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22. The Country of the Quadlings
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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