Glinda of Oz | Page 8

on trips of exploration.
The least known of all is the Gillikin Country, which harbors many
strange bands of people among its mountains and valleys and forests
and streams, and Ozma was now bound for the most distant part of the
Gillikin Country.
"I am really sorry," said Ozma to Dorothy, as they rode away in the
Red Wagon, "not to know more about the wonderful Land I rule. It is
my duty to be acquainted with every tribe of people and every strange
and hidden country in all Oz, but I am kept so busy at my palace
making laws and planning for the comforts of those who live near the
Emerald City, that I do not often find time to make long journeys."
"Well," replied Dorothy, "we'll prob'bly find out a lot on this trip, and
we'll learn all about the Skeezers and Flatheads, anyhow. Time doesn't
make much diff'rence in the Land of Oz, 'cause we don't grow up, or
get old, or become sick and die, as they do other places; so, if we
explore one place at a time, we'll by-an'-by know all about every nook
and corner in Oz."
Dorothy wore around her waist the Nome King's Magic Belt, which
protected her from harm, and the Magic Ring which Glinda had given
her was on her finger. Ozma had merely slipped a small silver wand
into the bosom of her gown, for fairies do not use chemicals and herbs
and the tools of wizards and sorcerers to perform their magic. The
Silver Wand was Ozma's one weapon of offense and defense and by its
use she could accomplish many things.
They had left the Emerald City just at sunrise and the Sawhorse
traveled very swiftly over the roads towards the north, but in a few
hours the wooden animal had to slacken his pace because the farm
houses had become few and far between and often there were no paths
at all in the direction they wished to follow. At such times they crossed
the fields, avoiding groups of trees and fording the streams and rivulets

whenever they came to them. But finally they reached a broad hillside
closely covered with scrubby brush, through which the wagon could
not pass.
"It will be difficult even for you and me to get through without tearing
our dresses," said Ozma, "so we must leave the Sawhorse and the
Wagon here until our return."
"That's all right," Dorothy replied, "I'm tired riding, anyhow. Do you
s'pose, Ozma, we're anywhere near the Skeezer Country?"
"I cannot tell, Dorothy dear, but I know we've been going in the right
direction, so we are sure to find it in time."
The scrubby brush was almost like a grove of small trees, for it reached
as high as the heads of the two girls, neither of whom was very tall.
They were obliged to thread their way in and out, until Dorothy was
afraid they would get lost, and finally they were halted by a curious
thing that barred their further progress. It was a huge web -- as if woven
by gigantic spiders -- and the delicate, lacy film was fastened stoutly to
the branches of the bushes and continued to the right and left in the
form of a half circle. The threads of this web were of a brilliant purple
color and woven into numerous artistic patterns, but it reached from the
ground to branches above the heads of the girls and formed a sort of
fence that hedged them in.
"It doesn't look very strong, though," said Dorothy. "I wonder if we
couldn't break through." She tried but found the web stronger than it
seemed. All her efforts could not break a single thread.
"We must go back, I think, and try to get around this peculiar web,"
Ozma decided.
So they turned to the right and, following the web found that it seemed
to spread in a regular circle. On and on they went until finally Ozma
said they had returned to the exact spot from which they had started.
"Here is a handkerchief you dropped when we were here before," she
said to Dorothy.

"In that case, they must have built the web behind us, after we walked
into the trap," exclaimed the little girl.
"True," agreed Ozma, "an enemy has tried to imprison us."
"And they did it, too," said Dorothy. "I wonder who it was."
"It's a spider-web, I'm quite sure," returned Ozma, "but it must be the
work of enormous spiders."
"Quite right!" cried a voice behind them. Turning quickly around they
beheld a huge purple spider sitting not two yards away and regarding
them with its small bright eyes.
Then there crawled from the bushes a dozen more great purple spiders,
which saluted