"Well," replied Dorothy, "we'll prob'bly find out lot trip, and we'll learn all Skeezers and Flatheads, anyhow Time doesn't make much diff'rence Land of Oz, 'cause we don't grow up, or get old, or become sick and die, do other places; so, explore one place , we'll by-an'-by know all about every nook and corner in Oz "

Dorothy wore around her waist the Nome King's Magic Belt, which protected her from harm, Magic Ring which Glinda had given her was on her finger Ozma had merely slipped small silver wand bosom of her gown, for fairies use chemicals and herbs tools of wizards and sorcerers to perform their magic The Silver Wand was Ozma's one weapon of offense and defense and by its use accomplish many things

They had left the Emerald City just at sunrise Sawhorse traveled very swiftly over the roads towards the north, but in few hours the wooden animal had to slacken his pace because the farm houses had become few and far between and often there were no paths at all direction they wished At such times they crossed the fields, avoiding groups of trees and fording the streams and rivulets whenever they came But finally they reached broad hillside closely covered with scrubby brush, through which the wagon pass

" difficult even and me through without tearing our dresses," said Ozma, "so leave the Sawhorse Wagon here until our return "

"That's all right," Dorothy replied, "I'm tired riding, anyhow s'pose, Ozma, we're anywhere near the Skeezer Country ? "

" tell, Dorothy dear, but we've been going right direction, so it "

The scrubby brush was almost like grove of small trees, reached as high heads two girls, neither of whom was very tall They were obliged to thread their way in and out, until Dorothy was afraid get lost, and finally they were halted by curious thing that barred their further progress huge web -- woven by gigantic spiders -- delicate, lacy film was fastened stoutly branches bushes and continued right and left form of half circle The threads web were of brilliant purple color and woven into numerous artistic patterns, but it reached ground to branches above the heads girls and formed sort of fence that hedged them in

"It doesn't look very strong, though," said Dorothy "I wonder couldn't break through " She tried but found the web stronger than it seemed All her efforts break single thread

" go back, , and try around this peculiar web," Ozma decided

So they turned right and, following the web found seemed to spread in regular circle On and on they went until finally Ozma said they had returned exact spot they had started " handkerchief you dropped when we were here before," she said to Dorothy

" case, built the web behind us, after we walked trap," exclaimed the little girl

"True," agreed Ozma, "an enemy has tried to imprison us "

"And it, too," said Dorothy "I wonder who "

"It's spider-web, I'm ," returned Ozma, "but it the work of enormous spiders "

"Quite right ! " cried voice behind them Turning quickly around they beheld huge purple spider sitting not two yards away and regarding them with its small bright eyes

Then there crawled bushes dozen more great purple spiders, which saluted the first one and said:

"The web is finished, O King, strangers are our prisoners "

Dorothy like the looks spiders at all They had big heads, sharp claws, small eyes and fuzzy hair all over their purple bodies

"They look wicked," she whispered to Ozma "What shall ? "

Ozma gazed spiders with serious face

" your object in making us prisoners ? " she inquired

" someone house ," answered the Spider King " sweeping and dusting , and polishing and washing of dishes, is work my people dislike So we decided that if any strangers came our way capture them and make them our servants "

" Princess Ozma, Ruler of all Oz," said the girl with dignity

"Well, King of all Spiders," reply, " makes me your master Come with me to my palace instruct you in your work "

"I won't," said Dorothy indignantly "We won't have anything "

"We'll see ," returned the Spider in severe tone, next instant dive straight at Dorothy, opening the claws legs to grab and pinch her sharp points But the girl was wearing her Magic Belt and was not harmed The Spider King even touch her He turned swiftly and made dash at Ozma, but she held her Magic Wand over his head monster recoiled it struck

"You'd better go," Dorothy advised him, " see 't hurt us "

"So ," returned the Spider King angrily "Your magic is greater than mine But I'll not to escape break the magic web my people have woven go; stay here and starve " the Spider King uttered peculiar whistle and all the spiders disappeared

" more magic in my fairyland than I dreamed of," remarked the beautiful Ozma, with sigh of regret "It seems that my laws obeyed, for even these monstrous spiders defy me of Magic "

"Never mind that now," said Dorothy; "let's see what do out trap "

They now examined the web with great care and were amazed at its strength Although finer finest silken hairs, it resisted all their efforts to work through, even though both girls threw all their weight against it

" find some instrument which will cut the threads web," said Ozma, finally " look about for such tool "

So they wandered bushes and finally came to shallow pool of water, formed by small bubbling spring Dorothy stooped drink and discovered water green crab, about as big as her hand The crab had two big, sharp claws, and Dorothy saw them she had an idea claws could save them

"Come water," she called crab; " "

Rather lazily the crab rose surface and caught hold of bit of rock head above the water in cross voice:

"What ? "

" you to cut the web purple spiders with your claws, so get through it," answered Dorothy " , can't you ? "

"I suppose so," replied the crab "But if you ? "

"What wish ? " Ozma inquired

" white, instead of green," said the crab "Green crabs are very common, and white ones are rare; besides the purple spiders, which infest this hillside, are afraid of white crabs Could you make me white if agree to cut the web ? "

"Yes," said Ozma, " easily And, so know speaking the truth, change your color now "

She waved her silver wand over the pool crab instantly became snow-white -- all except his eyes, which remained black The creature saw his reflection water and was so delighted that he at once climbed pool and began moving slowly toward the web, by backing away pool He moved so very slowly that Dorothy cried out impatiently: "Dear me, never do ! " Caching the crab in her hands she ran web

She had to hold him up even then, so reach claws strand after strand filmy purple web, which able to sever with one nip

When enough web cut to allow them , Dorothy ran back pool and placed the white crab water, after which she rejoined Ozma They were just to escape web, for several purple spiders now appeared, having discovered that their web cut, and had the girls not rushed opening the spiders quickly repaired the cuts and again imprisoned them

Ozma and Dorothy ran as fast as and although the angry spiders threw number of strands of web after them, hoping to lasso them or entangle them coils, they managed to escape and clamber top hill

Chapter Three

The Mist Maidens

top hill Ozma and Dorothy looked down valley beyond and were surprised it filled with floating mist that was as dense as smoke Nothing valley was visible except these rolling waves of mist, but beyond, other side, rose grassy hill that appeared quite beautiful

"Well," said Dorothy, " we , Ozma ? Walk down into that thick fog, an' prob'bly get lost , or wait till it clears away ? "

"I'm not sure clear away, however long we wait," replied Ozma, doubtfully "If on, venture mist "