"That's too bad," said the Scarecrow "What the trouble ? "

"Why, made very insulting remark people we were lacking in understanding, because we had leg to person 't see that legs have anything with understanding things The Horners each have two legs, just That's one leg too many, it seems "

"No," declared Dorothy, "it's just the right number "

"You don't need them," argued the Hopper, obstinately "You've head, and one body, and one nose and mouth Two legs are quite unnecessary, spoil one's shape "

"But how walk, with leg ? " asked Ojo

"Walk ! Who wants to walk ? " exclaimed the man "Walking is terribly awkward way to travel I hop, and so do all my people It's more graceful and agreeable than walking "

"I don't agree ," said the Scarecrow "But tell me, Horner Country without going city Hoppers ? "

"Yes; another path rocky lowlands, outside the mountain, that leads straight entrance Horner Country But it's long way around, so you'd better come with me Perhaps allow you gate; but we expect to conquer them this afternoon, get time, and then go and come please "

They thought it best to Hopper's advice, and asked him to lead the way This in series of hops, and he moved so swiftly strange manner with two legs had to run up

Chapter Twenty-Two

The Joking Horners

not long left the passage and came to great cave, so high reached nearly top mountain within which it lay magnificent cave, illumined soft, invisible light, everything plainly seen The walls were of polished marble, white with veins of delicate colors running through it, roof was arched and fantastic and beautiful

Built beneath this vast dome was pretty village--not very large, for there seemed not more than fifty houses altogether-- dwellings were of marble and artistically designed No grass nor flowers nor trees grew cave, so the yards surrounding the houses carved in designs both were smooth and bare and had low walls around them to mark their boundaries

streets yards houses were many people all having one leg growing below their bodies and all hopping here and there whenever they moved Even the children stood firmly upon their single legs and never lost their balance

"All hail, Champion ! " cried man first group of Hoppers they met; "whom captured ? "

"No one," replied the Champion in gloomy voice; "these strangers have captured me "

"Then," said another, " rescue you, and capture them, for greater in number "

"No," answered the Champion, " 't allow it I've surrendered, and it isn't polite to capture those you've surrendered to "

"Never mind that," said Dorothy " your liberty and set you free "

"Really ? " asked the Champion in joyous tones

"Yes," said the little girl; "your people may need you to help conquer the Horners "

all the Hoppers looked downcast and sad Several more had joined the group and quite crowd of curious men, women and children surrounded the strangers

"This war neighbors is terrible thing," remarked women "Some one is almost sure hurt "

"Why say that, madam ? " inquired the Scarecrow

"Because the horns enemies are sharp, and in battle try to stick those horns into our warriors," she replied

" horns Horners have ? " asked Dorothy

"Each has one horn center forehead," answer

"Oh, then they're unicorns," declared the Scarecrow

"No; they're Horners We never go to war help it, on account dangerous horns; but this insult was so great and so unprovoked brave men decided to fight, revenged," said the woman

"What weapons fight with ? " the Scarecrow asked

" no weapons," explained the Champion "Whenever we fight the Horners, our plan is to push them back, arms are longer than theirs "

"Then better armed," said Scraps

"Yes; but those terrible horns, and unless careful they prick us points," returned the Champion with shudder "That makes war dangerous, and dangerous war pleasant one "

" very clearly," remarked the Scarecrow, "that going trouble in conquering those Horners--unless we "

"Oh ! " cried the Hoppers in chorus; " ? Please do ! greatly obliged ! It would please us ! " and exclamations the Scarecrow knew that his speech had met with favor

"How far Horner Country ? " he asked

"Why, it's just the other side fence," they answered, Champion added:

"Come with me, please, and I'll show you the Horners "

So they followed the Champion and several others streets and just beyond the village came to very high picket fence, built all of marble, which seemed to divide the great cave into two equal parts

But the part inhabited Horners was in no way as grand in appearance Hoppers Instead of being marble, the walls and roof were of dull gray rock square houses were plainly made same material But in extent the city was much larger than that Hoppers streets were thronged with numerous people who busied themselves in various ways

Looking open pickets fence our friends watched the Horners, who know they were being watched by strangers, and found them very unusual in appearance They were little folks in size and had bodies round as balls and short legs and arms Their heads were round, too, had long, pointed ears and horn set center forehead The horns seem very terrible, for they more than six inches long; but they were ivory white and sharp pointed, and no wonder the Hoppers feared them

The skins Horners were light brown, but they wore snow-white robes and were bare-footed Dorothy thought the most striking thing was their hair, which grew in three distinct colors on each and every head--red, yellow and green The red was bottom and sometimes hung over their eyes; then came broad circle of yellow green was top and formed brush-shaped top-knot

Horners was yet aware presence of strangers, who watched the little brown people for time and then went big gate center dividing fence locked on both sides and over the latch was sign reading:

"WAR IS DECLARED"

"Can't we go through ? " asked Dorothy

"Not now," answered the Champion

" ," said the Scarecrow, "that if talk with those Horners apologize , and then there no need to fight "

"Can't you talk side ? " asked the Champion

"Not ," replied the Scarecrow " suppose throw me over that fence ? high, but very light "

" try it," said the Hopper " perhaps the strongest man in my country, so I'll undertake throwing But I won't promise land feet "

"No matter ," returned the Scarecrow "Just toss me over and I'll be satisfied "

So the Champion picked up the Scarecrow and balanced him moment, he weighed, and then with all his strength tossed him high air

Perhaps Scarecrow trifle heavier he easier to throw and gone greater distance; but, as , instead of going over the fence he landed just on top of it, and sharp pickets caught him middle back and held him fast prisoner Had he been face downward the Scarecrow managed to free himself, but lying back picket his hands waved air Horner Country while his feet kicked the air Hopper Country; so there

" hurt ? " called the Patchwork Girl anxiously

"Course not," said Dorothy "But if he wiggles that way tear his clothes How can we get him down, Mr Champion ? "

The Champion shook his head

"I don't know," he confessed "If scare Horners as crows, it good idea to leave him there "

" terrible," said Ojo, almost ready to cry "I s'pose it's because Ojo the Unlucky that everyone who tries to help me gets into trouble "

" lucky anyone to ," declared Dorothy "But don't worry We'll rescue the Scarecrow somehow "