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But they all marched out of it."

They seemed to, but I don't believe it is a real army at all. If Ugu the

Shoemaker had so many people living with him, I'm sure the Czarover of

Herku would have mentioned the fact to us."

They're only girls!" laughed Scraps.

Girls are the fiercest soldiers of all," declared the Frogman. "They are more

brave than men, and they have better nerves. That is probably why the

magician uses them for soldiers and has sent them to oppose us."

No one argued this statement, for all were staring hard at the line of soldiers,

which now, having taken a defiant position, remained motionless.

Here is a trick of magic new to me," admitted the Wizard after a time. "I do

not believe the army is real, but the spears may be sharp enough to prick us,

nevertheless, so we must be cautious. Let us take time to consider how to

meet this difficulty."

While they were thinking it over, Scraps danced closer to the line of girl

soldiers. Her button eyes sometimes saw more than did the natural eyes of

her comrades, and so after staring hard at the magician's army, she boldly

advanced and danced right through the threatening line! On the other side,

she waved her stuffed arms and called out, "Come on, folks. The spears can't

hurt you." said the Wizard gaily. "An optical illusion, as I thought. Let us all

follow the Patchwork Girl." The three little girls were somewhat nervous in

attempting to brave the spears and battle axes, but after the others had safely

passed the line, they ventured to follow. And when all had passed through the

ranks of the girl army, the army itself magically disappeared from view.

All this time our friends had been getting farther up the hill and nearer to the

wicker castle. Now, continuing their advance, they expected something else to

oppose their way, but to their astonishment nothing happened, and presently

they arrived at the wicker gates, which stood wide open, and boldly entered

the domain of Ugu the Shoemaker.

The Lost Princess of Oz