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Horner Country without going through the city of
the Hoppers？〃
〃Yes； there is another path from the rocky
lowlands； outside the mountain； that leads
straight to the entrance of the Horner Country。
But it's a long way around； so you'd better come
with me。 Perhaps they will allow you to go
through the gate； but we expect to conquer
them this afternoon； if we get time； and then
you may go and come as you please。〃
They thought it best to take the Hopper's
advice； and asked him to lead the way。 This he
did in a series of hops； and he moved so swiftly
in this strange manner that those with two legs
had to run to keep up with him。
Chapter Twenty…Two
The Joking Horners
It was not long before they left the passage and
came to a great cave； so high that it must have
reached nearly to the top of the mountain within
which it lay。 It was a magnificent cave； illumined
by the soft； invisible light； so that everything
in it could be plainly seen。 The walls were of
polished marble； white with veins of delicate
colors running through it； and the roof was arched
and fantastic and beautiful。
Built beneath this vast dome was a pretty
villagenot very large； for there seemed not more
than fifty houses altogetherand the dwellings
were of marble and artistically designed。 No grass
nor flowers nor trees grew in this cave； so the
yards surrounding the houses carved in designs
both were smooth and bare and had low walls around
them to mark their boundaries。
In the streets and the yards of the houses
were many people all having one leg growing
below their bodies and all hopping here and
there whenever they moved。 Even the children
stood firmly upon their single legs and never
lost their balance。
〃All hail； Champion！〃 cried a man in the first
group of Hoppers they met； 〃whom have you
captured？〃
〃No one；〃 replied the Champion in a gloomy
voice； 〃these strangers have captured me。〃
〃Then；〃 said another； 〃we will rescue you； and
capture them； for we are greater in number。〃
〃No；〃 answered the Champion； 〃I can't allow it。
I've surrendered； and it isn't polite to capture
those you've surrendered to。〃
〃Never mind that；〃 said Dorothy。 〃We will give
you your liberty and set you free。〃
〃Really？〃 asked the Champion in joyous tones。
〃Yes；〃 said the little girl； 〃your people may
need you to help conquer the Horners。〃
At this all the Hoppers looked downcast and sad。
Several more had joined the group by this time and
quite a crowd of curious men； women and children
surrounded the strangers。
〃This war with our neighbors is a terrible
thing；〃 remarked one of the women。 〃Some one is
almost sure to get hurt。〃
〃Why do you say that； madam？〃 inquired the
Scarecrow。
〃Because the horns of our enemies are sharp；
and in battle they will try to stick those horns
into our warriors；〃 she replied。
〃How many horns do the Horners have？〃 asked
Dorothy。
〃Each has one horn in the center of his fore
head；〃 was the answer。
〃Oh； then they're unicorns；〃 declared the
Scarecrow。
〃No； they're Horners。 We never go to war with
them if we can help it； on account of their
dangerous horns； but this insult was so great and
so unprovoked that our brave men decided to fight；
in order to be revenged；〃 said the woman。
〃What weapons do you fight with？〃 the Scarecrow
asked。
〃We have no weapons；〃 explained the Champion。
〃Whenever we fight the Horners； our plan is to
push them back； for our arms are longer than
theirs。〃
〃Then you are better armed；〃 said Scraps。
〃Yes； but they have those terrible horns； and
unless we are careful they prick us with the
points；〃 returned the Champion with a shudder。
〃That makes a war with them dangerous； and a
dangerous war cannot be a pleasant one。〃
〃I see very clearly；〃 remarked the Scarecrow；
〃that you are going to have trouble in conquering
those Hornersunless we help you。〃
〃Oh！〃 cried the Hoppers in a chorus； 〃can
you help us？ Please do！ We will be greatly
obliged！ It would please us very much！〃 and by
these exclamations the Scarecrow knew that his
speech had met with favor。
〃How far is it to the Horner Country？〃 he asked。
〃Why； it's just the other side of the fence；〃
they answered； and the Champion added：
〃Come with me； please； and I'll show you the
Horners。〃
So they followed the Champion and several
others through the streets and just beyond the
village came to a very high picket fence； built
all of marble； which seemed to divide the great
cave into two equal parts。
But the part inhabited by the Horners was in no
way as grand in appearance as that of the Hoppers。
Instead of being marble； the walls and roof were
of dull gray rock and the square houses were
plainly made of the same material。 But in extent
the city was much larger than that of the Hoppers
and the streets were thronged with numerous people
who busied themselves in various ways。
Looking through the open pickets of the fence
our friends watched the Horners； who did not know
they were being watched by strangers； and found
them very unusual in appearance。 They were little
folks in size and had bodies round as balls and
short legs and arms。 Their heads were round； too；
and they had long； pointed ears and a horn set in
the center of the forehead。 The horns did not seem
very terrible； for they were not more than six
inches long； but they were ivory white and sharp
pointed； and no wonder the Hoppers feared them。
The skins of the Horners were light brown； but
they wore snow…white robes and were bare footed。
Dorothy thought the most striking thing about them
was their hair； which grew in three distinct
colors on each and every headred； yellow and
green。 The red was at the bottom and sometimes
hung over their eyes； then came a broad circle of
yellow and the green was at the top and formed a
brush…shaped topknot。
None of the Horners was yet aware of the
presence of strangers； who watched the little
brown people for a time and then went to the
big gate in the center of the dividing fence。 It
was locked on both sides and over the latch was
a