Oz 06: Emerald City of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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. upon a table were paints and brushes, while several pair of scissors, of different sizes, were lying about .

" sit down, please," said miss Cuttenclip, clearing the paper scraps off some_of_the chairs ." it_is so_long since I_have_had any visitors that I_am not properly prepared to receive them . but I'm sure you_will pardon my untidy room, for_this is my workshop ."

" do_you make all the paper dolls ? " inquired Dorothy .

" yes; I cut them out with my scissors, and paint the faces and some_of_the costumes . it_is very pleasant work, and I_am happy making my paper village grow ."

" but how do_the paper dolls happen to_be alive ? " asked aunt Em .

" the first dolls I_made were_not alive," said miss Cuttenclip ."I used to live near the castle of a great sorceress named Glinda the good, and she saw my dolls and said they were very pretty . i_told her i_thought i_would like them better if_they were alive, and_the next_day the sorceress brought me alot of magic paper .' this_is live paper,' she said, ' and all the dolls you cut out of it_will_be alive, and able to_think and to_talk . when_you have used it all up, come to_me and_I_will give_you more .'

" of_course i_was delighted with_this present," continued miss Cuttenclip, " and at once set to work and made several paper dolls, which, as_soon_as they were cut out, began to walk around and talk to_me . but they were so thin that I_found that any breeze would blow them over and scatter them dreadfully; so Glinda found this lonely place for_me, where few people ever come . she built the wall to_keep any wind from blowing away my people, and told me I_could build a paper village here and be its queen . that_is why I_came here and settled down to work and started the village you now see . it_was many years_ago that I built the first houses, and I've kept pretty busy and made my village grow finely; and I_need not tell you that I_am very happy in my work ."

" many years_ago ! " exclaimed aunt Em ." why, how old are_you, child ? "

"I never keep track of_the years," said miss Cuttenclip, laughing ." you_see, I don't grow up at all, but stay just the same as i_was when first I_came here . perhaps I'm older even than you_are, madam; but I couldn't say for sure ."

they looked at_the lovely little girl wonderingly, and_the wizard asked:

" what happens to your paper village when it rains ? "

" it does_not rain here," replied miss Cuttenclip ."Glinda keeps all the rain storms away; so I never worry about_my dolls getting wet . but now, if_you_will come with me, it_will give_me pleasure to show you over my paper kingdom . of_course you_must go slowly and carefully, and avoid making any breeze ."

they left the cottage and followed their guide through_the various streets of_the village . it_was indeed an amazing place, when one considered that_it_was all made with scissors, and_the visitors were_not only greatly interested but full of admiration for_the skill of little miss Cuttenclip .

in one place a large group of especially nice paper dolls assembled to greet their queen, whom it_was easy to_see they loved early . these dolls marched and danced before_the visitors, and then they all waved their paper handkerchiefs and sang in a sweet chorus a song called " the flag of_our native land ."

at_the conclusion of_the song they ran up a handsome paper flag on a tall flagpole, and all of_the people of_the village gathered around to cheer as loudly as they_could-- although, of_course, their voices were_not especially strong .

miss Cuttenclip was about to_make her subjects a speech in reply to_this patriotic song, when_the shaggy man happened to sneeze .

he_was a very loud and powerful sneezer at any_time, and he had tried so hard to hold in_this sneeze that when it suddenly exploded the result was terrible .

the paper dolls were mowed down by dozens, and flew and fluttered in wild confusion in every direction, tumbling this_way and_that and getting more or less wrinkled and bent .

a wail of terror and grief came from_the scattered throng, and miss Cuttenclip exclaimed:

" dear me ! dear me ! " and hurried at once to_the rescue of her overturned people .

"Oh, shaggy man ! how could you ? " asked Dorothy, reproachfully .

"I couldn't help it-- really I couldn't," protested the shaggy man, looking quite ashamed ." and I had no idea it took so little to upset these paper dolls ."

" so little ! " said Dorothy ." why, it_was ' most as bad as a Kansas cyclone ." and then she helped miss Cuttenclip rescue the paper folk and stand them on their feet again . two of_the cardboard houses had also tumbled over, and_the little queen said she would_have to repair them and paste them together before_they could_be lived in again .

and now, fearing they_might do more damage to_the flimsy paper people, they decided to_go away . but first they thanked miss Cuttenclip very warmly for her courtesy and kindness to_them .

" any friend of princess Ozma is always welcome here-- unless he sneezes," said the queen with a rather severe look at_the shaggy man, who hung his head ."I like to_have visitors admire my wonderful village, and I_hope_you_will call again ."

miss Cuttenclip herself led them to_the door in_the wall, and as_they passed along the street the paper dolls peeped at them half fearfully from_the doors and windows . perhaps they_will never forget the shaggy man's awful sneeze, and I_am_sure they were all glad_to_see the meat people go away .

11 . how the general Met the first and foremost

on leaving the Growleywogs general Guph had to recross the ripple Lands, and he_did_not find it a pleasant thing to_do . perhaps having his whiskers pulled out one by one and being used as a pin- cushion for_the innocent amusement of a good natured jailer had_not improved the quality of Guph's temper, for_the old Nome raved and raged at_the recollection of_the wrongs he had suffered, and vowed to_take vengeance upon_the Growleywogs after he had used them for_his purposes and Oz had_been conquered . he went on in_this furious way until he_was half across the ripple land . then he became seasick, and_the rest of_the way this naughty Nome was almost as miserable as he deserved to_be .

but when he reached the plains again and_the ground was firm under his feet he began to_feel better, and instead of going back home he turned directly west .a squirrel, perched in a tree, saw him take this road and called to him warningly: " look out ! " but he paid no attention . an eagle paused in its flight through_the air to look at him wonderingly and say: " look out ! " but on he went .

no one can_say that Guph was not brave, for he had determined to visit those dangerous creatures the Phanfasms, who resided upon_the very top of_the dread mountain of Phantastico . the Phanfasms were Erbs, and so dreaded by mortals and immortals alike that no one had_been near their mountain home for several thousand years . yet general Guph hoped to induce them to join in_his proposed warfare against the good and happy Oz people .

Guph knew very_well that_the Phanfasms would_be almost as dangerous to_the Nomes as they_would to_the Ozites, but he thought himself so clever that he believed he_could manage these strange creatures and make them obey him . and there_was no_doubt at all that if he_could enlist the services of_the Phanfasms, their tremendous power, united to_the strength of_the Growleywogs and_the cunning of_the Whimsies would doom the land of Oz to absolute destruction .

so the old Nome climbed the foothills and trudged along the wild mountain paths until he_came to a big gully that encircled the mountain of Phantastico and marked the boundary line of_the dominion of_the Phanfasms . this gully was about a third of_the way up the mountain, and it_was filled to_the brim with red- hot molten lava in_which swam fire-serpents and poisonous salamanders . the heat from_this mass and its poisonous smell were both so unbearable that even birds hesitated to fly over the gully, but circled around it . all living things kept away from_the mountain .

now Guph had heard, during his long lifetime, many tales of_these dreaded Phanfasms; so he had heard of_this barrier of melted lava, and also he had_been told that there_was a narrow bridge that spanned it in one place . so he walked along the edge until he_found the bridge . it_was a single arch of gray stone, and lying flat upon_the bridge was a scarlet alligator, seemingly fast asleep .

when Guph stumbled over the rocks in approaching the bridge the creature opened its eyes, from_which tiny flames shot in all directions, and after looking at_the intruder very wickedly the scarlet alligator closed its eyelids again and lay still .

Guph saw there_was no room for him to_pass the alligator on_the narrow bridge, so he_called out to_it:

" good morning, friend .I don't wish to hurry you, but please tell me if_you_are coming down, or going up ? "

" neither," snapped the alligator, clicking its cruel jaws together .

the general hesitated .

" are_you likely to stay there long ? " he asked .

"A few hundred years or so," said the alligator .

Guph softly rubbed the end of_his nose and tried to_think what to_do .

" do_you_know whether the first and foremost Phanfasm of Phantastico is at home or not ? " he presently inquired .

"I expect he_is, seeing he_is always at home," replied the alligator .

"Ah; who is_that coming down the mountain ? " asked the Nome, gazing upward .

the alligator turned to look over its shoulder, and at once Guph ran to_the bridge and leaped over the sentinel's back before it could turn back again . the scarlet monster made a snap at_the Nome's left foot, but missed it by fully an inch .

"Ah ha ! " laughed the general, who was now on_the mountain path ."I fooled you that_time ."

" so you_did; and perhaps you fooled yourself," retorted the alligator ." go up the mountain, if_you dare, and find out what the first and foremost will do to_you ! "

" i_will," declared Guph, boldly; and on he went up the path .

at first the scene was wild enough, but gradually it grew more and more awful in appearance . all the rocks had the shapes of frightful beings and even the tree trunks were gnarled and twisted like serpents .

suddenly there appeared before_the Nome a man with_the head of an owl . his body was hairy like that of an ape, and_his only clothing was a scarlet scarf twisted around his waist . he bore a huge club in_his hand and_his round owl eyes blinked fiercely upon_the intruder .

" what_are you doing here ? " he demanded, threatening Guph with_his club .

"I've come to_see the first and foremost Phanfasm of Phantastico," replied the general, who did_not like the way this creature looked at him, but still was not afraid .

"Ah; you shall see him ! " the man said, with asneering laugh ." the first and foremost shall decide upon_the best way to punish you ."

" he_will_not punish me," returned Guph, calmly, " for I_have come here to_do him and_his people a rare favor . lead on, fellow, and take me directly to your master ."

the owl- man raised his club with athreatening gesture .

" if_you try to escape," he_said, " beware--"

but here the general interrupted him .

" spare your threats," said he, " and do_not be impertinent, or i_will_have you severely punished . lead on, and keep silent ! "

this Guph was really a clever rascal, and it seems a pity he_was so bad, for in a good cause he_might_have accomplished much . he realized that he had put himself into a dangerous position by coming to_this dreadful mountain, but he also knew that if he showed fear he_was lost . so he adopted a bold manner as his best defense . the wisdom of_this plan was soon evident, for_the Phanfasm with_the owl's head turned and led the way up the mountain .

at_the very top was a level plain upon_which were heaps of rock that at first glance seemed solid . but on looking closer Guph discovered that_these rock heaps were dwellings, for each had an opening .

not a person was to_be seen outside the rock huts . all was silent .

the owl- man led the way among_the groups of dwellings to one standing in_the center . it seemed no better and no worse than any of_the others . outside the entrance to_this rock heap the guide gave a low wail that sounded like "Lee-ow-ah ! "

suddenly there bounded from_the opening another hairy man . this_one wore the head of a bear . in_his hand he bore a brass hoop . he glared at_the stranger in evident surprise .

" why have_you captured this foolish wanderer and brought him here ? " he demanded, addressing the owl- man .

" I_did_not capture him," was_the answer ." he passed the scarlet alligator and came here of_his own free will and accord ."

the first and foremost looked at_the general .

" have_you tired of life, then ? " he asked .

" no indeed," answered Guph ." I_am aNome, and_the chief general of king Roquat the red's great

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