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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 allit'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 jokefor a Hornerand 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