Chapter XXII.
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The try of the QuadlingsTHE FOUR TRAVELERS passed through the rest of the forest in safety, and when they came out from its gloom<tt></tt> saw before them a steep hill, covered from top to bottom with great pieces of rock.
"That will be a hard climb," said the Scarecrow, "but we must get over the hill, heless.”
So he led the way and the others followed. They had nearly reached the first rock when they heard a rough voice cry out, "Keep back!”
"Who are you?" asked the Scarecrow.
Then a head showed itself over the rod the same voice said, "This hill belongs to us, and we dont allow ao cross it.”
"But we must cross it," said the Scarecrow. "Were going to the try of the Quadlings.”
"But you shall not!" replied the voice, and there stepped from behind the rock the stra maravelers had ever seen.
He was quite short and stout and had a big head, which was flat at the top and supported by a thieck full of wrinkles.
But he had no arms at all, and, seeing this, the Scarecrow did not fear that so helpless a creature could prevent them from climbing the hill. So he said, "Im sorry not to do as you wish, but we must pass over your hill whether you like it or not,”
and he walked boldly forward.
As quick as lightning the mans head shot forward and his neck stretched out until the top of the head, where it was flat, struck the Scarecrow in the middle a him tumbling, over and over, down the hill. Almost as quickly as it came the head went back to the body, and the man laughed harshly as he said, "It isnt as easy as you think!”
A chorus of boisterous laughter came from the other rocks, and Dorothy saw hundreds of the armless Hammer-Heads upon the hillside, one behind every rock.
The Lion became quite angry at the laughter caused by the Scareishap, and giving a loud roar that echoed like thunder, he dashed up the hill.
Again a head shot swiftly out, and the great Lio rolling down the hill as if he had been struck by a on ball.
Dorothy ran down and helped the Scarecrow to his feet, and the Lion came up to her, feeling rather bruised and sore, and said, "It is useless to fight people with shooting heads; no one withstand them.”
"What we do, then?" she asked.
"Call the Winged Monkeys," suggested the Tin Woodman.
"You have still the right to and them once more.”
"Very well," she answered, and putting on the Golden Cap she uttered the magic <q></q>words. The Monkeys were as prompt as ever, and in a few moments the entire band stood before her.
"What are your ands?" inquired the King of the Mon- keys, bowing low.
"Carry us over the hill to the try of the Quadlings," an- swered the girl.
"It shall be done," said the King, and at ohe Winged Monkeys caught the four travelers and Toto up in their arms and fleith them. As they passed over the hill the Hammer-Heads yelled with vexation, and shot their heads high in the air, but they could not reach the Winged Monkeys, which carried Dorothy and her rades safely over the hill ahem down in the beautiful try of the Quadlings.
"This is the last time you summon us," said the leader to Dorothy; "so good-bye and good luck to you.”
"Good-bye, and thank you very much," returhe girl; and the Monkeys rose into the air and were out of sight in a twinkling.
The try of the Quadlings seemed rid happy.
There was field upon<cite></cite> field of ripening grain, with well-paved roads runniween, and pretty rippling brooks with strong bridges across them. The fences and houses and bridges were all painted bright red, just as they had been painted yellow in the try of the Winkies and blue in the try of the Muns. The Quadlings themselves, who were short and fat and looked chubby and good-natured, were dressed all in red, which showed bright against the green grass and the yel- lowing grain.
The Monkeys had set them down near a farmhouse, and the four travelers walked up to it and k the door. It ened by the farmers wife, and when Dorothy asked for something to eat the woman gave them all a good dinner, with three kinds of cake and four kinds of cookies, and a bowl of milk for Toto.
"How far is it to the Castle of Glinda?" asked the child.
"It is not a great way," answered the farmers wife. "Take the road to the South and you will soon reach it.
Thanking the good woman, they started afresh and walked by the fields and across the pretty bridges until they saw be- fore them a very beautiful Castle. Before the gates were three young girls, dressed in handsome red uniforms trimmed with gold braid; and as Dorothy approached, one of them said to her:
"Why have you e to the South try?”
"To see the Good Witch who rules here," she answered.
"Will you take me to her?”
"Let me have your name, and I will ask Glinda if she will receive you." They told who they were, and the girl soldier went into the Castle. After a few moments she came back to say that Dorothy and the others were to be admitted at once.
L. Frank Baum
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