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is between here and the west branch of the Winkie River
that all dangers lie； for that is the unknown territory
that is inhabited by terrible； lawless people。〃
〃It may be； and it may not be；〃 said the Wizard。 〃We
shall know when we get there。〃
〃Well；〃 persisted the shepherd； 〃in a fairy country
such as ours every undiscovered place is likely to
harbor wicked creatures。 If they were not wicked； they
would discover themselves； and by coming among us
submit to Ozma's rule and be good and considerate； as
are all the Oz people whom we know。〃
〃That argument；〃 stated the little Wizard； 〃convinces
me that it is our duty to go straight to those unknown
places； however dangerous they may be； for it is surely
some cruel and wicked person who has stolen our Ozma；
and we know it would be folly to search among good
people for the culprit。 Ozma may not be hidden in the
secret places of the Winkie Country； it is true； but it
is our duty to travel to every spot； however dangerous；
where our beloved Ruler is likely to be imprisoned。〃
〃You're right about that；〃 said Button…Bright
approvingly。 〃Dangers don't hurt us； only things that
happen ever hurt anyone； and a danger is a thing that
might happen； and might not happen； and sometimes don't
amount to shucks。 I vote we go ahead and take our
chances。〃
They were all of he same opinion； so they packed up
and said good…bye to the friendly shepherd and
proceeded on their way。
Chapter Seven
The Merry…Go…Round Mountains
The Rolling Prairie was not difficult to travel over；
although it was all up…hill and down…hill； so for a
while they made good progress。 Not even a shepherd was
to be met with now and the farther they advanced the
more dreary the landscape became。 At noon they stopped
for a 〃picnic luncheon；〃 as Betsy called it； and then
they again resumed their journey。 All the animals were
swift and tireless and even the Cowardly Lion and the
Mule found they could keep up with the pace of the
Woozy and the Sawhorse。
It was the middle of the afternoon when first they
came in sight of a cluster of low mountains。 These were
cone…shaped； rising from broad bases to sharp peaks at
the tops。 From a distance the mountains appeared
indistinct and seemed rather small…more like hills than
mountains but as the travelers drew nearer they
noted a most unusual circumstance： the hills were all
whirling around； some in one direction and some the
opposite way。
〃I guess those are the Merry…Go…Round Mountains； all
right；〃 said Dorothy。
〃They must be；〃 said the Wizard。
〃They go 'round； sure enough；〃 added Trot； 〃but they
don't seem very merry。〃
There were several rows of these mountains； extending
both to the right and to the left； for miles and miles。
How many rows there might be； none could tell； but
between the first row of peaks could be seen other
peaks； all steadily whirling around one way or another。
Continuing to ride nearer； our friends watched these
hills attentively； until at last； coming close up； they
discovered there was a deep but narrow gulf around the
edge of each mountain； and that the mountains were set
so close together that the outer gulf was continuous
and barred farther advance。
At the edge of the gulf they all dismounted and
peered over into its depths。 There was no telling where
the bottom was； if indeed there was any bottom at all。
From where they stood it seemed as if the mountains had
been set in one great hole in the ground； just close
enough together so they would not touch； and that each
mountain was supported by a rocky column beneath its
base which extended far down into the black pit below。
From the land side it seemed impossible to get across
the gulf or； succeeding in that； to gain a foothold on
any of the whirling mountains。
〃This ditch is too wide to jump across；〃 remarked
Button…Bright。
〃P'raps the Lion could do it；〃 suggested Dorothy。
〃What； jump from here to that whirling hill？〃 cried
the Lion indignantly。 〃I should say not！ Even if I
landed there； and could hold on； what good would it do？
There's another spinning mountain beyond it； and
perhaps still another beyond that。 I don't believe any
living creature could jump from one mountain to
another； when both are whirling like tops and in
different directions。〃
〃I propose we turn back；〃 said the Wooden Sawhorse；
with a yawn of his chopped…out mouth； as he stared with
his knot eyes at the Merry…Go…Round Mountains。
〃I agree with you；〃 said the Woozy； wagging his
square head。
〃We should have taken the shepherd's advice；〃 added
Hank the Mule。
The others of the party； however they might be
puzzled by the serious problem that confronted them；
would not allow themselves to despair。
〃If we once get over these mountains；〃 said Button…
Bright； 〃we could probably get along all right。〃
〃True enough；〃 agreed Dorothy。 〃So we must find some
way； of course； to get past these whirligig hills。 But
how？〃
〃I wish the Ork was with us；〃 sighed Trot。
〃But the Ork isn't here；〃 said the Wizard； 〃and we
must depend upon ourselves to conquer this difficulty。
Unfortunately； all my magic has been stolen； otherwise
I am sure I could easily get over the mountains。〃
〃Unfortunately；〃 observed the Woozy； 〃none of us has
wings。 And we're in a magic country without any magic。〃
〃What is that around your waist； Dorothy？〃 asked the
Wizard。
〃That？ Oh； that's just the Magic Belt I once captured
from the Nome King；〃 she replied。
〃A Magic Belt！ Why； that's fine。 I'm sure a Magic
Belt would take you over these hills。〃
〃It might； if I knew how to work it；〃 said the little
girl。 〃Ozma knows a lot of its magic； but I've never
found out about it。 All I know is that while I am
wearing it nothing can hurt me。〃
〃Try wishing yourself across； and see if it will obey
you；〃 suggested the Wizard。
〃But what good would that do？〃 asked Dorothy。 〃If I
got across it wouldn't help the rest of you； and I
couldn't go alone among all those giants and dragons；
while you stayed here。〃
〃True enough；〃 agreed the Wizard； sadly； and then；
after looking around the group； he inquired： 〃What is
that on your finger； Trot？〃
〃A ring。 The Mermaids gave it to me；〃 she explained；
〃and if ever I'm in trouble when I'm on the water I can
call the Mermaids and they'll come and help me。 But the
Mermaids can't help me on the land； you know； 'cause
they swim； and…and…they haven't any legs。〃
〃True enough；〃 repeated the Wizard； more sadly。
There was a big； broad spreading tree near the edge
of the gulf and as the sun was hot above them they all
gathered under the shade of the tree to study the
problem of what to do next。
〃If we had a long rope；〃 said Betsy； 〃we could fasten
it to this tree and let the other end of it down into
the gulf and all slide down it。〃
〃Well； what then？〃 asked the Wizard。
〃Then； if we could manage to throw the rope up the
other side；〃 explained the girl； 〃we could all climb it
and be on the other side of the gulf。〃
〃There are too many 'if's' in that suggestion；〃
remarked the little Wizard。 〃And you must remember that
the other side is nothing but spinning mountains； so we
couldn't possibly fasten a rope to them even if we
had one。〃
〃That rope idea isn't half bad； though；〃 said the
Patchwork Girl； who had been dancing dangerously near
to the edge of the gulf。
〃What do you mean？〃 asked Dorothy。
The Patchwork Girl suddenly stood still and cast her
button eyes around the group。
〃Ha； I have it！〃 she exclaimed。 〃Unharness the
Sawhorse； somebody； my fingers are too clumsy。〃
〃Shall we？〃 asked Button…Bright doubtfully； turning
to the others。
〃Well； Scraps has a lot of brains； even if she is
stuffed with cotton；〃 asserted the Wizard。 〃If her
brains can help us out of this trouble we ought
to use them。〃
So he began unharnessing the Sawhorse； and Button…
Bright and Dorothy hel