While the boy stared the girl looked upon him calmly. A lunch basket stood beside 
her, and she held a dainty sandwich in one hand and a hard-boiled egg in the other, 
eating with an evident appetite that aroused Tip's sympathy.
    He was just about to ask a share of the luncheon when the girl stood up and brushed 
the crumbs from her lap.
    "There!" said she; "it is time for me to go. Carry that basket for me and help 
yourself to its contents if you are hungry." Tip seized the basket eagerly and began to 
eat, following for a time the strange girl without bothering to ask questions. She walked 
along before him with swift strides, and there was about her an air of decision and 
importance that led him to suspect she was some great personage.
    Finally, when he had satisfied his hunger, he ran up beside her and tried to keep 
pace with her swift footsteps - a very difficult feat, for she was much taller than he, 
and evidently in a hurry.
    "Thank you very much for the sandwiches," said Tip, as he trotted along. "May I ask 
your name?"
    "I am General Jinjur," was the brief reply.
    "Oh!" said the boy surprised. "What sort of a General?"
    "I command the Army of Revolt in this war," answered the General, with unnecessary 
sharpness.
    "Oh!" he again exclaimed. "I didn't know there was a war."
    "You were not supposed to know it," she returned, "for we have kept it a secret; and 
considering that our army is composed entirely of girls," she added, with some pride, "it 
is surely a remarkable thing that our Revolt is not yet discovered."
    "It is, indeed," acknowledged Tip. "But where is your army?"
    "About a mile from here," said General Jinjur. "The forces have assembled from all 
parts of the Land of Oz, at my express command. For this is the day we are to conquer His 
Majesty the Scarecrow, and wrest from him the throne. The Army of Revolt only awaits my 
coming to march upon the Emerald City."
    "Well!" declared Tip, drawing a long breath, "this is certainly a surprising thing! 
May I ask why you wish to conquer His Majesty the Scarecrow?"
    "Because the Emerald City has been ruled by men long enough, for one reason," said 
the girl.
    "Moreover, the City glitters with beautiful gems, which might far better be used for 
rings, bracelets and necklaces; and there is enough money in the King's treasury to buy 
every girl in our Army a dozen new gowns. So we intend to conquer the City and run the 
government to suit ourselves." Jinjur spoke these words with an eagerness and decision 
that proved she was in earnest.
    "But war is a terrible thing," said Tip, thoughtfully.
    "This war will be pleasant," replied the girl, cheerfully.
    "Many of you will be slain!" continued the boy, in an awed voice.
    "Oh, no", said Jinjur. "What man would oppose a girl, or dare to harm her? And there 
is not an ugly face in my entire Army." Tip laughed.
    "Perhaps you are right," said he. "But the Guardian of the Gate is considered a 
faithful Guardian, and the King's Army will not let the City be conquered without a 
struggle."
    "The Army is old and feeble," replied General Jinjur, scornfully. "His strength has 
all been used to grow whiskers, and his wife has such a temper that she has already 
pulled more than half of them out by the roots. When the Wonderful Wizard reigned the 
Soldier with the Green Whiskers was a very good Royal Army, for people feared the Wizard. 
But no one is afraid of the Scarecrow, so his Royal Army don't count for much in time of 
war." After this conversation they proceeded some distance in silence, and before long 
reached a large clearing in the forest where fully four hundred young women were 
assembled. These were laughing and talking together as gaily as if they had gathered for 
a picnic instead of a war of conquest.
    They were divided into four companies, and Tip noticed that all were dressed in 
costumes similar to that worn by General Jinjur. The only real difference was that while 
those girls from the Munchkin country had the blue strip in front of their skirts, those 
from the country of the Quadlings had the red strip in front; and those from the country 
of the Winkies had the yellow strip in front, and the Gillikin girls wore the purple 
strip in front. All had green waists, representing the Emerald City they intended to 
conquer, and the top button on each waist indicated by its color which country the wearer 
came from. The uniforms were Jaunty and becoming, and quite effective when massed 
together.
    Tip thought this strange Army bore no weapons whatever; but in this he was wrong. For 
each girl had stuck through the knot of her back hair two long, glittering 
knitting-needles.
    General Jinjur immediately mounted the stump of a tree and addressed her army.
    "Friends, fellow-citizens, and girls!" she said; "we are about to begin our great 
Revolt against the men of Oz!
    We march to conquer the Emerald City - to dethrone the Scarecrow King - to acquire 
thousands of gorgeous gems - to rifle the royal treasury - and to obtain power over our 
former oppressors!"
    "Hurrah!" said those who had listened; but Tip thought most of the Army was too much 
engaged in chattering to pay attention to the words of the General.
    The command to march was now given, and the girls formed themselves into four bands, 
or companies, and set off with eager strides toward the Emerald City.
    The boy followed after them, carrying several baskets and wraps and packages which 
various members of the Army of Revolt had placed in his care. It was not long before they 
came to the green granite walls of the City and halted before the gateway.
    The Guardian of the Gate at once came out and looked at them curiously, as if a 
circus had come to town. He carried a bunch of keys swung round his neck by a golden 
chain; his hands were thrust carelessly into his pockets, and he seemed to have no idea 
at all that the City was threatened by rebels. Speaking pleasantly to the girls, he said: 
"Good morning, my dears! What can I do for you?"
    "Surrender instantly!" answered General Jinjur, standing before him and frowning as 
terribly as her pretty face would allow her to.
    "Surrender!" echoed the man, astounded. "Why, it's impossible. It's against the law! 
I never heard of such a thing in my life."
    "Still, you must surrender!" exclaimed the General, fiercely. "We are revolting!"
    "You don't look it," said the Guardian, gazing from one to another, admiringly.
    "But we are!" cried Jinjur, stamping her foot, impatiently; "and we mean to conquer 
the Emerald City!"
    "Good gracious!" returned the surprised Guardian of the Gates; "what a nonsensical 
idea! Go home to your mothers, my good girls, and milk the cows and bake the bread. Don't 
you know it's a dangerous thing to conquer a city?"
    "We are not afraid!" responded the General; and she looked so determined that it made 
the Guardian uneasy.
    So he rang the bell for the Soldier with the Green Whiskers, and the next minute was 
sorry he had done so.
    For immediately he was surrounded by a crowd of girls who drew the knitting-needles