The four travelers passed through
the rest of the forest in safety,
and when they came out from its
gloom 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, nevertheless."
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 rock
and the same voice said, "This
hill belongs to us, and we don't
allow anyone to cross it."
"But we must cross it," said
the Scarecrow. "We're going to
the country of the Quadlings."
"But you shall not!" replied
the voice, and there stepped
from behind the rock the strangest
man the travelers had ever seen.
He was quite
short and stout and had a big
head, which was
flat at the top and supported
by a thick neck 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, "I'm 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 man's head shot
forward and his neck
stretched out until the top of
the head, where it was flat,
struck the Scarecrow in the middle
and sent 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
isn't 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
Scarecrow's mishap, and giving
a loud roar that echoed like
thunder, he dashed up the hill.
Again a head shot swiftly out,
and the great Lion went rolling
down the hill as if he had been
struck by a cannon 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 can withstand them."
"What can we do, then?" she
asked.
"Call the Winged Monkeys," suggested
the Tin Woodman. "You have still
the right to command them once
more."
"Very well," she
answered, and putting on the
Golden Cap
she uttered the magic words.
The Monkeys were as prompt as
ever, and in a few moments the
entire band stood before her.
"What are your commands?" inquired
the King of the Monkeys, bowing
low.
"Carry us over the hill to
the country of the Quadlings," answered
the girl.
"It shall be done," said
the King, and at once the Winged
Monkeys caught the four travelers
and Toto up in their arms and
flew away with 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 comrades safely
over the hill and set them down
in the beautiful country of the
Quadlings.
"This is the last time you
can summon us," said the leader
to Dorothy; "so good-bye and
good luck to you."
"Good-bye, and thank you very
much," returned the girl; and
the Monkeys rose into the air
and were out of sight in a twinkling.
The country of the Quadlings
seemed rich and happy. There
was field upon field of ripening
grain, with well-paved roads
running between, 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 country of the
Winkies and blue in the country
of the Munchkins. 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 yellowing grain.
The Monkeys had set them down
near a farmhouse, and the four
travelers walked up to it and
knocked at the door. It was opened
by the farmer's 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 farmer's 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 before
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
come to the South Country?"
"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.
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