" nothing will break me," said the Glass Cat, in nervous voice "I'm little brittle, , and can't stand many hard knocks "

"If anything should fade the colors lovely patches it would break my heart," said the Patchwork Girl

"I'm not sure heart," Ojo reminded her

"Then it would break my cotton," persisted Scraps " all fast colors, Ojo ? " she asked anxiously

"They seem fast enough run," he replied; and then, looking ahead , he exclaimed: "Oh, what lovely trees ! "

They were certainly pretty to look upon travelers hurried forward to observe them more closely

"Why, trees at all," said Scraps; " just monstrous plants "

what they really were: masses of great broad leaves which rose ground far air, until they towered twice as high top Patchwork Girl's head, who was little taller than Ojo The plants formed rows on both sides road and from each plant rose dozen or more big broad leaves, which swayed continually from side to side, although no wind was blowing But the most curious thing swaying leaves was their color They seemed general groundwork of blue, but here and there other colors glinted at times blue--gorgeous yellows, turning to pink, purple, orange and scarlet, mingled with more sober browns and grays--each appearing as blotch or stripe anywhere on leaf and then disappearing, replaced by some other color of different shape The changeful coloring great leaves was very beautiful, but bewildering, , novelty scene drew our travelers close line of plants, where they stood watching them with rapt interest

Suddenly leaf bent lower than usual and touched the Patchwork Girl Swiftly it enveloped her in its embrace, covering her completely in its thick folds, and then it swayed back upon its stem

"Why, she's gone ! " gasped Ojo, in amazement, and listening carefully he thought hear the muffled screams of Scraps coming center folded leaf But, before think what he ought to save her, another leaf bent down and captured the Glass Cat, rolling around the little creature until she was completely hidden, and then straightening up again upon its stem

"Look out," cried the Woozy "Run ! Run fast, or lost "

Ojo turned and saw the Woozy running swiftly up the road But the last leaf row of plants seized the beast even as he ran and instantly he disappeared from sight

The boy had no chance to escape Half dozen great leaves were bending toward him from different directions and as he stood hesitating clutched him in its embrace In flash dark Then himself gently lifted until swaying air, folds leaf hugging him on all sides

At first he struggled hard to escape, crying out in anger: "Let me go ! Let me go ! " But neither struggles nor protests had any effect whatever The leaf held him firmly and prisoner

Then Ojo quieted himself and tried Despair fell upon him when he remembered that all his little party captured, even as , and none to save them

" expected it," he sobbed, miserably "I'm Ojo the Unlucky, and something dreadful was sure to happen "

He pushed against the leaf that held him and found it soft, but thick and firm like great bandage all around him and it difficult to move his body or limbs their position

The minutes passed and became hours Ojo wondered how long one could live condition and leaf would gradually sap his strength and even his life, to feed itself The little Munchkin boy had never heard of any person dying Land of Oz, but one could suffer great deal of pain His greatest fear always remain imprisoned beautiful leaf and never see the light of day again

No sound came to him leaf; all around was intense silence Ojo wondered if Scraps had stopped screaming, or folds leaf prevented his hearing her By and by he thought he heard whistle, as of some one whistling tune Yes; it really some one whistling, he decided, for follow the strains of pretty Munchkin melody that Unc Nunkie used to sing to him The sounds were low and sweet and, although they reached Ojo's ears very faintly, they were clear and harmonious

Could the leaf whistle, Ojo wondered ? Nearer and nearer came the sounds and then they seemed just the other side leaf that was hugging him

Suddenly the whole leaf toppled and fell, carrying the boy with it, and while he sprawled at full length the folds slowly relaxed and set him free He scrambled quickly feet and found that strange man was standing before him--a man so curious in appearance boy stared with round eyes

big man, with shaggy whiskers, shaggy eyebrows, shaggy hair--but kindly blue eyes that were gentle of cow head was green velvet hat with jeweled band, all shaggy around the brim Rich but shaggy laces were at his throat; coat with shaggy edges was decorated with diamond buttons; the velvet breeches had jeweled buckles knees and shags all around the bottoms breast hung medallion bearing picture of Princess Dorothy of Oz, and hand, as he stood looking at Ojo, was sharp knife shaped like dagger

"Oh ! " exclaimed Ojo, greatly astonished sight stranger; and then he added: "Who has saved me, sir ? "

"Can't ? " replied the other, with smile; "I'm the Shaggy Man "

"Yes; that," said the boy, nodding " you who rescued me leaf ? "

"None other, But take care, or to rescue you again "

Ojo gave jump, for several broad leaves leaning toward him; but the Shaggy Man began to whistle again, and sound the leaves all straightened up on their stems and kept still

The man now took Ojo's arm and led him up the road, past the last great plants, and not till safely beyond their reach did he cease his whistling

" , the music charms 'em," said he "Singing or whistling--it doesn't matter which-- makes 'em behave, and nothing else will I always whistle as I go by 'em and so they always let me alone To-day as I went by, whistling, leaf curled and knew something inside it I cut down the leaf with my knife and--out you popped Lucky I passed by, wasn't it ? "

"You were very kind," said Ojo, "and rescue my companions, also ? "

"What companions ? " asked the Shaggy Man

"The leaves grabbed them all," said the boy "There's Patchwork Girl and--"

"A what ? "

"A girl made of patchwork, She's alive and her name is Scraps And there's Glass Cat--"

"Glass ? " asked the Shaggy Man

"All glass "

"And alive ? "

"Yes," said Ojo; "she has pink brains And there's Woozy--"

"What's Woozy ? " inquired the Shaggy Man

"Why, I--I--can't describe it," answered the boy, greatly perplexed "But it's queer animal with three hairs tip tail that won't come out and--"

"What won't come out ? " asked the Shaggy Man; "the tail ? "

"The hairs won't come out But you'll see the Woozy, 'll please rescue it, and then you'll know just what "

" ," said the Shaggy Man, nodding his shaggy head And then he walked back plants, still whistling, and found the three leaves which were curled around Ojo's traveling companions The first leaf he cut down released Scraps, and on seeing her the Shaggy Man threw back his shaggy head, opened wide his mouth and laughed so shaggily and yet so merrily that Scraps liked him at once Then off his hat and made her low bow, saying:

"My dear, you're wonder introduce you to my friend the Scarecrow "

When he cut down the second leaf he rescued the Glass Cat, and Bungle was so frightened that she scampered away like streak and soon had joined Ojo, when she sat beside him panting and trembling The last plant of all the row had captured the Woozy, and big bunch center curled leaf showed plainly where sharp knife the Shaggy Man sliced off the stem leaf and as it fell and unfolded out trotted the Woozy and escaped beyond the reach of any more dangerous plants

Chapter Eleven

Good Friend

Soon the entire party was gathered road of yellow bricks, quite beyond the reach beautiful but treacherous plants The Shaggy Man, staring first at one and then other, seemed greatly pleased and interested

"I've seen queer things since Land of Oz," said he, "but never anything queerer than this band of adventurers sit down while, talk and get acquainted "

"Haven't you always lived Land of Oz ? " asked the Munchkin boy

"No; I used to live big, outside world But here once with Dorothy, and Ozma let me stay "

"How like Oz ? " asked Scraps "Isn't the country climate grand ? "

"It's the finest country in all the world, even fairyland and I'm happy I live ," said the Shaggy Man "But tell me something about yourselves "

So Ojo related the story visit house Crooked Magician, and how he met there the Glass Cat, and how the Patchwork Girl was brought to life and terrible accident to Unc Nunkie and Margolotte Then how he had set out the five different things which the Magician needed charm restore the marble figures to life, one requirement being three hairs from Woozy's tail

" the Woozy," explained the boy, "and he agreed to the three hairs; but we couldn't pull them out So we had to bring the Woozy along "

" ," returned the Shaggy Man, who had listened with interest story "But perhaps I, who am big and strong, can pull those three hairs Woozy's tail "

"Try it, like," said the Woozy