" carry us back to where we started from," predicted Ojo, beginning nervous

"No," replied the Shaggy Man; "it won't , for trick to beat this tricky road I've traveled before, Turn around, all of you, and walk backward "

"What good will ? " asked the cat

"You'll find out, obey me," said the Shaggy Man

So they all turned their backs direction they wished and began walking backward In an instant Ojo noticed they were gaining ground and proceeded curious way they soon passed the tree which had first attracted his attention difficulty

"How long must we keep this up, Shags ? " asked Scraps, who was constantly tripping and tumbling down, only up again with laugh at her mishap

"Just little way farther," replied the Shaggy Man

later about quickly and step forward, and obeyed the order they found themselves treading solid ground

"That task is well over," observed the Shaggy Man "It's little tiresome to walk backward, but only way this part road, trick of sliding back and carrying with it anyone walking upon it "

With new courage and energy they now trudged forward and after time came to place where the road cut through low hill, leaving high banks on either side of it They were traveling cut, talking together, Shaggy Man seized Scraps with one arm and Ojo with another and shouted: "Stop ! "

"What's wrong now ? " asked the Patchwork Girl

"See there ! " answered the Shaggy Man, pointing finger

Directly center road lay motionless object that bristled all over with sharp quills, which resembled arrows The body was as big as ten-bushel-basket, but the projecting quills made it appear four times bigger

"Well, what of it ? " asked Scraps

" Chiss, who causes lot of trouble road," reply

"Chiss ! Chiss ?

" merely an overgrown porcupine, but here in Oz they consider Chiss an evil spirit He's different from reg'lar porcupine, because throw his quills in any direction, which an American porcupine cannot do That's what makes old Chiss so dangerous get too near, he'll fire those quills at us and hurt us badly "

"Then foolish too near," said Scraps

"I'm not afraid," declared the Woozy "The Chiss is cowardly, I'm sure, and ever heard my awful, terrible, frightful growl, it scared stiff "

"Oh; growl ? " asked the Shaggy Man

" only ferocious thing about me," asserted the Woozy with evident pride "My growl makes an earthquake blush thunder ashamed of itself If I growled creature you call Chiss, it would immediately think the world had cracked in two and bumped against the sun and moon, and cause the monster to run as far and as fast as its legs could carry it "

" case," said the Shaggy Man, " now able us all great favor Please growl "

"But you forget," returned the Woozy; "my tremendous growl would also frighten you, and happen heart disease expire "

"True; but take that risk," decided the Shaggy Man, bravely "Being warned of to occur try to bear the terrific noise of your growl; but Chiss won't expect it, and scare him away "

The Woozy hesitated

"I'm fond of you all, and I hate to shock you," it said

"Never mind," said Ojo

" made deaf "

" , forgive you "

" , then," said the Woozy in determined voice, and advanced few steps toward the giant porcupine Pausing to look back, it asked: "All ready ? "

"All ready ! " they answered

"Then cover up your ears and brace yourselves firmly Now, then--look out ! "

The Woozy turned toward Chiss, opened wide its mouth and said:

"Quee-ee-ee-eek "

"Go ahead and growl," said Scraps

"Why, I-- growl ! " retorted the Woozy, who seemed much astonished

"What, that little squeak ? " she cried

" most awful growl that ever was heard, on land or sea, in caverns or sky," protested the Woozy "I wonder you stood the shock Didn't you feel the ground tremble ? I suppose Chiss is now quite dead with fright "

The Shaggy Man laughed merrily

"Poor Wooz ! " said he; "your growl wouldn't scare fly "

The Woozy seemed humiliated and surprised It hung its head moment, in shame or sorrow, but then it said with renewed confidence: "Anyhow, my eyes can flash fire; and good fire, too; good enough to set fire to fence ! "

" true," declared Scraps; " it done myself But your ferocious growl isn't as loud tick of beetle--or one of Ojo's snores when he's fast asleep "

"Perhaps," said the Woozy, humbly, " mistaken growl It has always sounded very fearful , but because so close to my ears "

"Never mind," Ojo said soothingly; " great talent to flash fire from your eyes No one else can "

stood hesitating what Chiss stirred and suddenly shower of quills came flying toward them, almost filling the air, they were Scraps realized in an instant had gone too near to Chiss for safety, so she sprang in front of Ojo and shielded him darts, which stuck their points into her own body until she resembled one targets they shoot arrows at in archery games The Shaggy Man dropped flat face to avoid the shower, but one quill struck him leg and went far in As Glass Cat, the quills rattled off her body without making even scratch, skin Woozy was so thick and tough that not hurt at all

attack was over they all ran Shaggy Man, who was moaning and groaning, and Scraps promptly pulled the quill out leg Then up he jumped and ran over to Chiss, putting his foot monster's neck and holding it prisoner The body great porcupine was now as smooth as leather, except holes where the quills , had shot every single quill one wicked shower

"Let me go ! " it shouted angrily "How dare you put your foot on Chiss ? "

"I'm going worse than that, old boy," replied the Shaggy Man " annoyed travelers road long enough, and now put an end "

" 't ! " returned Chiss "Nothing can kill me, perfectly well "

"Perhaps true," said the Shaggy Man in tone of disappointment "Seems I've been told 't be killed But if I let you go, ? "

"Pick up my quills again," said Chiss in sulky voice

"And then shoot them at more travelers ? No; that won't do promise me to stop throwing quills at people "

"I won't promise anything sort," declared Chiss

" ? "

"Because my nature to throw quills, and every animal must do what Nature intends it It isn't fair to blame me were wrong to throw quills, then I wouldn't be made with quills to throw The proper thing is out way "

"Why, there's some sense argument," admitted the Shaggy Man, thoughtfully; "but people strangers, and don't know here, won't out of your way "

"Tell you what," said Scraps, who was trying to pull the quills out of her own body, "let's gather up all the quills and take them away ; then old Chiss won't have any left to throw at people "

"Ah, that's clever idea You and Ojo must gather up the quills while I hold Chiss prisoner; for, if I let him go, get some quills and to throw them again "

So Scraps and Ojo picked up all the quills and tied them in bundle so easily be carried the Shaggy Man released Chiss and let him go, knowing that harmless to injure anyone

"It's the meanest trick I ever heard of," muttered the porcupine gloomily "How would you like it, Shaggy Man, if all your shags away ? "

"If I threw my shags and hurt people, welcome to capture them," reply

Then they walked on and left Chiss standing road sullen and disconsolate The Shaggy Man limped as he walked, wound still hurt him, and Scraps was much annoyed because the quills had left number of small holes in her patches

came to flat stone roadside the Shaggy Man sat down to rest, and then Ojo opened his basket and took out the bundle of charms the Crooked Magician had given him

" Ojo the Unlucky," , "or never have met that dreadful porcupine But if find anything charms which will cure your leg "

Soon he discovered that charms was labelled: "For flesh wounds," and this the boy separated others only bit of dried root, taken from some unknown shrub, but the boy rubbed it wound made quill and in the place was healed entirely Shaggy Man's leg was as good as ever

"Rub it holes in my patches," suggested Scraps, and Ojo tried it, but without any effect

"The charm is needle and thread," said the Shaggy Man "But worry, my dear; those holes look badly, at all "

"They'll let air, and I don't want people I'm airy, or that I've been stuck up," said the Patchwork Girl