Oz 07: The Patchwork Girl of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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of_our own . but I guess we'll have to_go, if we_want that gill of water from_the dark well ."

so they said good-bye to_the Pumpkinhead and resumed their travels, heading now directly toward the south country, where mountains and rocks and caverns and forests of great trees abounded . this part of_the land of Oz, while it belonged to Ozma and owed her allegiance, was so wild and secluded that many queer peoples hid in its jungles and lived in their own way, without even a knowledge that_they had a ruler in_the emerald city . if_they were left alone, these creatures never troubled the inhabitants of_the rest of Oz, but those who invaded their domains encountered many dangers from_them .

it_was a two days journey from jack Pumkinhead's house to_the edge of_the Quadling country, for neither Dorothy nor Ojo could walk very fast and_they often stopped by_the wayside to rest . the first night they slept on_the broad fields, among_the buttercups and daisies, and_the Scarecrow covered the children with a gauze blanket taken from_his knapsack, so they would_not_be chilled by_the night air . toward evening of_the second day they reached a sandy plain where walking was difficult; but some distance before them they saw a group of palm trees, with many curious black dots under them; so they trudged bravely on to reach that place by dark and spend the night under the shelter of_the trees .

the black dots grew larger as_they advanced and although the light was dim Dorothy thought they looked like big kettles turned upside down . just beyond this place a jumble of huge, jagged rocks lay scattered, rising to_the mountains behind them .

our travelers preferred to attempt to climb these rocks by daylight, and_they realized that for a time this_would_be their last night on_the plains .

twilight had fallen by_the_time they came to_the trees, beneath which were the black, circular objects they had marked from a distance .Dozens of_them were scattered around and Dorothy bent near to one, which_was about as tall as she was, to examine it more closely . as she did so the top flew open and out popped a dusky creature, rising its length into_the air and then plumping down upon_the ground just beside the little girl . another and another popped out_of_the circular, pot- like dwelling, while from all the other black objects came popping more creatures-- very like jumping-jacks when their boxes are unhooked-- until fully a hundred stood gathered around our little group of travelers .

by_this_time Dorothy had discovered they were people, tiny and curiously formed, but still people . their skins were dusky and their hair stood straight up, like wires, and was brilliant scarlet in color . their bodies were bare except for skins fastened around their waists and_they wore bracelets on their ankles and wrists, and necklaces, and great pendant earrings .

Toto crouched beside his mistress and wailed as_if he_did_not like these strange creatures a bit .Scraps began to mutter something about "hoppity, poppity, jumpity, dump ! " but no one paid any attention to her .Ojo kept close to_the Scarecrow and_the Scarecrow kept close to Dorothy; but the little girl turned to_the queer creatures and asked:

" who_are you ? "

they answered this question all together, in a sort of chanting chorus, the words being as follows:

" we're the jolly Tottenhots; we_do_not like the day, but in_the night 'tis our delight to gambol, skip and play .

" we hate the sun and from_it run, the moon is cool and clear, so on_this spot each Tottenhot Waits for_it to appear .

" we're ev'ry one chock full of fun, and full of mischief, too; but if_you're gay and with_us play we'll do no harm to_you .

" glad to meet you, Tottenhots," said the Scarecrow solemnly ." but you mustn't expect us to play with_you all night, for we've traveled all day and some of us are tired ."

" and we never gamble," added the patchwork girl ." it's against the law ."

these remarks were greeted with shouts of laughter by_the impish creatures and one seized the Scarecrow's arm and was astonished to_find the straw man whirl around so easily . so the Tottenhot raised the Scarecrow high in_the air and tossed him over the heads of_the crowd . some one caught him and tossed him back, and so with shouts of glee they continued throwing the Scarecrow here and there, as_if he had_been a basket- ball .

presently another imp seized Scraps and began to throw her about, in_the same way . they found her a little heavier than_the Scarecrow but still light enough to_be tossed like a sofa- cushion, and_they were enjoying the sport immensely when Dorothy, angry and indignant at_the treatment her friends were receiving, rushed among_the Tottenhots and began slapping and pushing them until she had rescued the Scarecrow and_the patchwork girl and held them close on either side of her . perhaps she_would not have accomplished this victory so easily had_not Toto helped her, barking and snapping at_the bare legs of_the imps until they were glad to flee from_his attack . as for Ojo, some_of_the creatures had attempted to toss him, also, but finding his body too heavy they threw him to_the ground and a row of_the imps sat on him and held him from assisting Dorothy in her battle .

the little brown folks were much surprised at being attacked by_the girl and_the dog, and one_or_two who had_been slapped hardest began to cry . then suddenly they gave a shout, all together, and disappeared in a flash into their various houses, the tops of_which closed with a series of pops that sounded like a bunch of firecrackers being exploded .

the adventurers now found themselves alone, and Dorothy asked anxiously:

" is anybody hurt ? "

" not me," answered the Scarecrow ." they_have given my straw a good shaking up and taken all the lumps out of it . I_am now in splendid condition and am really obliged to_the Tottenhots for their kind treatment ."

" I_feel much the same way," said Scraps ." my cotton stuffing had sagged a good_deal with_the day's walking and_they've loosened it up until I_feel as plump as a sausage . but the play was a little rough and I'd had quite enough of it when_you interfered ."

"Six of_them sat on me," said Ojo, " but as_they_are so little they didn't hurt me much ."

just then the roof of_the house in front of_them opened and aTottenhot stuck his head out, very cautiously, and looked at_the strangers .

" can't you take a joke ? " he asked, reproachfully; " haven't you any fun in you at all ? "

" if I had such a quality," replied the Scarecrow, " your people would_have knocked it out of me . but I don't bear grudges .I forgive you ."

" so do I," added Scraps ." that_is, if_you behave yourselves after_this ."

" it_was just a little rough- house, that's all," said the Tottenhot ." but the question is_not if we_will behave, but if_you_will behave ? we_can't be shut up here all night, because this_is our time to play; nor do we care to_come out and be chewed up by a savage beast or slapped by an angry girl . that slapping hurts like sixty; some of_my folks are crying about_it . so here's the proposition: you let_us alone and we'll let you alone ."

" you began it," declared Dorothy .

" well, you ended it, so we won't argue the matter . may we come out again ? or are_you still cruel and slappy ? "

" tell you what we'll do," said Dorothy ." we're all tired and want to sleep until morning . if_you'll let_us get into your house, and stay there until daylight, you_can play outside all you_want to ."

" that's a bargain ! " cried the Tottenhot eagerly, and he_gave a queer whistle that brought his people popping out of_their houses on all sides . when_the house before them was vacant, Dorothy and Ojo leaned over the hole and looked in, but could_see nothing because it_was so dark . but if_the Tottenhots slept there all day the children thought they_could sleep there at night, so Ojo lowered himself down and found it_was not very deep .

" there's a soft cushion all over," said he ." come on in ."

Dorothy handed Toto to_the boy and then climbed in herself . after her came Scraps and_the Scarecrow, who did_not wish to sleep but preferred to_keep out_of_the way of_the mischievous Tottenhots .

there seemed no furniture in_the round den, but soft cushions were strewn about_the floor and these they found made very comfortable beds . they_did_not close the hole in_the roof but left it open to admit air . it also admitted the shouts and ceaseless laughter of_the impish Tottenhots as_they played outside, but Dorothy and Ojo, being weary from their journey, were soon fast asleep .

Toto kept an eye open, however, and uttered low, threatening growls whenever the racket made by_the creatures outside became too boisterous; and_the Scarecrow and_the patchwork girl sat leaning against the wall and talked in whispers all night long . no one disturbed the travelers until daylight, when in popped the Tottenhot who owned the place and invited them to vacate his premises .

chapter Twenty

the captive Yoop

as_they were preparing to leave, Dorothy asked: " can_you tell us where there_is a dark well ? "

" never heard of_such a thing," said the Tottenhot ." we live our lives in_the dark, mostly, and sleep in_the daytime; but we've never seen a dark well, or anything like one ."

"Does anyone live on those mountains beyond here ? " asked the Scarecrow .

"Lots of people . but you'd better not visit them . we never go there," was_the reply .

" what_are the people like ? " Dorothy inquired .

" can't say . we've been told to_keep away from_the mountain paths, and so we obey . this sandy desert is good enough for_us, and we're not disturbed here," declared the Tottenhot .

so they left the man snuggling down to sleep in_his dusky dwelling, and went out into_the sunshine, taking the path that led toward the rocky places . they soon found it hard climbing, for_the rocks were uneven and full of sharp points and edges, and now there_was no path at all .Clambering here and there among_the boulders they kept steadily on, gradually rising higher and higher until finally they came to a great rift in a part of_the mountain, where the rock seemed to_have split in two and left high walls on either side .

"S' pose we go this_way," suggested Dorothy; " it's much easier walking than to climb over the hills ."

" how about_that sign ? " asked Ojo .

" what sign ? " she inquired .

the Munchkin boy pointed to some words painted on_the wall of rock beside them, which Dorothy had_not noticed . the words read:

" look out for YOOP ."

the girl eyed this sign a moment and turned to_the Scarecrow, asking:

" who_is Yoop; or what_is Yoop ? "

the straw man shook his head . then looked at Toto and_the dog said " woof ! "

" only way to_find out is to_go on," said Scraps .

this being quite true, they went on . as_they proceeded, the walls of rock on either side grew higher and higher . presently they came upon another sign which read:

" beware the captive YOOP ."

" why, as for_that," remarked Dorothy, " if Yoop is a captive there's no need to beware of him . whatever Yoop happens to_be, I'd much rather have him a captive than running around loose ."

" so had I," agreed the Scarecrow, with a nod of_his painted head .

" still," said Scraps, reflectively:

"Yoop-te- hoop-te- loop-te-goop ! who put noodles in_the soup ? we_may beware but we don't care, and dare go where we scare the Yoop ."

" dear me ! Aren't you feeling a little queer, just now ? " Dorothy asked the patchwork girl .

" not queer, but crazy," said Ojo ." when she says those things I'm sure her brains get mixed somehow and work the wrong way .

"I don't see why we_are told to beware the Yoop unless he_is dangerous," observed the Scarecrow in a puzzled tone .

" never mind; we'll find out all about him when we get to where he_is," replied the little girl .

the narrow canyon turned and twisted this_way and_that, and_the rift was so small that_they were able to touch both walls at_the same time by stretching out their arms .Toto had run on ahead, frisking playfully, when suddenly he uttered a sharp bark of fear and came running back to_them with_his tail between his legs, as dogs do when_they are frightened .

"Ah," said the Scarecrow, who was leading the way, " we_must_be near Yoop ."

just then, as he rounded a sharp turn, the straw man stopped so suddenly that all the others bumped against him .

" what_is it ? " asked Dorothy, standing on tip-toes to look over his shoulder . but then she saw what it_was and cried "Oh ! " in a tone of astonishment .

in one_of_the rock walls-- that at their left-- was hollowed a great cavern, in front of which_was a row of thick iron bars, the tops and bottoms being firmly fixed in_the solid rock . over this cavern was a big sign, which Dorothy read with much curiosity, speaking the words aloud that all might know what they said:

"MISTER YOOP-- his cave

the largest untamed giant in captivity . height, 21 feet .--( and yet he has but 2 feet .) weight, 1640 Pounds .--( but he waits all the time .) age, 400 Years ' and up' ( as_they say in_the department store advertisements) . temper, fierce and ferocious .--( except when asleep .) appetite, ravenous .--(Prefers meat people and orange marmalade .)

STRANGERS APPROACHING this cave do_so at their own PERIL !

P .S .--Don't feed the giant yourself ."

" very_well," said Ojo, with a sigh; " let's go back ."

" it's

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