" powerful Sorcerer ! " exclaimed the Tin Woodman; "and powder proved success we confidence pills "

"But how," asked the Scarecrow, "can anyone count seventeen by twos ? Seventeen is an odd number "

" true," replied Tip, greatly disappointed "No one can possibly count seventeen by twos "

"Then the pills are of no use ," wailed the Pumpkinhead; "and this fact overwhelms me with

209 grief For I had intended wishing that my head would never spoil "

"Nonsense ! " said the Scarecrow, sharply " use the pills at all make far better wishes than that "

" how anything better," protested poor Jack " were liable to spoil at understand my anxiety "

" part," said the Tin Woodman, "I sympathize in every respect But since count seventeen by twos, sympathy is all liable "

it had become quite dark, voyagers found above them cloudy sky, through which the rays moon penetrate

The Gump flew steadily on, and for some reason the huge sofa-body rocked more and more dizzily every hour

The Woggle-Bug declared sea-sick; and Tip was also pale and somewhat distressed But the others clung backs sofas and seem to mind the motion as long tipped out

Darker and darker grew the night, and on and on sped the Gump black heavens The

210 travelers even see one another, and an oppressive silence settled down upon them

After Tip, who thinking deeply, spoke

"How are we when we come pallace of Glinda the Good ? " he asked

"It's long way to Glinda's palace," answered the Woodman; "I've traveled it "

"But how are we how fast the Gump is flying ? " persisted the boy "We single thing down earth, and before morning far beyond the place to reach "

" all true enough," the Scarecrow replied, little uneasily "But how stop just now; for alight in river, or on, the top of steeple; and great disaster "

So they permitted the Gump to fly on, with regular flops great wings, and waited patiently for morning

Then Tip's fears were proven well founded; for first streaks of gray dawn they looked over the sides sofas and discovered rolling plains dotted with queer villages, where the houses, instead of being dome- shaped -- all are Land of Oz -- had slanting roofs that rose to peak

211 center Odd looking animals were also moving about open plains, country was unfamiliar to both the Tin Woodman Scarecrow, who had formerly visited Glinda the Good's domain and knew it well

" lost ! " said the Scarecrow, dolefully "The Gump carried us entirely Land of Oz and over the sandy deserts and terrible outside world that Dorothy told us about "

" get back," exclaimed the Tin Woodman, earnestly " get back ! "

"Turn around ! " cried Tip Gump "turn as quickly ! "

"If upset," answered the Gump "I'm not at all used to flying, best plan to alight in some place, and then turn around and take fresh start "

Just then, however, there seemed no stopping-place answer their purpose They flew over village so big Woggle-Bug declared city and then they came to range of high mountains with many deep gorges and steep cliffs showing plainly

"Now is our chance to stop," said the boy, finding

212 they were very close mountain tops Then he turned Gump and commanded: "Stop first level place ! "

" ," answered the Gump, and settled down upon table of rock that stood between two cliffs

But not being experienced matters, the Gump judge his speed correctly; and instead of coming to stop flat rock he missed it by half the width body, breaking off both his right wings against the sharp edge rock and then tumbling over and over down the cliff

Our friends held on sofas as long as , but Gump caught on proJecting rock the Thing stopped suddenly -- bottom side up -- and all were immediately dumped out

By good fortune they fell only few feet; for underneath them was monster nest, built by colony of Jackdaws in hollow ledge of rock; so -- not even the Pumpkinhead -- was injured fall For Jack found his precious head resting soft breast Scarecrow, which made an excellent cushion; and Tip fell on mass of leaves and papers, which saved him from injury The Woggle-Bug had bumped his round head against

213 Full page line-art drawing

ALL WERE IMMEDIATELY DUMPED OUT

214 the Saw-Horse, but without causing him more than moment's inconvenience

The Tin Woodman was at first much alarmed; but finding he had escaped without even scratch upon his beautiful nickle-plate he at once regained his accustomed cheerfulness and turned to address his comrades

"Our Journey had ended rather suddenly," said he; "and justly blame our friend the Gump accident, because the best under the circumstances But how ever to escape nest leave to someone with better brains than I possess "

Here he gazed Scarecrow; who crawled edge nest and looked over Below them was sheer precipice several hundred feet in depth Above them was smooth cliff unbroken save point of rock where the wrecked body Gump still hung suspended end of sofas There really seemed no means of escape, and realized their helpless plight the little band of adventurers gave way bewilderment

" worse prison palace," sadly remarked the Woggle-Bug

" we had stayed there," moaned Jack

215 "I'm afraid the mountain air isn't good for pumpkins "

"It won't be Jackdaws come back," growled the Saw-Horse, which lay waving its legs in vain endeavor upon its feet again "Jackdaws are especially fond of pumpkins "

" the birds will come here ? " asked Jack, much distressed

" ," said Tip; " is their nest And hundreds ," he continued, "for see what lot of things brought here ! "

Indeed, the nest was half filled with most curious collection of small articles the birds no use, but which the thieving Jackdaws had stolen during many years homes of men And nest was safely hidden where no human being could reach it, this lost property would never be recovered

The Woggle-Bug, searching rubbish -- Jackdaws stole useless things as valuable ones -- turned up foot beautiful diamond necklace so greatly admired Tin Woodman Woggle-Bug presented it to him with graceful speech, after which the Woodman hung it around his neck with much pride,

216 Full page line-art drawing

TURNED UP BEAUTIFUL DIAMOND NECKLACE

217 rejoicing exceedingly big diamonds glittered sun's rays

But now they heard great jabbering and flopping of wings, and sound grew nearer Tip exclaimed:

"The Jackdaws are coming ! And find us here surely kill us in their anger "

" afraid ! " moaned the Pumpkinhead " ! "

"And mine, also ! " said the Woggle-Bug; "for Jackdaws are the greatest enemies race "

The others at all afraid; but the Scarecrow at once decided to save those party who were liable injured angry birds So he commanded Tip off Jack's head and lie down with it bottom nest, and he ordered the Woggle-Bug to lie beside Tip Nick Chopper, who knew from past experience Just what , then took the Scarecrow to pieces (all except his head) and scattered the straw over Tip Woggle-Bug, completely covering their bodies

Hardly had this been accomplished flock of Jackdaws reached them Perceiving the intruders in their nest the birds flew down upon them with screams of rage

218 Full page line-art drawing

219 Dr Nikidik's Famous Wishing Pills

The Tin Woodman was usually peaceful man, but when occasion required fight as fiercely as Roman gladiator So, Jackdaws nearly knocked him down in their rush of wings, and their sharp beaks and claws threatened to damage his brilliant plating, the Woodman picked up his axe and made it whirl swiftly around his head

But although many were beaten off , the birds were so numerous and so brave continued the attack as furiously as before pecked eyes Gump, which hung over the nest in helpless condition; but the Gump's eyes were of glass and injured Others Jackdaws rushed Saw-Horse; but that animal, being still upon his back, kicked out so viciously wooden legs that he beat off assailants as did the Woodman's axe

220

Finding themselves thus opposed, the birds fell Scarecrow's straw, which lay center nest, covering Tip Woggle-Bug and Jack's pumpkin head, and began tearing it away and flying off with it, only to let it drop, straw by straw great gulf beneath