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Chapter Five - Mrs. Yoop, the Giantess

When they had reached the end of the path, where they had first seen the

warning sign, they set off across the country in an easterly direction. Before

long they reached Rolling Lands, which were a succession of hills and

valleys where constant climbs and descents were required, and their journey

now became tedious, because on climbing each hill, they found before them

nothing in the valley below it except grass, or weeds or stones.

Up and down they went for hours, with nothing to relieve the monotony of

the landscape, until finally, when they had topped a higher hill than usual,

they discovered a cup-shaped valley before them in the center of which

stood an enormous castle, built of purple stone. The castle was high and

broad and long, but had no turrets and towers. So far as they could see,

there was but one small window and one big door on each side of the great

building.

This is strange!" mused the Scarecrow. "I'd no idea such a big castle existed

in this Gillikin Country. I wonder who lives here?"

"It seems to me, from this distance," remarked the Tin Woodman, "that it's

the biggest castle I ever saw. It is really too big for any use, and no one could

open or shut those big doors without a stepladder."

"Perhaps, if we go nearer, we shall find out whether anybody lives there or

not," suggested Woot. "Looks to me as if nobody lived there."

On they went, and when they reached the center of the valley, where the

great stone castle stood, it was beginning to grow dark. So they hesitated as

to what to do.

"If friendly people happen to live here," said Woot. "I shall be glad of a bed;

but should enemies occupy the place, I prefer to sleep upon the ground."

And if no one at all lives here," added the Scarecrow, "we can enter, and

take possession, and make ourselves at home."

While speaking he went nearer to one of the great doors, which was three

times as high and broad as any he had ever seen in a house before, and

then he discovered, engraved in big letters upon a stone over the doorway,

the words:

"YOOP CASTLE"

The Tin Woodman of Oz