They began to recognize the scenes they had passed, and by and by they came in sight little house Quadlings again The man was standing river bank and :

"How do ? you again I forgot you river changes its direction every little while Sometimes it flows , and sometimes the other "

They had no time to answer him, raft was swept past the house and long distance other side of it

"We're going just the way we don't want ," said Dorothy, "and I guess the best thing do is to land before we're carried any farther "

But get to land They had no oars, nor even pole to guide the raft with The logs which bore them floated middle stream and were held fast position strong current

So they sat still and waited and, even while they were wondering what , the raft slowed down, stopped, and began drifting the other way-- direction it had first followed After time they repassed the Quadling house man was still standing bank He cried out :

"Good day ! you again I expect see you good , go by, unless you happen to swim ashore "

they had left him behind and were headed once more straight toward the Winkie Country

" pretty hard luck," said Ojo in discouraged voice "The Trick River keeps changing, it seems, and here float back and forward forever, unless we manage in some way ashore "

" swim ? " asked Dorothy

"No; I'm Ojo the Unlucky "

"Neither can I Toto can swim little, but that won't to shore "

"I don't know whether swim, or not," remarked Scraps; "but if I tried it I'd surely ruin my lovely patches "

"My straw would get soggy water and sink," said the Scarecrow

So there seemed no way out dilemma and being helpless they simply sat still Ojo, who was front raft, looked over water and thought some large fishes swimming about loose end clothesline which fastened the logs together, and taking gold nail pocket he bent it nearly double, hook, and tied it end line Having baited the hook with some bread which he broke loaf, he dropped the line water and almost instantly seized by great fish

They knew great fish, because it pulled so hard line dragged the raft forward even faster current river had carried it The fish was frightened, and strong swimmer other end clothesline was bound around the logs get it away, and as he had greedily swallowed the gold hook first bite get rid , either

reached the place where the current had before changed, the fish was still swimming ahead in its wild attempt to escape The raft slowed down, yet it stop, because the fish let it It continued to move same direction it going current reversed and rushed backward on its course it failed to drag the raft with it Slowly, inch by inch, they floated on, fish tugged and tugged and kept them going

" he won't give up," said Ojo anxiously " fish can hold out until the current changes again, we'll be all right "

The fish give up, but held the raft bravely on its course, till at last the water river shifted again and floated them the way they wanted But now the captive fish found its strength failing Seeking refuge, it began to drag the raft toward the shore As wish to land place the boy cut the rope pocket-knife and set the fish free, just the raft from grounding

The the river backed up the Scarecrow managed to seize the branch of tree that overhung the water all assisted him to hold fast and prevent the raft from being carried backward While they waited here, Ojo spied long broken branch lying bank, so he leaped ashore and got it When he had stripped off the side shoots he believed use the branch as pole, to guide the raft of emergency

They clung tree until they found the water flowing the right way, let go and permitted the raft to resume its voyage pauses they were really making good progress toward the Winkie Country and having found way to conquer the adverse current their spirits rose considerably see little country through which they were passing, because high banks, met with no boats or other craft surface river

Once more the trick river reversed its current, but the Scarecrow was on guard and used the pole to push the raft toward big rock which lay water He believed the rock would prevent their floating backward current, and so it did They clung anchorage until the water resumed its proper direction, allowed the raft to drift on

Floating around bend they saw ahead high bank of water, extending across the entire river, and toward this they were being irresistibly carried There being no way to arrest the progress raft they clung fast logs and let the river sweep them on Swiftly the raft climbed the bank of water and slid down other side, plunging its edge deep water and drenching them all with spray

As again the raft righted and drifted on, Dorothy and Ojo laughed ducking they had received; but Scraps was much dismayed Scarecrow took out his handkerchief and wiped the water off the Patchwork Girl's patches as able to The sun soon dried her colors of her patches proved good, for run together nor did they fade

After passing the wall of water the current change or flow backward any more but continued to sweep them steadily forward The banks river grew lower, too, permitting them more country, and presently they discovered yellow buttercups and dandelions growing amongst the grass, evidence they knew they had reached the Winkie Country

"Don't we ought to land ? " Dorothy asked the Scarecrow

"Pretty soon," he replied "The Tin Woodman's castle is southern part Winkie Country, and so it can't be great way from here "

Fearing drift too far, Dorothy and Ojo now stood up and raised the Scarecrow in their arms, as high as , thus allowing him good view country For time nothing he recognized, but finally he cried:

"There ! There ! "

"What ? " asked Dorothy

"The Tin Woodman's tin castle its turrets glittering sun It's quite way off, but we'd better land as quickly "

They let him down and began to urge the raft toward the shore pole It obeyed , current was more sluggish now, and soon they had reached the bank and landed safely

The Winkie Country was really beautiful, and across the fields see afar the silvery sheen tin castle With light hearts they hurried toward it, being fully rested by their long ride river

By and by they began to cross an immense field of splendid yellow lilies, the delicate fragrance of very delightful

"How beautiful ! " cried Dorothy, stopping to admire the perfection exquisite flowers

"Yes," said the Scarecrow, reflectively, "but careful not to crush or injure any lilies "

" ? " asked Ojo

"The Tin Woodman is very kind-hearted," reply, "and he hates any living thing hurt in "

"Are flowers alive ? " asked Scraps

"Yes, And these flowers belong Tin Woodman So, not to offend him, not tread on single blossom "

"Once," said Dorothy, "the Tin Woodman stepped on beetle and killed the little creature That made him very unhappy and he cried until his tears rusted his joints, so he couldn't move 'em "

"What did he do then ? " asked Ojo

"Put oil on them, until the joints worked smooth again "

"Oh ! " exclaimed the boy, great discovery had flashed across his mind But tell anybody what the discovery was and kept the idea to himself

long walk, but pleasant one, and mind it bit Late afternoon they drew near wonderful tin castle Emperor Winkies, and Ojo and Scraps, who had never seen it before, were filled with amazement

Tin abounded Winkie Country Winkies were said the most skillful tinsmiths in all the world So the Tin Woodman had employed them in building his magnificent castle, all of tin, ground tallest turret, and so brightly polished glittered sun's rays more gorgeously than silver Around the grounds castle ran tin wall, with tin gates; but the gates stood wide open because the Emperor had no enemies to disturb him