"We cannot fly over the Deadly Desert," the beaver King went on. "Nor can we cross it--the devouring sands would mean quick death for all of us." "Then we're just not going to Oz, I guess," said Tom sadly. "Oh, yes, I think we are," replied the beaver King quickly. "There is one way left to cross the Desert." A hush fell over the company as they waited for the beaver King's next words. "We can cross _under_ the desert," he said simply. "You have burrowed clear under the Deadly Desert to Oz?" asked the Shaggy Man incredulously. "No," replied the King of the Fairy Beavers, "we have not, but someone else has." "And who is that?" asked Twink. "The Nome King," said the beaver King. CHAPTER 17 The Tunnel Under the Desert The Shaggy Man leaped to his feet and stared at the beaver King. "What!" he exclaimed. "You discovered the Nome King's tunnel under the Deadly Desert?" "Oh, yes," replied the beaver King. "We have known for some time of its existence and location." "But this is wonderful!" gasped the Shaggy Man. "Our troubles are all over. All we have to do is walk through the tunnel to the Emerald City!" "No," said the King of the Fairy Beavers. "It isn't as easy as that. You must remember we still have Glinda's Barrier of Invisibility to contend with." "Hmmmmm," said the Shaggy Man seating himself, "that is true. But there might be some way we could get past that barrier. Tell me, how did you happen to discover the Nome King's tunnel?" "We stumbled onto it accidentally when one of our burrows led into it," explained the beaver King. "We followed it to the Kingdom of the Nomes where the tunnel opens into one of the Nome King's mines. There was a company of Nomes working there, and the ill-natured creatures hurled diamonds at us. In fact the Nomes were so discourteous that we have never since entered that section of the tunnel." "But if you knew the tunnel led to Oz in the other direction, why didn't you follow it?" asked Twiffle. "Because we also know Ozma's wishes, and we respect them," replied the beaver King quietly. "But certainly Ozma would not object to the Shaggy Man and his friends using the tunnel. And since the Shaggy Man has so kindly invited me to visit Oz, I feel perfectly free to accompany him." "Then you know the story of the tunnel the Nome King built under the Deadly Desert to the Emerald City?" asked the Shaggy Man. "Our fairy powers keep us informed of important happenings not only in Oz but in all other parts of the world," replied the beaver King.