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The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Chapter 22. The Country of the Quadlings
The four travelers passed through the rest of the forest in safety.
When they came out of its darkness, they saw a steep hill covered from top to bottom with great rocks.
"That'll be a hard climb," said the Scarecrow, "but we must get over the hill, still."
So he led the way and the others followed.
They had almost reached the first rock when they heard a rough voice shout, "Keep back!"
"Who are you?" asked the Scarecrow.
Then a head showed over the rock and the same voice said, "This hill belongs to us, and we don't let anyone cross it."
"But we must cross it," said the Scarecrow.
"We're going to the country of the Quadlings."
"But you shall not!" replied the voice, and there stepped from behind the rock the most strange man the travelers had ever seen.
He was short and fat and had a big head, which was flat on top and had a thick neck full of wrinkles.
But he had no arms, and the Scarecrow did not fear that so weak a man could stop them.
So he said, "I'm sorry not to do as you wish, but we must pass over your hill whether you like it or not,"
And he walked forward bravely toward the rocks without any sign of fear.
Very quickly the man's head shot out and his neck stretched until the head hit the Scarecrow.
The Scarecrow was sent tumbling over and over down the hill.
Almost as quickly as it came the head went back to the body, and the man laughed sharply as he said,
"It isn't as easy as you think!"
Loud laughter came from the other rocks, and Dorothy saw hundreds of armless Hammer-Heads, one behind each rock.
The Lion grew angry at the laughter from the Scarecrow's fall, roared like thunder, and dashed up the hill.
A head shot out, and the great Lion rolled down the hill as if struck by a cannon.
Dorothy ran down and helped the Scarecrow to his feet.
The Lion came up to her, feeling rather bruised and sore.
He said, "It's useless to fight people with shooting heads, no one can withstand them."
"What can we do, then?" she asked.
"Call the Winged Monkeys," suggested the Tin Woodman.
"You still have the right to command them once more."
"Very well," she answered, and putting on the Golden Cap she said the magic words.
The Monkeys were as prompt as ever, and in a few moments the whole band stood before her.
"What are your commands?" asked the King of the Monkeys, bowing low.
"Carry us over the hill to the country of the Quadlings," answered the girl.
It shall be done, said the King, and the Winged Monkeys took the four travelers and Toto and flew away.
As they passed over the hill, the Hammer-Heads yelled with anger and shot their heads high into the air.
They couldn't reach the Winged Monkeys.
The Winged Monkeys carried Dorothy and her friends safely over the hill and set them down in the beautiful country of the Quadlings.
"This is the last time you can summon us," said the leader to Dorothy, "so good-bye and good luck to you."
"Good-bye, and thank you very much," replied the girl, and the Monkeys rose into the air and were out of sight in a twinkling.
The country of the Quadlings seemed rich and happy.
There was field after field of ripening grain, with well paved roads running between, and pretty rippling brooks with strong bridges across them.
The fences, houses, and bridges were all painted bright red.
They had been painted yellow in the country of the Winkies and blue in the country of the Munchkins.
The Quadlings were short and fat and looked chubby and kind.
They were dressed all in red, which looked bright against the green grass and the grain turning yellow.
The Monkeys had set them down near a farmhouse, and the four travelers walked up to it and knocked at the door.
It was opened by the farmer's wife.
When Dorothy asked for something to eat, the woman gave them all a good dinner.
She served three kinds of cake, four kinds of cookies, and a bowl of milk for Toto.
"How far is it to the Castle of Glinda?" asked the child.
"It isn't a great way," answered the farmer's wife.
"Take the road to the South and you'll soon reach it."
Thanking the good woman, they walked past fields and over the pretty bridges until they saw a beautiful Castle.
Three young girls in red clothes with gold braid stood before the gates, and as Dorothy came near one spoke,
"Why have you come to the South Country?"
"To see the Good Witch who rules here," she answered.
"Will you take me to her?"
"Let me have your name, and I'll ask Glinda if she'll receive you."
They told who they were, and the girl soldier went into the Castle.
After a few moments she came back to say that Dorothy and the others were to be admitted at once.