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           "Theycan’tfollowusamongtheserocks,sowe’resafeenoughnow."

           Dorothystoppedatonceandsatdownuponabroadboulder,forshewasalloutofbreath.

           TherestoftheWheelershadnowreachedthefootofthehill,butitwasevidentthattheirwheelswouldnotrollupontheroughandjaggedrocks,andthereforetheywerehelplesstofollowDorothyandthehentowheretheyhadtakenrefuge.Buttheycircledallaroundthelittlehill,sothechildandBillinawerefastprisonersandcouldnotcomedownwithoutbeingcaptured.

           ThenthecreaturesshooktheirfrontwheelsatDorothyinathreateningmanner,anditseemedtheywereabletospeakaswellastomaketheirdreadfuloutcries,forseveralofthemshouted:

           "We’llgetyouintime,neverfear!Andwhenwedogetyou,we’lltearyouintolittlebits!"

           "Whyareyousocrueltome?"askedDorothy."I’mastrangerinyourcountry,andhavedoneyounoharm."

           "Noharm!"criedonewhoseemedtobetheirleader."Didyounotpickourlunch-boxesanddinner-pails?Haveyounotastolendinner-pailstillinyourhand?"

           "Ionlypickedoneofeach,"sheanswered."Iwashungry,andIdidn’tknowthetreeswereyours."

           "Thatisnoexcuse,"retortedtheleader,whowasclothedinamostgorgeoussuit."Itisthelawherethatwhoeverpicksadinner-pailwithoutourpermissionmustdieimmediately."

           "Don’tyoubelievehim,"saidBillina."I’msurethetreesdonotbelongtotheseawfulcreatures.Theyarefitforanymischief,andit’smyopiniontheywouldtrytokillusjustthesameifyouhadn’tpickedadinner-pail