The Patchwork Girl of Oz

an to th

unding back to say that the road of yellow bricks was just before them.

All its length and breadth was paved with smooth bricks of a bright yellow color, so it was smooth and level except

ooking up and down the

bound for?" a

ld City,"

know this road pretty well, for I'v

n to the Emerald C

s you may have noticed, so I ha

f men?" inquired

e, shudderful growl? I should say not. I am

c Nunkie has told me that Ozma, our girl Ruler, is very lovely and kind, and tries to help everyone who is in troub

Cat, in a nervous voice. "I'm a little brittl

of my lovely patches it would brea

u have a heart,"

ted Scraps. "Do you think they are all

replied; and then, looking ahead of the

upon and the travelers hurried fo

t all," said Scraps; "they

ly from side to side, although no wind was blowing. But the most curious thing about the swaying leaves was their color. They seemed to have a general groundwork of blue, but here and there other colors glinted at times through the blue-gorgeous yellows, turning to pink, purple, orange and scarlet, mingled with more sober browns and grays-each appe

Girl. Swiftly it enveloped her in its embrace, covering her comp

from the center of the folded leaf. But, before he could think what he ought to do to save her, another leaf bent down and captur

e Woozy. "Run! Run f

. But the last leaf of the row of plants seized the beas

ions and as he stood hesitating one of them clutched him in its embrace. In a flash he was in the dark. Then he

me go! Let me go!" But neither struggles nor protests had any

pon him when he remembered that all his little party had be

iserably. "I'm Ojo the Unlucky, and some

hick and firm. It was like a great bandage all around him and he found

n his life, in order to feed itself. The little Munchkin boy had never heard of any person dying in the Land of Oz, but he knew one could suffer a gre

. By and by he thought he heard a whistle, as of some one whistling a tune. Yes; it really must be some one whistling, he decided, for he could follow the strains of a pr

earer came the sounds and then they seemed to be j

ngth the folds slowly relaxed and set him free. He scrambled quickly to his feet and found that a st

s all shaggy around the brim. Rich but shaggy laces were at his throat; a coat with shaggy edges was decorated with diamond buttons; the velvet breeches had jeweled buckles at the knees and

d at the sight of this stranger; and t

d the other, with a smi

he boy, nodding. "Was it you

e. But take care, or I shal

him; but the Shaggy Man began to whistle again, and at the sou

ast the last of the great plants, and not till he was

ill. I always whistle as I go by 'em and so they always let me alone. To-day as I went by, whistling, I saw a leaf curled an

"and I thank you. Will you ple

ons?" asked t

all," said the boy. "Ther

wha

now. She's alive and her name is

sked the S

gla

ali

e has pink brains. A

y?" inquired t

tly perplexed. "But it's a queer animal with three h

ut?" asked the Sha

ee the Woozy, if you'll please rescue i

were curled around Ojo's traveling companions. The first leaf he cut down released Scraps, and on seeing her the Shaggy Man threw back his shaggy head,

. I must introduce you to

him panting and trembling. The last plant of all the row had captured the Woozy, and a big bunch in the center of the curled leaf showed plainly where he was. With his sha