" that wouldn't do," replied the Scarecrow "The well naturally dark, water must never have seen the light of day, for otherwise the magic charm work at all "

" water do ? " asked Jack

"A gill "

" is gill ? "

"Why--a gill is gill, ," answered the Scarecrow, who wish to display his ignorance

" ! " cried Scraps "Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch--"

"No, no; that's wrong," interrupted the Scarecrow " two kinds of gills, ; one is girl, other is--"

"A gillyflower," said Jack

"No; measure "

"How big measure ? "

"Well, I'll ask Dorothy "

So next morning they asked Dorothy, and she said:

"I don't just know gill is, but I've brought along gold flask that holds pint That's more than gill, I'm sure, Crooked Magician may measure it to suit himself But the thing that's bothering us most, Jack, is the well "

Jack gazed around the landscape, for standing doorway house

" flat country, so you won't find any dark wells here," said he " go mountains, where rocks and caverns are "

"And where ? " asked Ojo

" Quadling Country, which lies south of here," replied the Scarecrow "I've known all along that go mountains "

"So have I," said Dorothy

"But--goodness me ! --the Quadling Country is full of dangers," declared Jack "I've never been there myself, but--"

" ," said the Scarecrow "I've faced the dreadful Hammerheads, no arms and butt you like goat; and I've faced the Fighting Trees, which bend down their branches to pound and whip you, and had adventures there "

"It's wild country," remarked Dorothy, soberly, "and go there we're sure troubles own But I guess we'll have , if that gill of water dark well "

So they said good-bye Pumpkinhead and resumed their travels, heading now directly toward the South Country, where mountains and rocks and caverns and forests of great trees abounded This part Land of Oz, while it belonged to Ozma and owed her allegiance, was so wild and secluded that many queer peoples hid in its jungles and lived in their own way, without even knowledge had Ruler Emerald City were left alone, these creatures never troubled the inhabitants rest of Oz, but those who invaded their domains encountered many dangers

two days journey from Jack Pumkinhead's house edge Quadling Country, for neither Dorothy nor Ojo could walk very fast often stopped wayside to rest The first night they slept broad fields, buttercups and daisies, Scarecrow covered the children with gauze blanket taken knapsack, so they chilled night air Toward evening second day they reached sandy plain where walking was difficult; but some distance before them they saw group of palm trees, with many curious black dots under them; so they trudged bravely on to reach that place by dark and spend the night under the shelter trees

The black dots grew larger advanced and although the light was dim Dorothy thought they looked like big kettles turned upside down Just beyond this place jumble of huge, jagged rocks lay scattered, rising mountains behind them

Our travelers preferred to attempt to climb these rocks by daylight, realized that for time their last night plains

Twilight had fallen they came trees, beneath which were the black, circular objects they had marked from distance Dozens were scattered around and Dorothy bent near to one, about as tall as she was, to examine it more closely As she did so the top flew open and out popped dusky creature, rising its length air and then plumping down ground just beside the little girl Another and another popped circular, pot-like dwelling, while from all the other black objects came popping more creatures--very like jumping-jacks when their boxes are unhooked--until fully hundred stood gathered around our little group of travelers

Dorothy had discovered they were people, tiny and curiously formed, but still people Their skins were dusky and their hair stood straight up, like wires, and was brilliant scarlet in color Their bodies were bare except for skins fastened around their waists wore bracelets on their ankles and wrists, and necklaces, and great pendant earrings

Toto crouched beside his mistress and wailed like these strange creatures bit Scraps began to mutter something about "hoppity, poppity, jumpity, dump ! " but no one paid any attention to her Ojo kept close Scarecrow Scarecrow kept close to Dorothy; but the little girl turned queer creatures and asked:

"Who ? "

They answered this question all together, in sort of chanting chorus, the words being as follows:

"We're the jolly Tottenhots; like the day, But night 'tis our delight To gambol, skip and play

"We hate the sun and run, The moon is cool and clear, So spot each Tottenhot Waits to appear

"We're ev'ry one chock full of fun, And full of mischief, too; But 're gay and play We'll do no harm

"Glad to meet you, Tottenhots," said the Scarecrow solemnly "But you mustn't expect us to play all night, for we've traveled all day and some of us are tired "

"And we never gamble," added the Patchwork Girl "It's against the Law "

These remarks were greeted with shouts of laughter impish creatures and one seized the Scarecrow's arm and was astonished the straw man whirl around so easily So the Tottenhot raised the Scarecrow high air and tossed him over the heads crowd Some one caught him and tossed him back, and so with shouts of glee they continued throwing the Scarecrow here and there, he basket-ball

Presently another imp seized Scraps and began to throw her about, same way They found her little heavier Scarecrow but still light enough tossed like sofa-cushion, were enjoying the sport immensely when Dorothy, angry and indignant treatment her friends were receiving, rushed Tottenhots and began slapping and pushing them until she had rescued the Scarecrow Patchwork Girl and held them close on either side of her Perhaps not have accomplished this victory so easily Toto helped her, barking and snapping bare legs imps until they were glad to flee attack As for Ojo, creatures had attempted to toss him, also, but finding his body too heavy they threw him ground and row imps sat on him and held him from assisting Dorothy in her battle

The little brown folks were much surprised at being attacked girl dog, and who slapped hardest began to cry Then suddenly they gave shout, all together, and disappeared in flash into their various houses, the tops closed with series of pops that sounded like bunch of firecrackers being exploded

The adventurers now found themselves alone, and Dorothy asked anxiously:

"Is anybody hurt ? "

"Not me," answered the Scarecrow " given my straw good shaking up and taken all the lumps out of it now in splendid condition and am really obliged Tottenhots for their kind treatment "

" much the same way," said Scraps "My cotton stuffing had sagged day's walking 've loosened it up until as plump as sausage But the play was little rough and I'd had quite enough of it interfered "

"Six sat on me," said Ojo, "but so little they didn't hurt me much "

Just then the roof house in front opened and Tottenhot stuck his head out, very cautiously, and looked strangers

"Can't you take joke ? " he asked, reproachfully; "haven't you any fun in you at all ? "

"If I had such quality," replied the Scarecrow, "your people knocked it out of me But I don't bear grudges I forgive you "

"So do I," added Scraps " , behave yourselves "

" just little rough-house, that's all," said the Tottenhot "But the question if behave, but behave ? 't be shut up here all night, because our time to play; nor do we care out and be chewed up by savage beast or slapped by an angry girl That slapping hurts like sixty; some folks are crying So here's the proposition: you alone and we'll let you alone "

"You began it," declared Dorothy

"Well, you ended it, so we won't argue the matter May we come out again ? Or still cruel and slappy ? "

"Tell you what we'll do," said Dorothy "We're all tired and want to sleep until morning 'll get into your house, and stay there until daylight, play outside all to "

"That's bargain ! " cried the Tottenhot eagerly, and queer whistle that brought his people popping out houses on all sides house before them was vacant, Dorothy and Ojo leaned over the hole and looked in, but nothing because so dark But Tottenhots slept there all day the children thought sleep there at night, so Ojo lowered himself down and found not very deep

"There's soft cushion all over," said he "Come on in "

Dorothy handed Toto boy and then climbed in herself After her came Scraps Scarecrow, who wish to sleep but preferred way mischievous Tottenhots

There seemed no furniture round den, but soft cushions were strewn floor and these they found made very comfortable beds close the hole roof but left it open to admit air It also admitted the shouts and ceaseless laughter impish Tottenhots played outside, but Dorothy and Ojo, being weary from their journey, were soon fast asleep