"All right," she said, closing her eyes; "I'm ready."
Instantly she was seized in a pair of strong arms—arms so big and powerful that she was startled and cried out in fear.
"Silence!" roared a great voice, and the girl opened her eyes to find that the tiny man had suddenly grown to a giant and was holding both her and Toto in a tight embrace while in one step he spanned the lake and reached the other shore.
Dorothy became frightened, then, especially as the giant did not stop but continued tramping in great steps over the wooded hills, crushing bushes and trees beneath his broad feet. She struggled in vain to free herself, while Toto whined and trembled beside her, for the little dog was frightened, too.
"Stop!" screamed the girl. "Let me down!" But the giant paid no attention. "Who are you, and where are you taking me?" she continued; but the giant said not a word. Close to Dorothy's ear, however, a voice answered her, saying: "This is the terrible Crinklink, and he has you in his power."
Dorothy managed to twist her head around and found it was the second button on the jacket—the wolf's head—which had spoken to her.
"What will Crinklink do with me?" she asked anxiously.
"No one knows. You must wait and see," replied the wolf.
"Some of his captives he whips," squeaked the weasel's head.