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http://www.archive.org/details/dorothywizardinoOObaum
The Famous Oz Books
Since 1900, when L. Frank Baum introduced to the children of
America THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ and all the other
exciting characters who inhabit the land of Oz, these delightful fairy
tales have stimulated the imagination of millions of young readers.
These are stories which are genuine fantasy — creative, funny,
tender, exciting and stnprising. Filled with the rarest and most
absurd creatines, each of the 14 vohunes which now comprise the
series, has been eagerly sought out by generation after generation
until today they are known to all except the very young or those
who were never young at all.
When, in a recent survey, The New York Times polled a group of
teen agers on the books they liked best when they were young, the
Oz books topped the list.
THE FAMOUS OZ BOOKS
By L. Frank Baum:
THE WIZARD OF OZ
THE LAND OF OZ
OZMA OF OZ
DOROTHY AND THE WIZARD IN OZ
THE ROAD TO OZ
THE EiMERALD CITY OF OZ
THE PATCHWORK GIRL OF OZ
TIK-TOK OF OZ
THE SCARECROW OF OZ
RINKITINK IN OZ
THE LOST PRINCESS OF OZ
THE TIN WOODMAN OF OZ
THE MAGIC OF OZ
GLINDA OF OZ
Chicago THE REILLY & LEE CO. Publishers
1 BELONGvS
TO
iOflTAMID)
THE DEN OF THE DRAGONETTES
AND
IN QZ
A Faithful Record of Their Amazing Adventures
in an Underground World; and How with the
Aid of Their Friends Zeb Hugson, Eureka
the Kitten, and Jim the Cab- Horse,
They Finally Reached the
Wonderful Land
of Oz.
BY
L. FRANK BAUM
"Royal Historian of Oz"
^
ILLUSTRATED BY
JOHN R. NEILL
The Reilly 8C Lee Co.
Chicago
^i^r-
To My Readers
It's no use; no use at all. The children won't let me stop telling
tales of the Land of Oz. I know lots of other stories, and I hope to tell
them, some time or another; but just now my loving tyrants won't allow
me. They cry: "Oz— Ozl more about Oz, Mr. BaumI" and what can
I do but obey their commands'?
This is Our Book — -mine and the children's. For they have flooded
me with thousands of suggestions in regard to it, and I have honestly tried
to adopt as many of these suggestions as could be fitted into one story.
After the wonderful success of "Ozma of Oz" it is evident that
Dorothy has become a firm fixture in these Oz stories. The little ones
all love Dorothy, and as one of my small friends aptly states: "It isn't
a real Oz story without her." So here she is again, as sweet and gentle
and innocent as ever, I hope, and the heroine of another strange adventure.
There were many requests from my little correspondents for "more
about the Wizard." It seems the jolly old fellow made hosts of friends
in the first Oz book, in spite of the fact that he frankly acknowledged
himself "a humbug." The children had heard how he mounted into the
sky in a balloon and they were all waiting for him to come down again.
So what could I do but tell "what happened to the Wizard afterward"*?
You will find him in these pages, just the same humbug Wizard as before.
There was one thing the children demanded which I found it
impossible to do in this present book: they bade me introduce Toto,
Dorothy's little black dog, who has many friends among my readers.
But you will see, when you begin to read the story, that Toto was in
Kansas while Dorothy was in California, and so she had to start on her
adventure without him. In this book Dorothy had to take her kitten
with her instead of her dog; but in the next Oz book, if I am permitted
to write one, I intend to tell a good deal about Toto's further history.
Princess O'/ma, whom I love as much as my readers do, is again
introduced in this story, and so are several of our old friends of Oz. You
will also become acquainted with Jim the Cab-Horse, the Nine Tiny
Piglets, and Eureka, the Kitten. I am sorry the kitten was not as well
behaved as she ought to have been; but perhaps she wasn't brought up
properly. Dorothy found her, you see, and who her parents were
nobody knows.
I believe, my dears, that I am the proudest story-teller that ever
lived. Many a time tears of pride and joy have stood in my eyes while
I read the tender, loving, appealing letters that come to me in almost
every mail from my little readers. To have pleased you, to have inter-
ested you, to have won your friendship, and perhaps your love, through
my stories, is to my mind as great an achievement as to become President
of the United States. Indeed, I would much rather be your story-teller,
under these conditions, than to be the President. So you have helped
me to fulfill my life's ambition, and I am more grateful to you, my
dears, than I can express in words.
I try to answer every letter of my young correspondents; yet some-
times there arc so many letters that a little time must pass before you
get your answer. But be patient, friends, for the answer will surely
come, and by writing to me you more than repay me for the pleasant
task of preparing these books. Besides, I am proud to acknowledge that
the books are partly yours, for your suggestions often guide me in telling
the stories, and I am sure they would not be half so good without your
clever and thoughtful assistance.
L. FRANK BAUM
CORONADO, 1908.
J'l^^
LIST OF CHAPTERS
CHAPTER
I The Earthquake . . .
The Glass City ....
The Arrival of the Wizard
The Vegetable Kingdom .
Dorothy Picks the Princess
The Mangaboos Prove Dan
gerous ......
Into the Black Pit and Out Again
8 The Valley OF Voices ....
9 They Fight the Invisible Bears
10 The Braided Man of Pyramid Mt
1 1 They Meet the Wooden Gargoyles
12 A Wonderful Escape . ,
1 3 The Den of the Dragonettes
14 OzMA Uses the Magic Belt
15 Old Friends are Reunited .
16 Jim, the Cab-Horse , . .
17 The Nine Tiny Piglets . .
18 The Trial of Eureka, the Kitten
19 The Wizard Performs Another
Trick
20 Zeb Returns to the Ranch . .
FACE
1
9
25
37
48
59
68
75
86
100
109
120
134
144
159
173
185
197
206
217
CHAFTIER lo =
HE train from 'Frisco was very late. It
should have arrived at Hugson's siding at
midnight, but it was already five o'clock and
the gray dawn was breaking in the east when
the little train slowly rumbled up to the open
shed that served for the station-house. As it
came to a stop the conductor called out in a
loud voice:
"Hugson's Siding!"
At once a little girl rose from her seat and
walked to the door of the car, carrying a
wicker suit-case in one hand and a round bird-
cage covered up with newspapers in the other,
while a parasol was tucked under her arm. The conductor
helped her off the car and then the engineer started his train
1
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
again, so that it puffed and groaned and moved slowly away
up the track. The reason he was so late was because all
through the night there were times when the solid earth shook
and trembled under him, and the engineer was afraid that at
any moment the rails might spread apart and an accident
happen to his passengers. So he moved the cars slowly and
with caution.
The little girl stood still to watch until the train had dis-
appeared around a curve; then she turned to see where she
was.
The shed at Hugson's Siding was bare save for an old
wooden bench, and did not look very inviting. As she peered
through the soft gray light not a house of any sort was visible
near the station, nor was any person in sight; but after a
while the child discovered a horse and buggy standing near
a group of trees a short distance away. She walked toward
it and found the horse tied to a tree and standing motion-
less, with its head hanging down almost to the ground. It
was a big horse, tall and bony, with long legs and large
knees and feet. She could count his ribs easily where they
showed through the skin of his body, and his head was long
and seemed altogether too big for him, as if it did not fit.
His tail was short and scraggly, and his harness had been
broken in many places and fastened together again with
2
The Earthquake
cords and bits of wire. The buggy seemed almost new, for
it had a shiny top and side curtains. Getting around in
front, so that she could look inside, the girl saw a boy curled
up on the seat, fast asleep.
She set down the bird-cage and poked the boy with her
parasol. Presently he woke up, rose to a sitting position and
rubbed his eyes briskly.
*'HelloI" he said, seeing her, "are you Dorothy Gale*?"
**Yes," she answered, looking gravely at his tousled hair
and blinking gray eyes. "Have you come to take me to
Hugson's Ranch?"
"Of course," he answered. "Train in*?"
"I couldn't be here if it wasn't," she said.
He laughed at that, and his laugh was merry and frank.
Jumping out of the buggy he put Dorothy's suit-case under
the seat and her bird-cage on the floor in front.
"Canary-birds'?" he asked,
"Oh, no; it's just Eureka, my kitten. I thought that was
the best way to carry her."
The boy nodded.
"Eureka's a funny name for a cat," he remarked.
"I named my kitten that because I found it," she
explained. "Uncle Henry says 'Eureka' means 7 have
found it.' "
3
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in O:
"All right; hop in."
She climbed into the buggy and he followed her. Then
the boy picked up the reins, shook them, and said *'Gid-dapI"
The horse did not stir. Dorothy thought he just wiggled
one of his drooping ears, but that was all.
'*Gid-dap I" called the boy, again.
The horse stood still.
*Terhaps,'* said Dorothy, "if you untied him, he would
go."
The boy laughed cheerfully and jumped out.
"Guess I'm half asleep yet,'* he said, untying the horse.
"But Jim knows his business all right — don't you, Jim^"
patting the long nose of the animal.
Then he got into the buggy again and took the reins,
and the horse at once backed away from the tree, turned
slowly around, and began to trot down the sandy road which
was just visible in the dim light.
"Thought that train would never come,'* observed the
boy. "I've waited at that station for five hours."
"We had a lot of earthquakes," said Dorothy. "Didn't
you feel the ground shake?"
"Yes; but we're used to such things in California," he
replied. "They don't scare us much."
4
The Earthquake
"The conductor said it was the worst quake he ever
knew."
"Did he? Then it must have happened while I was
asleep," he said, thoughtfully.
"How is Uncle Henry'?" she enquired, after a pause
during which the horse continued to trot with long, regular
strides.
"He's pretty well. He and Uncle Hugson have been
having a fine visit."
"Is Mr. Hugson your uncle?" she asked.
"Yes. Uncle Bill Hugson married your Uncle Henry's
wife's sister; so we must be second cousins," said the boy.
in an amused tone. "I work for Uncle Bill on his ranch,
and he pays me six dollars a month and my board."
"Isn't that a great deal?" she asked, doubtfully.
"Why, it's a great deal for Uncle Hugson, but not for
me. I'm a splendid worker. I work as well as I sleep," he
added, with a laugh.
"What is your name?" asked Dorothy, thinking she liked
the boy's manner and the cheery tone of his voice.
"Not a very pretty one," he answered, as if a little
ashamed. "My whole name is Zebediah; but folks just call
me *Zeb.' You've been to Australia, haven't you?"
"Yes; with Uncle Henry," she answered. "We got to
5
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
San Francisco a week ago, and Uncle Henry went right on
to Hugson's Ranch for a visit while I stayed a few days in
the city with some friends we had met."
**How long will you be with us?" he asked.
"Only a day. Tomorrow Uncle Henry and I must start
back for Kansas. We've been away for a long time, you
know, and so we're anxious to get home again."
The boy flicked the big, boney horse with his whip and
looked thoughtful. Then he started to say something to his
little companion, but before he could speak the buggy began
to sway dangerously from side to side and the earth seemed
to rise up before them. Next minute there was a roar and a
sharp crash, and at her side Dorothy saw the ground open
in a wide crack and then come together again.
"Goodness!" she cried, grasping the iron rail of the seat.
"What was that?'
"That was an awful big quake," replied Zeb, with a
white face. "It almost got us that time, Dorothy."
The horse had stopped short, and stood firm as a rock.
Zeb shook the reins and urged him to go, but Jim was stub-
born. Then the boy cracked his whip and touched the
animal's flanks with it, and after a low moan of protest Jim
stepped slowly along the road.
Neither the boy nor the girl spoke again for some minutes,
6
The Earthquake
There was a breath of danger in the very air, and every
few moments the earth would shake violently. Jim's ears
were standing erect upon his head and every muscle of his
big body was tense as he trotted toward home. He was not
going very fast, but on his flanks specks of foam began to
appear and at times he would tremble like a leaf.
The sky had grown darker again and the wind made
queer sobbing sounds as it swept over the valley.
Suddenly there was a rending, tearing sound, and the
earth split into another great crack just beneath the spot
where the horse was standing. With a wild neigh of terror
the animal fell bodily into the pit, drawing the buggy and
its occupants after him.
Dorothy grabbed fast hold of the buggy top and the boy
did the same. The sudden rush into space confused them so
that they could not think.
Blackness engulfed them on every side, and in breath-
less silence they waited for the fall to end and crush them
against jagged rocks or for the earth to close in on them
again and bury them forever in its dreadful depths.
The horrible sensation of falling, the darkness and the
terrifying noises, proved more than Dorothy could endure
and for a few moments the little girl lost consciousness. Zeb,
being a boy, did not faint, but he was badly frightened, and
7
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
clung to the buggy seat with a tight grip, expecting every
moment would be his last.
8
CHAIPTBH.
HEN Dorothy recovered her senses they were
still falling, but not so fast. The top of the
buggy caught the air like a parachute or an um-
brella filled with wind, and held them back sa
that they floated downward with a gentle mo-
tion that was not so very disagreeable to bear.
The worst thing was their terror of reaching the
bottom of this great crack in the earth, and the
natural fear that sudden death was about to
overtake them at any moment. Crash after
crash echoed far above their heads, as the earth
came together where it had split, and stones and
chunks of clay rattled around them on every
side. These they could not see, but they could feel them
pelting the buggy top, and Jim screamed almost like a human
9
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
being when a stone overtook him and struck his boney body.
They did not really hurt the poor horse, because everything
was falling together; only the stones and rubbish fell faster
than the horse and buggy, which were held back by the pres-
sure of the air, so that the terrified animal was actually more
frightened than he was injured.
How long this state of things continued Dorothy could
not even guess, she was so greatly bewildered. But bye and
bye, as she stared ahead into the black chasm with a beating
heart, she began to dimly see the form of the horse Jim — his
head up in the air, his ears erect and his long legs sprawling
in every direction as he tumbled through space. Also, turn-
ing her head, she found that she could see the boy beside her,
who had until now remained as still and silent as she herself.
Dorothy sighed and commenced to breathe easier. She
began to realize that death was not in store for her, after all,
but that she had merely started upon another adventure,
which promised to be just as queer and unusual as were those
she had before encountered.
With this thought in mind the girl took heart and leaned
her head over the side of the buggy to see where the strange
light was coming from. Far below her she found six great
glowing balls suspended in the air. The central and largest
one was white, and reminded her of the sun. Around it were
10
The Glass Cit
arranged, like the five points of a star, the other five brilliant
balls; one being rose colored, one violet, one yellow, one blue
and one orange. This splendid group of colored suns sent
rays darting in every direction, and as the horse and buggy
— with Dorothy and Zeb — sank steadily downward and
came nearer to the lights, the rays began to take on all the
delicate tintings of a rainbow, growing more and more dis-
tinct every moment until all the space was brilliantly illum-
inated.
Dorothy was too dazed to say much, but she watched one
of Jim's big ears turn to violet and the other to rose, and
wondered that his tail should be yellow and his body striped
with blue and orange like the stripes of a zebra. Then she
looked at Zeb, whose face was blue and whose hair was pink,
and gave a little laugh that sounded a bit nervous.
'Isn't is funny*?" she said.
The boy was startled and his eyes were big. Dorothy
had a green streak through the center of her face where the
blue and yellow lights came together, and her appearance
seemed to add to his fright.
"I — I don't s-s-see any-thing funny — 'bout it!" he
stammered.
Just then the buggy tipped slowly over upon its side, the
body of the horse tipping also. But they continued to fall,
11
HORSE, BUGGY AND ALL FELL SLOWLY
The Glass Cit
all together, and the boy and girl had no difficulty in remain-
ing upon the seat, just as they were before. Then they turned
bottom side up, and continued to roll slowly over until they
were right side up again. During this time Jim struggled
frantically, all his legs kicking the air; but on finding himself
in his former position the horse said, in a relieved tone of
voice :
"Well, that's better!"
Dorothy and Zeb looked at one another in wonder.
*'Can your horse talk?" she asked.
"Never knew him to, before," replied the boy.
"Those wTre the first words I ever said," called out the
horse, who had overheard them, "and I can't explain why I
happened to speak then. This is a nice scrape you've got me
into, isn't it?"
"As for that, we are in the same scrape ourselves,"
answered Dorothy, cheerfully. "But never mind; something
will happen pretty soon."
"Of course," growled the horse, "and then we shall be
sorry it happened."
Zeb gave a shiver. All this was so terrible and unreal
that he could not understand it at all, and so had good reason
to be afraid.
Swiftly they drew near to the flaming colored suns, and
13
Litde Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
passed close beside them. The light was then so bright that
it dazzled their eyes, and they covered their faces with their
hands to escape being blinded. There was no heat in the
colored suns, however, and after they had passed below them
the top of the buggy shut out many of the piercing rays so that
the boy and girl could open their eyes again.
"We've got to come to the bottom some time," remarked
Zeb, with a deep sigh. **We can't keep falling forever, you
know."
"Of course not," said Dorothy. "We are somewhere in
the middle of the earth, and the chances are we'll reach the
other side of it before long. But it's a big hollow, isn't it?"
"Awful big I" answered the boy.
"We're coming to something now," announced the horse.
At this they both put their heads over the side of the
buggy and looked down. Yes; there was land below them;
and not so very far away, either. But they were floating
very, very slowly — so slowly that it could no longer be called
a fall — and the children had ample time to take heart and
look about them.
They saw a landscape with mountains and plains, lakes
and rivers, very like those upon the earth's surface; but all
the scene was splendidly colored by the variegated lights
from the six suns. Here and there were groups of houses
14
The Glass Cit
that seemed made of clear glass, because they sparkled so
brightly.
"Fm sure we arc in no danger/' said Dorothy, in a sober
voice. "We are falling so slowly that we can't be dashed to
pieces when we land, and this country that we are coming to
seems quite pretty."
"We'll never get home again, though!" declared Zeb,
with a groan.
"Oh, I'm not so sure of that," replied the girl. "But don't
let us worry over such things, Zeb; we can't help ourselves
just now, you know, and I've always been told it's foolish to
borrow trouble."
The boy became silent, having no reply to so sensible a
speech, and soon both were fully occupied in staring at the
strange scenes spread out below them. They seemed to be
falling right into the middle of a big city which had many
tall buildings with glass domes and sharp-pointed spires.
These spires were like great spear-points, and if they tumbled
upon one of them they were likely to suffer serious injury.
Jim the horse had seen these spires, also, and his ears
stood straight up with fear, while Dorothy and Zeb held their
breaths in suspense. But no; they floated gently down upon
a broad, flat roof, and came to a stop at last.
When Jim felt something firm under his feet the poor
15
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
beast's legs trembled so much that he could hardly stand; but
Zeb at once leaped out of the buggy to the roof, and he was
so awkward and hasty that he kicked over Dorothy's bird-
cage, which rolled out upon the roof so that the bottom came
off. At once a pink kitten crept out of the upset cage, sat
down upon the glass roof, and yawned and blinked its round
eyes.
"Oh," said Dorothy. "There's Eureka."
"First time I ever saw a pink cat," said Zeb.
"Eureka isn't pink; she's white. It's this queer light that
gives her that color."
"Where's my milk"?" asked the kitten, looking up into
Dorothy's face. "I'm 'most starved to death."
"Oh, Eureka I Can you talk?"
"Talk I Am I talking'? Good gracious, I believe I am.
Isn't it funny?" asked the kitten.
"It's all wrong," said Zeb, gravely. "Animals ought not
to talk. But even old Jim has been saying things since we
had our accident."
"I can't see that it's wrong," remarked Jim, in his gruff
tones. "At least, it isn't as wrong as some other things.
What's going to become of us now?"
"I don't know," answered the boy, looking around him
curiously.
16
The Glass Cit
The houses of the city were all made of glass, so clear and
transparent that one could look through the walls as easily as
though a window. Dorothy saw, underneath the roof on
which she stood, several rooms used for rest chambers, and
even thought she could make out a number of queer forms
huddled into the corners of these rooms.
The roof beside them had a great hole smashed through it,
and pieces of glass were lying scattered in every direction.
A near by steeple had been broken off short and the fragments
lay heaped beside it. Other buildings were cracked in places
or had corners chipped off from them; but they must have
been very beautiful before these accidents had happened to
mar their perfection. : The rainbow tints from the colored
suns fell upon the glass city softly and gave to the buildings
many delicate, shifting hues which were very pretty to see.
But not a sound had broken the stillness since the
strangers had arrived, except that of their own voices. They
began to wonder if there were no people to inhabit this mag-
nificent city of the inner world.
Suddenly a man appeared through a hole in the roof next
to the one they were on and stepped into plain view. He
was not a very large man, but was well formed and had a
beautiful face — calm and serene as the face of a fine portrait.
His clothing fitted his form snugly and was gorgeously
17
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
colored in brilliant shades of green, which varied as the sun-
beams touched them but was not wholly influenced by the
solar rays.
The man had taken a step or two across the glass roof
before he noticed the presence of the strangers; but then he
stopped abruptly. There was no expression of either fear or
surprise upon his tranquil face, yet he must have been both
astonished and afraid; for after his eyes had rested upon
the ungainly form of the horse for a moment he walked
rapidly to the furthest edge of the roof, his head turned back
over his shoulder to gaze at the strange animal.
"Look out!" cried Dorothy, who noticed that the beauti-
ful man did not look where he was going; "be careful, or
you'll fall off !"
But he paid no attention to her warning. He reached
the edge of the tall roof, stepped one foot out into the air,
and walked into space as calmly as if he were on firm ground.
The girl, greatly astonished, ran to lean over the edge
of the roof, and saw the man walking rapidly through the
air toward the ground. Soon he reached the street and dis-
appeared through a glass doorway into one of the glass
buildings.
"How strange!" she exclaimed, drawing a long breath.
"Yes; but it's lots of fun, if it is strange,** remarked the
18
The Glass C i t
small voice of the kitten, and Dorothy turned to find her pet
walking in the air a foot or so away from the edge of the roof.
**Come back, Eureka I" she called, in distress, ''you'll
certainly be killed."
"I have nine lives,*' said the kitten, purring softly as it
walked around in a circle and then came back to the root;
"but I can't lose even one of them by falling in this country,
because I really couldn't manage to fall if I wanted to."
''Does the air bear up your weight?" asked the girl.
"Of course; can't you see*?" and again the kitten wan-
dered into the air and back to the edge of the roof.
"It's wonderful I" said Dorothy.
"Suppose we let Eureka go down to the street and get
some one to help us," suggested Zeb, who had been even more
amazed than Dorothy at these strange happenings.
"Perhaps we can walk on the air ourselves," replied the
girl.
Zeb drew back with a shiver.
"I wouldn't dare try," he said.
"May be Jim will go," continued Dorothy, looking at
the horse.
"And may be he won*t!" answered Jim. "I've tumbled
through the air long enough to make me contented on this
roof."
19
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
*'But we didn't tumble to the roof," said the girl; *'by the
time we reached here we were floating very slowly, and I'm
almost sure we could float down to the street without getting
hurt. Eureka walks on the air all right."
"Eureka weighs only about half a pound," replied the
horse, in a scornful tone, "while I weigh about half a ton."
"You don't weigh as much as you ought to, Jim,"
remarked the girl, shaking her head as she looked at the ani-
mal. "You're dreadfully skinny."
"Oh, well; I'm old," said the horse, hanging his head
despondently, "and I've had lots of trouble in my day, little
one. For a good many years I drew a public cab in Chicago,
and that's enough to make anyone skinny."
"He eats enough to get fat, I'm sure," said the boy,
gravely.
"Do I? Can you remember any breakfast that I've had
today ^" growled Jim, as if he resented Zeb's speech.
"None of us has had breakfast," said the boy; "and in a
time of danger like this it's foolish to talk about eating."
"Nothing is more dangerous than being without food,"
declared the horse, with a sniff at the rebuke of his young
master; "and just at present no one can tell whether there are
any oats in this queer country or not. If there are, they ar^
liable to be glass oats I"
20
The Glass Cit
''Oh, no I" exclaimed Dorothy. "I can see plenty of nice
gardens and fields down below us, at the edge of this city.
But I wish we could find a way to get to the ground."
"Why don't you walk down'?" asked Eureka. "I'm as
hungry as the horse is, and I want my milk."
"Will you try it, Zeb" asked the girl, turning to her com-
panion.
Zeb hesitated. He was still pale and frightened, for this
dreadful adventure had upset him and made him nervous
and worried. But he did not wish the little girl to think him
a coward, so he advanced slowly to the edge of the roof.
Dorothy stretched out a hand to him and Zeb put one
foot out and let it rest in the air a little over the edge of the
roof. It seemed firm enough to walk upon, so he took courage
and put out the other foot. Dorothy kept hold of his hand
and followed him, and soon they were both walking through
the air, with the kitten frisking beside them.
"Come on, Jim I" called the boy. "It's all right."
Jim had crept to the edge of the roof to look over, and
being a sensible horse and quite experienced, he made up his
mind that he could go where the others did. So, with a snort
and a neigh and a whisk of his short tail he trotted off the
roof into the air and at once began floating downward to
the street. His great weight made him fall faster than the
21
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
children walked, and he passed them on the way down; but
when he came to the glass pavement he alighted upon it so
softly that he was not even jarred.
*'Well, well!" said Dorothy, drawing a long breath,
"What a strange country this is.'*
People began to come out of the glass doors to look at the
new arrivals, and pretty soon quite a crowd had assembled.
There were men and women, but no children at all, and the
folks were all beautifully formed and attractively dressed
and had wonderfully handsome faces. There was not an
ugly persoh in all the throng, yet Dorothy was not especially
pleased by the appearance of these people because their fea-
tures had no more expression than the faces of dolls. They
did not smile nor did they frown, or show either fear or sur-
prise or curiosity or friendliness. They simply stared at the
strangers, paying most attention to Jim and Eureka, for they
had never before seen either a horse or a cat and the children
bore an outward resemblance to themslves.
Pretty soon a man joined the group who wore a glistening
star in the dark hair just over his forehead. He seemed to
be a person of authority, for the others pressed back to give
him room. After turning his composed eyes first upon the
animals and then upon the children he said to Zeb, who
was a little taller than Dorothy :
22
The Glass City
'Tell me, intruder, was it you who caused the Rain of
Stones?"
For a moment the boy did not know what he meant by
this question. Then, remembering the stones that had fallen
with them and passed them long before they had reached this
place, he answered :
''No, sir; we didn't cause anything. It was the earth-
quake."
The man with the star stood for a time quietly thinking
over this speech. Then he asked:
**What is an earthquake?'*
*1 don't know," said Zeb, who was still confused. But
Dorothy, seeing his perplexity, answered :
"It's a shaking of the earth. In this quake a big crack
opened and we fell through — horse and buggy, and all — and
the stones got loose and came down with us."
The man with the star regarded her with his calm,
expressionless eyes.
"The Rain of Stones has done much damage to our city,"
he said; "and we shall hold you responsible for it unless you
can prove your innocence."
"How can we do that?" asked the girl.
"That I am not prepared to say. It is your affair, not
23
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
mine. You must go to the House of the Sorcerer, who will
soon discover the truth."
**Where is the House of the Sorcerer*?" the girl enquired.
"I will lead you to it. Come I"
He turned and walked down the street, and after a
moment's hesitation Dorothy caught Eureka in her arms and
climbed into the buggy. The boy took his seat beside her
and said: "Gid-dap, Jim."
As the horse ambled along, drawing the buggy, the people
of the glass city made way for them and formed a proces-
sion in their rear. Slowly they moved down one street and
up another, turning first this way and then that, until they
came to an open square in the center of which was a big glass
palace having a central dome and four tall spires on each
corner.
jf}^
!
HE doorway of the glass palace was quite big
enough for the horse and buggy to enter, so Zeb
drove straight through it and the children
found themselves in a lofty hall that was very
beautiful. The people at once followed and
formed a circle around the sides of the spacious
room, leaving the horse and buggy and the man
with the star to occupy the center of the hall.
"Come to us, oh, Gwig!" called the man, in
a loud voice.
Instantly a cloud of smoke appeared and
rolled over the floor; then it slowly spread and
ascended into the dome, disclosing a strange
personage seated upon a glass throne just before Jim's nose.
He was formed just as were the other inhabitants of this land
25
Litde Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
and his clothing only differed from theirs in being bright yel-
low. But he had no hair at all, and all over his bald head and
face and upon the backs of his hands grew sharp thorns like
those found on the branches of rose-bushes. There was even
a thorn upon the tip of his nose and he looked so funny that
Dorothy laughed when she saw him.
The Sorcerer, hearing the laugh, looked toward the little
girl with cold, cruel eyes, and his glance made her grow sober
in an instant.
''Why have you dared to intrude your unwelcome per-
sons into the secluded Land of the Mangaboos?" he asked,
sternly.
'"Cause we couldn't help it," said Dorothy.
"Why did you wickedly and viciously send the Rain of
Stones to crack and break our houses?" he continued.
"We didn't," declared the girl.
"Prove it!" cried the Sorcerer.
"We don't have to prove it," answered Dorothy, indig-
nantly. "If you had any sense at all you'd known it was the
earthquake."
"We only know that yesterday came a Rain of Stones
upon us, which did much damage and injured some of our
people. Today came another Rain of Stones, and soon after
it you appeared among us."
26
The Arrival of the Wizard
"By the way/' said the man with the star, looking stead-
ily at the Sorcerer, "you told us yesterday that there would
not be a second Rain of Stones. Yet one has just occurred
that was even worse than the first. What is your sorcery
good for if it cannot tell us the truth?"
"My sorcery does tell the truth I" declared the thorn-cov-
ered man. "I said there would be but one Rain of Stones.
This second one was a Rain of People-and-Horse-and-
Buggy. And some stones came with them."
"Will there he any more Rains'?" asked the man with
the star.
"No, my Prince."
"Neither stones nor people?"
•?^o, my Prince."
"Are you sure?"
"Quite sure, my Prince. My sorcery tells me so."
Just then a man came running into the hall and addressed
the Prince after making a low bow.
"More wonders in the air, my Lord," said he.
Immediately the Prince and all of his people flocked out
of the hall into the street, that they might see what was about
to happen. Dorothy and Zeb jumped out of the buggy and
ran after them, but the Sorcerer remained calmly in his
throne.
27
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
Far up in the air was an object that looked like a balloon.
It was not so high as the glowing star of the six colored suns,
but was descending slowly through the air — so slowly that
at first it scarcely seemed to move.
The throng stood still and waited. It was all they could
do, for to go away and leave that strange sight was impos-
sible; nor could they hurry its fall in any way. The earth
children were not noticed, being so near the average size of
the Mangaboos, and the horse had remained in the House
of the Sorcerer, with Eureka curled up asleep on the seat of
the buggy.
Gradually the balloon grew bigger, which was proof that
it was settling down upon the Land of the Mangaboos.
Dorothy was surprised to find how patient the people were,
for her own little heart was beating rapidly with excitement.
A balloon meant to her some other arrival from the surface of
the earth, and she hoped it would be some one able to assist
her and Zeb out of their difficulties.
In an hour the balloon had come near enough for her to
see a basket suspended below it; in two hours she could see a
head looking over the side of the basket; in three hours the
big balloon settled slowly into the great square in which they
stood and came to rest on the glass pavement.
Then a little man jumped out of the basket, took off his
28
The Arrival of the Wizard
tall hat, and bowed very gracefully to the crowd of Manga-
boos around him. He was quite an old little man, and his
head was long and entirely bald.
"Why,'* cried Dorothy, in amazement, "it's Oz!"
The little man looked toward her and seemed as much
surprised as she was. But he smiled and bowed as he
answered :
"Yes, my dear; I am Oz, the Great and Terrible. Eh?
And you are little Dorothy, from Kansas. I remember you
very well."
"Who did you say it was?" whispered Zeb to the girl.
"It's the wonderful Wizard of Oz. Haven't you heard
of him?'
Just then the man with the star came and stood before
the Wizard.
"Sir," said he, "why arc you here, in the Land of the
Mangaboos?"
"Didn't know what land it was, my son," returned the
other, with a pleasant smile; "and, to be honest, I didn't
mean to visit you when I started out. I live on top of the
earth, your honor, which is far better than living inside it;
but yesterday I went up In a balloon, and when I came down I
fell into a big crack in the earth, caused by an earthquake. I
had let so much gas out of my balloon that I could not rise
29
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
again, and in a few minutes the earth closed over my head. So
I continued to descend until I reached this place, and if you
will show me a way to get out of it, I'll go with pleasure.
Sorry to have troubled you; but it couldn't be helped."
The Prince had listened with attention. Said he:
"This child, who is from the crust of the earth, like your-
self, called you a Wizard. Is not a Wizard something like a
Sorcerer'?"
"It's better," replied Oz, promptly. "One Wizard is
worth three Sorcerers."
"Ah, you shall prove that," said the Prince. "We
Mangaboos have, at the present time, one of the most won-
derful Sorcerers that ever was picked from a bush; but he
sometimes makes mistakes. Do you ever make mistakes'?"
"Never!" declared the Wizard, boldly.
"Oh, Oz!" said Dorothy; "you made a lot of mistakes
when you were in the marvelous Lond of Oz."
"Nonsense!" said the little man, turning red — although
just then a ray of violet sunlight was on his round face.
"Come with me," said the Prince to him. "I wish you to
meet our Sorcerer."
The Wizard did not like this invitation, but he could not
refuse to accept it. So he followed the Prince into the great
30
The Arrival of the Wizard
domed hall, and Dorothy and Zeb came after them, while
the throng of people trooped in also.
There sat the thorny Sorcerer in his chair of state, and
when the Wizard saw him he began to laugh, uttering
comical little chuckles.
"What an absurd creature!" he exclaimed.
"He may look absurd," said the Prince, in his quiet voice;
"but he is an excellent Sorcerer. The only fault I find with
him is that he is so often wrong."
"I am never wrong," answered the Sorcerer.
"Only a short time ago you told me there would be no
more Rain of Stones or of People," said the Prince.
*Well, what then?'
"Here is another person descended from the air to prove
you were wrong."
"One person cannot be called 'people,' " said the Sorcerer.
'If two should come out of the sky you might with justice
say I was wrong; but unless more than this one appears I will
hold that I was right."
"Very clever," said the Wizard, nodding his head as if
pleased. "I am delighted to find humbugs inside the earth,
just the same as on top of it. Were you ever with a circus,
brother?'
"No," said the Sorcerer.
31
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
''You ought to join one," declared the little man seri-
ously. "I belong to Bailum & Barney's Great Consolidated
Shows — three rings in one tent and a menagerie on the side.
It's a fine aggregation, I assure you."
''What do you do?" asked the Sorcerer.
"I go up in a balloon, usually, to draw the crowds to the
circus. But I've just had the bad luck to come out of the sky,
skip the solid earth, and land lower down than I intended.
But never mind. It isn't everybody who gets a chance to see
your Land of the Gabazoos."
"Mangaboos," said the Sorcerer, correcting him. "If you
arc a Wizard you ought to be able to call people by their right
names."
"Oh, I'm a Wizard; you may be sure of that. Just as good
a Wizard as you are a Sorcerer."
"That remains to be seen," said the other.
"If you are able to prove that you are better," said the
Prince to the little man, "I will make you the Chief Wizard
of this domain. Otherwise — "
"What will happen otherwise?' asked the Wizard.
"I will stop you from living, and forbid you to be
planted," returned the Prince.
"That does not sound especially pleasant," said the little
32
The Arrival of the Wizard
man, looking at the one with the star uneasily. "But never
mind. I'll beat Old Prickly, all right."
"My name is Gwig," said the Sorcerer, turning his heart-
less, cruel eyes upon his rival. "Let me see you equal the
sorcery I am about to perform."
He waved a thorny hand and at once the tinkling of bells
was heard, playing sweet music. Yet, look where she would,
Dorothy could discover no bells at all in the great glass hall.
The Mangaboo people listened, but showed no great
interest. It was one of the things Gwig usually did to prove
he was a sorcerer.
Now was the Wizard's turn, so he smiled upon the assem-
blage and asked :
^Will somebody kindly loan me a hat"?"
No one did, because the Mangaboos did not wear hats,
and Zeb had lost his, somehow, in his flight through the air.
"Ahem I" said the Wizard, "will somebody please loan
me a handkerchief T'
But they had no handkerchiefs, either.
"Very good," remarked the Wizard. "I'll use my own
hat, if you please. Now, good people, observe me carefully.
You see, there is nothing up my sleeve and nothing concealed
about my person. Also, my hat is quite empty." He took off
his hat and held it upside down, shaking it briskly.
33
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
"Let me sec it," said the Sorcerer.
He took the hat and examined it carefully, returning it
afterward to the Wizard.
"Now," said the little man, "I will create something out
of nothing."
He placed the hat upon the glass floor, made a pass with
his hand, and then removed the hat, displaying a little white
piglet no bigger than a mouse, which began to run around here
and there and to grunt and squeal in a tiny, shrill voice.
The people watched it intently, for they had never seen
a pig before, big or little. The Wizard reached out, caught the
wee creature in his hand, and holding its head between one
thumb and finger and its tail between the other thumb and
finger he pulled it apart, each of the two parts becoming a
whole and separate piglet in an instant.
He placed one upon the floor, so that it could run around,
and pulled apart the other, making three piglets in all ; and
then one of these was pulled apart, making four piglets. The
Wizard continued this surprising performance until nine tiny
piglets were running about at his feet, all squealing and
grunting in a very comical way.
"Now," said the Wizard of Oz, 'liaving created some-
thing from nothing, I will make something nothing again."
With this he caught up two of the piglets and pushed
34
The Arrival of the Wizard
them together, so that the two were one. Then he caught up
another piglet and pushed it into the first, where it disap-
peared. And so, one by one, the nine tiny piglets were pushed
together until but a single one of the creatures remained.
This the Wizard placed underneath his hat and made a
mystic sign above it. When he removed his hat the last piglet
had disappeared entirely.
The little man gave a bow to the silent throng that had
watched him, and then the Prince said, in his cold, calm voice :
"You are indeed a wonderful Wizard, and your powers
are greater than those of my Sorcerer."
"He will not be a wonderful Wizard long," remarked
Gwig.
"Why not?' enquired the Wizard.
"Because I am going to stop your breath," was the reply.
"I perceive that you are curiously constructed, and that if you
cannot breathe you cannot keep alive."
The little man looked troubled.
"How long will it take you to stop my breath?" he asked.
"About five minutes. Tm going to begin now. Watch me
carefully."
He began making queer signs and passes toward the Wiz-
ard; but the little man did not watch him long. Instead, he
drew a leathern case from his pocket and took from it several
sharp knives, which he joined together, one after another,
35
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
until they made a long sword. By the time he had attached
a handle to this sword he was having much trouble to breathe,
as the charm of the Sorcerer was beginning to take effect.
So the Wizard lost no more time, but leaping forward he
raised the sharp sword, whirled it once or twice around his
head, and then gave a mighty stroke that cut the body of the
Sorcerer exactly in two.
Dorothy screamed and expected to see a terrible sight;
but as the two halves of the Sorcerer fell apart on the floor
she saw that he had no bones or blood inside of him at all, and
that the place where he was cut looked much like a sliced tur-
nip or potato.
"Why, he's vegetable!" cried the Wizard, astonished.
"Of course," said the Prince. "We are all vegetable, in
this country. Are you not vegetable, also*?"
"No," answered the Wizard. "People on top of the earth
are all meat. Will your Sorcerer die*?"
"Certainly, sir. He is really dead now, and will wither
very quickly. So we must plant him at once, that other
Sorcerers may grow upon his bush," continued the Prince.
"What do you mean by that?" asked the little Wizard,
greatly puzzled.
"If you will accompany me to our public gardens," replied
the Prince, "I will explain to you much better than I can here
the mysteries of our Vegetable Kingdom."
36
CHAFTBM. 4
^ TIE/
FTER the Wizard had wiped the dampness
from his sword and taken it apart and put the
pieces into their leathern case again, the man
with the star ordered some of his people to carry
the two halves of the Sorcerer to the public gar-
dens.
Jim pricked up his ears when he heard they
were going to the gardens, and wanted to join
the party, thinking he might find something
proper to eat; so Zeb put down the top of the
buggy and invited the Wizard to ride with
them. The seat was amply wide enough for the
little man and the two children, and when Jim
started to leave the hall the kitten jumped upon his back and
sat there quite contentedly.
37
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
So the procession moved through the streets, the bearers
of the Sorcerer first, the Prince next, then Jim drawing the
buggy with the strangers inside of it, and last the crowd of
vegetable people who had no hearts and could neither smile
nor frown.
The glass city had several fine streets, for a good many
people lived there; but when the procession had passed
through these it came upon a broad plain covered with gar-
dens and watered by many pretty brooks that flowed through
it. There were paths through these gardens, and over some
of the brooks were ornamental glass bridges.
Dorothy and Zeb now got out of the buggy and walked
beside the Prince, so that they might see and examine the
flowers and plants better.
"Who built these lovely bridges?* asked the little girl.
"No one built them," answered the man with the star.
"They grow."
"That's queer," said she. "Did the glass houses in your
city grow, too^"
"Of course," he replied. "But it took a good many years
for them to grow as large and fine as they are now. That is
why we are so angry when a Ram cf Stones comes to break
our towers and crack our roofs."
"Can't you mend them?" she enquired.
38
THE WIZARD CUT THE SORCERER EXACTLY IN TWO
IN THE GARDEN OF THE MANGABOOS
The Vegetable Kingdom
*'No; but they will grow together again, in time, and we
must wait until they do."
They first passed through many beautiful gardens of
flowers, which grew nearest the city; but Dorothy could
hardly tell what kind of flowers they were, because the colors
were constantly changing under the shifting lights of the six
suns. A flower would be pink one second, white the next,
then blue or yellow ; and it was the same way when they came
to the plants, which had broad leaves and grew close to the
ground.
When they passed over a field of grass Jim immediately
stretched down his head and began to nibble.
"A nice country this is," he grumbled, "where a respec-
table horse has to eat pink grass I"
"It's violet," said the Wizard, who was in the buggy.
"Now it's blue," complained the horse. "As a matter of
fact, I'm eating rainbow grass."
"How does it taste*?" asked the Wizard.
"Not bad at all," said Jim. "If they give me plenty of it
I'll not complain about its color."
By this time the party had reached a freshly plowed field,
and the Prince said to Dorothy :
"This is our planting-ground.
Several Mangaboos came forward with glass spades and
41
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
dug a hole in the ground. Then they put the two halves of
the Sorcerer into it and covered him up. After that other
people brought water from a brook and sprinkled the earth.
"He will sprout very soon," said the Prince, "and grow
into a large bush, from which we shall in time be able to pick
several very good sorcerers."
"Do all your people grow on bushes?" asked the boy.
"Certainly," was the reply. "Do not all people grow
upon bushes where you came from, on the outside of the
earth"
"Not that I ever heard of."
"How strange I But if you will come with me to one of
our folk gardens I will show you the way we grow in the Land
of the Mangaboos."
It appeared that these odd people, while they were able
to walk through the air with ease, usually moved upon the
ground in the ordinary way. There were no stairs in their
houses, because thej^ did not need them, but on a level surface
they generally walked just as we do.
The little party of strangers now followed the Prince
across a few more of the glass bridges and along several paths
until they came to a garden enclosed by a high hedge. Jim
had refused to leave the field of grass, where he was engaged
in busily eating; so the Wizard got out of the buggy and
42
The Vegetable Kingdom
joined Zeb and Dorothy, and the kitten followed demurely
at their heels.
Inside the hedge they came upon row after row of large
and handsome plants with broad leaves gracefully curving
until their points nearly reached the ground. In the center
of each plant grew a daintily dressed Mangaboo, for the
clothing of all these creatures grew upon them and was
attached to their bodies.
The growing Mangaboos were of all sizes, from the blos-
som that had just turned into a wee baby to the full-grown
and almost ripe man or woman. On some of the bushes might
be seen a bud, a blossom, a baby, a half-grown person and a
ripe one; but even those ready to pluck were motionless and
silent, as if devoid of life. This sight explained to Dorothy
why she had seen no children among the Mangaboos, a thing
she had until now been unable to account for.
''Our people do not acquire their real life until they leave
their bushes," said the Prince. "You will notice they are all
attached to the plants by the soles of their feet, and when they
are quite ripe they are easily separated from the stems and at
once attain the powers of motion and speech. So while they
grow they cannot be said to really live, and they must be
picked before they can become good citizens."
43
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
"How long do you live» after you are picked?'* asked
Dorothy.
'That depends upon the care we take of ourselves," he
replied. "If we keep cool and moist, and meet with no acci-
dents, we often live for five years. I've been picked over six
years, but our family is known to be especially long lived."
"Do you eat?" asked the boy.
"Eat I No, indeed. We are quite solid inside our bodies,
and have no need to eat, any more than does a potato."
"But the potatoes sometimes sprout," said Zeb.
"And sometimes we do," answered the Prince; "but that
is considered a great misfortune, for then we must be planted
at once."
"Where did you grow?" asked the Wizard.
"I will show you," was the reply. "Step this way, please."
He led them within another but smaller circle of hedge,
where grew one large and beautiful bush.
"This," said he, "is the Royal Bush of the Mangaboos.
All of our Princes and Rulers have grown upon this one bush
from time immemorial."
Thev stood before it in silent admiration. On the central
stalk stood poised the figure of a girl so exquisitely formed
and colored and so lovely in the expression of her delicate
features that Dorothy thought she had never seen so sweet
44
The Vegetable Kingdom
and adorable a creature in all her life. The maiden*s gown
was soft as satin and fell about her in ample folds, while
dainty lace-like traceries trimmed the bodice and sleeves.
Her flesh was fine and smooth as polished ivory, and her
poise expressed both dignity and grace.
"Who is this?" asked the Wizard, curiously.
The Prince had been staring hard at the girl on the bush.
Now he answered, with a touch of uneasiness in his cold
tones :
"She is the Ruler destined to be my successor, for she is
a Royal Princess. When she becomes fully ripe I must aban-
don the sovereignty of the Mangaboos to her."
"Isn't she ripe now?" asked Dorothy.
He hesitated.
"Not quite," said he, finally. "It will be several days
before she needs to be picked, or at least that is my judg-
ment. I am in no hurry to resign my office and be planted,
you may be sure."
"Probably not," declared the Wizard, nodding.
"This is one of the most unpleasant things about our
vegetable lives," continued the Prince, with a sigh, "that
while we are in our full prime we must give way to another,
and be covered up in the ground to sprout and grow and give
birth to other people."
45
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
"I'm sure the Princess is ready to be picked," asserted
Dorothy, gazing hard at the beautiful girl on the bush.
"She's as perfect as she can be."
"Never mind," answered the Prince, hastily, "she will
be all right for a few days longer, and it is best for me to
rule until I can dispose of you strangers, who have come to
our land uninvited and must be attended to at once."
"What are you going to do with us?" asked Zeb.
"That is a matter I have not quite decided upon," was
the reply. "I think I shall keep this Wizard until a new
Sorcerer is ready to pick, for he seems quite skillful and may
be of use to us. But the rest of you must be destroyed in
some way, and you cannot be planted, because I do not wish
horses and cats and meat people growing all over our
country."
"You needn't worry," said Dorothy. "We wouldn't
grow under ground, Pm sure."
"But why destroy my friends'?" asked the little Wizard.
"Why not let them live'?"
"They do not belong here," returned the Prince. "They
have no right to be inside the earth at all."
"We didn't ask to come down here; we fell," said Dor-
othy.
"That is no excuse," declared the Prince, coldly.
The Vegetable Kingdom
The children looked at each other in perplexity, and the
Wizard sighed. Eureka rubbed her paw on her face and
said in her soft, purring voice:
"He won*t need to destroy mey for if I don't get some-
thing to eat pretty soon I shall starve to death, and so save
him the trouble."
"If he planted you, he might grow some cat-tails," sug-
gested the Wizard.
"Oh, Eureka! perhaps we can find you some milk-weeds
to eat," said the boy.
"Phool" snarled the kitten; "I wouldn't touch the nasty
things I"
"You don't need milk. Eureka," remarked Dorothy; "you
are big enough now to eat any kind of food.'*
"If I can get it," added Eureka.
"I'm hungry myself," said Zeb. "But I noticed some
strawberries growing in one of the gardens, and some melons
in another place. These people don't eat such things, so,
perhaps on our way back they will let us get them."
"Never mind your hunger," interrupted the Prince. "I
shall order you destroyed in a few minutes, so you will have
no need to ruin our pretty melon vines and berry bushes.
Follow me, please, to meet your doom."
47
CHAFTE.E. ^. ^
HE words of the cold and moist vegetable
Prince were not very comforting, and as he
spoke them he turned away and left the enclos-
ure. The children, feeling sad and despon-
dent, were about to follow him when the Wiz-
ard touched Dorothy softly on her shoulder.
"Wait I" he whispered.
'What for?" asked the girl.
"Suppose we pick the Royal Princess,** said
the Wizard. "Fm quite sure she*s ripe, and as
soon as she comes to life she will be the Ruler,
and may treat us better than that heartless
Prince intends to.'*
"All right!'* exclaimed Dorothy, eagerly. "Let*s pick her
while we have the chance, before the man with the star comes
back.**
48
Dorothy Picks the Princess
So together they leaned over the great bush and each of
them seized one hand of the lovely Princess.
*Tull I" cried Dorothy, and as they did so the royal lady
leaned toward them and the stems snapped and separated
from her feet. She was not at all heavy, so the Wizard and
Dorothy managed to lift her gently to the ground.
The beautiful creature passed her hands over her eyes
an instant, tucked in a stray lock of hair that had become dis-
arranged, and aftei a look around the garden made those
present a gracious bow and said, in a sweet but even toned
voice :
*'I thank you very much."
"We salute your Royal Highness!" cried the Wizard,
kneeling and kissing her hand.
Just then the voice of the Prince was heard calling upon
them to hasten, and a moment later he returned to the
enclosure, followed by a number of his people.
Instantly the Princess turned and faced him, and when
he saw that she was picked the Prince stood still and began
to tremble.
"Sir," said the Royal Lady, with much dignity, "you have
wronged me greatly, and would have wronged me still more
had not these strangers come to my rescue. I have been
ready for picking all the past week, but because you were
49
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
selfish and desired to continue your unlawful rule, you left
me to stand silent upon my bush."
"I did not know that you were ripe," answered the Prince,
in a low voice.
"Give me the Star of Royalty I" she commanded.
Slowly he took the shining star from his own brow and
placed it upon that of the Princess. Then all the people
bowed low to her, and the Prince turned and walked away
alone. What became of him afterward our friends never
knew.
The people of Mangaboo now formed themselves into a
procession and marched toward the glass city to escort their
new ruler to her palace and to perform those ceremonies
proper to the occasion. But while the people in the pro-
cession walked upon the ground the Princess walked in the
air just above their heads, to show that she was a superior
being and more exalted than her subjects.
No one now seemed to pay any attention to the strangers,
so Dorothy and Zeb and the Wizard let the train pass on and
then wandered by themselves into the vegetable gardens.
They did not bother to cross the bridges over the brooks, but
when they came to a stream they stepped high and walked
in the air to the other side. This was a very interesting
experience to them, and Dorothy said:
50
Dorothy Picks the Princess
*'I wonder why it is that wc can walk so easily in the
air."
"Perhaps," answered the Wizard, "it is because we are
close to the center of the earth, where the attraction of gravi-
tation is very slight. But I've noticed that many queer
things happen in fairy countries."
"Is this a fairy country'?" asked the boy.
"Of course it is," returned Dorothy, promptly. "Only
a fairy country could have veg'table people; and only in a
fairy country could Eureka and Jim talk as we do."
"That's true," said Zeb, thoughtfully.
In the vegetable gardens they found the strawberries and
melons, and several other unknown but delicious fruits, of
which they ate heartily. But the kitten bothered them con-
stantly by demanding milk or meat, and called the Wizard
names because he could not bring her a dish of milk by means
of his magical arts.
As they sat upon the grass watching Jim, who was still
busily eating. Eureka said:
"I don't believe you are a Wizard at all I"
"No," answered the little man, "you are quite right. In
the strict sense of the word I am not a Wizard, but only a
humbug."
51
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
"The Wizard of Oz has always been a humbug," agreed
Dorothy. 'Tve known him for a long time."
"If that is so," said the boy, "how could he do that won-
derful trick with the nine tiny piglets V"
"Don't know," said Dorothy, "but it must have been
humbug."
"Very true," declared the Wizard, nodding at her. "It
was necessary to deceive that ugly Sorcerer and the Prince,
as well as their stupid people; but I don't mind telling you,
who are my friends, that the thing was only a trick."
"But I saw the little pigs with my own eyes I" exclaimed
Zeb.
"So did I," purred the kitten.
"To be sure," answered the Wizard. "You saw them
because they were there. They are in my inside pocket now.
But the pulling of them apart and pushing them together
again was only a sleight-of-hand trick."
"Let's see the pigs," said Eureka, eagerly.
The little man felt carefully in his pocket and pulled
out the tiny piglets, setting them upon the grass one by
one, where they ran around and nibbled the tender blades.
"They're hungry, too," he said.
"Oh, what cunning things!" cried Dorothy, catching up
one and petting it.
52
Dorothy Picks the Princess
"Be careful!'* said the piglet, with a squeal, "you're
squeezing me !"
"Dear me I" murmured the Wizard, looking at his pets
in astonishment. "They can actually talk!"
"May I eat one of them?' asked the kitten, in a pleading
voice. "I'm awfully hungry."
"Why, Eureka," said Dorothy, reproachfully, "what a
cruel question ! It would be dreadful to eat these dear little
things."
"I should say so!" grunted another of the piglets, looking
uneasily at the kitten; "cats are cruel things."
"I'm not cruel," replied the kitten, yawning. *Tm just
hungry."
"You cannot eat my piglets, even if you are starving,"
declared the little man, in a stern voice. "They are the only
things I have to prove I'm a wizard."
"How did they happen to be so little?" asked Dorothy.
"I never saw such small pigs before."
"They are from the Island of Teenty-Weent," said the
Wizard, "where everything is small because it's a small
island. A sailor brought them to Los Angeles and I gave
him nine tickets to the circus for them."
"But what am I going to eat?" wailed the kitten, sitting
in front of Dorothy and looking pleadingly into her face
53
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
"There are no cows here to give milk; or any mice, or even
grasshoppers. And if I can't eat the piglets you may as well
plant me at once and raise catsup."
**I have an idea," said the Wizard, "that there are fishes
in these brooks. Do you like fish'?"
"Fish!" cried the kitten. "Do I like fish^ Why, they're
better than piglets — or even milk I"
"Then Til try to catch you some," said he.
"But won't they be vegetable, like everything else here?"
asked the kitten.
"I think not. Fishes are not animals, and they are as
cold and moist as the vegetables themselves. There is no
reason, that I can see, why they may not exist in the waters
of this strange country."
Then the Wizard bent a pin for a hook and took a long
piece of string from his pocket for a fish-line. The only bait
he could find was a bright red blossom from a flower; but he
knew fishes arc easy to fool if anything bright attracts
their attention, so he decided to try the blossom. Having
thrown the end of his line in the water of a nearby brook he
soon felt a sharp tug that told him a fish had bitten and
was caught on the bent pin ; so the little man drew in the
string and, sure enough, the fish came with it and was landed
54
Dorothy Picks the Princess
safely on the shore, where it began to flop around in great
excitement.
The fish was fat and round, and its scales glistened like
beautifully cut jewels set close together; but there was no
time to examine it closely, for Eureka made a jump and
caught it between her claws, and in a few moments it had
entirely disappeared.
**0h, Eureka I" cried Dorothy, *'did you eat the bones?"
"If it had any bones, I ate them," replied the kitten, com-
posedly, as it washed its face after the meal. *'But I don't
think that fish had any bones, because I didn't feel them
scratch my throat."
*'You were very greedy," said the girl.
"I was very hungry," replied the kitten.
The little pigs had stood huddled in a group, watching
this scene with frightened eyes.
"Cat's are dreadful creatures I" said one of them.
"I'm glad we are not fishes I" said another.
"Don't worry," Dorothy murmured, soothingly, "I'll
not let the kitten hurt you."
Then she happened to remember that in a corner of her
suit-case were one or two crackers that were left over from
her luncheon on the train, and she went to the buggy and
brought them. Eureka stuck up her nose at such food, but
55
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
the tiny piglets squealed delightedly at the sight of the
crackers and ate them up in a jiffy.
*'Now let us go back to the city," suggested the Wizard.
"That is, if Jim has had enough of the pmk grass."
The cab-horse, who was browsing near, lifted his head
with a sigh.
'Tve tried to eat a lot while I had the chance," said he,
*'for it's likely to be a long while between meals in this
strange country. But I'm ready to go, now, at any time you
wish."
So, after the Wizard had put the piglets back into his
inside pocket, where they cuddled up and went to sleep, the
three climbed into the buggy and Jim started back to the
town.
"Where shall we stay^" asked the girl.
"I think I shall take possession of the House of the
Sorcerer," replied the Wizard; "for the Prince said in the
presence of his people that he would keep me until they
picked another Sorcerer, and the new Princess won*t know
but that we belong there."
They agreed to this plan, and when they reached the
great square Jim drew the buggy into the big door of the
domed hall.
"It doesn't look very homelike," said Dorothy, gazing
56
Dorothy Picks the Princess
around at the bare room. "But it*s a place to stay, anyhow."
**What are those holes up there?" enquired the boy,
pointing to some openings that appeared near the top of the
dome.
"They look like doorways," said Dorothy; "only there
are no stairs to get to them."
"You forget that stairs are unnecessary," observed the
Wizard. "Let us walk up, and see where the doors lead to."
With this he began walking in the air toward the high
openings, and Dorothy and Zeb followed him. It was the
same sort of climb one experiences when walking up a hill,
and they were nearly out of breath when they came to the
row of openings, which they perceived to be doorways
leading into halls in the upper part of the house. Following
these halls they discovered many small rooms opening from
them, and some were furnished with glass benches, tables
and chairs. But there were no beds at all.
*1 wonder if these people never sleep," said the girl.
''Why, there seems to be no night at all in this country,"
Zeb replied. "Those colored suns are exactly in the same
place they were when we came, and if there is no sunset
there can be no night."
"Very true," agreed the Wizard. "But it is a long time
since I have had any sleep, and Fm tired. So I think I shall
57
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
lie down upon one of these hard glass benches and take a
nap.
*1 will, too," said Dorothy, and chose a little room at
the end of the hall.
Zeb walked down again to unharness Jim, who, when
he found himself free, rolled over a few times and then
settled down to sleep, with Eureka nestling comfortably
beside his big, boney body. Then the boy returned to one
of the upper rooms, and in spite of the hardness of the glass
b«nch was soon deep in slumberland.
CHAPTB/m^ (£
HEN the Wizard awoke the six colored suns
were shining down upon the Land of the Man-
gaboos just as they had done ever since his ar-
rival. The little man, having had a good sleep,
felt rested and refreshed, and looking through
the glass partition of the room he saw Zeb sit-
ting up on his bench and yawning. So the
Wizard went in to him.
"Zeb," said he, "my balloon is of no further
use in this strange country, so I may as well
leave it on the square where it fell. But in the
basket-car are some things I would like to keep
with me. I wish you would go and fetch my
satchel, two lanterns, and a can of kerosene oil that is under
the seat. There is nothing else that I care about."
59
Litde Dorothy and the Wizard in O:
So the boy went willingly upon the errand, and by the
time he had returned Dorothy was awake. Then the three
held a counsel to decide what they should do next, but could
think of no way to better their condition.
"I don't like these vegetable people,*' said tlie little girl.
'They're cold and flabby, like cabbages, in spite of their
prettiness."
"I agree with you. It is because there is no warm blood
in them," remarked the Wizard.
"And they have no hearts; so they can't love anyone —
not even themselves," declared the boy.
"The Princess is lovely to look at," continued Dorothy,
thoughtfully; "but I don't care much for her, after all. If
there was any other place to go, I'd like to go there."
"But 2S there any other placed' asked the Wizard.
"I don't know," she answered.
Just then they heard the big voice of Jim the cab-horse
calling to them, and going to the doorway leading to the
dome they found the Princess and a throng of her people
had entered the House of the Sorcerer.
So they went down to greet the beautiful vegetable lady,
who said to them:
"I have been talking with my advisors about you meat
people, and we have decided that you do not belong in the
Land of the Mangaboos and must not remain here."
60
The Mangaboos Prove Dangerous
"How can we go away*?" asked Dorothy.
"Oh, you cannot go away, of course; so you must be
destroyed,'* was the answer.
"In what way?" enquired the Wizard.
"We shall throw you three people into the Garden of
the Twining Vines," said the Princess, "and they will soon
crush you and devour your bodies to make themselves grow
bigger. The animals you have with you we will drive to
the mountains and put into the Black Pit. Then our country
will be rid of all its unwelcome visitors."
"But you are in need of a Sorcerer," said the Wizard,
"and not one of those growing is yet ripe enough to pick.
I am greater than any thorn-covered sorcerer that ever grew
in your garden. Why destroy me?"
"It is true we need a Sorcerer," acknowledged the
Princess, "but I am informed that one of our own will be
ready to pick in a few days, to take the place of Gwig, whom
you cut in two before it was time for him to be planted. Let
us see your arts, and the sorceries you are able to perform.
Then I will decide whether to destroy you with the others
or not."
At this the Wizard made a bow to the people and
repeated his trick of producing the nine tiny piglets and
making them disappear again. He did it very cleverly,
61
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
indeed, and the Princess looked at the strange piglets as if
she were as truly astonished as any vegetable person could
be. But afterward she said:
'1 have heard of this wonderful magic. But it accom-
plishes nothing of value. What else can you do?"
The Wizard tried to think. Then he jointed together
the blades of his sword and balanced it very skillfully upon
the end of his nose. But even that did not satisfy the
Princess.
Just then his eye fell upon the lanterns and the can of
kerosene oil which Zeb had brought from the car of his
balloon, and he got a clever idea from those commonplace
things.
"Your Highness," said he, "I will now proceed to prove
my magic by creating two suns that you have never seen
before; also I will exhibit a Destroyer much more dreadful
than your Clinging Vines."
So he placed Dorothy upon one side of him and the boy
upon the other and set a lantern upon each of their heads.
"Don't laugh," he whispered lo them, "or you will spoil
the effect of my magic."
Then, with much dignity and a look of vast importance
upon his wrinkled face, the Wizard got out his match-box
and lighted the two lanterns. The glare they made was
62
The Mangaboos Prove Dangerous
very small when compared with the radiance of the six great
colored suns; but still they gleamed steadily and clearly.
The Mangaboos were much impressed because they had
never before seen any light that did not come directly from
their suns.
Next the Wizard poured a pool of oil from the can upon
the glass floor, where it covered quite a broad surface. When
he lighted the oil a hundred tongues of flame shot up, and
the effect was really imposing.
*'Now, Princess," exclaimed the Wizard, "those of your
advisors who wished to throw us into the Garden of Clinging
Vines must step within this circle of light. If they advised
you well, and were in the right, they will not be injured in
any way. But if any advised you wrongly, the light will
wither him."
The advisors of the Princess did not like this test; but
she commanded them to step into the flame and one by one
they did so, and were scorched so badly that the air was soon
filled with an odor like that of baked potatoes. Some of the
Mangaboos fell down and had to be dragged from the fire,
and all were so withered that it would be necessary to plant
them at once.
"Sir," said the Princess to the Wizard, "you are greater
than any Sorcerer we have ever known. As it is evident that
63
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
my people have advised me wrongly, I will not cast you three
people into the dreadful Garden of the Clinging Vines; but
your animals must be driven into the Black Pit in the
mountain, for my subjects cannot bear to have them around."
The Wizard was so pleased to have saved the two
children and himself that he said nothing against this decree;
but when the Princess had gone both Jim and Eureka pro-
tested they did not want to go to the Black Pit, and Dorothy
promised she would do all that she could to save them from
such a fate.
For two or three days after this — if we call days the
periods between sleep, there being no night to divide the
hours into days — our friends were not disturbed in any way.
They were even permitted to occupy the House of the Sor-
cerer in peace, as if it had been their own, and to wander in
the gardens in search of food.
Once they came near to the enclosed Garden of the Cling-
ing Vines, and walking high into the air looked down upon
it with much interest. They saw a mass of tough green vines
all matted together and writhing and twisting around like
a nest of great snakes. Everything the vines touched they
crushed, and our adventurers were indeed thankful to have
escaped being cast among them.
Whenever the Wizard went to sleep he would take the
64
The Mangaboos Prove Dangerous
nine tiny piglets from his pocket and let them run around on
the floor of his room to amuse themselves and get some
exercise; and one time they found his glass door ajar and
wandered into the hall and then into the bottom part of the
great dome, walking through the air as easily as Eureka
could. They knew the kitten, by this time, so they
scampered over to where she lay beside Jim and commenced
to frisk and play with her.
The cab-horse, who never slept long at a time, sat upon
his haunches and watched the tiny piglets and the kitten
with much approval.
*'Don't be rough!" he would call out, if Eureka knocked
over one of the round, fat piglets with her paw; but the pigs
never minded, and enjoyed the sport very greatly.
Suddenly they looked up to find the room filled with
the silent, solemn-eyed Mangaboos. Each of the vegetable
folks bore a branch covered with sharp thorns, which was
thrust defiantly toward the horse, the kitten and the piglets.
"Here — stop this foolishness!" Jim roared, angrily; but
after being pricked once or twice he got upon his four legs
and kept out of the way of the thorns.
The Mangaboos surrounded them in solid ranks, but left
an opening to the doorway of the hall ; so the animals slowly
retreated until they were driven from the room and out upon
65
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
the street. Here were more of the vegetable people with
thorns, and silently they urged the now frightened creatures
down the street. Jim had to be careful not to step upon the
tiny piglets, who scampered under his feet grunting and
squealing, while Eureka, snarling and biting at the thorns
pushed toward her, also tried to protect the pretty little
things from injury. Slowly but steadily the heartless
Mangaboos drove them on, until they had passed through
the city and the gardens and come to the broad plains lead-
ing to the mountain.
"What does all this mean, anyhow?" asked the horse,
jumping to escape a thorn.
"Why, they are driving us toward the Black Pit, into
which they threatened to cast us," replied the kitten. "If I
were as big as you are, Jim, I'd hght these miserable turnip-
roots!"
"What would you do?" enquired Jim.
"I'd kick out with those long legs and iron-shod hoofs."
"All right," said the horse; "I'll do it."
An instant later he suddenly backed toward the crowd
of Mangaboos and kicked out his hind legs as hard as he
could. A dozen of them smashed together and tumbled to
the ground, and seeing his success Jim kicked again and
again, charging into the vegetable crowd, knocking them in
66
The Mangaboos Prove Dangerous
all directions and sending the others scattering to escape his
iron heels. Eureka helped him by flying into the faces of
the enemy and scratching and biting furiously, and the kitten
ruined so many vegetable complexions that the Mangaboos
feared her as much as they did the horse.
But the foes were too many to be repulsed for long.
They tired Jim and Eureka out, and although the field of
battle was thickly covered with mashed and disabled Man-
gaboos, our animal friends had to give up at last and allow
themselves to be driven to the mountain.
67
CiHlAPOrjEl/JS- /.
TO TllE/
A
HEN they came to the mountain it proved to be
a rugged, towering chunk of deep green glass,
and looked dismal and forbidding in the ex-
treme. Half way up the steep was a yawning
cave, black as night beyond the point where the
rainbow rays of the colored suns reached into it.
The Mangaboos drove the horse and the
kitten and the piglets into this dark hole and
then, having pushed the buggy in after them —
for it seemed some of them had dragged it all
the way from the domed hall — they began to
pile big glass rocks within the entrance, so that
the prisoners could not get out again.
"This is dreadful!" groaned Jim. *'It will be about the
end of our adventures, I guess."
68
Into the Black Pit and Out Again
"If the Wizard was here," said one of the piglets, sob-
bing bitterly, '"he would not see us suffer so."
"We ought to have called him and Dorothy when we
were first attacked," added Eureka. "But never mind; be
brave, my friends, and I will go and tell our masters where
you arc, and get them to come to your rescue."
The mouth of the hole was nearly filled up now, but the
kitten gave a leap through the remaining opening and at
once scampered up into the air. The Mangaboos saw her
escape, and several of them caught up their thorns and gave
chase, mounting through the air after her. Eureka, however,
was lighter than the Mangaboos, and while they could mount
only about a hundred feet above the earth the kitten found
she could go nearly two hundred feet. So she ran along over
their heads until she had left them far behind and below
and had come to the city and the House of the Sorcerer.
There she entered in at Dorothv*s window in the dome and
aroused her from her sleep.
As soon as the little girl knew what had happened she
awakened the Wizard and Zeb, and at once preparations
were made to go to the rescue of Jim and the piglets. The
Wizard carried his satchel, which was quite heavy, and Zeb
carried the two lanterns and the oil can. Doroth/s wicker
suit-case was still under the seat of the buggy, and by good
69
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
fortune the boy had also placed the harness in the buggy
when he had taken it off from Jim to let the horse lie down
and rest. So there was nothing for the girl to carry but the
kitten, which she held close to her bosom and tried to comfort,
for it's little heart was still beating rapidly.
Some of the Mangaboos discovered them as soon as they
left the House of the Sorcerer; but when they started toward
the mountain the vegetable people allowed them to proceed
without interference, yet followed in a crowd behind them
so that they could not go back again.
Before long they neared the Black Pit, where a busy
swarm of Mangaboos, headed by their Princess, was engaged
in piling up glass rocks before the entrance.
"Stop, I command you I" cried the Wizard, in an angry
tone, and at once began pulling down the rocks to liberate
Jim and the piglets. Insted of opposing him in this they
stood back in silence until he had made a good-sized hole
in the barrier, when by order of the Princess they all sprang
forward and thrust out their sharp thorns.
Dorothy hopped inside the opening to escape being
pricked, and Zeb and the Wizard, after enduring a few stabs
from the thorns, were glad to follow her. At once the Man-
gaboos began piling up the rocks of glass again, and as the
70
^.fiK^^-^
THROUGH THE BLACK PIT
Litde Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
little man realized that they were all about to be entombed
in the mountain he said to the children:
"My dears, what shall we do*? Jump out and fight?'
'"What's the use?' replied Dorothy. 'Td as soon die
here as live much longer among those cruel and heartless
people."
"That's the way I feel about it," remarked Zeb, rubbing
his wounds. "Fve had enough of the Mangaboos."
"All right," said the Wizard; *Tm with you, whatever
you decide. But we can't live long in this cavern, that's
certain."
Noticing that the light was growing dim he picked up his
nine piglets, patted each one lovingly on its fat little head,
and placed them carefully in his inside pocket.
Zeb struck a match and lighted one of the lanterns. The
rays of the colored suns were now shut out from them forever,
for the last chinks had been filled up in the wall that separ-
ated their prison from the Land of the Mangaboos.
"How big is this hole'?" asked Dorothy.
"I'll explore it and sec," replied the boy.
So he carried the lantern back for quite a distance, while
Dorothy and the Wizard followed at his side. The cavern
did not come to an end, as they had expected it would, but
slanted upward through the ^reat glass mountain, running
72
Into the Black Pit and Out Again
in a direction that promised to lead them to the side opposite
the Mangaboo country.
"It isn't a bad road/* observed the Wizard, "and if we
followed it it might lead us to some place that is more com-
fortable than this black pocket we are now in. I suppose
the vegetable folk were always afraid to enter this cavern
because it is dark; but we have our lanterns to light the way,
so I propose that we start out and discover where this tunnel
in the mountain leads to."
The others agreed readily to this sensible suggestion, and
at once the boy began to harness Jim to the buggy. When
all was in readiness the three took their seats in the buggy
and Jim started cautiously along the way, Zeb driving while
the Wizard and Dorothy each held a lighted lantern so the
horse could see where to go.
Sometimes the tunnel was so narrow that the wheels of
the buggy grazed the sides; then it would broaden out as
wide as a street; but the floor was usually smooth, and for a
long time they travelled on without any accident. Jim
stopped sometimes to rest, for the climb was rather steep and
tiresome.
"We must be nearly as high as the six colored suns, by
this time" said Dorothy. "I did n't know this mountain was
so tall."
73
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
"We are certainly a good distance away from the Land of
the Mangaboos," added Zeb; "for we have slanted away
from it ever since we started."
But they kept steadily moving, and just as Jim was about
tired out with his long journey the way suddenly grew
lighter, and Zeb put out the lanterns to save the oil.
To their joy they found it was a white light that now
greeted them, for all were weary of the colored rainbow
lights which, after a time, had made their eyes ache with
their constantly shifting rays. The sides of the tunnel
showed before them like the inside of a long spy-glass, and
the floor became more level. Jim hastened his lagging steps
at this assurance of a quick relief from the dark passage, and
in a few moments more they had emerged from the mountain
and found themselves face to face with a new and charming
country.
(CHAF^E/R,
VALLE/Y
OF
Y journeying through the glass mountain they
had reached a delightful valley that was
shaped like the hollow of a great cup, with an-
other rugged mountain showing on the other
side of it, and soft and pretty green hills at the
ends. It was all laid out into lovely lawns
and gardens, with pebble paths leading
through them and groves of beautiful and
stately trees dotting the landscape here and
there. There were orchards, too, bearing
luscious fruits that are all unknown in our
world. Alluring brooks of crystal water
flowed sparkling between their flower-strewn
banks, while scattered over the valley were dozens of the
quaintest and most picturesque cottages our travelers had ever
75
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
beheld. None of them were in clusters, such as villages or
towns, but each had ample grounds of its own, with orchards
and gardens surrounding it.
As the new arrivals gazed upon this exquisite scene they
were enraptured by its beauties and the fragrance that per-
meated the soft air, which they breathed so gratefully after
the confined atmosphere of the tunnel. Several minutes
were consumed in silent admiration before they noticed two
very singular and unusual facts about this valley. One was
that it was lighted from some unseen source; for no sun or
moon was in the arched blue sky, althought every object was
flooded with a clear and perfect light. The second and even
more singular fact was the absence of any inhabitant of this
splendid place. From their elevated position they could
overlook the entire valley, but not a single moving object
could they see. All appeared mysteriously deserted.
The mountain on this side was not glass, but made of a
stone similar to granite. With some difficulty and danger
Jim drew the buggy over the loose rocks until he reached the
green lawns below, where the paths and orchards and gar-
dens began. The nearest cottage was still some distance
away.
"Isn't it fine^" cried Dorothy, in a joyous voice, as she
76
The Valley of Voices
sprang out of the buggy and let Eureka run frolicking over
the velvety grass.
"Yes, indeed!" answered Zeb. "We were lucky to get
away from those dreadful vegetable people."
**It wouldn't be so bad/' remarked the Wizard, gazing
around him, *'if we were obliged to live here always. We
couldn't find a prettier place, I'm sure."
He took the piglets from his pocket and let them run
on the grass, and Jim tasted a mouthful of the green blades
and declared he was very contented in his new surround-
ings.
"We Can't walk in the air here, though," called Eureka,
who had tried it and failed; but the others were satisfied to
walk on the ground, and the Wizard said they must be nearer
the surface of the earth than they had been in the Mangaboo
country, for everything was more homelike and natural.
"But where are the people?" asked Dorothy.
The little man shook his bald head.
"Can't imagine, my dear," he replied.
They heard the sudden twittering of a bird, but could
not find the creature anywhere. Slowly they walked along
the path toward the nearest cottage, the piglets racing and
gambolling beside them and Jim pausing at every step for
another mouthful of grass.
77
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
Presently they came to a low plant which had broad,
spreading leaves, in the center of which grew a single fruit
about as large as a peach. The fruit was so daintily colored
and so fragrant, and looked so appetizing and delicious that
Dorothy stopped and exclaimed :
''What is it, do you s'pose*?'*
The piglets had smelled the fruit quickly, and before
the girl could reach out her hand to pluck it every one of
the nine tiny ones had rushed in and commenced to devour
it with great eagerness.
"It's good, anyway," said Zeb, "or those little rascals
wouldn't have gobbled it up so greedily."
"Where are they^" asked Dorothy, in astonishment.
They all looked around, but the piglets had disappeared.
"Dear me !" cried the Wizard; "they must have run away.
But I didn't see them go; did youT'
"No I" replied the boy and the girl, together.
"Here, — piggy, piggy* piggy'" called their master,
anxiously.
Several squeals and grunts were instantly heard at his
feet, but the Wizard could not discover a single piglet.
''Where are you*?" he asked.
"Why, right beside you," spoke a tiny voice. "Can't you
see usi"
78
The Valley of Voices
"No," answered the little man, in a puzzled tone.
**Wc can see you," said another of the piglets.
The Wizard stooped down and put out his hand, and at
once felt the small fat body of one of his pets. He picked it
up, but could not see what he held.
"It is very strange," said he, soberly. "The piglets have
become invisible, in some curious way."
"I'll bet it's because they ate that peach!" cried the kitten.
"It wasn't a peach. Eureka," said Dorothy. "I only hope
it wasn't poison."
"It was fine, Dorothy," called one of the piglets.
"We'll eat all we can find of them," said another.
"But we mus'n't eat them," the Wizard warned the chil-
dren, "or we too may become invisible, and lose each other.
If we come across another of the strange fruit we must avoid
it."
Calling the piglets to him he picked them all up, one by
one, and put them away in his pocket; for although he could
not sec them he could feel them, and when he had buttoned
his coat he knew they were safe for the present.
The travellers now resumed their walk toward the cot-
tage, which they presently reached. It was a pretty place,
with vines growing thickly over the broad front porch. The
door stood open and a table was set in the front room, with
79
Litde Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
four chairs drawn up to it. On the table were plates, knives
and forks, and dishes of bread, meat and fruits. The meat
was smoking hot and the knives and forks were performing
strange antics and jumping here and there in quite a puzzling
way. But not a single person appeared to be in the room.
"How funny!" exclaimed Dorothy, who with Zeb and the
Wizard now stood in the doorway.
A peal of merry laughter answered her, and the knives and
forks fell to the plates with a clatter. One of the chairs
pushed back from the table, and this was so astonishing and
mysterious that Dorothy was almost tempted to run away
in fright.
"Here are strangers, mama I" cried the shrill and childish
voice of some unseen person.
"So I see, my dear,'* answered another voice, soft and
womanly.
"What do you want?" demanded a third voice, in a stem,
gruff accent.
"Well, well!" said the Wizard; "are there really people
in this room?"
"Of course," replied the man's voice.
"And — pardon me for the foolish question — but, are you
all invisible?'
"Surely," the woman answered, repeating her low, rip-
80
FOOLING THE MANGABOOS WITH FIRE
THE INVISIBLE PEOPLE OF VOE
The Valley of Voices
pling laughter, "Are you surprised that you are unable to
see the people of Voe?*
^^Why, yes/' stammered the Wizard. "All the people I
have ever met before were very plain to see."
•'Where do you come from, then?'* asked the woman, in
a curious tone.
"We belong upon the face of the earth," explained the
Wizard, "but recently, during an earthquake, we fell down
a crack and landed in the Country of the Mangaboos.*'
"Dreadful creatures!" exclaimed the woman's voice.
"I've heard of them."
"They walled us up in a mountain," continued the Wiz-
ard; "but we found there was a tunnel through to this side,
so we came here. It is a beautiful place. What do you call
it?'
"It is the Valley of Voe."
"Thank you. We have seen no people since we arrived,
so we came to this house to enquire our way."
"Are you hungry?' asked the woman's voice.
"I could eat something," said Dorothy.
"So could I," added Zeb.
"But we do not wish to intrude, I assure you," the Wizard
hastened to say.
83
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
"That's all right," returned the man's voice, more pleas-
antly than before. "You are welcome to what we have."
As he spoke the voice came so near to Zeb that he jumped
back in alarm. Two childish voices laughed merrily at this
action, and Dorothy was sure they were in no danger among
such light-hearted folks, even if those folks couldn't be seen.
"What curious animal is that which is eating the grass
on my lawn*?" enquired the man's voice.
"That's Jim," said the girl. "He's a horse."
"What is he good for?" was the next question.
"He draws the buggy you see fastened to him, and we
ride in the buggy instead of walking," she explained.
"Can he fight?" asked the man's voice.
"No I he can kick pretty hard with his heels, and bite a
little; but Jim can't 'zactly fight," she replied.
"Then the bears will get him," said one of the children's
voices.
"Bears I" exclaimed Dorothy. "Are these bears here?"
"That is the one evil of our country," answered the invis-
ible man. "Many large and fierce bears roam in the Valley
of Voe, and when the)' can catch any of us they eat us up;
but as they cannot see us, we seldom get caught."
"xAre the bears invis'ble, too?" asked the girl.
"Yes; for they cat of the dama-fruit, as we all do, and
84
The Valley of Voices
that keeps them from being seen by any eye, whether human
or animal."
*'Does the dama-fruit grow on a low bush, and look some-
thing like a peach'?' asked the Wizard.
*'Yes," was the reply.
"If it makes you invis'ble, why do you eat it?" Dorothy
enquired.
"For two reasons, my dear," the woman's voice answered.
"The dama-fruit is the most delicious thing that grows, and
when it makes us invisible the bears cannot find us to eat us
up. But now, good wanderers, your luncheon is on the table,
so please sit down and eat as much as you like."
CBA^Tm^ J) .
TJnOrritfT
'We
"But
HE strangers took their seats at the table will-
ingly enough, for they were all hungry and the
platters were now heaped with good things to
eat. In front of each place was a plate bear-
ing one of the delicious dama-fruit, and the
perfume that rose from these was so enticing
and sweet that they were sorely tempted to eat
of them and become invisible.
But Dorothy satisfied her hunger with
other things, and her companions did likewise,
resisting the temptation.
'Why do you not eat the damas*?" asked
the woman's voice,
don't want to get invis'ble," answered the girl,
if you remain visible the bears will see you and
86
They Fight the Invisible Bears
devour yoiu'' said a girlish young voice, that belonged to one
of the children. "We who live here much prefer to be invis-
ible; for we can still hug and kiss one another, and are quite
safe from the bears."
"And we do not have to be so particular about our dress,"
remarked the man.
"And mama can't tell whether my face is dirty or not!"
added the other childish voice, gleefully.
"But I make you wash it, every time I think of it," said
the mother; "for it stands to reason your face is dirty, lanu,
whether I can see it or not."
Dorothy laughed and stretched out her hands.
"Come here, please — lanu and your sister — and let me
feel of you," she requested.
They came to her willingly, and Dorothy passed her
hands over their faces and forms and decided one was a girl
of about her own age and the other a boy somewhat smaller.
The girl's hair was soft and fluffy and her skin as smooth as
satm. When Dorothy gently touched her nose and ears and
lips they seemed to be well and delicately formed.
"If I could see you I am sure you would be beautiful,"
she declared.
The girl laughed, and her mother said:
^'We are not vain in the Valley of Voe, because we can
87
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
not display our beauty, and good actions and pleasant ways
are what make us lovely to our companions. Yet we can sec
and appreciate the beauties of nature, the dainty flowers and
trees, the green fields and the clear blue of the sky."
*'How about the birds and beasts and fishes?" asked Zeb.
**The birds we cannot see, because they love to eat of the
damas as much as wc do; yet wc hear their sweet songs and
enjoy them. Neither can we see the cruel bears, for they also
eat the fruit. But the fishes that swim in our brooks we can
see, and often wc catch them to eat."
"It occurs to me you have a great deal to make you happy,
even while invisible," remarked the Wizard. "Nevertheless.
wc prefer to remain visible while wc are in your valley."
Just then Eureka came in, for she had been until now
wandering outside with Jim; and when the kitten saw the
table set with food she cried out:
"Now you must feed me, Dorothy, for I'm half starved."
The children were inclined to be frightened by the sight
of the small animal, which reminded them of the bears; but
Dorothy reassured them by explaining that Eureka was a pet
and could do no harm even if she wished to. Then, as the
others had by this time moved away from the table, the kit-
rcn sprang upon the chair and put her paws upon the cloth to
see what there was to eat. To her surprise an unseen hand
88
They Fight the Invisible Bears
clutched her and held her suspended in the air. Eureka was
frantic with terror, and tried to scratch and bite, so the next
moment she was dropped to the floor.
*'Did you see that, Dorothy?" she gasped.
"Yes, dear," her mistress replied; "there are people living
in this house, although we cannot see them. And you must
have better manners, Eureka, or something worse will hap-
pen to you."
She placed a plate of food upon the floor and the kitten
ate greedily.
"Give me that nice-smelling fruit I saw on the table,"
she begged, when she had cleaned the plate.
"Those are damas," said Dorothy, "and you must never
even taste them, Eureka, or you'll get invis'ble, and then wc
can't see you at all."
The kitten gazed wistfully at the forbidden fruit.
"Does it hurt to be invis'ble?" she asked.
"I don't know," Dorothy answered; "but it would hurt
me dre'fully to lose you."
"Very well, I won't touch it," decided the kitten; "but
you must keep it away from me, for the smell is very
tempting."
"Can you tell us, sir or ma*am," said the Wizard, address-
ing the air because he did not quite know where the unseen
89
Litde Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
people stood, "if there is any way we can get out of your
beautiful Valley, and on top of the Earth again."
"Oh, one can leave the Valley easily enough," answered
the man's voice; '"but to do so you must enter a far less
pleasant country. As for reaching the top of the earth, I have
never heard that it is possible to do that, and if you succeeded
in getting there you would probably fall off."
"Oh, no," said Dorothy, "we've been there, and we
know."
"The Valley of Voe is certainly a charming place,"
resumed the Wizard; "but we cannot be contented in any
other land than our own, for long. Even if we should come
to unpleasant places on our way it is necessary, in order to
reach the earth's surface, to keep moving on toward it."
*ln that case," said the man, "it will be best for you to
cross our Valley and mount the spiral staircase inside the
Pyramid Mountain. The top of that mountain is lost in the
clouds, and when you reach it you will be in the awful T-and
of Naught, where the Gargoyles live."
*What are Gargoyles?" asked Zeb.
"I do not know, young sir. Our greatest Champion,
Overman-Anu, once climbed the spiral stairway and fought
nine days with the Gargoyles before he could escape them
and come back; but he could never be induced to describe
90
They Fight the Invisible Bears
the dreadful creatures, and soon afterward a bear caught him
and ate him up."
The wanderers were rather discouraged by this gloomy
report, but Dorothy said with a sigh:
"If the only way to get home is to meet the Gurgles, then
we've got to meet 'em. They can't be worse than the Wicked
Witch or the Nome King."
*'But you must remember you had the Scarecrow and the
Tin Woodman to help you conquer those enemies," suggested
the Wizard. **Just now, my dear, there is not a single war-
rior in your company."
*'0h, I guess Zeb could hght if he had to. Could n't you,
Zeb?" asked the little girl
*Terhaps; if I had to," answered Zeb, doubtfully.
"And you have the jointed sword that you chopped the
veg'table Sorcerer in two with," the girl said to the little man.
"True," he replied; "and in my satchel are other useful
things to fight with."
"WHiat the Gargoyles most dread is a noise," said the
man's voice. "Our Champion told me that when he shouted
his battle-cry the creatures shuddered and drew back, hes-
itating to continue the combat. But they were in great num-
bers, and the Champion could not shout much because he had
to save his breath for fighting."
91
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
"Very good," said the Wizard; "we can all yell better
than we can fight, so we ought to defeat the Gargoyles.'*
'*But tell me," said Dorothy, "how did such a brave
Champion happen to let the bears cat him^ And if he was
invis'ble, and the bears invisible, who knows that they really
ate him up*?"
"The Champion had killed eleven bears in his time,"
returned the unseen man; "and we know this is true because
when any creature is dead the invisible charm of the dama-
f ruit ceases to be active, and the slain one can be plainly seen
by all eyes. When the Champion killed a bear everyone
could see it; and when the bears killed the Champion we all
saw several pieces of him scattered about, which of course
disappeared again when the bears devoured them."
They now bade farewell to the kind but unseen people
of the cottage, and after the man had called their attention
to a high, pyramid-shaped mountain on the opposite side of
the Valley, and told them how to travel in order to reach it,
they again started upon their journey.
They followed the course of a broad stream and passed
several more pretty cottages; but of course they saw no one,
nor did any one speak to them. Fruits and flowers grew
plentifully all about, and there were many of the delicious
damas that the people of Voc were so fond of.
92
They Fight the Invisible Bears
About noon they stopped to allow Jim to rest in the shade
of a pretty orchard, and while they plucked and ate some of
the cherries and plums that grew there a soft voice suddenly
said to them:
*'There are bears near by. Be careful."
The Wizard got out his sword at once, and Zeb grabbed
the horse-whip. Dorothy climbed into the buggy, although
Jim had been unharnessed from it and was grazing some dis-
tance away.
The owner of the unseen voice laughed lightly and said :
"You cannot escape the bears that way.'*
"How can we 'scape?" asked Dorothy, nervously, for an
unseen danger is always the hardest to face.
"You must take to the river," was the reply. "The bears
will not venture upon the water.'*
"But we would be drowned!" exclaimed the girl.
"Oh, there is no need of that," said the voice, which from
its gentle tones seemed to belong to a young girl. "You are
strangers in the Valley of Voe, and do not seem to know our
ways ; so I will try to save you."
The next moment a broad-leaved plant was jerked from
the ground where it grew and held suspended in the air before
the Wizard.
"Sir," said the voice, "you must rub these leaves upon the
93
ESCAPING THE INVISIBLE BEARS
They Fight the Invisible Bears
soles of all your feet, and then you will be able to walk upon
the water without sinking below the surface. It is a secret
the bears do not know, and we people of Voe usually walk
upon the water when we travel, and so escape our enemies."
**Thank you I" cried the Wizard, joyfully, and at once
rubbed a leaf upon the soles of Dorothy's shoes and then upon
his own. The girl took a leaf and rubbed it upon the kitten's
paws, and the rest of the plant was handed to Zeb, who, after
applying it to his own feet, carefully rubbed it upon all four
of Jim's hoofs and then upon the tires of the buggy-wheels.
He had nearly finished this last task when a low growling
was suddenly heard and the horse began to jump around and
kick viciously with his heels.
"Quick I To the water, or you are lost!" cried their
unseen friend, and without hesitation the Wizard drew the
buggy down the bank and out upon the broad river, for Doro-
thy was still seated in it with Eureka in her arms. They did
not sink at all, owing to the virtues of the strange plant they
had used, and when the buggy was in the middle of the stream
the Wizard returned to the bank to assist Zeb and Jim.
The horse was plunging madly about, and two or three
deep gashes appeared upon its flanks, from which the blood
flowed freely.
"Run for the river!" shouted the Wizard, and Jim
95
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
quickly freed himself from his unseen tormenters by a few
vicious kicks and then obeyed. As soon as he trotted out upon
the surface of the river he found himself safe from pursuit,
and Zeb was already running across the water toward
Dorothy.
As the little Wizard turned to follow them he felt a hot
breath against his cheek and heard a low, fierce growl. At
once he began stabbing at the air with his sword, and he knew
that he had struck some substance because when he drew back
the blade it was dripping with blood. The third time that
he thrust out the weapon there was a loud roar and a fall,
and suddenly at his feet appeared the form of a great red
bear, which was nearly as big as the horse and much stronger
and fiercer. The beast was quite dead from the sword
thrusts, and after a glance at its terrible claws and sharp
teeth the little man turned in a panic and rushed out upon
the water, for other menacing growls told him more bears
were near.
On the river, however, the adventurers seemed to be per-
fectly safe. Dorothy and the buggy had floated slowly down
stream with the current of the water, and the others made
haste to join her. The Wizard opened his satchel and got out
some sticking-plaster with which he mended the cuts Jim had
received from the claws of the bears.
They Fight the Invisible Bears
"I think we'd better stick to the river, after this," said
Dorothy. *lf our unknown friend had n't warned us, and
told us what to do, we would all be dead by this time."
*'That is true," agreed the Wizard, "and as the river
seems to be flowing in the direction of the Pyramid Mountain
it will be the easiest way for us to travel."
Zeb hitched Jim to the buggy again, and the horse trotted
along and drew them rapidly over the smooth water. The
kitten was at first dreadfully afraid of getting wet, but Doro-
thy let her down and soon Eureka was frisking along beside
the buggy without being scared a bit. Once a little fish sw^am
too near the surface, and the kitten grabbed it in her mouth
and ate it up as quick as a wink; but Dorothy cautioned her
to be careful what she ate in this valley of enchantments, and
no more fishes were careless enough to swim within reach.
After a journey of several hours they came to a point
where the river curved, and they found they must cross a mile
or so of the Valley before they came to the Pyramid Moun-
tain. There were few houses in this part, and few orchards
or flowers; so our friends feared they might encounter more
of the savage bears, which they had learned to dread with all
their hearts.
''You'll have to make a dash, Jim," said the Wizard, "and
run as fast as you can go."
97
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
"All right," answered the horse; 'TU do my best. But
you must remember I'm old, and my dashing days arc pzzt
and gone/*
All three got into the buggy and Zeb picked up the reins,
though Jim needed no guidance of any sort. The horse was
still smarting from the sharp claws of the invisible bears, and
as soon as he was on land and headed toward the mountain*
the thought that more of those fearsome creatures might be
near acted as a spur and sent him galloping along in a way
that made Dorothy catch her breath.
Then Zeb, in a spirit of mischief, uttered a growl like that
of the bears, and Jim pricked up his ears and fairly flew. His
boney legs moved so fast they could scarcely be seen, and the
Wizard clung fast to the seat and yelled "Whoa!" at the top
of his voice.
"I — I'm 'fraid he*s — he's running away!" gasped
Dorothy.
"I know he is," said Zeb; "but no bear can catch him if hf
keeps up that gait — and the harness or the buggy don't
break."
Jim did not make a mile a minute ; but almost before they
were aware of it he drew up at the foot of the mountain, so
suddenly that the Wizard and Zeb both sailed over the dash-
board and landed in the soft grass — where they rolled over
9S
They Fight the Invisible Bears
several times before they stopped. Dorothy nearly went with
them, but she was holding fast to the iron rail of the seat, and
that saved her. She squeezed the kitten, though, until it
screeched; and then the old cab-horse made several curious
sounds that led the little girl to suspect he wai laughing at
them all.
• **» •;•/■*
99
©JSAIP^E]^ M
^^7"
'^jr/ -^';^^"S,^ffMMMB
HE mountain before them was shaped like a
cone and was so tall that its point was lost in
the clouds. Directly facing the place where
Jim had stopped was an arched opening lead-
ing to a broad stairway. The stairs were cut
in the rock inside the mountain, and they were
broad and not very steep, because they circled
around like a cork-screw, and at the arched
opening where the flight began the circle was
quite big. At the foot of the stairs was a sign
reading:
WARNING.
These steps lead to the
Land of the Gargoyles.
DANGER! KEEP OUT.
100
The Braided Man of Pyramid Mountain
"I wonder how Jim is ever going to draw the buggy up
so many stairs," said Dorothy, gravely.
"No trouble at all," declared the horse, with a contemp-
tuous neigh. "Still, I don't care to drag any passengers.
You'll all have to walk."
"Suppose the stairs get steeper*?" suggested Zeb, doubt-
fully.
"Then you'll have to boost the buggy-wheels, that's all,"
answered Jim.
"We'll try it, anyway," said the Wizard. "It's the only
way to get out of the Valley of Voe."
So they began to ascend the stairs, Dorothy and the
Wizard first, Jim next, drawing the buggy, and then Zeb to
watch that nothing happened to the harness.
The light was dim, and soon they mounted Into total
darkness, so that the Wizard was obliged to get out his
lanterns to light the way. But this enabled them to proceed
steadily until they came to a landing where there was a rift in
the side of the mountain that let in both light and air. Look-
ing through this opening they could see the Valley of Voe
lying far below them, the cottages seeming like toy houses
from that distance.
After resting a few moments they resumed their climb,
and still the stairs were broad and low enough for Jim to draw
101
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
the buggy easily after him. The old horse panted a little,
and had to stop often to get his breath. At such times they
were all glad to wait for him, for continually climbing up
stairs is sure to make one's legs ache.
They wound about, always going upward, for some time.
The lights from the lanterns dimly showed the way, but it
was a gloomy journey, and they were pleased when a broad
streak of light ahead assured them they were coming to a
second landing.
Here one side of the mountain had a great hole in it, like
the mouth of a cavern, and the stairs stopped at the near edge
of the floor and commenced ascending again at the opposite
edge.
The opening in the mountain was on the side opposite
to the Valley of Voe, and our travellers looked out upon a
strange scene. Below them was a vast space, at the bottom
of which was a black sea with rolling billows, through which
little tongues of flame constantly shot up. Just above them,
and almost on a level with their platform, were banks of
rolling clouds which constantly shifted position and changed
color. The blues and greys were very beautiful, and Doro-
thy noticed that on the cloud banks sat or reclined fleecy,
shadowy forms of beautiful beings who must have been the
Cloud Fairies. Mortals who stand upon the earth and look
102
The Braided Man of Pyramid Mountain
up at the sky cannot often distinguish these forms, but our
friends were now so near to the clouds that they observed the
dainty fairies very clearly.
"Are they realT' asked Zeb, in an awed voice.
"Of course," replied Dorothy, softly. 'They are the
Cloud Fairies."
"They seem like open-work," remarked the boy, gazing
intently. "If I should squeeze one, there would n't be any-
thing left of it."
In the open space between the clouds and the black, bub-
bling sea far beneath, could be seen an occasional strange
bird winging its way swiftly through the air. These birds
were of enormous size, and reminded Zeb of the rocs he had
read about in the Arabian Nights. They had fierce eyes and
sharp talons and beaks, and the children hoped none of them
would venture into the cavern.
"Well, I declare I" suddenly exclaimed the little Wizard.
"What in the world is this?"
They turned around and found a man standing on the
floor in the center of the cave, who bowed very politely when
he saw he had attracted their attention. He was a very old
man, bent nearly double; but the queerest thing about him
was his white hair and beard. These were so long that they
reached to his feet, and both the hair and the beard were care-
103
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
fully plaited into many braids, and the end of each braid
fastened with a bow of colored ribbon.
** Where did you come from^" asked Dorothy, wonder-
ingly.
"No place at all," answered the man with the braids;
"that is, not recently. Once I lived on top the earth, but for
many years I have had my factory in this spot — half way up
Pyramid Mountain."
"Are we only half way up?" enquired the boy, in a dis-
couraged tone.
"I believe so, my lad," replied the braided man. "But as
I have never been in either direction, down or up, since I
arrived, I cannot be positive whether it is exactly half way
or not."
"Have you a factory in this place*?" asked the Wizard,
who had been examining the strange personage carefully.
"To be sure," said the other. "I am a great inventor, you
must know, and I manufacture my products in this lonely
spot."
"What are your products?" enquired the Wizard.
"Well, I make Assorted Flutters for flags and bunting,
and a superior grade of Rustics for ladies* silk gowns."
"I thought so," said the Wizard, with a sigh. "May wc
examine some of these articles?"
104
THE BRAIDED MAN
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
"Yes, indeed; come into my shop, please," and the
braided man turned and led the way into a smaller cave,
where he evidently lived. Here, on a broad shelf, were
several card-board boxes of various sizes, each tied with
cotton cord.
'This," said the man, taking up a box and handling it
gently, "contains twelve dozen rustles — enough to last any
lady a year. Will you buy it, my dear ^" he asked, addressing
Dorothy.
"My gown isn't silk," she said, smiling,
"Never mind. When you open the box the rustles will
escape, whether you are wearing a silk dress or not," said the
man, seriously. Then he picked up another box. "In this,"
he continued, "are many assorted flutters. They are inval-
uable to make flags flutter on a still day, when there is no
wind. You, sir," turning to the Wizard, "ought to have this
assortment. Once you have tried my goods I am sure you will
never be without them."
"I have no money with me," said the Wizard, evasively.
"I do not want money," returned the braided man, "for
I could not spend it in this deserted place if I had it. But I
would like very much a blue hair-ribbon. You will notice
my braids are tied with yellow, pink, brown, red, green, white
and black; but I have no blue ribbons."
106
The Braided Man of Pyramid Mountain
"I'll get you one I" cried Dorothy, who was sorry for the
poor man; so she ran back to the buggy and took from her
suit-case a pretty blue ribbon. It did her good to see how the
braided man's eyes sparkled when he received this treasure.
"You have made me very, very happy, my dear!" he
exclaimed; and then he insisted on the Wizard taking the box
of flutters and the little girl accepting the box of rustles.
"You may need them, some time," he said, "and there is
really no use in my manufacturing these things unless some-
body uses them."
"Why did you leave the surface of the earth?" enquired
the Wizard.
"I could not help it. It is a sad story, but if you will try
to restrain your tears I will tell you about it. On earth I was
a manufacturer of Imported Holes for American Swiss
Cheese, and I will acknowledge that I supplied a superior
article, which was in great demand. Also I made pores for
porous plasters and high-grade holes for doughnuts and but-
tons. Finally I invented a new Adjustable Post-hole, which
I thought would make my fortune. I manufactured a large
quantity of these post-holes, and having no room in which to
store them I set them all end to end and put the top one in
the ground. That made an extraordinary long hole, as you
may imagine, and reached far down into the earth; and, as
107
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
I leaned over it to try to see to the bottom, I lost my balance
and tumbled in. Unfortunately, the hole led directly into
the vast space you see outside this mountain; but I managed
to catch a point of rock that projected from this cavern, and
so saved myself from tumbling headlong into the black waves
beneath, where the tongues of flame that dart out would
certainly have consumed me. Here, then, I made my home;
and although it is a lonely place I amuse myself making
rustles and flutters, and so get along very nicely."
When the braided man had completed this strange tale
Dorothy nearly laughed, because it was all so absurd; but the
Wizard tapped his forehead significantly, to indicate that he
thought the poor man was crazy. So they politely bade him
good day, and went back to the outer cavern to resume their
journey.
CHAPlE^M^ i
MEETTSoL
OMGOYLE
NOTHER breathless climb brought our ad-
venturers to a third landing where there was a
rift in the mountain. On peering out all they
could see was rolling banks of clouds, so thick
that they obscured all else.
But the travellers were obliged to rest, and
while they were sitting on the rocky floor the
Wizard felt in his pocket and brought out the
nine tiny piglets. To his delight they were
now plainly visible, which proved that they
had passed beyond the influence of the magical
Valley of Voe.
"Why, we can see each other again I" cried
one, joyfully.
"Yes," sighed Eureka; "and I also can see you again, and
109
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
the sight makes me dreadfully hungry. Please, Mr. Wizard,
may I eat just one of the fat little piglets^ You'd never miss
one of them, I'm sure I"
**What a horrid, savage beast I" exclaimed a piglet; "and
after we've been such good friends, too, and played with
one another I"
''When I'm not hungry, I love to play with you all," said
the kitten, demurely; *'but when my stomach is empty it
seems that nothing would fill it so nicely as a fat piglet."
"And we trusted you sol" said another of the nine,
reproachfully.
"And thought you were respectable I" said another.
*lt seems we were mistaken," declared a third, looking
at the kitten timorously, "no one with such murderous desires
should belong to our party, I'm sure."
"You see. Eureka," remarked Dorothy, reprovingly, "you
are making yourself disliked. There are certain things
proper for a kitten to eat; but I never heard of a kitten eating
a pig, under any cir'stances."
"Did you ever see such little pigs before'?'* asked the
kitten. "They are no bigger than mice, and I'm sure mice are
proper for me to eat."
"It isn't the bigness, dear; its the variety," replied the
girl. "These are Mr. Wizard's pets, just as you are my pet,
110
They Meet the Wooden Gargoyles
and it wouldn't be any more proper for you to eat them than
it would be for Jim to eat you."
"And that's just what I shall do if you don't let those
little balls of pork alone," said Jim, glaring at the kitten with
his round, big eyes. "If you injure any one of them I'll chew
you up instantly.'*
The kitten looked at the horse thoughtfully, as if trying
to decide whether he meant it or not.
*ln that case," she said, "I'll leave them alone. You
have n't many teeth left, Jim, but the few you have are sharp
enough to make me shudder. So the piglets will be perfectly
safe, hereafter, as far as I am concerned."
"That is right, Eureka," remarked the Wizard, earnestly.
"Let us all be a happy family and love one another."
Eureka yawned and stretched herself.
"I've always loved the piglets,*' she said; "but they don't
love me."
"No one can love a person he's afraid of," asserted Doro-
thy. "If you behave, and don't scare the little pigs, I'm sure
they'll grow very fond of you."
The Wizard now put the nine tiny ones back into his
pocket and the journey was resumed.
"We must be pretty near the top, now," said the boy, as
they climbed wearily up the dark, winding stairway.
Ill
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
"The Country of the Gurgles can't be far from the top of
the earth/' remarked Dorothy. "It is n't very nice down
here. I'd like to get home again, I'm sure."
No one replied to this, because they found they needed all
their breath for the climb. The stairs had become narrower
and Zeb and the Wizard often had to help Jim pull the buggy
from one step to another, or keep it from jamming against the
rocky walls.
At last, however, a dim light appeared ahead of them,
which grew clearer and stronger as they advanced.
"Thank goodness we're nearly there I" panted the little
Wizard.
Jim, who was in advance, saw the last stair before him and
stuck his head above the rocky sides of the stairway. Then he
halted, ducked down and began to back up, so that he nearly
fell with the buggy onto the others.
"Let's go down again!" he said, in his hoarse voice.
"Nonsense I" snapped the tired Wizard. "What's the
matter with you, old man?"
"Everything," grumbled the horse. "I've taken a look at
this place, and it's no fit country for real creatures to go to.
Everything's dead, up there — no flesh or blood or growing
thing anywhere."
112
They Meet the Wooden Gargoyles
''Never mind; we can't turn back," said Dorothy; "and
we don't intend to stay there, anyhow."
"It 's dangerous," growled Jim, in a stubborn tone.
"See here, my good steed," broke in the Wizard, "little
Dorothy and I have been in many queer countries in our
travels, and always escaped without harm. We've even been
to the marvelous Land of Oz — haven't we, Dorothy? — so
we don't much care what the Country of the Gargoyles is like.
Go ahead, Jim, and whatever happens we'll make the best
of it."
"All right," answered the horse; "this is your excursion,
and not mine ; so if you get into trouble don't blame me.'*
With this speech he bent forward and dragged the
buggy up the remaining steps. The others followed and soon
they were all standing upon a broad platform and gazing at
the most curious and startling sight their eyes had ever beheld.
"The Country of the Gargoyles is all wooden I" exclaimed
Zeb; and so it was. The ground was sawdust and the pebbles
scattered around were hard knots from trees, worn smooth in
course of time. There were odd wooden houses, with carved
wooden flowers in the front yards. The tree-trunks were of
coarse wood, but the leaves of the trees were shavings. The
patches of grass were splinters of wood, and where neither
grass nor sawdust showed was a solid wooden flooring.
113
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
Wooden birds fluttered among the trees and wooden cows
were browsing upon the wooden grass; but the most amazing
things of all were the wooden people — the creatures known
as Gargoyles.
These were very numerous, for the palace was thickly
inhabited, and a large group of the queer people clus-
tered near, gazing sharply upon the strangers who had
emerged from the long spiral stairway.
The Gargoyles were very small of stature, being less than
three feet in height. Their bodies were round, their legs
short and thick and their arms extraordinarily long and stout.
Their heads were too big for their bodies and their faces were
decidedly ugly to look upon. Some had long, curved noses
and chins, small eyes and wide, grinning mouths. Others had
flat noses, protruding eyes, and ears that were shaped like
those of an elephant. There were many types, indeed,
scarcely two being alike ; but all were equally disagreeable in
appearance. The tops of their heads had no hair, but were
carved into a variety of fantastic shapes, some having a row
of points or balls around the top, other designs resembling
flowers or vegetables, and still others having squares that
looked like waffles cut criss-cross on their heads. They all
wore short wooden wings which were fastened to their wooden
bodies by means of wooden hinges with wooden screws, and
114
They Meet the Wooden Gargoyles
with these wings they flew swiftly and noiselessly here and
there, their legs being of little use to them.
This noiseless motion was one of the most peculiar things
about the Gargoyles. They made no sounds at all, either in
flying or trying to speak, and they conversed mainly by means
of quick signals made with their wooden fmgers or lips.
Neither was there any sound to be heard anywhere throughout
the wooden country. The birds did not sing, nor did the cows
moo; yet there was more than ordinary activity everywhere.
The group of these queer creatures which was discovered
clustered near the stairs at first remained staring and motion-
less, glaring with evil eyes at the intruders who had so sud-
denly appeared in their land. In turn the Wizard and the
children, the horse and the kitten, examined the Gargoyles
with the same silent attention.
"There's going to be trouble, Fm sure," remarked the
horse. "Unhitch those tugs, Zeb, and set me free from the
buggy, so I can fight comfortably."
"Jim's right," sighed the Wizard. "There's going to be
trouble, and my sword isn't stout enough to cut up those
wooden bodies — so I shall have to get out my revolvers."
He got his satchel from the buggy and, opening it, took
out two deadly looking revolvers that made the children
shrink back in alarm just to look at.
115
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
"What harm can the Gurgles do*?" asked Dorothy.
"They have no weapons to hurt us with."
"Each of their arms is a wooden club/' answered the little
man, "and I'm sure the creatures mean mischief, by the looks
of their eyes. Even these revolvers can merely succeed in
damaging a few of their wooden bodies, and after that we will
be at their mercy."
"But why fight at all, in that case?" asked the girl.
"So I may die with a clear conscience," returned the
Wizard, gravely. "It's every man's duty to do the best he
knows how; and I'm going to do it."
"Wish I had an axe," said Zeb, who by now had unhitched
the horse.
"If we had known we were coming we might have brought
along several other useful things," responded the Wizard.
"But we dropped into this adventure rather unexpectedly."
The Gargoyles had backed away a distance when they
heard the sound of talking, for although our friends had
spoken in low tones their words seemed loud in the silence
surrounding them. But as soon as the conversation ceased
the grinning, ugly creatures arose in a flock and flew swiftly
toward the strangers, their long arms stretched out before
them like the bowsprits of a fleet of sail-boats. The horse had
especially attracted their notice, because it was the biggest
116
They Meet the Wooden Gargoyles
and strangest creature they had ever seen ; so it became the
center of their first attack.
But Jim was ready for them, and when he saw them com-
ing he turned his heels toward them and began kicking out
as hard as he could. Crack! crash I bang I went his iron-shod
hoofs against the wooden bodies of the Gargoyles, and they
were battered right and left with such force that they scat-
tered like straws in the wind. But the noise and clatter
seemed as dreadful to them as Jim's heels, for all who were
able swiftly turned and flew away to a great distance. The
others picked themselves up from the ground one by one and
quickly rejoined their fellows, so for a moment the horse
thought he had won the fight with ease.
But the Wizard was not so confident.
'Those wooden things are imipossible to hurt," he said,
"and all the damage Jim has done to them is to knock a few
splinters from their noses and ears. That cannot make them
look any uglier, I'm sure, and it is my opinion they will soon
renew the attack."
''What made them fly away?" asked Dorothy.
"The noise, of course. Don't you remember how the
Champion escaped them by shouting his battle-cry^"
"Suppose we escape down the stairs, too," suggested the
117
Litde Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
boy. "Wc have time, just now, and I'd rather face the
invis'ble bears than those wooden imps."
"No," returned Dorothy, stoutly, "it won*t do to go back,
for then we would never get home. Let's fight it out."
"That is what I advise," said the Wizard. "They
have n't defeated us yet, and Jim is worth a whole army."
But the Gargoyles were clever enough not to attack the
horse the next time. They advanced in a great swarm, hav-
ing been joined by many more of their kind, and they flew
straight over Jim's head to where the others were standing.
The Wizard raised one of his revolvers and fired into the
throng of his enemies, and the shot resounded like a clap of
thunder in that silent place.
Some of the wooden beings fell flat upon the ground,
where they quivered and trembled in every limb; but most
of them managed to wheel and escape again to a distance.
Zeb ran and picked up one of the Gargoyles that lay
nearest to him. The top of its head was carved into a crown
and the Wizard's bullet had struck it exactly in the left eye,
which was a hard wooden knot. Half of the bullet stuck in
the wood and half stuck out, so it had been the jar and the
sudden noise that had knocked the creature down, more than
the fact that it was really hurt. Before this crowned Gar-
goyle had recovered himself Zeb had wound a strap several
118
They Meet the Wooden Gargoyles
times around its body, confining its wings and arms so that it
could not move. Then, having tied the wooden creature
securely, the boy buckled the strap and tossed his prisonci
into the buggy. By that time the others had all retired.
^ '^if
119
CMAWTll^ 1%
A
¥01iiriL
ncoL
OR a while the enemy hesitated to renew the
attack. Then a few of them advanced until
another shot from the Wizard's revolver made
them retreat.
'That's fine," said Zeb. 'We've got 'em
on the run now, sure enough."
"But only for a time,*' replied the Wizard,
shaking his head gloomily. "These revolvers
are good for six shots each, but when those are
gone we shall be helpless."
The Gargoyles seemed to realize this, for
they sent a few of their band time after time to
attack the strangers and draw the fire from the
little man's revolvers. In this way none of them was shocked
by the dreadful report more than once, for the main band kept
120
A Wonderful Escape
far away and each time a new company was sent into the
battle. When the Wizard had fired all of his twelve bullets
he had caused no damage to the enemy except to stun a few
by the noise, and so he was no nearer to victory than in the
beginning of the fray.
''What shall we do now?' asked Dorothy, anxiously.
*Xet's yell — all together," said Zeb.
"And fight at the same time," added the Wizard. "We
will get near Jim, so that he can help us, and each one must
take some weapon and do the best he can. I'll use my sword,
although it isn't much account in this affair. Dorothy must
take her parasol and open it suddenly when the wooden folks
attack her. I haven't anything for you, Zeb."
"I'll use the king," said the boy, and pulled his prisoner
out of the buggy. The bound Gargoyle's arms extended far
out beyond its head, so by grasping its wrists Zeb found the
king made a very good club. The boy was strong for one of
his years, having always worked upon a farm; so he was
likely to prove more dangerous to the enemy than the
Wizard.
When the next company of Gargoyles advanced, our
adventurers began yelling as if they had gone mad. Even
the kitten gave a dreadfully shrill scream and at the same
time Jim the cab-horse neighed loudly. This daunted the
121
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
enemy for a time, but the defenders were soon out of breath.
Perceiving this, as well as the fact that there were no more of
the awful ''bangs" to come from the revolvers, the Gargoyles
advanced in a swarm as thick as bees, so that the air was filled
with them.
Dorothy squatted upon the ground and put up her para-
sol, which nearly covered her and proved a great protection.
The Wizard's sword-blade snapped into a dozen pieces at the
first blow he struck against the wooden people. Zeb pounded
away with the Gargoyle he was using as a club until he had
knocked down dozens of foes; but at the last they clustered so
thickly about him that he no longer had room in which to
swing his arms. The horse performed some wonderful kick-
ing and even Eureka assisted when she leaped bodily upon
the Gargoyles and scratched and bit at them like a wild-cat.
But all this bravery amounted to nothing at all. The
wooden things wound their long aims around Zeb and the
Wizard and held them fast. Dorothy was captured in the
same way, and numbers of the Gargoyles clung to Jim*s legs,
so weighting him down that the poor beast was helpless.
Eureka made a desperate dash to escape and scampered along
the ground like a streak; but a grinning Gargoyle flew after
her and grabbed her before she had gone very far.
All of them expected nothing less than instant death; but
122
A Wonderful Escape
to their surprise the wooden creatures flew into the air with
them and bore them far away, over miles and miles of wooden
country, until they came to a wooden city. The houses of
this city had many corners, being square and six-sided and
eight-sided. They were tower-like in shape and the best of
them seemed old and weather-worn ; yet all were strong and
substantial.
To one of these houses which had neither doors nor win-
dows, but only one broad opening far up underneath the roof,
the prisoners were brought by their captors. The Gargoyles
roughly pushed them into the opening, where there was a
platform, and then flew away and left them. As they had
no wings the strangers could not fly away, and if they jumped
down from such a height they would surely be killed. The
creatures had sense enough to reason that way, and the only
mistake they made was in supposing the earth people were
unable to overcome such ordinary difficulties.
Jim was brought with the others, although it took a good
many Gargoyles to carry the big beast through the air and
land him on the high platform, and the buggy was thrust in
after him because it belonged to the party and the wooden
folks had no idea what it was used for or whether it was alive
or not. When Eureka's captor had thrown the kitten after
123
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
the others the last Gargoyle silently disappeared, leaving our
friends to breathe freely once more.
"What an awful fight I" said Dorothy, catching her breath
in little gasps.
"Oh, I don't know," purred Eureka, smoothing her ruffled
fur with her paw; "we did n't manage to hurt anybody, and
nobody managed to hurt us.'*
"Thank goodness we arc together again, even if we are
prisoners," sighed the little girl.
"I wonder why they didn't kill us on the spot," remarked
Zeb, who had lost his king in the struggle.
"They are probably keeping us for some ceremony," the
Wizard answered, reflectively; "but there is no doubt they
intend to kill us as dead as possible in a short time."
"As dead as poss'ble would be pretty dead, would n't it?"
asked Dorothy.
"Yes, my dear. But we have no need to worry about that
just now. Let us examine our prison and see what it is like."
The space underneath the roof, where they stood, per-
mitted them to sec on all sides of the tall building, and they
looked with much curiosity at the city spread out beneath
them. Everything visible was made of wood, and the scene
seemed stiff and extremely unnatural.
From their platform a stair descended into the house, and
124
A Wonderful Escape
the children and the Wizard explored it after lighting a
lantern to show them the way. Several stories of empty
rooms rewarded their search, but nothing more ; so after a time
they came back to the platform again. Had there been any
doors or windows in the lower rooms, or had not the boards
of the house been so thick and stout, escape would have been
easy; but to remain down below was like being in a cellar or
the hold of a ship, and they did not like the darkness or the
damp smell.
In this country, as in all others they had visited under-
neath the earth's surface, there was no night, a constant and
strong light coming from some unknown source. Looking
out, they could see into some of the houses near them, where
there were open windows in abundance, and were able to
mark the forms of the wooden Gargoyles moving about in
their dwellings.
*'This seems to be their time of rest," observed the
Wizard. "All people need rest, even if they are made of
wood, and as there is no night here they select a certain time
of the day in which to sleep or doze."
"I feel sleepy myself," remarked Zeb, yawning.
'"Why, where's Eureka?" cried Dorothy, suddenly.
They all looked around, but the kitten was no place to be
seen.
125
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
"She's gone out for a walk," said Jim, gruffly.
"Where'? On the roof?" asked the girl
"No; she just dug her daws into the wood and climbed
down the sides of this house to the ground."
"She couldn't climb down, Jim," said Dorothy. *To
climb means to go up."
"Who said so'?" demanded the horse.
"My school-teacher said so; and she knows a lot, Jim."
"To 'climb down' is sometimes used as a figure of speech,''
remarked the Wizard.
"Well, this was a figure of a cat," said Jim, "and she zvent
down, an}how, whether she climbed or crept."
"Dear me! how careless Eureka is," exclaimed the girl,
much distressed. "The Gurgles will get her, sure!"
"Ha, ha!" chuckled the old cab-horse; "they're not
'Gurgles,' little maid; they're Gargoyles."
"Never mind; they'll get Eureka, whatever they're
called."
"No they won't," said the voice of the kitten, and Eureka
herself crawled over the edge of the platform and sat down
quietly upon the floor.
"W^herever have you been, Eureka?" asked Dorothy,
sternly.
"Watching the wooden folks. Thcv're too funny for any-
126
A Wonderful Escape
thing, Dorothy. Just now they are all going to bed, and —
what do you think*? — they unhook the hinges of their wings
and put them in a corner until they wake up again."
"What, the hinges^"
**No; the wings."
"That," said Zeb, "explains why this house is used by
them for a prison. If any of the Gargoyles act badly, and
have to be put in jail, they are brought here and their wings
unhooked and taken away from them until they promise tc
be good."
The Wizard had listened intently to what Eureka had
said.
"I wish we had some of those loose wings," he said.
"Could we fly with them?" asked Dorothy.
"I think so. If the Gargoyles can unhook the wings then
the power to fly lies in the wings themselves, and not in the
wooden bodies of the peoj^Ie who wear them. So, if we had
the wings, we could probabh- fly as well as tiiey do — at least
while we are in their country and under the spell of its
magic."
"But how would it help us to be able to fly*?" questioned
the girl.
"Come here," said the little man, and took her to one of
the corners of the building. "Do you see that big rock stand-
127
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
ing on the hillside yonder?" he continued, pointing with his
finger.
"Yes; it's a good way off, but I can see it," she replied.
"Well, inside that rock, which reaches up into the clouds,
is an archway very much like the one we entered when we
climbed the spiral stairway from the Valley of Voe. I'll get
my spy-glass, and then you can see it more plainly."
He fetched a small but powerful telescope, which had
been in his satchel, and by its aid the little girl clearly saw
the opening.
"Where does it lead to?" she asked.
"That I cannot tell," said the Wizard; "but we cannot
now be far below the earth's surface, and that entrance may
lead to another stairway that will bring us on top of our
world again, where we belong. So, if we had the wings, and
could escape the Gargoyles, we might fly to that rock and be
saved."
"I'll get you the wings," said Zeb, who had thoughtfully
listened to all this. "That is, if the kitten will show mc
where they are."
"But how can you get down?" enquired the girl, wonder-
ingly.
For answer Zeb began to unfasten Jim's harness, strap by
128
A Wonderful Escape
strap, and to buckle one piece to another until he had made
a long leather strip that would reach to the ground.
*1 can climb down that, all right," he said.
*'No you can't," remarked Jim, with a twinkle in his
round eyes. "You may go down, but you can only climb up."
*'Well, I'll climb up when I get back, then," said the boy,
with a laugh. "Now, Eureka, you'll have to show me the
way to those wings."
"You must be very quiet," warned the kitten; "for if you
make the least noise the Gargoyles will wake up. They can
hear a pin drop."
"I'm not going to drop a pin," said Zeb.
He had fastened one end of the strap to a wheel of the
buggy, and now he let the line dangle over the side of the
house.
"Be careful," cautioned Dorothy, earnestly.
"I will," said the boy, and let himself slide over the edge.
The girl and the Wizard leaned over and watched Zeb
work his way carefully downward, hand over hand, until he
stood upon the ground below. Eureka clung with her claws
to the wooden side of the house and let herself down easily.
Then together they crept away to enter the low doorway of
a neighboring dwelling.
129
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
The watchers waited in breathless suspense until the boy
again appeared, his arms now full of the wooden wings.
When he came to where the strap was hanging he tied the
wings all in a bunch to the end of the line, and the Wizard
drew them up. Then the line was let down again for Zeb to
climb up by. Eureka quickly followed him, and soon they
were all standing together upon the platform, with eight of
the much prized wooden wings beside them.
The boy was no longer sleepy, but full of energy and
excitement. He put the harness together again and hitched
Jim to tlie buggy. Then, with the Wizard's help, he tried to
fasten some of the wings to the old cab-horse.
This was no easy task, because half of each one of the
hinges of the wings was missing, it being still fastened to
the body of the Gargoyle who had used it. However, the
Wizard went once more to his satchel — which seemed to con-
tain a surprising variety of odds and ends — and brought out
a spool of strong wire, by means of which they managed to
fasten four of the wings to Jim's harness, two near his head
and two near his tail. They were a bit wiggley, but secure
enough if only the harness held together.
The other four wings were then fastened to the buggy,
two on each side, for the buggy must bear the weight of the
children and the Wizard as it flew through the air.
130
^•
JIM FLOUNDERED THROUGH THE AIR
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
These preparations had not consumed a great deal of
time, but the sleeping Gargoyles were beginning to wake up
and move around, and soon some of them would be hunting
for their missing wings. So the prisoners resolved to leave
their prison at once.
They mounted into the buggy, Dorothy holding Eureka
safe in her lap. The girl sat in the middle of the seat, with
Zeb and the Wizard on each side of her. When all was ready
the boy shook the reins and said :
"Flyaway, Jim I"
"Which wings must I flop first?" asked the cab-horse,
undecidedly.
"Flop them all together," suggested the Wizard.
"Some of them are crooked," objected the horse.
"Never mind; we will steer with the wings on the buggy,"
said Zeb. "Just you light out and make for that rock, Jim;
and don't waste any time about it, either."
So the horse gave a groan, flopped its four wings all
together, and flew away from the platform. Dorothy was a
little anxious about the success of their trip, for the way Jim
arched his long neck and spread out his bony legs as he flut-
tered and floundered through the air was enough to make any-
body nervous. He groaned, too, as if frightened, and the
wings creaked dreadfully because the Wizard had forgotten
132
A Wonderful Escape
to oil them; but they kept fairly good time with the wings of
the buggy, so that they made excellent progress from the start.
The only thing that anyone could complain of with justice
was the fact that they wobbled first up and then down, as if
the road were rocky instead of being as smooth as the air could
make it.
The main point, however, was that they flew, and flew
swiftly, if a bit unevenly, toward the rock for which they had
headed.
Some of the Gargoyles saw them, presently, and lost no
time in collecting a band to pursue the escaping prisoners;
so that when Dorothy happened to look back she saw them
coming in a great cloud that almost darkened the sky.
ejKiAip^jE/i^ HE,
UR friends had a good start and were able to
maintain it, for with their eight wings they
could go just as fast as could the Gargoyles.
All the way to the great rock the wooden people
followed them, and when Jim finally alighted
at the mouth of the cavern the pursuers were
still some distance away.
"But, Fm afraid they'll catch us yet," said
Dorothy, greatly excited.
"No; we must stop them," declared the
Wizard. "Quick Zeb, help me pull off these
wooden wings I"
They tore off the wings, for which they had
no further use, and the Wizard piled them in a heap just out-
side the entrance to the cavern. Then he poured over them
134
The Den of the Dragonettes
all the kerosene oil that was left in his oil-can, and lighting a
match set fire to the pile.
The flames leaped up at once and the bonfire began to
smoke and roar and crackle just as the great army of wooden
Gargoyles arrived. The creatures drew back at once, being
filled with fear and horror; for such a dreadful thing as a fire
they had never before known in all the history of their
wooden land.
Inside the archway were several doors, leading to different
rooms built into the mountain, and Zeb and the Wizard lifted
these wooden doors from their hinges and tossed them all on
the flames.
"That will prove a barrier for some time to come," said
the little man, smiling pleasantly all over his wrinkled face
at the success of their stratagem. "Perhaps the flames will
set fire to all that miserable wooden country, and if it does the
loss will be very small and the Gargoyles never will be
missed. But come, my children ; let us explore the mountain
and discover which way we must go in order to escape from
this cavern, which is getting to be almost as hot as a bakc-
oven."
To their disappointment there was within this mountain
no regular flight of steps by means of which they could mount
to the earth's surface. A sort of inclined tunnel led upward
135
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
for a way, and they found the floor of it both rough and steep.
Then a sudden turn brought them to a narrow gallery where
the buggy could not pass. This delayed and bothered them
for a while, because they did not wish to leave the buggy
behind them. It carried their baggage and was useful to ride
in wherever there were good roads, and since it had accom-
panied them so far in their travels they felt it their duty to
preserve it. So Zeb and the Wizard set to work and took off
the wheels and the top, and then they put the buggy edgewise,
so it would take up the smallest space. In this position they
managed, .with the aid of the patient cab-horse, to drag the
vehicle through the narrow part of the passage. It was not a
great distance, fortunately, and when the path grew broader
they put the buggy together again and proceeded more com-
fortably. But the road was nothing more than a series of rifts
or cracks in the mountain, and it went zig-zag in every direc-
tion, slanting first up and then down until they were puzzled
as to whether they were any nearer to the top of the earth than
when they had started, hours before.
"Anyhow," said Dorothy, "we've *scaped those awful
Gurgles, and that's one comfort!"
"Probably the Gargoyles are still busy trying to put out
the fire," returned the Wizard. "But even if they succeeded
136
The Den of the Dragonettes
in doing that it would be very difficult for them to fly amongst
these rocks; so I am sure we need fear them no longer."
Once in a while they would come to a deep crack in the
floor, which made the way quite dangerous; but there was still
enough oil in the lanterns to give them light, and the cracks
were not so wide but that they were able to jump over them.
Sometimes they had to climb over heaps of loose rock, where
Jim could scarcely drag the buggy. At such times Dorothy,
Zeb and the Wizard all pushed behind, and lifted the wheels
over the roughest places; so they managed, by dint of hard
work, to keep going. But the little party was both weary and
discouraged when at last, on turning a sharp corner, the
wanderers found themselves in a vast cave arching high over
their heads and having a smooth, level floor.
The cave was circular in shape, and all around its edge,
near to the ground, appeared groups of dull yellow lights,
two of them being always side by side. These were motion-
less at first, but soon began to flicker more brightly and to
sway slowly from side to side and then up and down.
*'What sort of a place is this?" asked the boy, trying to
see more clearly through the gloom.
"I cannot imagine, Fm sure," answered the Wizard, also
peering about.
"Wooghl" snarled Eureka, arching her back until her
137
Litde Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
hair stood straight on end; "it's a den of alligators, or croco-
dile?, or some other dreadful creatures! Don't you see their
terrible eyes?"
"Eureka sees better in the dark than we can," whispered
Dorothy. "Tell us, dear, what do the creatures look like?"
she asked, addressing her pet.
"I simply can't describe 'em," answered the kitten, shud-
dering. "Their eyes are like pie-plates and their mouths like
ooal-scuttles. But their bodies don't seem very big."
"Where are they?" enquired the girl.
"They are in little pockets all around the edge of this
cavern. Oh, Dorothy — you can't imagine what horrid things
they are I They're uglier than the Gargoyles."
"Tut-tut! be careful how you criticise your neighbors,"
spoke a rasping voice near by. "As a matter of fact you are
rather ugly-looking creatures yourselves, and I'm sure mother
has often told us we were the loveliest and prettiest things in
all the world."
Hearing these words our friends turned in the direction
of the sound, and the Wizard held his lanterns so that their
light would flood one of the little pockets in the rock.
"Why, it's a dragon '" he exclaimed.
"No," answered the owner of the big yellow eyes which
were blinking at them so steadily; "you are wrong about thiit.
138
The Den of the Dragonettes
We hope to grow to be dragons some day, but just now we're
only dragonettes."
"What's that*?" asked Dorothy, gazing fearfully at the
great scaley head, the yawning mouth and the big eyes.
* 'Young dragons, of course; but we are not allowed to
call ourselves real dragons until we get our full growth," was
the reply. "The big dragons are very proud, and don't think
children amount to much ; but mother says that some day we
will all be very powerful and important."
''Where is your mother*?" asked the Wizard, anxiously
looking around.
"She has gone up to the top of the earth to hunt for our
dinner. If she has good luck she will bring us an elephant,
or a brace of rhinoceri, or perhaps a few dozen people to stay
our hunger."
"Oh; are you hungry?' enquired Dorothy, drawing back.
"Very," said the dragonettc, snapping its jaws.
"And — and — do you cat people?"
"To be sure, when we can get them. But they've been
very scarce for a few years and we usually have to be content
with elephants or buffaloes," answered the creature, in a
regretful tone.
"How old are you'?" enquired Zcb, who stared at the
yellow eyes as if fascinated.
139
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
"Quite young, I grieve to say; and all of my brothers and
sisters that you see here are practically my own age. If I
remember ri^luly, we were sixty-six years old the day before
yesterday."
*'But that isn't young I" cried Dorothy, in amazement.
"No?" drawled the dragonette; "it seems to me very
babyish."
"How old is your mother*?" asked the girl.
"Mother's about two thousand years old; but she care-
lessly lost track of her age a few centuries ago and skipped
several hundreds. She's a little fussy, you know, and afraid
of growing old, being a widow and still in her prime."
"I should think she would be," agreed Dorothy. Then,
after a moment's thought, she asked: "Are we friends or
enemies? I mean, will you be good to us, or do you intend
to eat us?'
"As for that, we dragonettes would love to eat you, my
child; but unfortunately mother has tied all our tails around
the rocks at the back of our individual caves, so that we can
not crawl out to get you. If you choose to come nearer we
will make a mouthful of you in a wink; but unless you do you
will remain quite safe."
There was a regretful accent in the creature's voice, and
at the words all the other dragonettes sighed dismally.
140
The Den of the Dragonettes
Dorothy felt relieved. Presently she asked:
*'Why did your mother tie your tails'?"
"Oh, she is sometimes gone for several weeks on her hunt-
ing trips, and if we were not tied we would crawl all over
the mountain and fight with each other and get into a lot of
mischief. Mother usually knows what she is about, but she
made a mistake this time ; for you are sure to escape us unless
you come too near, and you probably won't do that."
"No, indeed I" said the little girl. "We don't wish to be
eaten by such awful beasts."
"Permit me to say," returned the dragonette, "that you
are rather impolite to call us names, knowing that we cannot
resent your insults. We consider ourselves very beautiful
in appearance, for mother has told us so, and she knows. And
we are of an excellent family and have a pedigree that I chal-
lenge any humans to equal, as it extends back about twenty
thousand years, to the time of the famous Green Dragon of
Atlantis, who lived in a time when humans had not yet been
created. Can you match that pedigree, little girl?"
"Well," said Dorothy, "I was born on a farm in Kansas,
and I guess that's being just as 'spectable and haughty as liv-
ing in a cave with your tail tied to a rock. If it isn't I'll have
to stand it, that's all."
"Tastes differ," murmured the dragonette, slowly droop-
141
Litde Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
ing its scaley eyelids over its yellow cycs» until they looked
like half-moons.
Being reassured by the fact that the creatures could not
crawl out of their rock-pockets, the children and the Wizard
now took time to examine them more closely. The heads of
the dragonettes were as big as barrels and covered with hard,
greenish scales that glittered brightly under the light of the
lanterns. Their fronts legs, which grew just back of their
heads, were also strong and big; but their bodies were smaller
around than their heads, and dwindled away in a long line
until their tails were slim as a shoe-string. Dorothy thought,
if it had taken them sixty-six years to grow to this size, that
it would be fully a hundred years more before they could hope
to call themselves dragons, and that seemed like a good while
to wait to grow up
"It occurs to me," said the Wizard, "that we ought to
get out of this place before the mother dragon comes back."
"Don't hurry," called one of the dragonettes; "mother
will be glad to meet you, I'm sure."
"You may be right,'* replied the Wizard, "but we*re a
little particular about associating with strangers. Will you
kindly tell us which way your mother went to get on top the
earth?'
"That is not a fair question to ask us," declared another
142
The Den of the Dragonettes
dragonettc. *Tor, if we told you truly, you might escape us
altogether; and if we told you an untruth we would be
naughty and deserve to be punished."
''Then/' decided Dorothy, "we must find our way out the
best we can."
They circled all around the cavern, keeping a good dis-
tance away from the blinking yellow eyes of the dragonettes,
and presently discovered that there were two paths leading
from the wall opposite to the place where they had entered.
They selected one of these at a venture and hurried along it
as fast as they could go, for they had no idea when the mother
dragon would be back and were very anxious not to make
her acquaintance.
CHAFTE/B- 14
O c=
©ZMA
wmcmn
OR a considerable distance the way led straight
upward in a gentle incline, and the wanders
made such good progress that they grew hope-
ful and eager, thinking they might see sun-
shine at any minute. But at length they came
unexpectedly upon a huge rock that shut off
the passage and blocked them from proceeding
a single step farther.
This rock was separate from the rest of the
mountain and was in motion, turning slowly
around and around as if upon a pivot. When
first they came to it there was a solid wall be-
fore them; but presently it revolved until there
was exposed a wide, smooth path across it to the other side.
This appeared so unexpectedly that they were unprepared to
144
Ozma Uses the Magic Belt
take advantage of it at first, and allowed the rocky wall to
swing around again before they had decided to pass over.
But they knew now that there was a means of escape and so
waited patiently until the path appeared for the second time.
The children and the Wizard rushed across the moving
rock and sprang into the passage beyond, landing safely
though a little out of breath. Jim the cab-horse came last,
and the rocky wall almost caught him; for just as he leaped to
the floor of the further passage the wall swung across it and
a loose stone that the buggy wheels knocked against fell into
the narrow crack where the rock turned, and became wedged
there.
They heard a crunching, grinding sound, a loud snap, and
the turn-table came to a stop with its broadest surface shut-
ting off the path from which they had come.
"Never mind," said Zeb, "we don't want to get back, any-
how."
"I'm not so sure of that," returned Dorothy. "The
mother dragon may come down and catch us here."
"It is possible," agreed the Wizard, "if this proves to be
the path she usually takes. But I have been examining this
tunnel, and I do not see any signs of so large a beast having
passed through it."
145
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
"Then we're all right," said the girl, "for if the dragon
went the other way she can't poss'bly get to us now.'*
"Of course not, my dear. But there is another thing to
consider. The mother dragon probably knows the road to the
earth's surface, and if she went the other way then we have
come the wrong way," said the Wizard, thoughtfully.
"Dear me!" cried Dorothy. "That would be unlucky,
wouldn't it?"
"Very. Unless this passage also leads to the top of the
earth," said Zeb. "For my part, if we manage to get out of
here I'll be glad it isn't the way the dragon goes."
"So will I," returned Dorothy. "It's enough to have your
pedigree flung in your face by those saucy dragonettes. No
one knows what the mother might do."
They now moved on again, creeping slowly up another
steep incline. The lanterns were beginning to grow dim, and
the Wizard poured the remaining oil from one into the other,
so that the one light would last longer. But their journey
was almost over, for in a short time they reached a small cave
from which there was no further outlet.
They did not realize their ill fortune at first, for their
hearts were gladdened by the sight of .a ray of sunshine com-
ing through a small crack in the roof of the cave, far over-
head. That meant that their world — the real world — was
146
Ozma Uses the Magic Belt
not very far away, and that the succession of perilous adven-
tures they had encountered had at last brought them near
the earth's surface, which meant home to them. But when
the adventurers looked more carefully around them they dis-
covered that they were in a strong prison from which there
was no hope of escape.
*'But we're almost on earth again," cried Dorothy, "for
there is the sun — the most beauful sun that shines!" and she
pointed eagerly at the crack in the distant roof.
"Almost on earth isn't being there," said the kitten, in a
discontented tone. "It wouldn't be possible for even me to
get up to that crack— or through it if I got there."
"It appears that the path ends here," announced the Wiz-
ard, gloomily.
"And there is no way to go back," added Zeb, with a low
whistle of perplexity.
"I v/as sure it would come to this, in the end," remarked
the old cab-horse. "Folks don't fall into the middle of the
earth and then get back again to tell of their adventures —
not in real life. And the whole thing has been unnatural
because that cat and I are both able to talk your language.
and to understand the words you say."
"And so can the nine tiny piglets," added Eureka.
"Don't forget them, for I may have to eat them, after all.''
147
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
'I've heard animals talk before," said Dorothy, "and no
harm came of it."
"Were yoii ever before shut up in a cave, far under the
earth, with no way of getting out?" enquired the horse,
seriously.
*'No," answered Dorothy. ''But don't you lose heart,
Jim, for I'm sure this isn't the end of our story, by any
means.'
The reference to the piglets reminded the Wizard that
his pets had not enjoyed much exercise lately, and must be
tired of their prison in his pocket. So he sat down upon the
floor of the cave, brought the piglets out one by one, and
allowed them to run around as much as they pleased.
"My dears," he said to them, "I'm afraid I've got you into
a lot of trouble, and that you will never again be able to leave
this gloomy cave."
"What's wrong?" asked a piglet. "We've been in the
dark quite a while, and you may as well explain what has hap-
pened."
The Wizard told them of the misfortune that had over-
taken the wanderers.
"Well," said another piglet, "you are a wizard, are you
not?"
"I am," replied the little man.
148
Ozma Uses the Magic Belt
"Then you can do a few wizzcs and get us out of this
hole," declared the tiny one, with much confidence.
*'I could if I happened to be a real wizard," returned the
master sadly. "But I'm not, my piggy-wees; I'm a humbug
wizard."
"Nonsense I" cried several of the piglets, together.
"You can ask Dorothy," said the little man, in an injured
tone.
"It's true enough," returned the girl, earnestly. "Our
friend Oz is merely a humbug wizard, for he once proved it
to me. He can do several very wonderful things — if he
knows how. But he can't wiz a single thing if he hasn't the
tools and machinery to work with."
"Thank you, my dear, for doing me justice," responded
the Wizard, gratefully. "To be accused of being a real wiz-
ard, when I'm not, is a slander I will not tamely submit to.
But I am one of the greatest humbug wizards that ever lived,
and you will realize this when we have all starved together
and our bones are scattered over the floor of this lonely cave."
"I don't believe we'll realize anything, when it comes to
that," remarked Dorothy, who had been deep in thought.
"But I'm not going to scatter my bones just yet, because I
need them, and you prob'ly need yours, too."
"We are helpless to escape," sighed the Wizard.
149
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
''IVe may be helpless," answered Dorothy, smiling at him,
**but there are others who can do more than we can. Cheer
up, friends. "I'm sure Ozma will help us."
"Ozmal" exclaimed the Wizard. ''Who is Ozma*?"
"The girl that rules the marvelous Land of Oz," was the
reply. "She's a friend of mine, for I met her in the Land of
Ev, not long ago, and went to Oz with her."
"For the second time*?" asked the Wizard, with great
interest.
"Yes. The first time I went to Oz I found you there, ruling
the Emerald City. After you went up in a balloon, and
escaped us, I got back to Kansas by means of a pair of magical
silver shoes."
"I remember those shoes," said the little man, nodding.
"They once belonged to the Wicked Witch. Have you them
here with you?"
"No; I lost them somewhere in the air," explained the
child. "But the second time I went to the Land of Oz I
owned the Nome King's Magic Belt, which is much more
powerful than were the Silver Shoes."
"Where is that Magic Belt?" enquired the Wizard, who
had listened with great interest.
"Ozma has it; for its powers won't work in a common,
ordinar}' country like the United States. Anyone in a fairy
150
Ozma Uses the Magic Belt
country like the Land of Oz can do anything with it; so I left
it with my friend the Princess Ozma, who used it to wish me
in Australia with Uncle Henry.'*
''And wxre you?" asked Zeb, astonished at what he heard.
**0f course; in just a jiffy. And Ozma has an enchanted
picture hanging in her room that shows her the exact scene
where any of her friends may be, at any time she chooses. All
she has to do is to say :'I wonder what So-and-so is doing,' and
at once the picture shows where her friend is and what the
friend is doing. That's real magic, Mr. Wizard; isn't it?
Well, every day at four o'clock Ozma has promised to look
at me in that picture, and if I am in need of help I am to make
her a certain sign and she will put on the Nome King's Magic
Belt and wish me to be with her in Oz."
''Do you mean that Princess Ozma will see this cave in her
enchanted picture, and see all of us here, and what we are
doing?" demanded Zeb.
"Of course; when it is four o'clock," she replied, with a
laugh at his startled expression.
"And when you make a sign she will bring you to her in
the Land of Oz?" continued the boy.
"That's it, exactly; by means of the Magic Belt."
"Then," said the W^izard, "you will be saved, little
Dorothy; and I am very glad of it. The rest of us will die
151
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
much more cheerfully when we know you have escaped our
sad fate/*
*7 won't die cheerfully I" protested the kitten. "There's
nothing cheerful about dying that I could ever see, although
they say a cat has nine lives, and so must die nine times."
"Have you ever died yet?" enquired the boy.
"No, and I'm not anxious to begin," said Eureka.
"Don't worry, dear," Dorothy exclaimed, "I'll hold you
in my arms, and take you with me."
"Take us, tool" cried the nine tiny piglets, all in one
breath.
"PerTiaps I can," answered Dorothy. "I'll try."
"Couldn't you manage to hold me in your arms?" asked
the cab-horse.
Dorothy laughed.
"I'll do better than that," she promised, "for I can easily
save you all, once I am myself in the Land of Oz."
"How?" they asked.
"By using the Magic Belt. All I need do is to wish you
with me, and there you'll be — safe in the royal palace!"
"Good I" cried Zeb.
"I built that palace, and the Emerald City, too,"
remarked the Wizard, in a thoughtful tone, "and I'd like to
152
Ozma Uses the Magic Belt
see them again, for I was very happy among the Munchkins
and Winkles and Quadlings and Gillikins."
"Who are they'?" asked the boy.
*'The four nations that inhabit the Land of Oz," was the
reply. "I wonder if they would treat me nicely if I went
there again."
*'0f course they would I" declared Dorothy. "They are
still proud of their former Wizard, and often speak of you
kindly."
'*Do you happen to know whatever became of the Tm
Woodman and the Scarecrow?" he enquired.
'They live in Oz yet," said the girl, "and are very impor-
tant people."
"And the Cowardly Lion?"
"Oh, he lives there too, with his friend the Hungry Tiger;
and Billina is there, because she liked the place better than
Kansas, and wouldn't go with me to Australia."
"I'm afraid I don't know the Hungry Tiger and Billina,"
said the Wizard, shaking his head. "Is Billina a girl?"
"No; she's a yellow hen, and a great friend of mine.
You're sure to like Billina, when you Know her," asserted
Dorothy.
"Your friends sound like a menagerie," remarked Zeb..
153
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
uneasily. "Couldn't you wish me in some safer place than
Oz."
"Don't worry," replied the girl. "You'll just love the
folks in Oz, when you get acquainted. What time is it, Mr.
Wizard^"
The little man looked at his watch — a big silver one that
he carried in his vest pocket.
"Half-past three," he said.
"Then we must wait for half an hour," she continued;
"but it won't take long, after that, to carry us all to the Emer-
ald City."
They sat silently thinking for a time. Then Jim sud-
denly asked :
"Are there any horses in Oz*?"
"Only one," replied Dorothy, "and he's a sawhorse.'*
"A what?'
"A sawhorse. Princess Ozma once brought him to life
with a witch-powder, when she was a boy."
"Was Ozma once a boy'?" asked Zeb, wondcringly.
"Yes; a wicked witch enchanted her, so she could not rule
her kingdom. But she's a girl now, and the sweetest, loveliest
girl in all the world."
"A sawhorse is a thing they saw boards on," remarked
Jim, with a sniff.
154
Ozma Uses the Magic Belt
"It is when it's not alive," acknowledged the girl. "But
this sawhorse can trot as fast as you can, Jim; and hc*s very
wise, too."
"Pah I ril race the miserable wooden donkey any day in
the week!" cried the cab-horse.
Dorothy did not reply to that. She felt that Jim would
know more about the Saw-Horse later on.
The time dragged wearily enough to the eager watchers,
but finally the Wizard announced that four o'clock had
arrived, and Dorothy caught up the kitten and began to
make the signal that had been agreed upon to the far-away,
invisible Ozma.
"Nothing seems to happen," said Zeb, doubtfully.
"Oh, we must give Ozma time to put on the Magic
Belt," replied the girl.
She had scarcely spoken the words when she suddenly
disappeared from the cave, and with her went the kitten.
There had been no sound of any kind and no warning. One
moment Dorothy sat beside them with the kitten in her lap,
and a moment later the horse, the piglets, the Wizard and
the boy were all that remained in the underground prison.
"I believe we will soon follow her," announced the Wiz-
ard, in a tone of great relief; "for I know something about
155
• \
DOROTHY MADE THE SIGNAL
Ozma Uses the Magic Belt
the magic of the fairyland that is called the Land of Oz. Let
us be ready, for we may be sent for any minute."
He put the piglets safely away in his pocket again and
then he and Zeb got into the buggy and sat expectantly upon
the seat.
"Will it hurt?'* asked the boy, in a voice that trembled a
little.
"Not at all," replied the Wizard. "It will all happen as
quick as a wink."
And that was the way it did happen.
The cab-horse gave a nervous start and Zeb began to rub
his eyes to make sure he was not asleep. For they were in
the streets of a beautiful emerald-green city, bathed in a
grateful green light that was especially pleasing to their
eyes, and surrounded by merry faced people in gorgeous
green-and-gold costumes of many extraordinary designs.
Before them were the jewel-studded gates of a magnifi-
cent palace, and now the gates opened slowly as if inviting
them to enter the courtyard, where splendid flowers were
blooming and pretty fountains shot their silvery sprays into
the air.
Zeb shook the reins to rouse the cab-horse from his stupor
of amazement, for the people were beginning to gather
around and stare at the strangers.
157
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
"Gid-dapl" cried the boy, and at the word Jim slowly
trotted into the courtyard and drew the buggy along the
jewelled driveway to the great entrance of the royal palace.
158
OJHLAP^imSS. J13.
ANY servants dressed in handsome uniforms
stood ready to welcome the new arrivals, and
when the Wizard got out of the buggy a pretty
girl in a green gown cried out in surprise :
'Why, it*s Oz, the Wonderful Wizard,
come back again I"
The little man looked at her closely and
then took both the maiden's hands in his and
shook them cordially.
"On my word," he exclaimed, "it's little
Jellia Jamb — as pert and pretty as ever I'*
'Why not, Mr. Wizard'?'* asked Jellia,
bowing low. "But I'm afraid you cannot rule
the Emerald City, as you used to, because we now have a
beautiful Princess whom everyone loves dearly."
159
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
"And the people will not willingly part with her," added
a tall soldier in a Captain-General's uniform.
The Wizard turned to look at him.
"Did you not wear green whiskers at one time*?" he
asked.
"Yes," said the soldier; "but I shaved them off long ago,
and since then I have risen from a private to be the Chief
General of the Royal Armies."
"That's nice," said the little man. "But I assure you, my
good people, that I do not wish to rule the Emerald City,"
he added, earnestly.
"In that case you are very welcome I" cried all the ser-
vants, and it pleased the Wizard to note the respect with
which the royal retainers bowed before him. His fame had
not been forgotten in the Land of Oz, by any means.
"Where is Dorothy^" enquired Zeb, anxiously, as he left
the buggy and stood beside his friend the little Wizard.
"She is with the Princess Ozma, in the private rooms of
the palace," replied Jellia Jamb. "But she has ordered mc
to make you welcome and to show yo?\ to your apartments."
The boy looked around him with wondering eyes. Such
magnificence and wealth as was displayed in this palace was
more than he had ever dreamed of, and he could scarcely
believe that all the gorgeous glitter was real and not tinsel.
160
Old Friends are Reunited
**What*s to become of me?' asked the horse, uneasily.
He had seen considerable of life in the cities in his younger
days, and knew that this regal palace was no place for him.
It perplexed even Jellia Jamb, for a time, to know what
to do with the animal. The green maiden was much aston-
ished at the sight of so unusual a creature, for horses were
unknown in this Land; but those who lived in the Emerald
City were apt to be astonished by queer sights, so after
inspecting the cab-horse and noting the mild look in his big
eyes the girl decided not to be afraid of him.
"There are no stables here," said the Wizard, "unless
some have been built since I went away."
"We have never needed them before," answered Jellia;
"for the Sawhorse lives in a room of the palace, being much
smaller and more natural in appearance than this great beast
you have brought with you."
"Do you mean that I'm a freak?" asked Jim, angrily.
"Oh, no," she hastened to say, "there may be many more
like you in the place you came from, but in Oz any horse but
a Sawhorse is unusual."
This mollified Jim a little, and after some thought the
green maiden decided to give the cab-horse a room in the
palace, such a big building having many rooms that were
seldom in use.
161
Litde Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
So Zcb unharnessed Jim^ and several of the servants then
led the horse around to the rear, where they selected a nice
large apartment that he could have all to himself.
Then Jellia said to the Wizard:
"Your own room — which was back of the great Throne
Room — has been vacant ever since you left us. Would you
like it again*?"
"Yes, indeed I'* returned the little man. "It will seem
like being at home again, for I lived in that room for many,
many years."
He knew the way to it, and a servant followed him,
carrying his satchel. Zeb was also escorted to a room — so
grand and beautiful that he almost feared to sit in the chairs
or lie upon the bed, lest he might dim their splendor. In the
closets he discovered many fancy costumes of rich velvets
and brocades, and one of the attendants told him to dress
himself in any of the clothes that pleased him and to be pre-
pared to dine with the Princess and Dorothy in an hour's
time.
Opening from the chamber was a fine bath-room having
a marble tub with perfumed water; so the boy, still dazed by
the novelty of his surroundings, indulged in a good bath and
then selected a maroon velvet costimie with silver buttons
to replace his own soiled and mudi worn clothing. There
162
Old Friends are Reunited
were silk stockings and soft leather slippers with diamond
buckles to accompany his new costume, and when he was
fully dressed Zeb looked much more dignified and imposing
than ever before in his life.
He was all ready when an attendant came to escort him
to the presence of the Princess; he followed bashfully and
was ushered into a room more dainty and attractive than it
was splendid. Here he found Dorothy seated beside a
young girl so marvelously beautiful that the boy stopped sud-
denly with a gasp of admiration.
But Dorothy sprang up and ran to seize her friend's
hand, drawing him impulsively toward the lovely Princess,
who smiled most graciously upon her guest. Then the Wiz»
ard entered, and his presence relieved the boy's embarrass-
ment. The little man was clothed in black velvet, with
m^any sparkling emerald ornaments decorating his breast;
but his bald head and wrinkled features made him appear
more amusing than impressive.
Ozma had been quite curious to meet the famous man
who had built the Emerald City and united the Munchkins,
Gillikins Quadlings and Winkles into one people; so when
they were all four seated at the dinner table the Princess
said:
*Tleas€ tell me, Mr. Wizard, whether you called your-
163
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
self Oz after this great country, or whether you believe my
country is called Oz after you. It is a matter that I have
long wished to enquire about, because you are of a strange
race and my own name is Ozma. No, one, I am sure, is better
able to explain this mystery than you."
"That is true," answered the little Wizard; "therefore it
will give me pleasure to explain my connection with your
country. In the first place, I must tell you that I was born
in Omaha, and my father, who was a politician, named me
Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Hcnkle Emmannuel
Ambroise Diggs, Diggs being the last name because he could
think of no more to go before it. Taken altogether, it was
a dreadfully long name to weigh down a poor innocent child,
and one of the hardest lessons I ever learned was to remember
my own name. When I grew up I just called myself O. Z.,
because the other initials were P-I-N-H-E-A-D ; and that
spelled 'pinhcad,* which was a reflection on my intelligence."
"Surely no one could blame you for cutting your name
short," said Ozma, sympathetically. "But didn't you cut it
almost too short?"
"Perhaps so," replied the Wizard. "When a young man
I ran away from home and joined a circus. I used to call
myself a Wizard, and do tricks of ventriloquism."
"What does that mean*?" asked the Princess.
164
Old Friends are Reunited
"Throwing my voice into any object I pleased, to make
it appear that the object was speaking instead of me. Also
I began to make balloon ascensions. On my balloon and
on all the other articles I used in the circus I painted the two
initials: *0. Z.', to show that those things belonged to me.
"One day my balloon ran away with me and brought me
across the deserts to this beautiful country. When the peo-
ple saw me come from the sky they naturally thought me
some superior creature, and bowed down before me. I told
them I was a Wizard, and showed them some easy tricks that
amazed them ; and when they saw the initials painted on the
balloon they called me Oz."
"Now I begin to understand," said the Princess, smiling.
"At that time," continued the Wizard, busily eating his
soup while talking, "there were four separate countries in
this Land, each one of the four being ruled by a Witch. But
the people thought my power was greater than that of the
Witches; and perhaps the Witches thought so too, for they
never dared oppose me. I ordered the Emerald City to be
built just where the four countries cornered together, and
when it was completed I announced myself the Ruler
of the Land of Oz, which included all the four coun-
tries of the Munchkins, the Gillikins, the Winkies and the
Quadlings. Over this Land I ruled in peace for many years,
165
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
until I grew old and longed to see my native city once
again. So when Dorothy was first blown to this place by
a cyclone I arranged to go away with her in a balloon ; but
the balloon escaped too soon and carried me back alone.
After many adventures I reached Omaha, only to find that
all my old friends were dead or had moved away. So, having
nothing else to do, I joined a circus again, and made my bal-
loon ascensions until the earthquake caught me."
"That is quite a history," said Ozma; '^but there is a
little more history about the Land of Oz that you do not
seem to understand — perhaps for the reason that no one ever
told it you. Many years before you came here this Land was
united under one Ruler, as it is now, and the Ruler's name
was always 'Oz*, which means in our language 'Great and
Good' ; or, if the Ruler happened to be a woman, her name
was always *Ozma.* But once upon a time four Witches
leagued together to depose the king and rule the four parts
of the kingdom themselves; so when the Ruler, my grand-
father, was hundng one day, one Wicked Witch named
Mombi stole him and carried him away, keeping him a close
prisoner. Then the Witches divided up the kingdom, and
ruled the four parts of it unril you came here. That was
why the people were so glad to see you, and why they thought
from your initials that you were their rightful ruler."
166
Old Friends are Reunited
"But, at that time/' said the Wizard, thoughtfully,
"there were two Good Witches and two Wicked Witches
ruling in the land."
"Yes," replied Ozma, "because a good Witch had con-
quered Mombi in the North and Glinda the Good had con-
quered the evil Witch in the South. But Mombi was still
my grandfather's jailor, and afterward my father's jailor.
When I was born she transformed me into a boy, hoping
that no one would ever recognize me and know that I was
the rightful Princess of the Land of Oz. But I escaped from
her and am now the Ruler of my people."
"I am very glad of that," said the Wizard, "and hope you
will consider me one of your most faithful and devoted sub-
jects."
"We owe a great deal to the Wonderful Wizard," con-
tinued the Princess, "for it was you who built this splendid
Emerald City."
"Your people built it," he answered. "I only bossed the
job, as we say in Omaha."
"But you ruled it wisely and well for many years," said
she, "and made the people proud of your magical art. So,
as you are now too old to wander abroad and work in a
circus, I offer you a home here as long as you live. You shall
be the Official Wizard of my kingdom, and be treated with
every respect and consideration."
167
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
"I accept your kind offer with gratitude, gracious Prin-
cess," the little man said, in a soft voice, and they could all
see that tear-drops were standing in his keen old eyes. It
meant a good deal to him to secure a home like this.
"He's only a humbug Wizard, though," said Dorothy,
smiling at him.
''And that is the safest kind of a Wizard to have," replied
Ozma, promptly.
"Oz can do some good tricks, humbug or no humbug,"
announced Zeb, who was now feeling more at ease.
"He shall amuse us with his tricks tomorrow," said the
Princess. "I have sent messengers to summon all of Doro-
thy's old friends to meet her and give her welcome, and they
ought to arrive very soon, now."
Indeed, the dinner was no sooner finished than in rushed
the Scarecrow, to hug Dorothy in his padded arms and tell
her how glad he was to see her again. The Wizard was also
most heartily welcomed by the straw man, who was an
important personage in the Land of Oz.
"How are your brains^" enquired the little humbug, as
he grasped the soft, stuffed hands of his old friend.
"Working finely," answered the Scarecrow. *Tm very
certain, Oz, that you gave me the best brains in the world,
for I can think with them day and night, when all other
brains are fast asleep."
168
Old Friends are Reunited
"How long did you rule the Emerald City, after I left
here?" was the next question.
"Quite awhile, until I was conquered by a girl named
General Jinjur. But Ozma soon conquered her, with the
help of Glinda the Good, and after that I went to live with
Nick Chopper, the Tin Woodman."
Just then a loud cackling was heard outside; and, when
a servant threw open the door with a low bow, a yellow
hen strutted in. Dorothy sprang forward and caught the
fluffy fowl in her arms, uttering at the same time a glad cry.
"Oh, Billinal" she said; "how fat and sleek you've
grown."
"Why shouldn't I?" asked the hen. In a sharp, clear
voice. "I live on the fat of the land — don't I, Ozma?"
"You have everything you wish for," said the Princess.
Around Billina's neck was a string of beautiful pearls,
and on her legs were bracelets of emeralds. She nestled
herself comfortably in Dorothy's lap until the kitten gave
a snarl of jealous anger and leaped up with a sharp claw
fiercely bared to strike Billina a blow. But the little girl
gave the angr>' kitten such a severe cuff that it jumped down
again without daring to scratch.
"How horrid of you, Eureka!" cried Dorothy. "Is that
the way to treat my friends?"
169
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
"You have queer friends, seems to me/* replied the
kitten, in a surly tone.
"Seems to me the same way," said Billina, scornfully, "if
that beastly cat is one of them."
"Look here!" said Dorothy, sternly. "I won't have any
quarrelling in the Land of Oz, I can tell you I Everybody
lives in peace here, and loves everybody else; and unless you
two, Billina and Eureka, make up and be friends, I'll take
my Magic Belt and wish you both home again, immejitly.
So, there I"
They were both much frightened at the threat, and prom-
ised meekly to be good. But it was never noticed that they
became very warm friends, for all of that.
And now the Tin Woodman arrived, his body most beau-
tifully nickle-plated, so that it shone splendidly in the bril-
liant light of the room. The Tin Woodman loved Dorothy
most tenderly, and welcomed with joy the return of the little
old Wizard.
"Sir," said he to the latter, "I never can thank you enough
for the excellent heart you once gave me. It has made me
many friends, I assure you, and it beats as kindly and lov-
ingly today as it ever did."
"Lm glad to hear that," said the Wizard, *1 was afraid
it would get moldy in that tin body of yours."
170
Old Friends are Reunited
''Not at all," returned Nick Chopper. "It keeps finely,
being preserved in my air-tight chest."
Zeb was a little shy when first introduced to these queer
people; but they were so friendly and sincere that he soon
grew to admire them very much, even finding some good
qualities in the yellow hen. But he became nervous again
when the next visitor was announced.
"This," said Princess Ozma, "is my friend Mr. H. M.
Woggle-Bug, T. E., who assisted me one time when I was in
great distress, and is now the Dean of the Royal College of
Athletic Science."
"Ah," said the Wizard; "I'm pleased to meet so dis-
tinguished a personage."
"H. M.," said the Woggle-Bug, pompously, "means
Highly Magnified; and T. E. means Thoroughly Educated.
I am, in reality, a very big bug, and doubtless the most
intelligent being in all this broad domain."
"How well you disguise it," said the Wizard. "But
I don't doubt your word in the least."
"Nobody doubts it, sir," replied the Woggle-Bug, and
drawing a book from its pocket the strange insect turned its
back on the company and sat down in a corner to read.
Nobody minded this rudeness, which might have seemed
more impolite in one less thoroughly educated; so they
171
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
straightway forgot him and joined in a merry conversation
that kept them well amused until bed-time arrived.
172
CJKIAF^IE.]^ , U
IM the Cab-horse found himself in possession
of a large room with a green marble floor and
carved marble wainscoting, which was so
stately in its appearance that it would have
awed anyone else. Jim accepted it as a mere
detail, and at his command the attendants
gave his coat a good rubbing, combed his mane
and tail, and washed his hoofs and fetlocks.
Then they told him dinner would be served
directly and he replied that they could not
serve it too quickly to suit his convenience.
First they brought him a steaming bowl of
soup, which the horse eyed in dismay.
"Take that stuff away I" he commanded. "Do you take
mc for a salamander?"
173
Litde Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
They obeyed at once, and next served a fine large turbot
on a silver platter, with drawn gravey poured over it.
*Tish!" cried Jim, with a sniff. "Do you take me for a
tom-cat? Away with it!"
The servants were a little discouraged, but soon they
brought in a great tray containing two dozen nicely roasted
quail on toast.
"Well, well!*' said the horse, now thoroughly provoked.
"Do you take me for a weasel? How stupid and ignorant
you are, in the Land of Oz, and what dreadful things you
feed upon! Is there nothing that is decent to cat in this
palace?"
The trembling servants sent for the Royal Steward, who
came in haste and said:
"What would your Highness like for dinner?"
"Highness!" repeated Jim, who was unused to such
titles.
"You are at least six feet high, and that is higher than
any other animal in this country," said the Steward.
"Well, my Highness would like some oats," declared
the horse.
"Oats? We have no whole oats," the Steward replied,
with much defference. "But there is any quantity of oat-
meal, which we often cook for breakfast. Oatmeal is a
breakfast dish," added the Steward, humbly.
174
Jim, the Cab-Horse
*T11 make it a dinner dish," said Jim. "Fetch it on,
but don't cook it, as you value your life."
You see, the respect shown the worn-out old cab-horse
made him a little arrogant, and he forgot he was a guest,
never having been treated otherwise than as a servant since
tlie day he was born, until his arrival in the Land of Oz.
But the royal attendants did not heed the animal's ill tem-
per. They soon mixed a tub of oatmeal with a little water,
and Jim ate it with much relish.
Then the servants heaped a lot of rugs upon the floor
and the old horse slept on the softest bed he had ever known
in his life.
In the morning, as soon as it was daylight, he resolved
to take a walk and try to find some grass for breakfast;
so he ambled calmly through the handsome arch of the door-
way, turned the comer of the palace, wherein all seemed
asleep, and came face to face with the Sawhorse.
Jim stopped abruptly, being startled and amazed. The
Sawhorse stopped at the same time and stared at the other
with its queer protruding eyes, which were mere knots in
the log that formed its body. The legs of the Sawhorse
were four sticks driven into holes bored in the log; its tail
was a small branch that had been left by accident and its
mouth a place chopped in one end of the body which pro-
175
JIM STARED AT THE SAWHORSE
Jim, the Cab-Horse
jccted a little and served as a head. The ends of the wooden
legs were shod with plates of solid gold, and the saddle of
the Princess Ozma, which was of red leather set with spark-
ling diamonds, was strapped to the clumsy body.
Jim's eyes stuck out as much as those of the Sawhorse,
and he stared at the creature with his ears erect and his long
head drawn back until it rested against his arched neck.
In this comical position the two horses circled slowly
around each other for a while, each being unable to realize
what the singular thing might be which it now beheld for
the first time. Then Jim exlaimed:
*Tor goodness sake, what sort of a being are you?"
*Tm a Sawhorse," replied the other.
**0h; I believe I've heard of you," said the cab-horse;
''but you are unlike anything that I expected to see."
"I do not doubt it," the Sawhorse observed, with a tone
of pride. "I am considered quite unusual."
"You are, indeed. But a rickety wooden thing like you
has no right to be alive."
"I couldn't help it," returned the other, rather crest-
fallen. "Ozma sprinkled me with a magic powder, and I
just had to live. I know I'm not much account; but I'm
the only horse in all the Land of Oz, so they treat mc with
great respect."
177
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
"You, a horse!"
"Oh, not a real one, of course. There are no real horses
here at all. But I'm a splendid imitation of one."
Jim gave an indignant neigh.
"Look at me I" he cried. "Behold a real horse I"
The wooden animal gave a start, and then examined
the other intently.
"Is it possible that you are a Real Horsed" he mur-
mured.
"Not only possible, but true," replied Jim, who was
gratified by the impression he had created. "It is proved
by my fine points. For example, look at the long hairs on
my tail, with which I can whisk away the flies."
"The jflies never trouble me," said the Saw-Horse.
"And notice my great strong teeth, with which I nibble
the grass."
"It is not necessary for me to cat," observed the Saw-
horse.
"Also examinq my broad chest, which enables me to draw
deep, full breaths," said Jim, proudly.
"I have no need to breathe," returned the other.
"No; you miss many pleasures," remarked the cab-horse,
pityingly. "You do not know the relief of brushing away
a fly that has bitten you, nor the delight of eating delicious
178
Jim, the Cab - Horse
food, nor the satisfaction of drawing a long breath of fresh,
pure air. You may be an imitation of a horse, but you re
a mighty poor one."
"Oh, I cannot hope ever to be like you," sighed the Saw-
horse. "But I am glad to meet at last a Real Horse. You
arc certainly the most beautiful creature I ever beheld."
This praise won Jim completely. To be called beauti-
ful was a novelty in his experience. Said he:
"Your chief fault, my friend, is in being made of wood,
and that I suppose you cannot help. Real horses, like my-
self, arc made of flesh and blood and bones."
*T. can see the bones all right," replied the Sawhorse,
"and they are admirable and distinct. Also I can sec the
flesh. But the blood, I suppose, is tucked away inside."
"Exactly," said Jim-
"What good is it^" asked the Sawhorse.
Jim did not know, but he would not tell the Sawhorse
that.
"If anything cuts me," he replied, "the blood runs out
to show where I am cut. You, poor thing! cannot even
bleed when you arc hurt."
"But I am never hurt," said the Sawhorse. "Once in
a while I get broken up some, but I am easily repaired and
put in good order again. And I never feel a break or a
splinter in the least."
179
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
Jim was almost tempted to envy the wooden horse for
being unable to feel pain; but the creature was so absurdly
unnatural that he decided he would not change places with
it under any circumstances.
**How did you happen to be shod with gold?'* he asked.
*Trinccss Ozma did that," was the reply; "and it saves
my legs from wearing out. We've had a good many ad-
ventures together, Ozma and I, and she likes me."
The cab-horse was about to reply when suddenly he gave
a start and a neigh of terror and stood trembling like a leaf.
For around the corner had come two enormous savage
beasts, treading so lightly that they were upon him before
he was aware of their presence. Jim was in the act of plung-
ing down the path to escape when the Sawhorse cried out :
''Stop, my brother! Stop, Real Horse I These arc
friends, and will do you no harm.'*
Jim hesitated, eyeing the beasts fearfully. One was an
enormous Lion with clear, intelligent eyes, a tawney mane
bushy and well kept, and a body like yellow plush. The
other was a great Tiger with purple stripes around his lithe
body, powerful limbs, and eyes that showed through the
half closed lids like coals of fire. The huge forms of these
monarchs of the forest and jungle were enough to strike
terror to the stoutest heart, and it is no wonder Jim was
afraid to face them.
180
Jim, the Cab-Horse
But the Sawhorse introduced the stranger in a calm tone,
saying
"This, noble Horse, is my friend the Cowardly Lion,
who is the valiant King of the Forest, but at the same time a
faithful vassal of Princess Ozma. And this is the Hungry
Tiger, the terror of the jungle, who longs to devour fat
babies but is prevented by his conscience from doing so.
These royal beasts are both warm friends of little Dorothy
and have come to the Emerald City this morning to wel-
come her to our fairyland."
Hearing these words Jim resolved to conquer his alarm.
He bowed his head with as much dignity as he could muster
toward the savage looking beasts, who in return nodded in
a friendly way.
"Is not the Real Horse a beautiful animal?" asked the
Sawhorse admiringly.
"That is doubtless a matter of taste," returned the Lion.
"In the forest he would be thought ungainly, because his
face is stretched out and his neck is uselessly long. His
joints, I notice, arc swollen and overgrown, and he lacks
flesh and is old in years."
"And dreadfully tough," added the Hungry Tiger, in
a sad voice. "My conscience would never permit me to
cat so tough a morsel as the Real Horse."
181
Litde Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
'Tm glad of that," said Jim; "for I, also, have a con-
science, and it tells me not to crush in your skull with a blow
of my powerful hoof."
If he thought to frighten the striped beast by such lan-
guage he was mistaken. The Tiger seemed to smile, and
winked one eye slowly.
"You have a good conscience, friend Horse," it said,
"and if you attend to its teachings it will do much to pro-
tect you from harm. Some day I will let you try to crush in
my skull, and afterward you will know more about tigers
than you do now."
"Any friend of Dorothy," remarked the Cowardly Lion,
"must be our friend, as well. So let us cease this talk of
skull crushing and converse upon more pleasant subjects.
Have you breakfasted, Sir Horse?"
'"Not yet," replied Jim. ''But here is plenty of excel-
lent clover, so if you will excuse me I will eat now."
"He's a vegetarian," remarked the Tiger, as the horse
began to munch the clover. "If I could eat grass I would
not need a conscience, for nothing could then tempt me to
devour babies and lambs."
Just then Dorothy, who had risen early and heard the
voices of the animals, ran out to greet her old friends. She
hugged both the Lion and the Tiger with eager delight,
182
Ji
im, the Cab-Horse
but seemed to love the King of Beasts a little better than
she did his hungry friend, having known him longer.
By the time they had indulged in a good talk and Dor-
othy had told them all about the awful earthquake and her
recent adventures, the breakfast bell rang from the palace
and the little girl went inside to join her human conu-ades.
As she entered the great hall a voice called out, in a rather
harsh tone:
"What I are you here again*?'*
"Yes, I am," she answered, looking all around to sec
where the voice came from.
"What brought you back^'* was the next question, and
Dorotliy's eye rested on an an tiered head hanging on the
wall just over the fireplace, and caught its lips in the act
of moving.
"Good gracious!" she exclaimed. "I thought you were
stuffed."
"So I am," replied the head. "But once on a time I was
part of the Gump, which Ozma sprinkled with the Powder
of Life. I was then for a time the Head of the finest Flying
Machine that was ever known to exist, and we did many
wonderful things. Afterward the Gump was taken apart
and I was put back on this wall; but I can still talk when
I feel in the mood, which is not often."
183
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
"It's very strange," said the girl. "What were you
when you were first alive?"
"That I have forgotten," replied the Gump's Head,
"and I do not think it is of much importance. But here
comes Ozma; so I'd better hush up, for the Princess doesn't
like me to chatter since she changed her name from Tip to
Ozma."
Just then the girlish Ruler of Oz opened the door and
greeted Dorothy with a good-morning kiss. The little
Princess seemed fresh and rosy and in good spirits.
"Breakfast is served, dear," she said, "and I am hungry.
So don't let us keep it waiting a single minute."
CH.A3PJ^JE,Jg^ i^.
TlriflE/
WI
FTER breakfast Ozma announced that she
had ordered a holiday to be observed through-
out the Emerald City, in honor of her visitors.
The people had learned that their old Wizard
had returned to them and all were anxious to
see him again, for he had always been a rare
favorite. So first there was to be a grand pro-
cession through the streets, after which the lit-
tle old man was requested to perform some of
his wizardries in the great Throne Room of
the palace. In the afternoon there were to be
games and races.
The procession was very imposing. First
came the Imperial Cornet Band of Oz, dressed in emerald vel-
vet uniforms with slashes of pea-green satin and buttons of
185
Litde Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
immense cut emeralds. They played the National air
called *The Oz Spangled Banner," and behind them were
the standard bearers with the Royal flag. This flag was
divided into four quarters, one being colored sky-blue,
another pink, a third lavender and a fourth white. In the
center was a large emerald-green star, and all over the four
quarters were sewn spangles that glittered beautifully in
the sunshine. The colors represented the four countries of
Oz, and the green star the Emerald City.
Just behind the royal standard-bearers came the Prin-
cess Ozma in her royal chariot, which was of gold encrusted
with emeralds and diamonds set in exquisite designs. The
chariot was drawn on this occasion by the Cowardly Lion
and the Hungry Tiger, who were decorated with immense
pink and blue bows. In the chariot rode Ozma and Dor-
othy, the former in splendid raiment and wearing her royal
coronet, while the little Kansas girl wore around her waist
the Magic Belt she had once captured from the Nome King.
Following the chariot came the Scarecrow mounted on
the Sawhorse, and the people cheered him almost as
loudly as they did their lovely Ruler. Behind him stalked
with regular, jerky steps, the famous machine-man called
Tik-tok, who had been wound up by Dorothy for the occa-
sion. Tik-tok moved by clockwork, and was made all of
186
The Nine Tiny Piglets
burnished copper. He really belonged to the Kansas girl,
who had much respect for his thoughts after they had been
properly wound and set going; but as the copper man
would be useless in any place but a fairy country Dorothy
had left him in charge of Ozma, who saw that he was suit-
ably cared for.
There followed another band after this, which was
called the Royal Court Band, because the members all lived
in the palace. They wore white uniforms with real dia-
mond buttons and played ''What is Oz without Ozma"
very sweetly.
Then came Professor Woggle-Bug, with a group of stu-
dents from the Royal College of Scientific Athletics. The
boys wore long hair and striped sweaters and yelled theii
college yell every other step they took, to the great satis*
faction of the populace, which was glad to have this evi-
dence that their lungs were in good condition.
The brilliantly polished Tin Woodman marched next,
at the head of the Royal Army of Oz which consisted of
twenty-eight officers, from Generals down to Captains.
There were no privates in the army because all were so
courageous aiid skillful that they had been promoted one
by one until there were no privates left. Jim and the
buggy followed, the old cab-horse bemg driven by Zeb
187
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
while the Wizard stood up on the seat and bowed his bald
head right and left in answer to the cheers of the people,
who crowded thick about him.
Taken altogether the procession was a grand success,
and when it had returned to the palace the citizens crowded
into the great Throne Room to see the Wizard perform his
tricks.
The first thing the little humbug did was to produce a
tiny white piglet from underneath his hat and pretend to
pull it apart, making two. This act he repeated until all
of the nine tiny piglets were visible, and they were so glad
to get out of his pocket that they ran around in a very lively
manner. The pretty little creatures would have been a
novelty anywhere, so the people were as amazed and
delighted at their appearance as even the Wizard could have
desired. When he had made them all disappear again Ozma
declared she was sorry they were gone, for she wanted one of
them to pet and play with. So the Wizard pretended to take
one of the piglets out of the hair r»f the Princess (while really
he slyly took it from his inside pocket) and Ozma smiled joy-
ously as the creature nestled in her arms, and she promised
to have an emerald collar made for its fat neck and to keep
the little squealer always at hand to amuse her.
Afterward it was noticed that the Wizard always per-
18S
The Nine Tiny Piglets
formed his famous trick with eight piglets, but it seemed to
please the people just as well as if there had been nine of
them.
In his little room back of the Throne Room the Wizard
had found a lot of things he had left behind him when he
went away in the balloon, for no one had occupied the apart-
ment in his absence. There was enough material there to
enable him to prepare several new tricks which he had
learned from some of the jugglers in the circus, and he had
passed part of the night in getting them ready. So he fol-
lowed the trick of the nine tiny piglets with several other
wonderful feats that greatly delighted his audience and the
people did not seem to care a bit whether the little man was
a humbug Wizard or not, so long as he succeeded in amusing
them. They applauded all his tricks and at the end of the
performance begged him earnestly not to go away again and
leave them.
"In that case," said the little man, gravely, "I will can-
cel all of my engagements before the crowned heads of
Europe and America and devote myself to the people of Oz,
for I love you all so well that I can deny you nothing."
After the people had been dismissed with this promise
our friends joined Princess Ozma at an elaborate luncheon in
the palace, where even the Tiger and the Lion were sump-
189
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
tuously fed and Jim the Cab-horse ate his oatmeal out of a
golden bowl with seven rows of rubies, sapphires and dia-
monds set around the rim of it.
In the afternoon they all went to a great field outside
the city gates where the games were to be held. There was
a beautiful canopy for Ozma and her guests to sit under and
watch the people run races and jump and wrestle. You may
be sure the folks of Oz did their best with such a distin-
guished company watching them, and finally Zeb offered
to wrestle with a little Munchkin who seemed to be the
champion. In appearance he was twice as old as Zeb, for
he had long pointed whiskers and wore a peaked hat with
little bells all around the brim of it, which tinkled gaily as
he moved. But although the Munchkin was hardly tall
enough to come to Zeb's shoulder he was so strong and clever
that he laid the boy three times on his back with apparent
ease.
Zeb was greatly astonished at his defeat, and when the
pretty Princess joined her people in laughing at him he pro-
posed a boxing-match with the Munchkin, to which the little
Ozite* readily agreed. But the first time that Zeb managed
to give him a sharp box on the ears the Munchkin sat down
upon the ground and cried until the tears ran down his
whiskers, because he had been hurt. This made Zeb laugh, in
190
The Nine Tiny Piglets
turn, and the boy felt comforted to find that Ozma laughed as
merrily at her weeping subject as she had at him.
Just then the Scarecrow proposed a race between the Saw-
horse and the Cab-horse; and although all the others were
delighted at the suggestion the Sawhorse drew back, saying:
''Such a race would not be fair.'*
'*0f course not," added Jim, with a touch of scorn; "those
little wooden legs of 3'ours are not half as long as my own."
"It isn't that," said the Sawhorse, modestly; "but I never
tire, and you do."
"Bah I" cried Jim, looking with great disdain at the other;
"do you imagine for an instant that such a shabby imitation
of a horse as you are can run as fast as I?"
"I don't know, I'm sure," replied the Sawhorse.
"That is what we are trying to find out," remarked the
Scarecrow. "The object of a race is to see who can win it —
or at least that is what my excellent brains think."
"Once, when I was young," said Jim, "I was a race horse,
and defeated all who dared run against me. I was born in
Kentucky, you know, where all the best and most aristocratic
horses come from."
"But you're old, now, Jim," suggested Zeb.
"Old! Why, I feel like a colt today," replied Jim. "I
only wish there was a real horse here for me to race with. I'd
show the people a fine sight, I can tell you.'*
191
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
'Then why not race with the Sawhorse?" enquired the
Scarecrow.
"He's afraid," said Jim.
"Oh, no," answered the Sawhorse. *1 merely said it
wasn't fair. But if my friend the Real Horse is willing to
undertake the race I am quite ready."
So they unharnessed Jim and took the saddle off the Saw-
horse, and the two queerly matched animals were stood side
by side for the start.
"When I say 'Go I' " Zeb called to them, "you must dig
out and race until you reach those three trees you see over
yonder. Then circle 'round them and come back again.
The first one that passes the place where the Princess sits
shall be named the winner. Are you ready *?"
"I suppose I ought to give the wooden dummy a good
start of me," growled Jim.
"Never mind that," said the Sawhorse. "I'll do the best
can.
"Go I" cried Zeb; and at the word the two horses leaped
forward and the race was begun.
Jim's big hoofs pounded away at a great rate, and
although he did not look very graceful he ran in a way to do
credit to his Kentucky breeding. But the Sawhorse was
swifter than the wind. Its wooden legs moved so fast that
192
THE HUNGRY TIGER TEACHES JIM A LESSON
Litde Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
their twinkling could scarcely be seen, and although so much
smaller than the cab-horse it covered the ground much faster.
Before they had reached the trees the Sawhorse was far
ahead, and the wooden animal returned to the starting place
and was being lustily cheered by the Ozites before Jim came
panting up to the canopy where the Princess and her friends
were seated.
I am sorry to record the fact that Jim was not only
ashamed of his defeat but for a moment lost control of his
temper. As he looked at the comical face of the Sawhorse
he imagined that the creature was laughing at him; so in a
fit of unreasonable anger he turned around and made a
vicious kick that sent his rival tumbling head over heels upon
the ground, and broke off one of its legs and its left ear.
An instant later the Tiger crouched and launched its huge
body through the air swift and resistless as a ball from a
cannon. The beast struck Jim full on his shoulder and sent
the astonished cab-horse rolling over and over, amid shouts
of delight from the spectators, who had been horrified by the
ungracious act he had been guilty of.
When Jim came to himself and sat upon his haunches he
found the Cowardly Lion crouched on one side of him and
the Hungry Tiger on the other, and their eyes were glowing
like balls of fire.
194
The Nine Tiny Piglets
"I beg your pardon, I'm sure," said Jim, meekly. "I was
wrong to kick the Sawhorse, and I am sorry I became angry
at him. He has won the race, and won it fairly; but what
can a horse of flesh do against a tireless beast of wood?"
Hearing this apology the Tiger and the Lion stopped
lashing their tails and retreated with dignified steps to the
side of the Princess.
"No one must injure one of our friends in our presence,"
growled the Lion; and Zeb ran to Jim and whispered that
unless he controlled his temper in the future he would prob-
ably be torn to pieces.
Then the Tin Woodman cut a straight and strong limb
from a tree with his gleaming axe and made a new leg and
a new car for the Sawhorse; and when they had been
securely fastened in place Princess Ozma took the coronet
from her own head and placed it upon that of the winner of
the race. Said she :
"My friend, I reward you for your swiftness by proclaim-
ing you Prince of Horses, whether of wood or of flesh; and
hereafter all other horses — in the Land of Oz, at least — must
be considered imitations, and you the real Champion of your
race."
There was more applause at this, and then Ozma had
the jewelled saddle replaced upon the Sawhorse and her-
195
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
self rode the victor back to the city at the head of the grand
procession.
"I ought to be a fairy/' grumbled Jim, as he slowly drew
the buggy home; *'for to be just an ordinary horse in a fairy
country is to be of no account whatever. It's no place for
us, Zeb."
*'It's lucky we got here, though," said the boy; and Jim
thought of the dark cave, and agreed with him.
196
CM-AJ>^ES^ U®.
MM/
EVERAL days of festivity and merry-making
followed, for such old friends did not often
meet and there was much to be told and talked
over between them, and many amusements to
be enjoyed in this delightful country.
Ozma was happy to have Dorothy beside
her, for girls of her own age with whom it was
proper for the Princess to associate were very
few, and often the youthful Ruler of Oz was
lonely for lack of companionship.
It was the third morning after Dorothy's
arrival, and she was sitting with Ozma and
their friends in a reception room, talking over
old times, when the Princess said to her maid:
'Tlease go to my boudoir, Jellia, and get the white piglet
I left on the dressing-table. I want to play with it."
197
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
Jellia at once departed on the errand, and she was gone
so long that they had almost forgotten her mission when the
green robed maiden returned with a troubled face.
"The piglet is not there, your Highness," said she.
*'Not there!" exclaimed Ozma. "Are you sure?'
**I have hunted in every part of the room," the maid
replied.
"Was not the door closed?' asked the Princess.
"Yes, your Highness; I am sure it was; for when I opened
it Dorothy's white kitten crept out and ran up the stairs."
Hearing this, Dorothy and the Wizard exchanged
startled glances, for they remembered how often Eureka had
longed to eat a piglet. The little girl jumped up at once.
"Come, Ozma," she said, anxiously; "let us go ourselves
to search for the piglet."
So the two went to the dressing-room of the Princess and
searched carefully in every corner and among the vases and
baskets and ornaments that stood about the pretty boudoir.
But not a trace could they find of the tiny creature they
sought.
Dorothy was nearly weeping, by this time, while Ozma
was angry and indignant. When they returned to the others
the Princess said :
"There is little doubt that my pretty piglet has been
198
The Trial of Eureka, the Kitten
eaten by that horrid kitten, and if that is true the offender
must be punished."
"I don't b'lieve Eureka would do such a dreadful thing I"
cried Dorothy, much distressed. "Go and get my kitten,
please, Jellia, and we'll hear what she has to say about it."
The green maiden hastened away, but presently returned
and said:
"The kitten will not come. She threatened to scratch my
eyes out if I touched her."
"Where is she?" asked Dorothy.
"Under the bed in your own room," was the reply.
So Dorothy ran to her room and found the kitten under
the bed.
"Come here. Eureka I" she said.
"I won*t," answered the kitten, in a surly voice.
"Oh, Eureka! Why are you so bad?'
The kitten did not reply.
"If you don't come to me, right away," continued Doro-
thy, getting provoked, "I'll take my Magic Belt and wish
you in the Country of the Gurgles."
"Why do you want me?" asked Eureka, disturbed by this
threat.
"You must go to Princess Ozma. She wants to talk to
you."
199
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
*'All right," returned the kitten, creeping out. "I'm not
afraid of Ozma — or anyone else."
Dorothy carried her in her arms back to where the others
sat in grieved and thoughtful silence.
"Tell me, Eureka," said the Princess, gently: "did you
eat my pretty piglet?"
"I won't answer such a foolish question," asserted
Eureka, with a snarl.
"Oh, yes you will, dear," Dorothy declared. "The piglet
is gone, and you ran out of the room when Jellia opened the
door. So, if you are innocent. Eureka, you must tell the
Princess how you came to be in her room, and what has
become of the piglet."
"Who accuses me?" asked the kitten, defiantly.
"No one," answered Ozma. "Your actions alone accuse
you. The fact is that I left my little pet in my dressing-room
lying asleep upon the table; and you must hove stolen in
without my knowing it. When next the door was opened
you ran out and hid yourself — and the piglet was gone."
"That's none of my business," growled the kitten.
"Don't be impudent, Eureka," admonished Dorothy.
"It is you who are impudent," said Eureka, "for accusing
me of such a crime when you can't prove it except by
guessing."
200
The Trial of Eureka, the Kitten
Ozma was now greatly incensed by the kitten's conduct.
She summoned her Captain-General, and when the long, lean
officer appeared she said :
*'Carry this cat away to prison, and keep her in safe con-
finement until she is tried by law for the crime of murder."
So the Captain-General took Eureka from the arms of
the now weeping Dorothy and in spite of the kitten's snarls
and scratches carried it away to prison.
'"What shall we do now^" asked the Scarecrow, with a
sigh, for such a crime had cast a gloom over all the company.
**I will summon the Court to meet in the Throne Room
at three o'clock," replied Ozma. "I myself will be the judge,
and the kitten shall have a fair trial."
"What will happen if she is guilty*?" asked Dorothy.
"She must die," answered the Princess.
"Nine times?" enquired the Scarecrow.
"As many times as is necessary," was the reply. "I will
ask the Tin Woodman to defend the prisoner, because he has
such a kind heart I am sure he will do his best to save her.
And the Woggle-Bug shall be the Public Accuser, because
he is so learned that no one can deceive him."
"Who will be the jury*?" asked the Tii. Woodman.
"There ought to be several animals on the jury," said
Ozma, "because animals understand each other better than
201
PORTRAIT OF THE WIZARD OF OZ
ITie Trial of Eureka, the Kitten
we people understand them. So the jury shall consist of the
Cowardly Lion, the Hungry Tiger, Jim the Cab-horse, the
Yellow Hen, the Scarecrow, the Wizard, Tik-tok the
Machine Man, the Sawhorse and Zeb of Hugson's Ranch.
That makes the nine which the law requires, and all my peo-
ple shall be admitted to hear the testimony."
They now separated to prepare for the sad ceremony; for
whenever an appeal is made to law sorrow is almost certain
to follow — even in a fairyland like Oz. But it must be
stated that the people of that Land were generally so well-
behaved that there was not a single lawyer amongst them,
and it had been years since any Ruler had sat in judgment
upon an offender of the law. The crime of murder being the
most dreadful crime of all, tremendous excitement prevailed
in the Emerald City when the news of Eureka's arrest and
trial became known.
The Wizard, when he returned to his own room, was
exceedingly thoughtful. He had no doubt Eureka had eaten
his piglet, but he realized that a kitten cannot be depended
upon at all times to act properly, since its nature is to destroy
small animals and even birds for food, and the tame cat that
we keep in our houses today is descended from the wild cat
of the jungle — a very ferocious creature, indeed. The Wiz-
ard knew that if Dorothy's pet was found guilty and con*
203
Litde Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
demned to death the little girl would be made very unhappy;
so, although he grieved over the piglet's sad fate as much as
any of them, he resolved to save Eureka's life.
Sending for the Tin Woodman the Wizard took him into
a corner and whispered :
"My friend, it is your duty to defend the white kitten
and try to save her, but I fear you will fail because Eureka
has long wished to cat a piglet, to my certain knowledge,
and my opinion is that she has been unable to resist the temp-
tation. Yet her disgrace and death would not bring back the
piglet, but only serve to make Dorothy unhappy. So I
intend to prove the kitten's innocence by a trick/*
He drew from his inside pocket one of the eight tiny pig-
lets that were remaining and continued:
"This creature you must hide in some safe place, and if
the jury decides that Eureka is guilty you may then produce
this piglet and claim it is the one that was lost. All the pig-
lets are exactly alike, so no one can dispute your word. This
deception will save Eureka's life, and then we may all be
happy again."
"I do not like to deceive my friends," replied the Tin
Woodman; "still, my kind heart urges me to save Eureka's
life, and I can usually trust my heart to do the right thing.
So I will do as you say, friend Wizard."
204
The Trial of Eureka, the Kitten
After some thought he placed the little pig inside his fun-
nel-shaped hat, and then put the hat upon his head and went
back to his room to think over his speech to the jury.
205
CJKL^FSTJE,]^^
T three o'clock the Throne Room was crowded
with citizens, men, women and children being
eager to witness the great trial.
Princess Ozma, dressed in her m.ost splen-
did robes of state, sat in the magnificent em-
erald throne, with her jewelled sceptre in her
hand and her sparkling coronet upon her fair
brow. Behind her throne stood the twenty-
eight officers of her army and many officials of
the royal household. At her right sat the
queerly assorted Jury — animals, animated
dummies and people — all gravely prepared to
listen to what was said. The kitten had been
placed in a large cage just before the throne, where she sat
upon her haunches and gazed through the bars at the crowds
around her, with seeming unconcern.
206
The Wizard Performs Another Trick
And now, at a signal from Ozma, the Woggle-Bug arose
and addressed the jury. His tone was pompous and he
strutted up and down in an absurd attempt to appear dig-
nified.
"Your Royal Highness and Fellow Citizens," he began;
"the small cat you see a prisoner before you is accused of the
crime of first murdering and then eating our esteemed
Ruler's fat piglet — or else first eating and then murdering ic.
In either case a grave crime has been committed which
deserves a grave punishment."
"Do you mean my kitten must be put in a grave?" asked
Dorothy.
"Don't interrupt, little girl," said the Woggle-Bug.
"When I get my thoughts arranged in good order I do not
like to have anything upset them or throw them into con-
fusion."
"If your thoughts were any good they wouldn't become
confused," remarked the Scarecrow, earnestly. "My
thoughts are always "
"Is this a trial of thoughts, or of kittens'?" demanded the
Woggle-Bug."
"It's a trial of one kitten," replied the Scarecrow; "but
your manner is a trial to us all."
"Let the Public Accuser continue," called Ozma from
her throne, "and I pray you do not interrupt him."
207
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
**Thc criminal who now sits before the court licking her
paws," resumed the Woggle-Bug, "has long desired to
unlawfully eat the fat piglet, which was no bigger than a
mouse. And finally she made a wicked plan to satisfy her
depraved appetite for pork. I can sec her, in my mind's
eye "
"What's that?" asked the Scarecrow.
"I say I can see her in my mind's eye "
"The mind has no eye," declared the Scarecrow. "It's
blind."
"Your Highness," cried the Woggle-Bug, appealing to
Ozma, "have I a mind's eye, or haven't I?"
"If you have, it is invisible," said the Princess.
"Very true," returned the Woggle-Bug, bowing. "I say
I see the criminal, in my mind's eye, creeping steathily into
the room of our Ozma and secreting herself, when no one was
looking, until the Princess had gone away and the door was
closed. Then the murderer was alone with her helpless vic-
tim, the fat piglet, and I see her pounce upon the innocent
creature and eat it up "
"Are you still seeing with your mind's eye*?" enquired
the Scarecrow.
"Of course; how else could I sec it? And wc know the
thing is true, because since the time of that interview there is
no piglet to be found anywhere."
208
The Wizard Performs Another Trick
"I suppose, if the cat had been gone, instead of the pig
let, your mind's eye would see the piglet eating the cat/
suggested the Scarecrow.
"Very likely," acknowledged the Wogglc-Bug. **And
now, Fellow Citizens and Creatures of the Jury, I assert that
so awful a crime deserves death, and in the case of the fcro*
cious criminal before you — who is now washing her face—*
the death penalty should be inflicted nine times."
There was great applause when the speaker sat down
Then the Princess spoke in a stern voice :
"Prisoner, what have you to say for yourself? Arc you
guilty, or not guilty?"
"Why, that's for you to find out," replied Eureka. "If
you can prove I'm guilty, I'll be willing to die nine times,
but a mind's eye is no proof, because the Wogglc-Bug has
no mind to see with."
"Never mind, dear," said Dorothy.
Then the Tin Woodman arose and said:
"Respected Jury and dearly beloved Ozma, I pray you
not to judge this feline prisoner unfeelingly. I do not think
the innocent kitten can be guilty, and surely it is unkind to
accuse a luncheon of being a murder. Eureka is the sweet pet
of a lovely little girl whom we all admire, and gentleness and
innocence are her chief virtues. Look at the kitten's intclli-
209
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
gent eyes;" (here Eureka closed her eyes sleepily) "gaze
at her smiling countenance I" (here Eureka snarled and
showed her teeth) "mark the tender pose of her soft, padded
little hands I" (Here Eureka bared her sharp claws and
scratched at the bars of the cage.) "Would such a gentle
animal be guilty of eating a fellow creature'^ No; a thou-
sand times, no!"
"Oh, cut it short," said Eureka; "you've talked long
enough."
"I'm trying to defend you," remonstrated the Tin Wood-
man.
"Then say something sensible," retorted the kitten.
"Tell them it would be foolish for me to eat the piglet,
because I had sense enough to know it would raise a row if
I did. But don't try to make out I'm too innocent to eat a
fat piglet if I could do it and not be found out. I imagine it
would taste mighty good."
"Perhaps it would, to those who eat," remarked the Tin
Woodman. "I myself, not being built to eat, have no per-
sonal experience in such matters. But I remember that our
great poet once said :
" 'To eat is sweet
When hunger's seat
Demands a treat
Of savory meat.'
210
The Wizard Performs Another Trick
"Take this into consideration, friends of the Jury, and you
will readily decide that the kitten is wrongfully accused and
should be set at liberty."
When the Tin Woodman sat down no one applauded
him, for his arguments had not been very convincing and few
believed that he had proved Eureka's innocence. As for the
Jury, the members whispered to each other for a few minutes
and then they appointed the Hungry Tiger their spokesman.
The huge beast slowly arose and said:
''Kittens have no consciences, so they eat whatever
pleases them. The jury believes the white kitten known as
Eureka is guilty of having eaten the piglet owned by Prin-
cess Ozma, and recommends that she be put to death in pun-
ishment of the crime."
The judgment of the jury was received with great
applause, although Dorothy was sobbing miserably at the
fate of her pet. The Princess was just about to order Eure-
ka's head chopped off with the Tin Woodman's axe when
that brilliant personage once more arose and addressed her.
*'Your Highness," said he, "see how easy it is for a jury
to be mistaken. The kitten could not have eaten your pig-
let— for here it is!"
He took off his funnel hat and from beneath it produced
a tiny white piglet, which he held aloft that all might see it
clearly.
211
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
Ozma was delighted and exclaimed, eagerly:
"Give me my pet, Nick Chopnerl"
And all the people cheered and clapped their hands,
rejoicing that the prisoner had escaped death and been
proved to be innocent.
As the Princess held the white piglet in her arms and
stroked its soft hair she said: "Let Eureka out of the cage,
for she is no longer a prisoner, but our good friend. Where
did you find my missing pet, Nick Chopper?"
"In a room of the palace," he answered.
"Justice," remarked the Scarecrow, with a sigh, "is a
dangerous thing to meddle with. If you hadn't happened
to find the piglet, Eureka would surely have been executed."
"But justice prevailed at the last," said Ozma, "for here
is my pet, and Eureka is once more free."
"I refuse to be free," cried the kitten, in a sharp voice,
"unless the Wizard can do his trick with eight piglets. It
he can produce but seven, then this it not the piglet that was
lost, but another one."
"Hush, Eureka I" warned the Wizard.
"Don't be foolish," advised the Tin Woodman, "or you
may be sorry for it."
"The piglet that belonged to the Princess wore an emer-
ald collar," said Eureka, loudly enough for all to hear.
212
THE WIZARD PERFORMS ANOTHER TRICK
DOROTHY AND OZMA
The Wizard Performs Another Trick
"So it did I" exclaimed Ozma. "This cannot be the one
the Wizard gave me."
"Of course not; he had nine of them, altogether," de-
clared Eureka; "and I must say it was very stingy of him not
to let me eat just a few. But now that this foolish trial is
ended, I will tell you what really became of your pet piglet.'*
At this everyone in the Throne Room suddenly became
quiet, and the kitten continued, in a calm, mocking tone of
voice :
"I will confess that I intended to eat the little pig for my
breakfast; so I crept into the room where it was kept while
the Princess was dressing and hid myself under a chair.
When Ozma went away she closed the door and left her pet
on the table. At once I jumped up and told the piglet not
to make a fuss, for he would be inside of me in half a second;
but no one can teach one of these creatures to be reasonable.
Instead of keeping still, so I could eat him comfortably, he
trembled so with fear that he fell off the table into a big vase
that was standing on the floor. The vase had a very small
neck, and spread out at the top like a bowl. At first the pig-
let stuck in the neck of the vase and I thought I should get
him, after all, but he wriggled himself through and fell
down into the deep bottom part — and I suppose he's there
yet."
215
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
All were astonished at this confession, and Ozma at once
sent an officer to her room to fetch the vase. When he
returned the Princess looked down the narrow neck of the
big ornament and discovered her lost piglet, just as Eureka
had said she would.
There was no way to get the creature out without break-
ing the vase, so the Tin Woodman smashed it with his axe
and set the little prisoner free.
Then the crowd cheered lustily and Dorothy hugged the
kitten in her arms and told her how delighted she was to
know that she was innocent.
"But why didn't you tell us at first?" she asked.
**It would have spoiled the fun," replied the kitten,
yawning.
Ozma gave the Wizard back the piglet he had so kindly
allowed Nick Chopper to substitute for the lost one, and
then she carried her own into the apartments of the palace
where she lived. And now, the trial being over, the good
citizen's of the Emerald City scattered to their homes, well
content with the day's amusement.
216
Ci?^AFT-jaE-^ 2®.
IILWM
UREKA was much surprised to find herself in
disgrace ; but she was, in spite of the fact that
she had not eaten the piglet. For the folks of
Oz knew the kitten had tried to commit the
crime, and that only an accident had pre-
vented her from doing so; therefore even the
Hungry Tiger preferred not to associate with
her. Eureka was forbidden to wander around
the palace and was made to stay in confine-
ment in Dorothy's room; so she began to beg
her mistress to send her to some other place
where she could enjoy herself better,
Dorothy was herself anxious to get home,
so she promised Eureka they would not stay in the Land of
Oz much longer,
217
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
The next evening after the trial the little girl begged
Ozma to allow her to look in the enchanted picture, and the
Princess readily consented. She took the child to her room
and said: "Make your wish, dear, and the picture will show
the scene you desire to behold."
Then Dorothy found, with the aid of the enchanted pic-
ture, that Uncle Henry had returned to the farm in Kansas,
and she also saw that both he and Aunt Em were dressed in
mourning, because they thought their little niece had been
killed by the earthquake.
''Really," said the girl, anxiously, 'T must get back as
soon as poss'ble to my own folks."
Zeb also wanted to see his home, and although he did not
find anyone mourning for him, the sight of Hugson's Ranch
in the picture made him long to get back there.
"This is a fine country, and I like all the people that live
in it," he told Dorothy. "But the fact is, Jim and I don't
seem to fit into a fairyland, and the old horse has been
begging me to go home again ever since he lost the race. So,
if you can find a way to fix it, we'll be much obliged to you."
"Ozma can do it, easily," replied Dorothy. "Tomorrow
morning Til go to Kansas and you can go to Californy."
That last evening was so delightful that the boy will
never forget it as long as he lives. They were all together
218
Zeb Returns to the Ranch
(except Eureka) in the pretty rooms of the Princess, and the
Wizard did some new tricks, and the Scarecrow told stories,
and the Tin Woodman sang a love song in a sonorous,
metallic voice, and everybody laughed and had a good time.
Then Dorothy wound up Tik-tok and he danced a jig to
amuse the company, after which the Yellow Hen related
some of her adventures with the Nome King in the Land of
Ev.
The Princess served delicious refreshments to those who
were in the habit of eating, and when Dorothy's bed time ar-
rived the company separated after exchanging many friendly
sentiments.
Next morning they all assembled for the final parting,
and many of the officials and courtiers came to look upon
the impressive ceremonies. ^
Dorothy held Eureka in her arms and bade her friends a
fond good-bye.
"You must come again, some time," said the little Wiz-
ard; and she promised she would if she found it possible to
do so.
"But Uncle Plenry and Aunt Em need me to help them,"
she added, "so I can't ever be very long away from the farm
in Kansas."
Ozma wore the Magic Belt; and, when she had kissed
219
Little Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
Dorothy farewell and had made her wish, the little girl and
her kitten disappeared in a twinkling.
"Where is she'?" asked Zeb, rather bewildered by the
suddenness of it.
"Greeting her uncle and aunt in Kansas, by this time,"
returned Ozma, with a smile.
Then Zeb brought out Jim, all harnessed to the buggy,
and took his seat.
"I'm much obliged for all your kindness," said the boy,
"and very grateful to you for saving my life and sending me
home again after all the good times I've had. I think this
is the loveliest country in the world; but not being fairies
Jim and I feel we ought to be where we belong — and that's
at the ranch. Good-bye, everybody!"
He gave a start and rubbed his eyes. Jim was trotting
along the well-known road, shaking his ears and whisking
his tail with a contented motion. Just ahead of them were
the gates of Hugson's Ranch, and Uncle Hugson now came
out and stood with uplifted arms and wide open mouth, star-
ing in amazement.
"Goodness gracious! It's Zeb — and Jim, too!" he
exclaimed. "Where in the world have you been, my ladl"
"Why, in the world, Uncle," answered Zeb, with a
laugL
220
BY
L. FRANK BAUM
The Wizard of Oz
[Originally published as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz]
It is in this book that Oz is "discovered." A little Kansas girl-
Dorothy Gale— is carried in her house to Oz when a cyclone whisks it through
the sky. As the house lands in the Munchkin Country (one of the four great
countries of Oz) it destroys a wicked witch and sends Dorothy off on her first
adventure in Oz. She finds the Scarecrow, meets the Tin Woodman and the
Cowardly Lion, melts a second wicked witch with a pail of water and finds her
way home. Since this book appeared a half-century ago, we have learned many
marvelous things about the Land of Oz.
The Land of Oz
[Originally published as The Marvelous Land of Oz]
1 his sequel to The Wizard of Oz deals entirely with the early
history of Oz. No one from the United States or any other part of the "great
outside world" appears in it. It takes its readers on a series of incredible adven-
tures with Tip, a small bov who runs away from old Mombi, the witch, taking
with him Jack Pumpkinhead and the wooden Saw-Horse. The Scarecrow is King
of the Emerald City until he, Tip, Jack, and the Tin Woodman are forced to
flee the royal palace when it is invaded by General Jinjur and her army of re-
belling girls. The Land of Oz ends with an amazing surprise, and from that
moment on Ozma is princess of all Oz.
221
Ozjuci of Oz
r ew of the Oz books are as crowded with exciting Oz happen-
ines as this one. Not only does it brino; Dorothy back to Oz on her second visit,
but it introduces Dorothy to Ozma, rekites Ozma's first important adventure,
and introduces for the first time such famous Oz characters as Tik-Tok, the me-
chanical man, Billina the hen, the Hungry Tiger, and— ^/?6' Nome Kin<i! Most
of the adventures in this book take place outside Oz, in the Land of Ev and
the Nome Kingdom. Scarcely a page fails to quiver with excitement, magic and
adventure.
Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
vJf course, everyone always predicted it would happen! And in
this book it does— the Wizard comes back to Oz to stay. Best of all, he comes
with Dorothy, who is having adventure number three that leads her to Oz, this
time via a California earthquake. In this book we meet Dorothy's pink kitten,
Eureka, whose manners need adjusting badly, and two good friends who we
are sorry did not remain in Oz— Jim the cabhorse, and Zeb, Dorothy's young
cousin, who works on a ranch as a hired bov.
The Road to Oz
We like to think of this volume as "The Party Book of Oz."
Almost everyone loves a party, and when Ozma has a birthday party with
notables from eveiy part of fairyland attending— well! It is just like attending
Ozma's party in person. You meet the famous of Oz, and lots of others, such as
Queen Zixi of Ix, John Dough, Chick the Cherub, the Queen of Merryland, Para
Bruin the rubber bear and— best of all— Santa Claus himself! Of course there
are lots of adventures on that famous road to Oz before the party, during which
Dorothy, on her way to Oz for the fourth time, meets such heart-warming char-
acters as the Shaggy Man, Button-Bright, and lovely Polychrome, daughter of
the rainbow.
222
The Emerald City of Oz
llere is a "double" story of Oz. While Dorothv, her Aunt Em
and Uncle Henry experience the events that lead to their going to Oz to make
their home in the Emerald City, the wicked Nome King is plotting to conquer
Oz and enslave its people. Later we go with Dorothy and her friends in the
Red Wagon on a grand tour of Oz that is simply packed with excitement and
extents. While this transpires, we learn also of the Nome King's elaborate prepara-
tions to conquer Oz. As Dorothy and her friends return to the Emerald City,
the Nome King and his hordes of warriors are about to invade it. How Oz is
saved is an ending that will amaze and delight you.
The Patchvork Girl of Oz
rlere, the Patchwork Girl is brought to life by Dr. Pipt's magic
Powder of Life. From that moment on the action never slows down in this
exciting book. It tells of Ojo's quest for the strange ingredients necessary to
brew a magic liquid that will release his Unk Nunkie from a spell— the spell
cast by the Liquid of Petrefaction, which has turned him into a marble statue.
In addition to the Patchwork Girl, Ojo and Unk Nunkie, this book introduces
those famous Oz creatures, the Woozy, and Bungle the glass cat. Oz certainly
has become a merrier, happier land since the Patchwork Girl came to life, and
this is the book that tells how Scraps came to be made, how she was brought
to life, and all about her early adventures.
Tik-Tok of Oz
r or the second time a little girl from the United States comes
to Oz. Betsy Bobbin is shipwrecked in the Nonestic Ocean with her friend Hank
the mule. The two drift to shore in the Rose Kingdom on a fragment of wreck-
age. Betsy meets the Shaggy Man and accompanies him to the Nome Kingdom,
where Shaggy hopes to release his brother, a prisoner of the Nome King. On
223
their way to the Nome Kingdom, one fascinating adventure follows another.
They meet Queen Ann Soforth of Oogaboo and her army, and lovely Poly-
chrome, who had lost her rainbow again; they rescue Tik-Tok from a well; and
are dropped through a Hollow Tube to the other side of the world where they
meet Quox, the dragon. You'll find it one of the most exciting of all the Oz books.
The Scarecrow of Oz
1 his is the Oz book which L. Frank Baum considered his best.
It starts quietly enough with Trot and Cap'n Bill rowing along a shore of the
Pacific Ocean to visit one of the many caves near their home on the California
coast. Suddenly, a mighty whirlpool engulfs them. The old sailorman and the
little girl are miraculously saved and regain consciousness to find themselves in
a sea cavern. (To this day, Trot asserts she felt mermaid arms about her during
those terrible moments under water.) From here on, one perilous adventure
crowds in upon another. In Jinxland they meet the Scarecrow who takes charge
of things once Cap'n Bill is transformed into a tiny grasshopper with a wooden
leg. An exciting royal reception greets the adventurers upon their return to the
Emerald City.
Rmkitink in Oz
X rince Inga of Pingaree is the boy hero of this fine story of
peril-filled adventure in the islands of the Nonestic Ocean. King Rinkitink pro-
vides comic relief, and by the time you reach the final page you will love this
fat, jolly little king. Bilbil the goat, with his surly disposition, provides a fine
contrast to Rinkitink's merriment and Prince Inga's bravery and courage in the
face of danger. Some may say that the three magic pearls are the real heroes
of this story, but the pearls would have been of little use to King Kitticut and
Queen Garee if Prince Inga hadn't used them wisely and courageously.
224
The Lost Princess of Oz
Talk about Button-Bright getting Xost-Ozma is almost as bad!
This is actually the second time Ozma has been lost. As you know, once she was
"lost" for many years. But in this book she is lost for only a short time. As soon
as it is discovered that the ruler of Oz is lost— and with her all the important
magical instruments in Oz— search parties, one for each of the four countries
of Oz, set out to find her. We follow the adventures of the party headed by
Dorothy and the Wizard, who explore unknown parts of the Winkie Country in
search of Ozma. How Ozma is found, and where she has been, will surprise you.
Frogman, a new character, is introduced in this book.
The Tin Woodman of Oz
W oot the Wanderer causes this chapter of Oz history to transpire.
When Woot wanders into the splendid tin castle of Nick Chopper, the Tin
Woodman and Emperor of the Winkies, he meets the Scarecrow, who is visiting
his old friend. The Tin Woodman tells Woot the story of how he had once been
a flesh-and-blood woodman in love with a maiden named Nimmie Aimee. Woot
suggests that since the Tin Woodman now has a kind and loving heart, it is his
duty to find Nimmie Aimee and make her Empress of the Winkies. The Scare-
crow agrees, so the three set off to search for the girl. No less surprising than the
adventures encountered on the journey is Nimmie Aimee's reception of her
former suitor.
The Magic of Oz
Old Ruggedo, the former Nome King, comes to Oz for the
second time, and makes more trouble than he did on his first visit. Ruggedo
never gives up the idea of conquering Oz, and this time he has the advantage
of being in the country without Ozma's knowledge. Also, he has the magic and
somewhat grudging help of Kiki Aru, the Munchkin boy who is illegally prac-
ticing the art. If you like magic, then this is a book for you. There's magic on
every page, and everyone in the story eventually is transformed into something
225
else, or bewitched in one way or another. E\en the wild animals in the great
Forest of Giigu do not escape.
Gluhii of Oz
1 his is the last Oz book written by L. Frank Baum. It is one of
the best in the series, with Dorothy, Ozma, and Glinda in an adventure that
takes them to an amazing crystal-domed city on an enchanted island. This island
is situated in a lake in the Gillikin Country. Ozma and Glinda are confronted
by powerful magic and determined enemies. For a time Dorothy and Ozma
are prisoners in the crystal-domed city which is able to submerge below the
surface of the lake. Few of the Oz books equal this one in suspense and mys-
tery— a story that is truly "out of this w^orld."
,C^
226
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