"He reminds me old father," he remarked in an admiring undertone to Skally

"Does your old father know you're bandit ? " shouted Grampa sternly, "holding up honest adventurers and getting your living by breaking the law ? "

"Father always told me things easy," replied the chief, popping one of Grampa's gum drops into his mouth " 'Vaga,' over and over again, 'always take things easy, my boy,' and ," grinned the robber wickedly "But business is mighty slow forest lately Kings and Princes are getting poorer and poorer every day Look at him ! " He waved scornfully at Tatters "Not worth shoe button whole week the same story All we got to-day was wizard, but as false as his whiskers couldn't even change leaves to gold or sticks to precious stones All he had was bottle of patent medicine Now medicine," yawned Vaga, touching boot long green bottle that lay with heap of rubbish near the fire, "is something I never take "

"But wizards allowed to practice magic in Oz," put in Tatters, surprised into speech bandit's last statement "It's against the law isn't it ? "

"So are bandits ! " roared Vaga "But I'm here just the same, my boy, taking things easy, and when I've saved up enough I'm going to open an Inn and take things easier still "

"Another way to rob honest travellers," groaned the old soldier, "but now, 've taken our four-pence time, untie these bonds and we'll return to our camp

"Let him tell his story," suggested Skally, "it might entertain us certainly owe us something for all this trouble "

"No, I've decided outlaws ," announced Vaga calmly "The old one is fine fighter and father the young one would frighten anybody, as cast iron bird it melted up into bullets "

"What shall now ? " whispered Tatters, seizing Grampa's arm The old soldier winked encouragingly

"Not bad at all," he murmured aloud, he were half pleased idea of being bandit "Plenty of fighting and it's as good way as any fortune Swear us in Mr Vagabandit, swear us in my son ! "

The bandit chief was surprised and overjoyed at Grampa's change of heart He immediately ordered Skally to untie the captives Each was given black mask and dagger and, having raised their hands and solemnly agreed to break every law in Oz, they were welcomed with cheers and shouts outlaw band excitement had died down, they all gathered fire and Grampa told them the history of Ragbad, how he had got his game leg and nine hundred and eighty great battles he had fought in The bandits listened attentively at first, but the old soldier's recital was that presently one and then another bandits fell asleep, and Grampa had reached the nine hundredth battle the whole company lay sprawled fire, snoring like good fellows instead of bad ones Prince Tatters, his head skin old thread bear, was asleep too

"More ways than one of winning battle," chuckled the old soldier, smiling behind his whiskers First, he recovered his watch, medals four-pence They were still ground beside Vaga Protruding robber's pocket was rough blue pouch Very carefully the old soldier drew it out " pay shakings," said Grampa, stowing it away game leg "I'll sample the soundrel's tobacco when we're well out " As he straightened up the long, green bottle of patent medicine caught his eye "I'll take this along too," he muttered, sticking it pocket "Maybe help my rheumatism "

The fire had died down and so dark and forbidding blue forest that Grampa decided to snatch few hours' rest before making an escape Stretching unconcernedly beside long-legged Skally he fell into deep and peaceful slumber And trained old campaigner that in two hours, exactly, he awoke The sun yet risen, but dim gray light of early morning Grampa could make out the forms sleeping bandits Stepping softly, so as not to waken them, he touched Tatters shoulder The Prince started up in alarm, but when Grampa, with fingers lips, motioned for him he seized his red umbrella and tiptoed after him

"Have I lived age an old father to bandit ? " puffed Grampa indignantly hurried along He shook his fist over his shoulder "Farther and farther away is what I'll be " Grampa laughed little at his joke "But 't go without Bill," he muttered suddenly, passed the rock under which the robbers had thrust the valiant weather cock With some difficulty they lifted off the rock and, first whispering strict orders for silence, unwound Bill various coats and cloaks Then Tatters, fearing the creak of Bill's wings would arouse the bandits, stuck him under one arm

"Wish where they kept their supplies," whispered the old soldier pushed on heavy underbrush and made their way around gnarled old trees "My teeth need some exercise "

"What dreadful lot of crows forest," mused the Prince, who had scarcely heard Grampa's last remark "Why the trees are black ! "

"Well, expect me to eat crow ? " sniffed the old soldier, waving his sword to disperse flock birds that were circling around his head

"No, but-" Tatters got no further, for instant crows of an entirely different nature made them both leap air The sun had risen and first rays penetrated dim forest Bill flew out of Tatters' arms and, perching on low branch, burst into such brazen clamor of cock-a-doodle-doos whole forest rang with it

"Hush ! Halt ! Stop that alarm ! " gasped Grampa "Now, you've done it ! "

"Oh, Bill, how could you ! " groaned the Prince Snatching off the skin thread bear, he flung it over the iron weather cock and seizing him unceremoniously began to run after Grampa They had already put goodly distance between themselves bandits, but after Bill's crowing shots came echoing wood next instant hear the outlaws crashing brush They sounded like herd of elephants

"We'll have to hide," panted the old soldier "Here, crawl hollow tree " Without moment's hesitation, Grampa dove tree himself and Tatters, taking firmer hold on Bill red umbrella, followed

" room ? " gasped the Prince "Grampa, there ? " But Grampa was not there Neither, matter, was Tatters himself, feet instead of resting on earth, rested on nothing great wind whistled past his ears and blew his hair straight on end

"The temperature's falling ! " The voice weather cock came stuffily bear skin

"Everything's falling ! " gasped the Prince of Ragbad, hugging Bill red umbrella close chest "Everything ! "

easily understand what had happened no bottom hollow tree When Grampa, Prince Tatters and Bill crawled hole, they simply disappeared They dropped down down down !

CHAPTER 5

Down the Hollow Tree

NOW falling, first start, is hair-raising business, but after fallen for mile and twenty minutes and nothing serious happens you grow rather used feel of it 's how with Tatters

"Bill," he shouted presently-he had to shout rush of air carried away his words as fast were spoken-"Bill, where suppose we're falling to ? "

"South by West," crowed the weather cock promptly The Prince liked the conversation, but it took breath, so he began planning how land without breaking Grampa, for certainly Grampa was somewhere below Rather sorrowfully he reflected were falling farther away Emerald City He wondered where his father's head was, and what Mrs Sew-and-Sew would think if she them tumbling down this hollow tree Would it never grow lighter ? Would they never reach the bottom and what would happen did ? Just as point wonderings, Tatters dropped into clump of pink bushes so hard that for several seconds do nothing but gasp

"Well," crowed Bill, beginning to flutter restlessly about bear-skin, "are we here ? "

"Yes, thanks You're discharged ! " roared the old soldier, as Prince Tatters picked up himself red umbrella Grampa less fortunate landing He sat middle of cinder path, blinking rapidly, and as Bill scrambled bear-skin and hopped after Tatters, he raised his gun threateningly

"You're discharged without pay," repeated Grampa angrily "What by crowing and betraying us enemy ? "

"I couldn't help it," answered Bill in an injured tone " nature of cock to crow and I've helped the sun to rise "

"And us ," scolded Grampa "Well, you're discharged ! " Rolling over with groan, he drew the bottle of patent medicine pocket Fortunately not broken, but it had made dreadful dent in Grampa

"But wherever in Oz are we ? " exclaimed Prince Tatters, trying the subject, for intend Bill sent off hasty fashion The old soldier pretended not to hear and continued to stare resentfully bottle of medicine On one side was pasted green label and Tatters looking over his shoulder read, with some surprise:

Sure cure for everything Follow the directions bottle

Beneath in tiny printing was long list of ailments Grampa ran his finger hastily down the list until to breaks, sprains and bruises "One spoonfull immediately after fall-ing," directed the bottle Without word, Grampa took tin spoon knapsack, uncorked the bottle and swallowed the dose

"Why, it's the wizard's medicine ! " cried Tatters, watching him anxiously, for no sooner stuff down than broad grin overspread Grampa's face "Good thing I brought it along-works just like magic-never know I'd fallen," puffed Grampa, completely restored to good humor "Better have some, boys " The old soldier smiled at his companions

Tatters, who was not hurt at all, shook his head and Bill, who had flown air to examine the bottle, shook his wings

"Well-good-bye ! " wheezed the weather cock hoarsely "You don't need me to direct you now- follow the directions bottle Here I go," he finished sulkily, "here I go name of Bill ! "

"Don't go," begged Tatters, looking pleadingly old soldier Now Grampa, remem-bering the splendid way Bill had fallen bandits, had already relented, but he never apologized