There was no answer to Handy's loud knocks, and pausing to catch her breath and blow on her fingers, the Goat Girl wondered what to try next. Then, in spite of Nox's warning bellow, she began to shove and push the wet planks with her shoulder. But that did no good either, so she felt in her pocket for something to use as a wedge. Almost at once her fingers closed on the silver hammer they had ploughed up in Keretaria. While the hammer would not do for a wedge, it would at least save her knuckles, so, lifting it high above her head, Handy Mandy brought it down with a resounding whack. A shower of silver sparks followed the hammer blow, and Nox, peering through the waterfall saw a gnarled and crooked elf with a purple beard dancing madly round the startled girl. "_I am the elf of the hammer, who Must do whatever you ask me to_," sang the elf between his high leaps and prances. "Then open this door," directed Handy, spinning round in a circle herself to get a good look at the little fellow. "My--y, how funny Oz is! Magic horns, Topsies, Hook Noses and now _you_! Don't tell me a little body like you can really open this great heavy door?" "_Pick up the hammer and doubt no more-- Himself, the elf, will now open the door._" In a daze Handy Mandy picked up the hammer and put it back in her pocket, and Nox, thunderstruck by the whole proceeding thrust his head through the waterfall just in time to see the knobby little gnome push the door open with one thump of his brown fist. Quick as a flash Handy was on the other side. "Come on! Come on!" she called hoarsely to Nox. "Can't you see it's closing? Oh mercy--ercy, do you want to leave me here all alone?" "Yes!" snorted Nox in an exasperated voice, but jumping as he snorted. "I'd like nothing better." As he came to 'better,' he landed on the other side of the waterfall and skidded through the open door into the mountain. He had just time to tuck in his tail, when the door with an ominous creak slammed shut. "_Now_, see what you've done!" gasped Nox, eyeing the gloomy interior with distaste and foreboding. "I--thought--you--were going to be a help to me and all--puff--splutter--you do is get me into trouble! What sort of place is this anyway?" "A c-c-ave," quavered Handy, wrapping all her arms tightly round herself. "My--y, it's so high--igh, I can hardly see the top. Where's that elf?" "Gone!" sighed the Ox, taking a cautious step forward. "But I expect he'll come back at the first tap of that hammer. All very puzzling if you ask me." "Well, shall I call him back?" asked Handy uneasily. "It's kinda lonely in here and maybe Himself could tell us where we are." "Better wait till we need him," advised the Ox. "After all, we know we are in a cave, seems to be of silver rock, too. Just cast your eye at those stalactites, m'lass."