shall we do?"

Ozma gazed upon the spiders with a serious face.

"What is your object in making us prisoners?" she
inquired.

"We need someone to keep house for us," answered the
Spider King. "There is sweeping and dusting to be done,
and polishing and washing of dishes, and that is work
my people dislike to do. So we decided that if any
strangers came our way we would capture them and make
them our servants."

"I am Princess Ozma, Ruler of all Oz," said the girl
with dignity.

"Well, I am King of all Spiders," was the reply, "and
that makes me your master. Come with me to my palace
and I will instruct you in your work."

"I won't," said Dorothy indignantly. "We won't have
anything to do with you."

"We'll see about that," returned the Spider in a
severe tone, and the next instant he made a dive
straight at Dorothy, opening the claws in his legs as
if to grab and pinch her with the sharp points. But the
girl was wearing her Magic Belt and was not harmed. The
Spider King could not even touch her. He turned swiftly