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he exploded. Woot leaned forward and picked up the thorn, and while the

Loons were busy watching the pump, the boy sprang to his feet and

suddenly rushed upon the group.

"Pop"--"pop"--"pop!" went three of the Loons, when the Wanderer pricked

them with his thorn, and at the sounds the others looked around and saw

their danger. With yells of fear they bounded away in all directions,

scattering about the clearing, with Woot the Wanderer in full chase. While

they could run much faster than the boy, they often stumbled and fell, or

got in one another's way, so he managed to catch several and prick them

with his thorn.

It astonished him to see how easily the Loons exploded. When the air was let

out of them they were quite helpless. Til Loon was one of those who ran

against his thorn and many others suffered the same fate. The creatures

could not escape from the enclosure, but in their fright many bounded

upward and caught branches of the trees, and then climbed out of reach of

the dreaded thorn.

Woot was getting pretty tired chasing them, so he stopped and came over,

panting, to where his friends were sitting, still bound.

"Very well done, my Wanderer," said the Tin Woodman. "It is evident that we

need fear these puffed-up creatures no longer, so be kind enough to

unfasten our bonds and we will proceed upon our journey."

Woot untied the bonds of the Scarecrow and helped him to his feet. Then he

freed the Tin Woodman, who got up without help. Looking around them,

they saw that the only Loon now remaining within reach was Bal Loon, the

King, who had remained seated in his throne, watching the punishment of

his people with a bewildered look in his purple eyes.

"Shall I puncture the King?" the boy asked his companions.

King Bal must have overheard the question, for he fumbled with the cord

that fastened him to the throne and managed to release it. Then he floated

upward until he reached the leafy dome, and parting the branches he

disappeared from sight. But the string that was tied to his body was still

connected with the arm of the throne, and they knew they could pull his

Majesty down again, if they wanted to.

Let him alone," suggested the Scarecrow. "He seems a good enough king for

his peculiar people, and after we are gone, the Loons will have something of

a job to pump up all those whom Woot has punctured."

The Tin Woodman of Oz