With his head above the water he said in a cross voice: "What do you want ?" "We want you to cut the web of the purple spiders with your claws, so we can get through it," answered Dorothy.

"You can do that, can't you ?" "I suppose so," replied the crab.

"But if I do what will you give me ?" "What do you wish ?" Ozma inquired.
"I wish to be white, instead of green," said the crab.

"Green crabs are very common, and white ones are rare; besides the purple spiders, which infest this hillside, are afraid of white crabs.

Could you make me white if I should agree to cut the web for you ?" "Yes," said Ozma, "I can do that easily.