" see her," declared the Woozy "Scraps is an old friend , and really Thistle-Eaters and Giants other side tops, she will need someone to protect her So here I go ! " He seized the dangling strap firmly square mouth, and same way that Scraps had done swung himself over the gulf He let go the strap right moment and fell first whirling mountain Then he bounded next one back of it--not feet, but "all mixed up," as Trot said--and then he shot across to another mountain, disappearing from view just Patchwork Girl had done

"It seems to work, all right," remarked Button-Bright "I guess I'll try it "

"Wait minute," urged the Wizard "Before any more of us make this desperate leap beyond, decide whether all will go or if some of us will remain behind "

" s'pose it hurt them much to bump against those mountains ? " asked Trot

"I don't s'pose anything could hurt Scraps or the Woozy," said Dorothy, "and nothing can hurt ME, because I wear the Magic Belt So as I'm anxious Ozma, I mean to swing myself across too "

"I'll take my chances," decided Button-Bright

"I'm sure hurt dreadfully, and I'm afraid ," said the Lion, who was already trembling, "but if Dorothy does "

"Well, leave Betsy Mule and Trot," said the Wizard, "for go that look after Dorothy two girls think find your way back home again ? " he asked, addressing Trot and Betsy

"I'm not afraid Not much, ," said Trot "It looks risky, , but I'm sure stand it others can "

" wasn't for leaving Hank," began Betsy in hesitating voice

But the Mule interrupted her by saying, "Go ahead to, and I'll come after you mule is as brave as lion any day "

"Braver," said the Lion, "for I'm coward, friend Hank, and But the Sawhorse--"

"Oh, nothing ever hurts ME," asserted the Sawhorse calmly "There's never been any question going 't Red Wagon, though "

"No, leave the wagon," said the wizard, "and also leave our food and blankets, But defy these Merry-Go-Round Mountains to stop us, we won't mind the sacrifice of comforts "

"No one knows where we're going to land ! " remarked the Lion in voice that sounded he were going to cry

" not land at all," replied Hank, "but the best way out happen is to swing across as Scraps Woozy "

" go last," said the Wizard, "so who wants first ? "

"I'll go," decided Dorothy

"No, it's my turn first," said Button-Bright "Watch me ! "

Even as he spoke, the boy seized the strap, and after making run swung himself across the gulf Away he went, bumping from hill to hill until he disappeared They listened intently, but the boy uttered no cry until he gone some moments, heard faint Hullo-a ! " called from great distance The sound gave them courage, however, and Dorothy picked up Toto and held him fast under one arm while other hand she seized the strap and bravely followed after Button-Bright

When she struck the first whirling mountain, she fell upon it quite softly, but before she had time , she flew air and lit with jar side next mountain Again she flew and alighted, and again and still again, until after five successive bumps she fell sprawling upon green meadow and was so dazed and bewildered by her bumpy journey across the Merry-Go-Round Mountains that she lay quite still for time to collect her thoughts Toto had escaped from her arms just as she fell, and he now sat beside her panting with excitement Then Dorothy realized that someone was helping her to her feet, and here was Button-Bright on one side of her and Scraps other, both seeming unhurt The next object her eyes fell upon Woozy, squatting upon his square back end and looking at her reflectively, while Toto barked joyously his mistress unhurt after her whirlwind trip

"Good ! "said the Woozy "Here's another and dog, both safe and sound But my word, Dorothy, you flew some ! If seen yourself, you'd absolutely astonished "

"They say 'Time flies,'20" laughed Button-Bright, "but Time never made quicker journey than that "

Just then, as Dorothy turned around to look whirling mountains, she was tiny Trot come flying nearest hill soft grass not yard away from where she stood Trot was so dizzy she couldn't stand at first, but she wasn't at all hurt, and presently Betsy came flying and bumped others had they not retreated to avoid her Then, in quick succession, came the Lion, Hank Sawhorse, bounding from mountain to mountain safely greensward Only the Wizard was now left behind, waited for him that Dorothy began worried

But suddenly flying nearest mountain and tumbled heels over head beside them Then they saw that he had wound two blankets around his body the bumps from hurting him and had fastened the blankets with spare straps harness Sawhorse

CHAPTER 8

THE MYSTERIOUS CITY

There they sat grass, their heads still swimming from their dizzy flights, and looked at one another in silent bewilderment But presently, when assured that no one was injured, they grew more calm and collected, Lion said with sigh of relief, " thought those Merry-Go-Round Mountains were made of rubber ? "

"Are they really rubber ? " asked Trot

" ," replied the Lion, "for otherwise have bounded so swiftly from one to another without getting hurt "

" all guesswork," declared the Wizard, unwinding the blankets body, "for none of us stayed long enough mountains to discover what made of But where are we ? "

"That's guesswork," said Scraps "The shepherd said the Thistle-Eaters live this side mountains waited on by giants "

"Oh no," said Dorothy, "it's the Herkus giant slaves, Thistle-Eaters hitch dragons chariots "

"How could they ? " asked the Woozy "Dragons have long tails, which would get way chariot wheels "

"And Herkus have conquered the giants," said Trot, " twice the size of giants P'raps the Herkus are the biggest people in all the world ! "

"Perhaps ," assented the Wizard in thoughtful tone of voice "And perhaps the shepherd didn't know what talking about travel on toward the west and discover for ourselves what the people country are like "

It seemed pleasant enough country, and quite still and peaceful turned their eyes away silently whirling mountains There were trees here and there and green bushes, while thick grass were scattered brilliantly colored flowers About mile away was low hill that hid all the country beyond it, so they realized tell much country until they had crossed the hill The Red Wagon having been left behind, now necessary other arrangements for traveling The Lion told Dorothy ride upon his back as she had often done before, Woozy said easily carry both Trot Patchwork Girl Betsy still had her mule, Hank, and Button-Bright Wizard could sit together long, thin back Sawhorse, but they took care to soften their seat with pad of blankets started Thus mounted, the adventurers started hill, reached after brief journey

mounted the crest and gazed beyond the hill, they discovered not far away walled city, towers and spires gay banners were flying not very big city, indeed, but its walls were very high and thick, and it appeared people who lived there feared attack by powerful enemy, else not have surrounded their dwellings with so strong barrier no path leading mountains city, and this proved people seldom or never visited the whirling hills, but our friends found the grass soft and agreeable to travel over, and city before them well lose their way drew nearer walls, the breeze carried ears the sound of music--dim at first, but growing louder advanced

"That doesn't seem like very terr'ble place," remarked Dorothy

"Well, it LOOKS all right," replied Trot from her seat Woozy, "but looks can't always be trusted "

"MY looks can," said Scraps "I LOOK patchwork, and patchwork, and no one but blind owl could ever doubt that I'm the Patchwork Girl " Saying which, she turned somersault off the Woozy and, alighting on her feet, began wildly dancing about

"Are owls ever blind ? " asked Trot

"Always, daytime," said Button-Bright "But Scraps with her button eyes both day and night Isn't it queer ? "

"It's queer that buttons at all," answered Trot "But good gracious ! What's become city ? "

" going to ask that myself," said Dorothy "It's gone ! "

"It's gone ! "

The animals came to sudden halt, city had really disappeared, walls and all, and before them lay the clear, unbroken sweep country "Dear me ! " exclaimed the Wizard " rather disagreeable annoying to travel almost to place and then find there "

"Where can it be, then ? " asked Dorothy "It cert'nly was there minute ago "

" hear the music yet," declared Button-Bright, and all listened, the strains of music could plainly be heard

"Oh ! There's the city over left," called Scraps, and turning their eyes, they saw the walls and towers and fluttering banners far left

" lost our way," suggested Dorothy

"Nonsense," said the Lion

"I, and all the other animals, tramping straight toward the city we first saw it "

"Then how does it happen--"