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you see you can't hurt us。〃
〃So I see；〃 returned the Spider King angrily。 〃Your
magic is greater than mine。 But I'll not help you to
escape。 If you can break the magic web my people have
woven you may go； if not you must stay here and
starve。〃 With that the Spider King uttered a peculiar
whistle and all the spiders disappeared。
〃There is more magic in my fairyland than I dreamed
of；〃 remarked the beautiful Ozma； with a sigh of regret。
〃It seems that my laws have not been obeyed； for even
these monstrous spiders defy me by means of Magic。〃
〃Never mind that now；〃 said Dorothy； 〃let's see what
we can do to get out of this trap。〃
They now examined the web with great care and were
amazed at its strength。 Although finer than the finest
silken hairs； it resisted all their efforts to work
through； even though both girls threw all their weight
against it。
〃We must find some instrument which will cut the
threads of the web；〃 said Ozma； finally。 〃Let us look
about for such a tool。〃
So they wandered among the bushes and finally came to
a shallow pool of water； formed by a small bubbling
spring。 Dorothy stooped to get a drink and discovered
in the water a green crab； about as big as her hand。
The crab had two big； sharp claws； and as soon as
Dorothy saw them she had an idea that those claws could
save them。
〃Come out of the water；〃 she called to the crab； 〃I
want to talk to you。〃
Rather lazily the crab rose to the surface and caught
hold of a bit of rock。 With his head above the water he
said in a cross voice：
〃What do you want？〃
〃We want you to cut the web of the purple spiders
with your claws； so we can get through it；〃 answered
Dorothy。 〃You can do that； can't you？〃
〃I suppose so；〃 replied the crab。 〃But if I do what
will you give me？〃
〃What do you wish？〃 Ozma inquired。
〃I wish to be white； instead of green；〃 said the
crab。 〃Green crabs are very common； and white ones are
rare； besides the purple spiders； which infest this
hillside； are afraid of white crabs。 Could you make me
white if I should agree to cut the web for you？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Ozma； 〃I can do that easily。 And； so you
may know I am speaking the truth； I will change your
color now。〃
She waved her silver wand over the pool and the crab
instantly became snow…white all except his eyes；
which remained black。 The creature saw his reflection
in the water and was so delighted that he at once
climbed out of the pool and began moving slowly toward
the web； by backing away from the pool。 He moved so
very slowly that Dorothy cried out impatiently： 〃Dear
me； this will never do！〃 Caching the crab in her hands
she ran with him to the web。
She had to hold him up even then； so he could reach
with his claws strand after strand of the filmy purple
web； which he was able to sever with one nip。
When enough of the web had been cut to allow them to
pass； Dorothy ran back to the pool and placed the white
crab in the water； after which she rejoined Ozma。 They
were just in time to escape through the web； for
several of the purple spiders now appeared； having
discovered that their web had been cut； and had the
girls not rushed through the opening the spiders would
have quickly repaired the cuts and again imprisoned
them。
Ozma and Dorothy ran as fast as they could and
although the angry spiders threw a number of strands of
web after them； hoping to lasso them or entangle them
in the coils； they managed to escape and clamber to the
top of the hill。
Chapter Three
The Mist Maidens
From the top of the hill Ozma and Dorothy looked down
into the valley beyond and were surprised to find it
filled with a floating mist that was as dense as smoke。
Nothing in the valley was visible except these rolling
waves of mist； but beyond； on the other side； rose a
grassy hill that appeared quite beautiful。
〃Well；〃 said Dorothy； 〃what are we to do； Ozma？ Walk
down into that thick fog； an' prob'bly get lost in it；
or wait till it clears away？〃
〃I'm not sure it will clear away； however long we
wait；〃 replied Ozma； doubtfully。 〃If we wish to get on；
I think we must venture into the mist。〃
〃But we can't see where we're going； or what we're
stepping on；〃 protested Dorothy。 〃There may be
dreadful things mixed up in that fog； an' I'm scared
just to think of wading into it。〃
Even Ozma seemed to hesitate。 She was silent and
thoughtful for a little while； looking at the rolling
drifts that were so gray and forbidding。 Finally she
said：
〃I believe this is a Mist Valley； where these moist
clouds always remain； for even the sunshine above does
not drive them away。 Therefore the Mist Maids must live
here； and they are fairies and should answer my call。〃
She placed her two hands before her mouth； forming a
hollow with them； and uttered a clear； thrilling； bird…
like cry。 It floated far out over the mist waves and
presently was answered by a similar sound； as of a far…
off echo。
Dorothy was much impressed。 She had seen many strange
things since coming to this fairy country； but here was
a new experience。 At ordinary times Ozma was just like
any little girl one might chance to meet simple；
merry； lovable as could be yet with a certain
reserve that lent her dignity in her most joyous moods。
There were times； however； when seated on her throne
and commanding her subjects； or when her fairy powers
were called into use； when Dorothy and all others about
her stood in awe of their lovely girl Ruler and
realized her superiority。
Ozma waited。 Presently out from the billows rose
beautiful forms； clothed in fleecy； trailing garments
of gray that could scarcely be distinguished from the
mist。 Their hair was mist…color； too； only their
gleaming arms and sweet； pallid faces proved they were
living； intelligent creatures answering the call of a
sister fairy。
Like sea nymphs they rested on the bosom of the
clouds； their eyes turned questioningly upon the two
girls who stood upon the bank。 One came quite near and
to her Ozma said：
〃Will you please take us to the opposite hillside？ We
are afraid to venture into the mist。 I am Princess Ozma
of Oz； and this is my friend Dorothy； a Princess of
Oz。〃
The Mist Maids came nearer； holding out their arms。
Without hesitation Ozma advanced and allowed them to
embrace her and Dorothy plucked up courage to follow。
Very gently the Mist Maids held them。 Dorothy thought
the arms were cold and misty they didn't seem real
at all yet they supported the two girls above the
surface of the billows and floated with them so swiftly
to the green hillside opposite that the girls were
astonished to find themselves set upon the grass before
they realized they had fairly started。
〃Thank you！〃 said Ozma gratefully； and Dorothy also
added her thanks for the service。