"Who captured Mr Yoop ? " asked Woot, looking gravely big woman

"Wicked enemies People who selfishly objected to Yoop's taking their cows and sheep food admit, however, that Yoop had bad temper, and had the habit of knocking over few houses, , when angry So one day the little folks came in great crowd and captured Mr Yoop, and carried him away to cage somewhere mountains I don't know where , and I don't care, husband treated me badly at times, forgetting the respect giant owes to giantess Often he kicked me on my shins, when I wouldn't wait on him So I'm glad gone "

"It's wonder the people didn't capture you, too," remarked Woot

"Well, too clever ," said she, giving sudden laugh that caused such breeze wobbly Scarecrow was almost blown off his feet and had to grab his friend Nick Chopper to steady himself " the people coining," continued Mrs Yoop, "and knowing they meant mischief I transformed myself into mouse and hid in cupboard After they had gone away, carrying my shin-kicking husband , I transformed myself back to my former shape again, and here I've lived in peace and comfort "

" Witch, then ? " inquired Woot

"Well, not exactly Witch," she replied, "but I'm an Artist in Transformations In other words, I'm more of Yookoohoo than Witch, and Yookoohoos are the cleverest magic-workers "

The travelers were silent for time, uneasily considering this statement effect it on their future the Giantess had wilfully made them her prisoners; yet she spoke so cheerfully, in her big voice, that until now they alarmed least

By and Scarecrow, whose mixed brains working steadily, asked the woman:

"Are we to consider you our friend, Mrs Yoop, or intend our enemy ? "

"I never have friends," she said in matter-of-fact tone, "because friends get too familiar and always forget to mind their own business But not your enemy; not yet, anyhow Indeed, I'm glad you've come, life rather lonely I've had no one to since I transformed Polychrome, the Daughter Rainbow, into canary-bird "

"How did you manage to ? " asked the Tin Woodman, in amazement "Polychrome is powerful fairy ! "

"She was," said the Giantess; "but now she's canary-bird One day after rain, Polychrome danced off the Rainbow and fell asleep on little mound valley, not far from my castle The sun came out and drove the Rainbow away, and before Poly wakened, I stole out and transformed her into canary-bird in gold cage studded with diamonds The cage was so she couldn't fly away I expected she'd sing and talk and we'd have good times together; but she has proved no company at all the moment of her transformation, she has refused single word "

"Where is she now ? " inquired Woot, who had heard tales of lovely Polychrome and was much interested in her

"The cage is hanging up in my bedroom," said the Giantess, eating another biscuit The travelers were now more uneasy and suspicious Giantess than before If Polychrome, the Rainbow's Daughter, who was real fairy, transformed and enslaved huge woman, who claimed Yookoohoo, liable to happen ? Said the Scarecrow, twisting his stuffed head around in Mrs Yoop's direction:

" , Ma'am, who ? "

" ," said she; "a straw man, tin man and boy "

" people," declared the Tin Woodman

"All the better," she replied " enjoy your society the more account For I mean you here as long as I live, to amuse me when I get lonely And," she added slowly, " Valley no one ever dies "

They didn't like this speech at all, so the Scarecrow frowned in way that made Mrs Yoop smile, while the Tin Woodman looked so fierce that Mrs Yoop laughed The Scarecrow suspected she was going to laugh, so he slipped behind his friends to escape the wind from her breath safe position warningly:

" powerful friends soon come to rescue us "

"Let them come," she returned, with an accent of scorn " get here find neither boy, nor tin man, nor scarecrow, for tomorrow morning I intend to transform you all into other shapes, be recognized "

This threat filled them with dismay The good-natured Giantess was more terrible than they had imagined smile and wear pretty clothes and same time be even more cruel than her wicked husband

Both the Scarecrow Tin Woodman tried of some way to escape castle before morning, but she seemed to read their thoughts and shook her head

"Don't worry your poor brains," said she " 't escape me, however hard you try But why should you wish to escape ? new forms much better ones you now have Be contented with your fate, for discontent leads to unhappiness, and unhappiness, in any form, greatest evil befall you "

"What forms intend to ? " asked Woot earnestly

"I haven't decided, I'll dream over it tonight, so morning made up my mind how to transform you Perhaps you'd prefer your own transformations ? "

"No," said Woot, "I prefer to remain as "

"That's funny," she retorted " little, and you're weak; , you're not much account, anyhow The best thing about you you're alive, for of you some sort of live creature which great improvement present form "

She took another biscuit from plate and dipped it in pot of honey and calmly began eating it

The Scarecrow watched her thoughtfully

" no fields of grain in your Valley," said he; "where, then did you get the flour your biscuits ? "

"Mercy me ! I'd bother biscuits out of flour ? " she replied " altogether too tedious process for Yookoohoo I set some traps this afternoon and caught lot of field-mice, but as like to eat mice, I transformed them into hot biscuits supper The honey pot was once wasp's nest, but since being transformed it has become sweet and delicious All do, when to eat, is something I don't care , and transform it into any sort of food I like, and eat it hungry ? "

"I don't eat, ," said the Scarecrow

"Nor do I," said the Tin Woodman

" still little natural food in my knapsack," said Woot the Wanderer, "and I'd rather eat that than any wasp's nest "

" taste," said the Giantess carelessly, and having now finished her supper she rose to her feet, clapped her hands together, supper table at once disappeared

Chapter Six

The Magic of Yookoohoo

Woot had seen very little of magic during his wanderings, while the Scarecrow Tin Woodman had seen great deal of many sorts in their lives, yet all three were greatly impressed by Mrs Yoop's powers She affect any mysterious airs or indulge in chants or mystic rites, as most witches do, nor Giantess old and ugly or disagreeable in face or manner Nevertheless, she frightened her prisoners more than any witch done

"Please be seated," she said , as she sat herself down in great arm-chair and spread her beautiful embroidered skirts to admire But all the chairs room were so high friends climb seats Mrs Yoop observed this and waved her hand, when instantly golden ladder appeared leaning against chair opposite her own

"Climb up," said she, obeyed, the Tin Man boy assisting the more clumsy Scarecrow were all seated in row cushion chair, the Giantess continued: "Now tell me how you happened to travel direction, and where you came from and what your errand is "

So the Tin Woodman told her all about Nimmie Amee, and how he had decided her and marry her, although he had no Loving Heart The story seemed to amuse the big woman, who then began to Scarecrow questions and first time in her life heard of Ozma of Oz, and of Dorothy and Jack Pumpkinhead and Dr Pipt and Tik-tok and Oz people well known Emerald City Also Woot had his story, which was very simple and take long The Giantess laughed heartily boy related their adventure at Loonville, but said she knew nothing Loons because she never left her Valley

" wicked people like to capture me, my giant husband, Mr Yoop," said she; "so I stay at home and mind my own business "

"If Ozma knew that you dared to work magic without her consent, punish you severely," declared the Scarecrow, " castle is Land of Oz, and no persons Land of Oz are permitted to work magic except Glinda the Good little Wizard who lives with Ozma Emerald City "

"That for your Ozma ! " exclaimed the Giantess, snapping her fingers in derision "What do I care for girl whom never seen and who has never seen me ? "

"But Ozma is fairy," said the Tin Woodman, and therefore very powerful Also, under Ozma's protection, and to injure us in would make her extremely angry "