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Princess Ozma took the Sawhorse and the Red Wagon；
although she was not sure there was a wagon road all
the way to the Lake of the Skeezers。 The Land of Oz is
a pretty big place； surrounded on all sides by a Deadly
Desert which it is impossible to cross； and the Skeezer
Country； according to the map； was in the farthest
northwestern part of Oz； bordering on the north desert。
As the Emerald City was exactly in the center of Oz； it
was no small journey from there to the Skeezers。
Around the Emerald City the country is thickly
settled in every direction； but the farther away you
get from the city the fewer people there are； until
those parts that border on the desert have small
populations。 Also those faraway sections are little
known to the Oz people； except in the south； where
Glinda lives and where Dorothy has often wandered on
trips of exploration。
The least known of all is the Gillikin Country； which
harbors many strange bands of people among its
mountains and valleys and forests and streams； and Ozma
was now bound for the most distant part of the Gillikin
Country。
〃I am really sorry；〃 said Ozma to Dorothy； as they
rode away in the Red Wagon； 〃not to know more about the
wonderful Land I rule。 It is my duty to be acquainted
with every tribe of people and every strange and hidden
country in all Oz； but I am kept so busy at my palace
making laws and planning for the comforts of those who
live near the Emerald City； that I do not often find
time to make long journeys。〃
〃Well；〃 replied Dorothy； 〃we'll prob'bly find out a
lot on this trip； and we'll learn all about the
Skeezers and Flatheads； anyhow。 Time doesn't make much
diff'rence in the Land of Oz； 'cause we don't grow up；
or get old； or become sick and die； as they do other
places； so； if we explore one place at a time； we'll
by…an'…by know all about every nook and corner in Oz。〃
Dorothy wore around her waist the Nome King's Magic
Belt； which protected her from harm； and the Magic Ring
which Glinda had given her was on her finger。 Ozma had
merely slipped a small silver wand into the bosom of
her gown； for fairies do not use chemicals and herbs
and the tools of wizards and sorcerers to perform their
magic。 The Silver Wand was Ozma's one weapon of offense
and defense and by its use she could accomplish many
things。
They had left the Emerald City just at sunrise and
the Sawhorse traveled very swiftly over the roads
towards the north； but in a few hours the wooden animal
had to slacken his pace because the farm houses had
become few and far between and often there were no
paths at all in the direction they wished to follow。 At
such times they crossed the fields； avoiding groups of
trees and fording the streams and rivulets whenever
they came to them。 But finally they reached a broad
hillside closely covered with scrubby brush； through
which the wagon could not pass。
〃It will be difficult even for you and me to get
through without tearing our dresses；〃 said Ozma； 〃so we
must leave the Sawhorse and the Wagon here until our
return。〃
〃That's all right；〃 Dorothy replied； 〃I'm tired
riding； anyhow。 Do you s'pose； Ozma； we're anywhere
near the Skeezer Country？〃
〃I cannot tell； Dorothy dear； but I know we've been
going in the right direction； so we are sure to find it
in time。〃
The scrubby brush was almost like a grove of small
trees； for it reached as high as the heads of the two
girls； neither of whom was very tall。 They were obliged
to thread their way in and out； until Dorothy was
afraid they would get lost； and finally they were
halted by a curious thing that barred their further
progress。 It was a huge web as if woven by gigantic
spiders and the delicate； lacy film was fastened
stoutly to the branches of the bushes and continued to
the right and left in the form of a half circle。 The
threads of this web were of a brilliant purple color
and woven into numerous artistic patterns； but it
reached from the ground to branches above the heads of
the girls and formed a sort of fence that hedged them
in。
〃It doesn't look very strong； though；〃 said Dorothy。
〃I wonder if we couldn't break through。〃 She tried but
found the web stronger than it seemed。 All her efforts
could not break a single thread。
〃We must go back； I think； and try to get around this
peculiar web；〃 Ozma decided。
So they turned to the right and； following the web
found that it seemed to spread in a regular circle。 On
and on they went until finally Ozma said they had
returned to the exact spot from which they had started。
〃Here is a handkerchief you dropped when we were here
before；〃 she said to Dorothy。
〃In that case； they must have built the web behind
us； after we walked into the trap；〃 exclaimed the
little girl。
〃True；〃 agreed Ozma； 〃an enemy has tried to imprison
us。〃
〃And they did it； too；〃 said Dorothy。 〃I wonder who
it was。〃
〃It's a spider…web； I'm quite sure；〃 returned Ozma；
〃but it must be the work of enormous spiders。〃
〃Quite right！〃 cried a voice behind them。 Turning
quickly around they beheld a huge purple spider sitting
not two yards away and regarding them with its small
bright eyes。
Then there crawled from the bushes a dozen more great
purple spiders； which saluted the first one and said：
〃The web is finished； O King； and the strangers are
our prisoners。〃
Dorothy did not like the looks of these spiders at
all。 They had big heads； sharp claws； small eyes and
fuzzy hair all over their purple bodies。
〃They look wicked；〃 she whispered to Ozma。 〃What
shall we do？〃
Ozma gazed upon the spiders with a serious face。
〃What is your object in making us prisoners？〃 she
inquired。
〃We need someone to keep house for us；〃 answered the
Spider King。 〃There is sweeping and dusting to be done；
and polishing and washing of dishes； and that is work
my people dislike to do。 So we decided that if any
strangers came our way we would capture them and make
them our servants。〃
〃I am Princess Ozma； Ruler of all Oz；〃 said the girl
with dignity。
〃Well； I am King of all Spiders；〃 was the reply； 〃and
that makes me your master。 Come with me to my palace
and I will instruct you in your work。〃
〃I won't；〃 said Dorothy indignantly。 〃We won't have
anything to do with you。〃
〃We'll see about that；〃 returned the Spider in a
severe tone； and the next instant he made a dive
straight at Dorothy； opening the claws in his legs as
if to grab and pinch her with the sharp points。 But the
girl was wearing her Magic Belt and was not harmed。 The
Spider King could not even touch her。 He turned swiftly
and made a dash at Ozma； but she held her Magic Wand
over his head and the monster recoiled as if it had
been struck。
〃You'd better let us go；〃 Dorothy advised him； 〃for
you see you can't hurt us。〃
〃So I see；〃 returned th