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10. The Giant with the Hammer
Thepathwasbecomingrockyanddifficultforthewheelsofthechariottopassover,andpresentlyadeepgulfappearedattheirfeetwhichwastoowideforthemtoleap.SoOzmatookasmallsquareofgreenclothfromherpocketandthrewitupontheground.Atonceitbecamethemagiccarpet,andunrolleditselffarenoughforallthecavalcadetowalkupon.Thechariotnowadvanced,andthegreencarpetunrolledbeforeit,crossingthegulfonalevelwithitsbanks,sothatallpassedoverinsafety.
"That’seasyenough,"saidtheScarecrow."Iwonderwhatwillhappennext."
Hewasnotlonginmakingthediscovery,forthesidesofthemountaincameclosertogetheruntilfinallytherewasbutanarrowpathbetweenthem,alongwhichOzmaandherpartywereforcedtopassinsinglefile.
Theynowheardalowanddeep"thump!--thump!--thump!"whichechoedthroughoutthevalleyandseemedtogrowlouderastheyadvanced.Then,turningacornerofrock,theysawbeforethemahugeform,whichtoweredabovethepathformorethanahundredfeet.Theformwasthatofagiganticmanbuiltoutofplatesofcastiron,anditstoodwithonefootoneithersideofthenarrowroadandswungoveritsrightshoulderanimmenseironmallet,withwhichitconstantlypoundedtheearth.Theseresoundingblowsexplainedthethumpingsoundstheyhadheard,forthemalletwasmuchbiggerthanabarrel,andwhereitstruckthepathbetweentherockysidesofthemountainitfilledallthespacethroughwhichourtravelerswouldbeobligedtopass.
Ofcoursetheyatoncehalted,asafedistanceawayfromtheterribleironmallet.
