They heard crunching, grinding sound, loud snap, turn-table came to stop with its broadest surface shutting off the path they had come

"Never mind," said Zeb, "we don't want back, anyhow "

"I'm not so sure ," returned Dorothy "The mother dragon may come down and catch us here "

" possible," agreed the Wizard, " proves the path she usually takes But examining this tunnel, and any signs of so large beast having passed through it "

"Then we're all right," said the girl, "for dragon went the other way 't poss'bly get now "

" not, my dear But another thing to consider The mother dragon probably knows the road earth's surface, and if she went the other way then come the wrong way," said the Wizard, thoughtfully

"Dear me ! " cried Dorothy " unlucky, wouldn't it ? "

"Very Unless this passage also leads top earth," said Zeb " part, manage out of here I'll it isn't the way the dragon goes "

"So will I," returned Dorothy "It's enough your pedigree flung in your face saucy dragonettes No one knows what the mother might do "

They now moved on again, creeping slowly up another steep incline The lanterns were beginning to grow dim, Wizard poured the remaining oil from one other, so one light would last longer But their journey was almost over, for in short time they reached small cave no further outlet

realize their ill fortune at first, for their hearts were gladdened sight of ray of sunshine coming through small crack roof cave, far overhead That meant that their world--the real world--was not very far away, and succession of perilous adventures they had encountered had at last brought them near the earth's surface, which meant home But adventurers looked more carefully around them they discovered that there were in strong prison no hope of escape

"But we're ALMOST on earth again," cried Dorothy, "for the sun--the most BEAU'FUL sun that shines ! " and she pointed eagerly crack distant roof

"Almost on earth isn't being there," said the kitten, in discontented tone "It wouldn't be possible for even me up crack--or through it if I got there "

"It appears path ends here," announced the Wizard, gloomily

"And no way back," added Zeb, with low whistle of perplexity

" sure it would come , end," remarked the old cab-horse "Folks don't fall middle earth and then get back again adventures--not in real life whole thing unnatural because that cat and I are both able your language, and to understand the words you say "

"And so can the nine tiny piglets," added Eureka "Don't forget them, for to eat them, after all "

"I've heard animals talk before," said Dorothy, "and no harm came of it "

"Were you ever before shut up in cave, far under the earth, with no way of getting out ? " enquired the horse, seriously

"No," answered Dorothy "But don't you lose heart, Jim, for I'm sure this isn't the end story, by any means "

The reference piglets reminded the Wizard that his pets enjoyed much exercise lately, and tired prison pocket So he sat down floor cave, brought the piglets out one by one, and allowed them to run around pleased

"My dears," , "I'm afraid I've got you into lot of trouble, never again to leave this gloomy cave "

"What's wrong ? " asked piglet "We've been dark quite while, and explain what has happened "

The Wizard told them misfortune that had overtaken the wanderers

"Well," said another piglet, " wizard, not ? "

" ," replied the little man

"Then do few wizzes and get us out hole," declared the tiny one, with much confidence

" if I happened real wizard," returned the master sadly "But I'm not, my piggy-wees; I'm humbug wizard "

"Nonsense ! " cried several piglets, together

" ask Dorothy," said the little man, in an injured tone

"It's true enough," returned the girl, earnestly "Our friend Oz is merely humbug wizard, for he once proved it do several very wonderful things--if how But 't wiz single thing if he hasn't the tools and machinery to work with "

" , my dear, for doing me justice," responded the Wizard, gratefully " accused of being real wizard, when I'm not, is slander tamely submit to But greatest humbug wizards that ever lived, and realize this when all starved together bones are scattered over the floor lonely cave "

"I don't believe we'll realize anything, when it comes ," remarked Dorothy, who deep in thought "But I'm not going to scatter my bones just yet, because them, and you prob'ly need yours, too "

" helpless to escape," sighed the Wizard

" helpless," answered Dorothy, smiling at him, "but others do more than Cheer up, friends I'm sure Ozma will "

"Ozma ! " exclaimed the Wizard " Ozma ? "

"The girl that rules the marvelous Land of Oz," reply "She's friend , for I met her Land of Ev, not , and went to Oz with her "

" second time ? " asked the Wizard, with great interest

"Yes The first time I went to Oz you there, ruling the Emerald City After you went up in balloon, and escaped us, I got back to Kansas of pair of magical silver shoes "

"I remember those shoes," said the little man, nodding "They once belonged Wicked Witch them here ? "

"No; I lost them somewhere air," explained the child "But the second time I went Land of Oz I owned the Nome King's Magic Belt, much more powerful than were the Silver Shoes "

"Where Magic Belt ? " enquired the Wizard, who had listened with great interest

"Ozma has it; for its powers won't work in common, ordinary country like the United States Anyone in fairy country like the Land of Oz can do anything with it; so I left it with my friend the Princess Ozma, who used it to wish me in Australia with Uncle Henry "

"And were you ? " asked Zeb, astonished at what he heard

" ; in just jiffy And Ozma has an enchanted picture hanging in her room that shows her the exact scene where any of her friends , at she chooses All she do is : 'I wonder what So-and-so is doing,' and at once the picture shows where her friend is and what the friend is doing That's REAL magic, Mr Wizard; isn't it ? Well, every day at four o'clock Ozma has promised to look at me picture, and if in need of help her certain sign and she will put Nome King's Magic Belt and wish me with her in Oz "

" that Princess Ozma will see this cave in her enchanted picture, all of us here, and what doing ? " demanded Zeb

" ; when four o'clock," she replied, with laugh at his startled expression

"And make sign she will bring you to her Land of Oz ? " continued the boy

"That's it, exactly; Magic Belt "

"Then," said the Wizard, " saved, little Dorothy; and of it The rest of us will die much more cheerfully when escaped our sad fate "

"I won't die cheerfully ! " protested the kitten "There's nothing cheerful about dying that ever see, although they say cat has nine lives, and so must die nine times "

" ever died yet ? " enquired the boy

"No, and I'm not anxious ," said Eureka

"Don't worry, dear," Dorothy exclaimed, "I'll hold you in my arms, and take you with me "

"Take us, too ! " cried the nine tiny piglets, all in one breath

"Perhaps ," answered Dorothy "I'll try "

"Couldn't you manage to hold me in your arms ? " asked the cab-horse

Dorothy laughed

"I'll do better than that," she promised, "for easily save you all, once myself Land of Oz "

"How ? " they asked

"By using the Magic Belt All do is to wish you with me, and there you'll be--safe royal palace ! "

"Good ! " cried Zeb