Then she read the following words, engraved copper plates man's body:

SMITH & TINKER'S Patent Double-Action, Extra-Responsive, Thought-Creating, Perfect-Talking MECHANICAL MAN Fitted Special Clockwork Attachment Thinks, Speaks, Acts, and Does Everything but Live

"Isn't he wonderful ! " exclaimed the Princess

"Yes; but here's more," said Betsy, reading from another engraved plate:

DIRECTIONS FOR USING:

For THINKING:--Wind the Clockwork Man under his left arm, (marked No 1) For SPEAKING:--Wind the Clockwork Man under his right arm, (marked No 2) For WALKING and ACTION:--Wind Clockwork Man middle back, (marked No 3)

N B --This Mechanism is guaranteed to work perfectly for thousand years

"If he's guaranteed for thousand years," said Polychrome, "he ought to work yet "

" ," replied Shaggy "Let's wind him up "

to they were obliged to set the copper man upon his feet, in an upright position, and no easy task inclined to topple over, and had propped again and again The girls assisted Shaggy, and at last Tik- Tok seemed balanced and stood alone upon his broad feet

"Yes," said Shaggy, looking copper man carefully, "this , indeed, my old friend Tik-Tok, whom I left ticking merrily Land of Oz But how lonely place, and got into that old well, is surely mystery "

" wind him, perhaps tell us," suggested Betsy "Here's the key, hanging to hook back What part of him shall I wind up first ? "

"His thoughts, ," said Polychrome, " requires thought or move intelligently "

So Betsy wound him under his left arm, and at once little flashes of light began to show top head, proof that he had begun

"Now, then," said Shaggy, "wind up his phonograph "

"What's that ? " she asked

"Why, his talking-machine His thoughts interesting, but they don't tell us anything "

So Betsy wound the copper man under his right arm, and then interior copper body came in jerky tones the words: "Ma-ny thanks ! "

"Hurrah ! " cried Shaggy, joyfully, and he slapped Tik-Tok back hearty manner copper man lost his balance and tumbled ground in heap But the clockwork that enabled him wound up and he kept saying: "Pick-me-up ! Pick-me-up ! Pick-me-up ! " until they had again raised him and balanced him upon his feet, when he added politely: "Ma-ny thanks ! "

"He won't be self-supporting until we wind up his action," remarked Shaggy; so Betsy wound it, as tight as -- key turned rather hard--and then Tik-Tok lifted his feet, marched around in circle and ended by stopping group and making them all low bow

"How did you happen well, when I left you safe in Oz ? " inquired Shaggy

" long sto-ry," replied Tik-Tok, "but I'll tell it in few words Af-ter you had gone in search of your broth-er, Oz-ma saw you wan-der- ing in strange lands when-ev-er she looked in her mag-ic pic-ture, and she also saw your broth-er Nome King's cavern; so she sent me you where your broth-er and told me to if The Sor-cer-ess, Glin-da the Good, trans-port-ed me place wink of an eye; but here I met the Nome King him-self--old Rug-ge-do, called parts the Met-al Mon-arch Rug-ge-do knew what I had come for, and so an-gry that he threw me down the well Af-ter my works ran down help-less un-til you came a-long and pulled me out a-gain Ma-ny thanks "

" , indeed, good news," said Shaggy "I suspected that my brother prisoner of Ruggedo; but now it Tell us, Tik-Tok, how shall we get Nome King's underground cavern ? "

"The best way is to walk," said Tik-Tok " crawl, or jump, or roll o-ver and o-ver until we get there; but the best way is to walk "

" ; but which road shall we take ? "

"My ma-chin-er-y is-n't made that," replied Tik-Tok

" more than one entrance underground cavern," said Polychrome; "but old Ruggedo has cleverly concealed every opening, earth dwellers can not intrude domain If our way underground at all, by chance "

"Then," said Betsy, " select any road, haphazard, where it leads us "

"That seems sensible," declared the Princess "It may require lot Ruggedo, but more time than anything else "

" keep me wound up," said Tik-Tok, " last thou-sand years "

"Then the only question to decide is ," added Shaggy, looking first at one road and then at another

But while they stood hesitating, peculiar sound reached their ears--a sound like the tramping of many feet

"What's coming ? " cried Betsy; and then she ran left-hand road and glanced along the path "Why, it's an army ! " she exclaimed "What shall , hide or run ? "

"Stand still," commanded Shaggy "I'm not afraid of an army prove friendly, ; enemies, I'll show them the Love Magnet "

Chapter Eight

Tik-Tok Tackles Tough Task

While Shaggy companions stood huddled in group at one side, the Army of Oogaboo was approaching along the pathway, the tramp feet being accompanied by dismal groan as officers stepped on sharp stone or knocked his funnybone against his neighbor's sword-handle

Then out from trees marched Private Files, bearing the banner of Oogaboo, which fluttered from long pole This pole he stuck ground just in front well and then he cried in loud voice:

"I hereby conquer this territory name of Queen Ann Soforth of Oogaboo, and all the inhabitants land I proclaim her slaves ! "

officers now stuck their heads bushes and asked:

" coast clear, Private Files ? "

" no coast here," reply, "but all's well "

" there's water ," said General Cone, mustering courage to advance well; but just then he caught glimpse of Tik-Tok and Shaggy and at once fell upon his knees, trembling and frightened and cried out:

"Mercy, kind enemies ! Mercy ! Spare us, and your slaves forever ! "

The other officers, who had now advanced clearing, likewise fell upon their knees and begged for mercy

Files turned around and, seeing the strangers first time, examined them with much curiosity Then, discovering that three party were girls, he lifted his cap and made polite bow

"What's all this ? " demanded harsh voice, as Queen Ann reached the place and beheld her kneeling army

"Permit us to introduce ourselves," replied Shaggy, stepping forward " Tik-Tok, the Clockwork Man--who works better than some meat people And Princess Ozga of Roseland, just now unfortunately exiled from her Kingdom of Roses I next present Polychrome, sky fairy, who lost her Bow by an accident and can't find her way home The small girl Betsy Bobbin, from some unknown earthly paradise called Oklahoma, and with her Mr Hank, mule with long tail and short temper "

"Puh ! " said Ann, scornfully; "a pretty lot of vagabonds , indeed; all lost or strayed, I suppose, and not worth Queen's plundering I'm sorry I've conquered you "

"But you haven't conquered us yet," called Betsy indignantly

"No," agreed Files, " fact But officers will kindly command me to conquer you, at once, after which stop arguing and converse more at our ease "

The officers had risen from their knees and brushed the dust from their trousers the enemy look very fierce, so the Generals and Colonels and Majors and Captains gained courage them and began strutting in their most haughty manner

" understand," said Ann, "that the Queen of Oogaboo, and my invincible Army busy conquering the world, and since you part world, obstructing our journey, necessary to conquer you--unworthy though high honor "

"That's all right," replied Shaggy "Conquer us as often like We don't mind "

"But we won't be anybody's slaves," added Betsy, positively

"We'll see ," retorted the Queen, angrily "Advance, Private Files, and bind the enemy hand and foot ! "

But Private Files looked at pretty Betsy and fascinating Polychrome beautiful Rose Princess and shook his head

"It impolite, and I won't ," he asserted

" ! " cried Ann " your duty to obey orders "

"I haven't received any orders from my officers," objected the Private

But the Generals now shouted: "Forward, and bind the prisoners ! " Colonels and Majors and Captains repeated the command, yelling it as loud as

All this noise annoyed Hank, who eyeing the Army of Oogaboo with strong disfavor The mule now dashed forward and began backing officers and kicking fierce and dangerous heels at them The attack was so sudden officers scattered like dust in whirlwind, dropping their swords ran and trying to seek refuge behind the trees and bushes

Betsy laughed joyously comical rout "noble army," and Polychrome danced with glee But Ann was furious ignoble defeat of her gallant forces by one small mule

"Private Files, I command you your duty ! " she cried again, and then she herself ducked to escape the mule's heels--for Hank made no distinction in favor of lady who was an open enemy Betsy grabbed her champion forelock, however, and so held him fast, and officers saw mule was restrained from further attacks they crept fearfully back and picked up their discarded swords

"Private Files, seize and bind these prisoners ! " screamed the Queen

"No," said Files, throwing down his gun and removing the knapsack strapped back, "I resign my position Army of Oogaboo I enlisted to fight the enemy and become hero, but some one to bind harmless girls to hire another Private "

Then he walked over others and shook hands with Shaggy and Tik-Tok

"Treason ! " shrieked Ann, and all the officers echoed her cry

"Nonsense," said Files "I've the right to resign if to "