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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.

23. Glinda The Good Witch Grants Dorothy's Wish

Before they went to see Glinda, however, they were taken to a

room of the Castle, where Dorothy washed her face and combed her

hair, and the Lion shook the dust out of his mane, and the

Scarecrow patted himself into his best shape, and the Woodman

polished his tin and oiled his joints.

When they were all quite presentable they followed the soldier

girl into a big room where the Witch Glinda sat upon a throne of rubies.

She was both beautiful and young to their eyes. Her hair was

a rich red in color and fell in flowing ringlets over her shoulders.

Her dress was pure white but her eyes were blue, and they looked

kindly upon the little girl.

"What can I do for you, my child?"