"We'll go there," declared Ruggedo, tucking the magic cloak more carefully under his arm "We'll go there, General, and inquire the way Kingdom of Patch But remember nothing plans to capture my belt We're enemy's country now ! "

Still dazed surprising way they had crossed the desert, Peter looked around him with delight It look like the enemy's country to Peter and, picking up large, luscious peach, he decided then and there that going to like the Marvelous Land of Oz

Peter thought that even the Wizard of Oz, himself, interested wonderful elevator plants, and decided him all when he got Emerald City

CHAPTER 8

Peter Meets Kuma Party

walked up the neat pebble path little yellow house, Peter tried to remember all he had read about Oz and its curious inhabitants But nothing he had read prepared him next happening In answer knock, the door simply burst open and out came hand and foot without any body at all The hand seized Peter's hand, shook it warmly and drew him house The foot gave Ruggedo such kick, he went flying into gooseberry bush Drawn hand into cozy sitting room, Peter stood trembling with uneasiness In comfortable chair, smoking pipe, sat the owner cottage, also the owner hand and foot, and Peter gave gasp immediately snapped back proper places

"Don't be alarmed," said the stranger in soft voice and, taking the pipe out mouth, he smiled kindly little boy Peter was not alarmed- perfectly petrified and, old gentleman's head flew off his body and looked out the window, he dropped into chair and began to fan himself cap " he'd go away," sighed the head regret-fully, "but he's coming house Why travel with bad little creature like that ? "

"Because I'm lost," explained Peter, in slightly shaky voice, turning around to address himself head

"Well, find yourself in heap of trouble, travelling with gnome Never trust gnome," advised the head, coming back to settle old gentleman's shoulders "Ah ! Here he comes ! "

"Who kicked me ? " demanded Ruggedo, glaring all around in perfect fury The owner cottage made no reply, but as more tobacco pipe just then, flung out his hand toward the mantel The hand sailed air like bird and, seizing the tobacco pouch, set it table and then quietly attached itself man's wrist odd occurrence, Ruggedo's eyes rolled wildly Cringing against the wall, he began to move stealthily toward the door

"Don't go," begged the owner cottage blandly "I'm not especialy fond of gnomes, but honest lad stay Sit down bench there and if I catch you stealing anything, I'll throw my head at you " Pale with terror, Ruggedo did as told, while the man's hand, flying off again, closed and locked the door

"There ! " he sighed, leaning back contentedly, "now talk without being disturbed start at once with names My name," he confided proudly, "is Kuma Party, and the curious gift which seems so to astonish you since early childhood My father was wizard, practicing magic Zamagoochie Country, practice of magic was forbidden in Oz, and to my father that I attribute my strange come - apartishness " He paused and waited politely for Peter some remark, but Peter was simply speechless- so Kuma, with an indulgent smile, went quietly on story

"Being constructed as is extremely convenient," he explained earnestly " never tired or rushed about as ordinary Oz folk are If to pick the peaches in my orchard, I send my hands to attend matter and while busily at work I rest myself comfortably at home body is tired and amused, I send my head nearest village for news and often help my less fortunate neighbors by lending them hand or foot are in trouble Perhaps ? " he suggested, leaning amiably toward Peter "May I lend you hand ? " he finished graciously

Now Kuma, come-apartishness, seemed so pleasant and jolly that Peter wanted him the whole history adventures, but Ruggedo frowned and shook his head, so Peter decided in gnome's plans and merely told Kuma his name and asked him the way to Patch

"Patch ? " mused the Winkie thoughtfully "Why, that's not far from here just below the Kingdom of Queen Ann of Oogaboo, but wait till morning ? It's growing dark now and besides it's raining " Looking out in surprise, Peter saw raining He so interested in Kuma's story that he even heard the patter of raindrops roof

"Better stay," urged Kuma hospitably "While my hands are preparing the supper, tell me some own self and why going to Patch " All during Kuma's conversation, Ruggedo been wiggling with impatience and now, bouncing feet, he motioned for Peter along

"I guess ," sighed Peter "Which direction do we take from here, Mr Party ? " The old Winkie looked disapprovingly little gnome, then shaking his head and evidently concluding no affair , threw out his right arm It immediately whizzed up stairs, but was back in moment, large umbrella hanging crook elbow and lantern grasped hand

"Since go," said Kuma, rising slowly feet, " let me point out the way and loan you an umbrella "

"It's very kind of you," faltered Peter, ducking of himself arm passed over his head on its way to open the door " sure spare it ? "

"Oh, yes ! " Kuma nodded cheerfully "I still have one left, , and as I'm only going to play checkers this evening, one plenty Goodbye " He smiled, patting Peter kindly shoulder "Remember what you about gnomes He stared sternly down at Ruggedo, and Ruggedo, not daring to meet his eye, scuttled nervously garden

"Maybe I'll see you again," said Peter, and shaking Kuma's remaining hand stepped reluctantly Gnome King

" so," called Kuma and, with farewell wave and nod he went in and shut the door Peter had to run to catch up with Ruggedo already gate and halfway down the road As he reached the gnome's side, Kuma's arm, holding the umbrella carefully, took its position over their heads

"Why didn't you stay ? " grumbled Peter crossly "There were lots of things to ask that man " Really quite provoked old gnome

"Sh-h ! " warned Ruggedo, pointing warningly up arm over their heads "Shh-hh ! "

"Well, you don't suppose hear through his fingers, ? " teased Peter, and then, because everything did seem so comical and ridiculous, he burst into loud laugh " grandfather this," gasped the Captain . P Baseball Team, reaching pocket handkerchief "Jimminy, wouldn't it be fine an extra arm in scrap fellows ! "

Ruggedo was too busy own thoughts any attention to Peter's, so for quite while they walked along in silence pouring steadily, but Kuma's umbrella was so large hand held it so carefully, not drop fell travelers too gloomy much country but, tidy farms and orchards glimpse curtain of rain, Peter concluded Winkie Country very prosperous and delightful place to live in They had to walk briskly pace umbrella, but after an hour or so the rain stopped The arm stopped also, and after standing about uncertainly and wondering what , Peter reached up and closed the umbrella Then taking match, which he noticed rim lantern that swung from Kuma's wrist, he lifted the chimney and lit the wick within evidently what the arm waiting for and now it moved confidently few paces ahead, the forefinger hand pointing stiffly direction they were quite late by now lantern shed cheery light over the fast darkening road

Nibbling supper Kaliko had packed up , Peter and Ruggedo hastened after Kuma's guiding hand

"I wonder fly back when we come to Patch," mused Peter turned off the main road and into small wood

"Let's hold on ," whispered the Gnome King craftily " tie it up somehow and then when I get my magic belt, I'll make it work

"That's nice way to repay man for helping us," said Peter angrily "You ashamed of yourself "

"Well, I'm not," grunted the Gnome King, pausing to light his pipe, "and going general armies, you'd better get over these nice ideas and notions Didn't I hear you say while ago that you'd like an extra arm yourself ? "

" I'd like one, but I never said I'd steal one," answered Peter indignantly