Free L. Frank Baum by The Enchanted Island of Yew Page B

fairy arm could have
proved strong enough to hew through the tough wood. But the magic
sword and fairy arm were at work, and naught could resist them.
    After a time the last branches were severed and dragged from the path,
and then the travelers rode their horses through the gap into the
unknown country beyond.
    They saw at first glance that it was a land of great beauty; but after
that one look both Prince Marvel and Nerle paused and rubbed their
eyes, to assure themselves that their vision was not blurred.
    Before them were two trees, exactly alike. And underneath the trees
two cows were grazing—each a perfect likeness of the other. At their
left were two cottages, with every door and window and chimney the
exact counterpart of another. Before these houses two little boys were
playing, evidently twins, for they not only looked alike and dressed
alike, but every motion one made was also made by the other at the same
time and in precisely the same way. When one laughed the other
laughed, and when one stubbed his toe and fell down, the other did
likewise, and then they both sat up and cried lustily at the same time.
    At this two women—it was impossible to tell one from the other—rushed
out of the two houses, caught up the two boys, shook and dusted them in
precisely the same way, and led them by their ears back into the houses.
    Again the astonished travelers rubbed their eyes, and then Prince
Marvel looked at Nerle and said:
    "I thought at first that I saw everything double, but there seems to be
only one of YOU."
    "And of you," answered the boy. "But see! there are two hills ahead of
us, and two paths lead from the houses over the hills! How strange it
all is!"
    Just then two birds flew by, close together and perfect mates; and the
cows raised their heads and "mooed" at the same time; and two men—also
twins—came over the two hills along the two paths with two
dinner-pails in their hands and entered the two houses. They were met
at the doors by the two women, who kissed them exactly at the same time
and helped them off with their coats with the same motions, and closed
the two doors with two slams at the same instant.
    Nerle laughed. "What sort of country have we got into?" he asked.
    "Let us find out," replied the prince, and riding up to one of the
houses he knocked on the door with the hilt of his sword.
    Instantly the doors of both houses flew open, and both men appeared in
the doorways. Both started back in amazement at sight of the
strangers, and both women shrieked and both little boys began to cry.
Both mothers boxed the children's ears, and both men gasped out:
    "Who—who are you?"
    Their voices were exactly alike, and their words were spoken in unison.
Prince Marvel replied, courteously:
    "We are two strangers who have strayed into your country. But I do not
understand why our appearance should so terrify you."
    "Why—you are singular! There is only half of each of you!" exclaimed
the two men, together.
    "Not so," said the prince, trying hard not to laugh in their faces.
"We may be single, while you appear to be double; but each of us is
perfect, nevertheless."
    "Perfect! And only half of you!" cried the men. And again the two
women, who were looking over their husbands' shoulders, screamed at
sight of the strangers; and again the two boys, who were clinging to
their mothers' dresses in the same positions, began to cry.
    "We did not know such strange people existed!" said the two men, both
staring at the strangers and then wiping the beads of perspiration from
their two brows with two faded yellow handkerchiefs.
    "Nor did we!" retorted the prince. "I assure you we are as much
surprised as you are."
    Nerle laughed again at this, and to hear only one of the strangers
speak and the other only laugh seemed to terrify the double people
anew. So Prince Marvel quickly asked:
    "Please tell us what country this is?"
    "The Land of Twi," answered both men, together.
    "Oh! the Land of Twi. And why is the light here