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Woodman put the straw back into the Scarecrow again； until he was
as good as ever。 So they started upon their journey once more。
The Wicked Witch was so angry when she saw her black bees in
little heaps like fine coal that she stamped her foot and tore her
hair and gnashed her teeth。 And then she called a dozen of her
slaves； who were the Winkies； and gave them sharp spears； telling
them to go to the strangers and destroy them。
The Winkies were not a brave people； but they had to do as
they were told。 So they marched away until they came near to
Dorothy。 Then the Lion gave a great roar and sprang towards them；
and the poor Winkies were so frightened that they ran back as fast
as they could。
When they returned to the castle the Wicked Witch beat them
well with a strap； and sent them back to their work； after which
she sat down to think what she should do next。 She could not
understand how all her plans to destroy these strangers had failed；
but she was a powerful Witch； as well as a wicked one； and she soon
made up her mind how to act。
There was； in her cupboard； a Golden Cap； with a circle of
diamonds and rubies running round it。 This Golden Cap had a charm。
Whoever owned it could call three times upon the Winged Monkeys；
who would obey any order they were given。 But no person
could command these strange creatures more than three times。
Twice already the Wicked Witch had used the charm of the Cap。
Once was when she had made the Winkies her slaves； and set herself
to rule over their country。 The Winged Monkeys had helped her
do this。 The second time was when she had fought against the
Great Oz himself； and driven him out of the land of the West。
The Winged Monkeys had also helped her in doing this。 Only once
more could she use this Golden Cap； for which reason she did not
like to do so until all her other powers were exhausted。 But now
that her fierce wolves and her wild crows and her stinging bees were
gone； and her slaves had been scared away by the Cowardly Lion；
she saw there was only one way left to destroy Dorothy and her friends。
So the Wicked Witch took the Golden Cap from her cupboard and
placed it upon her head。 Then she stood upon her left foot and
said slowly：
〃Ep…pe； pep…pe； kak…ke！〃
Next she stood upon her right foot and said：
〃Hil…lo； hol…lo； hel…lo！〃
After this she stood upon both feet and cried in a loud voice：
〃Ziz…zy； zuz…zy； zik！〃
Now the charm began to work。 The sky was darkened； and a low
rumbling sound was heard in the air。 There was a rushing of many
wings； a great chattering and laughing； and the sun came out of the
dark sky to show the Wicked Witch surrounded by a crowd of monkeys；
each with a pair of immense and powerful wings on his shoulders。
One； much bigger than the others； seemed to be their leader。
He flew close to the Witch and said； 〃You have called us for the
third and last time。 What do you command？〃
〃Go to the strangers who are within my land and destroy them
all except the Lion；〃 said the Wicked Witch。 〃Bring that beast to
me； for I have a mind to harness him like a horse； and make him work。〃
〃Your commands shall be obeyed；〃 said the leader。 Then； with
a great deal of chattering and noise； the Winged Monkeys flew away
to the place where Dorothy and her friends were walking。
Some of the Monkeys seized the Tin Woodman and carried him
through the air until they were over a country thickly covered
with sharp rocks。 Here they dropped the poor Woodman； who fell a
great distance to the rocks； where he lay so battered and dented
that he could neither move nor groan。
Others of the Monkeys caught the Scarecrow； and with their
long fingers pulled all of the straw out of his clothes and head。
They made his hat and boots and clothes into a small bundle and
threw it into the top branches of a tall tree。
The remaining Monkeys threw pieces of stout rope around
the Lion and wound many coils about his body and head and legs；
until he was unable to bite or scratch or struggle in any way。
Then they lifted him up and flew away with him to the Witch's castle；
where he was placed in a small yard with a high iron fence around it；
so that he could not escape。
But Dorothy they did not harm at all。 She stood； with Toto in
her arms； watching the sad fate of her comrades and thinking it
would soon be her turn。 The leader of the Winged Monkeys flew up
to her； his long； hairy arms stretched out and his ugly face
grinning terribly； but he saw the mark of the Good Witch's kiss
upon her forehead and stopped short； motioning the others not to
touch her。
〃We dare not harm this little girl；〃 he said to them； 〃for she
is protected by the Power of Good； and that is greater than the
Power of Evil。 All we can do is to carry her to the castle of the
Wicked Witch and leave her there。〃
So； carefully and gently； they lifted Dorothy in their
arms and carried her swiftly through the air until they came
to the castle； where they set her down upon the front doorstep。
Then the leader said to the Witch：
〃We have obeyed you as far as we were able。 The Tin Woodman and
the Scarecrow are destroyed； and the Lion is tied up in your yard。
The little girl we dare not harm； nor the dog she carries in her arms。
Your power over our band is now ended； and you will never see us again。〃
Then all the Winged Monkeys； with much laughing and chattering
and noise； flew into the air and were soon out of sight。
The Wicked Witch was both surprised and worried when she saw
the mark on Dorothy's forehead； for she knew well that neither the
Winged Monkeys nor she； herself； dare hurt the girl in any way。
She looked down at Dorothy's feet； and seeing the Silver Shoes；
began to tremble with fear； for she knew what a powerful charm
belonged to them。 At first the Witch was tempted to run away from
Dorothy； but she happened to look into the child's eyes and saw
how simple the soul behind them was； and that the little girl did
not know of the wonderful power the Silver Shoes gave her。 So the
Wicked Witch laughed to herself； and thought； 〃I can still make
her my slave； for she does not know how to use her power。〃
Then she said to Dorothy； harshly and severely：
〃Come with me； and see that you mind everything I tell you；
for if you do not I will make an end of you； as I did of the Tin
Woodman and the Scarecrow。〃
Dorothy followed her through many of the beautiful rooms in
her castle until they came to the kitchen； where the Witch bade
her clean the pots and kettles and sweep the floor and keep the
fire fed with wood。
Dorothy went to work meekly； with her mind made up to work as
hard as she could； for she was glad the Wicked Witch had decided
not to kill her。
With Dorothy hard at work； the Witch thought she would go into
the courtyard and harness the Cowardly Lion like a horse； it would
amuse her； she was sure； to make him draw her chariot whenever she
wished to go to drive。 But as she opened the gate the Lion gave a
loud roar and bounded at her so fiercely that the Witch was afraid；
and ran out and shut the gate again。
〃If I c