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〃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； hehe〃
〃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 da