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angry and indignant at the treatment her friends
were receiving； rushed among the Tottenhots and
began slapping and pushing them until she had
rescued the Scarecrow and the Patchwork Girl and
held them close on either side of her。 Perhaps she
would not have accomplished this victory so easily
had not Toto helped her； barking and snapping at
the bare legs of the imps until they were glad to
flee from his attack。 As for Ojo； some of the
creatures had attempted to toss him； also； but
finding his body too heavy they threw him to the
ground and a row of the imps sat on him and held
him from assisting Dorothy in her battle。
The little brown folks were much surprised
at being attacked by the girl and the dog； and
one or two who had been slapped hardest began
to cry。 Then suddenly they gave a shout； all
together； and disappeared in a flash into their
various houses； the tops of which closed with a
series of pops that sounded like a bunch of
firecrackers being exploded。
The adventurers now found themselves alone；
and Dorothy asked anxiously：
〃Is anybody hurt？〃
〃Not me；〃 answered the Scarecrow。 〃They have
given my straw a good shaking up and taken all the
lumps out of it。 I am now in splendid condition
and am really obliged to the Tottenhots for their
kind treatment。〃
〃I feel much the same way；〃 said Scraps。
〃My cotton stuffing had sagged a good deal with
the day's walking and they've loosened it up
until I feel as plump as a sausage。 But the play
was a little rough and I'd had quite enough of
it when you interfered。〃
〃Six of them sat on me；〃 said Ojo； 〃but as
they are so little they didn't hurt me much。〃
Just then the roof of the house in front of
them opened and a Tottenhot stuck his head
out； very cautiously； and looked at the strangers。
〃Can't you； take a joke？〃 he asked；
reproachfully； 〃haven t you any fun in you at
all？〃
〃If I had such a quality；〃 replied the
Scarecrow； 〃your people would have knocked it out
of me。 But I don't bear grudges。 I forgive you。〃
〃So do I；〃 added Scraps。 〃That is； if you behave
yourselves after this。〃
〃It was just a little rough…house； that's all；〃
said the Tottenhot。 〃But the question is not if
we will behave； but if you will behave？ We
can't be shut up here all night； because this
is our time to play； nor do we care to come out
and be chewed up by a savage beast or slapped
by an angry girl。 That slapping hurts like sixty；
some of my folks are crying about it。 So here's
the proposition： you let us alone and we'll let
you alone。〃
〃You began it；〃 declared Dorothy。
〃Well； you ended it； so we won't argue the
matter。 May we come out again？ Or are you still
cruel and slappy？〃
〃Tell you what we'll do；〃 said Dorothy。 〃We're
all tired and want to sleep until morning。 If
you'll let us get into your house； and stay there
until daylight； you can play outside all you want
to。〃
〃That's a bargain！〃 cried the Tottenhot
eagerly； and he gave a queer whistle that
brought his people popping out of their houses
on all sides。 When the house before them was
vacant； Dorothy and Ojo leaned over the hole
and looked in； but could see nothing because
it was so dark。 But if the Tottenhots slept there
all day the children thought they could sleep
there at night； so Ojo lowered himself down
and found it was not very deep。〃
〃There's a soft cushion all over；〃 said he。
〃Come on in。〃
Dorothy handed Toto to the boy and then climbed
in herself。 After her came Scraps and the
Scarecrow； who did not wish to sleep but preferred
to keep out of the way of the mischievous
Tottenhots。
There seemed no furniture in the round den； but
soft cushions were strewn about the floor and
these they found made very comfortable beds。 They
did not close the hole in the roof but left it
open to admit air。 It also admitted the shouts and
ceaseless laughter of the impish Tottenhots as
they played outside； but Dorothy and Ojo； being
weary from their journey； were soon fast asleep。
Toto kept an eye open； however； and uttered low；
threatening growls whenever the racket made by the
creatures outside became too boisterous； and the
Scarecrow and the Patchwork Girl sat leaning
against the wall and talked in whispers all night
long。 No one disturbed the travelers until
daylight； when in popped the Tottenhot who owned
the place and invited them to vacate his premises。
Chapter Twenty
The Captive Yoop
As they were preparing to leave； Dorothy asked：
〃Can you tell us where there is a dark well？〃
〃Never heard of such a thing；〃 said the
Tottenhot。 〃We live our lives in the dark； mostly；
and sleep in the day…time； but we've never seen a
dark well； or anything like one。〃
〃Does anyone live on those mountains beyond
here？〃 asked the Scarecrow。
〃Lots of people。 But you'd better not visit
them。 We never go there；〃 was the reply。
〃What are the people like？〃 Dorothy inquired。
〃Can't say。 We've been told to keep away
from the mountain paths； and so we obey。 This
sandy desert is good enough for us； and we're
not disturbed here；〃 declared the Tottenhot。
So they left the man snuggling down to sleep in
his dusky dwelling； and went out into the
sunshine； taking the path that led toward the
rocky places。 They soon found it hard climbing；
for the rocks were uneven and full of sharp points
and edges； and now there was no path at all。
Clambering here and there among the boulders they
kept steadily on； gradually rising higher and
higher until finally they came to a great rift in
a part of the mountain； where the rock seemed to
have split in two and left high walls on either
side。
〃S'pose we go this way；〃 suggested Dorothy；
it's much easier walking than to climb over
the hills。〃
〃How about that sign？〃 asked Ojo。
〃What sign？〃 she inquired。
The Munchkin boy pointed to some words
painted on the wall of rock beside them； which
Dorothy had not noticed。 The words read：
〃LOOK OUT FOR YOOP。〃
The girl eyed this sign a moment and turned to
the Scarecrow； asking：
〃Who is Yoop； or what is Yoop？〃
The straw man s