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friend of Ozma and that when she got back to the
Emerald City she would send them a lot of things
to repay them for the raft； including a new
clothesline。 This promise pleased the woman and
she soon became more pleasant； saying they could
stay the night at her house and begin their voyage
on the river next morning。
This they did； spending a pleasant evening
with the Quadling family and being entertained
with such hospitality as the poor people were
able to offer them。 The man groaned a good
deal and said he had overworked himself by
chopping the logs； but the Scarecrow gave him
two more tablets than he had promised； which
seemed to comfort the lazy fellow。
Chapter Twenty…Six
The Trick River
Next morning they pushed the raft into the water
and all got aboard。 The Quadling man had to hold
the log craft fast while they took their places；
and the flow of the river was so powerful that it
nearly tore the raft from his hands。 As soon as
they were all seated upon the logs he let go and
away it floated and the adventurers had begun
their voyage toward the Winkie Country。
The little house of the Quadlings was out of
sight almost before they had cried their good…
byes； and the Scarecrow said in a pleased voice：
〃It won't take us long to get to the Winkie
Country； at this rate。〃
They had floated several miles down the stream
and were enjoying the ride when suddenly the raft
slowed up； stopped short； and then began to float
back the way it had come。
〃Why； what's wrong？〃 asked Dorothy； in
astonishment； but they were all just as bewildered
as she was and at first no one could answer the
question。 Soon； however； they realized the truth：
that the current of the river had reversed and the
water was now flowing in the opposite direction
toward the mountains。
They began to recognize the scenes they had
passed； and by and by they came in sight of the
little house of the Quadlings again。 The man
was standing on the river bank and he called
to them：
〃How do you do？ Glad to see you again。 I forgot
to tell you that the river changes its direction
every little while。 Sometimes it flows one way；
and sometimes the other。〃
They had no time to answer him； for the raft
was swept past the house and a long distance on
the other side of it。
〃We're going just the way we don't want to
go；〃 said Dorothy； 〃and I guess the best thing
we can do is to get to land before we're carried
any farther。〃
But they could not get to land。 They had
no oars； nor even a pole to guide the raft with。
The logs which bore them floated in the middle
of the stream and were held fast in that position
by the strong current。
So they sat still and waited and； even while
they were wondering what could be done； the raft
slowed down； stopped； and began drifting the other
wayin the direction it had first followed。 After
a time they repassed the Quadling house and the
man was still standing on the bank。 He cried out
to them：
〃Good day！ Glad to see you again。 I expect
I shall see you a good many times； as you go
by； unless you happen to swim ashore。〃
By that time they had left him behind and
were headed once more straight toward the
Winkie Country。
〃This is pretty hard luck；〃 said Ojo in a
discouraged voice。 〃The Trick River keeps
changing； it seems； and here we must float back
and forward forever； unless we manage in some way
to get ashore。〃
〃Can you swim？〃 asked Dorothy。
〃No； I'm Ojo the Unlucky。〃
〃Neither can I。 Toto can swim a little； but
that won't help us to get to shore。〃
〃I don't know whether I could swim； or not；〃
remarked Scraps； 〃but if I tried it I'd surely ruin
my lovely patches。〃
〃My straw would get soggy in the water and
I would sink；〃 said the Scarecrow。
So there seemed no way out of their dilemma
and being helpless they simply sat still。 Ojo；
who was on the front of the raft； looked over
into the water and thought he saw some large
fishes swimming about。 He found a loose end
of the clothesline which fastened the logs
together； and taking a gold nail from his pocket
he bent it nearly double； to form a hook； and
tied it to the end of the line。 Having baited the
hook with some bread which he broke from his
loaf； he dropped the line into the water and
almost instantly it was seized by a great fish。
They knew it was a great fish； because it
pulled so hard on the line that it dragged the
raft forward even faster than the current of the
river had carried it。 The fish was frightened；
and it was a strong swimmer。 As the other end
of the clothesline was bound around the logs
he could not get it away； and as he had greedily
swallowed the gold hook at the first bite he
could not get rid of that； either。
When they reached the place where the current
had before changed； the fish was still swimming
ahead in its wild attempt to escape。 The raft
slowed down； yet it did not stop； because the fish
would not let it。 It continued to move in the same
direction it had been going。 As the current
reversed and rushed backward on its course it
failed to drag the raft with it。 Slowly； inch by
inch； they floated on； and the fish tugged and
tugged and kept them going。
〃I hope he won't give up；〃 said Ojo anxiously。
〃If the fish can hold out until the current
changes again； we'll be all right。〃
The fish did not give up； but held the raft
bravely on its course； till at last the water in
the river shifted again and floated them the way
they wanted to go。 But now the captive fish
found its strength failing。 Seeking a refuge； it
began to drag the raft toward the shore。 As they
did not wish to land in this place the boy cut
the rope with his pocket…knife and set the fish
free； just in time to prevent the raft from
grounding。
The next time the river backed up the Scarecrow
managed to seize the branch of a tree that
overhung the water and they all assisted him to
hold fast and prevent the raft from being carried
backward。 While they waited here； Ojo spied a long
broken branch lying upon the bank； so he leaped
ashore and got it。 When he had stripped off the
side shoots he believed he could use the branch as
a pole； to guide the raft in case of emergency。
They clung to the tree until they found the
water flowing the right way； when they let go
and permitted the raft to resume its voyage。 In
spite of these pauses they were really making
good progress toward the Winkie Country and
having found a way to conquer the adverse
current their spirits rose considerably。 They
could see little of the country through which
they were passing； because of the high banks；
and they met with no boats or other craft upon
the surface of the river。
Once more the trick river reversed its current；
but this time the Scarecrow was on guard and
used the pole to push the raft toward a big
rock which lay in the water。 He believed the
rock would prevent their floating backward with
the current； and so it did。 They clung to this
anchorage until the water resumed its proper
direction； when they