in
behind it. Then her patchwork form disappeared from view entirely and
the amazed watchers under the tree wondered what had become of her.

"She's gone, and she can't get back," said the Woozy.

"My, how she bounded from one mountain to another!" exclaimed the Lion.

"That was because they whirl so fast," the Wizard explained. "Scraps had
nothing to hold on to and so of course she was tossed from one hill to
another. I'm afraid we shall never see the poor Patchwork Girl again."

"_I_ shall see her," declared the Woozy. "Scraps is an old friend of
mine and, if there are really Thistle-Eaters and Giants on the other
side of those tops, she will need someone to protect her. So, here I
go!"

He seized the dangling strap firmly in his square mouth and in the same
way that Scraps had done swung himself over the gulf. He let go the
strap at the right moment and fell upon the first whirling mountain.
Then he bounded to the next one back of it--not on his feet but "all
mixed up," as Trot said--and then he shot across to another mountain,
disappearing from view just as the Patchwork Girl had done.

"It seems to work, all right," remarked Button-Bright. "I guess I'll try
it."

"Wait a minute," urged the Wizard. "Before any more of us make this
desperate leap into the beyond, we must decide whether all will go, or
if some of us will remain behind."

"Do you s'pose it hurt them much, to bump against those mountains?"
asked Trot.

"I don't s'pose anything could hurt Scraps or the Woozy," said Dorothy,
"and nothing can hurt _me_, because I wear the Magic Belt. So, as I'm
anxious to find Ozma, I mean to swing myself across, too."

"I'll take my chances," decided Button-Bright.

"I'm sure it will hurt dreadfully, and I'm afraid to do it," said the
Lion, who was already trembling; "but I shall do it if Dorothy does."

"Well, that will leave Betsy and the Mule and Trot," said the Wizard;
"for of course, I shall go, that I may look after Dorothy. Do you two
girls think you can find your way back home again?" he asked, addressing
Trot and Betsy.

"I'm not afraid; not much, that is," said Trot. "It looks risky, I know,
but I'm sure I can stand it if the others can."

"If it wasn't for leaving Hank," began Betsy, in a hesitating voice; but
the Mule interrupted her by saying:

"Go ahead, if you want to, and I'll come after you. A mule is as brave
as a lion, any day."

"Braver," said the Lion, "for I'm a coward, friend Han