4. Tiktok, the Machine Man

           AfteranhourorsomostofthebandofWheelersrolledbackintotheforest,leavingonlythreeoftheirnumbertoguardthehill.Thesecurledthemselvesuplikebigdogsandpretendedtogotosleeponthesands;butneitherDorothynorBillinawerefooledbythistrick,sotheyremainedinsecurityamongtherocksandpaidnoattentiontotheircunningenemies.

           Finallythehen,flutteringoverthemound,exclaimed:"Why,here’sapath!"

           SoDorothyatonceclamberedtowhereBillinasat,andthere,sureenough,wasasmoothpathcutbetweentherocks.Itseemedtowindaroundthemoundfromtoptobottom,likeacork-screw,twistinghereandtherebetweentheroughbouldersbutalwaysremaininglevelandeasytowalkupon.

           Indeed,DorothywonderedatfirstwhytheWheelersdidnotrollupthispath;butwhenshefollowedittothefootofthemoundshefoundthatseveralbigpiecesofrockhadbeenplaceddirectlyacrosstheendoftheway,thuspreventinganyoneoutsidefromseeingitandalsopreventingtheWheelersfromusingittoclimbupthemound.

           ThenDorothywalkedbackupthepath,andfollowedituntilshecametotheverytopofthehill,whereasolitaryroundrockstoodthatwasbiggerthananyoftheotherssurroundingit.Thepathcametoanendjustbesidethisgreatrock,andforamomentitpuzzledthegirltoknowwhythepathhadbeenmadeatall.Butthehen,whohadbeengravelyfollowingheraroundandwasnowpercheduponapointofrockbehindDorothy,suddenlyremarked:

           "Itlookssomethinglikeadoor,doesn’tit?"

           "Whatlookslikeadoor?"enquiredthechild.