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           "Why,thatcrackintherock,justfacingyou,"repliedBillina,whoselittleroundeyeswereverysharpandseemedtoseeeverything."Itrunsuponesideanddowntheother,andacrossthetopandthebottom."

           "Whatdoes?"

           "Why,thecrack.SoIthinkitmustbeadoorofrock,althoughIdonotseeanyhinges."

           "Oh,yes,"saidDorothy,nowobservingforthefirsttimethecrackintherock."Andisn’tthisakey-hole,Billina?"pointingtoaround,deepholeatonesideofthedoor.

           "Ofcourse.Ifweonlyhadthekey,now,wecouldunlockitandseewhatisthere,"repliedtheyellowhen."Maybeit’satreasurechamberfullofdiamondsandrubies,orheapsofshininggold,or--"

           "Thatremindsme,"saidDorothy,"ofthegoldenkeyIpickedupontheshore.Doyouthinkthatitwouldfitthiskey-hole,Billina?"

           "Tryitandsee,"suggestedthehen.

           SoDorothysearchedinthepocketofherdressandfoundthegoldenkey.Andwhenshehadputitintotheholeoftherock,andturnedit,asuddensharpsnapwasheard;then,withasolemncreakthatmadetheshiversrundownthechild’sback,thefaceoftherockfelloutward,likeadooronhinges,andrevealedasmalldarkchamberjustinside.

           "Goodgracious!"criedDorothy,shrinkingbackasfarasthenarrowpathwouldlether.

           For,standingwithinthenarrowchamberofrock,wastheformofaman--or,atleast,itseemedlikeaman,inthedimlight.HewasonlyaboutastallasDorothyherself,andhisbodywasroundasaballandmadeoutofburnishedcopper.