"A long march," puffed the old soldier, mopping his forehead, "but we're getting along, my lad, for beginning Munchkin country "

" it's safe ? " asked Prince Tatters, peering anxiously gloomy forest

"Safe ! " cried Grampa scornfully "Well not Fortunes are never found in safe places my boy Shouldn't wonder if there were bear behind every tree," he continued cheerfully "Shouldn't wonder if there were dragon or two lying in wait Come on ! " Thrusting his drum sticks through his belt and waving his sword, the old soldier plunged recklessly blue forest, shouting the national air of Ragbad top lungs

"Oh, hush," begged Prince Tatters, glancing uneasily from side to side and treading close upon Grampa's heels, "someone might hear you Oh ! What's that ? " For with shrill scream great bird had risen branches of tree just ahead and flown squawking air

"That's supper ! " chuckled the old soldier, and raising his gun aim and fired sharp crash bullet struck home, then down fell large reddish fowl

"Well ? " the fowl rasped sulkily, as Prince Tatters and Grampa ran forward, "what am I supposed now ? I've never been shot before "

"A bird that's shot supposed anything," said the old soldier severely

"Oh," sighed the bird, "that's easy ! " and putting down its head, it lay quietly on its side

"It's rooster ! " exclaimed the Prince, touching it with one hand, "an iron rooster ! " the bird sprang up indignantly

" shoot me , but I'll not lie here and let you call me names," it shrilled angrily "Where are your eyes ? Can't I'm weather cock ? "

" suppose I'd have wasted good bullet on you if I had ? an iron constitution but I don't eat cast iron birds," sniffed Grampa "What , flying forest deceiving hungry travellers ? "

"I don't know what I mean," replied the weather cock calmly, "for I've only been alive since last night What yourself, pray ? Must everyone have meaning like riddle ? "

Grampa stroked his whiskers thoughtfully over this remark

"But how did you come alive ? " asked the Prince, leaning red umbrella and regarding the bird with deep interest-for even in Oz weather cocks usually stick poles

" storm," explained the cock, lifting one claw, "lightning, thunder, wind and rain One minute whirling around top barn and next minute spinning through space Then all at once in contact with live wire, flash, charged with strange force and to my infinite amazement that my wings would work crow So I crew and flew and flew and crew, till I fell exhausted forest "

"Humph ! " grunted Grampa "A likely story first place no live wires in Oz and-"

"Oz ! " screeched the weather cock, "I didn't say Oz on barn near Chicago storm broke never heard of Chicago, you odd looking, old creature ? "

"Never," answered Grampa emphatically, "but wherever you started from, you're in Oz now and get used Come along, Tatters There's nothing gained by arguing, it only makes me hungry "

"But tell me," the weather cock fluttered air, "what am I with my life ? "

"Keep it- ," chuckled the old soldier and started off trees But Tatters was loath to leave this singular bird

"Let him come Grampa," coaxed the Prince "He won't need anything to eat and he might find the fortune "

"Yes, do," crowed the weather cock " waken you morning, tell you the wind blows and fall heads of your enemies any enemies ? " the weather cock asked hopefully

"Not yet," murmured the Prince, looking ahead shadows,-"but-"

"Shouldn't wonder if make good fighter," reflected Grampa, half closing his eyes "Never saw cock yet that wasn't game agree to join this company, obey all commands and go name of Bill ? "

"I'll go name of Bill, but what name shall I come by," asked the weather cock, putting its head on one side

"The same, you iron idiot ! " shouted Grampa, who was bit short tempered " agree ? "

"Yes," crowed the weather cock, putting up his claw solemnly

"Then forward fly," commanded the old soldier And up air with rusty creak flung the weather cock and just beneath marched Granpa Prince progressed ever darkening forest, Tatters told Bill great storm in Ragbad, how seeking his father's head own fortune

"Your father lost his head same storm my life," wheezed the weather cock earnestly, "so only fair that

"Hah ! helped by fair means or fowl ! " chuckled the old soldier, his little joke~but lost on Bill, who was already looking around King's head fortune And though not what fortune was, confident that find one It had grown so dark by now that Grampa soon called halt Under tall blue tree the little company made camp Bill was most helpful in collecting wood and Prince Tatters put up the red umbrella, so large served them admirably for tent little beyond the rim umbrella Grampa kindled fire, and after cozy supper of toasted sandwiches the old soldier unbuckled his leg and he and Prince Tatters settled down to quiet game of scrum Bill flew top blue tree to observe the wind weather, and nothing more peaceful The stars twinkled merrily above, the fire crackled cheerily below and Tatters had just beaten Grampa two games to one, when hundred little snaps underbrush made them turn in alarm

"Great gum drops ! " gasped the old soldier, jumping foot

Tatters snatched up the umbrella and, using it for shield, began to back away, for circle firelight and completely surrounding the blue tree stood company of bandits They were tall and terrible, with great slouch hats and blue boots Pistols and daggers dozen bristled in their belts and nothing fiercer than their whiskered faces and scowling brows

For moment no one spoke Grampa frowned angrily and Prince Tatters tried to look not scared As usual, Bill was calm

" going to stop here and let them call you gum drops ? " sneered the leader, plucking dagger boot one stride forward, then pitched face and lay perfectly still- weather cock, convinced was an enemy, had fallen hard upon his head The suddenness blow surprised the outlaws and while they drew back in confusion Grampa leaned down, seized his wooden leg and buckling it on as he ran, joined Prince Tatters, who had his back against the tree

"Go it Bill ! " shouted the old soldier, laying about drum sticks

"Here I go name of Bill ! " screeched the excited weather cock, rising air again "Here I come name of Bill Sucumb, you blue monster ! " And down went second bandit This enraged the others, and though Prince Tatters poked away valiantly big umbrella, and Grampa knocked out three outlaws drum sticks and Bill fell heads of two more, they were hopelessly outnumbered In minute more they were overpowered, bound with heavy ropes and dragged forest bandits' camp Even the weather cock swung head down belt of robbers

CHAPTER 4

The Baffled Bandits

SO disappointed cry," blubbered the robber chief, pulling out his red handkerchief "Shake them again Skally, shake them hard ! " Before him ground lay the few possessions of Grampa and Tatters-an old silver watch, the four-pence, rusty pen knife and two copper medals The chief had recovered terrible blow cast iron weather cock, but had large black lump over one eye Bill, who insisted on crowing in dozen different keys, muffled bandit's cloak and put under rock

" you they were poor lot," sniffed Skally, but nevertheless, he seized first Grampa and then Tatters and shook them violently heels This easily do, being eight feet tall and exceedingly muscular Two red gum drops rolled out of Grampa's pocket, but that was all

" 're not even frightened," complained the bandit in grieved voice, as Skally set the two roughly on their feet

"Frightened ! " puffed Grampa indignantly ( two terrible shakings he had only breath enough to puff ) "You didn't think flock of bush-whacking bandits like frighten an old soldier like me, and young Prince like Tatters, did you ? "

"Prince ! " gasped the bandit, blinking at Tatters smoke wood fire, while the rest outlaws began to slap their knees and roar with merriment

"Yes, Prince," shrilled Grampa, "and don't make faces at me, you ugly villain "

"Well ! " roared the chief, after another long look at Tatters, " Prince mother, but he's pain eye ! "

"Then shut your eyes," advised Grampa promptly "I'd if I tied up In fair fight I'd beat you any day "

"We've taken everything Shall we hang them or let them go ? " asked Skally in bored voice

"No you haven't," screamed Grampa defiantly "No you haven't Take my picture you scoundrel ! Take my rheumatism ! Take my advice and clear out forest before I report you Princess of Oz "