" ," responded the Canary, and fluttering her wings she made flight of three circles around the stump Then she flew tree Bear Owl Jaguar saw that stump had appeared great green leaf was large portion of scrambled eggs on toast, smoking hot

"There ! " said the Bear; "eat your breakfast, friend Jaguar, and be content "

The Jaguar crept closer stump and sniffed the fragrance scrambled eggs They smelled so good that he tasted them, tasted so good that he ate the strange meal in hurry, proving he really hungry

"I prefer rabbits," he muttered, licking his chops, "but admit the magic breakfast has filled my stomach full, and brought me comfort So I'm much obliged kindness, little Fairy, and I'll now leave you in peace "

Saying this, he plunged thick underbrush and soon disappeared, although hear his great body crashing bushes until far distant

"That was good way rid savage beast, Poly," said the Tin Woodman Canary; "but I'm surprised that you didn't give our friend Woot magic breakfast, knew hungry "

"The reason ," answered Polychrome, " my mind was so intent on other things that I quite forgot my power food by magic But where monkey boy ? "

"Gone ! " said the Scarecrow Bear, solemnly "The earth has swallowed him up "

Chapter Nine

The Quarrelsome Dragons

The Green Monkey sank gently earth for little way and then tumbled swiftly through space, landing on rocky floor with thump that astonished him Then he sat up, found that no bones were broken, and gazed around him

in big underground cave, dimly lighted by dozens of big round discs that looked like moons They moons, however, as Woot discovered when he had examined the place more carefully They were eyes The eyes were heads of enormous beasts whose bodies trailed far behind them Each beast was bigger than an elephant, and three times as long, and there were dozen or more creatures scattered here and there cavern On their bodies were big scales, as round as pie-plates, which were beautifully tinted in shades of green, purple and orange ends long tails were clusters of jewels Around the great, moon-like eyes were circles of diamonds which sparkled subdued light that glowed eyes

Woot saw creatures had wide mouths and rows of terrible teeth and, from tales he had heard beings, he had fallen into cavern inhabited great Dragons that driven surface earth and were only allowed out once in hundred years to search for food he had never seen Dragons before, yet no mistaking them, for they were unlike living creatures

Woot sat floor where he had fallen, staring around, owners big eyes returned his look, silently and motionless Finally Dragons farthest away asked, in deep, grave voice:

"What ? "

greatest Dragon of all, who was just in front Green Monkey, answered in still deeper voice:

" some foolish animal from Outside "

" good to eat ? " inquired smaller Dragon beside the great one "I'm hungry "

"Hungry ! " exclaimed all the Dragons, in reproachful chorus; and then the great one said chidingly: "Tut- tut, my son ! You've no reason hungry "

" ? " asked the little Dragon "I haven't eaten anything in eleven years "

"Eleven years is nothing," remarked another Dragon, sleepily opening and closing his eyes; "I haven't feasted for eighty-seven years, and I dare not get hungry for dozen or so years Children who eat between meals broken habit "

"All I had, eleven , was rhinoceros, 's not full meal at all," grumbled the young one "And, , I had waited sixty-two years fed; so it's no wonder I'm hungry "

"How old now ? " asked Woot, forgetting his own dangerous position interest conversation

"Why, I'm -- I'm -- How old am I, Father ? " asked the little Dragon

"Goodness gracious ! what child to ask questions me thinking all the time ? Don't that thinking is very bad for Dragons ? " returned the big one, impatiently

"How old am I, Father ? " persisted the small Dragon

"About six hundred and thirty, I believe Ask your mother "

"No; don't ! " said an old Dragon background; "haven't I enough worries, what with being wakened middle of nap, without being obliged track children's ages ? "

"You've been fast asleep for over sixty years, Mother," said the child Dragon "How long nap wish ? "

" slept forty years longer And this strange little green beast punished for falling into our cavern and disturbing us "

"I didn't know you were here, and I didn't know going in," explained Woot

"Nevertheless, here ," said the great Dragon, "and carelessly wakened our entire tribe; so it stands to reason punished "

"In what way ? " inquired the Green Monkey, trembling little

" time and I'll think of way You're in no hurry, ? " asked the great Dragon

"No, indeed," cried Woot "Take your time I'd much rather you'd all go to sleep again, and punish me wake up in hundred years or so "

"Let me eat him ! " pleaded the littlest Dragon

" too small," said the father "To eat Green Monkey would only serve you hungry for more, and no more "

"Quit this chatter and let me get to sleep," protested another Dragon, yawning in fearful manner, for when he opened his mouth sheet of flame leaped forth and made Woot jump back out way

jump he bumped against the nose of Dragon behind him, which opened its mouth to growl and shot another sheet of flame at him The flame was bright, but not very hot, yet Woot screamed with terror and sprang forward with great bound he landed paw great Chief Dragon, who angrily raised his other front paw and struck the Green Monkey fierce blow Woot went sailing air and fell sprawling rocky floor far beyond the place where the Dragon Tribe was grouped

All the great beasts were now thoroughly wakened and aroused, blamed the monkey for disturbing their quiet The littlest Dragon darted after Woot others turned their unwieldy bodies direction and followed, flashing from their eyes and mouths flames which lighted up the entire cavern Woot almost gave himself up for lost, moment, but he scrambled feet and dashed away farthest end cave, the Dragons following more leisurely because they were too clumsy to move fast Perhaps they thought no need of haste, monkey escape cave But, away up end place, the cavern floor was heaped with tumbled rocks, so Woot, with an agility born of fear, climbed from rock to rock until himself crouched against the cavern roof There he waited, for go no farther, while on over the tumbled rocks slowly crept the Dragons -- the littlest one coming first because hungry as angry

The beasts had almost reached him when Woot, remembering his lace apron -- now sadly torn and soiled -- recovered his wits and shouted: "Open ! " cry hole appeared roof cavern, just over his head, and through it the sunlight streamed full Green Monkey

The Dragons paused, astonished magic and blinking sunlight, and this gave Woot time to climb opening he reached the surface earth the hole closed again, boy monkey realized, with thrill of joy, that he had seen the last dangerous Dragon family

He sat ground, still panting hard exertions, bushes before him parted former enemy, the Jaguar, appeared

"Don't run," said the woodland beast, as Woot sprang up; " perfectly safe, as concerned, for since you so mysteriously disappeared my breakfast now on my way home to sleep the rest day "

"Oh, indeed ! " returned the Green Monkey, in tone both sorry and startled "Which friends did you manage to eat ? "

" ," returned the Jaguar, with sly grin had dish of magic scrambled eggs-on toast -- and it wasn't bad feast, at all There isn't room in me for even you, and I don't regret it because I judge, from your green color, that ripe, and would make an indifferent meal We jaguars have careful digestions Farewell, Friend Monkey Follow the path bushes and your friends "

the Jaguar marched way and Woot took his advice and followed the trail he had made until place where the little Brown Bear, Tin Owl, Canary were conferring together and wondering what had become comrade, the Green Monkey

Chapter Ten

Tommy Kwikstep

"Our best plan," said the Scarecrow Bear, Green Monkey had related the story adventure Dragons, "is out Gillikin Country and try our way castle of Glinda, the Good Sorceress too many dangers lurking here to suit me, and Glinda to restore us to our proper forms "

" turn south now," the Tin Owl replied, " go straight Emerald City That's place to avoid, for I'd hate my friends see me sad plight," and he blinked his eyes and fluttered his tin wings mournfully

"But certain passed beyond Emerald City," the Canary assured him, sailing lightly around their heads "So, should we turn south from here, pass Munchkin Country, and continuing south reach the Quadling Country where Glinda's castle is located "