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Towardevening,thetravelersfoundtherewasnolongerapathtoguidethem,andthepurplehuesofthegrassandtreeswarnedthemthattheywerenowintheCountryoftheGillikins,wherestrangepeoplesdweltinplacesthatwerequitetotheotherinhabitantsofOz.
Thefieldswerewildanduncultivatedandtherewerenohousesofanysorttobeseen.
Butourfriendskeptonwalkingevenafterthesunwentdown,hopingtofindagoodplaceforWoottheWanderertosleep;butwhenitgrewquitedarkandtheboywaswearywithhislongwalk,theyhaltedrightinthemiddleofafieldandallowedWoottogethissupperfromthefoodhecarriedinhisknapsack.
ThentheScarecrowlaidhimselfdown,sothatWootcouldusehisstuffedbodyasapillow,andtheTinWoodmanstoodupbesidethemallnight,sothedampnessofthegroundmightnotrusthisjointsordullhisbrilliantpolish.
Wheneverthedewsettledonhisbodyhecarefullywipeditoffwithacloth,andsointhemorningtheEmperorshoneasbrightlyaseverintheraysoftherisingsun.
Theywakenedtheboyatdaybreak,theScarecrowsayingtohim:
“Wehavediscoveredsomethingqueer,andthereforewemustcounseltogetherwhattodoaboutit.”
“Whathaveyoudiscovered?”askedWoot,rubbingthesleepfromhiseyeswithhisknucklesandgivingthreewideyawnstoprovehewasfullyawake.
“ASign,”saidtheTinWoodman.“ASign,andanotherpath.”
“WhatdoestheSignsay?”inquiredtheboy.
“Itsaysthat‘AllStrangersareWarnednottoFollowthisPathtoLoonville,’”answeredtheScarecrow,whocouldreadverywellwhenhiseyeshadbeenfreshlypainted.
“Inthatcase,”saidtheboy,openinghisknapsacktogetsomebreakfast,“letustravelinsomeotherdirection.”
Butthisdidnotseemtopleaseeitherofhiscompanions.
“I’dliketoseewhatLoonvillelookslike,”remarkedtheTinWoodman.
“Whenonetravels,itisfoolishtomissanyinterestingsight,”addedtheScarecrow.
“Butawarningmeansdanger,”protestedWoottheWanderer,“andIbelieveitsensibletokeepoutofdangerwheneverwecan.”
Theymadenoreplytothisspeechforawhile.ThensaidtheScarecrow:
“Ihaveescapedsomanydangers,duringmylifetime,thatIamnotmuchafraidofanythingthatcanhappen.”
“NoramI!”exclaimedtheTinWoodman,swinginghisglitteringaxearoundhistinhead,inaseriesofcircles.
“Fewthingscaninjuretin,andmyaxeisapowerfulweapontouseagainstafoe.
Butourboyfriend,”hecontinued,lookingsolemnlyatWoot,“mightperhapsbeinjuredifthepeopleofLoonvillearereallydangerous;soIproposehewaitsherewhileyouandI,FriendScarecrow,visittheforbiddenCityofLoonville.”
“Don’tworryaboutme,”advisedWoot,calmly.
“Whereveryouwishtogo,Iwillgo,andshareyourdangers.
DuringmywanderingsIhavefounditmorewisetokeepoutofdangerthantoventurein,butatthattimeIwasalone,andnowIhavetwopowerfulfriendstoprotectme.”
So,whenhehadfinishedhisbreakfast,theyallsetoutalongthepaththatledtoLoonville.
“ItisaplaceIhaveneverheardofbefore,”remarkedtheScarecrow,astheyapproachedadenseforest.
“Theinhabitantsmaybepeople,ofsomesort,ortheymaybeanimals,butwhatevertheyprovetobe,wewillhaveaninterestingstorytorelatetoDorothyandOzmaonourreturn.”
Thepathledintotheforest,butthebigtreesgrewsocloselytogetherandthevinesandunderbrushweresothickandmattedthattheyhadtoclearapathateachstepinordertoproceed.
InoneortwoplacestheTinMan,whowentfirsttocleartheway,cutthebrancheswithablowofhisaxe.
Wootfollowednext,andlastofthethreecametheScarecrow,whocouldnothavekeptthepathatallhadnothiscomradesbrokenthewayforhisstraw-stuffedbody.
PresentlytheTinWoodmanpushedhiswaythroughsomeheavyunderbrush,andalmosttumbledheadlongintoavastclearedspaceintheforest.
Theclearingwascircular,bigandroomy,yetthetopbranchesofthetalltreesreachedoverandformedacompletedomeorroofforit.
Strangelyenough,itwasnotdarkinthisimmensenaturalchamberinthewoodland,fortheplaceglowedwithasoft,whitelightthatseemedtocomefromsomeunseensource.
Inthechamberweregroupeddozensofqueercreatures,andthesesoastonishedtheTinManthatWoothadtopushhismetalbodyaside,thathemightsee,too.
AndtheScarecrowpushedWootaside,sothatthethreetravelersstoodinarow,staringwithalltheireyes.
Thecreaturestheybeheldwereroundandball-like;roundinbody,roundinlegsandarms,roundinhandsandfeetandroundofhead.
Theonlyexceptiontotheroundnesswasaslighthollowonthetopofeachhead,makingitsaucer-shapedinsteadofdome-shaped.
Theyworenoclothesontheirpuffybodies,norhadtheyanyhair.
Theirskinswereallofalightgraycolor,andtheireyesweremerepurplespots.
Theirnoseswereaspuffyastherestofthem.
“Aretheyrubber,doyouthink?”askedtheScarecrow,whonoticedthatthecreaturesbounded,astheymoved,andseemedalmostaslightasair.
“Itisdifficulttotellwhattheyare,”answeredWoot,“theyseemtobecoveredwithwarts.”
TheLoons—forsothesefolkswerecalled—hadbeendoingmanythings,someplayingtogether,someworkingattasksandsomegatheredingroupstotalk;butatthesoundofstrangevoices,whichechoedratherloudlythroughtheclearing,allturnedinthedirectionoftheintruders.
Then,inabody,theyallrushedforward,runningandboundingwithtremendousspeed.
TheTinWoodmanwassosurprisedbythissuddendashthathehadnotimetoraisehisaxebeforetheLoonswereonthem.
Thecreaturesswungtheirpuffyhands,whichlookedlikeboxing-gloves,andpoundedthethreetravelersashardastheycould,onallsides.
Theblowswerequitesoftanddidnothurtourfriendsatall,buttheonslaughtquitebewilderedthem,sothatinabriefperiodallthreewereknockedoverandfellflatupontheground.
Oncedown,manyoftheLoonsheldthem,topreventtheirgettingupagain,whileotherswoundlongtendrilsofvinesaboutthem,bindingtheirarmsandlegstotheirbodiesandsorenderingthemhelpless.
“Aha!”criedthebiggestLoonofall;“we’vegot‘emsafe;solet’scarry‘emtoKingBalandhave‘emtried,andcondemnedandperforated!”
Theyhadtodragtheircaptivestothecenterofthedomedchamber,fortheirweight,ascomparedwiththatoftheLoons,preventedtheirbeingcarried.
EventheScarecrowwasmuchheavierthanthepuffyLoons.
Butfinallythepartyhaltedbeforearaisedplatform,onwhichstoodasortofthrone,consistingofabig,widechairwithastringtiedtoonearmofit.
Thisstringledupwardtotheroofofthedome.
Arrangedbeforetheplatform,theprisonerswereallowedtositup,facingtheemptythrone.
“Good!”saidthebigLoonwhohadcommandedtheparty.“NowtogetKingBaltojudgetheseterriblecreatureswehavesobravelycaptured.”
Ashespokehetookholdofthestringandbegantopullashardashecould.
Oneortwooftheothershelpedhimandprettysoon,astheydrewinthecord,theleavesabovethempartedandaLoonappearedattheotherendofthestring.
Itdidn’ttakelongtodrawhimdowntothethrone,whereheseatedhimselfandwastiedin,sohewouldn’tfloatupwardagain.
“Hello,”saidtheKing,blinkinghispurpleeyesathisfollowers;“what’supnow!”
“Strangers,yourMajesty—strangersandcaptives,”repliedthebigLoon,pompously.
“Dearme!Isee‘em.
Isee‘emveryplainly,”exclaimedtheKing,hispurpleeyesbulgingoutashelookedatthethreeprisoners.“Whatcuriousanimals!
Aretheydangerous,doyouthink,mygoodPanta?”
“I’m‘fraidso,yourMajesty.Ofcourse,theymaynotbedangerous,butwemustn’ttakechances.
EnoughaccidentshappentouspoorLoonsasitis,andmyadviceistocondemnandperforate‘emasquicklyaspossible.”
“Keepyouradvicetoyourself,”saidthemonarch,inapeevedtone.“Who’sKinghere,anyhow?YouorMe?”
“WemadeyouourKingbecauseyouhavelesscommonsensethantherestofus,”answeredPantaLoon,indignantly.
“IcouldhavebeenKingmyself,hadIwantedto,butIdidn’tcareforthehardworkandresponsibility.”
Ashesaidthis,thebigLoonstruttedbackandforthinthespacebetweenthethroneofKingBalandtheprisoners,andtheotherLoonsseemedmuchimpressedbyhisdefiance.
ButsuddenlytherecameasharpreportandPantaLooninstantlydisappeared,tothegreatastonishmentoftheScarecrow,theTinWoodmanandWoottheWanderer,whosawonthespotwherethebigfellowhadstoodalittleheapofflabby,wrinkledskinthatlookedlikeacollapsedrubberballoon.
“There!”exclaimedtheKing;“Iexpectedthatwouldhappen.
Theconceitedrascalwantedtopuffhimselfupuntilhewasbiggerthantherestofyou,andthisistheresultofhisfolly.
Getthepumpworking,someofyou,andblowhimupagain.”
“Wewillhavetomendthepuncturefirst,yourMajesty,”suggestedoneoftheLoons,andtheprisonersnoticedthatnoneofthemseemedsurprisedorshockedatthesadaccidenttoPanta.
“Allright,”grumbledtheKing.“FetchTiltomendhim.”
Oneortworanawayandpresentlyreturned,followedbyaladyLoonwearinghuge,puffed-uprubberskirts.
Alsoshehadapurplefeatherfastenedtoawartonthetopofherhead,andaroundherwaistwasasashoffibre-likevines,driedandtough,thatlookedlikestrings.
“Gettowork,Til,”commandedKingBal.“Pantahasjustexploded.”
TheladyLoonpickedupthebunchofskinandexamineditcarefullyuntilshediscoveredaholeinonefoot.
Thenshepulledastrandofstringfromhersash,anddrawingtheedgesoftheholetogether.
shetiedthemfastwiththestring,thusmakingoneofthosecuriouswartswhichthestrangershadnoticedonsomanyLoons.
Havingdonethis,TilLoontossedthebitofskintotheotherLoonsandwasabouttogoawaywhenshenoticedtheprisonersandstoppedtoinspectthem.
“Dearme!”saidTil;“whatdreadfulcreatures.Wheredidtheycomefrom?”
“Wecapturedthem,”repliedoneoftheLoons.
“Andwhatarewegoingtodowiththem?”inquiredthegirlLoon.
“Perhapswe’llcondemn‘emandpuncture‘em,”answeredtheKing.
“Well,”saidshe,stilleyeingthem,“I’mnotsurethey’llpuncture.Let’stryit,andsee.”
OneoftheLoonsrantotheforest’sedgeandquicklyreturnedwithalong,sharpthorn.
HeglancedattheKing,whonoddedhisheadinassent,andthenherushedforwardandstuckthethornintothelegoftheScarecrow.
TheScarecrowmerelysmiledandsaidnothing,forthethorndidn’thurthimatall.
ThentheLoontriedtopricktheTinWoodman’sleg,butthetinonlybluntedthepointofthethorn.
“JustasIthought,”saidTil,blinkingherpurpleeyesandshakingherpuffyhead;butjustthentheLoonstuckthethornintothelegofWoottheWanderer,andwhileithadbeenbluntedsomewhat,itwasstillsharpenoughtohurt.
“Ouch!”yelledWoot,andkickedouthislegwithsomuchenergythatthefrailbondsthattiedhimburstapart.
HisfootcaughttheLoon—whowasleaningoverhim—fullonhispuffystomach,andsenthimshootingupintotheair.
Whenhewashighovertheirheadsheexplodedwithaloud“pop”andhisskinfelltotheground.
“Ireallybelieve,”saidtheKing,rollinghisspotlikeeyesinafrightenedway,“thatPantawasrightinclaimingtheseprisonersaredangerous.Isthepumpready?”
SomeoftheLoonshadwheeledabigmachineinfrontofthethroneandnowtookPanta’sskinandbegantopumpairintoit.SlowlyitswelledoutuntiltheKingcried“Stop!”
“No,no!”yelledPanta,“I’mnotbigenoughyet.”
“You’reasbigasyou’regoingtobe,”declaredtheKing.
“Beforeyouexplodedyouwerebiggerthantherestofus,andthatcausedyoutobeproudandoverbearing.
Nowyou’realittlesmallerthantherest,andyouwilllastlongerandbemorehumble.”
“Pumpmeup—pumpmeup!”wailedPanta“Ifyoudon’tyou’llbreakmyheart.”
“Ifwedowe’llbreakyourskin,”repliedtheKing.
SotheLoonsstoppedpumpingairintoPanta,andpushedhimawayfromthepump.Hewascertainlymorehumblethanbeforehisaccident,forhecreptintothebackgroundandsaidnothingmore.
“Nowpumpuptheotherone,”orderedtheKing.Tilhadalreadymendedhim,andtheLoonssettoworktopumphimfullofair.
Duringtheselastfewmomentsnonehadpaidmuchattentiontotheprisoners,soWoot,findinghislegsfree,creptovertotheTinWoodmanandrubbedthebondsthatwerestillaroundhisarmsandbodyagainstthesharpedgeoftheaxe,whichquicklycutthem.
Theboywasnowfree,andthethornwhichtheLoonhadstuckintohislegwaslyingunnoticedontheground,wherethecreaturehaddroppeditwhenheexploded.
Wootleanedforwardandpickedupthethorn,andwhiletheLoonswerebusywatchingthepump,theboysprangtohisfeetandsuddenlyrusheduponthegroup.
“Pop”—“pop”—“pop!”wentthreeoftheLoons,whentheWandererprickedthemwithhisthorn,andatthesoundstheotherslookedaroundandsawtheirdanger.
Withyellsoffeartheyboundedawayinalldirections,scatteringabouttheclearing,withWoottheWandererinfullchase.
Whiletheycouldrunmuchfasterthantheboy,theyoftenstumbledandfell,orgotinoneanother’sway,sohemanagedtocatchseveralandprickthemwithhisthorn.
ItastonishedhimtoseehoweasilytheLoonsexploded.
Whentheairwasletoutofthemtheywerequitehelpless.
TilLoonwasoneofthosewhoranagainsthisthornandmanyotherssufferedthesamefate.
Thecreaturescouldnotescapefromtheenclosure,butintheirfrightmanyboundedupwardandcaughtbranchesofthetrees,andthenclimbedoutofreachofthedreadedthorn.
Wootwasgettingprettytiredchasingthem,sohestoppedandcameover,panting,towherehisfriendsweresitting,stillbound.
“Verywelldone,myWanderer,”saidtheTinWoodman.
“Itisevidentthatweneedfearthesepuffed-upcreaturesnolonger,sobekindenoughtounfastenourbondsandwewillproceeduponourjourney.”
WootuntiedthebondsoftheScarecrowandhelpedhimtohisfeet.
ThenhefreedtheTinWoodman,whogotupwithouthelp.
Lookingaroundthem,theysawthattheonlyLoonnowremainingwithinreachwasBalLoon,theKing,whohadremainedseatedinhisthrone,watchingthepunishmentofhispeoplewithabewilderedlookinhispurpleeyes.
“ShallIpuncturetheKing?”theboyaskedhiscompanions.
KingBalmusthaveoverheardthequestion,forhefumbledwiththecordthatfastenedhimtothethroneandmanagedtoreleaseit.
Thenhefloatedupwarduntilhereachedtheleafydome,andpartingthebrancheshedisappearedfromsight.
Butthestringthatwastiedtohisbodywasstillconnectedwiththearmofthethrone,andtheyknewtheycouldpullhisMajestydownagain,iftheywantedto.
“Lethimalone,”suggestedtheScarecrow.
“Heseemsagoodenoughkingforhispeculiarpeople,andafterwearegone,theLoonswillhavesomethingofajobtopumpupallthosewhomWoothaspunctured.”
“Everyoneofthemoughttobeexploded,”declaredWoot,whowasangrybecausehislegstillhurthim.
“No,”saidtheTinWoodman,“thatwouldnotbejustfair.
Theywerequiterighttocaptureus,becausewehadnobusinesstointrudehere,havingbeenwarnedtokeepawayfromLoonville.
Thisistheircountry,notours,andsincethepoorthingscan’tgetoutoftheclearing,theycanharmnoonesavethosewhoventurehereoutofcuriosity,aswedid.”
“Wellsaid,myfriend,”agreedtheScarecrow.“Wereallyhadnorighttodisturbtheirpeaceandcomfort;soletusgoaway.”
Theyeasilyfoundtheplacewheretheyhadforcedtheirwayintotheenclosure,sotheTinWoodmanpushedasidetheunderbrushandstartedfirstalongthepath.
TheScarecrowfollowednextandlastcameWoot,wholookedbackandsawthattheLoonswerestillclingingtotheirperchesonthetreesandwatchingtheirformercaptiveswithfrightenedeyes.
“Iguessthey’regladtoseethelastofus,”remarkedtheboy,andlaughingatthehappyendingoftheadventure,hefollowedhiscomradesalongthepath.
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