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traveled together before； and she knew he was a good
and faithful comrade。
When the food was cooked and served the girls invited
the old shepherd to join them in their morning meal。 He
willingly consented and while they ate he said to them：
〃You are now about to pass through a very dangerous
country； unless you turn to the north or to the south
to escape its perils。〃
〃In that case；〃 said the Cowardly Lion； 〃let us
turn； by all means； for I dread to face dangers of
any sort。〃
〃What's the matter with the country ahead of us？〃
inquired Dorothy。
〃Beyond this Rolling Prairie；〃 explained the
shepherd； 〃are the Merry…Go…Round Mountains； set close
together and surrounded by deep gulfs； so that no one
is able to get past them。 Beyond the Merry…Go…Round
Mountains it is said the Thistle…Eaters and the Herkus
live。〃
〃What are they like？〃 demanded Dorothy。
〃No one knows； for no one has ever passed the Merry…
Go…Round Mountains；〃 was the reply； 〃but it is said
that the Thistle…Eaters hitch dragons to their chariots
and that the Herkus are waited upon by giants whom they
have conquered and made their slaves。〃
〃Who says all that？〃 asked Betsy。
〃It is common report；〃 declared the shepherd。
〃Everyone believes it。〃
〃I don't see how they know；〃 remarked little Trot；
〃if no one has been there。〃
〃Perhaps the birds who fly over that country brought
the news；〃 suggested Betsy。
〃If you escaped those dangers；〃 continued the
shepherd； 〃you might encounter others still more
serious； before you came to the next branch of the
Winkie River。 It is true that beyond that river there
lies a fine country； inhabited by good people； and if
you reached there you would have no further trouble。 It
is between here and the west branch of the Winkie River
that all dangers lie； for that is the unknown territory
that is inhabited by terrible； lawless people。〃
〃It may be； and it may not be；〃 said the Wizard。 〃We
shall know when we get there。〃
〃Well；〃 persisted the shepherd； 〃in a fairy country
such as ours every undiscovered place is likely to
harbor wicked creatures。 If they were not wicked； they
would discover themselves； and by coming among us
submit to Ozma's rule and be good and considerate； as
are all the Oz people whom we know。〃
〃That argument；〃 stated the little Wizard； 〃convinces
me that it is our duty to go straight to those unknown
places； however dangerous they may be； for it is surely
some cruel and wicked person who has stolen our Ozma；
and we know it would be folly to search among good
people for the culprit。 Ozma may not be hidden in the
secret places of the Winkie Country； it is true； but it
is our duty to travel to every spot； however dangerous；
where our beloved Ruler is likely to be imprisoned。〃
〃You're right about that；〃 said Button…Bright
approvingly。 〃Dangers don't hurt us； only things that
happen ever hurt anyone； and a danger is a thing that
might happen； and might not happen； and sometimes don't
amount to shucks。 I vote we go ahead and take our
chances。〃
They were all of he same opinion； so they packed up
and said good…bye to the friendly shepherd and
proceeded on their way。
Chapter Seven
The Merry…Go…Round Mountains
The Rolling Prairie was not difficult to travel over；
although it was all up…hill and down…hill； so for a
while they made good progress。 Not even a shepherd was
to be met with now and the farther they advanced the
more dreary the landscape became。 At noon they stopped
for a 〃picnic luncheon；〃 as Betsy called it； and then
they again resumed their journey。 All the animals were
swift and tireless and even the Cowardly Lion and the
Mule found they could keep up with the pace of the
Woozy and the Sawhorse。
It was the middle of the afternoon when first they
came in sight of a cluster of low mountains。 These were
cone…shaped； rising from broad bases to sharp peaks at
the tops。 From a distance the mountains appeared
indistinct and seemed rather small…more like hills than
mountains but as the travelers drew nearer they
noted a most unusual circumstance： the hills were all
whirling around； some in one direction and some the
opposite way。
〃I guess those are the Merry…Go…Round Mountains； all
right；〃 said Dorothy。
〃They must be；〃 said the Wizard。
〃They go 'round； sure enough；〃 added Trot； 〃but they
don't seem very merry。〃
There were several rows of these mountains； extending
both to the right and to the left； for miles and miles。
How many rows there might be； none could tell； but
between the first row of peaks could be seen other
peaks； all steadily whirling around one way or another。
Continuing to ride nearer； our friends watched these
hills attentively； until at last； coming close up； they
discovered there was a deep but narrow gulf around the
edge of each mountain； and that the mountains were set
so close together that the outer gulf was continuous
and barred farther advance。
At the edge of the gulf they all dismounted and
peered over into its depths。 There was no telling where
the bottom was； if indeed there was any bottom at all。
From where they stood it seemed as if the mountains had
been set in one great hole in the ground； just close
enough together so they would not touch； and that each
mountain was supported by a rocky column beneath its
base which extended far down into the black pit below。
From the land side it seemed impossible to get across
the gulf or； succeeding in that； to gain a foothold on
any of the whirling mountains。
〃This ditch is too wide to jump across；〃 remarked
Button…Bright。
〃P'raps the Lion could do it；〃 suggested Dorothy。
〃What； jump from here to that whirling hill？〃 cried
the Lion indignantly。 〃I should say not！ Even if I
landed there； and could hold on； what good would it do？
There's another spinning mountain beyond it； and
perhaps still another beyond that。 I don't believe any
living creature could jump from one mountain to
another； when both are whirling like tops and in
different directions。〃
〃I propose we turn back；〃 said the Wooden Sawhorse；
with a yawn of his chopped…out mouth； as he stared with
his knot eyes at the Merry…Go…Round Mountains。
〃I agre