" you never tired, being stuffed with straw," said Woot

"I mean annoys me, obliged on all fours, when two legs are my proper walking equipment," replied the Scarecrow "I consider it beneath my dignity In other words, my remarkable brains can tire, through humiliation, although my body cannot tire "

" penalties of having brains," remarked the Tin Owl with sigh " no brains since man of meat, and so I never worry Nevertheless, I prefer my former manly form owl's shape and to break Mrs Yoop's enchantment so noisy, just now, that I disturb myself," and he fluttered his wings with clatter that echoed forest

So, being all of one mind, they turned southward, traveling steadily on until the woods were left behind landscape turned from purple tints to blue tints, which assured them they had entered the Country Munchkins

"Now myself more safe," said the Scarecrow Bear " this country pretty well, having been made here by Munchkin farmer and having wandered over these lovely blue lands Seems , indeed, that I even remember that group of three tall trees ahead of us; and, if , far home friend Jinjur "

" Jinjur ? " asked Woot, the Green Monkey

"Haven't you heard of Jinjur ? " exclaimed the Scarecrow, in surprise

"No," said Woot "Is Jinjur man, woman, beast or bird ? "

"Jinjur is girl," explained the Scarecrow Bear "She's fine girl, too, although bit restless and liable excited Once, , she raised an army of girls and called herself 'General Jinjur ' With her army she captured the Emerald City, and drove me out of it, because I insisted that an army in Oz was highly improper But Ozma punished the rash girl, and afterward Jinjur and I became fast friends Now Jinjur lives peacefully on farm, near here, and raises fields of cream-puffs, chocolate-caramels and macaroons They say she's pretty good farmer, and she's an artist, and paints pictures so perfect that one can scarcely tell them from nature She often repaints my face , when it gets worn or mussy, lovely expression I wore Giantess transformed me was painted by Jinjur only month or so ago "

" certainly pleasant expression," agreed Woot

"Jinjur can paint anything," continued the Scarecrow Bear, with enthusiasm, walked along together "Once, when to her house, my straw was old and crumpled, my body sagged dreadfully I needed new straw to replace the old, but Jinjur had no straw on all her ranch and really unable to travel farther until I restuffed When I explained this to Jinjur, the girl at once painted straw-stack so natural that I went and secured enough straw all my body good quality of straw, too, and lasted me "

This seemed very wonderful to Woot, who knew that such thing could never happen in any place but fairy country like Oz

The Munchkin Country was much nicer Gillikin Country, and all the fields were separated by blue fences, with grassy lanes and paths of blue ground, land seemed well cultivated They were on little hill looking down favored country, but quite reached the settled parts, when on turning bend path they were halted by form that barred their way

more curious creature they had seldom seen, even Land of Oz, where curious creatures abound It had the head of young man -- evidently Munchkin -- with pleasant face and hair neatly combed But the body was very long, had twenty legs -- ten legs on each side -- and this caused the body to stretch out and lie in horizontal position, all the legs could touch the ground and stand firm shoulders extended two small arms; , they seemed small beside legs

This odd creature was dressed regulation clothing Munchkin people, dark blue coat neatly fitting the long body and each pair of legs having pair of sky-blue trousers, with blue-tinted stockings and blue leather shoes turned up pointed toes

"I wonder who ? " said Polychrome the Canary, fluttering above the strange creature, who had probably been asleep path

"I sometimes wonder, myself, who ," replied the many-legged young man; "but, in reality, Tommy Kwikstep, and I live in hollow tree that fell ground with age polished the inside of it, and made door at each end, 's very comfortable residence because it just fits my shape "

"How did you happen such shape ? " asked the Scarecrow Bear, sitting haunches and regarding Tommy Kwikstep with serious look " shape natural ? "

"No; wished on me," replied Tommy, with sigh "I used very active and loved to run errands for anyone who needed my services That was how I got my name of Tommy Kwikstep run an errand more quickly than boy, and so very proud of myself One day, however, I met an old lady who was fairy, or witch, or something sort, and she said if run an errand for her -- to carry some magic medicine to another old woman -- grant me just one Wish, whatever the Wish happened I consented and, taking the medicine, I hurried away long distance, mostly up hill, and my legs began to grow weary Without thinking what doing aloud: 'Dear me; I had twenty legs ! ' and in an instant I became the unusual creature beside you Twenty legs ! Twenty on one man ! count them, doubt my word "

"You've got 'em, all right," said Woot the Monkey, who had already counted them

"After I had delivered the magic medicine old woman, I returned and tried the witch, or fairy, or whatever she was, who had given me the unlucky wish, so take it away again I've been searching for her , but never can her," continued poor Tommy Kwikstep, sadly "I suppose, said the Tin Owl, blinking at him, " travel very fast, with those twenty legs "

"At first able to," reply; "but I traveled , searching fairy, or witch, or whatever she was, that I soon got corns on my toes Now, corn on one toe so bad, but have hundred toes -- as -- and get corns on most , far from pleasant Instead of running, I now painfully crawl, and although I try not discouraged hope find that witch or fairy, or whatever she was, before long "

" so, too," said the Scarecrow "But, after all, the pleasure of knowing unusual, and therefore remarkable people of Oz just like other persons is small credit to one, while unlike others is mark of distinction "

"That sounds very pretty," returned Tommy Kwikstep, "but had on ten pair of trousers every morning, and tie up twenty shoes, prefer not so distinguished "

" witch, or fairy, or whatever she was, an old person, with wrinkled skin and half her teeth gone ? " inquired the Tin Owl

"No," said Tommy Kwikstep

"Then she wasn't Old Mombi," remarked the transformed Emperor

"I'm not interested in who it wasn't, as in who ," said the twenty-legged young man "And, whatever or whomsoever she was, she has managed out way "

" found her, suppose she'd change you back into two-legged boy ? " asked Woot

"Perhaps so, if run another errand for her and so earn another wish "

"Would you really like were before ? " asked Polychrome the Canary, perching Green Monkey's shoulder to observe Tommy Kwikstep more attentively

" , indeed," earnest reply

"Then what do ," promised the Rainbow's Daughter, and flying ground she took small twig in her bill and with it made several mystic figures on each side of Tommy Kwikstep

" witch, or fairy, or something sort ? " he asked as he watched her wonderingly

The Canary made no answer, for she was busy, but the Scarecrow Bear replied: "Yes; she's something sort, and bird of magician "

The twenty-legged boy's transformation happened so queerly were all surprised at its method First, Tommy Kwikstep's last two legs disappeared; then the next two, next, and as each pair of legs vanished his body shortened All this while Polychrome was running around him and chirping mystical words, and when all the young man's legs had disappeared but two he noticed Canary was still busy and cried out in alarm:

"Stop -- stop ! Leave me two legs, or worse off than before "

" ," said the Canary "I'm only removing with my magic the corns from your last ten toes "

" being so thoughtful," gratefully, and now they noticed that Tommy Kwikstep was quite nice looking young fellow

" now~" asked Woot the Monkey

"First," he answered, " deliver note which I've carried in my pocket the witch, or fairy, or whatever she was, granted my foolish wish And resolved never again without taking time carefully on what going , for I speech without thought is dangerous And after I've delivered the note, run errands again for anyone who needs my services "

So he thanked Polychrome again and started away in different direction from their own, last they saw of Tommy Kwikstep

Chapter Eleven

Jinjur's Ranch

followed path down the blue-grass hillside, the first house that met the view travelers was joyously recognized Scarecrow Bear one inhabited by his friend Jinjur, so they increased their speed and hurried toward it

On reaching the place, how ever, they found the house deserted The front door stood open, but no one was inside garden surrounding the house were neat rows of bushes bearing cream-puffs and macaroons, some were still green, but others ripe and ready to eat Farther back were fields of caramels, and all the land seemed well cultivated and carefully tended They looked fields girl farmer, but she was nowhere seen