16. How Dorothy Visited Utensia

           TheremusthavebeenfromsixtoeightdozenspoonsintheBrigade,andtheymarchedawayintheshapeofahollowsquare,withDorothy,BillinaandTotointhecenterofthesquare.BeforetheyhadgoneveryfarTotoknockedoveroneofthespoonsbywagginghistail,andthentheCaptainoftheSpoonstoldthelittledogtobemorecareful,orhewouldbepunished.SoTotowascareful,andtheSpoonBrigademovedalongwithastonishingswiftness,whileDorothyreallyhadtowalkfasttokeepupwithit.

           Byandbytheyleftthewoodsandenteredabigclearing,inwhichwastheKingdomofUtensia.

           Standingallaroundtheclearingwereagoodmanycookstoves,rangesandgrills,ofallsizesandshapes,andbesidesthesetherewereseveralkitchencabinetsandcupboardsandafewkitchentables.Thesethingswerecrowdedwithutensilsofallsorts:fryingpans,saucepans,kettles,forks,knives,bastingandsoupspoons,nutmeggraters,sifters,colanders,meatsaws,flatirons,rollingpinsandmanyotherthingsofalikenature.

           WhentheSpoonBrigadeappearedwiththeprisonersawildshoutaroseandmanyoftheutensilshoppedofftheirstovesortheirbenchesandrancrowdingaroundDorothyandthehenandthedog.

           "Standback!"criedtheCaptain,sternly,andheledhiscaptivesthroughthecuriousthronguntiltheycamebeforeabigrangethatstoodinthecenteroftheclearing.Besidethisrangewasabutcherblockuponwhichlayagreatcleaverwithakeenedge.Itrestedupontheflatofitsback,itslegswerecrossedanditwassmokingalongpipe.

           "Wakeup,yourMajesty,"saidtheCaptain.