"True that less understanding ? " asked the Champion

"Yes; it's true because you don't understand such poor joke; if , you'd be no wiser than "

"Ah, yes; ," they answered, looking very wise

"So I'll tell you what ," continued Dorothy "Laugh at their poor joke and tell 'em it's pretty good for Horner Then they won't dare say less understanding, because you understand do "

The Hoppers looked at one another questioningly and blinked their eyes and tried what it all meant; but they couldn't figure it out

"What , Champion ? " asked

" dangerous thing any more than help," he replied " do girl says and laugh Horners, so as them believe we see the joke Then peace again and no need to fight "

They readily agreed and returned fence laughing as loud and as hard as , although they didn't feel like laughing bit The Horners were much surprised

"That's fine joke--for Horner--and much pleased with it," said the Champion, speaking pickets "But please don't again "

"I won't," promised Diksey "If of another such joke I'll try to forget it "

"Good ! " cried the Chief Horner "The war is over and peace is declared "

much joyful shouting on both sides fence gate was unlocked and thrown wide open, Scraps was able to rejoin her friends

"What Scarecrow ? " she asked Dorothy

" get him down, somehow or other," reply

"Perhaps the Horners can find way," suggested Ojo So they all went gate and Dorothy asked the Chief Horner how get the Scarecrow off the fence The Chief didn't know how, but Diksey said:

"A ladder's the thing "

" one ? " asked Dorothy

" We use ladders mines," said he Then he ran away the ladder, and while gone the Horners gathered around and welcomed the strangers country, for through them great war avoided

In little while Diksey came back with tall ladder which he placed against the fence Ojo at once climbed top ladder and Dorothy went about halfway up and Scraps stood foot of it Toto ran around it and barked Then Ojo pulled the Scarecrow away picket and passed him down to Dorothy, who in turn lowered him Patchwork Girl

feet and standing on solid ground the Scarecrow said:

"Much obliged much better I'm not stuck picket any more "

The Horners began to laugh, thinking joke, but the Scarecrow shook himself and patted his straw little and said to Dorothy: " much of hole in my back ? "

The little girl examined him carefully

"There's quite hole," she said "But I've got needle and thread knapsack and I'll sew you up again "

" ," he begged earnestly, and again the Hoppers laughed, Scarecrow's great annoyance

While Dorothy was sewing up the hole straw man's back Scraps examined the other parts of him

"One legs is ripped, too ! " she exclaimed

"Oho ! " cried little Diksey; "that's bad Give him the needle and thread and let him mend his ways "

"Ha, ha, ha ! " laughed the Chief, other Horners at once roared with laughter

"What's funny ? " inquired the Scarecrow sternly

"Don't ? " asked Diksey, who had laughed even harder others "That's joke It's by odds the best joke I ever made You walk with your legs, and 's the way you walk, and your legs are the ways See ? So, mend your legs, you mend your ways Ho, ho, ho ! hee, hee ! I'd no idea make such fine joke ! "

"Just wonderful ! " echoed the Chief "How manage , Diksey ? "

"I don't know," said Diksey modestly "Perhaps it's the radium, but I rather think it's my splendid intellect "

" don't quit it," the Scarecrow told him, "there'll be worse war one you've escaped from "

Ojo deep in thought, and now he asked the Chief: " dark well in any part of your country ? "

"A dark well ? None that ever I heard of," answer

"Oh, yes," said Diksey, who overheard the boy's question "There's very dark well down in my radium mine "

" any water ? " Ojo eagerly asked

"Can't say; I've never looked But find out "

So, Scarecrow was mended, they decided with Diksey mine When Dorothy had patted the straw man into shape again he declared as good as new and equal to further adventures

"Still," said he, "I prefer not picket duty again High life doesn't seem to agree with my constitution " And then they hurried away to escape the laughter Horners, who thought another joke

Chapter Twenty-Four

Ojo Finds the Dark Well

They now followed Diksey farther end great cave, beyond the Horner city, where there were several round, dark holes leading ground in slanting direction Diksey went to holes and said:

" mine lies the dark well seeking Follow me and step carefully and I'll lead you place "

He went in first and after him came Ojo, and then Dorothy, Scarecrow behind her The Patchwork Girl entered last of all, for Toto kept close beside his little mistress

few steps beyond the mouth opening pitch dark "You won't lose your way, though," said the Horner, "for there's way The mine's mine and every step way How's that for joke, eh ? The mine's mine " Then he chuckled gleefully followed him silently down the steep slant The hole was just big enough to permit them to walk upright, although the Scarecrow, being much the taller party, often had to bend his head from hitting the top

The floor tunnel was difficult to walk upon because it worn smooth as glass, and pretty soon Scraps, who was some distance behind the others, slipped and fell head foremost At once she began to slide downward, so swiftly that when she came Scarecrow she knocked him off his feet and sent him tumbling against Dorothy, who tripped up Ojo The boy fell against the Horner, all went tumbling down the slide in regular mix-up, unable where they were going because darkness

Fortunately, reached the bottom the Scarecrow and Scraps were in front, others bumped against them, no one was hurt They found themselves in vast cave dimly lighted tiny grains of radium that lay scattered loose rocks

"Now," said Diksey, had all regained their feet, " show you where the dark well is big place, but hold fast to we won't get lost "

They took hold of hands Horner led them into dark corner, where he halted

"Be careful," said he warningly "The well is at your feet "

"All right," replied Ojo, and kneeling down well hand and found contained quantity of water "Where's the gold flask, Dorothy ? " he asked, little girl handed him the flask, which she had brought with her

Ojo knelt again and by feeling carefully dark managed the flask unseen water that was well Then he screwed the top flask firmly in place and put the precious water pocket

"All right ! " again, in glad voice; "now go back "

They returned mouth tunnel and began to creep cautiously up the incline they made Scraps stay behind, for fear slip again; but they all managed up in safety Munchkin boy was very happy when he stood Horner city and realized water dark well, which he friends had traveled to secure, was safe jacket pocket

Chapter Twenty-Five

They Bribe the Lazy Quadling

"Now," said Dorothy, stood mountain path, having left behind them the cave dwelt the Hoppers Horners, " find road Country Winkies, for where Ojo wants next "

" such road ? " asked the Scarecrow

"I don't know," she replied "I s'pose go back the way we came, to Jack Pumpkinhead's house, and then turn Winkie Country; but that seems like running 'round haystack, doesn't it ? "

"Yes," said the Scarecrow " the next thing Ojo must get ? "

"A yellow butterfly," answered the boy

"That means the Winkie Country, all right, 's the yellow country of Oz," remarked Dorothy " , Scarecrow, we ought him Tin Woodman, for he's the Emp'ror Winkies and will what Ojo wants "