They walked slowly down the path between the rocks, Tiktok goingfirst, Dorothy following him, and the yellow hen trotting along lastof all.

At the foot of the path the copper man leaned down and tossed asidewith ease the rocks that encumbered the way. Then he turned toDorothy and said:

"Let me car-ry your din-ner-pail."

She placed it in his right hand at once, and the copper fingers closedfirmly over the stout handle.

Then the little procession marched out upon the level sands.

As soon as the three Wheelers who were guarding the mound saw them,they began to shout their wild cries and rolled swiftly toward thelittle group, as if to capture them or bar their way. But when theforemost had approached near enough, Tiktok swung the tin dinner-pailand struck the Wheeler a sharp blow over its head with the queerweapon. Perhaps it did not hurt very much, but it made a great noise,and the Wheeler uttered a howl and tumbled over upon its side. Thenext minute it scrambled to its wheels and rolled away as fast as itcould go, screeching with fear at the same time.

"I told you they were harm-less," began Tiktok; but before he couldsay more another Wheeler was upon them. Crack! went the dinner-pailagainst its head, knocking its straw hat a dozen feet away; and thatwas enough for this Wheeler, also. It rolled away after the firstone, and the third did not wait to be pounded with the pail, butjoined its fellows as quickly as its wheels would whirl.

The yellow hen gave a cackle of delight, and flying to a perch uponTiktok's shoulder, she said:

"Bravely done, my copper friend! and wisely thought of, too. Now weare free from those ugly creatures."

But just then a large band of Wheelers rolled from the forest, andrelying upon their numbers to conquer, they advanced fiercely uponTiktok. Dorothy grabbed Billina in her arms and held her tight, andthe machine embraced the form of the little girl with his left arm,the better to protect her. Then the Wheelers were upon them.

Rattlety, bang! bang! went the dinner-pail in every direction, andit made so much clatter bumping against the heads of the Wheelers thatthey were much more frightened than hurt and fled in a great panic.All, that is, except their leader. This Wheeler had stumbled againstanother and fallen flat upon his back, and before he could get hiswheels under him to rise again, Tiktok had fastened his copper fingersinto the neck of the gorgeous jacket of his foe and held him fast.

"Tell your peo-ple to go a-way," commanded the machine.

The leader of the Wheelers hesitated to give this order, so Tiktokshook him as a terrier dog does a rat, until the Wheeler's teethrattled together with a noise like hailstones on a window pane. Then,as soon as the creature could get its breath, it shouted to the othersto roll away, which they immediately did.

"Now," said Tiktok, "you shall come with us and tell me whatI want to know."

"You'll be sorry for treating me in this way," whined the Wheeler."I'm a terribly fierce person."

"As for that," answered Tiktok, "I am only a ma-chine, and can-notfeel sor-row or joy, no mat-ter what hap-pens. But you are wrong tothink your-self ter-ri-ble or fierce."

"Why so?" asked the Wheeler.

"Be-cause no one else thinks as you do. Your wheels make youhelp-less to in-jure an-y one. For you have no fists and can notscratch or e-ven pull hair. Nor have you an-y feet to kick with.All you can do is to yell and shout, and that does not hurt an-yone at all."

The Wheeler burst into a flood of tears, to Dorothy's great surprise.

"Now I and my people are ruined forever!" he sobbed; "for you havediscovered our secret. Being so helpless, our only hope is to makepeople afraid of us, by pretending we are very fierce and terrible,and writing in the sand warnings to Beware the Wheelers. Until now wehave frightened everyone, but since you have discovered our weaknessour enemies will fall upon us and make us very miserable and unhappy."

"Oh, no," exclaimed Dorothy, who was sorry to see this beautifullydressed Wheeler so miserable; "Tiktok will keep your secret, and sowill Billina and I. Only, you must promise not to try to frightenchildren any more, if they come near to you."

"I won't--indeed I won't!" promised the Wheeler, ceasing to cry andbecoming more cheerful. "I'm not really bad, you know; but we have topretend to be terrible in order to prevent others from attacking us."

"That is not ex-act-ly true," said Tiktok, starting to walk toward thepath through the forest, and still holding fast to his prisoner, whorolled slowly along beside him. "You and your peo-ple are full ofmis-chief, and like to both-er those who fear you. And you are of-tenim-pu-dent and dis-a-gree-a-ble, too. But if you will try to curethose faults I will not tell any-one how help-less you are."

"I'll try, of course," replied the Wheeler, eagerly. "And thank you,Mr. Tiktok, for your kindness."

"I am on-ly a ma-chine," said Tiktok. "I can not be kind an-y morethan I can be sor-ry or glad. I can on-ly do what I am wound up to do."

"Are you wound up to keep my secret?" asked the Wheeler, anxiously.

"Yes; if you be-have your-self. But tell me: who rules the Land of Evnow?" asked the machine.

"There is no ruler," was the answer, "because every member of theroyal family is imprisoned by the Nome King. But the PrincessLangwidere, who is a niece of our late King Evoldo, lives in a part ofthe royal palace and takes as much money out of the royal treasury asshe can spend. The Princess Langwidere is not exactly a ruler, yousee, because she doesn't rule; but she is the nearest approach to aruler we have at present."

"I do not re-mem-ber her," said Tiktok. "What does she look like?"

"That I cannot say," replied the Wheeler, "although I have seen hertwenty times. For the Princess Langwidere is a different person everytime I see her, and the only way her subjects can recognize her at allis by means of a beautiful ruby key which she always wears on a chainattached to her left wrist. When we see the key we know we arebeholding the Princess."

"That is strange," said Dorothy, in astonishment. "Do you mean to saythat so many different princesses are one and the same person?"

"Not exactly," answered the Wheeler. "There is, of course, but oneprincess; but she appears to us in many forms, which are all more orless beautiful."

"She must be a witch," exclaimed the girl.

"I do not think so," declared the Wheeler. "But there is some mysteryconnected with her, nevertheless. She is a very vain creature, andlives mostly in a room surrounded by mirrors, so that she can admireherself whichever way she looks."

No one answered this speech, because they had just passed out of theforest and their attention was fixed upon the scene before them--abeautiful vale in which were many fruit trees and green fields, withpretty farm-houses scattered here and there and broad, smooth roadsthat led in every direction.

In the center of this lovely vale, about a mile from where our friendswere standing, rose the tall spires of the royal palace, whichglittered brightly against their background of blue sky. The palacewas surrounded by charming grounds, full of flowers and shrubbery.Several tinkling fountains could be seen, and there were pleasantwalks bordered by rows of white marble statuary.

All these details Dorothy was, of course, unable to notice or admireuntil they had advanced along the road to a position quite near to thepalace, and she was still looking at the pretty sights when her littleparty entered the grounds and approached the big front door of theking's own apartments. To their disappointment they found the doortightly closed. A sign was tacked to the panel which read as follows:

+----------------------------+OWNER ABSENT. Please Knock at the Third Door in the Left Wing. +----------------------------+

"Now," said Tiktok to the captive Wheeler, "you must show us the wayto the Left Wing."

"Very well," agreed the prisoner, "it is around here at the right."

"How can the left wing be at the right?" demanded Dorothy, who fearedthe Wheeler was fooling them.

"Because there used to be three wings, and two were torn down, so theone on the right is the only one left. It is a trick of the PrincessLangwidere to prevent visitors from annoying her."

Then the captive led them around to the wing, after which the machineman, having no further use for the Wheeler, permitted him to departand rejoin his fellows. He immediately rolled away at a great paceand was soon lost to sight.

Tiktok now counted the doors in the wing and knocked loudly upon thethird one.

It was opened by a little maid in a cap trimmed with gay ribbons, whobowed respectfully and asked:

"What do you wish, good people?"

"Are you the Princess Langwidere?" asked Dorothy.

"No, miss; I am her servant," replied the maid.

"May I see the Princess, please?"

"I will tell her you are here, miss, and ask her to grant you an audience,"said the maid. "Step in, please, and take a seat in the drawing-room."

So Dorothy walked in, followed closely by the machine. But as theyellow hen tried to enter after them, the little maid cried "Shoo!"and flapped her apron in Billina's face.

"Shoo, yourself!" retorted the hen, drawing back in anger and rufflingup her feathers. "Haven't you any better manners than that?"

"Oh, do you talk?" enquired the maid, evidently surprised.

"Can't you hear me?" snapped Billina. "Drop that apron, and get out ofthe doorway, so that I may enter with my friends!"

"The Princess won't like it," said the maid, hesitating.

"I don't care whether she likes it or not," replied Billina, andfluttering her wings with a loud noise she flew straight at the maid'sface. The little servant at once ducked her head, and the hen reachedDorothy's side in safety.

"Very well," sighed the maid; "if you are all ruined because of thisobstinate hen, don't blame me for it. It isn't safe to annoy thePrincess Langwidere."

"Tell her we are waiting, if you please," Dorothy requested, withdignity. "Billina is my friend, and must go wherever I go."

Without more words the maid led them to a richly furnisheddrawing-room, lighted with subdued rainbow tints that came in throughbeautiful stained-glass windows.

"Remain here," she said. "What names shall I give the Princess?"

"I am Dorothy Gale, of Kansas," replied the child; "and this gentlemanis a machine named Tiktok, and the yellow hen is my friend Billina."

The little servant bowed and withdrew, going through several passagesand mounting two marble stairways before she came to the apartmentsoccupied by her mistress.

Princess Langwidere's sitting-room was paneled with great mirrors,which reached from the ceiling to the floor; also the ceiling wascomposed of mirrors, and the floor was of polished silver thatreflected every object upon it. So when Langwidere sat in her easychair and played soft melodies upon her mandolin, her form wasmirrored hundreds of times, in walls and ceiling and floor, andwhichever way the lady turned her head she could see and admire herown features. This she loved to do, and just as the maid entered shewas saying to herself:

"This head with the auburn hair and hazel eyes is quite attractive. Imust wear it more often than I have done of late, although it may notbe the best of my collection."

"You have company, Your Highness," announced the maid, bowing low.

"Who is it?" asked Langwidere, yawning.

"Dorothy Gale of Kansas, Mr. Tiktok and Billina," answered the maid.

"What a queer lot of names!" murmured the Princess, beginning tobe a little interested. "What are they like? Is Dorothy Gale ofKansas pretty?"

"She might be called so," the maid replied.

"And is Mr. Tiktok attractive?" continued the Princess.

"That I cannot say, Your Highness. But he seems very bright. WillYour Gracious Highness see them?"

"Oh, I may as well, Nanda. But I am tired admiring this head, and ifmy visitor has any claim to beauty I must take care that she does notsurpass me. So I will go to my cabinet and change to No. 17, which Ithink is my best appearance. Don't you?"

"Your No. 17 is exceedingly beautiful," answered Nanda, with another bow.

Again the Princess yawned. Then she said:

"Help me to rise."

So the maid assisted her to gain her feet, although Langwidere was thestronger of the two; and then the Princess slowly walked across thesilver floor to her cabinet, leaning heavily at every step uponNanda's arm.

Now I must explain to you that the Princess Langwidere had thirtyheads--as many as there are days in the month. But of course shecould only wear one of them at a time, because she had but one neck.These heads were kept in what she called her "cabinet," which was abeautiful dressing-room that lay just between Langwidere'ssleeping-chamber and the mirrored sitting-room. Each head was in aseparate cupboard lined with velvet. The cupboards ran all around thesides of the dressing-room, and had elaborately carved doors with goldnumbers on the outside and jeweled-framed mirrors on the inside of them.

When the Princess got out of her crystal bed in the morning she wentto her cabinet, opened one of the velvet-lined cupboards, and took thehead it contained from its golden shelf. Then, by the aid of themirror inside the open door, she put on the head--as neat and straightas could be--and afterward called her maids to robe her for the day.She always wore a simple white costume, that suited all the heads.For, being able to change her face whenever she liked, the Princesshad no interest in wearing a variety of gowns, as have other ladieswho are compelled to wear the same face constantly.

Of course the thirty heads were in great variety, no two formed alikebut all being of exceeding loveliness. There were heads with goldenhair, brown hair, rich auburn hair and black hair; but none with grayhair. The heads had eyes of blue, of gray, of hazel, of brown and ofblack; but there were no red eyes among them, and all were bright andhandsome. The noses were Grecian, Roman, retrousse and Oriental,representing all types of beauty; and the mouths were of assortedsizes and shapes, displaying pearly teeth when the heads smiled. Asfor dimples, they appeared in cheeks and chins, wherever they might bemost charming, and one or two heads had freckles upon the faces tocontrast the better with the brilliancy of their complexions.

One key unlocked all the velvet cupboards containing thesetreasures--a curious key carved from a single blood-red ruby--and thiswas fastened to a strong but slender chain which the Princess worearound her left wrist.

When Nanda had supported Langwidere to a position in front of cupboardNo. 17, the Princess unlocked the door with her ruby key and afterhanding head No. 9, which she had been wearing, to the maid, she tookNo. 17 from its shelf and fitted it to her neck. It had black hairand dark eyes and a lovely pearl-and-white complexion, and whenLangwidere wore it she knew she was remarkably beautiful in appearance.

There was only one trouble with No. 17; the temper that went with it(and which was hidden somewhere under the glossy black hair) wasfiery, harsh and haughty in the extreme, and it often led the Princessto do unpleasant things which she regretted when she came to wear herother heads.

But she did not remember this today, and went to meet her guests inthe drawing-room with a feeling of certainty that she would surprisethem with her beauty.

However, she was greatly disappointed to find that her visitors weremerely a small girl in a gingham dress, a copper man that would onlygo when wound up, and a yellow hen that was sitting contentedly inLangwidere's best work-basket, where there was a china egg used fordarning stockings. (It may surprise you to learn that a princess everdoes such a common thing as darn stockings. But, if you will stop tothink, you will realize that a princess is sure to wear holes in herstockings, the same as other people; only it isn't considered quitepolite to mention the matter.)

"Oh!" said Langwidere, slightly lifting the nose of No. 17. "Ithought some one of importance had called."

"Then you were right," declared Dorothy. "I'm a good deal of'portance myself, and when Billina lays an egg she has the proudestcackle you ever heard. As for Tiktok, he's the--"

"Stop--Stop!" commanded the Princess, with an angry flash of hersplendid eyes. "How dare you annoy me with your senseless chatter?"

"Why, you horrid thing!" said Dorothy, who was not accustomed to beingtreated so rudely.

The Princess looked at her more closely.

"Tell me," she resumed, "are you of royal blood?"

"Better than that, ma'am," said Dorothy. "I came from Kansas."

"Huh!" cried the Princess, scornfully. "You are a foolish child, andI cannot allow you to annoy me. Run away, you little goose, andbother some one else."

Dorothy was so indignant that for a moment she could find no words toreply. But she rose from her chair, and was about to leave the roomwhen the Princess, who had been scanning the girl's face, stopped herby saying, more gently:

"Come nearer to me."

Dorothy obeyed, without a thought of fear, and stood before thePrincess while Langwidere examined her face with careful attention.

"You are rather attractive," said the lady, presently. "Not at allbeautiful, you understand, but you have a certain style of prettinessthat is different from that of any of my thirty heads. So I believeI'll take your head and give you No. 26 for it."

"Well, I b'lieve you won't!" exclaimed Dorothy.

"It will do you no good to refuse," continued the Princess; "for Ineed your head for my collection, and in the Land of Ev my will islaw. I never have cared much for No. 26, and you will find that it isvery little worn. Besides, it will do you just as well as the oneyou're wearing, for all practical purposes."

"I don't know anything about your No. 26, and I don't want to," saidDorothy, firmly. "I'm not used to taking cast-off things, so I'lljust keep my own head."

"You refuse?" cried the Princess, with a frown.

"Of course I do," was the reply.

"Then," said Langwidere, "I shall lock you up in a tower until youdecide to obey me. Nanda," turning to her maid, "call my army."

Nanda rang a silver bell, and at once a big fat colonel in a brightred uniform entered the room, followed by ten lean soldiers, who alllooked sad and discouraged and saluted the princess in a verymelancholy fashion.

"Carry that girl to the North Tower and lock her up!" cried thePrincess, pointing to Dorothy.

"To hear is to obey," answered the big red colonel, and caught thechild by her arm. But at that moment Tiktok raised his dinner-pailand pounded it so forcibly against the colonel's head that the bigofficer sat down upon the floor with a sudden bump, looking both dazedand very much astonished.

"Help!" he shouted, and the ten lean soldiers sprang to assisttheir leader.

There was great excitement for the next few moments, and Tiktok hadknocked down seven of the army, who were sprawling in every directionupon the carpet, when suddenly the machine paused, with thedinner-pail raised for another blow, and remained perfectly motionless.

"My ac-tion has run down," he called to Dorothy. "Wind me up, quick."

She tried to obey, but the big colonel had by this time managed to getupon his feet again, so he grabbed fast hold of the girl and she washelpless to escape.

"This is too bad," said the machine. "I ought to have run six hourslon-ger, at least, but I sup-pose my long walk and my fight with theWheel-ers made me run down fast-er than us-u-al."

"Well, it can't be helped," said Dorothy, with a sigh.

"Will you exchange heads with me?" demanded the Princess.

"No, indeed!" cried Dorothy.

"Then lock her up," said Langwidere to her soldiers, and they ledDorothy to a high tower at the north of the palace and locked hersecurely within.

The soldiers afterward tried to lift Tiktok, but they found themachine so solid and heavy that they could not stir it. So they lefthim standing in the center of the drawing-room.

"People will think I have a new statue," said Langwidere, "so it won'tmatter in the least, and Nanda can keep him well polished."

"What shall we do with the hen?" asked the colonel, who had justdiscovered Billina in the work-basket.

"Put her in the chicken-house," answered the Princess. "Someday I'llhave her fried for breakfast."

"She looks rather tough, Your Highness," said Nanda, doubtfully.

"That is a base slander!" cried Billina, struggling frantically in thecolonel's arms. "But the breed of chickens I come from is said to bepoison to all princesses."

"Then," remarked Langwidere, "I will not fry the hen, but keep her tolay eggs; and if she doesn't do her duty I'll have her drowned in thehorse trough."