leg. Dorothy quickly caught up the growling little
dog and hurried after her companions, who were walking faster than usual
in order to get out of hearing. They had to climb a hill, and until they
got to the top they could not escape the musicker's monotonous piping:

_"Oom, pom-pom; oom, pom-pom;_
_Tiddle-iddle-widdle, oom, pom-pom;_
_Oom, pom-pom--pah!"_

As they passed the brow of the hill, however, and descended on the other
side, the sounds gradually died away, whereat they all felt much
relieved.

[Illustration]

"I'm glad I don't have to live with the organ-man; aren't you, Polly?"
said Dorothy.

"Yes, indeed," answered the Rainbow's Daughter.

"He's nice," declared Button-Bright, soberly.

"I hope your Princess Ozma won't invite him to her birthday
celebration," remarked the shaggy man; "for the fellow's music would
drive her guests all crazy. You've given me an idea, Button-Bright; I
believe the musicker must have swallowed an accordeon in his youth."

"What's 'cordeon?" asked the boy.

"It's a kind of pleating," explained Dorothy, putting down the dog.

"Bow-wow!" said Toto, and ran away at a mad gallop to chase a
bumble-bee.

Facing the Scoodlers

[Illustration]

The country wasn't so pretty now. Before the travelers appeared a rocky
plain covered with hills on which grew nothing green. They were nearing
some low mountains, too, and the road, which before had been smooth and
pleasant to walk upon, grew rough and uneven.

Button-Bright's little feet stumbled more than once, and Polychrome
ceased her dancing because the walking was now so difficult that she had
no trouble to keep warm.

It had become afternoon, yet there wasn't a thing for their luncheon
except two apples which the shaggy man had taken from the breakfast
table. He divided these into four pieces and gave a portion to each of
his companions. Dorothy and Button-Bright were glad to get theirs; but
Polly was satisfied with a small bite, and Toto did not like apples.

"Do you know," asked the Rainbow's Daughter, "if this is the right road
to the Emerald City?"

"No, I don't," replied Dorothy; "but it's the only road in this part of
the country, so we may as well go to the end of it."

"It looks now as if it might end pretty soon," remarked the shaggy man;
"and what shall we do if it does?"

"Don't know," said Button-Bright.

"If I had my Magic Belt," replied Dorothy, thoughtfully, "it could do us
a