12. How they Matched the Fuddles

           DorothyandherfellowtravelersrodeawayfromtheCuttenclipvillageandfollowedtheindistinctpathasfarasthesign-post.Heretheytookthemainroadagainandproceededpleasantlythroughtheprettyfarmingcountry.Wheneveningcametheystoppedatadwellingandwerejoyfullywelcomedandgivenplentytoeatandgoodbedsforthenight.

           Earlynextmorning,however,theywereupandeagertostart,andafteragoodbreakfasttheybadetheirhostgood-byeandclimbedintotheredwagon,towhichtheSawhorsehadbeenhitchedallnight.Beingmadeofwood,thishorsenevergottirednorcaredtoliedown.Dorothywasnotquitesurewhetherheeversleptornot,butitwascertainthatheneverdidwhenanybodywasaround.

           TheweatherisalwaysbeautifulinOz,andthismorningtheairwascoolandrefreshingandthesunshinebrilliantanddelightful.

           Inaboutanhourtheycametoaplacewhereanotherroadbranchedoff.Therewasasign-postherewhichread:

           THISWAYTOFUDDLECUMJIG

           "Oh,hereiswhereweturn,"saidDorothy,observingthesign.

           "What!ArewegoingtoFuddlecumjig?"askedtheCaptainGeneral.

           "Yes;OzmathoughtwemightenjoytheFuddles.Theyaresaidtobeveryinteresting,"shereplied.

           "Noonewouldsuspectitfromtheirname,"saidAuntEm."Whoarethey,anyhow?Morepaperthings?"

           "Ithinknot,"answeredDorothy,laughing;"butIcan’tsay’zactly,AuntEm,whattheyare.We’llfindoutwhenwegetthere."

           "PerhapstheWizardknows,"suggestedUncleHenry.

           "No;I’veneverbeentherebefore,"saidtheWizard.