14. How the Wizard Practiced Sorcery

           "Wherenext?"askedtheWizardwhentheyhadleftthetownofFuddlecumjigandtheSawhorsehadstartedbackalongtheroad.

           "Why,Ozmalaidoutthistrip,"repliedDorothy,"andshe’visedustoseetheRigmarolesnext,andthenvisittheTinWoodman."

           "Thatsoundsgood,"saidtheWizard."ButwhatroaddowetaketogettotheRigmaroles?"

           "Idon’tknow,’zactly,"returnedthelittlegirl;"butitmustbesomewherejustsouthwestfromhere."

           "Thenwhyneedwegowaybacktothecrossroads?"askedtheShaggyMan."Wemightsavealotoftimebybranchingoffhere."

           "Thereisn’tanypath,"assertedUncleHenry.

           "Thenwe’dbettergobacktothesignposts,andmakesureofourway,"decidedDorothy.

           ButaftertheyhadgoneashortdistancefarthertheSawhorse,whohadoverheardtheirconversation,stoppedandsaid:

           "Hereisapath."

           Sureenough,adimpathseemedtobranchofffromtheroadtheywereon,anditledacrossprettygreenmeadowsandpastleafygroves,straighttowardthesouthwest.

           "Thatlookslikeagoodpath,"saidOmbyAmby."Whynottryit?"

           "Allright,"answeredDorothy."I’manxioustoseewhattheRigmarolesarelike,andthispathoughttotakeustherethequickestway."

           Noonemadeanyobjectiontothisplan,sotheSawhorseturnedintothepath,whichprovedtobenearlyasgoodastheonetheyhadtakentogettotheFuddles.Asfirsttheypassedafewretiredfarmhouses,butsoonthesescattereddwellingswereleftbehindandonlythemeadowsandthetreeswerebeforethem.