture of any sort in the place--Ojo -said to the Shaggy Man: - -"Won't you tell us a story?" - -"I'm not good at stories," was the reply; "but -I sing like a bird." - -"Raven, or crow?" asked the Glass Cat. - -"Like a song bird. I'll prove it. I'll sing a song -I composed myself. Don't tell anyone I'm a poet; -they might want me to write a book. Don't tell -'em I can sing, or they'd want me to make -records for that awful phonograph. Haven't -time to be a public benefactor, so I'll just sing -you this little song for your own amusement." - -They were glad enough to be entertained, -and listened with interest while the Shaggy Man -chanted the following verses to a tune that was -not unpleasant: - - -"I'll sing a song of Ozland, where wondrous creatures dwell -And fruits and flowers and shady bowers abound in every dell, -Where magic is a science and where no one shows surprise -If some amazing thing takes place before his very eyes. - -Our Ruler's a bewitching girl whom fairies love to please; -She's always kept her magic sceptre to enforce decrees -To make her people happy, for her heart is kind and true -And to aid the needy and distressed is what she longs to do. - -And then there's Princess Dorothy, as sweet as any rose, -A lass from Kansas, where they don't grow fairies, I Suppose; -And there's the brainy Scarecrow, with a body stuffed with straw, -Who utters words of wisdom rare that fill us all with awe. - -I'll not forget Nick Chopper, the Woodman made of Tin, -Whose tender heart thinks killing time is quite a dreadful sin, -Nor old Professor Woggle-Bug, who's highly magnified -And looks so big to everyone that he is filled with pride. - -Jack Pumpkinhead's a dear old chum who might be called a chump, -But won renown by riding round upon a magic Gump; -The Sawhorse is a splendid steed and though he's made of wood -He does as many thrilling stunts as any meat horse could. - -And now I'll introduce a beast that ev'ryone adores-- -The Cowardly Lion shakes with fear 'most ev'ry time he roars, -And yet he does the bravest things that any lion might, -Because he knows that cowardice is not considered right. - -There's Tik-tok-he's a clockwork man and quite a funny sight-- -He talks and walks mechanically, when he's wound up tight; -And we've a Hungry Tiger who would babies love to eat -But never does because we feed him other kinds of meat. - -It's hard to name all of the freaks this noble Land's acquired; -'Twould make my song so very long that you would soon be tired; -But give attention while I mention one wise Yellow Hen -And Nine fine Tiny Piglets living in a golden pen. - -Just search the whole world over--sail the seas from coast to coast-- -No other nation in creation queerer folk can boast; -And now our rare museum will include a Cat of Glass, -A Woozy, and--last but not least--a crazy Patchwork Lass." - - - -Ojo was so pleased with this song that he -applauded the singer by clapping his hands, and -Scraps followed suit by clapping her padded -fingers together. although they made no noise. -The cat pounded on the floor with her glass -paws--gently, so as not to break them--and the -Woozy. which had been asleep, woke up to ask -what the row was about. - -"I seldom sing in public, for fear they might -want me to start an opera company," remarked -the Shaggy Man, who was pleased to know his -effort was appreciated. "Voice, just now is a -little out of training; rusty, perhaps." - -"Tell me," said the Patchwork Girl earnestly, -"do all those queer people you mention really -live in the Land of Oz?" - -"Every one of 'em. I even forgot one thing: -Dorothy's Pink Kitten." - -"For goodness sake!" exclaimed Bungle, sitting -up and looking interested. "A Pink Kitten? How -absurd! Is it glass?" - -"No; just ordinary kitten." - -"Then it can't amount to much. I have pink -brains, and you can see 'em work." - -"Dorothy's kitten is all pink--brains and all-- -except blue eyes. Name's Eureka. Great favorite at -the royal palace," said the Shaggy Man, yawning. - -The Glass Cat seemed annoyed. - -"Do you think a pink kitten--common meat--is as -pretty as I am?" she asked. - -"Can't say. Tastes differ, you know," replied -the Shaggy Man, yawning again. "But here's a -pointer that may be of service to you: make -friends with Eureka and you'll be solid at the -palace." - -"I'm solid now; solid glass." - -"You don't understand," rejoined the Shaggy -Man, sleepily. "Anyhow, make friends with the -Pink Kitten and you'll be all right. If the Pink -Kitten despises you, look out for breakers." - -"Would anyone at the royal palace break a -Glass Cat?" - -"Might. You never can tell. Advise you to purr -soft and look humble--if you can. And now I'm -going to bed." - -Bungle considered the Shaggy Man's advice -so carefully that her pink brains were busy long -after the others of the party were fast asleep. - - - - -Chapter Twelve - -The Giant Porcupine - - -Next morning they started out bright and early to -follow the road of yellow bricks toward the -Emerald City. The little Munchkin boy was -beginning to feel tired from the long walk, and he -had a great many things to think of and consider -besides the events of the journey. At the -wonderful Emerald City, which he would presently -reach, were so many strange and curious people -that he was half afraid of meeting them and -wondered if they would prove friendly and kind. -Above all else, he could not drive from his mind -the important errand on which he had come, and he -was determined to devote every energy to finding -the things that were necessary to prepare -the magic recipe. He believed that until dear -Unc Nunkie was restored to life he could feel -no joy in anything, and often he wished that -Unc could be with him, to see all the astonishing -things Ojo was seeing. But alas Unc Nunkie was now -a marble statue in the house of the Crooked -Magician and Ojo must not falter in his efforts to -save him. - -The country through which they were passing was -still rocky and deserted, with here and there a -bush or a tree to break the dreary landscape. Ojo -noticed one tree, especially, because it had such -long, silky leaves and was so beautiful in shape. -As he approached it he studied the tree earnestly, -wondering if any fruit grew on it or if it bore -pretty flowers. - -Suddenly he became aware that he had been -looking at that tree a long time--at least for -five minutes--and it had remained in the same -position, although the boy had continued to -walk steadily on. So he stopped short. and when -he stopped, the tree and all the landscape, as -well as his companions, moved on before him -and left him far behind. - -Ojo uttered such a cry of astonishment that -it aroused the Shaggy Man, who also halted. -The others then stopped, too, and walked back -to the boy. - -"What's wrong?" asked the Shaggy Man. - -"Why, we're not moving forward a bit, no -matter how fast we walk," declared Ojo. "Now -that we have stopped, we are moving backward! -Can't you see? Just notice that rock." - -Scraps looked down at her feet and said: -"The yellow bricks are not moving." - -"But the whole road is," answered Ojo. - -"True; quite true," agreed the Shaggy Man. -"I know all about the tricks of this road, but I -have been thinking of something else and didn't -realize where we were." - -"It will carry us back to where we started -from," predicted Ojo, beginning to be nervous. - -"No," replied the Shaggy Man; "it won't do -that, for I know a trick to beat this tricky road. -I've traveled this way before, you know. Turn -around, all of you, and walk backward." - -"What good will that do?" asked the cat. - -"You'll find out, if you obey me," said the -Shaggy Man. - -So they all turned their backs to the direction -in which they wished to go and began walking -backward. In an instant Ojo noticed they were -gaining ground and as they proceeded in this -curious way they soon passed the tree which had -first attracted his attention to their difficulty. - -"How long must we keep this up, Shags?" -asked Scraps, who was constantly tripping and -tumbling down, only to get up again with a -laugh at her mishap. - -"Just a little way farther," replied the Shaggy -Man. - -A few minutes later he called to them to turn -about quickly and step forward, and as they -obeyed the order they found themselves treading -solid ground. - -"That task is well over," observed the Shaggy -Man. "It's a little tiresome to walk backward, but -that is the only way to pass this part of the -road, which has a trick of sliding back and -carrying with it anyone who is walking upon it." - -With new courage and energy they now -trudged forward and after a time came to a -place where the road cut through a low hill, -leaving high banks on either side of it. They -were traveling along this cut, talking together, -when the Shaggy Man seized Scraps with one -arm and Ojo with another and shouted: "Stop!" - -"What's wrong now?" asked the Patchwork Girl. - -"See there!" answered the Shaggy Man, pointing -with his finger. - -Directly in the center of the road lay a -motionless object that bristled all over with -sharp quills, which resembled arrows. The body was -as big as a ten-bushel basket, but the projecting -quills made it appear to be four times bigger. - -"Well, what of it?" asked Scraps. - -"That is Chiss, who causes a lot of trouble -along this road," was the reply. - -"Chiss! What is Chiss? - -"I think it is merely an overgrown porcupine, -but here in Oz they consider Chiss an evil spirit. -He's different from a reg'lar porcupine, because -he can throw his quills in any direction, which -an American porcupine cannot do. That's what -makes old Chiss so dangerous. If we get too -near, he'll fire those quills at us and hurt us -badly." - -"Then we will be foolish to get too near, -said Scraps. - -"I'm not afraid," declared the Woozy. "The Chiss -is cowardly, I'm sure, and if it ever heard my -awful, terrible, frightful growl, it would be -scared stiff." - -"Oh; can you growl?" asked the Shaggy Man. - -"That is the only ferocious thing about me," -asserted the Woozy with evident pride. "My growl -makes an earthquake blush and the thunder ashamed -of itself. If I growled at that creature you call -Chiss, it would immediately think the world had -cracked in two and bumped against the sun and -moon, and that would cause the monster to run as -far and as fast as its legs could carry it." - -"In that case," said the Shaggy Man, "you are -now able to do us all a great favor. Please -growl." - -"But you forget," returned the Woozy; "my -tremendous growl would also frighten you, and -if you happen to have heart disease you might -expire." - -"True; but we must take that risk," decided -the Shaggy Man, bravely. "Being warned of -what is to occur we must try to bear the terrific -noise of your growl; but Chiss won't expect it, -and it will scare him away." - -The Woozy hesitated. - -"I'm fond of you all, and I hate to shock you," -it said. - -"Never mind," said Ojo. - -"You may be made deaf." - -"If so, we will forgive you. - -"Very well, then," said the Woozy in a -determined voice, and advanced a few steps toward -the giant porcupine. Pausing to look back, it -asked: "All ready?" - -"All ready!" they answered. - -"Then cover up your ears and brace yourselves -firmly. Now, then--look out!" - -The Woozy turned toward Chiss, opened wide its -mouth and said: - -"Quee-ee-ee-eek." - -"Go ahead and growl," said Scraps. - -"Why, I--I did growl!" retorted the Woozy, -who seemed much astonished. - -"What, that little squeak?" she cried. - -"It is the most awful growl that ever was heard, -on land or sea, in caverns or in the sky," -protested the Woozy. "I wonder you stood the shock -so well. Didn't you feel the ground tremble? I -suppose Chiss is now quite dead with fright." - -The Shaggy Man laughed merrily. - -"Poor Wooz!" said he; "your growl wouldn't -scare a fly." - -The Woozy seemed to be humiliated and surprised. -It hung its head a moment, as if in shame or -sorrow, but then it said with renewed confidence: -"Anyhow, my eyes can flash fire; and good fire, -too; good enough to set fire to a fence!" - -"That is true," declared Scraps; "I saw it -done myself. But your ferocious growl isn't as -loud as the tick of a beetle--or one of Ojo's -snores when he's fast asleep." - -"Perhaps," said the Woozy, humbly, "I have -been mistaken about my growl. It has always -sounded very fearful to me, but that may, have -been because it was so close to my ears." - -"Never mind," Ojo said soothingly; "it is a -great talent to be able to flash fire from your -eyes. No one else can do that." - -As they stood hesitating what to do Chiss -stirred and suddenly a shower of quills came -flying toward them, almost filling the air, they -were so many. Scraps realized in an instant that -they had gone too near to Chiss for safety, so -she sprang in front of Ojo and shielded him -from the darts, which stuck their points into her -own body until she resembled one of those -targets they shoot arrows at in archery games. -The Shaggy Man dropped flat on his face to -avoid the shower, but one quill struck him in -the leg and went far in. As for the Glass Cat, -the quills rattled off her body without making -even a scratch, and the skin of the Woozy was -so thick and tough that he was not hurt at all. - -When the attack was over they all ran to the -Shaggy Man, who was moaning and groaning, and -Scraps promptly pulled the quill out of his leg. -Then up he jumped and ran over to Chiss, putting -his foot on the monster's neck and holding it a -prisoner. The body of the great porcupine was now -as smooth as leather, except for the holes where -the quills had been, for it had shot every single -quill in that one wicked shower. - -"Let me go!" it shouted angrily. "How dare -you put your foot on Chiss?" - -"I'm going to do worse than that, old boy," -replied the Shaggy Man. "You have annoyed -travelers on this road long enough, and now -I shall put an end to you." - -"You can't!" returned Chiss. "Nothing can -kill me, as you know perfectly well." - -"Perhaps that is true," said the Shaggy Man -in a tone of disappointment. "Seems to me I've -been told before that you can't be killed. But if -I let you go, what will you do?" - -"Pick up my quills again," said Chiss in a -sulky voice. - -"And then shoot them at more travelers? No; -that won't do. You must promise me to stop -throwing quills at people." - -"I won't promise anything of the sort," declared -Chiss. - -"Why not?" - -"Because it is my nature to throw quills, and -every animal must do what Nature intends it -to do. It isn't fair for you to blame me. If it were -wrong for me to throw quills, then I wouldn't -be made with quills to throw. The proper thing -for you to do is to keep out of my way. - -"Why, there's some sense in that argument, -admitted the Shaggy Man, thoughtfully; "but -people who are strangers, and don't know you -are here, won't be able to keep out of your way." - -"Tell you what," said Scraps, who was trying -to pull the quills out of her own body, "let's -gather up all the quills and take them away with -us; then old Chiss won't have any left to throw -at people." - -"Ah, that's a clever idea. You and Ojo must -gather up the quills while I hold Chiss a -prisoner; for, if I let him go he will get some of -his quills and be able to throw them again." - -So Scraps and Ojo picked up all the quills -and tied them in a bundle so they might easily -be carried. After this the Shaggy Man released -Chiss and let him go, knowing that he was -harmless to injure anyone. - -"It's the meanest trick I ever heard of," -muttered the porcupine gloomily. "How would you -like it, Shaggy Man, if I took all your shags away -from you?" - -"If I threw my shags and hurt people, you would -be welcome to capture them," was the reply. - -Then they walked on and left Chiss standing in -the road sullen and disconsolate. The Shaggy Man -limped as he walked, for his wound still hurt him, -and Scraps was much annoyed be cause the quills -had left a number of small holes in her patches. - -When they came to a flat stone by the roadside -the Shaggy Man sat down to rest, and then Ojo -opened his basket and took out the bundle of -charms the Crooked Magician had given him. - -"I am Ojo the Unlucky," he said, "or we would -never have met that dreadful porcupine. But I will -see if I can find anything among these charms -which will cure your leg." - -Soon he discovered that one of the charms -was labelled: "For flesh wounds," and this the -boy separated from the others. It was only a bit -of dried root, taken from some unknown shrub, -but the boy rubbed it upon the wound made by -the quill and in a few moments the place was -healed entirely and the Shaggy Man's leg was -as good as ever. - -"Rub it on the holes in my patches," suggested -Scraps, and Ojo tried it, but without any effect. - -"The charm you need is a needle and thread," -said the Shaggy Man. "But do not worry, my -dear; those holes do not look badly, at all." - -"They'll let in the air, and I don't want people -to think I'm airy, or that I've been stuck -up," said the Patchwork Girl. - -"You were certainly stuck up until we pulled -Out those quills," observed Ojo, with a laugh. - -So now they went on again and coming presently -to a pond of muddy water they tied a heavy stone -to the bundle of quills and sunk it to the bottom -of the pond, to avoid carrying it farther. - - - - -Chapter Thirteen - -Scraps and the Scarecrow - - -From here on the country improved and the desert -places began to give way to fertile spots; still -no houses were yet to be seen near the road. There -were some hills, with valleys between them, and on -reaching the top of one of these hills the -travelers found before them a high wall, running -to the right and the left as far as their eyes -could reach. Immediately in front of them, where -the wall crossed the roadway, stood a gate having -stout iron bars that extended from top to bottom. -They found, on coming nearer, that this gate was -locked with a great padlock, rusty through lack of -use. - -"Well," said Scraps, "I guess we'll stop here." - -"It's a good guess," replied Ojo. "Our way is -barred by this great wall and gate. It looks as if -no one had passed through in many years. - -"Looks are deceiving," declared the Shaggy Man, -laughing at their disappointed faces, "and this -barrier is the most deceiving thing in all Oz." - -"It prevents our going any farther, anyhow," -said Scraps. "There is no one to mind the gate -and let people through, and we've no key to -the padlock." - -"True," replied Ojo, going a little nearer to -peep through the bars of the gate. "What shall we -do, Shaggy Man? If we had wings we might fly over -the wall, but we cannot climb it and unless we get -to the Emerald City I won't be able to find the -things to restore Unc Nunkie to life." - -"All very true," answered the Shaggy Man, -quietly; "but I know this gate, having passed -through it many times." - -"How?" they all eagerly inquired. - -"I'll show you how," said he. He stood Ojo -in the middle of the road and placed Scraps -just behind him, with her padded hands on his -shoulders. After the Patchwork Girl came the -Woozy, who held a part of her skirt in his -mouth. Then, last of all, was the Glass Cat, -holding fast to the Woozy's tail with her glass -jaws. - -"Now," said the Shaggy Man, "you must all -shut your eyes tight, and keep them shut until -I tell you to open them." - -"I can't," objected Scraps. "My eyes are but- -tons, and they won't shut." - -So the Shaggy Man tied his red handkerchief over -the Patchwork Girl's eyes and examined all the -others to make sure they had their eyes fast shut -and could see nothing. - -"What's the game, anyhow--blind-man's-buff?" -asked Scraps. - -"Keep quiet!" commanded the Shaggy Man, -sternly. "All ready? Then follow me." - -He took Ojo's hand and led him forward over the -road of yellow bricks, toward the gate. Holding -fast to one another they all followed in a row, -expecting every minute to bump against the iron -bars. The Shaggy Man also had his eyes closed, but -marched straight ahead, nevertheless, and after -he had taken one hundred steps, by actual count, -he stopped and said: - -"Now you may open your eyes." - -They did so, and to their astonishment found -the wall and the gateway far behind them, -while in front the former Blue Country of the -Munchkins had given way to green fields, with -pretty farm-houses scattered among them. - -"That wall," explained the Shaggy Man, "is -what is called an optical illusion. It is quite real -while you have your eyes open, but if you are -not looking at it the barrier doesn't exist at all. -It's the same way with many other evils in life; -they seem to exist, and yet it's all seeming and -not true. You will notice that the wall--or what -we thought was a wall--separates the Munchkin -Country from the green country that surrounds -the Emerald City, which lies exactly in the -center of Oz. There are two roads of yellow -bricks through the Munchkin Country, but the -one we followed is the best of the two. Dorothy -once traveled the other way, and met with more -dangers than we did. But all our troubles are -over for the present, as another day's journey -will bring us to the great Emerald City." - -They were delighted to know this, and proceeded -with new courage. In a couple of hours they -stopped at a farmhouse, where the people were very -hospitable and invited them to dinner. The farm -folk regarded Scraps with much curiosity but no -great astonishment, for they were accustomed to -seeing extraordinary people in the Land of Oz. - -The woman of this house got her needle and -thread and sewed up the holes made by the -porcupine quills in the Patchwork Girl's body, -after which Scraps was assured she looked as -beautiful as ever. - -"You ought to have a hat to wear," remarked -the woman, "for that would keep the sun from -fading the colors of your face. I have some -patches and scraps put away, and if you will -wait two or three days I'll make you a lovely -hat that will match the rest of you." - -"Never mind the hat," said Scraps, shaking -her yarn braids; "it's a kind offer, but we can't -stop. I can't see that my colors have faded a -particle, as yet; can you?" - -"Not much," replied the woman. "You are still -very gorgeous, in spite of your long journey." - -The children of the house wanted to keep the -Class Cat to play with, so Bungle was offered -a good home if she would remain; but the cat -was too much interested in Ojo's adventures and -refused to stop. - -"Children are rough playmates," she remarked to -the Shaggy Man, "and although this home is more -pleasant than that of the Crooked Magician I fear -I would soon be smashed to pieces by the boys and -girls." - -After they had rested themselves they renewed -their journey, finding the road now smooth and -pleasant to walk upon and the country growing more -beautiful the nearer they drew to the Emerald -City. - -By and by Ojo began to walk on the green -grass, looking carefully around him. - -"What are you trying to find?" asked Scraps. - -"A six-leaved clover," said he. - -"Don't do that!" exclaimed the Shaggy Man, -earnestly. "It's against the Law to pick a six- -leaved clover. You must wait until you get Ozma's -consent." - -"She wouldn't know it," declared the boy. - -"Ozma knows many things," said the Shaggy Man. -"In her room is a Magic Picture that shows any -scene in the Land of Oz where strangers or -travelers happen to be. She may be watching the -picture of us even now, and noticing everything -that we do." - -"Does she always watch the Magic Picture?" -asked Ojo. - -"Not always, for she has many other things -to do; but, as I said, she may be watching us -this very minute." - -"I don't care," said Ojo, in an obstinate tone -of voice; "Ozma's only a girl." - -The Shaggy Man looked at him in surprise. - -"You ought to care for Ozma," said he, "if you -expect to save your uncle. For, if you displease -our powerful Ruler, your journey will surely prove -a failure; whereas, if you make a friend of Ozma, -she will gladly assist you. As for her being a -girl, that is another reason why you should obey -her laws, if you are courteous and polite. -Everyone in Oz loves Ozma and hates her enemies, -for she is as just as she is powerful." - -Ojo sulked a while, but finally returned to the -road and kept away from the green clover. The -boy was moody and bad tempered for an hour -or two afterward, because he could really see -no harm in picking a six-leaved clover, if he -found one, and in spite of what the Shaggy -Man had said he considered Ozma's law to be -unjust. - -They presently came to a beautiful grove of tall -and stately trees, through which the road wound in -sharp curves--first one way and then another. As -they were walking through this grove they heard -some one in the distance singing, and the sounds -grew nearer and nearer until they could -distinguish the words, although the bend in the -road still hid the singer. The song was something -like this: - - -"Here's to the hale old bale of straw -That's cut from the waving grain, -The sweetest sight man ever saw -In forest, dell or plain. -It fills me with a crunkling joy -A straw-stack to behold, -For then I pad this lucky boy -With strands of yellow gold." - - -"Ah!" exclaimed the Shaggy Man; "here comes my -friend the Scarecrow. - -"What, a live Scarecrow?" asked Ojo. - -"Yes; the one I told you of. He's a splendid -fellow, and very intelligent. You'll like him, -I'm sure. - -Just then the famous Scarecrow of Oz came -around the bend in the road, riding astride a -wooden Sawhorse which was so small that its -rider's legs nearly touched the ground. - -The Scarecrow wore the blue dress of the -Munchkins, in which country he was made, -and on his head was set a peaked hat with a flat -brim trimmed with tinkling bells. A rope was -tied around his waist to hold him in shape. for -he was stuffed with straw in every part of him -except the top of his head, where at one time -the Wizard of Oz had placed sawdust, mixed -with needles and pins, to sharpen his wits. The -head itself was merely a bag of cloth, fastened -to the body at the neck, and on the front of this -bag was painted the face--ears, eyes, nose and -mouth. - -The Scarecrow's face was very interesting, for -it bore a comical and yet winning expression, -although one eye was a bit larger than the other -and ears were not mates. The Munchkin farmer who -had made the Scarecrow had neglected to sew him -together with close stitches and therefore some of -the straw with which he was stuffed was inclined -to stick out between the seams. His hands -consisted of padded white gloves, with the fingers -long and rather limp, and on his feet he wore -Munchkin boots of blue leather with broad turns at -the tops of them. - -The Sawhorse was almost as curious as its rider. -It had been rudely made, in the beginning, to saw -logs upon, so that its body was a short length of -a log, and its legs were stout branches fitted -into four holes made in the body. The tail was -formed by a small branch that had been left on the -log, while the head was a gnarled bump on one end -of the body. Two knots of wood formed the eyes, -and the mouth was a gash chopped in the log. When -the Sawhorse first came to life it had no ears at -all, and so could not hear; but the boy who then -owned him had whittled two ears out of bark and -stuck them in the head, after which the Sawhorse -heard very distinctly. - -This queer wooden horse was a great favorite -with Princess Ozma, who had caused the bottoms of -its legs to be shod with plates of gold, so the -wood would not wear away. Its saddle was made of -cloth-of-gold richly encrusted with precious gems. -It had never worn a bridle. - -As the Scarecrow came in sight of the party of -travelers, he reined in his wooden steed and -dismounted, greeting the Shaggy Man with a smiling -nod. Then he turned to stare at the Patchwork Girl -in wonder, while she in turn stared at him. - -"Shags," he whispered, drawing the Shaggy Man -aside, "pat me into shape, there's a good fellow!" - -While his friend punched and patted the -Scarecrow's body, to smooth out the humps, Scraps -turned to Ojo and whispered: "Roll me out, please; -I've sagged down dreadfully from walking so much -and men like to see a stately figure." - -She then fell upon the ground and the boy rolled -her back and forth like a rolling-pin, until the -cotton had filled all the spaces in her patchwork -covering and the body had lengthened to its -fullest extent. Scraps and the Scarecrow both -finished their hasty toilets at the same time, and -again they faced each other. - -"Allow me, Miss Patchwork," said the Shaggy Man, -"to present my friend, the Right Royal Scarecrow -of Oz. Scarecrow, this is Miss Scraps Patches; -Scraps, this is the Scarecrow. Scarecrow--Scraps; -Scraps--Scarecrow." - -They both bowed with much dignity. - -"Forgive me for staring so rudely," said the -Scarecrow, "but you are the most beautiful sight -my eyes have ever beheld." - -"That is a high compliment from one who is -himself so beautiful," murmured Scraps, casting -down her suspender-button eyes by lowering her -head. "But, tell me, good sir, are you not a -trifle lumpy?" - -"Yes, of course; that's my straw, you know. -It bunches up, sometimes, in spite of all my -efforts to keep it even. Doesn't your straw ever -bunch?" - -"Oh, I'm stuffed with cotton," said Scraps. -"It never bunches, but it's inclined to pack down -and make me sag." - -"But cotton is a high-grade stuffing. I may say -it is even more stylish, not to say aristocratic, -than straw," said the Scarecrow politely. "Still, -it is but proper that one so entrancingly lovely -should have the best stuffing there is going. I-- -er--I'm so glad I've met you, Miss Scraps! -Introduce us again, Shaggy." - -"Once is enough," replied the Shaggy Man, -laughing at his friend's enthusiasm. - -"Then tell me where you found her, and--Dear me, -what a queer cat! What are you made of--gelatine?" - -"Pure glass," answered the cat, proud to have -attracted the Scarecrow's attention. "I am much -more beautiful than the Patchwork Girl. I'm -transparent, and Scraps isn't; I've pink brains-- -you can see 'em work; and I've a ruby heart, -finely polished, while Scraps hasn't any heart at -all." - -"No more have I," said the Scarecrow, shaking -hands with Scraps, as if to congratulate her on -the fact. "I've a friend, the Tin Woodman, who has -a heart, but I find I get along pretty well -without one. And so--Well, well! here's a little -Munchkin boy, too. Shake hands, my little man. How -are you?" - -Ojo placed his hand in the flabby stuffed glove -that served the Scarecrow for a hand, and the -Scarecrow pressed it so cordially that the straw -in his glove crackled. - -Meantime, the Woozy had approached the Sawhorse -and begun to sniff at it. The Sawhorse resented -this familiarity and with a sudden kick pounded -the Woozy squarely on its Lead with one gold-shod -foot. - -"Take that, you monster!" it cried angrily. - -The Woozy never even winked. - -"To be sure," he said; "I'll take anything I -have to. But don't make me angry, you wooden -beast, or my eyes will flash fire and burn you -up." - -The Sawhorse rolled its knot eyes wickedly -and kicked again, but the Woozy trotted away -and said to the Scarecrow: - -"What a sweet disposition that creature has! -I advise you to chop it up for kindling-wood -and use me to ride upon. My back is flat and -you can't fall off." - -"I think the trouble is that you haven't been -properly introduced," said the Scarecrow, -regarding the Woozy with much wonder, for he had -never seen such a queer animal before. - -"The Sawhorse is the favorite steed of Princess -Ozma, the Ruler of the Land of Oz, and he lives in -a stable decorated with pearls and emeralds, at -the rear of the royal palace. He is swift as the -wind, untiring, and is kind to his friends. All -the people of Oz respect the Sawhorse highly, and -when I visit Ozma she sometimes allows me to ride -him--as I am doing to-day. Now you know what an -important personage the Sawhorse is, and if some -one--perhaps your-self--will tell me your name, -your rank and station, and your history, it will -give me pleasure to relate them to the Sawhorse. -This will lead to mutual respect and friendship." - -The Woozy was somewhat abashed by this speech -and did not know how to reply. But Ojo said: - -"This square beast is called the Woozy, and he -isn't of much importance except that he has three -hairs growing on the tip of his tail." - -The Scarecrow looked and saw that this was true. - -"But," said he, in a puzzled way, "what makes -those three hairs important? The Shaggy Man has -thousands of hairs, but no one has ever accused -him of being important." - -So Ojo related the sad story of Unc Nunkie's -transformation into a marble statue, and told how -he had set out to find the things the Crooked -Magician wanted, in order to make a charm that -would restore his uncle to life. One of the -requirements was three hairs from a Woozy's tail, -but not being able to pull out the hairs they had -been obliged to take the Woozy with them. - -The Scarecrow looked grave as he listened and he -shook his head several times, as if in -disapproval. - -"We must see Ozma about this matter," he -said. "That Crooked Magician is breaking the -Law by practicing magic without a license, and -I'm not sure Ozma will allow him to restore your -uncle to life." - -"Already I have warned the boy of that," -declared the Shaggy Man. - -At this Ojo began to cry. "I want my Unc -Nunkie!" he exclaimed. "I know how he can be -restored to life, and I'm going to do it--Ozma or -no Ozma! What right has this girl Ruler to keep my -Unc Nunkie a statue forever?" - -"Don't worry about that just now," advised -the Scarecrow. "Go on to the Emerald City, -and when you reach it have the Shaggy Man -take you to see Dorothy. Tell her your story and -I'm sure she will help you. Dorothy is Ozma's -best friend, and if you can win her to your side -your uncle is pretty safe to live again." Then he -turned to the Woozy and said: "I'm afraid you -are not important enough to be introduced to -the Sawhorse, after all." - -"I'm a better beast than he is," retorted the -Woozy, indignantly. "My eyes can flash fire, and -his can't." - -"Is this true?" inquired the Scarecrow, turning -to the Munchkin boy. - -"Yes," said Ojo, and told how the Woozy had -set fire to the fence. - -"Have you any other accomplishments?" -asked the Scarecrow. - -"I have a most terrible growl--that is, -sometimes," said the Woozy, as Scraps laughed -merrily and the Shaggy Man smiled. But the Patch- -work Girl's laugh made the Scarecrow forget all -about the Woozy. He said to her: - -"What an admirable young lady you are, and -what jolly good company! We must be better -acquainted, for never before have I met a girl -with such exquisite coloring or such natural, -artless manners." - -"No wonder they call you the Wise Scarecrow," -replied Scraps. - -"When you arrive at the Emerald City I will see -you again," continued the Scarecrow. "Just now I -am going to call upon an old friend--an ordinary -young lady named Jinjur--who has Promised to -repaint my left ear for me. You may have noticed -that the paint on my left ear has peeled off and -faded, which affects my hearing on that side. -Jinjur always fixes me up when I get weather- -worn." - -"When do you expect to return to the Emerald -City?" asked the Shaggy Man. - -"I'll be there this evening, for I'm anxious -to have a long talk with Miss Scraps. How is it, -Sawhorse; are you equal to a swift run?" - -"Anything that suits you suits me," returned -the wooden horse. - -So the Scarecrow mounted to the jeweled -saddle and waved his hat, when the Sawhorse -darted away so swiftly that they were out of -sight in an instant. - - - - -Chapter Fourteen - -Ojo Breaks the Law - - -"What a queer man," remarked the Munchkin boy, -when the party had resumed its journey. - -"And so nice and polite," added Scraps, bobbing -her Lead. "I think he is the handsomest man I've -seen since I came to life." - -"Handsome is as handsome does," quoted the -Shaggy Man; "but we must admit that no living -scarecrow is handsomer. The chief merit of my -friend is that he is a great thinker, and in Oz it -is considered good policy to follow his advice." - -"I didn't notice any brains in his head," -observed the Glass Cat. - -"You can't see 'em work, but they're there, all -right," declared the Shaggy Man. "I hadn't much -confidence in his brains myself, when first I came -to Oz, for a humbug Wizard gave them to him; but I -was soon convinced that the Scarecrow is really -wise; and, unless his brains make him so, such -wisdom is unaccountable." - -"Is the Wizard of Oz a humbug?" asked Ojo. - -"Not now. He was once, but he has reformed -and now assists Glinda the Good, who is the -Royal Sorceress of Oz and the only one licensed -to practice magic or sorcery. Glinda has taught -our old Wizard a good many clever things, so -he is no longer a humbug." - -They walked a little while in silence and -then Ojo said: - -"If Ozma forbids the Crooked Magician to -restore Unc Nunkie to life, what shall I do?" - -The Shaggy Man shook his head. - -"In that case you can't do anything," he said. -"But don't be discouraged yet. We will go to -Princess Dorothy and tell her your troubles, and -then we will let her talk to Ozma. Dorothy has the -kindest little heart in the world, and she has -been through so many troubles herself that she is -sure to sympathize with you." - -"Is Dorothy the little girl who came here from -Kansas?" asked the boy. - -"Yes. In Kansas she was Dorothy Gale. I used to -know her there, and she brought me to the Land of -Oz. But now Ozma has made her a Princess, and -Dorothy's Aunt Em and Uncle Henry are here, too." -Here the Shaggy Man uttered a long sigh, and then -he continued: "It's a queer country, this Land of -Oz; but I like it, nevertheless." - -"What is queer about it?" asked Scraps. - -"You, for instance," said he. - -"Did you see no girls as beautiful as I am in -your own country?" she inquired. - -"None with the same gorgeous, variegated -beauty," he confessed. "In America a girl stuffed -with cotton wouldn't be alive, nor would anyone -think of making a girl out of a patchwork quilt." - -"What a queer country America must be!" she -exclaimed in great surprise. "The Scarecrow, whom -you say is wise, told me I am the most beautiful -creature he has ever seen." - -"I know; and perhaps you are-from a scarecrow -point of view," replied the Shaggy Man; but why he -smiled as he said it Scraps could not imagine. - -As they drew nearer to the Emerald City the -travelers were filled with admiration for the -splendid scenery they beheld. Handsome houses -stood on both sides of the road and each had a -green lawn before it as well as a pretty flower -garden. - -"In another hour," said the Shaggy Man, "we -shall come in sight of the walls of the Royal -City." - -He was walking ahead, with Scraps, and behind -them came the Woozy and the Glass Cat. Ojo had -lagged behind, for in spite of the warnings he -had received the boy's eyes were fastened on the -clover that bordered the road of yellow bricks and -he was eager to discover if such a thing as a -six-leaved clover really existed. - -Suddenly he stopped short and bent over to -examine the ground more closely. Yes; here at last -was a clover with six spreading leaves. He counted -them carefully, to make sure. In an instant his -heart leaped with joy, for this was one of the -important things he had come for--one of the -things that would restore dear Unc Nunkie to life. - -He glanced ahead and saw that none of his -companions was looking back. Neither were any -other people about, for it was midway between -two houses. The temptation was too strong to -be resisted. - -"I might search for weeks and weeks, and -never find another six-leaved clover," he told -himself, and quickly plucking the stem from the -plant he placed the prized clover in his basket, -covering it with the other things he carried -there. Then, trying to look as if nothing had -happened, he hurried forward and overtook his -comrades. - -The Emerald City, which is the most splendid as -well as the most beautiful city in any fairyland, -is surrounded by a high, thick wall of green -marble, polished smooth and set with glistening -emeralds. There are four gates, one facing the -Munchkin Country, one facing the Country of the -Winkies, one facing the Country of the Quadlings -and one facing the Country of the Gillikins. The -Emerald City lies directly in the center of these -four important countries of Oz. The gates had bars -of pure gold, and on either side of each gateway -were built high towers, from which floated gay -banners. Other towers were set at distances along -the walls, which were broad enough for four people -to walk abreast upon. - -This enclosure, all green and gold and -glittering with precious gems, was indeed a -wonderful sight to greet our travelers, who first -observed it from the top of a little hill; but -beyond the wall was the vast city it surrounded, -and hundreds of jeweled spires, domes and -minarets, flaunting flags and banners, reared -their crests far above the towers of the gateways. -In the center of the city our friends could see -the tops of many magnificent trees, some nearly as -tall as the spires of the buildings, and the -Shaggy Man told them that these trees were in the -royal gardens of Princess Ozma. - -They stood a long time on the hilltop, feasting -their eyes on the splendor of the Emerald City. - -"Whee!" exclaimed Scraps, clasping her padded -hands in ecstacy, "that'll do for me to live in, -all right. No more of the Munchkin Country for -these patches--and no more of the Crooked -Magician!" - -"Why, you belong to Dr. Pipt," replied Ojo, -looking at her in amazement. "You were made for a -servant, Scraps, so you are personal property and -not your own mistress." - -"Bother Dr. Pipt! If he wants me, let him -come here and get me. I'll not go back to his -den of my own accord; that's certain. Only one -place in the Land of Oz is fit to live in, and -that's the Emerald City. It's lovely! It's almost -as beautiful as I am, Ojo." - -"In this country," remarked the Shaggy Man, -"people live wherever our Ruler tells them to. It -wouldn't do to have everyone live in the Emerald -City, you know, for some must plow the land and -raise grains and fruits and vegetables, while -others chop wood in the forests, or fish in the -rivers, or herd the sheep and the cattle." - -"Poor things!" said Scraps. - -"I'm not sure they are not happier than the city -people," replied the Shaggy Man. "There's a -freedom and independence in country life that not -even the Emerald City can give one. I know that -lots of the city people would like to get back to -the land. The Scarecrow lives in the country, and -so do the Tin Woodman and Jack Pumpkinhead; yet -all three would be welcome to live in Ozma's -palace if they cared to. Too much splendor becomes -tiresome, you know. But, if we're to reach the -Emerald City before sundown, we must hurry, for it -is yet a long way off." - -The entrancing sight of the city had put new -energy into them all and they hurried forward -with lighter steps than before. There was much -to interest them along the roadway, for the -houses were now set more closely together and -they met a good many people who were coming -or going from one place or another. All these -seemed happy-faced, pleasant people, who -nodded graciously to the strangers as they -Passed, and exchanged words of greeting. - -At last they reached the great gateway, just -as the sun was setting and adding its red glow -to the glitter of the emeralds on the green walls -and spires. Somewhere inside the city a band -could be heard playing sweet music; a soft, -subdued hum, as of many voices, reached their -ears; from the neighboring yards came the low -mooing of cows waiting to be milked. - -They were almost at the gate when the golden -bars slid back and a tall soldier stepped out and -faced them. Ojo thought he had never seen so -tall a man before. The soldier wore a handsome -green and gold uniform, with a tall hat in which -was a waving plume, and he had a belt thickly -encrusted with jewels. But the most peculiar -thing about him was his long green beard, -which fell far below his waist and perhaps -made him seem taller than he really was. - -"Halt!" said the Soldier with the Green -Whiskers, not in a stern voice but rather in a -friendly tone. - -They halted before he spoke and stood looking at -him. - -"Good evening, Colonel," said the Shaggy -Man. "What's the news since I left? Anything -important?" - -"Billina has hatched out thirteen new chickens," -replied the Soldier with the Green Whiskers, "and -they're the cutest little fluffy yellow balls you -ever saw. The Yellow Hen is mighty proud of those -children, I can tell you." - -"She has a right to be," agreed the Shaggy -Man. "Let me see; that's about seven thousand -chicks she has hatched out; isn't it, General?" - -"That, at least," was the reply. "You will have -to visit Billina and congratulate her." - -"It will give me pleasure to do that," said the -Shaggy Man. "But you will observe that I have -brought some strangers home with me. I am -going to take them to see Dorothy." - -"One moment, please," said the soldier, barring -their way as they started to enter the gate. "I am -on duty, and I have orders to execute. Is anyone -in your party named Ojo the Unlucky?" - -"Why, that's me!" cried Ojo, astonished at -hearing his name on the lips of a stranger. - -The Soldier with the Green Whiskers nodded. "I -thought so," said he, "and I am sorry to announce -that it is my painful duty to arrest you." - -"Arrest me!" exclaimed the boy. "What for?" - -"I haven't looked to see," answered the soldier. -Then he drew a paper from his breast pocket and -glanced at it. "Oh, yes; you are to be arrested -for willfully breaking one of the Laws of Oz." - -"Breaking a law!" said Scraps. "Nonsense, -Soldier; you're joking." - -"Not this time," returned the soldier, with a -sigh. "My dear child what are you, a rummage sale -or a guess-me quick?--in me you be hold the Body -Guard of our gracious Ruler, Princess Ozma, as -well as the Royal Army of Oz and the Police Force -of the Emerald City." - -"And only one man!" exclaimed the Patchwork Girl. - -"Only one, and plenty enough. In my official -positions I've had nothing to do for a good many -years--so long that I began to fear I was -absolutely useless--until today. An hour ago I was -called to the presence of her Highness, Ozma of -Oz, and told to arrest a boy named Ojo the -Unlucky, who was journeying from the Munchkin -Country to the Emerald City and would arrive in a -short time. This command so astonished me that I -nearly fainted, for it is the first time anyone -has merited arrest since I can remember. You are -rightly named Ojo the Unlucky. my poor boy, since -you have broken a Law of Oz. - -"But you are wrong," said Scraps. "Ozma is -wrong--you are all wrong--for Ojo has broken no -Law." - -"Then he will soon be free again," replied the -Soldier with the Green Whiskers. "Anyone accused -of crime is given a fair trial by our Ruler and -has every chance to prove his innocence. But just -now Ozma's orders must be obeyed." - -With this he took from his pocket a pair of -handcuffs made of gold and set with rubies and -diamonds, and these he snapped over Ojo's wrists. - - - - -Chapter Fifteen - -Ozma's Prisoner - - -The boy was so bewildered by this calamity that he -made no resistance at all. He knew very well he -was guilty, but it surprised him that Ozma also -knew it. He wondered how she had found out so soon -that he had picked the six-leaved clover. He -handed his basket to Scraps and said: - -"Keep that, until I get out of prison. If I -never get out, take it to the Crooked Magician, to -whom it belongs." - -The Shaggy Man had been gazing earnestly in the -boy's face, uncertain whether to defend him or -not; but something he read in Ojo's expression -made him draw back and refuse to interfere to save -him. The Shaggy Man was greatly surprised and -grieved, but he knew that Ozma never made mistakes -and so Ojo must really have broken the Law of Oz. - -The Soldier with the Green Whiskers now led them -all through the gate and into a little room built -in the wall. Here sat a jolly little man, richly -dressed in green and having around his neck a -heavy gold chain to which a number of great golden -keys were attached. This was the Guardian of the -Gate and at the moment they entered his room he -was playing a tune upon a mouth-organ. - -"Listen!" he said, holding up his hand for -silence. "I've just composed a tune called 'The -Speckled Alligator.' It's in patch-time, which is -much superior to rag-time, and I've composed it in -honor of the Patchwork Girl, who has just -arrived." - -"How did you know I had arrived?" asked Scraps, -much interested. - -"It's my business to know who's coming, for I'm -the Guardian of the Gate. Keep quiet while I play -you 'The Speckled Alligator.'" - -It wasn't a very bad tune, nor a very good one, -but all listened respectfully while he shut his -eyes and swayed his head from side to side and -blew the notes from the little instrument. When it -was all over the Soldier with the Green Whiskers -said: - -"Guardian, I have here a prisoner." - -"Good gracious! A prisoner?" cried the little -man, jumping up from his chair. "Which one? Not -the Shaggy Man?" - -"No; this boy." - -"Ah; I hope his fault is as small as himself," -said the Guardian of the Gate. "But what can he -have done, and what made him do it?" - -"Can't say," replied the soldier. "All I know -is that he has broken the Law." - -"But no one ever does that!" - -"Then he must be innocent, and soon will be -released. I hope you are right, Guardian. Just now -I am ordered to take him to prison. Get me a -prisoner's robe from your Official Wardrobe." - -The Guardian unlocked a closet and took -from it a white robe, which the soldier threw -over Ojo. It covered him from head to foot, but -had two holes just in front of his eyes, so he -could see where to go. In this attire the boy -presented a very quaint appearance. - -As the Guardian unlocked a gate leading -from his room into the streets of the Emerald -City, the Shaggy Man said to Scraps: - -"I think I shall take you directly to Dorothy, -as the Scarecrow advised, and the Glass Cat -and the Woozy may come with us. Ojo must -go to prison with the Soldier with the Green -Whiskers, but he will he well treated and you -need not worry about him." - -"What will they do with him?" asked Scraps. - -"That I cannot tell. Since I came to the Land of -Oz no one has ever been arrested or imprisoned-- -until Ojo broke the Law." - -"Seems to me that girl Ruler of yours is making -a big fuss over nothing," remarked Scraps, tossing -her yarn hair out of her eyes with a jerk of her -patched head. "I don't know what Ojo has done, but -it couldn't be anything very, bad, for you and I -were with him all the time." - -The Shaggy Man made no reply to this speech and -presently the Patchwork Girl forgot all about Ojo -in her admiration of the wonderful city she had -entered. - -They soon separated from the Munchkin boy, who -was led by the Soldier with the Green Whiskers -down a side street toward the prison. Ojo felt -very miserable and greatly ashamed of himself, but -he was beginning to grow angry because he was -treated in such a disgraceful manner. Instead of -entering the splendid Emerald City as a -respectable traveler who was entitled to a -welcome and to hospitality, he was being brought -in as a criminal, handcuffed and in a robe that -told all he met of his deep disgrace. - -Ojo was by nature gentle and affectionate and if -he had disobeyed the Law of Oz it was to restore -his dear Unc Nunkie to life. His fault was more -thoughtless than wicked, but that did not alter -the fact that he had committed a fault. At first -he had felt sorrow and remorse, but the more he -thought about the unjust treatment he had -received--unjust merely because he considered it -so--the more he resented his arrest, blaming Ozma -for making foolish laws and then punishing folks -who broke them. Only a six-leaved clover! A tiny -green plant growing neglected and trampled under -foot. What harm could there be in picking it? Ojo -began to think Ozma must be a very bad and -oppressive Ruler for such a lovely fairyland as -Oz. The Shaggy Man said the people loved her; but -how could they? - -The little Munchkin boy was so busy thinking -these things--which many guilty prisoners have -thought before him--that he scarcely noticed all -the splendor of the city streets through which -they passed. Whenever they met any of the happy, -smiling people, the boy turned his head away in -shame, although none knew who was beneath the -robe. - -By and by they reached a house built just beside -the great city wall, but in a quiet, retired -place. It was a pretty house, neatly painted and -with many windows. Before it was a garden filled -with blooming flowers. The Soldier with the Green -Whiskers led Ojo up the gravel path to the front -door, on which he knocked. - -A woman opened the door and, seeing Ojo -in his white robe, exclaimed: - -"Goodness me! A prisoner at last. But what a -small one, Soldier." - -"The size doesn't matter, Tollydiggle, my -dear. The fact remains that he is a prisoner," -said the soldier. "And, this being the prison, -and you the jailer, it is my duty to place the -prisoner in your charge." - -"True. Come in, then, and I'll give you a -receipt for him." - -They entered the house and passed through a hall -to a large circular room, where the woman pulled -the robe off from Ojo and looked at him with -kindly interest. The boy, on his part, was gazing -around him in amazement, for never had he dreamed -of such a magnificent apartment as this in which -he stood. The roof of the dome was of colored -glass, worked into beautiful designs. The walls -were paneled with plates of - -gold decorated with gems of great size and many -colors, and upon the tiled floor were soft rags -delightful to walk upon. The furniture was framed -in gold and upholstered in satin brocade and it -consisted of easy chairs, divans and stools in -great variety. Also there were several tables with -mirror tops and cabinets filled with rare and -curious things. In one place a case filled with -books stood against the wall, and elsewhere Ojo -saw a cupboard containing all sorts of games. - -"May I stay here a little while before I go to -prison?" asked the boy, pleadingly. - -"Why, this is your prison," replied Tollydiggle, -"and in me behold your jailor. Take off those -handcuffs, Soldier, for it is impossible for -anyone to escape from this house." - -"I know that very well," replied the soldier and -at once unlocked the handcuffs and released the -prisoner. - -The woman touched a button on the wall and -lighted a big chandelier that hung suspended from -the ceiling, for it was growing dark outside. Then -she seated herself at a desk and asked: - -"What name?" - -"Ojo the Unlucky," answered the Soldier -with the Green Whiskers. - -"Unlucky? Ah, that accounts for it," said she. -"What crime?" - -"Breaking a Law of Oz." - -"All right. There's your receipt, Soldier; and -now I'm responsible for the prisoner. I'm glad -of it, for this is the first time I've ever had -anything to do, in my official capacity," remarked -the jailer, in a pleased tone. - -"It's the same with me, Tollydiggle," laughed -the soldier. "But my task is finished and I must -go and report to Ozma that I've done my duty -like a faithful Police Force, a loyal Army and -an honest Body-Guard--as I hope I am." - -Saying this, be nodded farewell to Tollydiggle -and Ojo and went away. - -"Now, then," said the woman briskly, "I must get -you some supper, for you are doubtless hungry. -What would you prefer: planked whitefish, omelet -with jelly or mutton-chops with gravy?" - -Ojo thought about it. Then he said: "I'll take -the chops, if you please." - -"Very well; amuse yourself while I'm gone; -I won't be long," and then she went out by a -door and left the prisoner alone. - -Ojo was much astonished, for not only was this -unlike any prison he had ever heard of, but he was -being treated more as a guest than a criminal. -There were many windows and they bad no locks. -There were three doors to the room and none were -bolted. He cautiously opened one of the doors and -found it led into a hallway. But he had no -intention of trying to escape. If his jailor was -willing to trust him in this way he would not -betray her trust, and moreover a hot supper was -being prepared for him and his prison was very -pleasant and comfortable. So he took a book from -the case and sat down in a big chair to look at -the pictures. - -This amused him until the woman came in with a -large tray and spread a cloth on one of the -tables. Then she arranged his supper, which proved -the most varied and delicious meal Ojo had ever -eaten in his life. - -Tollydiggle sat near him while he ate, sewing -on some fancy work she held in her lap. When -he had finished she cleared the table and then -read to him a story from one of the books. - -"Is this really a prison?" he asked, when she -had finished reading. - -"Indeed it is," she replied. "It is the only -prison in the Land of Oz." - -"And am I a prisoner?" - -"Bless the child! Of course." - -"Then why is the prison so fine, and why -are you so kind to me?" he earnestly asked. - -Tollydiggle seemed surprised by the question, -but she presently answered: - -"We consider a prisoner unfortunate. He is -unfortunate in two ways--because he has done -something wrong and because he is deprived of his -liberty. Therefore we should treat him kindly, -because of his misfortune, for otherwise he would -become hard and bitter and would not be sorry he -had done wrong. Ozma thinks that one who has -committed a fault did so because he was not strong -and brave; therefore she puts him in prison to -make him strong and brave. When that is -accomplished he is no longer a prisoner, but a -good and loyal citizen and everyone is glad that -he is now strong enough to resist doing wrong. You -see, it is kindness that makes one strong and -brave; and so we are kind to our prisoners." - -Ojo thought this over very carefully. "I had -an idea," said he, "that prisoners were always -treated harshly, to punish them." - -"That would be dreadful!" cried Tollydiggle. -"Isn't one punished enough in knowing he has -done wrong? Don't you wish, Ojo, with all your -heart, that you had not been disobedient and -broken a Law of Oz?" - -"I--I hate to be different from other people," -he admitted. - -"Yes; one likes to be respected as highly as his -neighbors are," said the woman. "When you are -tried and found guilty, you will be obliged to -make amends, in some way. I don't know just -what Ozma will do to you, because this is the -first time one of us has broken a Law; but you -may be sure she will be just and merciful. Here -in the Emerald City people are too happy and -contented ever to do wrong; but perhaps you -came from some faraway corner of our land, and -having no love for Ozma carelessly broke one -of her Laws." - -"Yes," said Ojo, "I've lived all my life in the -heart of a lonely forest, where I saw no one but -dear Unc Nunkie." - -"I thought so," said Tollydiggle. "But now -we have talked enough, so let us play a game -until bedtime." - - - - -Chapter Sixteen - -Princess Dorothy - - -Dorothy Gale was sitting in one of her rooms in -the royal palace, while curled up at her feet was -a little black dog with a shaggy coat and very -bright eyes. She wore a plain white frock, without -any jewels or other ornaments except an emerald- -green hair-ribbon, for Dorothy was a simple -little girl and had not been in the least spoiled -by the magnificence surrounding her. Once the -child had lived on the Kansas prairies, but she -seemed marked for adventure for she had made -seven trips to the Land of Oz before she came to -live there for good. Her very best friend was the -beautiful Ozma of Oz, who loved Dorothy so well -that she kept her in her own palace, so as to be -near her. The girl's Uncle Henry and Aunt Em--the -only relatives she had in the world--had also been -brought here by Ozma and given a pleasant home. -Dorothy knew almost everybody in Oz, and it was -she who had discovered the Scarecrow, the Tin -Woodman and the Cowardly Lion, as well as Tik-tok -the Clockwork Man. Her life was very pleasant now, -and although she had been made a Princess of Oz by -her friend Ozma she did not care much to be a -Princess and remained as sweet as when she had -been plain Dorothy Gale of Kansas. - -Dorothy was reading in a book this evening -when Jellia Jamb, the favorite servant-maid of -the palace, came to say that the Shaggy Man -wanted to see her. - -"All right," said Dorothy; "tell him to come -right up." - -"But he has some queer creatures with him--some -of the queerest I've ever laid eyes on," reported -Jellia. - -"Never mind; let 'em all come up," replied -Dorothy. - -But when the door opened to admit not only the -Shaggy Man, but Scraps, the Woozy and the Glass -Cat, Dorothy jumped up and looked at her strange -visitors in amazement. The Patchwork Girl was the -most curious of all and Dorothy was uncertain at -first whether Scraps was really alive or only a -dream or a nightmare. Toto, her dog, slowly -uncurled himself and going to the Patchwork Girl -sniffed at her inquiringly; but soon he lay down -again, as if to say he had no interest in such an -irregular creation. - -"You're a new one to me," Dorothy said -reflectively, addressing the Patchwork Girl. "I -can't imagine where you've come from." - -"Who, me?" asked Scraps, looking around the -pretty room instead of at the girl. "Oh, I came -from a bed-quilt, I guess. That's what they say, -anyhow. Some call it a crazy-quilt and some a -patchwork quilt. But my name is Scraps--and now -you know all about me." - -"Not quite all," returned Dorothy with a smile. -"I wish you'd tell me how you came to be alive." - -"That's an easy job," said Scraps, sitting upon -a big upholstered chair and making the springs -bounce her up and down. "Margolotte wanted a -slave, so she made me out of an old bed-quilt she -didn't use. Cotton stuffing, suspender-button -eyes, red velvet tongue, pearl beads for teeth. -The Crooked Magician made a Powder of Life, -sprinkled me with it and--here I am. Perhaps -you've noticed my different colors. A very refined -and educated gentleman named the Scarecrow, whom I -met, told me I am the most beautiful creature in -all Oz, and I believe it." - -"Oh! Have you met our Scarecrow, then?" asked -Dorothy, a little puzzled to understand the brief -history related. - -"Yes; isn't he jolly?" - -"The Scarecrow has many good qualities," replied -Dorothy. "But I'm sorry to hear all this 'bout the -Crooked Magician. Ozma'll be mad as hops when she -hears he's been doing magic again. She told him -not to." - -"He only practices magic for the benefit of his -own family," explained Bungle, who was keeping at -a respectful distance from the little black dog. - -"Dear me," said Dorothy; "I hadn't noticed -you before. Are you glass, or what?" - -"I'm glass, and transparent, too, which is more -than can be said of some folks," answered the -cat. "Also I have some lovely pink brains; you -can see 'em work." - -"Oh; is that so? Come over here and let me see." - -The Class Cat hesitated, eyeing the dog. - -"Send that beast away and I will," she said. - -"Beast! Why, that's my dog Toto, an' he's the -kindest dog in all the world. Toto knows a good -many things, too; 'most as much as I do, I -guess." - -"Why doesn't he say anything?" asked Bungle. - -"He can't talk, not being a fairy dog," -explained Dorothy. "He's just a common United -States dog; but that's a good deal; and I -understand him, and he understands me, just as -well as if he could talk." - -Toto, at this, got up and rubbed his head -softly against Dorothy's hand, which she held -out to him, and he looked up into her face as if -he had understood every word she had said. - -"This cat, Toto," she said to him, "is made -of glass, so you mustn't bother it, or chase it, -any more than you do my Pink Kitten. It's -prob'ly brittle and might break if it bumped -against anything." - -"Woof!" said Toto, and that meant he understood. - -The Glass Cat was so proud of her pink brains -that she ventured to come close to Dorothy, in -order that the girl might "see 'em work." This was -really interesting, but when Dorothy patted the -cat she found the glass cold and hard and -unresponsive, so she decided at once that Bungle -would never do for a pet. - -"What do you know about the Crooked Magician who -lives on the mountain?" asked Dorothy. - -"He made me," replied the cat; "so I know all -about him. The Patchwork Girl is new--three or -four days old--but I've lived with Dr. Pipt for -years; and, though I don't much care for him, I -will say that he has always refused to work magic -for any of the people who come to his house. He -thinks there's no harm in doing magic things for -his own family, and he made me out of glass -because the meat cats drink too much milk. He also -made Scraps come to life so she could do the -housework for his wife Margolotte." - -"Then why did you both leave him?" asked -Dorothy. - -"I think you'd better let me explain that," -interrupted the Shaggy Man, and then he told -Dorothy all of Ojo's story and how Unc Nunkie and -Margolotte had accidentally been turned to marble -by the Liquid of Petrifaction. Then he related how -the boy had started out in search of the things -needed to make the magic charm, which would -restore the unfortunates to life, and how he had -found the Woozy and taken him along because he -could not pull the three hairs out of its tail. -Dorothy listened to all this with much interest, -and thought that so far Ojo had acted very well. -But when the Shaggy Man told her of the Munchkin -boy's arrest by the Soldier with the Green -Whiskers, because he was accused of wilfully -breaking a Law of Oz, the little girl was greatly -shocked. - -"What do you s'pose he's done?" she asked. - -"I fear he has picked a six-leaved clover," -answered the Shaggy Man, sadly. "I did not see him -do it, and I warned him that to do so was against -the Law; but perhaps that is what he did, -nevertheless." - -"I'm sorry 'bout that," said Dorothy gravely, -"for now there will be no one to help his poor -uncle and Margolotte 'cept this Patchwork Girl, -the Woozy and the Glass Cat." - -"Don't mention it," said Scraps. "That's no -affair of mine. Margolotte and Unc Nunkie are -perfect strangers to me, for the moment I came -to life they came to marble." - -"I see," remarked Dorothy with a sigh of -regret; "the woman forgot to give you a heart." - -"I'm glad she did," retorted the Patchwork Girl. -"A heart must be a great annoyance to one. It -makes a person feel sad or sorry or devoted or -sympathetic--all of which sensations interfere with -one's happiness." - -"I have a heart," murmured the Glass Cat. -"It's made of a ruby; but I don't imagine I shall -let it bother me about helping Unc Nunkie and -Margolotte." - -"That's a pretty hard heart of yours," said -Dorothy. "And the Woozy, of course--" - -"Why, as for me," observed the Woozy, who was -reclining on the floor with his legs doubled under -him, so that he looked much like a square box, "I -have never seen those unfortunate people you are -speaking of, and yet I am sorry for them, having -at times been unfortunate myself. When I was shut -up in that forest I longed for some one to help -me, and by and by Ojo came and did help me. So I'm -willing to help his uncle. I'm only a stupid -beast, Dorothy, but I can't help that, and if -you'll tell me what to do to help Ojo and his -uncle, I'll gladly do it." - -Dorothy walked over and patted the Woozy on his -square head. - -"You're not pretty," she said, "but I like you. -What are you able to do; anything 'special?" - -"I can make my eyes flash fire--real fire--when -I'm angry. When anyone says: 'Krizzle-Kroo' to me -I get angry, and then my eyes flash fire." - -"I don't see as fireworks could help Ojo's -uncle," remarked Dorothy. "Can you do anything -else?" - -"I--I thought I bad a very terrifying growl," -said the Woozy, with hesitation; "but perhaps -I was mistaken." - -"Yes," said the Shaggy Man, "you were certainly -wrong about that." Then he turned to Dorothy and -added: "What will become of the Munchkin boy?" - -"I don't know," she said, shaking her head -thoughtfully. "Ozma will see him 'bout it, of -course, and then she'll punish him. But how, -I don't know, 'cause no one ever has been -punished in Oz since I knew anything about -the place. Too bad, Shaggy Man, isn't it?" - -While they were talking Scraps had been -roaming around the room and looking at all -the pretty things it contained. She had carried -Ojo's basket in her hand, until now, when she -decided to see what was inside it. She found -the bread and cheese, which she had no use for, -and the bundle of charms, which were curious -but quite a mystery to her. Then, turning these -over, she came upon the six-leaved clover which -the boy had plucked. - -Scraps was quick-witted, and although she had no -heart she recognized the fact that Ojo was her -first friend. She knew at once that because the -boy had taken the clover he bad been imprisoned, -and she understood that Ojo had given her the -basket so they would not find the clover in his -possession and have proof of his crime. So, -turning her head to see that no one noticed her, -she took the clover from the basket and dropped it -into a golden vase that stood on Dorothy's table. -Then she came forward and said to Dorothy: - -"I wouldn't care to help Ojo's uncle, but I -will help Ojo. He did not break the Law--no -one can prove he did--and that green-whiskered -soldier had no right to arrest him." - -"Ozma ordered the boy's arrest," said Dorothy, -"and of course she knew what she was doing. But if -you can prove Ojo is innocent they will set him -free at once. - -"They'll have to prove him guilty, won't -they?'' asked Scraps. - -"I s'pose so." - -"Well, they can't do that," declared the -Patchwork Girl. - -As it was nearly time for Dorothy to dine with -Ozma, which she did every evening, she rang for a -servant and ordered the Woozy taken to a nice room -and given plenty of such food as he liked best. - -"That's honey-bees," said the Woozy. - -"You can't eat honey-bees, but you'll be given -something just as nice," Dorothy told him. Then -she had the Glass Cat taken to another room for -the night and the Patchwork Girl she kept in one -of her own rooms, for she was much interested in -the strange creature and wanted to talk with her -again and try to understand her better. - - - - -Chapter Seventeen - -Ozma and Her Friends - - -The Shaggy Man had a room of his own in the royal -palace, so there he went to change his shaggy suit -of clothes for another just as shaggy but not so -dusty from travel. He selected a costume of -peagreen and pink satin and velvet, with -embroidered shags on all the edges and iridescent -pearls for ornaments. Then he bathed in an -alabaster pool and brushed his shaggy hair and -whiskers the wrong way to make them still more -shaggy. This accomplished, and arrayed in his -splendid shaggy garments, he went to Ozma's -banquet hall and found the Scarecrow, the Wizard -and Dorothy already assembled there. The Scarecrow -had made a quick trip and returned to the Emerald -City with his left ear freshly painted. - -A moment later, while they all stood in waiting, -a servant threw open a door, the orchestra struck -up a tune and Ozma of Oz entered. - -Much has been told and written concerning the -beauty of person and character of this sweet girl -Ruler of the Land of Oz--the richest, the happiest -and most delightful fairyland of which we have any -knowledge. Yet with all her queenly qualities Ozma -was a real girl and enjoyed the things in life -that other real girls enjoy. When she sat on her -splendid emerald throne in the great Throne Room -of her palace and made laws and settled disputes -and tried to keep all her subjects happy and -contented, she was as dignified and demure as any -queen might be; but when she had thrown aside her -jeweled robe of state and her sceptre, and had -retired to her private apartments, the girl-- -joyous, light-hearted and free--replaced the -sedate Ruler. - -In the banquet hall to-night were gathered -only old and trusted friends, so here Ozma was -herself--a mere girl. She greeted Dorothy with -a kiss, the Shaggy Man with a smile, the little -old Wizard with a friendly handshake and then -she pressed the Scarecrow's stuffed arm and -cried merrily: - -"What a lovely left ear! Why, it's a hundred -times better than the old one." - -"I'm glad you like it," replied the Scarecrow, -well pleased. "Jinjur did a neat job, didn't she? -And my hearing is now perfect. Isn't it wonderful -what a little paint will do, if it's properly -applied?" - -"It really is wonderful," she agreed, as they -all took their seats; "but the Sawhorse must -have his legs twinkle to have carried you so far -in one day. I didn't expect you back before -tomorrow, at the earliest." - -"Well," said the Scarecrow, "I met a charming -girl on the road and wanted to see more of her, so -I hurried back." - -Ozma laughed. - -"I know," she returned; "it's the Patchwork -Girl. She is certainly bewildering, if not strictly -beautiful." - -"Have you seen her, then?" the straw man eagerly -asked. - -"Only in my Magic Picture, which shows me all -scenes of interest in the Land of Oz." - -"I fear the picture didn't do her justice," said -the Scarecrow. - -"It seemed to me that nothing could be more -gorgeous," declared Ozma. "Whoever made that -patchwork quilt, from which Scraps was formed, -must have selected the gayest and brightest bits -of cloth that ever were woven. - -"I am glad you like her," said the Scarecrow -in a satisfied tone. Although the straw man did -not eat, not being made so he could, he often -dined with Ozma and her companions, merely -for the pleasure of talking with them. He sat at -the table and had a napkin and plate, but the -servants knew better than to offer him food. -After a little while he asked: "Where is the -Patchwork Girl now?" - -"In my room," replied Dorothy. "I've taken a -fancy to her; she's so queer and-and-uncommon." - -"She's half crazy, I think," added the Shaggy -Man. - -"But she is so beautiful!" exclaimed the -Scarecrow, as if that fact disarmed all criticism. -They all laughed at his enthusiasm, but the -Scarecrow was quite serious. Seeing that he was -interested in Scraps they forbore to say anything -against her. The little band of friends Ozma had -gathered around her was so quaintly assorted that -much care must be exercised to avoid hurting their -feelings or making any one of them unhappy. It was -this considerate kindness that held them close -friends and enabled them to enjoy one another's -society. - -Another thing they avoided was conversing -on unpleasant subjects, and for that reason Ojo -and his troubles were not mentioned during the -dinner. The Shaggy Man, however, related his -adventures with the monstrous plants which -had seized and enfolded the travelers, and told -how he had robbed Chiss, the giant porcupine, -of the quills which it was accustomed to throw -at people. Both Dorothy and Ozma were pleased -with this exploit and thought it served Chiss -right. - -Then they talked of the Woozy, which was the -most remarkable animal any of them had ever before -seen--except, perhaps, the live Sawhorse. Ozma had -never known that her dominions contained such a -thing as a Woozy, there being but one in existence -and this being confined in his forest for many -years. Dorothy said she believed the Woozy was a -good beast, honest and faithful; hut she added -that she did not care much for the Glass Cat. - -"Still," said the Shaggy Man, "the Glass Cat -is very pretty and if she were not so conceited -over her pink brains no one would object to her -as a companion. - -The Wizard had been eating silently until -now, when he looked up and remarked: - -"That Powder of Life which is made by the -Crooked Magician is really a wonderful thing. -But Dr. Pipt does not know its true value and -he uses it in the most foolish ways." - -"I must see about that," said Ozma, gravely. -Then she smiled again and continued in a -lighter tone: "It was Dr. Pipt's famous Powder -of Life that enabled me to become the Ruler -of Oz." - -"I've never heard that story," said the Shaggy -Man, looking at Ozma questioningly. - -"Well, when I was a baby girl I was stolen by an -old Witch named Mombi and transformed into a boy," -began the girl Ruler. "I did not know who I was -and when I grew big enough to work, the Witch made -me wait upon her and carry wood for the fire and -hoe in the garden. One day she came back from a -journey bringing some of the Powder of Life, which -Dr. Pipt had given her. I had made a pumpkin- -headed man and set it up in her path to frighten -her, for I was fond of fun and hated the Witch. -But she knew what the figure was and to test her -Powder of Life she sprinkled some of it on the man -I had made. It came to life and is now our dear -friend Jack Pumpkinhead. That night I ran away -with Jack to escape punishment, and I took old -Mombi's Powder of Life with me. During our journey -we came upon a wooden Sawhorse standing by the -road and I used the magic powder to bring it to -life. The Sawhorse has been with me ever since. -When I got to the Emerald City the good Sorceress, -Glinda, knew who I was and restored me to my -proper person, when I became the rightful Ruler of -this land. So you see had not old Mombi brought -home the Powder of Life I might never have run -away from her and become Ozma of Oz, nor would we -have had Jack Pumpkinhead and the Sawhorse to -comfort and amuse us." - -That story interested the Shaggy Man very much, -as well as the others, who had often heard it -before. The dinner being now concluded, they all -went to Ozma's drawing-room, where they passed a -pleasant evening before it came time to retire. - - - - -Chapter Eighteen - -Ojo is Forgiven - - -The next morning the Soldier with the Green -Whiskers went to the prison and took Ojo away to -the royal palace, where he was summoned to appear -before the girl Ruler for judgment. Again the -soldier put upon the boy the jeweled handcuffs and -white prisoner's robe with the peaked top and -holes for the eyes. Ojo was so ashamed, both of -his disgrace and the fault he had committed, that -he was glad to be covered up in this way, so that -people could not see him or know who he was. He -followed the Soldier with the Green Whiskers very -willingly, anxious that his fate might be decided -as soon as possible. - -The inhabitants of the Emerald City were polite -people and never jeered at the unfortunate; but it -was so long since they bad seen a prisoner that -they cast many curious looks toward the boy and -many of them hurried away to the royal palace to -be present during the trial. - -When Ojo was escorted into the great Throne -Room of the palace he found hundreds of people -assembled there. In the magnificent emerald -throne, which sparkled with countless jewels, sat -Ozma of Oz in her Robe of State, which was -embroidered with emeralds and pearls. On her -right, but a little lower, was Dorothy, and on her -left the Scarecrow. Still lower, but nearly in -front of Ozma, sat the wonderful Wizard of Oz and -on a small table beside him was the golden vase -from Dorothy's room, into which Scraps had dropped -the stolen clover. - -At Ozma's feet crouched two enormous beasts, -each the largest and most powerful of its kind. -Although these beasts were quite free, no one -present was alarmed by them; for the Cowardly Lion -and the Hungry Tiger were well known and respected -in the Emerald City and they always guarded the -Ruler when she held high court in the Throne Room. -There was still another beast present, but this -one Dorothy held in her arms, for it was her -constant companion, the little dog Toto. Toto knew -the Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger and often -played and romped with them, for they were good -friends. - -Seated on ivory chairs before Ozma, with a clear -space between them and the throne, were many of -the nobility of the Emerald City, lords and ladies -in beautiful costumes, and officials of the -kingdom in the royal uniforms of Oz. Behind these -courtiers were others of less importance, filling -the great hall to the very doors. - -At the same moment that the Soldier with the -Green Whiskers arrived with Ojo, the Shaggy Man -entered from a side door, escorting the Patchwork -Girl, the Woozy and the Glass Cat. All these came -to the vacant space before the throne and stood -facing the Ruler. - -"Hullo, Ojo," said Scraps; "how are you?" - -"All right," he replied; but the scene awed the -boy and his voice trembled a little with fear. -Nothing could awe the Patchwork Girl, and although -the Woozy was somewhat uneasy in these splendid -surroundings the Glass Cat was delighted with the -sumptuousness of the court and the impressiveness -of the occasion--pretty big words but quite -expressive. - -At a sign from Ozma the soldier removed Ojo's -white robe and the boy stood face to face with the -girl who was to decide his punishment. He saw at a -glance how lovely and sweet she was, and his heart -gave a bound of joy, for he hoped she would be -merciful. - -Ozma sat looking at the prisoner a long time. -Then she said gently: - -"One of the Laws of Oz forbids anyone to -pick a six-leaved clover. You are accused of -having broken this Law, even after you had -been warned not to do so. - -Ojo hung his head and while he hesitated how to -reply the Patchwork Girl stepped forward and spoke -for him. - -"All this fuss is about nothing at all," she -said, facing Ozma unabashed. "You can't prove he -picked the six-leaved clover, so you've no right -to accuse him of it. Search him, if you like, but -you won't find the clover; look in his basket and -you'll find it's not there. He hasn't got it, so I -demand that you set this poor Munchkin boy free." - -The people of Oz listened to this defiance in -amazement and wondered at the queer Patchwork Girl -who dared talk so boldly to their Ruler. But Ozma -sat silent and motionless and it was the little -Wizard who answered Scraps. - -"So the clover hasn't been picked, eh?" he said. -"I think it has. I think the boy hid it in his -basket, and then gave the basket to you. I also -think you dropped the clover into this vase, which -stood in Princess Dorothy's room, hoping to get -rid of it so it would not prove the boy guilty. -You're a stranger here, Miss Patches, and so you -don't know that nothing can be hidden from our -powerful Ruler's Magic Picture--nor from the -watchful eyes of the humble Wizard of Oz. Look, -all of you!" With these words he waved his hands -toward the vase on the table, which Scraps now -noticed for the first time. - -From the mouth of the vase a plant sprouted, -slowly growing before their eyes until it became a -beautiful bush, and on the topmost branch appeared -the six-leaved clover which Ojo had unfortunately -picked. - -The Patchwork Girl looked at the clover and -said: "Oh, so you've found it. Very well; prove -he picked it, if you can." - -Ozma turned to Ojo. - -"Did you pick the six-leaved clover?" she asked. - -"Yes," he replied. "I knew it was against the -Law, but I wanted to save Unc Nunkie and I was -afraid if I asked your consent to pick it you -would refuse me." - -"What caused you to think that?" asked the -Ruler. - -"Why, it seemed to me a foolish law, unjust and -unreasonable. Even now I can see no harm in -picking a six-leaved clover. And I--I had not seen -the Emerald City, then, nor you, and I thought a -girl who would make such a silly Law would not be -likely to help anyone in trouble." - -Ozma regarded him musingly, her chin resting -upon her hand; but she was not angry. On the -contrary she smiled a little at her thoughts and -then grew sober again. - -"I suppose a good many laws seem foolish to -those people who do not understand them," she -said; "but no law is ever made without some -purpose, and that purpose is usually to protect -all the people and guard their welfare. As you are -a stranger, I will explain this Law which to you -seems so foolish. Years ago there were many -Witches and Magicians in the Land of Oz, and one -of the things they often used in making their -magic charms and transformations was a six-leaved -clover. These Witches and Magicians caused so much -trouble among my people, often using their powers -for evil rather than good, that I decided to -forbid anyone to practice magic or sorcery except -Glinda the Good and her assistant, the Wizard of -Oz, both of whom I can trust to use their arts -only to benefit my people and to make them -happier. Since I issued that Law the Land of Oz -has been far more peaceful and quiet; but I -learned that some of the Witches and Magicians -were still practicing magic on the sly and using -the six-leaved clovers to make their potions and -charms. Therefore I made another Law forbidding -anyone from plucking a six-leaved clover or from -gathering other plants and herbs which the Witches -boil in their kettles to work magic with. That has -almost put an end to wicked sorcery in our land, -so you see the Law was not a foolish one, but wise -and just; and, in any event, it is wrong to -disobey a Law." - -Ojo knew she was right and felt greatly -mortified to realize he had acted and spoken so -ridiculously. But he raised his head and looked -Ozma in the face, saying: - -"I am sorry I have acted wrongly and broken -your Law. I did it to save Unc Nunkie, and -thought I would not be found out. But I am -guilty of this act and whatever punishment you -think I deserve I will suffer willingly." - -Ozma smiled more brightly, then, and nodded -graciously. - -"You are forgiven," she said. "For, although -you have committed a serious fault, you are now -penitent and I think you have been punished -enough. Soldier, release Ojo the Lucky and--" - -"I beg your pardon; I'm Ojo the Unlucky," -said the boy. - -"At this moment you are lucky," said she. -"Release him, Soldier, and let him go free." - -The people were glad to hear Ozma's decree and -murmured their approval. As the royal audience was -now over, they began to leave the Throne Room and -soon there were none remaining except Ojo and his -friends and Ozma and her favorites. - -The girl Ruler now asked Ojo to sit down and -tell her all his story, which he did, beginning -at the time he had left his home in the forest -and ending with his arrival at the Emerald City -and his arrest. Ozma listened attentively and -was thoughtful for some moments after the boy -had finished speaking. Then she said: - -"The Crooked Magician was wrong to make the -Glass Cat and the Patchwork Girl, for it was -against the Law. And if he had not unlawfully kept -the bottle of Liquid of Petrifaction standing on -his shelf, the accident to his wife Margolotte and -to Unc Nunkie could not have occurred. I can -understand, however, that Ojo, who loves his -uncle, will be unhappy unless he can save him. -Also I feel it is wrong to leave those two victims -standing as marble statues, when they ought to be -alive. So I propose we allow Dr. Pipt to make the -magic charm which will save them, and that we -assist Ojo to find the things he is seeking. What -do you think, Wizard?" - -"That is perhaps the best thing to do," replied -the Wizard. "But after the Crooked Magician -has restored those poor people to life you must -take away his magic powers." - -"I will," promised Ozma. - -"Now tell me, please, what magic things must you -find?" continued the Wizard, addressing Ojo. - -"The three hairs from the Woozy's tail I -have," said the boy. "That is, I have the Woozy, -and the hairs are in his tail. The six-leaved -clover I--I--" - -"You may take it and keep it," said Ozma. "That -will not be breaking the Law, for it is already -picked, and the crime of picking it is forgiven." - -"Thank you!" cried Ojo gratefully. Then he -continued: "The next thing, I must find is a gill -of water from a dark well.' - -The Wizard shook his head. "That," said he, -"will be a hard task, but if you travel far enough -you may discover it." - -"I am willing to travel for years, if it will -save Unc Nunkie," declared Ojo, earnestly. - -"Then you'd better begin your journey at -once," advised the Wizard. - -Dorothy bad been listening with interest to -this conversation. Now she turned to Ozma and -asked: "May I go with Ojo, to help him?" - -"Would you like to?" returned Ozma. - -"Yes. I know Oz pretty well, but Ojo doesn't -know it at all. I'm sorry for his uncle and poor -Margolotte and I'd like to help save them. May -I go?" - -"If you wish to," replied Ozma. - -"If Dorothy goes, then I must go to take care of -her," said the Scarecrow, decidedly. "A dark well -can only be discovered in some out-of-the-way -place, and there may be dangers there." - -"You have my permission to accompany Dorothy," -said Ozma. "And while you are gone I will take -care of the Patchwork Girl." - -"I'll take care of myself," announced Scraps, -"for I'm going with the Scarecrow and Dorothy. -I promised Ojo to help him find the things he -wants and I'll stick to my promise." - -"Very well," replied Ozma. "But I see no need -for Ojo to take the Glass Cat and the Woozy." - -"I prefer to remain here," said the cat. "I've -nearly been nicked half a dozen times, already, -and if they're going into dangers it's best for me -to keep away from them." - -"Let Jellia Jamb keep her till Ojo returns," -suggested Dorothy. "We won't need to take the -Woozy, either, but he ought to be saved because -of the three hairs in his tail." - -"Better take me along," said the Woozy. "My eyes -can flash fire, you know, and I can growl--a -little." - -"I'm sure you'll be safer here," Ozma decided, -and the Woozy made no further objection to the -plan. - -After consulting together they decided that Ojo -and his party should leave the very next day to -search for the gill of water from a dark well, so -they now separated to make preparations for the -journey. - -Ozma gave the Munchkin boy a room in the palace -for that night and the afternoon he passed with -Dorothy--getting acquainted, as she said--and -receiving advice from the Shaggy Man as to where -they must go. The Shaggy Man had wandered in many -parts of Oz, and so had Dorothy, for that matter, -yet neither of them knew where a dark well was to -be found. - -"If such a thing is anywhere in the settled -parts of Oz," said Dorothy, "we'd prob'ly have -heard of it long ago. If it's in the wild parts of -the country, no one there would need a dark -well. P'raps there isn't such a thing." - -"Oh, there must he!" returned Ojo, positively; -"or else the recipe of Dr. Pipt wouldn't call -for it." - -"That's true," agreed Dorothy; "and, if it's -anywhere in the Land of Oz, we're bound to find -it." - -"Well, we're bound to search for it, anyhow," -said the Scarecrow. "As for finding it, we must -trust to luck." - -"Don't do that," begged Ojo, earnestly. "I'm -called Ojo the Unlucky, you know." - - - - -Chapter Nineteen - -Trouble with the Tottenhots - - -A day's journey from the Emerald City brought the -little band of adventurers to the home of Jack -Pumpkinhead, which was a house formed from the -shell of an immense pumpkin. Jack had made it -himself and was very proud of it. There was a -door, and several windows, and through the top was -stuck a stovepipe that led from a small stove -inside. The door was reached by a flight of three -steps and there was a good floor on which was -arranged some furniture that was quite -comfortable. - -It is certain that Jack Pumpkinhead might -have had a much finer house to live in bad he -wanted it, for Ozma loved the stupid fellow, -who had been her earliest companion; but Jack -preferred his pumpkin house, as it matched -himself very well, and in this he was not so -stupid, after all. - -The body of this remarkable person was made of -wood, branches of trees of various sizes having -been used for the purpose. This wooden framework -was covered by a red shirt--with white spots in -it--blue trousers, a yellow vest, a jacket of -green-and-gold and stout leather shoes. The neck -was a sharpened stick on which the pumpkin head -was set, and the eyes, ears, nose and mouth were -carved on the skin of the pumpkin, very like a -child's jack-o'-lantern. - -The house of this interesting creation stood -in the center of a vast pumpkin-field, where the -vines grew in profusion and bore pumpkins of -extraordinary size as well as those which were -smaller. Some of the pumpkins now ripening -on the vines were almost as large as Jack's house, -and he told Dorothy he intended to add another -pumpkin to his mansion. - -The travelers were cordially welcomed to this -quaint domicile and invited to pass the night -there, which they had planned to do. The -Patchwork Girl was greatly interested in Jack -and examined him admiringly. - -"You are quite handsome," she said; "but not -as really beautiful as the Scarecrow." - -Jack turned, at this, to examine the Scarecrow -critically, and his old friend slyly winked one -painted eye at him. - -"There is no accounting for tastes," remarked -the Pumpkinhead, with a sigh. "An old crow -once told me I was very fascinating, but of -course the bird might have been mistaken. Yet -I have noticed that the crows usually avoid the -Scarecrow, who is a very honest fellow, in his -way, but stuffed. I am not stuffed, you will -observe; my body is good solid hickory." - -"I adore stuffing," said the Patchwork Girl. - -"Well, as for that, my head is stuffed with -pumpkin-seeds," declared Jack. "I use them for -brains, and when they are fresh I am intellectual. -Just now, I regret to say, my seeds are rattling a -bit, so I must soon get another head." - -"Oh; do you change your head?" asked Ojo. - -"To be sure. Pumpkins are not permanent, more's -the pity, and in time they spoil. That is why I -grow such a great field of pumpkins--that I may -select a new head whenever necessary." - -"Who carves the faces on them?" inquired the -boy. - -"I do that myself. I lift off my old head, place -it on a table before me, and use the face for a -pattern to go by. Sometimes the faces I carve are -better than others--more expressive and cheerful, -you know--but I think they average very well." - -Before she had started on the journey Dorothy -had packed a knapsack with the things she might -need, and this knapsack the Scarecrow carried -strapped to his back. The little girl wore a plain -gingham dress and a checked sunbonnet, as she knew -they were best fitted for travel. Ojo also had -brought along his basket, to which Ozma had added -a bottle of "Square Meal Tablets" and some fruit. -But Jack Pumpkinhead grew a lot of things in his -garden besides pumpkins, so he cooked for them a -fine vegetable soup and gave Dorothy, Ojo and -Toto, the only ones who found it necessary to eat, -a pumpkin pie and some green cheese. For beds they -must use the sweet dried grasses which Jack had -strewn along one side of the room, but that -satisfied Dorothy and Ojo very well. Toto, of -course, slept beside his little mistress. - -The Scarecrow, Scraps and the Pumpkinhead -were tireless and had no need to sleep, so they -sat up and talked together all night; but they -stayed outside the house, under the bright stars, -and talked in low tones so as not to disturb the -sleepers. During the conversation the Scarecrow -explained their quest for a dark well, and asked -Jack's advice where to find it. - -The Pumpkinhead considered the matter gravely. - -"That is going to be a difficult task," said he, -"and if I were you I'd take any ordinary well -and enclose it, so as to make it dark." - -"I fear that wouldn't do," replied the -Scarecrow. "The well must be naturally dark, and -the water must never have seen the light of day, -for otherwise the magic charm might not work at -all." - -"How much of the water do you need?" asked Jack. - -"A gill." - -"How much is a gill?" - -"Why--a gill is a gill, of course," answered -the Scarecrow, who did not wish to display his -ignorance. - -"I know!" cried Scraps. "Jack and Jill went up -the hill to fetch--" - -"No, no; that's wrong," interrupted the -Scarecrow. "There are two kinds of gills, I think; -one is a girl, and the other is--" - -"A gillyflower," said Jack. - -"No; a measure." - -"How big a measure?" - -"Well, I'll ask Dorothy." - -So next morning they asked Dorothy, and she -said: - -"I don't just know how much a gill is, but I've -brought along a gold flask that holds a pint. -That's more than a gill, I'm sure, and the Crooked -Magician may measure it to suit himself. But the -thing that's bothering us most, Jack, is to find -the well." - -Jack gazed around the landscape, for he was -standing in the doorway of his house. - -"This is a flat country, so you won t find any -dark wells here," said he. "You must go into the -mountains, where rocks and caverns are. - -"And where is that?" asked Ojo. - -"In the Quadling Country, which lies south -of here," replied the Scarecrow. "I've known all -along that we must go to the mountains." - -"So have I," said Dorothy. - -"But--goodness me!--the Quadling Country is full -of dangers," declared Jack. "I've never been there -myself, but--" - -"I have," said the Scarecrow. "I've faced the -dreadful Hammerheads, which have no arms and butt -you like a goat; and I've faced the Fighting -Trees, which bend down their branches to pound and -whip you, and had many other adventures there." - -"It's a wild country," remarked Dorothy, -soberly, "and if we go there we're sure to have -troubles of our own. But I guess we'll have to go, -if we want that gill of water from the dark well." - -So they said good-bye to the Pumpkinhead and -resumed their travels, heading now directly toward -the South Country, where mountains and rocks and -caverns and forests of great trees abounded. This -part of the Land of Oz, while it belonged to Ozma -and owed her allegiance, was so wild and secluded -that many queer peoples hid in its jungles and -lived in their own way, without even a knowledge -that they had a Ruler in the Emerald City. If they -were left alone, these creatures never troubled -the inhabitants of the rest of Oz, but those who -invaded their domains encountered many dangers -from them. - -It was a two days journey from Jack Pumkinhead's -house to the edge of the Quadling Country, for -neither Dorothy nor Ojo could walk very fast and -they often stopped by the wayside to rest. The -first night they slept on the broad fields, among -the buttercups and daisies, and the Scarecrow -covered the children with a gauze blanket taken -from his knapsack, so they would not be chilled by -the night air. Toward evening of the second day -they reached a sandy plain where walking was -difficult; but some distance before them they saw -a group of palm trees, with many curious black -dots under them; so they trudged bravely on to -reach that place by dark and spend the night under -the shelter of the trees. - -The black dots grew larger as they advanced and -although the light was dim Dorothy thought they -looked like big kettles turned upside down. Just -beyond this place a jumble of huge, jagged rocks -lay scattered, rising to the mountains behind -them. - -Our travelers preferred to attempt to climb -these rocks by daylight, and they realized that -for a time this would be their last night on the -plains. - -Twilight had fallen by the time they came to the -trees, beneath which were the black, circular -objects they had marked from a distance. Dozens of -them were scattered around and Dorothy bent near -to one, which was about as tall as she was, to -examine it more closely. As she did so the top -flew open and out popped a dusky creature, rising -its length into the air and then plumping down -upon the ground just beside the little girl. -Another and another popped out of the circular, -pot-like dwelling, while from all the other black -objects came popping more creatures--very like -jumping-jacks when their boxes are unhooked--until -fully a hundred stood gathered around our little -group of travelers. - -By this time Dorothy had discovered they -were people, tiny and curiously formed, but still -people. Their skins were dusky and their hair -stood straight up, like wires, and was brilliant -scarlet in color. Their bodies were bare except -for skins fastened around their waists and they -wore bracelets on their ankles and wrists, and -necklaces, and great pendant earrings. - -Toto crouched beside his mistress and wailed -as if he did not like these strange creatures a bit. -Scraps began to mutter something about "hopity, -poppity, jumpity, dump!" but no one paid any -attention to her. Ojo kept close to the Scarecrow -and the Scarecrow kept close to Dorothy; but the -little girl turned to the queer creatures and -asked: - -"Who are you?" - -They answered this question all together, in -a sort of chanting chorus, the words being as follows: - - -"We're the jolly Tottenhots; -We do not like the day, -But in the night 'tis our delight -To gambol, skip and play. - -"We hate the sun and from it run, -The moon is cool and clear, -So on this spot each Tottenhot -Waits for it to appear. - -"We're ev'ry one chock full of fun, -And full of mischief, too; -But if you're gay and with us play -We'll do no harm to you. - - - -"Glad to meet you, Tottenhots," said the -Scarecrow solemnly. "But you mustn't expect us -to play with you all night, for we've traveled -all day and some of us are tired." - -"And we never gamble," added the Patchwork Girl. -"It's against the Law." - -These remarks were greeted with shouts of -laughter by the impish creatures and one seized -the Scarecrow's arm and was astonished to find the -straw man whirl around so easily. So the Tottenhot -raised the Scarecrow high in the air and tossed -him over the heads of the crowd. Some one caught -him and tossed him back, and so with shouts of -glee they continued throwing the Scarecrow here -and there, as if he had been a basket-ball. - -Presently another imp seized Scraps and began to -throw her about, in the same way. They found her a -little heavier than the Scarecrow but still light -enough to be tossed like a sofa-cushion, and they -were enjoying the sport immensely when Dorothy, -angry and indignant at the treatment her friends -were receiving, rushed among the Tottenhots and -began slapping and pushing them until she had -rescued the Scarecrow and the Patchwork Girl and -held them close on either side of her. Perhaps she -would not have accomplished this victory so easily -had not Toto helped her, barking and snapping at -the bare legs of the imps until they were glad to -flee from his attack. As for Ojo, some of the -creatures had attempted to toss him, also, but -finding his body too heavy they threw him to the -ground and a row of the imps sat on him and held -him from assisting Dorothy in her battle. - -The little brown folks were much surprised -at being attacked by the girl and the dog, and -one or two who had been slapped hardest began -to cry. Then suddenly they gave a shout, all -together, and disappeared in a flash into their -various houses, the tops of which closed with a -series of pops that sounded like a bunch of -firecrackers being exploded. - -The adventurers now found themselves alone, -and Dorothy asked anxiously: - -"Is anybody hurt?" - -"Not me," answered the Scarecrow. "They have -given my straw a good shaking up and taken all the -lumps out of it. I am now in splendid condition -and am really obliged to the Tottenhots for their -kind treatment." - -"I feel much the same way," said Scraps. -"My cotton stuffing had sagged a good deal with -the day's walking and they've loosened it up -until I feel as plump as a sausage. But the play -was a little rough and I'd had quite enough of -it when you interfered." - -"Six of them sat on me," said Ojo, "but as -they are so little they didn't hurt me much." - -Just then the roof of the house in front of -them opened and a Tottenhot stuck his head -out, very cautiously, and looked at the strangers. - -"Can't you, take a joke?" he asked, -reproachfully; "haven t you any fun in you at -all?" - -"If I had such a quality," replied the -Scarecrow, "your people would have knocked it out -of me. But I don't bear grudges. I forgive you." - -"So do I," added Scraps. "That is, if you behave -yourselves after this." - -"It was just a little rough-house, that's all," -said the Tottenhot. "But the question is not if -we will behave, but if you will behave? We -can't be shut up here all night, because this -is our time to play; nor do we care to come out -and be chewed up by a savage beast or slapped -by an angry girl. That slapping hurts like sixty; -some of my folks are crying about it. So here's -the proposition: you let us alone and we'll let -you alone." - -"You began it," declared Dorothy. - -"Well, you ended it, so we won't argue the -matter. May we come out again? Or are you still -cruel and slappy?" - -"Tell you what we'll do," said Dorothy. "We're -all tired and want to sleep until morning. If -you'll let us get into your house, and stay there -until daylight, you can play outside all you want -to." - -"That's a bargain!" cried the Tottenhot -eagerly, and he gave a queer whistle that -brought his people popping out of their houses -on all sides. When the house before them was -vacant, Dorothy and Ojo leaned over the hole -and looked in, but could see nothing because -it was so dark. But if the Tottenhots slept there -all day the children thought they could sleep -there at night, so Ojo lowered himself down -and found it was not very deep." - -"There's a soft cushion all over," said he. -"Come on in." - -Dorothy handed Toto to the boy and then climbed -in herself. After her came Scraps and the -Scarecrow, who did not wish to sleep but preferred -to keep out of the way of the mischievous -Tottenhots. - -There seemed no furniture in the round den, but -soft cushions were strewn about the floor and -these they found made very comfortable beds. They -did not close the hole in the roof but left it -open to admit air. It also admitted the shouts and -ceaseless laughter of the impish Tottenhots as -they played outside, but Dorothy and Ojo, being -weary from their journey, were soon fast asleep. - -Toto kept an eye open, however, and uttered low, -threatening growls whenever the racket made by the -creatures outside became too boisterous; and the -Scarecrow and the Patchwork Girl sat leaning -against the wall and talked in whispers all night -long. No one disturbed the travelers until -daylight, when in popped the Tottenhot who owned -the place and invited them to vacate his premises. - - - - -Chapter Twenty - -The Captive Yoop - - -As they were preparing to leave, Dorothy asked: -"Can you tell us where there is a dark well?" - -"Never heard of such a thing," said the -Tottenhot. "We live our lives in the dark, mostly, -and sleep in the day-time; but we've never seen a -dark well, or anything like one." - -"Does anyone live on those mountains beyond -here?" asked the Scarecrow. - -"Lots of people. But you'd better not visit -them. We never go there," was the reply. - -"What are the people like?" Dorothy inquired. - -"Can't say. We've been told to keep away -from the mountain paths, and so we obey. This -sandy desert is good enough for us, and we're -not disturbed here," declared the Tottenhot. - -So they left the man snuggling down to sleep in -his dusky dwelling, and went out into the -sunshine, taking the path that led toward the -rocky places. They soon found it hard climbing, -for the rocks were uneven and full of sharp points -and edges, and now there was no path at all. -Clambering here and there among the boulders they -kept steadily on, gradually rising higher and -higher until finally they came to a great rift in -a part of the mountain, where the rock seemed to -have split in two and left high walls on either -side. - -"S'pose we go this way," suggested Dorothy; -it's much easier walking than to climb over -the hills." - -"How about that sign?" asked Ojo. - -"What sign?" she inquired. - -The Munchkin boy pointed to some words -painted on the wall of rock beside them, which -Dorothy had not noticed. The words read: - - -"LOOK OUT FOR YOOP." - - -The girl eyed this sign a moment and turned to -the Scarecrow, asking: - -"Who is Yoop; or what is Yoop?" - -The straw man shook his head. Then looked at -Toto and the dog said "Woof!" - -"Only way to find out is to go on, Scraps." - -This being quite true, they went on. As they -proceeded, the walls of rock on either side grew -higher and higher. Presently they came upon -another sign which read: - - -"BEWARE THE CAPTIVE YOOP." - - -"Why, as for that," remarked Dorothy, "if Yoop -is a captive there's no need to beware of him. -Whatever Yoop happens to be, I'd much rather have -him a captive than running around loose." - -"So had I," agreed the Scarecrow, with a nod of -his painted head. - -"Still," said Scraps, reflectively: - - -"Yoop-te-hoop-te-loop-te-goop! -Who put noodles in the soup? -We may beware but we don't care, -And dare go where we scare the Yoop." - - - -"Dear me! Aren't you feeling a little queer, -just now?" Dorothy asked the Patchwork Girl. - -"Not queer, but crazy," said Ojo. "When she -says those things I'm sure her brains get mixed -somehow and work the wrong way. - -"I don't see why we are told to beware the Yoop -unless he is dangerous," observed the Scarecrow in -a puzzled tone. - -"Never mind; we'll find out all about him when -we get to where he is," replied the little girl. - -The narrow canyon turned and twisted this way -and that, and the rift was so small that they were -able to touch both walls at the same time by -stretching out their arms. Toto had run on ahead, -frisking playfully, when suddenly he uttered a -sharp bark of fear and came running back to them -with his tail between his legs, as dogs do when -they are frightened. - -"Ah," said the Scarecrow, who was leading -the way, "we must be near Yoop." - -Just then, as he rounded a sharp turn, the -Straw man stopped so suddenly that all the -others bumped against him. - -"What is it?" asked Dorothy, standing on -tip-toes to look over his shoulder. But then she -saw what it was and cried "Oh!" in a tone of -astonishment. - -In one of the rock walls--that at their left-- -was hollowed a great cavern, in front of which was -a row of thick iron bars, the tops and bottoms -being firmly fixed in the solid rock. Over this -cavern was a big sign, which Dorothy read with -much curiosity, speaking the words aloud that all -might know what they said: - - -"MISTER YOOP--HIS CAVE - -The Largest Untamed Giant in Captivity. -Height, 21 Feet.--(And yet he has but 2 feet.) -Weight, 1640 Pounds.--(But he waits all the time.) -Age, 400 Years 'and Up' (as they say in the - - Department Store advertisements). -Temper, Fierce and Ferocious.--(Except when asleep.) -Appetite, Ravenous.--(Prefers Meat People and Orange Marmalade.) - - -P. S.--Don't feed the Giant yourself." - - - -"Very well," said Ojo, with a sigh; "let's go back." - -"It's a long way back," declared Dorothy. - -"So it is," remarked the Scarecrow, "and it -means a tedious climb over those sharp rocks if -we can t use this passage. I think it will be best -to run by the Giant's cave as fast as we can go. -Mister Yoop seems to be asleep just now." - -But the Giant wasn't asleep. He suddenly -appeared at the front of his cavern, seized the -iron bars in his great hairy hands and shook -them until they rattled in their sockets. Yoop -was so tall that our friends had to tip their heads -way back to look into his face, and they noticed -he was dressed all in pink velvet, with silver -buttons and braid. The Giant's boots were of -pink leather and had tassels on them and his -hat was decorated with an enormous pink ostrich -feather, carefully curled. - -"Yo--ho!" he said in a deep bass voice; "I smell -dinner." - -"I think you are mistaken," replied the -Scarecrow. "There is no orange marmalade around -here." - -"Ah, but I eat other things," asserted Mister -Yoop. "That is, I eat them when I can get them. -But this is a lonely place, and no good meat has -passed by my cave for many years; so I'm hungry." - -"Haven't you eaten anything in many years?" -asked Dorothy. - -"Nothing except six ants and a monkey. I thought -the monkey would taste like meat people, but the -flavor was different. I hope you will taste -better, for you seem plump and tender." - -"Oh, I'm not going to be eaten," said Dorothy. - -"Why not?" - -"I shall keep out of your way," she answered. - -"How heartless!" wailed the Giant, shaking the -bars again. "Consider how many years it is since -I've eaten a single plump little girl! They tell -me meat is going up, but if I can manage to catch -you I'm sure it will soon be going down. And I'll -catch you if I can." - -With this the Giant pushed his big arms, -which looked like tree-trunks (except that tree- -trunks don't wear pink velvet) between the iron -bars, and the arms were so long that they -touched the opposite wall of the rock passage. -Then he extended them as far as he could reach -toward our travelers and found he could almost -touch the Scarecrow--but not quite. - -"Come a little nearer, please," begged the -Giant. - -"I'm a Scarecrow." - -"A Scarecrow? Ugh! I don't care a straw for -a scarecrow. Who is that bright-colored delicacy -behind you?" - -"Me?" asked Scraps. "I'm a Patchwork Girl, -and I'm stuffed with cotton." - -"Dear me," sighed the Giant in a disapointed -tone; "that reduces my dinner from four to two-- -and the dog. I'll save the dog for dessert." - -Toto growled, keeping a good distance away. - -"Back up," said the Scarecrow to those behind -him. "Let us go back a little way and talk this -over. - -So they turned and went around the bend in -the passage, where they were out of sight of the -cave and Mister Yoop could not hear them. - -"My idea," began the Scarecrow, when they -had halted, "is to make a dash past the cave, -going on a run. - -"He'd grab us," said Dorothy. - -"Well, he can't grab but one at a time, and -I'll go first. As soon as he grabs me the rest of -you can slip past him, out of his reach, and he -will soon let me go because I am not fit to eat." - -They decided to try this plan and Dorothy -took Toto in her arms, so as to protect him. She -followed just after the Scarecrow. Then came -Ojo, with Scarps the last of the four. Their -hearts beat a little faster than usual as they again -approached the Giant's cave, this time moving -swiftly forward. - -It turned out about the way the Scarecrow had -planned. Mister Yoop was quite astonished to see -them come flying toward him, and thrusting his -arms between the bars he seized the Scarecrow in a -firm grip. In the next instant he realized, from -the way the straw crunched between his fingers, -that he had captured the non-eatable man, but -during that instant of delay Dorothy and Ojo had -slipped by the Giant and were out of reach. -Uttering a howl of rage the monster threw the -Scarecrow after them with one hand and grabbed -Scraps with the other. - -The poor Scarecrow went whirling through the air -and so cleverly was he aimed that he struck Ojo's -back and sent the boy tumbling head over heels, -and he tripped Dorothy and sent her, also, -sprawling upon the ground. Toto flew out of the -little girl's arms and landed some distance ahead, -and all were so dazed that it was a moment before -they could scramble to their feet again. When they -did so they turned to look toward the Giant's -cave, and at that moment the ferocious Mister Yoop -threw the Patchwork Girl at them. - -Down went all three again, in a heap, with -Scraps on top. The Giant roared so terribly that -for a time they were afraid he had broken loose; -but he hadn't. So they sat in the road and looked -at one another in a rather bewildered way, and -then began to feel glad. - -"We did it!" exclaimed the Scarecrow, with -satisfaction. "And now we are free to go on -our way. - -"Mister Yoop is very impolite," declared -Scraps. "He jarred me terribly. It's lucky my -stitches are so fine and strong, for otherwise such -harsh treatment might rip me up the back." - -"Allow me to apologize for the Giant," said -the Scarecrow, raising the Patchwork Girl to -her feet and dusting her skirt with his stuffed -hands. "Mister Yoop is a perfect stranger to me, -but I fear, from the rude manner in which he -has acted, that he is no gentleman." - -Dorothy and Ojo laughed at this statement -and Toto barked as if he understood the joke, -after which they all felt better and resumed the -journey in high spirits. - -"Of course," said the little girl, when they had -walked a way along the passage, "it was lucky for -us the Giant was caged; for, if he had happened to -be loose, he--he--" - -"Perhaps, in that case, he wouldn't be hungry -any more," said Ojo gravely. - - - - -Chapter Twenty-One - -Hip Hopper the Champion - - -They must have had good courage to climb all those -rocks, for after getting out of the canyon they -encountered more rock hills to he surmounted. Toto -could jump from one rock to another quite easily, -but the others had to creep and climb with care, -so that after a whole day of such work Dorothy and -Ojo found themselves very tired. - -As they gazed upward at the great mass of -tumbled rocks that covered the steep incline, -Dorothy gave a little groan and said: - -"That's going to be a ter'ble hard climb, -Scarecrow. I wish we could find the dark well -without so much trouble." - -"Suppose," said Ojo, "you wait here and let -me do the climbing, for it's on my account -we're searching for the dark well. Then, if I -don't find anything, I'll come back and join -you. - -"No," replied the little girl, shaking her head -positively, "we'll all go together, for that way -we can help each other. If you went alone, -something might happen to you, Ojo." - -So they began the climb and found it indeed -difficult, for a way. But presently, in creeping -over the big crags, they found a path at their -feet which wound in and out among the masses of -rock and was quite smooth and easy to walk upon. -As the path gradually ascended the mountain, -although in a roundabout way, they decided to -follow it. - -"This must be the road to the Country of -the Hoppers," said the Scarecrow. - -"Who are the Hoppers?" asked Dorothy. - -"Some people Jack Pumpkinhead told me about," he -replied. - -"I didn't hear him," replied the girl. - -"No; you were asleep," explained the Scarecrow. -"But he told Scraps and me that the hoppers -and the Horners live on this mountain." - -"He said in the mountain," declared Scraps; -"but of course he meant on it." - -"Didn't he say what the Hoppers and Horners were -like?" inquired Dorothy. - -"No; he only said they were two separate -nations, and that the Horners were the most -important." - -"Well, if we go to their country we'll find out -all about 'em," said the girl. "But I've never -heard Ozma mention those people, so they can't -be very important." - -"Is this mountain in the Land of Oz?" asked -Scraps. - -"Course it is," answered Dorothy. "It's in the -South Country of the Quadlings. When one comes to -the edge of Oz, in any direction, there is nothing -more to be seen at all. Once you could see sandy -desert all around Oz; but now it's diff'rent, and -no other people can see us, any more than we can -see them." - -"If the mountain is under Ozma's rule, why -doesn't she know about the Hoppers and the -Horners?" Ojo asked. - -"Why, it's a fairyland," explained Dorothy, "and -lots of queer people live in places so tucked away -that those in the Emerald City never even hear of -'em. In the middle of the country it's diff'rent, -but when you get around the edges you're sure to -run into strange little corners that surprise you. -I know, for I've traveled in Oz a good deal, and -os has the Scarecrow." - -"Yes," admitted the straw man, "I've been -considerable of a traveler, in my time, and I like -to explore strange places. I find I learn much -more by traveling than by staying at home." - -During this conversation they had been walking -up the steep pathway and now found themselves well -up on the mountain. They could see nothing around -them, for the rocks beside their path were higher -than their heads. Nor could they see far in front -of them, because the path was so crooked. But -suddenly they stopped, because the path ended and -there was no place to go. Ahead was a big rock -lying against the side of the mountain, and this -blocked the way completely. - -"There wouldn't be a path, though, if it -didn't go somewhere," said the Scarecrow, -wrinkling his forehead in deep thought. - -"This is somewhere, isn't it?" asked the -Patchwork Girl, laughing at the bewildered -looks of the others. - - -"The path is locked, the way is blocked, -Yet here we've innocently flocked; -And now we're here it's rather queer -There's no front door that can be knocked." - - -"Please don't, Scraps," said Ojo. "You make me nervous. - -"Well," said Dorothy, "I'm glad of a little -rest, for that's a drea'ful steep path." - -As she spoke she leaned against the edge of -the big rock that stood in their way. To her -surprise it slowly swung backward and showed -behind it a dark hole that looked like the mouth -of a tunnel. - -"Why, here's where the path goes to!" she -exclaimed. - -"So it is," answered the Scarecrow. "But the -question is, do we want to go where the path -does?" - -"It's underground; right inside the mountain," -said Ojo, peering into the dark hole. "perhaps -there's a well there; and, if there is, it's sure -to be a dark one." - -"Why, that's true enough!" cried Dorothy -with eagerness. "Let's go in, Scarecrow; 'cause, -if others have gone, we're pretty safe to go, too." - -Toto looked in and barked, but he did not -venture to enter until the Scarecrow had bravely -gone first. Scraps followed closely after the -straw man and then Ojo and Dorothy timidly stepped -inside the tunnel. As soon as all of them had -passed the big rock, it slowly turned and filled -up the opening again; but now they were no longer -in the dark, for a soft, rosy light enabled them -to see around them quite distinctly. - -It was only a passage, wide enough for two -of them to walk abreast--with Toto in between -them--and it had a high, arched roof. They -could not see where the light which flooded the -place so pleasantly came from, for there were -no lamps anywhere visible. The passage ran -straight for a little way and then made a bend -to the right and another sharp turn to the left, -after which it went straight again. But there -were no side passages, so they could not lose -their way. - -After proceeding some distance, Toto, who -had gone on ahead, began to bark loudly. They -ran around a bend to see what was the matter -and found a man sitting on the floor of the -passage and leaning his back against the wall. -He had probably been asleep before Toto's barks -aroused him, for he was now rubbing his eyes -and staring at the little dog with all his might. - -There was something about this man that Toto -objected to, and when he slowly rose to his foot -they saw what it was. He had but one leg, set just -below the middle of his round, fat body; but it -was a stout leg and had a broad, flat foot at the -bottom of it, on which the man seemed to stand -very well. He had never had but this one leg, -which looked something like a pedestal, and when -Toto ran up and made a grab at the man's ankle he -hopped first one way and then another in a very -active manner, looking so frightened that Scraps -laughed aloud. - -Toto was usually a well behaved dog, but this -time he was angry and snapped at the man's leg -again and again. This filled the poor fellow with -fear, and in hopping out of Toto's reach he -suddenly lost his balance and tumbled heel over -head upon the floor. When he sat up he kicked Toto -on the nose and made the dog howl angrily, but -Dorothy now ran forward and caught Toto's collar, -holding him back. - -"Do you surrender?" she asked the man. - -"Who? Me?" asked the Hopper. - -"Yes; you," said the little girl. - -"Am I captured?" he inquired. - -"Of course. My dog has captured you," she said. - -"Well," replied the man, "if I'm captured I must -surrender, for it's the proper thing to do. I like -to do everything proper, for it saves one a lot of -trouble." - -"It does, indeed," said Dorothy. "Please tell us -who you are. - -"I'm Hip Hopper--Hip Hopper, the Champion." - -"Champion what?" she asked in surprise. - -"Champion wrestler. I'm a very strong man, -and that ferocious animal which you are so -kindly holding is the first living thing that has -ever conquered me." - -"And you are a Hopper?" she continued. - -"Yes. My people live in a great city not far -from here. Would you like to visit it?" - -"I'm not sure," she said with hesitation. "Have -you any dark wells in your city?" - -"I think not. We have wells, you know, hut -they're all well lighted, and a well lighted well -cannot well be a dark well. But there may be -such a thing as a very dark well in the Horner -Country, which is a black spot on the face of -the earth." - -"Where is the Horner Country?" Ojo inquired. - -"The other side of the mountain. There's a -fence between the Hopper Country and the -Horner Country, and a gate in the fence; but -you can't pass through just now, because we -are at war with the Horners." - -"That's too bad," said the Scarecrow. "What -seems to be the trouble?" - -"Why, one of them made a very insulting remark -about my people. He said we were lacking in -understanding, because we had only one leg to a -person. I can't see that legs have anything to do -with understanding things. The Homers each have -two legs, just as you have. That's one leg too -many, it seems to me." - -"No," declared Dorothy, "it's just the right -number." - -"You don't need them," argued the Hopper, -obstinately. "You've only one head, and one -body, and one nose and mouth. Two legs are -quite unnecessary, and they spoil one's shape." - -"But how can you walk, with only one leg?" asked -Ojo. - -"Walk! Who wants to walk?" exclaimed the man. -"Walking is a terribly awkward way to travel. I -hop, and so do all my people. It's so much more -graceful and agreeable than walking." - -"I don't agree with you," said the Scarecrow. -"But tell me, is there any way to get to the -Horner Country without going through the city of -the Hoppers?" - -"Yes; there is another path from the rocky -lowlands, outside the mountain, that leads -straight to the entrance of the Horner Country. -But it's a long way around, so you'd better come -with me. Perhaps they will allow you to go -through the gate; but we expect to conquer -them this afternoon, if we get time, and then -you may go and come as you please." - -They thought it best to take the Hopper's -advice, and asked him to lead the way. This he -did in a series of hops, and he moved so swiftly -in this strange manner that those with two legs -had to run to keep up with him. - - - - -Chapter Twenty-Two - -The Joking Horners - - -It was not long before they left the passage and -came to a great cave, so high that it must have -reached nearly to the top of the mountain within -which it lay. It was a magnificent cave, illumined -by the soft, invisible light, so that everything -in it could be plainly seen. The walls were of -polished marble, white with veins of delicate -colors running through it, and the roof was arched -and fantastic and beautiful. - -Built beneath this vast dome was a pretty -village--not very large, for there seemed not more -than fifty houses altogether--and the dwellings -were of marble and artistically designed. No grass -nor flowers nor trees grew in this cave, so the -yards surrounding the houses carved in designs -both were smooth and bare and had low walls around -them to mark their boundaries. - -In the streets and the yards of the houses -were many people all having one leg growing -below their bodies and all hopping here and -there whenever they moved. Even the children -stood firmly upon their single legs and never -lost their balance. - -"All hail, Champion!" cried a man in the first -group of Hoppers they met; "whom have you -captured?" - -"No one," replied the Champion in a gloomy -voice; "these strangers have captured me." - -"Then," said another, "we will rescue you, and -capture them, for we are greater in number." - -"No," answered the Champion, "I can't allow it. -I've surrendered, and it isn't polite to capture -those you've surrendered to." - -"Never mind that," said Dorothy. "We will give -you your liberty and set you free." - -"Really?" asked the Champion in joyous tones. - -"Yes," said the little girl; "your people may -need you to help conquer the Horners." - -At this all the Hoppers looked downcast and sad. -Several more had joined the group by this time and -quite a crowd of curious men, women and children -surrounded the strangers. - -"This war with our neighbors is a terrible -thing," remarked one of the women. "Some one is -almost sure to get hurt." - -"Why do you say that, madam?" inquired the -Scarecrow. - -"Because the horns of our enemies are sharp, -and in battle they will try to stick those horns -into our warriors," she replied. - -"How many horns do the Horners have?" asked -Dorothy. - -"Each has one horn in the center of his fore -head," was the answer. - -"Oh, then they're unicorns," declared the -Scarecrow. - -"No; they're Horners. We never go to war with -them if we can help it, on account of their -dangerous horns; but this insult was so great and -so unprovoked that our brave men decided to fight, -in order to be revenged," said the woman. - -"What weapons do you fight with?" the Scarecrow -asked. - -"We have no weapons," explained the Champion. -"Whenever we fight the Horners, our plan is to -push them back, for our arms are longer than -theirs." - -"Then you are better armed," said Scraps. - -"Yes; but they have those terrible horns, and -unless we are careful they prick us with the -points," returned the Champion with a shudder. -"That makes a war with them dangerous, and a -dangerous war cannot be a pleasant one." - -"I see very clearly," remarked the Scarecrow, -"that you are going to have trouble in conquering -those Horners--unless we help you." - -"Oh!" cried the Hoppers in a chorus; "can -you help us? Please do! We will be greatly -obliged! It would please us very much!" and by -these exclamations the Scarecrow knew that his -speech had met with favor. - -"How far is it to the Horner Country?" he asked. - -"Why, it's just the other side of the fence," -they answered, and the Champion added: - -"Come with me, please, and I'll show you the -Horners." - -So they followed the Champion and several -others through the streets and just beyond the -village came to a very high picket fence, built -all of marble, which seemed to divide the great -cave into two equal parts. - -But the part inhabited by the Horners was in no -way as grand in appearance as that of the Hoppers. -Instead of being marble, the walls and roof were -of dull gray rock and the square houses were -plainly made of the same material. But in extent -the city was much larger than that of the Hoppers -and the streets were thronged with numerous people -who busied themselves in various ways. - -Looking through the open pickets of the fence -our friends watched the Horners, who did not know -they were being watched by strangers, and found -them very unusual in appearance. They were little -folks in size and had bodies round as balls and -short legs and arms. Their heads were round, too, -and they had long, pointed ears and a horn set in -the center of the forehead. The horns did not seem -very terrible, for they were not more than six -inches long; but they were ivory white and sharp -pointed, and no wonder the Hoppers feared them. - -The skins of the Horners were light brown, but -they wore snow-white robes and were bare footed. -Dorothy thought the most striking thing about them -was their hair, which grew in three distinct -colors on each and every head--red, yellow and -green. The red was at the bottom and sometimes -hung over their eyes; then came a broad circle of -yellow and the green was at the top and formed a -brush-shaped topknot. - -None of the Horners was yet aware of the -presence of strangers, who watched the little -brown people for a time and then went to the -big gate in the center of the dividing fence. It -was locked on both sides and over the latch was -a sign reading: - - -"WAR IS DECLARED" - - -"Can't we go through?" asked Dorothy. - -"Not now," answered the Champion. - -"I think," said the Scarecrow, "that if I could -talk with those Horners they would apologize to -you, and then there would be no need to fight." - -"Can't you talk from this side?" asked the -Champion. - -"Not so well," replied the Scarecrow. "Do you -suppose you could throw me over that fence? -It is high, but I am very light." - -"We can try it," said the Hopper. "I am perhaps -the strongest man in my country, so I'll undertake -to do the throwing. But I won't promise you will -land on your feet." - -"No matter about that," returned the Scarecrow. -"Just toss me over and I'll be satisfied." - -So the Champion picked up the Scarecrow -and balanced him a moment, to see how much -he weighed, and then with all his strength -tossed him high into the air. - -Perhaps if the Scarecrow had been a trifle -heavier he would have been easier to throw and -would have gone a greater distance; but, as it -was, instead of going over the fence he landed -just on top of it, and one of the sharp pickets -caught him in the middle of his back and held him -fast prisoner. Had he been face downward the -Scarecrow might have managed to free himself, but -lying on his back on the picket his hands waved in -the air of the Horner Country while his feet -kicked the air of the Hopper Country; so there he -was. - -"Are you hurt?" called the Patchwork Girl -anxiously. - -"Course not," said Dorothy. "But if he wig-gles -that way he may tear his clothes. How can we get -him down, Mr. Champion?" - -The Champion shook his head. - -"I don't know," he confessed. "If he could -scare Horners as well as he does crows, it might -be a good idea to leave him there." - -"This is terrible," said Ojo, almost ready to -cry. "I s'pose it's because I am Ojo the Unlucky -that everyone who tries to help me gets into -trouble." - -"You are lucky to have anyone to help you," -declared Dorothy. "But don't worry. We'll rescue -the Scarecrow somehow." - -"I know how," announced Scraps. "Here, Mr. -Champion; just throw me up to the Scarecrow. I'm -nearly as light as he is, and when I'm on top the -fence I'll pull our friend off the picket and toss -him down to you." - -"All right," said the Champion, and he picked up -the Patchwork Girl and threw her in the same -manner he had the Scarecrow. He must have used -more strength this time, however, for Scraps -sailed far over the top of the fence and, without -being able to grab the Scarecrow at all, tumbled -to the ground in the Horner Country, where her -stuffed body knocked over two men and a woman and -made a crowd that had collected there run like -rabbits to get away from her. - -Seeing the next moment that she was harmless, -the people slowly returned and gathered around the -Patchwork Girl, regarding her with astonishment. -One of them wore a jeweled star in his hair, just -above his horn, and this seemed a person of -importance. He spoke for the rest of his people, -who treated him with great respect. - -"Who are you, Unknown Being?" he asked. - -"Scraps," she said, rising to her feet and -patting her cotton wadding smooth where it had -bunched up. - -"And where did you come from?" he continued. - -"Over the fence. Don't be silly. There's no -other place I could have come from," she replied. - -He looked at her thoughtfully. - -"You are not a Hopper," said he, "for you -have two legs. They're not very well shaped, -but they are two in number. And that strange -creature on top the fence--why doesn't he stop -kicking?--must be your brother, or father, or son, -for he also has two legs." - -"You must have been to visit the Wise Donkey," -said Scraps, laughing so merrily that the crowd -smiled with her, in sympathy. "But that reminds -me, Captain--or King--" - -"I am Chief of the Horners, and my name is Jak." - -"Of course; Little Jack Horner; I might have -known it. But the reason I volplaned over the -fence was so I could have a talk with you about -the Hoppers." - -"What about the Hoppers?" asked the Chief, -frowning. - -"You've insulted them, and you'd better beg -their pardon," said Scraps. "If you don't, they'll -probably hop over here and conquer you. - -"We're not afraid--as long as the gate is -locked," declared the Chief. "And we didn't insult -them at all. One of us made a joke that the stupid -Hoppers couldn't see." - -The Chief smiled as he said this and the smile -made his face look quite jolly. - -"What was the joke?" asked Scraps. - -"A Horner said they have less understanding than -we, because they've only one leg. Ha, ha! You see -the point, don't you? If you stand on your legs, -and your legs are under you, then--ha, ha, ha!-- -then your legs are your under-standing. Hee, bee, -hee! Ho, ho! My, but that's a fine joke. And the -stupid Hoppers couldn't see it! They couldn't see -that with only one leg they must have less -under-standing than we who have two legs. Ha, ha, -ha! Hee, bee! Ho, ho!" The Chief wiped the tears -of laughter from his eyes with the bottom hem of -his white robe, and all the other Horners wiped -their eyes on their robes, for they had laughed -just as heartily as their Chief at the absurd -joke. - -"Then," said Scraps, "their understanding of the -understanding you meant led to the -misunderstanding." - -"Exactly; and so there's no need for us to -apologize," returned the Chief. - -"No need for an apology, perhaps, but much need -for an explanation," said Scraps decidedly. "You -don't want war, do you?" - -"Not if we can help it," admitted Jak Horner. -"The question is, who's going to explain the joke -to the Horners? You know it spoils any joke to be -obliged to explain it, and this is the best joke I -ever heard." - -"Who made the joke?" asked Scraps. - -"Diksey Horner. He is working in the mines, just -now, but he'll be home before long. Suppose we -wait and talk with him about it? Maybe he'll be -willing to explain his joke to the Hoppers." - -"All right," said Scraps. "I'll wait, if Diksey -isn't too long." - -"No, he's short; he's shorter than I am. Ha, -ha, ha! Say! that's a better joke than Diksey's. -He won't be too long, because he's short. Hee, -hee, ho!" - -The other Horners who were standing by roared -with laughter and seemed to like their Chief's -joke as much as he did. Scraps thought it was odd -that they could be so easily amused, but decided -there could be little harm in people who laughed -so merrily. - - - - -Chapter Twenty-Three - -Peace Is Declared - - -"Come with me to my dwelling and I'll introduce -you to my daughters," said the Chief. "We're -bringing them up according to a book of rules that -was written by one of our leading old bachelors, -and everyone says they're a remarkable lot of girls." - -So Scraps accompanied him along the street to a -house that seemed on the outside exceptionally -grimy and dingy. The streets of this city were not -paved nor had any attempt been made to beautify -the houses or their surroundings, and having -noticed this condition Scraps was astonished when -the Chief ushered her into his home. - -Here was nothing grimy or faded, indeed. On the -contrary, the room was of dazzling brilliance and -beauty, for it was lined throughout with an -exquisite metal that resembled translucent frosted -silver. The surface of this metal was highly -ornamented in raised designs representing men, -animals, flowers and trees, and from the metal -itself was radiated the soft light which flooded -the room. All the furniture was made of the same -glorious metal, and Scraps asked what it was. - -"That's radium," answered the Chief. "We -Horners spend all our time digging radium from -the mines under this mountain, and we use it -to decorate our homes and make them pretty and -cosy. It is a medicine, too, and no one can ever -be sick who lives near radium." - -"Have you plenty of it?" asked the Patchwork -Girl. - -"More than we can use. All the houses in this -city are decorated with it, just the same as mine -is." - -don't you use it on your streets, then, -and the outside of your houses, to make them as -pretty as they are within?" she inquired. - -"Outside? Who cares for the outside of -anything?" asked the Chief. "We Horners don't live -on the outside of our homes; we live inside. Many -people are like those stupid Hoppers, who love to -make an outside show. I suppose you strangers -thought their city more beautiful than ours, -because you judged from appearances and they have -handsome marble houses and marble streets; but if -you entered one of their stiff dwellings you would -find it bare and uncomfortable, as all their show -is on the outside. They have an idea that what is -not seen by others is not important, but with us -the rooms we live in are our chief delight and -care, and we pay no attention to outside show." - -"Seems to me," said Scraps, musingly, "it -would be better to make it all pretty--inside -and out." - -"Seems? Why, you're all seams, my girl!" said -the Chief; and then he laughed heartily at his -latest joke and a chorus of small voices echoed -the chorus with "tee-hee-hee! ha, ha!" - -Scraps turned around and found a row of -girls seated in radium chairs ranged along one -wall of the room. There were nineteen of them, -by actual count, and they were of all sizes from -a tiny child to one almost a grown woman. All -were neatly dressed in spotless white robes and -had brown skins, horns on their foreheads and -threecolored hair. - -"These," said the Chief, "are my sweet -daughters. My dears, I introduce to you Miss -Scraps Patchwork, a lady who is traveling in -foreign parts to increase her store of wisdom." - -The nineteen Horner girls all arose and made -a polite curtsey, after which they resumed their -seats and rearranged their robes properly. - -"Why do they sit so still, and all in a row?" -asked Scraps. - -"Because it is ladylike and proper," replied the -Chief. - -"But some are just children, poor things! -Don't they ever run around and play and laugh, -and have a good time?" - -"No, indeed," said the Chief. "That would he -improper in young ladies, as well as in those who -will sometime become young ladies. My daughters -are being brought up according to the rules and -regulations laid down by a leading bachelor who -has given the subject much study and is himself a -man of taste and culture. Politeness is his great -hobby, and he claims that if a child is allowed to -do an impolite thing one cannot expect the grown -person to do anything better." - -"Is it impolite to romp and shout and be jolly?" -asked Scraps. - -"Well, sometimes it is, and sometimes it isn't," -replied the Horner, after considering the -question. "By curbing such inclinations in my -daughters we keep on the safe side. Once in a -while I make a good joke, as you have heard, and -then I permit my daughters to laugh decorously; -but they are never allowed to make a joke -themselves." - -"That old bachelor who made the rules ought -to be skinned alive!" declared Scraps, and would -have said more on the subject had not the door -opened to admit a little Horner man whom the -Chief introduced as Diksey. - -"What's up, Chief?" asked Diksey, winking -nineteen times at the nineteen girls, who demurely -cast down their eyes because their father was -looking. - -The Chief told the man that his joke had not -been understood by the dull Hoppers, who had -become so angry that they had declared war. So the -only way to avoid a terrible battle was to explain -the joke so they could understand it. - -"All right," replied Diksey, who seemed a good- -natured man; "I'll go at once to the fence and -explain. I don't want any war with the Hoppers, -for wars between nations always cause hard -feelings." - -So the Chief and Diksey and Scraps left the -house and went back to the marble picket fence. -The Scarecrow was still stuck on the top of his -picket but had now ceased to struggle. On the -other side of the fence were Dorothy and Ojo, -looking between the pickets; and there, also, -were the Champion and many other Hoppers. - -Diksey went close to the fence and said: - -"My good Hoppers, I wish to explain that -what I said about you was a joke. You have but -one leg each, and we have two legs each. Our -legs are under us, whether one or two, and we -stand on them. So, when I said you had less -understanding than we, I did not mean that you -had less understanding, you understand, but -that you had less standundering, so to speak. -Do you understand that?" - -The Hoppers thought it over carefully. Then one -said: - -"That is clear enough; but where does the joke -come in?'" - -Dorothy laughed, for she couldn't help it, -although all the others were solemn enough. - -"I'll tell you where the joke comes in," she -said, and took the Hoppers away to a distance, -where the Horners could not hear them. "You know," -she then explained, "those neighbors of yours are -not very bright, poor things, and what they think -is a joke isn't a joke at all--it's true, don't -you see?" - -"True that we have less understanding?" asked -the Champion. - -"Yes; it's true because you don't understand -such a poor joke; if you did, you'd be no wiser -than they are." - -"Ah, yes; of course," they answered, looking -very wise. - -"So I'll tell you what to do," continued -Dorothy. "Laugh at their poor joke and tell 'em -it's pretty good for a Horner. Then they won't -dare say you have less understanding, because you -understand as much as they do." - -The Hoppers looked at one another questioningly -and blinked their eyes and tried to think what it -all meant; but they couldn't figure it out. - -"What do you think, Champion?" asked one of -them. - -"I think it is dangerous to think of this thing -any more than we can help," he replied. "Let us do -as this girl says and laugh with the Horners, so -as to make them believe we see the joke. Then -there will be peace again and no need to fight." - -They readily agreed to this and returned to -the fence laughing as loud and as hard as they -could, although they didn't feel like laughing -a bit. The Horners were much surprised. - -"That's a fine joke--for a Horner--and we are -much pleased with it," said the Champion, speaking -between the pickets. "But please don't do it -again." - -"I won't," promised Diksey. "If I think of -another such joke I'll try to forget it." - -"Good!" cried the Chief Horner. "The war is over -and peace is declared." - -There was much joyful shouting on both sides of -the fence and the gate was unlocked and thrown -wide open, so that Scraps was able to rejoin her -friends. - -"What about the Scarecrow?" she asked Dorothy. - -"We must get him down, somehow or other," was -the reply. - -"Perhaps the Horners can find a way," suggested -Ojo. So they all went through the gate and Dorothy -asked the Chief Horner how they could get the -Scarecrow off the fence. The Chief didn't know -how, but Diksey said: - -"A ladder's the thing." - -"Have you one?" asked Dorothy. - -"To be sure. We use ladders in our mines," -said he. Then he ran away to get the ladder, -and while he was gone the Horners gathered -around and welcomed the strangers to their -country, for through them a great war had been -avoided. - -In a little while Diksey came back with a -tall ladder which he placed against the fence. Ojo -at once climbed to the top of the ladder and -Dorothy went about halfway up and Scraps stood at -the foot of it. Toto ran around it and barked. -Then Ojo pulled the Scarecrow away from the picket -and passed him down to Dorothy, who in turn -lowered him to the Patchwork Girl. - -As soon as he was on his feet and standing -on solid ground the Scarecrow said: - -"Much obliged. I feel much better. I'm not -stuck on that picket any more." - -The Horners began to laugh, thinking this -was a joke, but the Scarecrow shook himself and - -patted his straw a little and said to Dorothy: -"Is there much of a hole in my back?" - -The little girl examined him carefully. - -"There's quite a hole," she said. "But I've got -a needle and thread in the knapsack and I'll sew -you up again." - -"Do so," he begged earnestly, and again the -Hoppers laughed, to the Scarecrow's great -annoyance. - -While Dorothy was sewing up the hole in -the straw man's back Scraps examined the other -parts of him. - -"One of his legs is ripped, too!" she exclaimed. - -"Oho!" cried little Diksey; "that's bad. Give -him the needle and thread and let him mend -his ways." - -"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed the Chief, and the -other Homers at once roared with laughter. - -"What's funny?" inquired the Scarecrow sternly. - -"Don't you see?" asked Diksey, who had -laughed even harder than the others. "That's a -joke. It's by odds the best joke I ever made. -You walk with your legs, and so that's the way -you walk, and your legs are the ways. See? So, -when you mend your legs, you mend your ways. -Ho, ho, ho! hee, hee! I'd no idea I could make -such a fine joke!" - -"Just wonderful!" echoed the Chief. "How do you -manage to do it, Diksey?" - -"I don't know," said Diksey modestly. "Perhaps -it's the radium, but I rather think it's my -splendid intellect." - -If you don't quit it," the Scarecrow told him, -"there'll be a worse war than the one you've -escaped from." - -Ojo had been deep in thought, and now he -asked the Chief: "Is there a dark well in any -part of your country?" - -"A dark well? None that ever I heard of," was -the answer. - -"Oh, yes," said Diksey, who overheard the -boy's question. "There's a very dark well down -in my radium mine." - -"Is there any water in it?" Ojo eagerly asked. - -"Can't say; I've never looked to see. But we -can find out." - -So, as soon as the Scarecrow was mended, -they decided to go with Diksey to the mine. -When Dorothy had patted the straw man into -shape again he declared he felt as good as new -and equal to further adventures. - -"Still," said he, "I prefer not to do picket -duty again. High life doesn't seem to agree with -my constitution." And then they hurried away -to escape the laughter of the Homers, who -thought this was another joke. - - - - -Chapter Twenty-Four - -Ojo Finds the Darkwell - - -They now followed Diksey to the farther end of -the great cave, beyond the Horner city, where -there were several round, dark holes leading into -the ground in a slanting direction. Diksey went to -one of these holes and said: - -"Here is the mine in which lies the dark well -you are seeking. Follow me and step care fully and -I'll lead you to the place." - -He went in first and after him came Ojo, and -then Dorothy, with the Scarecrow behind her. -The Patchwork Girl entered last of all, for Toto -kept close beside his little mistress. - -A few steps beyond the mouth of the opening it -was pitch dark. "You won't lose your way, though," -said the Homer, "for there's only one way to go. -The mine's mine and I know every step of the way. -How's that for a joke, eh? The mine's mine." Then -he chuckled gleefully as they followed him -silently down the steep slant. The hole was just -big enough to permit them to walk upright, -although the Scarecrow, being much the taller of -the party, often had to bend his head to keep from -hitting the top. - -The floor of the tunnel was difficult to walk -upon because it had been worn smooth as glass, and -pretty soon Scraps, who was some distance behind -the others, slipped and fell head foremost. At -once she began to slide downward, so swiftly that -when she came to the Scarecrow she knocked him off -his feet and sent him tumbling against Dorothy, -who tripped up Ojo. The boy fell against the -Horner, so that all went tumbling down the slide -in a regular mix-up, unable to see where they were -going because of the darkness. - -Fortunately, when they reached the bottom the -Scarecrow and Scraps were in front, and the others -bumped against them, so that no one was hurt. They -found themselves in a vast cave which was dimly -lighted by the tiny grains of radium that lay -scattered among the loose rocks. - -"Now," said Diksey, when they had all re -gained their feet, "I will show you where the -dark well is. This is a big place, but if we hold -fast to each other we won't get lost." - -They took hold of hands and the Homer led -them into a dark corner, where he halted. - -"Be careful," said he warningly. "The well is -at your feet." - -"All right," replied Ojo, and kneeling down -he felt in the well with his hand and found -that it contained a quantity of water. "Where's -the gold flask, Dorothy?" he asked, and the -little girl handed him the flask, which she had -brought with her. - -Ojo knelt again and by feeling carefully in -the dark managed to fill the flask with the -unseen water that was in the well. Then he -screwed the top of the flask firmly in place and -put the precious water in his pocket. - -"All right!" he said again, in a glad voice; -"now we can go back." - -They returned to the mouth of the tunnel and -began to creep cautiously up the incline. This -time they made Scraps stay behind, for fear she -would slip again; but they all managed to get up -in safety and the Munchkin boy was very happy when -he stood in the Horner city and realized that the -water from the dark well, which he and his friends -had traveled so far to secure, was safe in his -jacket pocket. - - - - -Chapter Twenty-Five - -They Bribe the Lazy Quadling - - -"Now," said Dorothy, as they stood on the mountain -path, having left behind them the cave in which -dwelt the Hoppers and the Horners, "I think we -must find a road into the Country of the Winkies, -for there is where Ojo wants to go next." - -"Is there such a road?" asked the Scarecrow. - -"I don't know," she replied. "I s'pose we can go -back the way we came, to Jack Pumpkinhead's house, -and then turn into the Winkie Country; but that -seems like running 'round a haystack, doesn't it?" - -"Yes," said the Scarecrow. "What is the next -thing Ojo must get?" - -"A yellow butterfly," answered the boy. - -"That means the Winkie Country, all right, -for it's the yellow country of Oz," remarked -Dorothy. "I think, Scarecrow, we ought to take -him to the Tin Woodman, for he's the Emp'ror -of the Winkies and will help us to find what -Ojo wants." - -"Of course," replied the Scarecrow, brightening -at the suggestion. "The Tin Woodman will do -anything we ask him, for he's one of my dearest -friends. I believe we can take a crosscut into his -country and so get to his castle a day sooner -than if we travel back the way we came." - -"I think so, too," said the girl; "and that means -we must keep to the left." - -They were obliged to go down the mountain before -they found any path that led in the direction they -wanted to go, but among the tumbled rocks at the -foot of the mountain was a faint trail which they -decided to follow. Two or three hours walk along -this trail brought them to a clear, level country, -where there were a few farms and some scattered -houses. But they knew they were still in the -Country of the Quadlings, because everything had a -bright red color. Not that the trees and grasses -were red, but the fences and houses were painted -that color and all the wild-flowers that bloomed -by the wayside had red blossoms. This part of the -Quadling Country seemed peaceful and prosperous, -if rather lonely, and the road was more distinct -and easier to follow. - -But just as they were congratulating themselves -upon the progress they had made they came upon a -broad river which swept along between high banks, -and here the road ended and there was no bridge of -any sort to allow them to cross. - -"This is queer," mused Dorothy, looking at -the water reflectively. "Why should there be -any road, if the river stops everyone walking -along it?" - -"Wow!" said Toto, gazing earnestly into her -face. - -"That's the best answer you'll get," declared -the Scarecrow, with his comical smile, "for no -one knows any more than Toto about this road." - -Said Scraps: - - -"Ev'ry time I see a river, -I have chills that make me shiver, -For I never can forget -All the water's very wet. -If my patches get a soak -It will be a sorry joke; -So to swim I'll never try -Till I find the water dry." - - -"Try to control yourself, Scraps," said Ojo; -you re getting crazy again. No one intends to swim -that river." - -"No," decided Dorothy, "we couldn't swim it -if we tried. It's too big a river, and the water -moves awful fast." - -"There ought to be a ferryman with a boat," -said the Scarecrow; "but I don't see any." - -"Couldn't we make a raft?" suggested Ojo. - -"There's nothing to make one of," answered -Dorothy. - -"Wow!" said Toto again, and Dorothy saw he -was looking along the bank of the river. - -"Why, he sees a house over there!" cried the -little girl. "I wonder we didn't notice it -ourselves. Let's go and ask the people how to -get 'cross the river." - -A quarter of a mile along the bank stood a -small, round house, painted bright red, and as -it was on their side of the river they hurried -toward it. A chubby little man, dressed all in -red, came out to greet them, and with him were -two children, also in red costumes. The man's -eyes were big and staring as he examined the -Scarecrow and the Patchwork Girl, and the -children shyly hid behind him and peeked -timidly at Toto. - -"Do you live here, my good man?" asked the -Scarecrow. - -"I think I do, Most Mighty Magician," replied -the Quadling, bowing low; "but whether I'm awake -or dreaming I can't be positive, so I'm not sure -where I live. If you'll kindly pinch me I'll find -out all about it!' - -"You're awake," said Dorothy, "and this is no -magician, but just the Scarecrow." - -"But he's alive," protested the man, "and he -oughtn't to be, you know. And that other dreadful -person--the girl who is all patches--seems to be -alive, too." - -"Very much so," declared Scraps, making a -face at him. "But that isn't your affair, you -know." - -"I've a right to be surprised, haven't I?" asked -the man meekly. - -"I'm not sure; but anyhow you've no right to say -I'm dreadful. The Scarecrow, who is a gentleman of -great wisdom, thinks I'm beautiful," retorted -Scraps. - -"Never mind all that," said Dorothy. "Tell us, -good Quadling, how we can get across the river." - -"I don't know," replied the Quadling. - -"Don't you ever cross it?" asked the girl. - -"Never." - -"Don't travelers cross it?" - -"Not to my knowledge," said he. - -They were much surprised to hear this, and -the man added: "It's a pretty big river, and the -current is strong. I know a man who lives on -the opposite bank, for I've seen him there a good -many years; but we've never spoken because -neither of us has ever crossed over." - -"That's queer," said the Scarecrow. "Don't you -own a boat?" - -The man shook his head. - -"Nor a raft?" - -"Where does this river go to?" asked Dorothy. - -"That way," answered the man, pointing with -one hand, "it goes into the Country of the -Winkies, which is ruled by the Tin Emperor, -who must be a mighty magician because he's -all made of tin, and yet he's alive. And that -way," pointing with the other hand, "the river -runs between two mountains where dangerous -people dwell." - -The Scarecrow looked at the water before them. - -"The current flows toward the Winkie Country"' -said he; "and so, if we had a boat, or a raft, the -river would float us there more quickly and more -easily than we could walk." - -"That is true," agreed Dorothy; and then they -all looked thoughtful and wondered what could -be done. - -"Why can't the man make us a raft?" asked Ojo. - -"Will you?" inquired Dorothy, turning to the -Quadling. - -The chubby man shook his head. - -"I'm too lazy," he said. "My wife says I'm the -laziest man in all Oz, and she is a truthful -woman. I hate work of any kind, and making a raft -is hard work." - -"I'll give you my em'rald ring," promised the -girl. - -"No; I don't care for emeralds. If it were a -ruby, which is the color I like best, I might work -a little while." - -"I've got some Square Meal Tablets," said the -Scarecrow. "Each one is the same as a dish of -soup, a fried fish, a mutton pot-pie, lobster -salad, charlotte russe and lemon jelly--all made -into one little tablet that you can swallow -without trouble." - -"Without trouble!" exclaimed the Quadling, -much interested; "then those tablets would be -fine for a lazy man. It's such hard work to chew -when you eat." - -"I'll give you six of those tablets if you'll -help us make a raft," promised the Scarecrow. -"They're a combination of food which people who -eat are very fond of. I never eat, you know, being -straw; but some of my friends eat regularly. What -do you say to my offer, Quadling?" - -"I'll do it," decided the man. "I'll help, and -you can do most of the work. But my wife has -gone fishing for red eels to-day, so some of you -will have to mind the children." - -Scraps promised to do that, and the children -were not so shy when the Patchwork Girl sat -down to play with them. They grew to like -Toto, too, and the little dog allowed them to -pat him on his head, which gave the little ones -much joy. - -There were a number of fallen trees near the -house and the Quadling got his axe and chopped -them into logs of equal length. He took his wife's -clothesline to bind these logs together, so that -they would form a raft, and Ojo found some strips -of wood and nailed them along the tops of the -logs, to render them more firm. The Scarecrow and -Dorothy helped roll the logs together and carry -the strips of wood, but it took so long to make -the raft that evening came just as it was -finished, and with evening the Quadling's wife -returned from her fishing. - -The woman proved to be cross and bad-tempered, -perhaps because she had only caught one red eel -during all the day. When she found that her -husband had used her clothesline, and the logs she -had wanted for firewood, and the boards she had -intended to mend the shed with, and a lot of gold -nails, she became very angry. Scraps wanted to -shake the woman, to make her behave, but Dorothy -talked to her in a gentle tone and told the -Quadling's wife she was a Princess of Oz and a -friend of Ozma and that when she got back to the -Emerald City she would send them a lot of things -to repay them for the raft, including a new -clothesline. This promise pleased the woman and -she soon became more pleasant, saying they could -stay the night at her house and begin their voyage -on the river next morning. - -This they did, spending a pleasant evening -with the Quadling family and being entertained -with such hospitality as the poor people were -able to offer them. The man groaned a good -deal and said he had overworked himself by -chopping the logs, but the Scarecrow gave him -two more tablets than he had promised, which -seemed to comfort the lazy fellow. - - - - -Chapter Twenty-Six - -The Trick River - - -Next morning they pushed the raft into the water -and all got aboard. The Quadling man had to hold -the log craft fast while they took their places, -and the flow of the river was so powerful that it -nearly tore the raft from his hands. As soon as -they were all seated upon the logs he let go and -away it floated and the adventurers had begun -their voyage toward the Winkie Country. - -The little house of the Quadlings was out of -sight almost before they had cried their good- -byes, and the Scarecrow said in a pleased voice: -"It won't take us long to get to the Winkie -Country, at this rate." - -They had floated several miles down the stream -and were enjoying the ride when suddenly the raft -slowed up, stopped short, and then began to float -back the way it had come. - -"Why, what's wrong?" asked Dorothy, in -astonishment; but they were all just as bewildered -as she was and at first no one could answer the -question. Soon, however, they realized the truth: -that the current of the river had reversed and the -water was now flowing in the opposite direction-- -toward the mountains. - -They began to recognize the scenes they had -passed, and by and by they came in sight of the -little house of the Quadlings again. The man -was standing on the river bank and he called -to them: - -"How do you do? Glad to see you again. I forgot -to tell you that the river changes its direction -every little while. Sometimes it flows one way, -and sometimes the other." - -They had no time to answer him, for the raft -was swept past the house and a long distance on -the other side of it. - -"We're going just the way we don't want to -go," said Dorothy, "and I guess the best thing -we can do is to get to land before we're carried -any farther." - -But they could not get to land. They had -no oars, nor even a pole to guide the raft with. -The logs which bore them floated in the middle -of the stream and were held fast in that position -by the strong current. - -So they sat still and waited and, even while -they were wondering what could be done, the raft -slowed down, stopped, and began drifting the other -way--in the direction it had first followed. After -a time they repassed the Quadling house and the -man was still standing on the bank. He cried out -to them: - -"Good day! Glad to see you again. I expect -I shall see you a good many times, as you go -by, unless you happen to swim ashore." - -By that time they had left him behind and -were headed once more straight toward the -Winkie Country. - -"This is pretty hard luck," said Ojo in a -discouraged voice. "The Trick River keeps -changing, it seems, and here we must float back -and forward forever, unless we manage in some way -to get ashore." - -"Can you swim?" asked Dorothy. - -"No; I'm Ojo the Unlucky." - -"Neither can I. Toto can swim a little, but -that won't help us to get to shore." - -"I don't know whether I could swim, or not," -remarked Scraps; "but if I tried it I'd surely ruin -my lovely patches." - -"My straw would get soggy in the water and -I would sink," said the Scarecrow. - -So there seemed no way out of their dilemma -and being helpless they simply sat still. Ojo, -who was on the front of the raft, looked over -into the water and thought he saw some large -fishes swimming about. He found a loose end -of the clothesline which fastened the logs -together, and taking a gold nail from his pocket -he bent it nearly double, to form a hook, and -tied it to the end of the line. Having baited the -hook with some bread which he broke from his -loaf, he dropped the line into the water and -almost instantly it was seized by a great fish. - -They knew it was a great fish, because it -pulled so hard on the line that it dragged the -raft forward even faster than the current of the -river had carried it. The fish was frightened, -and it was a strong swimmer. As the other end -of the clothesline was bound around the logs -he could not get it away, and as he had greedily -swallowed the gold hook at the first bite he -could not get rid of that, either. - -When they reached the place where the current -had before changed, the fish was still swimming -ahead in its wild attempt to escape. The raft -slowed down, yet it did not stop, because the fish -would not let it. It continued to move in the same -direction it had been going. As the current -reversed and rushed backward on its course it -failed to drag the raft with it. Slowly, inch by -inch, they floated on, and the fish tugged and -tugged and kept them going. - -"I hope he won't give up," said Ojo anxiously. -"If the fish can hold out until the current -changes again, we'll be all right." - -The fish did not give up, but held the raft -bravely on its course, till at last the water in -the river shifted again and floated them the way -they wanted to go. But now the captive fish -found its strength failing. Seeking a refuge, it -began to drag the raft toward the shore. As they -did not wish to land in this place the boy cut -the rope with his pocket-knife and set the fish -free, just in time to prevent the raft from -grounding. - -The next time the river backed up the Scarecrow -managed to seize the branch of a tree that -overhung the water and they all assisted him to -hold fast and prevent the raft from being carried -backward. While they waited here, Ojo spied a long -broken branch lying upon the bank, so he leaped -ashore and got it. When he had stripped off the -side shoots he believed he could use the branch as -a pole, to guide the raft in case of emergency. - -They clung to the tree until they found the -water flowing the right way, when they let go -and permitted the raft to resume its voyage. In -spite of these pauses they were really making -good progress toward the Winkie Country and -having found a way to conquer the adverse -current their spirits rose considerably. They -could see little of the country through which -they were passing, because of the high banks, -and they met with no boats or other craft upon -the surface of the river. - -Once more the trick river reversed its current, -but this time the Scarecrow was on guard and -used the pole to push the raft toward a big -rock which lay in the water. He believed the -rock would prevent their floating backward with -the current, and so it did. They clung to this -anchorage until the water resumed its proper -direction, when they allowed the raft to drift on. - -Floating around a bend they saw ahead a high -bank of water, extending across the entire river, -and toward this they were being irresistibly -carried. There being no way to arrest the progress -of the raft they clung fast to the logs and let -the river sweep them on. Swiftly the raft climbed -the bank of water and slid down on the other side, -plunging its edge deep into the water and -drenching them all with spray. - -As again the raft righted and drifted on, -Dorothy and Ojo laughed at the ducking they had -received; but Scraps was much dismayed and the -Scarecrow took out his handkerchief and wiped the -water off the Patchwork Girl's patches as well as -he was able to. The sun soon dried her and the -colors of her patches proved good, for they did -not run together nor did they fade. - -After passing the wall of water the current did -not change or flow backward any more but continued -to sweep them steadily forward. The banks of the -river grew lower, too, permitting them to see more -of the country, and presently they discovered -yellow buttercups and dandelions growing amongst -the grass, from which evidence they knew they had -reached the Winkie Country. - -"Don't you think we ought to land?" Dorothy -asked the Scarecrow. - -"Pretty soon," he replied. "The Tin Woodman's -castle is in the southern part of the Winkie -Country, and so it can't be a great way from -here." - -Fearing they might drift too far, Dorothy and -Ojo now stood up and raised the Scarecrow in -their arms, as high as they could, thus allowing -him a good view of the country. For a time he -saw nothing he recognized, but finally he cried: - -"There it is! There it is!" - -"What?" asked Dorothy. - -"The Tin Woodman's tin castle. I can see -its turrets glittering in the sun. It's quite a way -off, but we'd better land as quickly as we can." - -They let him down and began to urge the raft -toward the shore by means of the pole. It obeyed -very well, for the current was more sluggish -now, and soon they had reached the bank and -landed safely. - -The Winkie Country was really beautiful, -and across the fields they could see afar the -silvery sheen of the tin castle. With light hearts -they hurried toward it, being fully rested by -their long ride on the river. - -By and by they began to cross an immense -field of splendid yellow lilies, the delicate -fragrance of which was very delightful. - -"How beautiful they are!" cried Dorothy, -stopping to admire the perfection of these -exquisite flowers. - -"Yes," said the Scarecrow, reflectively, "but -we must be careful not to crush or injure any -of these lilies." - -"Why not?" asked Ojo. - -"The Tin Woodman is very kind-hearted," -was the reply, "and he hates to see any living -thing hurt in any way. - -"Are flowers alive?" asked Scraps. - -"Yes, of course. And these flowers belong to -the Tin Woodman. So, in order not to offend -him, we must not tread on a single blossom." - -"Once," said Dorothy, "the Tin Woodman -stepped on a beetle and killed the little creature. -That made him very unhappy and he cried until -his tears rusted his joints, so he couldn't move -'em." - -"What did he do then?" asked Ojo. - -"Put oil on them, until the joints worked -smooth again. - -"Oh!" exclaimed the boy, as if a great discovery -had flashed across his mind. But he did not tell -anybody what the discovery was and kept the idea -to himself. - -It was a long walk, but a pleasant one, and -they did not mind it a bit. Late in the afternoon -they drew near to the wonderful tin castle of -the Emperor of the Winkies, and Ojo and -Scraps, who had never seen it before, were -filled with amazement. - -Tin abounded in the Winkie Country and -the Winkies were said to be the most skillful -tinsmiths in all the world. So the Tin Woodman -had employed them in building his magnificent -castle, which was all of tin, from the ground to -the tallest turret, and so brightly polished that -it glittered in the sun's rays more gorgeously -than silver. Around the grounds of the castle -ran a tin wall, with tin gates; but the gates stood -wide open because the Emperor had no enemies -to disturb him. - -When they entered the spacious grounds our -travelers found more to admire. Tin fountains sent -sprays of clear water far into the air and there -were many beds of tin flowers, all as perfectly -formed as any natural flowers might be. There -were tin trees, too, and here and there shady -bowers of tin, with tin benches and chairs to sit -upon. Also, on the sides of the pathway leading up -to the front door of the castle, were rows of tin -statuary, very cleverly executed. Among these Ojo -recognized statues of Dorothy, Toto, the -Scarecrow, the Wizard, the Shaggy Man, Jack -Pumpkinhead and Ozma, all standing upon neat -pedestals of tin. - -Toto was well acquainted with the residence of -the Tin Woodman and, being assured a joyful -welcome, he ran ahead and barked so loudly at the -front door that the Tin Woodman heard him and came -out in person to see if it were really his old -friend Toto. Next moment the tin man had clasped -the Scarecrow in a warm embrace and then turned -to hug Dorothy. But now his eye was arrested by -the strange sight of the Patchwork Girl, and he -gazed upon her in mingled wonder and admiration. - - - - -Chapter Twenty-Seven - -The Tin Woodman Objects - - -The Tin Woodman was one of the most important -personages in all Oz. Though Emperor of the -Winkies, he owed allegiance to Ozma, who ruled all -the land, and the girl and the tin man were warm -personal friends. He was something of a dandy and -kept his tin body brilliantly polished and his tin -joints well oiled. Also he was very courteous in -manner and so kind and gentle that everyone loved -him. The Emperor greeted Ojo and Scraps with -cordial hospitality and ushered the entire party -into his handsome tin parlor, where all the -furniture and pictures were made of tin. The walls -were paneled with tin and from the tin ceiling -hung tin chandeliers. - -The Tin Woodman wanted to know, first of -all, where Dorothy had found the Patchwork -Girl, so between them the visitors told the story -of how Scraps was made, as well as the accident -to Margolotte and Unc Nunkie and how Ojo -had set out upon a journey to procure the things -needed for the Crooked Magician's magic -charm. Then Dorothy told of their adventures -in the Quadling Country and how at last they -succeeded in getting the water from a dark well. - -While the little girl was relating these -adventures the Tin Woodman sat in an easy chair -listening with intense interest, while the others -sat grouped around him. Ojo, however, had kept his -eyes fixed upon the body of the tin Emperor, and -now he noticed that under the joint of his left -knee a tiny drop of oil was forming. He watched -this drop of oil with a fast-beating heart, and -feeling in his pocket brought out a tiny vial of -crystal, which he held secreted in his hand. - -Presently the Tin Woodman changed his -position, and at once Ojo, to the astonishment -of all, dropped to the floor and held his crystal -vial under the Emperor's knee joint. Just then -the drop of oil fell, and they boy caught it in -his bottle and immediately corked it tight. Then, -with a red face and embarrassed manner, he rose -to confront the others. - -"What in the world were you doing?" asked -the Tin Woodman. - -"I caught a drop of oil that fell from your -knee-joint," confessed Ojo. - -"A drop of oil!" exclaimed the Tin Woodman. -"Dear me, how careless my valet must have -been in oiling me this morning. I'm afraid I -shall have to scold the fellow, for I can't be -dropping oil wherever I go." - -"Never mind," said Dorothy. Ojo seems glad -to have the oil, for some reason." - -"Yes," declared the Munchkin boy, "I am -glad. For one of the things the Crooked Magician -sent me to get was a drop of oil from a live man's -body. I had no idea, at first, that there was such -a thing; but it's now safe in the little crystal -vial." - -"You are very welcome to it, indeed," said -the Tin Woodman. "Have you now secured all -the things you were in search of?" - -"Not quite all," answered Ojo. "There were five -things I had to get, and I have found four of -them. I have the three hairs in the tip of a -Woozy's tail, a six-leaved clover, a gill of water -from a dark well and a drop of oil from a live -man's body. The last thing is the easiest of all -to get, and I'm sure that my dear Unc Nunkie--and -good Margolotte, as well--will soon be restored to -life." - -The Munchkin boy said this with much pride and -pleasure. - -"Good!" exclaimed the Tin Woodman; "I -congratulate you. But what is the fifth and last -thing you need, in order to complete the magic -charm?" - -"The left wing of a yellow butterfly," said -Ojo. "In this yellow country, and with your -kind assistance, that ought to be very easy to -find." - -The Tin Woodman stared at him in amazement. - -"Surely you are joking!" he said. - -"No," replied Ojo, much surprised; "I am in -earnest." - -"But do you think for a moment that I would -permit you, or anyone else, to pull the left wing -from a yellow butterfly?" demanded the Tin Woodman -sternly. - -"Why not, sir?" - -"Why not? You ask me why not? It would be -cruel--one of the most cruel and heartless deeds -I ever heard of," asserted the Tin Woodman. -"The butterflies are among the prettiest of all -created things, and they are very sensitive to -pain. To tear a wing from one would cause it -exquisite torture and it would soon die in great -agony. I would not permit such a wicked deed -under any circumstances!" - -Ojo was astounded at hearing this. Dorothy, too, -looked grave and disconcerted, but she knew in her -heart that the Tin Woodman was right. The -Scarecrow nodded his head in approval of his -friend's speech, so it was evident that he agreed -with the Emperor's decision. Scraps looked from -one to another in perplexity. - -"Who cares for a butterfly?" she asked. - -"Don't you?" inquired the Tin Woodman. - -"Not the snap of a finger, for I have no heart," -said the Patchwork Girl. "But I want to help -Ojo, who is my friend, to rescue the uncle whom -he loves, and I'd kill a dozen useless butterflies -to enable him to do that." - -The Tin Woodman sighed regretfully. - -"You have kind instincts," he said, "and with a -heart you would indeed be a fine creature. I -cannot blame you for your heartless remark, as you -cannot understand the feelings of those who -possess hearts. I, for instance, have a very neat -and responsive heart which the wonderful Wizard -of Oz once gave me, and so I shall never--never-- -never permit a poor yellow butterfly to be -tortured by anyone." - -"The yellow country of the Winkies," said Ojo -sadly, "is the only place in Oz where a yellow -butterfly can be found." - -"I'm glad of that," said the Tin Woodman. -"As I rule the Winkie Country, I can protect -my butterflies." - -Unless I get the wing--just one left wing--" -said Ojo miserably, "I can't save Unc Nunkie." - -"Then he must remain a marble statue forever," -declared the Tin Emperor, firmly. - -Ojo wiped his eyes, for he could not hold back -the tears. - -"I'll tell you what to do," said Scraps. "We'll -take a whole yellow butterfly, alive and well, to -the Crooked Magician, and let him pull the left -wing off." - -"No, you won't," said the Tin Woodman. -"You can't have one of my dear little butterflies -to treat in that way. - -"Then what in the world shall we do?" asked -Dorothy. - -They all became silent and thoughtful. No -one spoke for a long time. Then the Tin Woodman -suddenly roused himself and said: - -"We must all go back to the Emerald City -and ask Ozma's advice. She's a wise little girl, -our Ruler, and she may find a way to help Ojo -save his Unc Nunkie." - -So the following morning the party started -on the journey to the Emerald City, which they -reached in due time without any important -adventure. It was a sad journey for Ojo, for -without the wing of the yellow butterfly he saw -no way to save Unc Nunkie--unless he waited -six years for the Crooked Magician to make a -new lot of the Powder of Life. The boy was -utterly discouraged, and as he walked along he -groaned aloud. - -"Is anything hurting you?" inquired the Tin -Woodman in a kindly tone, for the Emperor -was with the party. - -"I'm Ojo the Unlucky," replied the boy. "I -might have known I would fail in anything -I tried to do." - -"Why are you Ojo the Unlucky?" asked the tin -man. - -"Because I was born on a Friday." - -"Friday is not unlucky," declared the Emperor. -"It's just one of seven days. Do you suppose all -the world becomes unlucky one-seventh of the -time?" - -"It was the thirteenth day of the month," said -Ojo. - -"Thirteen! Ah, that is indeed a lucky number," -replied the Tin Woodman. "All my good luck seems -to happen on the thirteenth. I suppose most -people never notice the good luck that comes to -them with the number 13, and yet if the least bit -of bad luck falls on that day, they blame it to -the number, and not to the proper cause." - -"Thirteen's my lucky number, too," remarked the -Scarecrow - -"And mine," said Scraps. "I've just thirteen -patches on my head." - -"But," continued Ojo, "I'm left-handed." - -"Many of our greatest men are that way," -asserted the Emperor. "To be left-handed is -usually to be two-handed; the right-handed people -are usually one-handed." - -"And I've a wart under my right arm," said Ojo. - -"How lucky!" cried the Tin Woodman. "If -it were on the end of your nose it might be -unlucky, but under your arm it is luckily out -of the way." - -"For all those reasons," said the Munchkin -boy, "I have been called Ojo the Unlucky." - -"Then we must turn over a new leaf and call you -henceforth Ojo the Lucky," declared the tin man. -"Every reason you have given is absurd. But I have -noticed that those who continually dread ill luck -and fear it will overtake them, have no time to -take advantage of any good fortune that comes -their way. Make up your mind to be Ojo the -Lucky." - -"How can I?" asked the boy, "when all my -attempts to save my dear uncle have failed?" - -"Never give up, Ojo," advised Dorothy. "No -one ever knows what's going to happen next." - -Ojo did not reply, but he was so dejected that -even their arrival at the Emerald City failed to -interest him. - -The people joyfully cheered the appearance of -the Tin Woodman, the Scarecrow and Dorothy, who -were all three general favorites, and on entering -the royal palace word came to them from Ozma that -she would at once grant them an audience. - -Dorothy told the girl Ruler how successful -they had been in their quest until they came to -the item of the yellow butterfly, which the Tin -Woodman positively refused to sacrifice to the -magic potion. - -"He is quite right," said Ozma, who did not seem -a bit surprised. "Had Ojo told me that one of the -things he sought was the wing of a yellow -butterfly I would have informed him, before he -started out, that he could never secure it. Then -you would have been saved the troubles and -annoyances of your long journey." - -"I didn't mind the journey at all," said -Dorothy; "it was fun." - -"As it has turned out," remarked Ojo, "I can -never get the things the Crooked Magician sent -me for; and so, unless I wait the six years for -him to make the Powder of Life, Unc Nunkie -cannot be saved." - -Ozma smiled. - -"Dr. Pipt will make no more Powder of Life, -I promise you," said she. "I have sent for him -and had him brought to this palace, where he -now is, and his four kettles have been destroyed -and his book of recipes burned up. I have also -had brought here the marble statues of your -uncle and of Margolotte, which are standing in -the next room. - -They were all greatly astonished at this -announcement. - -"Oh, let me see Unc Nunkie! Let me see him -at once, please!" cried Ojo eagerly. - -"Wait a moment," replied Ozma, "for I have -something more to say. Nothing that happens -in the Land of Oz escapes the notice of our wise -Sorceress, Glinda the Good. She knew all about -the magic-making of Dr. Pipt, and how he had -brought the Glass Cat and the Patchwork Girl -to life, and the accident to Unc Nunkie and -Margolotte, and of Ojo's quest and his journey -with Dorothy. Glinda also knew that Ojo would -fail to find all the things he sought, so she sent -for our Wizard and instructed him what to do. -Something is going to happen in this palace, -presently, and that 'something' will, I am sure, -please you all. And now," continued the girl -Ruler, rising from her chair, "you may follow -me into the next room." - - - - -Chapter Twenty-Eight - -The Wonderful Wizard of Oz - - -When Ojo entered the room he ran quickly to -the statue of Unc Nunkie and kissed the marble -face affectionately. - -"I did my best, Unc," he said, with a sob, "but -it was no use!" - -Then he drew back and looked around the room, -and the sight of the assembled company quite -amazed him. - -Aside from the marble statues of Unc Nunkie and -Margolotte, the Glass Cat was there, curled up on -a rug; and the Woozy was there, sitting on its -square hind legs and looking on the scene with -solemn interest; and there was the Shaggy Man, in -a suit of shaggy pea-green satin, and at a table -sat the little Wizard, looking quite important and -as if he knew much more than he cared to tell. - -Last of all, Dr. Pipt was there, and the -Crooked Magician sat humped up in a chair, -seeming very dejected but keeping his eyes fixed -on the lifeless form of his wife Margolotte, -whom he fondly loved but whom he now feared -was lost to him forever. - -Ozma took a chair which Jellia Jamb wheeled -forward for the Ruler, and back of her stood the -Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and Dorothy, as -well as the Cowardly Lion and the Hungry -Tiger. The Wizard now arose and made a low -bow to Ozma and another less deferent bow to -the assembled company. - -"Ladies and gentlemen and beasts," he said, -"I beg to announce that our Gracious Ruler has -permitted me to obey the commands of the great -Sorceress, Glinda the Good, whose humble Assistant -I am proud to be. We have discovered that the -Crooked Magician has been indulging in his magical -arts contrary to Law, and therefore, by Royal -Edict, I hereby deprive him of all power to work -magic in the future. He is no longer a crooked -magician, but a simple Munchkin; he is no longer -even crooked, but a man like other men. - -As he pronounced these words the Wizard -waved his hand toward Dr. Pipt and instantly -every crooked limb straightened out and became -perfect. The former magician, with a cry of joy, -sprang to his feet, looked at himself in wonder, -and then fell back in his chair and watched the -Wizard with fascinated interest. - -"The Glass Cat, which Dr. Pipt lawlessly -made," continued the Wizard, "is a pretty cat, -but its pink brains made it so conceited that it -was a disagreeable companion to everyone. So -the other day I took away the pink brains and -replaced them with transparent ones, and now -the Glass Cat is so modest and well behaved -that Ozma has decided to keep her in the palace -as a pet." - -"I thank you," said the cat, in a soft voice. - -"The Woozy has proved himself a good Woozy and a -faithful friend," the Wizard went on, "so we will -send him to the Royal Menagerie, where he will -have good care and plenty to eat all his life." - -"Much obliged," said the Woozy. "That beats -being fenced up in a lonely forest and starved." - -"As for the Patchwork Girl," resumed the Wizard, -"she is so remarkable in appearance, and so clever -and good tempered, that our Gracious Ruler intends -to preserve her carefully, as one of the -curiosities of the curious Land of Oz. Scraps may -live in the palace, or wherever she pleases, and -be nobody's servant but her own." - -"That's all right," said Scraps. - -"We have all been interested in Ojo," the little -Wizard continued, "because his love for his -unfortunate uncle has led him bravely to face all -sorts of dangers, in order that he might rescue -him. The Munchkin boy has a loyal and generous -heart and has done his best to restore Unc Nunkie -to life. He has failed, but there are others more -powerful than the Crooked Magician, and there are -more ways than Dr. Pipt knew of to destroy the -charm of the Liquid of Petrifaction. Glinda the -Good has told me of one way, and you shall now -learn how great is the knowledge and power of our -peerless Sorceress." - -As he said this the Wizard advanced to the -statue of Margolote and made a magic pass, at -the same time muttering a magic word that -none could hear distinctly. At once the woman -moved, turned her head wonderingly this way -and that, to note all who stood before her, and -seeing Dr. Pipt, ran forward and threw herself -into her husband's outstretched arms. - -Then the Wizard made the magic pass and -spoke the magic word before the statue of Unc -Nunkie. The old Munchkin immediately came -to life and with a low bow to the Wizard said: -"Thanks." - -But now Ojo rushed up and threw his arms -joyfully about his uncle, and the old man -hugged his little nephew tenderly and stroked -his hair and wiped away the boy's tears with a -handkerchief, for Ojo was crying from pure -happiness. - -Ozma came forward to congratulate them. - -"I have given to you, my dear Ojo and Unc -Nunkie, a nice house just outside the walls of -the Emerald City," she said, "and there you -shall make your future home and be under my -protection." - -"Didn't I say you were Ojo the Lucky?" -asked the Tin Woodman, as everyone crowded -around to shake Ojo's hand. - -"Yes; and it is true!" replied Ojo, gratefully. - - - - - -The Wonderful Oz Books by L. Frank Baum - -THE WIZARD OF OZ -THE LAND OF OZ -OZMA OF OZ -DOROTHY AND THE WIZARD IN OZ -THE ROAD TO OZ -THE EMERALD CITY OF OZ -THE PATCHWORK GIRL OF OZ -TIK-TOK OF OZ -THE SCARECROW OF OZ -RINKITINK IN OZ -THE LOST PRINCESS OF OZ -THE TIN WOODMAN OF OZ -THE MAGIC OF OZ -GLINDA OF OZ - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Etext of The Patchwork Girl of Oz by Baum - |