oing many things,
some playing together, some working at tasks and some gathered in groups
to talk; but at the sound of strange voices, which echoed rather loudly
through the clearing, all turned in the direction of the intruders.
Then, in a body, they all rushed forward, running and bounding with
tremendous speed.

The Tin Woodman was so surprised by this sudden dash that he had no time
to raise his axe before the Loons were on them. The creatures swung
their puffy hands, which looked like boxing-gloves, and pounded the
three travelers as hard as they could, on all sides. The blows were
quite soft and did not hurt our friends at all, but the onslaught quite
bewildered them, so that in a brief period all three were knocked over
and fell flat upon the ground. Once down, many of the Loons held them,
to prevent their getting up again, while others wound long tendrils of
vines about them, binding their arms and legs to their bodies and so
rendering them helpless.

"Aha!" cried the biggest Loon of all; "we've got 'em safe; so let's
carry 'em to King Bal and have 'em tried, and condemned and perforated!"

They had to drag their captives to the center of the domed chamber, for
their weight, as compared with that of the Loons, prevented their being
carried. Even the Scarecrow was much heavier than the puffy Loons. But
finally the party halted before a raised platform, on which stood a sort
of throne, consisting of a big, wide chair with a string tied to one arm
of it. This string led upward to the roof of the dome.

Arranged before the platform, the prisoners were allowed to sit up,
facing the empty throne.

"Good!" said the big Loon who had commanded the party. "Now to get King
Bal to judge these terrible creatures we have so bravely captured."

As he spoke he took hold of the string and began to pull as hard as he
could. One or two of the others helped him and pretty soon, as they drew
in the cord, the leaves above them parted and a Loon appeared at the
other end of the string. It didn't take long to draw him down to the
throne, where he seated himself and was tied in, so he wouldn't float
upward again.

"Hello," said the King, blinking his purple eyes at his followers;
"what's up now!"

"Strangers, your Majesty--strangers and captives," replied the big Loon,
pompously.

"Dear me! I see 'em. I see 'em very plainly," exclaimed the King, his
purple eyes bulging out as he looked at the three prisoners. "What
curious