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huge woman wore it, nevertheless. The table at which she sat was spread
with a white cloth and had golden dishes upon it, so the travelers saw that
they had surprised the Giantess while she was eating her supper.
She had her back toward them and did not even turn around, but taking a
biscuit from a dish she began to butter it and said in a voice that was big
and deep but not especially unpleasant:
"
Why don't you come in and allow the door to shut? You're causing a
draught, and I shall catch cold and sneeze. When I sneeze, I get cross, and
when I get cross I'm liable to do something wicked. Come in, you foolish
strangers; come in!"
Being thus urged, they entered the room and approached the table, until
they stood where they faced the great Giantess. She continued eating, but
smiled in a curious way as she looked at them. Woot noticed that the door
had closed silently after they had entered, and that didn't please him at all.
"
"
Well," said the Giantess, "what excuse have you to offer?"
We didn't know anyone lived here, Madam," explained the Scarecrow; "so,
being travelers and strangers in these parts, and wishing to find a place for
our boy friend to sleep, we ventured to enter your castle."
"You knew it was private property, I suppose?" said she, buttering another
biscuit.
"We saw the words, 'Yoop Castle,' over the door, but we knew that Mr. Yoop
is a prisoner in a cage in a far-off part of the land of Oz, so we decided there
was no one now at home and that we might use the castle for the night."
"I see," remarked the Giantess, nodding her head and smiling again in that
curious way--a way that made Woot shudder. "You didn't know that Mr.
Yoop was married, or that after he was cruelly captured his wife still lived in
his castle and ran it to suit herself."
"
Who captured Mr. Yoop?" asked Woot, looking gravely at the big woman.
"Wicked enemies. People who selfishly objected to Yoop's taking their cows
and sheep for his food. I must admit, however, that Yoop had a bad temper,
and had the habit of knocking over a few houses, now and then, when he
was angry. So one day the little folks came in a great crowd and captured
Mr. Yoop, and carried him away to a cage somewhere in the mountains. I
don't know where it is, and I don't care, for my husband treated me badly at
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