They wakened the boy at daybreak, the Scarecrow saying to him:

" discovered something queer, and therefore counsel together what "

"What discovered ? " asked Woot, rubbing the sleep eyes knuckles and giving three wide yawns fully awake

"A Sign," said the Tin Woodman "A Sign, and another path "

"What does the Sign say ? " inquired the boy

"It says that 'All Strangers are Warned not this Path to Loonville,'" answered the Scarecrow, read when his eyes freshly painted

" case," said the boy, opening his knapsack some breakfast, " travel in some other direction "

But seem either companions

"I'd like what Loonville looks like," remarked the Tin Woodman

"When one travels, foolish to miss any interesting sight," added the Scarecrow

"But warning means danger," protested Woot the Wanderer, "and I believe it sensible out of danger whenever "

They made no reply speech for while Then said the Scarecrow:

" escaped dangers, during my lifetime, that not much afraid of anything happen "

"Nor am I ! " exclaimed the Tin Woodman, swinging his glittering axe around his tin head, in series of circles "Few things can injure tin, and my axe is powerful weapon to use against foe But our boy friend," he continued, looking solemnly at Woot, "might perhaps be injured people of Loonville are really dangerous; so I propose he waits here while you and I, Friend Scarecrow, visit the forbidden City of Loonville "

"Don't worry about me," advised Woot, calmly "Wherever you wish , go, and share your dangers During my wanderings found it more wise out of danger than to venture in, but alone, and now two powerful friends to protect me "

So, when he had finished his breakfast, they all set out along the path that led to Loonville

" place never heard of before," remarked the Scarecrow, approached dense forest "The inhabitants people, of some sort, or animals, but whatever they prove , an interesting story to relate to Dorothy and Ozma return "

The path led forest, but the big trees grew so closely together vines and underbrush were so thick and matted had to clear path at each step In places the Tin Man, who went first to clear the way, cut the branches with blow axe Woot followed next, and last three came the Scarecrow, have kept the path at all his comrades broken the way straw-stuffed body

Presently the Tin Woodman pushed his way through some heavy underbrush, and almost tumbled headlong into vast cleared space forest The clearing was circular, big and roomy, yet the top branches tall trees reached over and formed complete dome or roof Strangely enough, not dark immense natural chamber woodland, place glowed with soft, white light that seemed from some unseen source

chamber were grouped dozens of queer creatures, and these so astonished the Tin Man that Woot had to push his metal body aside, that he might see, too Scarecrow pushed Woot aside, so three travelers stood in row, staring with all their eyes

The creatures they beheld were round and ball-like; round in body, round in legs and arms, round in hands and feet and round of head The only exception roundness was slight hollow top of each head, making it saucer-shaped instead of dome-shaped They wore no clothes on their puffy bodies, nor had they any hair Their skins were all of light gray color, and their eyes were mere purple spots Their noses were as puffy rest

"Are they rubber, ? " asked the Scarecrow, who noticed creatures bounded, moved, and seemed almost as light as air

" difficult what ," answered Woot, "they covered with warts "

The Loons -- for so these folks were called -- doing many things, some playing together, some working at tasks and some gathered in groups ; but sound of strange voices, which echoed rather loudly clearing, all turned direction intruders Then, in body, they all rushed forward, running and bounding with tremendous speed

The Tin Woodman was so surprised sudden dash that he had no time to raise his axe Loons were on them The creatures swung their puffy hands, which looked like boxing-gloves, and pounded the three travelers as hard as , on all sides The blows were quite soft and hurt our friends at all, but the onslaught quite bewildered them, in brief period all three were knocked over and fell flat ground Once down, Loons held them, their getting up again, while others wound long tendrils of vines , binding their arms and legs bodies and so rendering them helpless

"Aha ! " cried the biggest Loon of all; "we've got 'em safe; so let's carry 'em to King Bal 'em tried, and condemned and perforated ! " They had to drag their captives center domed chamber, for their weight, as compared Loons, prevented their being carried Even the Scarecrow was much heavier puffy Loons But finally the party halted before raised platform, stood sort of throne, consisting of big, wide chair with string tied to one arm of it This string led upward roof dome

Arranged platform, the prisoners were allowed to sit up, facing the empty throne

"Good ! " said the big Loon who had commanded the party "Now King Bal to judge these terrible creatures so bravely captured "

As he spoke hold string and began to pull as hard as others helped him and pretty soon, drew cord, the leaves above them parted and Loon appeared other end string It didn't take long to draw him down throne, where he seated himself and was tied in, so he wouldn't float upward again

"Hello," said the King, blinking his purple eyes at his followers; "what's up now ! "

"Strangers, your Majesty -- strangers and captives," replied the big Loon, pompously

"Dear me ! 'em 'em very plainly," exclaimed the King, his purple eyes bulging out as he looked three prisoners "What curious animals ! Are they dangerous, , my good Panta ? "

"I'm 'fraid so, your Majesty , not be dangerous, but we mustn't take chances Enough accidents happen poor Loons , and my advice is to condemn and perforate 'em as quickly as possible "

"Keep your advice to yourself," said the monarch, in peeved tone "Who's King here, anyhow ? You or Me ? "

" you our King because less common sense rest of us," answered Panta Loon, indignantly "I King myself, had to, but I didn't care hard work and responsibility "

As this, the big Loon strutted back and forth space throne of King Bal prisoners, other Loons seemed much impressed by his defiance But suddenly there came sharp report and Panta Loon instantly disappeared, great astonishment Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and Woot the Wanderer, who saw spot where the big fellow had stood little heap of flabby, wrinkled skin that looked like collapsed rubber balloon

"There ! " exclaimed the King; "I expected happen The conceited rascal wanted to puff himself up until bigger rest of you, and result folly Get the pump working, some of you, and blow him up again "

" to mend the puncture first, your Majesty," suggested Loons, prisoners noticed that seemed surprised or shocked sad accident to Panta

"All right," grumbled the King "Fetch Til to mend him "

ran away and presently returned, followed by lady Loon wearing huge, puffed-up rubber skirts Also she had purple feather fastened to wart top of her head, and around her waist was sash of fibre-like vines, dried and tough, that looked like strings

"Get to work, Til," commanded King Bal "Panta has just exploded "

The lady Loon picked up the bunch of skin and examined it carefully until she discovered hole in one foot Then she pulled strand of string from her sash, and drawing the edges hole together she tied them fast string, thus making one curious warts which the strangers had noticed on Loons Having done this, Til Loon tossed the bit of skin other Loons and was about away when she noticed the prisoners and stopped to inspect them

"Dear me ! " said Til; "what dreadful creatures Where did from ? "

"We captured them," replied Loons

"And we going ? " inquired the girl Loon

"Perhaps we'll condemn 'em and puncture 'em," answered the King

"Well," said she, still eyeing the "I'm not sure they'll puncture Let's try it, "

Loons ran forest's edge and quickly returned with long, sharp thorn He glanced King, who nodded his head in assent, and then he rushed forward and stuck the thorn leg Scarecrow The Scarecrow merely smiled and said nothing, thorn didn't hurt him at all

Then the Loon tried to prick the Tin Woodman's leg, but the tin only blunted the point thorn

"Just as ," said Til, blinking her purple eyes and shaking her puffy head; but just then the Loon stuck the thorn leg of Woot the Wanderer, and while it blunted somewhat, still sharp enough to hurt