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Books by L. Frank Baum

Illustrated by John R. Neill

UNIFORM WITH THIS VOLUME
Each book handiomely bound in artistic pictorial cover. $1.25 per volume

THE ROAD TO OZ

Tells liow to reacli tKe Magic City of Oz over a road leading tlirougK lands
of many colors, peopled with odd characters, and surcharged with adventure
suitable for the minds and imaginations of young children.

The manufacture represents an entirely new idea — the paper used is of va-
rious colors to indicate the several countries traversed by the road leading to
Oz and the Emerald City — likewise to strengthen the effect of JOHN R.
NEILL'S Wonderful Pictures.

Unique and gorgeous Jacket in colors and gold similar to that used on " Dorothy and the
Wizard in Oz."

THE LAND OF OZ

An account of the adventures of the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, Jack
Puinpkinhead, the Animated Saw-Horse, the Highly Magnified Woggle-Bug,
the Gump and many other delightful characters.

Nearly 150 black-and-white illustrations and sixteen full-page pictures in colors.

OZMA OF oz

The story tells "more about Dorothy," as well as those famous characters,
the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and the Cowardly Lion, and something of
several new creations equally delightful, including Tiktok the machine man, the
Yellow Hen, the Nome King and the Hungry Tiger.

Forty-one full-page colored pictures; twenty-two half pages in color and fifty black-and-white
text pictures; special end sheets, title page, copyright page, book plate, etc., etc.

DOROTHY AND THE WIZARD IN OZ

In this book Dorothy, with Zeb, a little boy friend, and Jim, the Cab Horse,
are swallowed up in an earthquake and reach a strange vegetable land, whence
they escape to the land of Oz, and meet all their old friends. Among the new
characters are Eureka, Dorothy s pink kitten, and the Nine Tiny Piglets.

Gorgeously illustrated with sixteen full color pages and nnmerous black-and-white pictures,
besides head and tail pieces, ornaments, etc.

JOHN DOUGH AND THE CHERUB

A whimsical tale portraying the exciting adventures of the
Gingerbread Man and his comrade Chick the Cherub in the
"Palace of Romance," the "Land of the Mifkets," "Highland
and Lowland, and other places.

Forty full-page colored pictures; twenty colored pictorial chapter headings;
100 black-and-white text pictures, special end sheets, title page, etc.

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THE EMERALD
CITY OF OZ

L. FRANK BAUM

AUTHOR OF THE ROAD TO OZ, DOROTHY AND THE WIZARD IN OZ.
THE LAND OF OZ, ETC.

CHICAGO

THE REILLY & BRITTON CO.

PUBLISHERS

ERHAPS I should admit on the title page that
this book is "By L. Frank Baum and his cor-
respondents," for I have used many suggestions
conveyed to me in letters from children. Once on
a time I really imagined myself "an author of fairy
tales," but now I am merely an editor or private
secretary for a host of youngsters whose ideas I am
requested to weave into the thread of my stories.

These ideas are often clever. They are also logical and
interesting. So I have used them whenever I could find an
opportunity, and it is but just that I acknowledge my in-
debtedness to my little friends.

My, what imaginations these children have developed!
Sometimes I am fairly astounded by their daring and genius.
There will be no lack of fairy-tale authors in the future, I
am sure. My readers- 'liav e rtold me,\vhat to do with Dor-
othy, and Aunt Em and -Unele Henry, and I have obeyed
their mandates. They have; also given me a variety of sub-
jects to write about in the future- enough, in fact, to keep
me busy for some time. I am very proud of this alliance.
Children love these stories because children have helped to
create them. My readers know what they want and realize
that I try to please them. The result is very satisfactory
to the publishers, to me, and (I am quite sure) to the children.
I hope, my dears, it will be a long time before /

we are obliged to dissolve partnership.

Coronado, igio L. Frank Baum.

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LIST OF CHAPTERS

CHAPTER PAGE

I — How THE Nome King Became Angry 1 1

2 — How Uncle Henry Got Into Trouble 21

3 — How OzMA Granted Dorothy's Request 29

4 — How the Nome King Planned Revenge 39

5— How Dorothy Became a Princess 48

6 — How GuPH Visited the Whimsies 59

7 — How Aunt Em Conquered the Lion 66

8 — How the Grand Gallipoot Joined the Nomes 78

9 — How THE Wogglebug Taught Athletics 8y

10 How THE CUTTENCLIPS LiVED I GO

1 1 — How THE General Met the First and Foremost 114

12 — How they Matched the Fuddles 127

13— How the General Talked to the King 141

14 — How THE Wizard Practiced Sorcery 147

15 — How Dorothy Happened to Get Lost 158

16 — How Dorothy Visited Utensia 169

17 — How They Came to Bunbury 180

18 — How OzMA Looked into the Magic Picture 192

19 How BUNNYBURY WELCOMED THE StRANGERS 1 96

20 — How Dorothy Lunched With a King 205

2 1 — How THE King Changed His Mind 216

22 — How the Wizard Found Dorothy 226

23 — How THEY Encountered the Flutterbudgets 237

24 —How THE Tin Woodman Told the Sad News 247

25 — How THE Scarecrow Displayed His Wisdom 255

26 — How OzMA Refused to Fight for Her Kingdom 263

27 — How THE Fierce Warriors Invaded Oz 275

28 — How They Drank at the Forbidden Fountain 280

29— How Glinda Worked a Magic Spell 289

30 — How THE Story of Oz Came to an End 295

(v..

THE Nome King was in an angry mood, and at such times
he was very disagreeable. Every one kept away from him,
even his Chief Steward Kaliko.

Therefore the King stormed and raved all by himself,
walking up and down in his jewel-studded cavern and get-
ting angrier all the time. Then he remembered that it was
no fun being angry unless he had some one to frighten and
make miserable, and he rushed to his big gong and made it
clatter as loud as he could.

In came the Chief Steward, trying not to show the Nome
King how frightened he was.

"Send the Chief Counselor here !" shouted the angry mon-
arch.

The Emerald City of Oz

Kaliko ran out as fast as his spindle legs could carry his
fat round body, and soon the Chief Counselor entered the
cavern. The King scowled and said to him :

*'I 'm in great trouble over the loss of my Magic Belt.
Every little while I want to do something magical, and find
I can't because the Belt is gone. That makes me angry, and
when I 'm angry I can't have a good time. Now, what do
you advise'?"

"Some people," said the Chief Counselor, "enjoy getting
angry."

"But not all the time," declared the King. "To be angry
once in a while is really good fun, because it makes others so
miserable. But to be angry morning, noon and night, as I
am, grows monotonous and prevents my gaining any other
pleasure in life. Now, what do you advise T'

"Why, if you are angry because you want to do magical
things and can't, and if you don't want to get angry at all,
my advice is not to want to do magical things."

Hearing this, the King glared at his Counselor with a
furious expression and tugged at his own long white whis-
kers until he pulled them so hard that he yelled with pain.

"You are a fool I" he exclaimed.

"I share that honor with your Majesty," said the Chief
Counselor.

The King roared with rage and stamped his foot.

The Emerald City of Oz

"Ho, there, my guards I" he cried. "Ho" is a royal way
of saying, "Come here." So, when the guards had hoed, the
King said to them :

"Take this Chief Counselor and throw him away."

Then the guards took the Chief Counselor, and bound
him with chains to prevent his struggling, and threw him
away. And the King paced up and down his cavern more
angry than before.

Finally he rushed to his big gong and made it clatter like
a fire-alarm. Kaliko appeared again, trembling and white
with fear.

"Fetch my pipe !" yelled the King.

"Your pipe is already here, your Majesty," replied
Kaliko.

"Then get my tobacco I" roared the King.

"The tobacco is in your pipe, your Majesty," returned
the Steward.

"Then bring a live coal from the furnace!" commanded
the King.

"The tobacco is lighted, and your Majesty is already
smoking your pipe," answered the Steward.

"Why, so I am!" said the King, who had forgotten this
fact; "but you are very rude to remind me of it."

"I am a lowborn, miserable villain," declared the Chief
Steward, humbly.

Ch a p t er One

The Nome King could think of nothing to say next,
so he puffed away at his pipe and paced up and down the
room. Finally he remembered how angry he was, and cried
out:

"What do you mean, Kaliko, by being so contented when
your monarch is unhappy'?"

"What makes you unhappy?" asked the Steward.

"I 've lost my Magic Belt. A little girl named Dorothy,
who was here with Ozma of Oz, stole my Belt and carried it
away with her," said the King, grinding his teeth with rage.

"She captured it in a fair fight," Kaliko ventured to say.

"But I want it! I must have it I Half my power is gone
with that Belt I" roared the King.

"You will have to go to the Land of Oz to recover it, and
your Majesty can't get to the Land of Oz in any possible
way," said the Steward, yawning because he had been on
duty ninety-six hours, and was sleepy.

"Why not?' asked the King.

"Because there is a deadly desert all around that fairy
country, which no one is able to cross. You know that fact
as well as I do, your Majesty. Never mind the lost Belt.
You have plenty of power left, for you rule this underground
kingdom like a tyrant, and thousands of Nomes obey your
commands. I advise you to drink a glass of melted silver, to
quiet your nerves, and then go to bed."

The Emerald City of Oz

The King grabbed a big ruby and threw it at Kaliko's
head. The Steward ducked to escape the heavy jewel, which
crashed against the door just over his left ear.

"Get out of my sight I Vanish I Go away — and send
General Blug here," screamed the Nome King.

Kaliko hastily withdrew, and the Nome King stamped
up and down until the General of his armies appeared.

This Nome was known far and wide as a terrible fighter
and a cruel, desperate commander. He had fifty thousand
Nome soldiers, all well drilled, who feared nothing but their
stern master. Yet General Blug was a trifle uneasy when
he arrived and saw how angry the Nome King was.

''Ha! So you 're here!" cried the King.

"So I am," said the General.

"March your army at once to the Land of Oz, capture and
destroy the Emerald City, and bring back to me my Magic
Belt I" roared the King.

"You 're crazy," calmly remarked the General.

"What 's that? What 's that'? What 's that?' And the
Nome King danced around on his pointed toes, he was so
enraged.

"You don't know what you 're talking about," continued
the General, seating himself upon a large cut diamond. "I
advise you to stand in a corner and count sixty before you
speak again. By that time you may be more sensible."

Chapter One

The King looked around for something to throw at Gen-
eral Blug, but as nothing was handy he began to consider
that perhaps the man was right and he had been talking
foolishly. So he merely threw himself into his glittering
throne and tipped his crown over his ear and curled his feet
up under him and glared wickedly at Blug.

"In the first place," said the General, "we cannot march
across the deadly desert to the Land of Oz ; and, if we could,
the Ruler of that country, Princess Ozma, has certain fairy
powers that would render my army helpless. Had you not
lost your Magic Belt we might have some chance of defeat-
ing Ozma; but the Belt is gone."

"I want it!" screamed the King. "I must have it."

"Well, then, let us try in a sensible way to get it," re-
plied the General. "The Belt was captured by a little girl
named Dorothy, who lives in Kansas, in the United States of
America."

"But she left it in the Emerald City, with Ozma," de-
clared the King.

"How do you know that?" asked the General.

"One of my spies, who is a Blackbird, flew over the desert
to the Land of Oz, and saw the Magic Belt in Ozma's pal-
ace," replied the King with a groan.

"Now, that gives me an idea," said General Blug,

The Emerald City of Oz

thoughtfully. "There are two ways to get to the Land of Oz
without traveling across the sandy desert."

"What are they?" demanded the King, eagerly.

"One way is over the desert, through the air; and the
other way is under the desert, through the earth."

Hearing this the Nome King uttered a yell of joy and
leaped from his throne, to resume his wild walk up and down
the cavern.

"That's it, Blugl" he shouted. That's the idea. Gen-
eral I I 'm King of the Under World, and my subjects are all
miners. I '11 make a secret tunnel under the desert to the

Chapter One

Land of Oz — yes ! right up to the Emerald City — and you
will march your armies there and capture the whole coun-
try:

''Softly, softly, your Majesty. Don't go too fast,"
warned the General. "My Nomes are good fighters, but they
are not strong enough to conquer the Emerald City."

"Are you sure?" asked the King.

"Absolutely certain, your Majesty."

"Then what am I to doT'

"Give up the idea and mind your own business," advised
the General. "You have plenty to do trying to rule your
underground kingdom."

"But I want that Magic Belt — and I 'm going to have
it!" roared the Nome King.

"I 'd like to see you get it," replied the General, laugh-
ing maliciously.

The King was by this time so exasperated that he picked
up his scepter, which had a heavy ball, made from a sap-
phire, at the end of it, and threw it with all his force at Gen-
eral Blug. The sapphire hit the General upon his forehead
and knocked him flat upon the ground, where he lay motion-
less. Then the King rang his gong and told his guards to
drag out the General and throw him away; which they did.

This Nome King was named Roquat the Red, and no
one loved him. He was a bad man and a powerful monarch,

The Emerald City of Oz

and he had resolved to destroy the Land of Oz and its mag-
nificent Emerald City, to enslave Princess Ozma and little
Dorothy and all the Oz people, and recover his Magic Belt.
This same Belt had once enabled Roquat the Red to carry out
many wicked plans; but that was before Ozma and her peo-
ple marched to the underground cavern and captured it. The
Nome King could not forgive Dorothy or Princess Ozma,
and he had determined to be revenged upon them.

But they, for their part, did not know they had so
dangerous an enemy. Indeed, Ozma and Dorothy had both
almost forgotten that such a person as the Nome King yet
lived under the mountains of the Land of Ev — which lay
just across the deadly desert to the south of the Land of Oz.
An unsuspected enemy is doubly dangerous.

DOROTHY GALE lived on a farm in Kansas, with her
Aunt Em and her Uncle Henry. It was not a big farm, nor
a very good one, because sometimes the rain did not come
when the crops needed it, and then everything withered and
dried up. Once a cyclone had carried away Uncle Henry's
house, so that he was obliged to build another; and as he was
a poor man he had to mortgage his farm to get the money
to pay for the new house. Then his health became bad and
he was too feeble to work. The doctor ordered him to take
a sea voyage and he went to Australia and took Dorothy with
him. That cost a lot of money, too.

Uncle Henry grew poorer every year, and the crops raised
on the farm only bought food for the family. Therefore the
mortgage could not be paid. At last the banker who had

The Emerald City of Oz

loaned him the money said that if he did not pay on a certain
day, his farm would be taken away from him.

This worried Uncle Henry a good deal, for without the
farm he would have no way to earn a living. He was a good
man, and worked in the fields as hard as he could; and Aunt
Em did all the housework, with Dorothy's help. Yet they
did not seem to get along.

This little girl, Dorothy, was like dozens of little girls
you know. She was loving and usually sweet-tempered, and
had a round rosy face and earnest eyes. Life was a serious
thing to Dorothy, and a wonderful thing, too, for she had
encountered more strange adventures in her short life than
many other girls of her age.

Aunt Em once said she thought the fairies must have
marked Dorothy at her birth, because she had wandered into
strange places and had always been protected by some un-
seen power. As for Uncle Henry, he thought his little niece
merely a dreamer, as her dead mother had been, for he could
not quite believe all the curious stories Dorothy told them of
the Land of Oz, which she had several times visited. He did
not think that she tried to deceive her uncle and aunt, but
he imagined that she had dreamed all of those astonishing ad-
ventures, and that the dreams had been so real to her that
she had come to believe them true.

Whatever the explanation might be, it was certain that

Chapter Two

Dorothy had been absent from her Kansas home for several
long periods, always disappearing unexpectedly, yet always
coming back safe and sound, with amazing tales of where she
had been and the unusual people she had met. Her uncle
and aunt listened to her stories eagerly and in spite of their
doubts began to feel that the little girl had gained a lot of
experience and wisdom that were unaccountable in this age,
when fairies are supposed no longer to exist.

Most of Dorothy's stories were about the Land of Oz,
with its beautiful Emerald City and a lovely girl Ruler
named Ozma, w^ho was the most faithful friend of the little
Kansas girl. When Dorothy told about the riches of this
fairy country Uncle Henry would sigh, for he knew that a
single one of the great emeralds that were so common there
would pay all his debts and leave his farm free. But Doro-
thy never brought any jewels home with her, so their poverty
became greater every year.

When the banker told Uncle Henry that he must pay the
money in thirty days or leave the farm, the poor man was in
despair, as he knew he could not possibly get the money. So
he told his wife. Aunt Em, of his trouble, and she first cried a
little and then said that they must be brave and do the best
they could, and go away somewhere and try to earn an honest
living. But they were getting old and feeble and she feared
that they could not take care of Dorothy as well as they had

The Emerald City of Oz

formerly done. Probably the little girl would also be obliged
to go to work.

They did not tell their niece the sad news for several
days, not wishing to make her unhappy; but one morning
the little girl found Aunt Em softly crying while Uncle
Henry tried to comfort her. Then Dorothy asked them to
tell her what was the matter.

"We must give up the farm, my dear," replied her uncle,
sadly, ''and wander away into the world to work for our liv-
ing."

The girl listened quite seriously, for she had not known
before how desperately poor they were.

''We don't mind for ourselves," said her aunt, stroking
the little girl's head tenderly; "but we love you as if you were
our own child, and we are heart-broken to think that you
must also endure poverty, and work for a living before you
have grown big and strong."

"What could I do to earn money'?" asked Dorothy.

"You might do housework for some one, dear, you are so
handy; or perhaps you could be a nurse-maid to little chil-
dren. I 'm sure I don't know exactly what you can do to
earn money, but if your uncle and I are able to support you
we will do it willingly, and send you to school. We fear,
though, that we shall have much trouble in earning a living

Chapter Two

for ourselves. No one wants to employ old people who are
broken down in health, as we are."

Dorothy smiled.

"Would n't it be funny," she said, "for me to do house-
work in Kansas, when I'm a Princess in the Land of Oz?"

"A Princess!" they both exclaimed, astonished.

"Yes ; Ozma made me a Princess some time ago, and she
has often begged me to come and live always in the Emerald
City," said the child.

Her uncle and aunt looked at each other in amazement.
Then the man said :

"Do you suppose you could manage to return to your
fairyland, my dear*?"

"Oh, yes," replied Dorothy; "I could do that easily."

"How?" asked Aunt Em.

"Ozma sees me every day at four o'clock, in her Magic
Picture. She can see me wherever I am, no matter what I am
doing. And at that time, if I make a certain secret sign, she
will send for me by means of the Magic Belt, which I once
captured from the Nome King. Then, in the wink of an eye,
I shall be with Ozma in her palace."

The elder people remained silent for some time after
Dorothy had spoken. Finally Aunt Em said, with another

sigh of regret :

"If that is the case, Dorothy, perhaps you 'd better go and

The Emerald City of Oz

live in the Emerald City. It will break our hearts to lose
you from our lives, but you will be so much better off with
your fairy friends that it seems wisest and best for you to go."

"I 'm not so sure about that," remarked Uncle Henry,
shaking his gray head doubtfully. "These things all seem
real to Dorothy, I know; but I 'm afraid our little girl won't
find her fairyland just what she has dreamed it to be. It
would make me very unhappy to think that she was wander-
ing among strangers who might be unkind to her."

Dorothy laughed merrily at this speech, and then she be-
came very sober again, for she could see how all this trouble
was worrying her aunt and uncle, and knew that unless she
found a way to help them their future lives would be quite
miserable and unhappy. She knew that she could help them.
She had thought of a way already. Yet she did not tell them
at once what it was, because she must ask Ozma's consent
before she would be able to carry out her plans.

So she only said:

"If you will promise not to worry a bit about me, I '11 go
to the Land of Oz this very afternoon. And I '11 make a
promise, too; that you shall both see me again before the
day comes when you must leave this farm."

"The day is n't far away, now," her uncle sadly replied.
"I did not tell you of our trouble until I was obliged to, dear
Dorothy, so the evil time is near at hand. But if you are

Chapter Two

quite sure your fairy friends will give you a home, it will be
best for you to go to them, as your aunt says."

That was why Dorothy went to her little room in the attic
that afternoon, taking with her a small dog named Toto.
The dog had curly black hair and big brown eyes and loved
Dorothy very dearly.

The child had kissed her uncle nnd aunt affectionately
before she went upstairs, and now she looked around her lit-
tle room rather wistfully, gazing at the simple trinkets and
worn calico and gingham dresses, as if they were old friends.
She was tempted at first to make a bundle of them, yet she
knew very well that they would be of no use to her in her

future life.

She sat down upon a broken-backed chair — the only one
the room contained — and holding Toto in her arms waited
patiently until the clock struck four.

Then she made the secret signal that had been agreed
upon between her and Ozma.

Uncle Henry and Aunt Em waited downstairs. They
were uneasy and a good deal excited, for this is a practical
humdrum world, and it seemed to them quite impossible that
their little niece could vanish from her home and travel in-
stantly to fairyland.

So they watched the stairs, which seemed to be the only
way that Dorothy could get out of the farmhouse, and they

The Emerald City of Oz

watched them a long time. They heard the clock strike four
but there was no sound from above.

Half-past four came, and now they were too impatient to
wait any longer. Softly they crept up the stairs to the door
of the little girl's room.

"Dorothy! Dorothy!" they called.

There was no answer.

They opened the door and looked in.

The room was empty.

m imm

I SUPPOSE you have read so much about the magnificent
Emerald City that there is little need for me to describe it
here. It is the Capital City of the Land of Oz, which is
justly considered the most attractive and delightful fairy-
land in all the world.

The Emerald City is built all of beautiful marbles in
which are set a profusion of emeralds, every one exquisitely
cut and of very great size. There are other jewels used in
the decorations inside the houses and palaces, such as rubies,
diamonds, sapphires, amethysts and turquoises. But in the
streets and upon the outside of the buildings only emeralds
appear, from which circumstance the place is named the
Emerald City of Oz. It has nine thousand, six hundred and
fifty-four buildings, in which lived fifty-seven thousand three
hundred and eighteen people, up to the time my story opens.

The Emerald City of Oz

All the surrounding country, extending to the borders
of the desert which enclosed it upon every side, was full of
pretty and comfortable farmhouses, in which resided those
inhabitants of Oz who preferred country to city life.

Altogether there were more than half a million people in
the Land of Oz — although some of them, as you will soon
learn, were not made of flesh and blood as we are — and
every inhabitant of that favored country was happy and pros-
perous.

No disease of any sort was ever known among the Ozites,
and so no one ever died unless he met with an accident that
prevented him from living. This happened very seldom, in-
deed. There were no poor people in the Land of Oz, because
there was no such thing as money, and all property of every
sort belonged to the Ruler. The people were her children,
and she cared for them. Each person was given freely by his
neighbors whatever he required for his use, which is as much
as any one may reasonably desire. Some tilled the lands and
raised great crops of grain, which was divided equally among
the entire population, so that all had enough. There were
many tailors and dressmakers and shoemakers and the like,
who made things that any who desired them might wear.
Likewise there were jewelers who made ornaments for the
person, which pleased and beautified the people, and these
ornaments also were free to those who asked for them. Each

Chapter Three

man and woman, no matter what he or she produced for the
good of the community, was supplied by the neighbors with
food and clothing and a house and furniture and ornaments
and games. If by chance the supply ever ran short, more
was taken from the great storehouses of the Ruler, which
were afterward filled up again when there was more of any
article than the people needed.

Every one worked half the time and played half the time,
and the people enjoyed the work as much as they did the
play, because it is good to be occupied and to have something
to do. There were no cruel overseers set to watch them, and
no one to rebuke them or to find fault with them. So each one
was proud to do all he could for his friends and neighbors,
and was glad when they would accept the things he produced.

You will know, by what I have here told you, that the
Land of Oz was a remarkable country. I do not suppose such
an arrangement would be practical with us, but Dorothy as-
sures me that it works finely with the Oz people.

Oz being a fairy country, the people were, of course, fairy
people; but that does not mean that all of them were very
unlike the people of our own world. There were all sorts
of queer characters among them, but not a single one who was
evil, or who possessed a selfish or violent nature. They were
peaceful, kind-hearted, loving and merry, and every inhabit-

The Emerald City of Oz

ant adored the beautiful girl who ruled them, and delighted
to obey her every command.

In spite of all I have said in a general way, there were
some parts of the Land of Oz not quite so pleasant as the
farming country and the Emerald City which was its center.
Far away in the South Country there lived in the mountains
a band of strange people called Hammer-Heads, because they
had no arms and used their flat heads to pound any one who
came near them. Their necks were like rubber, so that they
could shoot out their heads to quite a distance, and after-
ward draw them back again to their shoulders. The Ham-
mer-Heads were called the "Wild People," but never harmed
any but those who disturbed them in the mountains where
they lived.

In some of the dense forests there lived great beasts of
every sort; yet these were for the most part harmless and even
sociable, and conversed agreeably with those who visited
their haunts. The Kalidahs — beasts with bodies like bears
and heads like tigers — had once been fierce and bloodthirsty,
but even they were now nearly all tamed, although at times
one or another of them would get cross and disagreeable.

Not so tame were the Fighting Trees, which had a forest
of their own. If any one approached them these curious trees
would bend down their branches, twine them around the in-
truders, and hurl them away.

Chapter Three

But these unpleasant things existed only in a few remote
parts of the Land of Oz. I suppose every country has some
drawbacks, so even this almost perfect fairyland could not
be quite perfect. Once there had been wicked witches in the
land, too; but now these had all been destroyed; so, as I said,
only peace and happiness reigned in Oz.

For some time Ozma has ruled over this fair country, and
never was Ruler more popular or beloved. She is said to
be the most beautiful girl the world has ever known, and
her heart and mind are as lovely as her person.

Dorothy Gale had several times visited the Emerald City
and experienced adventures in the Land of Oz, so that she
and Ozma had now become firm friends. The girl Ruler had
even made Dorothy a Princess of Oz, and had often implored
her to come to Ozma's stately palace and live there always;
but Dorothy had been loyal to her Aunt Em and LTncle
Henry, who had cared for her since she was a baby, and she
had refused to leave them because she knew they would be
lonely without her.

However, Dorothy now realized that things were going to
be different with her uncle and aunt from this time forth, so
after giving the matter deep thought she decided to ask Ozma
to grant her a very great favor.

A few seconds after she had made the secret signal in her
little bedchamber, the Kansas girl was seated in a lovely room

The Emerald City of Oz

in Ozma's palace in the Emerald City of Oz. When the
first loving kisses and embraces had been exchanged, the fair
Ruler inquired:

"What is the matter, dear? I know something unpleasant
has happened to you, for your face was very sober when I saw
it in my Magic Picture. And whenever you signal me to
transport you to this safe place, where you are always wel-
come, I know you are in danger or in trouble."

Dorothy sighed.

"This time, Ozma, it is n't I," she replied. "But it 's
worse, I guess, for Uncle Henry and Aunt Em are in a heap
of trouble, and there seems no way for them to get out of it
— anyhow, not while they live in Kansas,"

"Tell me about it, Dorothy," said Ozma, with ready sym-
pathy.

"Why, you see Uncle Henry is poor; for the farm in Kan-
sas does n't 'mount to much, as farms go. So one day Uncle
Henry borrowed some money, and wrote a letter saying that
if he did n't pay the money back they could take his farm for
pay. Course he 'spected to pay by making money from the
farm; but he just could n't. An' so they 're going to take the
farm, and Uncle Henry and Aunt Em won't have any place
to live. They 're pretty old to do much hard work, Ozma; so
r 11 have to work for them, unless — '*

Chapter Th r ee

Ozma had been thoughtful during the story, but now she
smiled and pressed her little friend's hand.

"Unless what, dear?" she asked.

Dorothy hesitated, because her request meant so much to
them all.

"Well," said she, "I 'd like to live here in the Land of
Oz, where you 've often 'vited me to live. But I can't, you
know, unless Uncle Henry and Aunt Em could live here
too."

"Of course not," exclaimed the Ruler of Oz, laughing
gaily. "So, in order to get you, little friend, we must invite
your Uncle and Aunt to live in Oz, also."

"Oh, will you, Ozma'?" cried Dorothy, clasping her
chubby little hands eagerly. "Will you bring them here with
the Magic Belt, and give them a nice little farm in the
Munchkin Country, or the Winkie Country — or some other
place?'

"To be sure," answered Ozma, full of joy at the chance
to please her little friend. "I have long been thinking of this
very thing, Dorothy dear, and often I have had it in my mind
to propose it to you. I am sure your uncle and aunt must be
good and worthy people, or you would not love them so much ;
and for your friends, Princess, there is always room in the
Land of Oz."

Dorothy was delighted, yet not altogether surprised, for

The Emerald City of Oz

she had clung to the liope that Ozma would be kind enough
to grant her request. When, indeed, had her powerful and
faithful friend refused her anything'?

"But you must not call me 'Princess,' " she said; "for after
this I shall live on the little farm with Uncle Henry and
Aunt Em, and princesses ought not to live on farms."

"Princess Dorothy will not," replied Ozma, with her
sweet smile. "You are going to live in your own rooms in
this palace, and be my constant companion."

"But Uncle Henry — " began Dorothy.

"Oh, he is old, and has worked enough in his lifetime,"
interrupted the girl Ruler; "so we must find a place for your
uncle and aunt where they will be comfortable and happy
and need not work more than they care to. When shall we
transport them here, Dorothy'?"

"I promised to go and see them again before they were
turned out of the farmhouse," answered Dorothy; "so — per-
haps next Saturda}^ — "

"But why wait so long?" asked Ozma. "And why make
the journey back to Kansas again? Let us surprise them, and
bring them here without any warning."

*'I 'm not sure that they believe in the Land of Oz," said
Dorothy, "though I 've told 'em 'bout it lots of times."

"They '11 believe when they see it," declared Ozma; "and
if they are told they are to make a magical journey to our

Chapter Three

fairyland, it may make them nervous. I think the best way
will be to use the Magic Belt without warning them, and
when they have arrived you can explain to them whatever
they do not understand."

"Perhaps that 's best," decided Dorothy. "There is n't

much use in their staying at the farm until they are put out,
'cause it 's much nicer here."

"Then to-morrow morning they shall come here," said
Princess Ozma. "I will order Jellia Jamb, who is the palace
housekeeper, to have rooms all prepared for them, and after
breakfast we will get the Magic Belt and by its aid transport
your uncle and aunt to the Emerald City."

The Emerald City of Oz

"Thank you, Ozmal" cried Dorothy, kissing her friend
gratefully.

"And now," Ozma proposed, "let us take a walk in the
gardens before we dress for dinner. Come, Dorothy dear!"

^C5N^^^

wmm

THE reason most people are bad is because they do not try
to be good. Now, the Nome King had never tried to be
good, so he was very bad indeed. Having decided to con-
quer the Land of Oz and to destroy the Emerald City and
enslave all its people. King Roquat the Red kept planning
ways to do this dreadful thing, and the more he planned the
more he believed he would be able to accomplish it.

About the time Dorothy went to Ozma the Nome King
called his Chief Steward to him and said:

"Kaliko, I think I shall make you the General of my
armies."

"I think you won't," replied Kaliko, positively.

"Why not?" inquired the King, reaching foi his scepter
with the big sapphire.

"Because I 'm your Chief Steward, and know nothing of

The Emerald City of Oz

warfare." said Kaliko, preparing to dodge if anything were
thrown at him. "I manage all the aifairs of your kingdom
better than you could yourself, and you '11 never find an-
other Steward as good as I am. But there are a hundred
Nomes better fitted to command your army, and your Gen-
erals get thrown away so often that I have no desire to be
one of them."

''Ah, there is some truth in your remarks, Kaliko," re-
marked the King, deciding not to throw the scepter. "Sum-
mon my army to assemble in the Great Cavern."

Kaliko bowed and retired, and in a few minutes returned
to say that the army was assembled. So the King went out
upon a balcony that overlooked the Great Cavern, where
fifty thousand Nomes, all armed with swords and pikes, stood
marshaled in military array.

When they were not required as soldiers all these Nomes
were metal workers and miners, and they had hammered so
much at the forges and dug so hard with pick and shovel
that they had acquired great muscular strength. They were
strangely formed creatures, rather round and not very tall.
Their toes were curly and their ears broad and flat.

In time of war every Nome left his forge or mine and be-
came part of the great army of King Roquat. The soldiers
wore rock-colored uniforms and were excellently drilled.

The King looked upon this tremendous army, which

Ch apter Four

stood silently arrayed before him, and a cruel smile curled
the corners of his mouth, for he saw that his legions were
very powerful. Then he addressed them from the balcony,
saying:

"I have thrown away General Blug, because he did not
please me. So I want another General to command this
army. Who is next in command'?"

*'I am," replied Colonel Crinkle, a dapper-looking Nome,
as he stepped forward to salute his monarch.

The King looked at him carefully and said :
"I want you to march this army through an underground
tunnel, which I am going to bore, to the Emerald City of Oz.
When you get there I want you to conquer the Oz people,
destroy themx and their city, and bring all their gold and
silver and precious stones back to my cavern. Also you are
to recapture my Magic Belt and return it to me. Will you
do this, General Crinkle'?"

"No, your Majesty," replied the Nome; "for it can't be
done."

"Oh, indeed I" exclaimed the King. Then he turned to
his servants and said: "Please take General Crinkle to the
torture chamber. There you will kindly slice him into thin
slices. Afterward you may feed him to the seven-headed
dogs."

The Emerald City of Oz

"Anything to oblige your Majesty," replied the servants,
politely, and led the condemned jnan away.

When they had gone the King addressed the army again.

"Listen!'' said he. "Ihe General who is to command
my armies must promise to carry out my orders. If he fails
he will share the fate of poor Crinkle. Now, then, who will
volunteer to lead my hosts to the Emerald City?"

lor a time no one moved and all were silent. Then an
old Nome with white whiskers so long that they were tied
around his waist to prevent their tripping him up, stepped
out of the ranks and saluted the King.

"I "d like to ask a few questions, your Majesty," he said.

"Go ahead," replied the King.

"These Oz people are quite good, are they not?"

"As good as apple pie," said the King.

"And they are happy, I suppose?" continued the old
Nome.

"Happy as the day is long," said the King.

"And contented and prosperous?" inquired the Nome.

"Very much so," said the King.

"Well, your Majesty," remarked he of the white
whiskers, "I think I should like to undertake the job, so I '11
be your General. I hate good people; I detest happy peo-
ple; I 'm opposed to any one who is contented and prosper-
ous. That is why I am so fond of your Majesty. Make me

Chapter Four

your General and I '11 promise to conquer and destroy the
Oz people. If I fail I 'm ready to be sliced thin and fed to
the seven-headed dogs."

"Very good I Very good, indeed I That 's the way to
talk!" cried Roquat the Red, who was greatly pleased.

"What is your name, General"

"I 'm called Guph, your Majesty."

"Well, Guph, come with me to my private cave and we '11
talk it over." Then he turned to the army. "Nomes and
soldiers," said he, "you are to obey the commands of General
Guph until he becomes dog- feed. Any man who fails to obey

The Emerald City of Oz

his new General will be promptly thrown away. You are
now dismissed."

Guph went to the King's private cave and sat down upon
an amethyst chair and put his feet on the arm of the King's
ruby throne. Then he lighted his pipe and threw the live
coal he had taken from his pocket upon the King's left foot
and puffed the smoke into the King's eyes and made him-
self comfortable. For he was a wise old Nome, and he knew
that the best way to get along with Roquat the Red was to
show that he was not afraid of him.

"I 'm ready for the talk, your Majesty," he said.

The King coughed and looked at his new General fiercely.

"Do you not tremble to take such liberties with your
monarch?" he asked.

"Oh, no," said Guph, calmly, and he blew a wreath of
smoke that curled around the King's nose and made him
sneeze. "You want to conquer the Emerald City, and I 'm
the only Nome in all your dominions who can conquer it.
So you will be very careful not to hurt me until I have car-
ried out your wishes. After that — "

"Well, what then?" inquired the King.

"Then you will be so grateful to me that you won't care
to hurt me," replied the General.

"That is a very good argument," said Roquat. "But
suppose you fail?"

Chapter Four

"Then it 's the slicing machine. I agree to that," an-
nounced Guph. "But if you do as I tell you there will b^ no
failure. The trouble with you, Roquat, is that you ^lOn't
think carefully enough. I do. You would go ahead and
march through your tunnel into Oz, and get defeated and

driven back. I won't. And the reason I won't is because
when I march I '11 have all my plans made, and a host of al-
lies to assist my Nomes."

"What do you mean by that'?" asked the King.

"I '11 explain. King Roquat. You 're going to attack a
fair country, and a mighty fairy country, too. They have n't
much of an army in Oz, but the Princess who rules them has

The Emerald City of Oz

a fairy wand; and the little girl Dorothy has your Magic
Belr; and at the North of the Emerald City lives a clever
sorceress called Glinda the Good, who commands the spirits
of the air. Also I have heard that there is a wonderful Wiz-
ard in Ozma's palace, who is so skillful that people used to
pay him money in America to see him perform. So you see
it will be no easy thing to overcome all this magic."

"We have fifty thousand soldiers I" cried the King,
proudly.

"Yes; but they are Nomes," remarked Guph, taking a
silk handkerchief from the King's pocket and wiping his own
pointed shoes with it. "Nomes are immortals, but they are
not strong on magic. When you lost your famous Belt the
greater part of your own power was gone from you. Against
Ozma you and your Nomes would have no show at all."

Roquat's eyes flashed angrily.

"Then away you go to the slicing machine I" he cried.

"Not yet," said the General, filling his pipe from the
King's private tobacco pouch.

"What do you propose to do^" asked the monarch.

"I propose to obtain the power we need," answered Guph.
"There are a good many evil creatures who have magic pow-
ers sufficient to destroy and conquer the Land of Oz. We
will get them on our side, band them all together, and then
take Ozma and her people by surprise. It 's all very simple

Chapter Four

and easy when you know how. Alone we should be helpless
to injure the Ruler of Oz, but with the aid of the evil powers
we can summon we shall easily succeed."

King Roquat was delighted with this idea, for he realized
how clever it was.

"Surely, Guph, you are the greatest General I have ever
had I" he exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with joy. "You must
go at once and make arrangements with the evil powers to
assist us, and meantime I '11 begin to dig the tunnel."

"I thought you 'd agree with me, Roquat," replied the
new General. "I '11 start this very afternoon to visit the
Chief of the Whimsies."

TEE FEVIL

WHEN the people of the Emerald City heard that Dorothy
had returned to them every one was eager to see her, for the
little girl was a general favorite in the Land of Oz. From
time to time some of the folk from the great outside world
had found their way into this fairyland, but all except one
had been companions of Dorothy and had turned out to be
very agreeable people. The exception I speak of was the
wonderful Wizard of Oz, a sleight-of-hand performer from
Omaha who went up in a balloon and was carried by a cur-
rent of air to the Emerald City. His queer and puzzling
tricks made the people of Oz believe him a great wizard for
a time, and he ruled over them until Dorothy arrived on her
first visit and showed the Wizard to be a mere humbug. He
was a gentle, kindly-hearted little man, and Dorothy grew
to like him afterward. When, after an absence, the Wizard

Chapter Five

returned to the Land of Oz, Ozma received him graciously
and gave him a home in a part of the palace.

In addition to the Wizard two other personages from
the outside world had been rllowed to make tlieir home in
the Emerald City. The first was a quaint Shaggy Man,
whom Ozma had made the Governor of the Royal Store-
houses, and the second a Yellow Hen named Billina, who
had a fine house in the gardens back of the palace, where
she looked after a large family. Both these had been old
comrades of Dorothy, so you see the little girl was quite an
important personage in Oz, and the people thought she had
brought them good luck, and loved her next best to Ozma.
During her several visits this little girl had been the means
of destroying two wicked witches who oppressed the people,
and she had discovered a live scarecrow who was now one
of the most popular personages in all the fairy country. With
the Scarecrow's help she had rescued Nick Chopper, a Tin
Woodman, who had rusted in a lonely forest, and the tin
man was now the Emperor of the Country of the Winkles
and much beloved because of his kind heart. No wonder
the people thought Dorothy had brought them good luck I
Yet, strange as it may seem, she had accomplished all these
wonders not because she was a fairy or had any magical pow-
ers whatever, but because she was a simple, sweet and true
little girl who was honest to herself and to all whom she

The Emerald City of Oz

met. In this world in which we live simplicity and kindness
are the only magic wands that work wonders, and in the Land
of Oz Dorothy found these same qualities had won for her
the love and admiration of the people. Indeed, the little
girl had made many warm friends in the fairy country, and
the only real grief the Ozites had ever experienced was when
Dorothy left them and returned to her Kansas home.

Now she received a joyful welcome, although no one ex-
cept Ozma knew at first that she had finally come to stay for
good and all.

That evening Dorothy had many callers, and among them
were such important people as Tiktok, a machine man who
thought and spoke and moved by clockwork; her old com-
panion the genial Shaggy Man; Jack Pumpkinhead, whose
body was brush-wood and whose head was a ripe pumpkin
with a face carved upon it; the Cowardly Lion and the Hun-
gry Tiger, two great beasts from the forest, who served Prin-
cess Ozma, and Professor H. M. Wogglebug, T. E. This
wogglebug was a remarkable creature. He had once been a
tiny little bug, crawling around in a school-room, but he was
discovered and highly magnified so that he could be seen more
plainly, and while in this magnified condition he had es-
caped. He had always remained big, and he dressed like a
dandy and was so full of knowledge and information (which

Chapter Five

are distinct acquirements) , that he had been made a Professor
and the head of the Royal College.

Dorothy had a nice visit with these old friends, and also
talked a long time with the Wizard, who was little and old
and withered and dried up, but as merry and active as a
child. Afterward she went to see Billina's fast growing
family of chicks.

Toto, Dorothy's little black dog, also met with a cordial
reception. Toto was an especial friend of the Shaggy Man,
and he knew every one else. Being the only dog in the Land
of Oz, he was highly respected by the people, who believed
animals entitled to every consideration if they behaved
themselves properly.

Dorothy had four lovely rooms in the palace, which were
always reserved for her use and were called "Dorothy's
rooms." These consisted of a beautiful sitting room, a dress-
ing room, a dainty bedchamber and a big marble bathroom.
And in these rooms were everything that heart could desire,
placed there with loving thoughtfulness by Ozma for her
little friend's use. The royal dressmakers had the little
girl's measure, so they kept the closets in her dressing room
filled with lovely dresses of every description and suitable
for every occasion. No wonder Dorothy had refrained from
bringing with her her old calico and gingham dresses I Here
everything that was dear to a little girl's heart was supplied

The Emerald City of Oz

in profusion, and nothing so rich and beautiful could ever
have been found in the biggest department stores in America.
Of course Dorothy enjoyed all these luxuries, and the only
reason she had heretofore preferred to live in Kansas was
because her uncle and aunt loved her and needed her with
them.

Now, however, all was to be changed, and Dorothy was
really more delighted to know that her dear relatives were to
share in her good fortune and enjoy the delights of the Land
of Oz, than she was to possess such luxury for herself.

Next morning, at Ozma's request, Dorothy dressed her-
self in a pretty sky-blue gown of rich silk, trimmed with real
pearls. The buckles of her shoes were set with pearls, too,
and more of these priceless gems were on a lovely coronet
which she wore upon her forehead.

"For," said her friend Ozma, "from this time forth, my
dear, you must assume your rightful rank as a Princess of
Oz, and being my chosen companion you must dress in a
way befitting the dignity of your position."

Dorothy agreed to this, although she knew that neither
gowns nor jewels could make her anything else than the
simple, unaffected little girl she had always been.

As soon as they had breakfasted — the girls eating to-
gether in Ozma's pretty boudoir — the Ruler of Oz said :

"Now, dear friend, we will use the Magic Belt to trans-

Chapter Five

port your uncle and aunt from Kansas to the Emerald City.
But I think it would be fitting, in receiving such distin-
guished guests, for us to sit in my Throne Room."

''Oh, they 're not very 'stinguished, Ozma," said Doro-
thy. "They 're just plain people, like me."

"Being your friends and relatives, Princess Dorothy,
they are certainly distinguished," replied the Ruler, with a
smile.

"They — they won't hardly know what to make of all
your splendid furniture and things," protested Dorothy,
gravely. "It may scare 'em to see your grand Throne Room,
an' p'raps we 'd better go into the back yard, Ozma, where
the cabbages grow an' the chickens are playing. Then it
would seem more natural to Uncle Henry and Aunt Em."

"No: they shall first see me in my Throne Room," re-
plied Ozma, decidedly; and when ,she spoke in that tone
Dorothy knew it was not wise to oppose her, for Ozma was
accustomed to having her own way.

So together they went to the Throne Room, an immense
domed chamber in the center of the palace. Here stood the
royal throne, made of solid gold and encrusted with enough
precious stones to stock a dozen jewelry stores in our coun-
try.

Ozma, who was wearing the Magic Belt, seated herself
in the throne, and Dorothy sat at her feet. In the room were

The Emerald City of Oz

assembled many ladies and gentlemen of the court, clothed
in rich apparel and wearing hne jewelry. Two immense ani-
mals squatted, one on each side of the throne — the Cowardly
Lion and the Hungry Tiger. In a balcony high up in the
dome an orchestra played sweet music, and beneath the dome
two electric fountains sent sprays of colored perfumed water
shooting up nearly as high as the arched ceiling.

''Are you ready, Dorothy?" asked the Ruler.

"I am," replied Dorothy; "but I don't know whether Aunt
Em and Uncle Henry are ready."

"That won't matter," declared Ozma. "The old life can
have very little to interest them, and the sooner they begin
the new life here the happier they will be. Here they come,
my dear!"

As she spoke, there before the throne appeared Uncle
Henry and Aunt Em, who for a moment stood motionless,
glaring with white and startled faces at the scene that con-
fronted them. If the ladies and gentlemen present had not
been so polite I am sure they would have laughed at the two
strangers.

Aunt Em had her calico dress skirt "tucked up," and she
wore a faded blue-checked apron. Her hair was rather
straggly and she had on a pair of Uncle Henry's old slippers.
In one hand she held a dish-towel and in the other a cracked
earthenware plate, which she had been engaged in wiping
when so suddenly transported to the Land of Oz.

Chapter Five

Uncle Henry, when the summons came, had been out in
the barn "doin' chores." He wore a ragged and much soiled
straw hat, a checked shirt without any collar and blue over-
alls tucked into the tops of his old cowhide boots.

*'By gum!" gasped Uncle Henry, looking around as if
bewildered.

"Well, I swan!" gurgled Aunt Em, in a hoarse, fright-
ened voice. Then her eyes fell upon Dorothy, and she said :
"D-d-d-don't that look like our little girl — our Dorothy,
Henry?"

"Hi, there — look out, Em!" exclaimed the old man, as
Aunt Em advanced a step; "take care o' the wild beastses,
or you 're a goner!"

But now Dorothy sprang forward and embraced and
kissed her aunt and uncle affectionately, afterward taking
their hands in her own.

"Don't be afraid," she said to them. "You are now in
the Land of Oz, where you are to live always, and be com-
fer'ble an' happy. You '11 never have to worry over any-
thing again, 'cause there won't be anything to worry about.
And you owe it all to the kindness of my friend Princess
Ozma."

Here she led them before the throne and continued :

"Your Highness, this is Uncle Henry. And this is Aunt
Em. They want to thank you for bringing them here from
Kansas."

The Emerald City of Oz

Aunt Em tried to "slick" her hair, and she hid the dish-
towel and dish under her apron while she bowed to the lovely
Ozma. Uncle Henry took off his straw hat and held it awk-
wardly in his hands.

But the Ruler of Oz rose and came from her throne to
greet her newly arrived guests, and she smiled as sweetly
upon them as if they had been a king and a queen.

"You are very welcome here, where I have brought you
for Princess Dorothy's sake," she said, graciously, "and I
hope you will be quite happy in your new home." Then
she turned to her courtiers, who were silently and gravely
regarding the scene, and added: "I present to my people
our Princess Dorothy's beloved Uncle Henry and Aunt Em,
who will hereafter be subjects of our kingdom. It will please
me to have you show them every kindness and honor in your
power, and to join me in making them happy and contented."

Hearing this, all those assembled bowed low and respect-
fully to the old farmer and his wife, who bobbed their own
heads in return.

"And now," said Ozma to them, "Dorothy will show you
the rooms prepared for you. I hope you will like them, and
shall expect you to join me at luncheon."

So Dorothy led her relatives away, and as soon as they
were out of the Throne Room and alone in the corridor Aunt
Em squeezed Dorothy's hand and said :

Chapter Five

"Child, child! How in the world did we ever get here
so quick? And is it all real'? And are we to stay here, as
she says? And what does it all mean, anyhow?"

Dorothy laughed.

"Why did n't you tell us what you were goin' to do?"

inquired Uncle Henry, reproachfully. "If I 'd known about
it I 'd 'a put on my Sunday clothes."

"I '11 'splain ever' thing as soon as we get to your rooms,"
promised Dorothy. "You 're in great luck, Uncle Henry
and Aunt Em ; an' so am 1 1 And oh ! I 'm so happy to have
got you here, at last!"

The Emerald City of Oz

As he walked by the little girl's side Uncle Henry stroked
his whiskers thoughtfully.

*' 'Pears to me, Dorothy, we won't make bang-up fairies,"
he remarked.

"An' my back hair looks like a fright I" wailed Aunt Em.

"Never mind," returned the little girl, reassuringly.
"You won't have anything to do now but to look pretty. Aunt
Em; an' Uncle Henry won't have to work till his back aches,
that 's certain."

"Sure^" they asked, wonderingly, and in the same
breath.

"Course I 'm sure," said Dorothy. "You 're in the Fairy-
land of Oz, now; an' what 's more, you belong to it!"

THE new General of the Nome King's army knew perfectly
well that to fail in his plans meant death for him. Yet he
was not at all anxious or worried. He hated every one who
was good and longed to make all who were happy unhappy.
Therefore he had accepted this dangerous position as Gen-
eral quite willingly, feeling sure in his evil mind that he
would be able to do a lot of mischief and finally conquer the
Land of Oz.

Yet Guph determined to be careful, and to lay his plans
well, so as not to fail. He argued that only careless people
fail in what they attempt to do.

The mountains underneath which the Nome King's ex-
tensive caverns were located lay grouped just north of the
Land of Ev, which lay directly across the deadly desert to
the east of the Land of Oz. As the mountains were also on

The Emerald City of Oz

the edge of the desert the Nome King found that he had
only to tunnel underneath the desert to reach Ozma's do-
minions. He did not wish his armies to appear above ground
in the Country of the Winkies, which was the part of the
Land of Oz nearest to King Roquat's own country, as then
the people would give the alarm and enable Ozma to fortify
the Emerald City and assemble an army. He wanted to
take all the Oz people by surprise; so he decided to run the
tunnel clear through to the Emerald City, where he and his
hosts could break through the ground without warning and
conquer the people before they had time to defend them-
selves.

Roquat the Red began work at once upon his tunnel,
setting a thousand miners at the task and building it high and
broad enough for his armies to march through it with ease.
The Nomes were used to making tunnels, as all the king-
dom in which they lived was under ground; so they made
rapid progress.

While this work was going on General Guph started out
alone to visit the Chief of the Whimsies.

These Whimsies were curious people who lived in a re-
tired country of their own. They had large, strong bodies,
but heads so small that they were no bigger than door-knobs.
Of course, such tiny heads could not contain any great
amount of brains, and the Whimsies were so ashamed of

Chapter Six

their personal appearance and lack of commonsense that
they wore big heads, made of pasteboard, which they fas-
tened over their own little heads. On these pasteboard
heads they sewed sheep's wool for hair, and the wool was
colored many dnts — pink, green and lavender being the fa-
vorite colors.

The faces of these false heads were painted in many ri-
diculous ways, according to the whims of the owners, and
these big, burly creatures looked so whimsical and absurd
in their queer masks that they were called "Whimsies." They
foolishly imagined that no one would suspect the little heads
that were inside the imitation ones, not knowing that it is
folly to try to appear otherwise than as nature has made us.

The Chief of the Whimsies had as little wisdom as the
others, and had been chosen chief merely because none among
them was any wiser or more capable of ruling. The Whimsies
were evil spirits and could not be killed. They were hated
and feared by every one and were known as terrible fighters
because they were so strong and muscular and had not sense
enough to know when they were defeated.

General Guph thought the Whimsies would be a great
help to the Nomes in the conquest of Oz, for under his lead-
ership they could be induced to fight as long so they could
stand up. So he traveled to their country and asked to see

The Emerald City of Oz

the Chief, who lived in a house that had a picture of his
grotesque false head painted over the doorway.

The Chief's false head had blue hair, a turned-up nose,
and a mouth that stretched half across the face. Big green
eyes had been painted upon it, but in the center of the chin
were two small holes made in the pasteboard, so that the
Chief could see through them with his own tiny eyes; for
when the big head was fastened upon his shoulders the eyes
in his own natural head were on a level with the false chin.

Said General Guph to the Chief of the Whimsies :

"We Nomes are going to conquer the Land of Oz and
capture our King's Magic Belt, which the Oz people stole
from him. Then we are going to plunder and destroy the
whole country. And we want the Whimsies to help us."
"Will there be any fighting'?" asked the Chief.

"Plenty," replied Guph.

That must have pleased the Chief, for he got up and
danced around the room three times. Then he seated him-
self again, adjusted his false head, and said:

"We have no quarrel with Ozma of Oz."

"But you Whimsies love to fight, and here is a splendid
chance to do so," urged Guph.

"Wait till I sing a song," said the Chief. Then he lay
back in his chair and sang a foolish song that did not seem
to the General to mean anything, although he listened care-

Chapter Six

fully. When he had finished, the Chief Whimsie looked at

him through the holes in his chin and asked:

"What reward will you give us if we help you?"

The General was prepared for this question, for he had

been thinking the matter over on his journey. People often

do a good deed without hope of reward, but for an evil deed
they always demand payment.

"When we get our Magic Belt," he made reply, "our
King, Roquat the Red, will use its power to give every
W^himsie a natural head as big and fine as the false head he
now wears. Then you will no longer be ashamed because
your big strong bodies have such teenty-weenty heads."

The Emerald City of Oz

"Oh! Will you do that?" asked the Chief, eagerly.
"We surely will," promised the General.
"I '11 talk to my people," said the Chief.
So he called a meeting of all the Whimsies and told them
of the offer made by the Nomes. The creatures were de-

lighted with the bargain, and at once agreed to fight for the
Nome King and help him to conquer Oz.

One Whimsie alone seemed to have a glimmer of sense,
for he asked:

"Suppose we fail to capture the Magic Belt? What
will happen then, and what good will all our fighting do?"

Chapter Six

But they threw him into the river for asking foolish ques-
tions, and laughed when the water ruined his pasteboard head
before he could swim out again.

So the compact was made and General Guph was de-
lighted with his success in gaining such powerful allies.

But there were other people, too, just as important as
the Whimsies, whom the clever old Nome had determined to
win to his side.

(£®(pMl)llILllMl

TEE 2.BfEM

"THESE are your rooms," said Dorothy, opening a door.

Aunt Em drew back at sight of the splendid furniture
and draperies.

"Ain't there any place to wipe my feet?" she asked.

"You will soon change your slippers for new shoes," re-
plied Dorothy. "Don't be afraid. Aunt Em. Here is where
you are to live, so walk right in and make yourself at home."

Aunt Em advanced hesitatingly.

"It beats the Topeka Hotel!" she cried, admiringly.
"But this place is too grand for us, child. Can't we have
some back room in the attic, that 's more in our class'?"

"No," said Dorothy. "You 've got to live here, 'cause
Ozma says so. And all the rooms in this palace are just
as fine as these, and some are better. It won't do any good
to fuss. Aunt Em. You 've got to be swell and high-toned

Chapter Seven

in the Land of Oz, whether you want to or not; so you may
as well make up your mind to it."

"It 's hard luck," replied her aunt, looking around with
an awed expression; "but folks can get used to anything, if
they try. Eh, Henry?"

"Why, as to that," said Uncle Henry, slowly, "I b'lieve
in takin' what 's pervided us, an' askin' no questions. I 've
traveled some, Em, in my time, and you hain't; an' that
makes a difference atween us."

Then Dorothy showed them through the rooms. The
first was a handsome sitting-room, with windows opening
upon the rose gardens. Then came separate bedrooms for
Aunt Em and Uncle Henry, with a fine bathroom between
them. Aunt Em had a pretty dressing room, besides, and
Dorothy opened the closets and showed several exquisite
costumes that had been provided for her aunt by the royal
dressmakers, who had worked all night to get them ready.
Everything that Aunt Em could possibly need was in the
drawers and closets, and her dressing-table was covered with
engraved gold toilet articles.

Uncle Henry had nine suits of clothes, cut in the popular
Munchkin fashion, with knee-breeches, silk stockings and
low shoes with jeweled buckles. The hats to match these
costumes had pointed tops and wide brims with small gold
bells around the edges. His shirts were of fine linen with

The Emerald City of Oz

frilled bosoms, and his vests were richly embroidered with
colored silks.

Uncle Henry decided that he would first take a bath and
then dress himself in a blue satin suit that had caught his
fancy. He accepted his good fortune with calm composure
and refused to have a servant to assist him. But Aunt Em
was "all of a flutter," as she said, and it took Dorothy and
Jellia Jamb, the housekeeper, and two maids a long time to
dress her and do up her hair and get her "rigged like a popin-
jay," as she quaintly expressed it. She wanted to stop and
admire everything that caught her eye, and she sighed con-
tinually and declared that such finery was too good for an
old country woman, and that she never thought she would
have to "put on airs" at her time of life.

Finally she was dressed, and when they went into the sit-
ting-room there was Uncle Henry in his blue satin, walking
gravely up and down the room. He had trimmed his beard
and mustache and looked very dignified and respectable.

"Tell me, Dorothy," he said; "do all the men here wear
duds like these?"

"Yes," she replied; "all 'cept the Scarecrow and the
Shaggy Man — and of course the Tin Woodman and Tiktok,
who are made of metal. You '11 find all the men at Ozma's
court dressed just as you are — only perhaps a little finer."

"Henry, you look like a play-actor," announced Aunt
Em, looking at her husband critically.

Chapter Seven

"An' you, Em, look more highfalutin' than a peacock,"
he replied.

"I guess you 're right," she said, regretfully; "but we 're
helpless victims of high-toned royalty."

Dorothy was much amused.

"Come with me," she said, "and I '11 show you 'round the
palace."

She took them through the beautiful rooms and in-
troduced them to all the people they chanced to meet. Also
she showed them her own pretty rooms, which were not far
from their own.

The Emerald City of Oz

"So it 's all true," said Aunt Em, wide-eyed with amaze-
ment, "and what Dorothy told us of this fairy country was
plain facts instead of dreams I But where are all the strange
creatures you used to know here^"

"Yes; where 's the Scarecrow'?" inquired Uncle Henry.

"Why, he 's just now away on a visit to the Tin Wood-
man, who is Emp'ror of the Winkie Country," answered the
little girl. "You '11 see him when he comes back, and you 're
sure to like him."

"And where 's the Wonderful Wizard'?" asked Aunt Em.

"You '11 see him at Ozma's luncheon, for he lives in this
palace," was the reply.

"And Jack Pumpkinhead?"

"Oh, he lives a little way out of town, in his own pump-
kin field. We '11 go there some time and see him, and we '11
call on Professor Wogglebug, too. The Shaggy Man will
be at the luncheon, I guess, and Tiktok. And now I '11 take
you out to see Billina, who has a house of her own."

So they went into the back yard, and after walking along
winding paths some distance through the beautiful gardens
they came to an attractive little house where the Yellow
Hen sat on the front porch sunning herself.

"Good morning, my dear Mistress," called Billina, flut-
tering down to meet them. "I was expecting you to call, for
I heard )^ou had come back and brought your uncle and aunt
with you."

Chapter Seven

"We 're here for good and all, this time, Billina," cried
Dorothy, joyfully. "Uncle Henry and Aunt Em belong in
Oz now as much as I do!"

"Then they are very lucky people," declared Billina; "for
there could n't be a nicer place to live. But come, my dear;
T must show you all my Dorothys. Nine are living and have
grown up to be very respectable hens; but one took cold at
Ozma's birthday party and died of the pip, and the other
two turned out to be horrid roosters, so I had to change their
names from Dorothy to Daniel. They all had the letter 'D'
engraved upon their gold lockets, you remember, with your
picture inside, and *D' stands for Daniel as well as for Dor-
othy."

"Did you call both the roosters Daniel*?" asked Uncle
Henry.

"Yes, indeed. I 've nine Dorothys and two Daniels; and
the nine Dorothys have eighty-six sons and daughters and
over three hundred grandchildren," said Billina, proudly.

"What names do you give 'em all, dear'?" inquired the
little girl.

"Oh, they are all Dorothys and Daniels, some being Ju-
niors and some Double-Juniors. Dorothy and Daniel are
two good names, and I see no object in hunting for others,"
declared the Yellow Hen. "But just think, Dorothy, what
a big chicken family we 've grown to be, and our numbers in-

The Emerald City of Oz

crease nearly every day I Ozma does n't know what to do
with all the eggs we lay, and we are never eaten or harmed
in any way, as chickens are in your country. They give us
everything to make us contented and happy, and I, my dear,
am the acknowledged Queen and Governor of every chicken
in Oz, because I 'm the eldest and started the whole colony."

"You ought to be very proud, ma'am," said Uncle Henry,
who was astonished to hear a hen talk so sensibly.

"Oh, I am," she replied. "I 've the loveliest pearl neck-
lace you ever saw. Come in the house and I '11 show it to
you. And I 've nine leg bracelets and a diamond pin for each
wing. But I only wear them on state occasions."

They followed the Yellow Hen into the house, which
Aunt Em declared was neat as a pin. They could not sit
down, because all Billina's chairs were roosting-poles made of
silver; so they had to stand while the hen fussily showed them
her treasures.

Then they had to go into the back rooms occupied by
Billina's nine Dorothys and two Daniels, who were all plump
yellow chickens and greeted the visitors very politely. It
was easy to see that they were well bred and that Billina
had looked after their education.

In the yards were all the children and grandchildren of
these eleven elders and they were of all sizes, from well-
grown hens to tiny chickens just out of the shell. About

Ch apter Seven

fifty fluffy yellow youngsters were at school, being taught
good manners and good grammar by a young hen who wore
spectacles. Th^y sang in chorus a patriotic song of the Land
of Oz, in honor of their visitors, and Aunt Em was much im-
pressed by these talking chickens.

Dorothy wanted to stay and play with the young chick-
ens for awhile, but Uncle Henry and Aunt Em had not seen
the palace grounds and gardens yet and were eager to get
better acquainted with the marvelous and delightful land
in which they were to live.

"I '11 stay here, and you can go for a walk," said Dorothy.
"You '11 be perfec'ly safe anywhere, and may do whatever
you want to. When you get tired, go back to the palace and
find your rooms, and I '11 come to you before luncheon is
ready."

So Uncle Henry and Aunt Em started out alone to ex-
plore the grounds, and Dorothy knew that they could n't get
lost, because all the palace grounds were enclosed by a high
wall of green marble set with emeralds.

It was a rare treat to these simple folk, who had lived in
the country all their lives and known little enjoyment of
any sort, to wear beautiful clothes and live in a palace and
be treated with respect and consideration by all around them.
They were very happy indeed as they strolled up the shady
walks and looked upon the gorgeous flowers and shrubs, feel-

The Emerald City of Oz

ing that their new home was more beautiful than any tongue
could describe.

Suddenly, as they turned a corner and walked through a
gap in a high hedge, they came face to face with an enormous
Lion, which crouched upon the green lawn and seemed sur-
prised by their appearance.

They stopped short. Uncle Henry trembling with horror
and Aunt Em too terrified to scream. Next moment the poor
woman clasped her husband around the neck and cried:

"Save me, Henry, save me!"

"Can't even save myself, Em," he returned, in a husky
voice, "for the animile looks as if it could eat both of us, an'
lick its chops for more I If I only had a gun — "

"Have n't you, Henry'? Have n't you?' she asked anx-
iously.

"Nary gun, Em. So let 's die as brave an' graceful as we
can. I knew our luck could n't last I"

"I won't die. I won't be eaten by a lion!" wailed Aunt
Em, glaring upon the huge beast. Then a thought struck
her, and she whispered: "Henry, I 've heard as savage
beastses can be conquered by the human eye. I '11 eye that
lion out o' countenance an' save our lives."

"Try it, Em," he returned, also in a whisper. "Look at
him as you do at me when I 'm late to dinner."

Aunt Em turned upon the Lion a determined countenance

Chapter Seven

and a wild dilated eye. She glared at the immense beast
steadily, and the Lion, who had been quietly blinking at
them, began to appear uneasy and disturbed.

"Is anything the matter, ma'am?" he asked, in a mild
voice.

At this speech from the terrible beast Aunt Em and
Uncle Henry both were startled, and then Uncle Henry re-
membered that this must be the Lion they had seen in Ozma's
Throne Room.

"Hold on, Em I" he exclaimed. "Quit the eagle eye con-
quest an' take courage. I guess this is the same Cowardl}^
Lion Dorothy has told us about."

"Oh, is it'?" she asked, much relieved.

"When he spoke, I got the idea; and when he looked so
'shamed like, I was sure of it," Uncle Henry continued.

Aunt Em regarded the animal with new interest.

"Are you the Cowardly Lion'?" she inquired. "Are you
Dorothy's friend'?"

"Yes 'm," answered the Lion, meekly. "Dorothy and I
are old chums and are very fond of each other. I 'm the King
of Beasts, you know, and the Hungry Tiger and I serve
Princess Ozma as her body guards."

''To be sure," said Aunt Em, nodding. "But the King
of Beasts should n't be cowardly."

"I 've heard that said before," remarked the Lion, yawn-

The Emerald City of Oz

ing till he showed his two great rows of sharp white teeth;
"but that does not keep me from being frightened whenever
I go into battle."

"What do you do, run?" asked Uncle Henry.

"No; that would be foolish, for the enemy would run
after me," declared the Lion. "So I tremble with fear and
pitch in as hard as I can; and so far I have always won my
fight."

"Ah, I begin to understand," said Uncle Henry.

"Were you scared when I looked at you just now'?" in-
quired Aunt Em.

"Terribly scared, madam," answered the Lion, "for at
first I thought you were going to have a fit. Then I noticed
you were trying to overcome me by the power of your eye,
and your glance was so fierce and penetrating that I shook
with fear."

This greatly pleased the lady, and she said quite cheer-
fully:

"Well, I won't hurt 3^ou, so don't be scared any more. I
just wanted to see what the human eye was good for."

"The human eye is a fearful weapon," remarked the Lion,
scratching his nose softly with his paw to hide a smile. "Had
I not known you were Dorothy's friends I might have torn
you both into shreds in order to escape your terrible gaze."

Aunt Em shuddered at hearing this, and Uncle Henry
said hastily:

Chapter Seven

*'I 'm glad you knew us. Good morning, Mr. Lion; we '11
hope to see you again — by and by — some time in the future."

"Good morning," replied the Lion, squatting down upon
the lawn again. "You are likely to see a good deal of me,
if you live in the Land of Oz."

CMPTEE EI01T

AFTER leaving the Whimsies, Guph continued on his jour-
ney and penetrated far into the Northwest. He wanted to
get to the Country of the Growleywogs, and in order to do
that he must cross the Ripple Land, which was a hard thing
to do. For the Ripple Land was a succession of hills and
valleys, all very steep and rocky, and they changed places
constantly by rippling. While Guph was climbing a hill
it sank down under him and became a valley, and while he
was descending into a valley it rose up and carried him to
the top of a hill. This was very perplexing to the traveler,
and a stranger might have thought he could never cross
the Ripple Land at all. But Guph knew that if he kept
steadily on he would get to the end at last; so he paid no at-
tention to the changing hills and valleys and plodded along
as calmly as if walking upon the level ground.

Chapter Eight

The result of this wise persistence was that the General
finally reached firmer soil and, after penetrating a dense for-
est, came to the Dominion of the Growleywogs.

No sooner had he crossed the border of this domain when
two guards seized him and carried him before the Grand Gal-
lipoot of the Growleywogs, who scowled upon him feroci-
ously and asked him why he dared intrude upon his territory.

"I 'm the Lord High General of the Invincible Army of
the Nomes, and my name is Guph," was the reply. "All the
world trembles when that name is mentioned."

The Growleywogs gave a shout of jeering laughter at
this, and one of them caught the Nome in his strong arms
and tossed him high into the air. Guph was considerably
shaken when he fell upon the hard ground, but he appeared
to take no notice of the impertinence and composed himself
to speak again to the Grand Gallipoot.

"My master. King Roquat the Red, has sent me here to
confer with you. He wishes your assistance to conquer the
Land of Oz."

Here the General paused, and the Grand Gallipoot
scowled upon him more terribly than ever and said :

"Goon!"

The voice of the Grand Gallipoot was partly a roar and
partly a growl. He mumbled his words badly and Guph had
to listen carefully in order to understand him.

The Emerald City of Oz

These Growleywogs were certainly remarkable creatures.
They were of gigantic size, yet were all bone and skin and
muscle, there being no meat or fat upon their bodies at all.
Their powerful muscles lay just underneath their skins, like
bunches of tough rope, and the weakest Growleywog was
so strong that he could pick up an elephant and toss it seven
miles away.

It seems unfortunate that strong people are usually so
disagreeable and overbearing that no one cares for them. In
fact, to be different from your fellow creatures is always a
misfortune. The Growleywogs knew that they were dis-
liked and avoided by every one, so they had become surly and
unsociable even among themxselves. Guph knew that they
hated all people, including the Nomes ; but he hoped to win
them over, nevertheless, and knew that if he succeeded they
would afford him very powerful assistance.

"The Land of Oz is ruled by a namby-pamby girl who
is disgustingly kind and good," he continued. "Her people
are all happy and contented and have no care or worries what-
ever.

"Go on!" growled the Grand Gallipoot.

"Once the Nome King enslaved the Royal Family of Ev
— another goody-goody lot that we detest," said the General.
"But Ozma interfered, although it was none of her business,
and marched her army against us. With her was a Kansas

The Emerald City of Oz

girl named Dorothy, and a Yellow Hen, and they marched
directly into the Nome King's cavern. There they liberated
our slaves from Ev and stole King Roquat's Magic Belt,
which they carried away with them. So now our King is
making a tunnel under the deadly desert, so we can march
through it to the Emerald City. When we get there we
mean to conquer and destroy all the land and recapture the
Magic Belt."

Again he paused, and again the Grand Gallipoot
growled :
G-0 on:

Guph tried to think what to say next, and z. ^appy tnought
soon occurred to him.

"We want you to help us in this conquest," he an-
nounced, "for we need the mighty aid of the Growleywogs
in order to make sure that we shall not be defeated. You
are the strongest people in all the world, and you hate good
and happy creatures as much as we Nomes do. I am sure it
will be a real pleasure to you to tear down the beautiful
Emerald City, and in return for your valuable assistance we
will allow you to bring back to your country ten thousand
people of Oz, to be your slaves."

"Twenty thousand I" growled the Grand Gallipoot.

"All right, we promise you twenty thousand," agreed
the General.

ChapterEight

The Gallipoot made a signal and at once his attend-
ants picked up General Guph and carried him away to a
prison, where the jailor amused himself by sticking pins in
the round fat body of the old Nome, to see him jump and
hear him yell.

But while this was going on the Grand Gallipoot was
talking with his counselors, who were the most important
officials of the Growleywogs. When he had stated to them
the proposition of the Nome King he said :

"My advice is to offer to help them. Then, when we
have conquered the Land of Oz, we will take not only our
twenty thousand prisoners but all the gold and jewels we
want."

"Let us take the Magic Belt, too," suggested one coun-
selor.

"And rob the Nome King and make him our slave," said
another.

"That is a good idea," declared the Grand Gallipoot.
"I 'd like King Roquat for my own slave. He could black
my boots and bring me my porridge every morning while I
am in bed."

"There is a famous Scarecrow in Oz. I '11 take him for
my slave," said a counselor.

"I '11 take Tiktok, the machine man," said another.

"Give me the Tin Woodman," said a third.

The Emerald City of Oz

They went on for some time, dividing up the people and
the treasure of Oz in advance of the conquest. For they had
no doubt at all that they would be able to destroy Ozma's
domain. Were they not the strongest people in all the
world?

"The deadly desert has kept us out of Oz before," re-
marked the Grand Gallipoot, "but now that the Nome King
is building a tunnel we shall get into the Emerald City very
easily. So let us send the little fat General back to his King
with our promise to assist him. We will not say that we in-
tend to conquer the Nomes after we have conquered Oz, but
we will do so, just the same."

This plan being agreed upon, they all went home to din-
ner, leaving General Guph still in prison. The Nome had
no idea that he had succeeded in his mission, for finding him-
self in prison he feared the Growleywogs intended to put him
to death.

By this time the jailor had tired of sticking pins in the
General, and was amusing himself by carefully pulling the
Nome's whiskers out by the roots, one at a time. This en-
joyment was interrupted by the Grand Gallipoot sending
for the prisoner.

"Wait a few hours," begged the jailor. "I have n't
pulled out a quarter of his whiskers yet."

Chapter Eight

"If you keep the Grand Gallipoot waiting he '11 break
your back," declared the messenger.

'Terhaps you 're right," sighed the jailor. "Take the
prisoner away, if you will, but I advise you to kick him
at every step he takes. It will be good fun, for he is as soft
as a ripe peach."

So Gupn was led away to the royal castle, where the
Grand Gallipoot told him that the Growleywogs had de-
cided to assist the Nomes in conquering the Land of Oz.

"Whenever you are ready," he added, "send me word
and I will march with eighteen thousand of my most power-
ful warriors to your aid."

The Emerald City of Oz

Guph was so delighted that he forgot all the smarting
caused by the pins and the pulling of whiskers. He did
not even complain of the treatment he had received, but
thanked the Grand Gallipoot and hurried away upon his
journey.

He had now secured the assistance of the Whimsies and
the Growleywogs; but his success made him long for still
more allies. His own life depended upon his conquering
Oz, and he said to himself:

"I '11 take no chances. I '11 be certain of success. Then,
when Oz is destroyed, perhaps I shall be a greater man than
old Roquat, and I can throw him away and be King of the
Nomes myself. Why not^ The Whimsies are stronger than
the Nomes, and they are my friends. The Growleywogs are
stronger than the Whimsies, and they also are my friends.
There are some people still stronger than the Growleywogs,
and if I can but induce them to aid me I shall have nothing
more to fear."

IT did not take Dorothy long to establish herself in her new
home, for she knew the people and the manners and customs
of the Emerald City just as well as she knew the old Kansas
farm.

But Uncle Henry and Aunt Em had some trouble in
getting used to the finery and pomp and ceremony of Ozma's
palace, and felt uneasy because they were obliged to be
"dressed up" all the time. Yet every one was very courteous
and kind to them and endeavored to make them happy.
Ozma, especially, made much of Dorothy's relatives, for her
little friend's sake, and she well knew that the awkwardness
and strangeness of their new mode of life would all wear
off in time.

The old people were chiefly troubled by the fact that there
was no work for them to do.

The Emerald City of Oz

*'Ev'ry day is like Sunday, now," declared Aunt Em,
solemnly, "and I can't say I like it. If they 'd only let me
do up the dishes after meals, or even sweep an' dust my own
rooms, I 'd be a deal happier. Henry don't know what to
do with himself either, and once when he stole out an' fed the
chickens Billina scolded him for letting 'em eat between
meals. I never knew before what a hardship it is to be rich
and have everything you want."

These complaints began to worry Dorothy; so she had a
long talk with Ozma upon the subject.

"I see I must find them something to do," said the girlish
Ruler of Oz, seriously. "I have been watching your uncle
and aunt, and I believe they will be more contented if oc-
cupied with some light tasks. While I am considering this
matter, Dorothy, you might make a trip with them through
the Land of Oz, visiting some of the odd corners and intro-
ducing your relatives to some of our curious people."

"Oh, that would be fine!" exclaimed Dorothy, eagerly.

"I will give you an escort befitting your rank as a Prin-
cess," continued Ozma; "and you may go to some of the
places you have not yet visited yourself, as well as some
others that you know. I will mark out a plan of the trip for
you and have everything in readiness for you to start to-
morrow morning. Take your time, dear, and be gone as
long as you wish. By the time you return I shall have found

Chapter Nine

some occupation for Uncle Henry and Aunt Em that will
keep them from being restless and dissatisfied."

Dorothy thanked her good friend and kissed the lovely
Ruler gratefully. Then she ran to tell the joyful news to
her uncle and aunt.

Next morning, after breakfast, everything was found
ready for their departure.

The escort included Omby Amby, the Captain General
of Ozma's army, which consisted merely of twenty-seven of-
ficers besides the Captain General. Once Omby Amby had
been a private soldier — the only private in the army — but as
there was never any fighting to do Ozma saw no need of a
private, so she made Omby Amby the highest officer of them
all. He was very tall and slim and wore a gay uniform and
a fierce mustache. Yet the mustache was the only fierce
thing about Omby Amby, whose nature was as gentle as that
of a child.

The wonderful Wizard had asked to join the party, and
with him came his friend the Shaggy Man, who was shaggy
but not ragged, being dressed in fine silks with satin shags
and bobtails. The Shaggy Man had shaggy whiskers and
hair, but a sweet disposition and a soft, pleasant voice.

There was an open wagon, with three seats for the pas-
sengers, and the wagon was drawn by the famous wooden Saw-
horse which had once been brought to life by Ozma by means

The Emerald City of Oz

of a magic powder. The Sawhorse wore golden shoes to keep
his wooden legs from wearing away, and he was strong and
swift. As this curious creature was Ozma's own favorite
steed, and very popular with all the people of the Emerald
City, Dorothy knew that she had been highly favored by be-
ing permitted to use the Sawhorse on her journey.

In the front seat of the wagon sat Dorothy and the Wiz-
ard. Uncle Henry and Aunt Em sat in the next seat and the
Shaggy Man and Omby Amby in the third seat. Of course
Toto was with the party, curled up at Dorothy's feet, and
just as they were about to start Billina came fluttering along
the path and begged to be taken with them. Dorothy readily
agreed, so the Yellow Hen flew up and perched herself upon
the dashboard. She wore her pearl necklace and three brace-
lets upon each leg, in honor of the occasion.

Dorothy kissed Ozma good-bye, and all the people stand-
ing around waved their handkerchiefs, and the band in an
upper balcony struck up a military march. Then the Wiz-
ard clucked to the Sawhorse and said: "Gid-dap!" and the
wooden animal pranced away and drew behind him the big
red wagon and all the passengers, without any effort at all.
A servant threw open a gate of the palace enclosure, that
they might pass out; and so, with music and shouts following
them, the journey was begun.

Ch a p t er Nine

"It 's almost like a circus," said Aunt Em, proudly. "I
can't help feelin' high an' mighty in this kind of a turn-out."

Indeed, as they passed down the street, all the people
cheered them lustily, and the Shaggy Man and the Wizard
and the Captain General all took off their hats and bowed
politely in acknowledgment.

When they came to the great wall of the Emerald City
the gates were opened by the Guardian who always tended
them. Over the gateway hung a dull-colored metal magnet
shaped like a horse-shoe, placed against a shield of polished
gold.

"That," said the Shaggy Man, impressively, "is the won-
derful Love Magnet. I brought it to the Emerald City my-
self, and all who pass beneath this gateway are both loving
and beloved."

"It 's a fine thing," declared Aunt Em, admiringly. "If
we 'd had it in Kansas I guess the man who held a mortgage
on the farm would n't have turned us out."

"Then I 'm glad we did n't have it," returned Uncle
Henry. "I like Oz better than Kansas, even; an' this little
wood Sawhorse beats all the critters I ever saw. He don't
have to be curried, or fed, or watered, an' he 's strong as an
ox. Can he talk, Dorothy'?"

"Yes, Uncle," replied the child. "But the Sawhorse
never says much. He told me once that he can't talk and
think at the same time, so he prefers to think."

The Emerald City of Oz

"Which is very sensible," declared the Wizard, nodding
approvingly. "Which way do we go, Dorothy?"

"Straight ahead into the Quadling Country," she an-
swered. "I 've got a letter of interduction to Miss Cutten-
' clip."

"Oh I" exclaimed the Wizard, much interested. "Are we
going there? Then I 'm glad I came, for I 've always wanted
to meet the Cuttenclips."

"Who are they?" inquired Aunt Em.

"Wait till we get there," replied Dorothy, with a laugh;
"then you 'D see for yourself. I 've never seen the Cutten-
clips, you know, so I can't 'zactly 'splain 'em to you."

Once free of the Emerald City the Sawhorse dashed away
at trem_endous speed. Indeed, he went so fast that Aunt
Em had hard work to catch her breath, and Uncle Henry
held fast to the seat of the red wagon.

"Gently — gently, my boy I" called the Wizard, and at
this the Sawhorse slackened his speed.

"What 's wrong?" asked the animal, slightly turning his
wooden head to look at the party with one eye, which was a
knot of wood.

"Why, we wish to admire the scenery, that 's all," an-
swered the Wizard.

"Some of your passengers," added the Shaggy Man,

The Emerald City of Oz

"have never been out of the Emerald City before, and the
country is all new to them."

"If you go too fast you '11 spoil all the fun," said Doro-
thy. "There 's no hurry."

"Very well; it is all the same to me," observed the Saw-
horse; and after that he went at a more moderate pace.

Uncle Henry was astonished.

"How can a wooden thing be so intelligent'?" he asked.

"Why, I gave him some sawdust brains the last time I
fitted his head with new ears," explained the Wizard. "The
sawdust was made from hard knots, and now the Sawhorse
is able to think out any knotty problem he meets with."

"I see," said Uncle Henry.

"I don't," remarked Aunt Em; but no one paid any at-
tention to this statement.

Before long they came to a stately building that stood
upon a green plain with handsome shade trees grouped here
and there.

"What is that?" asked Uncle Henry.

"That," replied the Wizard, "is the Royal Athletic Col-
lege of Oz, which is directed by Professor H. M. Woggle-
bug, T. E.

"Let 's stop and make a call," suggested Dorothy.

So the Sawhorse drew up in front of the great building
and they were met at the door by the learned Wogglebug

Chapter Nine

himself. He seemed fully as tall as the Wizard, and was
dressed in a red and white checked vest and a blue swallow-
tailed coat, and had yellow knee breeches and purple silk
stockings upon his slender legs. A tall hat was jauntily set
upon his head and he wore spectacles over his big bright eyes.

"Welcome, Dorothy," said the Wogglebug; "and wel-
come to all your friends. We are indeed pleased to receive
you at this great Temple of Learning."

"I thought it was an Athletic College," said the Shaggy
Man.

"It is, my dear sir," answered the Wogglebug, proudly.
"Here it is that we teach the youth of our great land scientific
College Athletics — in all their purity."

"Don't you teach them anything else^?" asked Dorothy.
"Don't they get any reading, writing and 'rithmetic'?"

"Oh, yes; of course. They get all those, and more," re-
turned the Professor. "But such things occupy little of their
time. Please follow me and I will show you how my scholars
are usually occupied. This is a class hour and they are all
busy."

They followed him to a big field back of the college build-
ing, where several hundred • young Ozites were at their
classes. In one place they played football, in another base-
ball. Some played tennis, some golf; some were swimming
in a big pool. Upon a river which wound through the

The Emerald City of Oz

grounds several crews in racing boats were rowing with
great enthusiasm. Other groups of students played basket-
ball and cricket, while in one place a ring was roped in to
permit boxing and wrestling by the energetic youths. All
the collegians seemed busy and there was much laughter
and shouting.

"This college," said Professor Wogglebug, complacently,
"is a great success. It 's educational value is undisputed,
and we are turning out many great and valuable citizens
every year."

"But when do they study'?" asked Dorothy.

"Study?" said the Wogglebug, looking perplexed at the
question.

"Yes; when do they get their 'rithmetic, and jogerfy, and
such things'?"

"Oh, they take doses of those every night and morning,"
was the reply.

"What do you mean by doses?" Dorothy inquired, won-
deringly.

"Why, we use the newly invented School Pills, made by
your friend the Wizard. These pills we have found to be
very effective, and they save a lot of time. Please step this
way and I will show you our Laboratory of Learning."

He led them to a room in the building where many large
bottles were standing in rows upon shelves.

Chapter Nine

"These are the Algebra Pills," said the Professor, taking
down one of the bottles. "One at night, on retiring, is equal
to four hours of study. Here are the Geography Pills — one
at night and one in the morning. In this next bottle are the
Latin Pills — one three times a day. Then we have the

Grammar Pills — one before each meal — and the Spelling
Pills, which are taken whenever needed."

"Your scholars must have to take a lot of pills," remarked
Dorothy, thoughtfully. "How do they take 'em, in apple-
sauce?'

"No, my dear. They are sugar-coated and are quickly

The Emerald City of Oz

and easily swallowed. I believe the students would rather
take the pills than study, and certainly the pills are a more
effective method. You see, until these School Pills were in-
vented we wasted a lot of time in study that may now be
better employed in practising athletics."

"Seems to me the pills are a good thing," said Omby
Amby, who remembered how it used to make his head ache
as a boy to study arithmetic.

"They are, sir," declared the Wogglebug, earnestly.
"They give us an advantage over all other colleges, because
at no loss of time our boys become thoroughly conversant
with Greek and Latin, Mathematics and Geography, Gram-
mar and Literature. You see they are never obliged to in-
terrupt their games to acquire the lesser branches of learn-
mg.

"It 's a great invention, I 'm sure," said Dorothy, looking
admiringly at the Wizard, who blushed modestly at this
praise.

"We live in an age of progress," announced Professor
Wogglebug, pompously. "It is easier to swallow knowledge
than to acquire it laboriously from books. Is it not so, my
friends'?"

"Some folks can swallow anything," said Aunt Em, "but
to me this seems too much like taking medicine."

"Young men in college always have to take their medi-

Chapter Nine

cine, one way or another," observed the Wizard, with a
smile; "and, as our Professor says, these School Pills have
proved to be a great success. One day while I was making
them I happened to drop one of them, and one of Billina's
chickens gobbled it up. A few minutes afterward this chick
got upon a roost and recited 'The Boy Stood on the Burn-
ing Deck' without making a single mistake. Then it recited
'The Charge of the Light Brigade' and afterwards 'Excel-
sior.' You see, the chicken had eaten an Elocution Pill."

They now bade good bye to the Professor, and thank-
ing him for his kind reception mounted again into the red
wagon and continued their journey.

mtK TCM

THE travelers had taken no provisions with them because
they knew that they would be welcomed wherever they might
go in the Land of Oz, and that the people would feed and
lodge them with genuine hospitality. So about noon they
stopped at a farm-house and were given a delicious luncheon
of bread and milk, fruits and wheat cakes with maple syrup.
After resting a while and strolling through the orchards with
their host — a round, jolly farmer — they got into the wagon
and again started the Sawhorse along the pretty, winding
road.

There were sign-posts at all the corners, and finally they
came to one which read :

TAKE THIS ROAD TO THE CUTTENCLIPS

100

Chapter Ten

There was also a hand pointing in the right direction, so
they turned the Sawhorse that way and found it a very good
road, but seemingly little traveled.

"I 've never been to see the Cuttenclips before," re-
marked Dorothy.

"Nor I," said the Captain General.

"Nor I," said the Wizard.

"Nor I," said Billina.

"I 've hardly been out of the Emerald City since I arrived
in this country," added the Shaggy Man.

"Why, none of us has been there, then," exclaimed the
little girl. "I wonder what the Cuttenclips are like."

"We shall soon find out," said the Wizard, with a sly
laugh. "I 've heard they are rather flimsy things."

The farm-houses became fewer as they proceeded, and the
path was at times so faint that the Sawhorse had hard work
to keep in the road. The wagon began to jounce, too; so
they were obliged to go slowly.

After a somewhat wearisome journey they came in sight
of a high wall, painted blue with pink ornaments. This wall
was circular, and seemed to enclose a large space. It was so
high that only the tops of the trees could be seen above it.

The path led up to a small door in the wall, which was
closed and latched. Upon the door was a sign in gold letters
reading as follows :

lOl

The Emerald City of Oz

VISI'TORS are requested to MOVE
SLOWLT and CAREFULLT, a?2d to avoid
COUGHING or making aiiy BREEZE or
DRAUGHr

"That 's strange," said the Shaggy Man, reading the
sign aloud. "Who are the Cuttenclips, anyhow?"

"Why, they 're paper dolls," answered Dorothy. "Did n't
you know that?"

"Paper dolls I Then let 's go somewhere else," said
Uncle Henry. "We 're all too old to play with dolls, Doro-
thy."

"But these are different," declared the girl. "They 're
alive.

"Alive I" gasped Aunt Em, in amazement.

"Yes. Let 's go in," said Dorothy.

So they all got out of the wagon, since the door in the
wall was not big enough for them to drive the Sawhorse and
wagon through it.

"You stay here, Totol" commanded Dorothy, shaking
her finger at the little dog. "You 're so careless that you
might make a breeze if I let you inside."

Toto wagged his tail as if disappointed at being left be-
hind; but he made no effort to follow them. The Wizard un-
latched the door, which opened outward, and they all looked
eagerly inside.

102

Chapter Ten

Just before the entrance was drawn up a line of tiny
soldiers, with uniforms brightly painted and paper guns upon
their shoulders. They were exactly alike, from one end of
the line to the other, and all were cut out of paper and joined
together in the centers of their bodies.

As the visitors entered the enclosure the Wizard let the
door swing back into place, and at once the line of soldiers
tumbled over, fell flat upon their backs, and lay fluttering
upon the ground.

"Hi, there I" called one of them; "what do you mean by
slamming the door and blowing us over?"

"I beg your pardon, I 'm sure," said the Wizard, regret-
fully. "I did n't know you were so delicate."

"We 're not delicate!" retorted another soldier, raising
his head from the ground. "We are strong and healthy; but
we can't stand draughts."

"May I help you up'?" asked Dorothy.

"If you please," replied the end soldier. "But do it
gently, little girl."

Dorothy carefully stood up the line of soldiers, who first
dusted their painted clothes and then saluted the visitors
with their paper muskets. From the end it was easy to see
that the entire line had been cut out of paper, although from
the front the soldiers looked rather solid and imposing.

103

The Emerald City of Oz

"I ' ve a letter of introduction from Princess Ozma to Miss
Cuttenclip," announced Dorothy.

"\^ery well," said the end soldier, and blew upon a paper
whistle that hung around his neck. At once a paper soldier
in a Captain's uniform came out of a paper house near by
and approached the group at the entrance. He was not very
big, and he walked rather stiffly and uncertainly on his pa-
per legs; but he had a pleasant face, with very red cheeks
and very blue eyes, and he bowed so low to the strangers
that Dorothy laughed, and the breeze from her mouth nearly
blew the Captain over. He wavered and struggled and fin-
ally managed to remain upon his feet.

"Take care. Miss I" he said, warningly. "You 're break-
ing the rules, you know, by laughing."

"Oh, I did n't know that," she replied.

"To laugh in this place is nearly as dangerous as to
cough," said the Captain. "You '11 have to breathe very
quietly, I assure you."

"We '11 try to," promised the girl. "May we see Miss
Cuttenclip, please'?"

"You may," promptly returned the Captain. "This is
one of her reception days. Be good enough to follow me."

He turned and led the way up a path, and as they fol-
lowed slowly, because the paper Captain did not move very

104

Chapter Ten

swiftly, they took the opportunity to gaze around them at
this strange paper country.

Beside the path were paper trees, all cut out very neatly
and painted a brilliant green color. And back of the trees
were rows of cardboard houses, painted in various colors but
most of them having green blinds. Some were large and
some small, and in the front yards were beds of paper flowers
quite natural in appearance. Over some of the porches pa-
per vines were twined, giving them a cosy and shady look.

As the visitors passed along the street a good many pa-
per dolls came to the doors and windows of their houses to
look at them curiously. These dolls were nearly all the same
height, but were cut into various shapes, some being fat and
some lean. The girl dolls wore many beautiful costumes of
tissue paper, making them quite fluffy; but their heads and
hands were no thicker than the paper of which they were
made.

Some of the paper people were on the street, walking
along or congregated in groups and talking together; but
as soon as they saw the strangers they all fluttered into the
houses as fast as they could go, so as to be out of danger.

"Excuse me if I go edgewise," remarked the Captain, as
they came to a slight hill. "I can get along faster that way
and not flutter so much."

105

The Emerald City of Oz

'That 's all right," said Dorothy. **We don't mind how
you go, I 'm sure."

At one side of the street was a paper pump, and a paper
boy was pumping paper water into a paper pail. The Yel-
low Hen happened to brush against this boy with her wing,
and he flew into the air and fell into a paper tree, where he
stuck until the Wizard gently pulled him out. At the same
time the pail went soaring into the air, spilling the paper
water, while the paper pump bent nearly double.

"Goodness me I" said the Hen. "If I should flop my
wings I believe I 'd knock over the whole village I"

"Then don't flop them — please don't!" entreated the Cap-
tain. "Miss Cuttenclip would be very much distressed if her
village was spoiled."

"Oh, I '11 be careful," promised Billina.

"Are not all these paper girls and women named Miss
Cuttenclips'?" inquired Omby Amby.

"No, indeed," answered the Captain, who was walking
better since he began to move edgewise. "There is but one
Miss Cuttenclip, who is our Queen, because she made us all.
These girls are Cuttenclips, to be sure, but their names are
Emily and Polly and Sue and Betty and such things. Only
the Queen is called Miss Cuttenclip."

"I must say that this place beats anything I ever heard
of," observed Aunt Em. "I used to play with paper dolls

106

Chapter Ten

myself, an' cut 'em out; but I never thought I 'd ever see
such things alive."

"I don't see as it 's any more curious than hearmg hens
talk," returned Uncle Henry.

"You 're likely to see many queer things in the Land of
Oz, sir," said the Wizard. "But a fairy country is extremely
interesting when you get used to being surprised."

"Here we are!" called the Captain, stopping before a
cottage.

This house was made of wood, and was remarkably
pretty in design. In the Emerald City it would have been
considered a tiny dwelling, indeed; but in the midst of this
paper village it seemed immense. Real flowers were in the
garden and real trees grew beside it. Upon the front door
was a sign reading :

MISS CUTTENCLIP.

Just as they reached the porch the front door opened and
a little girl stood before them. She appeared to be about
the same age as Dorothy, and smiling upon her visitors she
said, sweetly:

"You are welcome."

All the party seemed relieved to find that here was a real
girl, of flesh and blood. She was very dainty and pretty as
she stood there welcoming them. Her hair was a golden

107

The Emerald City of Oz

blonde and her eyes turquoise blue. She had rosy cheeks and
lovely white teeth. Over her simple white lawn dress she
wore an apron with pink and white checks, and in one hand
she held a pair of scissors.

"May we see Miss Cuttenclip, please'?" asked Dorothy.

"I am Miss Cuttenclip," was the reply. ''Won't you
come in^"

She held the door open while they all entered a pretty
sitting-room that was littered with all sorts of paper — some
stiff, some thin, and some tissue. The sheets and scraps were
of all colors. Upon a table were paints and brushes, while
several pair of scissors, of different sizes, were lying about.

"Sit down, please," said Miss Cuttenclip, clearing the
paper scraps off some of the chairs. "It is so long since I
have had any visitors that I am not properly prepared to re-
ceive them. But I 'm sure you will pardon my untidy room,
for this is my workshop."

"Do you make all the paper dolls'?" inquired Dorothy.

"Yes; I cut them out with my scissors, and paint the faces
and some of the costumes. It is very pleasant work, and I
am happy making my paper village grow."

"But how do the paper dolls happen to be alive?" asked
Aunt Em.

"The first dolls I made were not alive," said Miss Cut-
tenclip. " I used to live near the castle of a great Sorceress

108

rBu$((^utlft)rCj : ^

Chapter Ten

named Glinda the Good, and she saw my dolls and said they
were very pretty. I told her I thought I would like them
better if they were alive, and the next day the Sorceress
brought me a lot of magic paper. 'This is live paper,' she
said, 'and all the dolls you cut out of it will be alive, and
able to think and to talk. When you have used it all up,
come to me and I will give you more.'

"Of course I was delighted with this present," continued
Miss Cuttenclip, "and at once set to work and made several
paper dolls, which, as soon as they were cut out, began to
walk around and talk to me. But they were so thm that I
found that any breeze would blow them over and scatter
them dreadfully; so Glinda found this lonely place for me,
where few people ever come. She built the wall to keep any
wind from blowing away my people, and told me I could
build a paper village here and be its Queen. That is why
I came here and settled down to work and started the village
you now see. It was many years ago that I built the first
houses, and I 've kept pretty busy and made my village grow
finely ; and I need not tell you that I am very happy in my
work."

"Many years ago!" exclaimed Aunt Em. "Why, how
old are you, child?"

"I never keep track of the years," said Miss Cuttenclip,
laughing. "You see, I don't grow up at all, but stay just the

109

The Emerald City of Oz

same as I was when first I came here. Perhaps I 'm older
even than you are, madam; but I could n't say for sure."

They looked at the lovely little girl wonderingly, and the
Wizard asked:

"What happens to your paper village when it rains'?"

*'It does not rain here," replied Miss Cuttenclip. "Glinda
keeps all the rain storms away; so I never worry about my
dolls getting wet. But now, if you will come with me, it
will give me pleasure to show you over my paper kingdom.
Of course you must go slowly and carefully, and avoid mak-
ing any breeze."

They left the cottage and followed their guide through
the various streets of the village. It was indeed an amaz-
ing place, when one considered that it was all made with
scissors, and the visitors were not only greatly interested but
full of admiration for the skill of little Miss Cuttenclip.

In one place a large group of especially nice paper dolls
assembled to greet their Queen, whom it was easy to see they
loved dearly. These dolls marched and danced before the
visitors, and then they all waved their paper handkerchiefs
and sang in a sweet chorus a song called "The Flag of Our
Native Land."

At the conclusion of the song they ran up a handsome
paper flag on a tall flagpole, and all of the people of the

Chapter Ten

village gathered around to cheer as loudly as they could — al-
though, of course, their voices were not especially strong.

Miss Cuttenclip was about to make her subjects a speech
in reply to this patriotic song, when the Shaggy Man hap-
pened to sneeze.

He was a very loud and powerful sneezer at any time,
and he had tried so hard to hold in this sneeze that when it
suddenly exploded the result was terrible.

The paper dolls were mowed down by dozens, and flew
and fluttered in wild confusion in every direction, tumbling
this way and that and getting more or less wrinkled and
bent.

Ill

The Emerald City of Oz

A wail of terror and grief came from the scattered throng,
and Miss Cuttenclip exclaimed:

"Dear me I dear me I" and hurried at once to the rescue
of her overturned people.

"Oh, Shaggy Man I How could you?" asked Dorothy,
reproachfully.

"I could n't help it — really I could n't," protested the
Shaggy Man, looking quite ashamed. "And I had no idea it
took so little to upset these paper dolls."

"So little I" said Dorothy. "Why, it was 'most as bad
as a Kansas cyclone." And then she helped Miss Cuttenclip
rescue the paper folk and stand them on their feet again.
Two of the cardboard houses had also tumbled over, and
the little Queen said she would have to repair them and paste
them together before they could be lived in again.

And now, fearing they might do more damage to the
flimsy paper people, they decided to go away. But first they
thanked Miss Cuttenclip very warmly for her courtesy and
kindness to them.

"Any friend of Princess Ozma is always welcome here —
unless he sneezes," said the Queen, with a rather severe look
at the Shaggy Man, who hung his head. "I like to have visit-
ors admire my wonderful village, and I hope you will call
again."

112

Chapter Ten

Miss Cuttenclip herself led them to the door in the wall,
and as they passed along the street the paper dolls peeped at
them half fearfully from the doors and windows. Perhaps
they will never forget the Shaggy Man's awful sneeze, and
I am sure they were all glad to see the meat people go away.

113

BLllMipiMir

cnmiK tiwrm

ON leaving the Growieywogs General Guph had to recross
the Ripple Lands, and he did not find it a pleasant
thing to do. Perhaps having his whiskers pulled out one by
one and being used as a pin-cushion for the innocent amuse-
ment of a good natured jailor had not improved the quality
of Guph's temper, for the old Nome raved and raged at the
recollection of the wrongs he had suffered, and vowed to take
vengeance upon the Growieywogs after he had used them
for his purposes and Oz had been conquered. He went on
in this furious way until he was half across the Ripple Land.
Then he became seasick, and the rest of the way this naughty
Nome was almost as miserable as he deserved to be.

But when he reached the plains again and the ground
was firm under his feet he began to feel better, and instead
of going back home he turned directly west. A squirrel,

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Chapter Eleven

perched in a tree, saw him take this road and called to hini
warningly: "Look out!" But he paid no attention. An
eagle paused in its flight through the air to look at him won-
deringly and say: "Look out!" But on he went.

No one can say that Guph was not brave, for he had de-
termined to visit those dangerous creatures the Phanfasms,
who resided upon the very top of the dread Mountain of
Phantastico. The Phanfasms were Erbs, and so dreaded by
mortals and immortals alike that no one had been near their
mountain home for several thousand years. Yet General
Guph hoped to induce them to join in his proposed warfare
against the good and happy Oz people.

Guph knew very well that the Phanfasms would be al-
most as dangerous to the Nomes as they would to the Ozites,
but he thought himself so clever that he believed that he
could manage these strange creatures and make them obey
him. And there was no doubt at all that if he could enlist the
services of the Phanfasms their tremendous power, united
to the strength of the Growleywogs and the cunning of the
Whimsies would doom the Land of Oz to absolute destruc-
tion.

So the old Nome climbed the foothills and trudged along
the wild mountain paths until he came to a big gully that
encircled the Mountain of Phantastico and marked the
boundary line of the dominion of the Phanfasms. This gully

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The Emerald City of Oz

was about a third of the way up the mountain, and it was
filled to the brim with red-hot molten lava, in which swam
fire-serpents and poisonous salamanders. The heat from this
mass and its poisonous smell were both so unbearable that
even birds hesitated to fly over the gully, but circled around
it. All living things kept away from the mountain.

Now Guph had heard, during his long lifetime, many
tales of these dreaded Phanfasms; so he had heard of this
barrier of melted lava, and also he had been told that there
was a narrow bridge that spanned it in one place. So he
walked along the edge until he found the bridge. It was a
single arch of gray stone, and lying flat upon this bridge was
a scarlet alligator, seemingly fast asleep.

When Guph stumbled over the rocks in approaching the
bridge the creature opened its eyes, from which tiny flames
shot in all directions, and after looking at the intruder very
wickedly the scarlet alligator closed its eyelids again and
lay still.

Guph saw there was no room for him to pass the alligator
on the narrow bridge, so he called out to it :

*'Good morning, friend. I don't wish to hurry you, but
please tell me if you are coming down, or going up?"

"Neither," snapped the alligator, clicking its cruel jaws
together.

The General hesitated.

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Chapter Eleven

"Are you likely to stay there long'?" he asked.

"A few hundred years or so," said the alligator.

Guph softly rubbed the end of his nose and tried to think
what to do.

"Do you know whether the First and Foremost Phanfasm
of Phantastico is at home or not'?" he presently inquired.

"I expect he is, seeing he is always at home," replied the
alligator.

"Ah; who is that coming down the mountain?" asked the
Nome, gazing upward.

The alligator turned to look over its shoulder, and at once
Guph ran to the bridge and leaped over the sentinel's back
before it could turn back again. The scarlet monster made
a snap at the Nome's left foot, but missed it by fully an inch.

"Ah ha !" laughed the General, who was now on the moun-
tain path. "I fooled you that time."

"So you did; and perhaps you fooled yourself," retorted
the alligator. "Go up the mountain, if you dare, and find
out what the First and Foremost will do to you!"

"I will," declared Guph, boldly; and on he went up the
path.

At first the scene was wild enough, but gradually it
grew more and more awful in appearance. All the rocks
had the shapes of frightful beings and even the tree trunks
were gnarled and twisted like serpents.

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The Emerald City of Oz

Suddenly there appeared before the Nome a man with
the head of an owl. His body was hairy, like that of an ape,
and his only clothing was a scarlet scarf twisted around his
waist. He bore a huge club in his hand and his round owl
eyes blinked fiercely upon the intruder.

*'What are you doing here^" he demanded, threatening
Guph with his club.

"I 've come to see the First and Foremost Phanfasm of
Phantastico," replied the General, who did not like the way
this creature looked at him, but still was not afraid.

"Ah; you shall see him I" the man said, with a sneering
laugh. "The First and Foremost shall decide upon the best
way to punish you."

"He will not punish me," returned Guph, calmly, "for I
have come here to do him and his people a rare favor. Lead
on, fellow, and take me directly to your master."

The owl-m.an raised his club with a threatening gesture.

"If you try to escape," he said, "beware — "

But here the General interrupted him.

"Spare your threats," said he, "and do not be impertinent,
or I will have you severely punished. Lead on, and keep
silent!"

This Guph was really a clever rascal, and it seems a pity
he was so bad, for in a good cause he might have accomplished
much. He realized that he had put himself into a danger-

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Chapter Eleven

ous position by coming to this dreadful mountain, but he
also knew that if he showed fear he was lost. So he adopted
a bold manner as his best defense. The wisdom of this plan
was soon evident, for the Phanfasm with the owl's head
turned and led the way up the mountain.

At the very top was a level plain, upon which were heaps
of rock that at first glance seemed solid. But on looking
closer Guph discovered that these rock heaps were dwellings,
for each had an opening.

Not a person was to be seen outside the rock huts. All
was silent.

The owl-man led the way among the groups of dwellings
to one standing in the center. It seemed no better and no
worse than any of the others. Outside the entrance to this
rock heap the guide gave a low wail that sounded like "Lee-
ow-ahl"

Suddenly there bounded from the opening another hairy
man. This one wore the head of a bear. In his hand he bore
a brass hoop. He glared at the stranger in evident surprise.

"Why have you captured this foolish wanderer and
brought him here'?" he demanded, addressing the owl-man.

"I did not capture him," was the answer. "He passed the
scarlet alligator and came here of his own free will and ac-
cord."

The First and Foremost looked at the General.

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The Emerald City of Oz

"Have you tired of life, then?" he asked.

"No, indeed," answered Guph. "I am a Nome, and the
Chief General of King Roquat the Red's great army of
Nomes. I come of a long-lived race, and I may say that I
expect to live a long time yet. Sit down, you Phanfasms —
if you can find a seat in this wild haunt — and listen to what
I have to say."

With all his knowledge and bravery General Guph did
not know that the steady glare from the bear eyes was read-
ing his inmost thoughts as surely as if they had been put into
words. He did not know that these despised rock heaps of
the Phanfasms were merely deceptions to his own eyes, nor
could he guess that he was standing in the midst of one of
the most splendid and luxurious cities ever built by magic
power. All that he saw was a barren waste of rock heaps, a
hairy man with an owl's head and another with a bear's head.
The sorcery of the Phanfasms permitted him to see no more.

Suddenly the First and Foremost swung his brass hoop
and caught Guph around the neck with it. The next instant,
before the General could think what had happened to him,
he was dragged inside the rock hut. Here, his eyes still
blinded to realities, he perceived only a dim light, by which
the hut seemed as rough and rude inside as it was outside.
Yet he had a strange feeling that many bright eyes were fas-
tened upon him and that he stood in a vast and extensive hall.

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The Emerald City of Oz

The First and Foremost now laughed grimly and re-
leased his prisoner.

"If you have anything to say that is interesting," he re-
marked, ''speak out, before I strangle you."

So Guph spoke out. He tried not to pay any attention to
a strange rustling sound that he heard, as of an unseen mul-
titude drawing near to listen to his words. His eyes could
see only the fierce bear-man, and to him he addressed his
speech. First he told of his plan to conquer the Land of Oz
and plunder the country of its riches and enslave its people,
who, being fairies, could not be killed. After relating all
this, and telling of the tunnel the Nome King was building,
he said he had come to ask the First and Foremost to join the
Nomes, with his band of terrible warriors, and help them to
defeat the Oz people.

The General spoke very earnestly and impressively, but
when he had finished the bear-man began to laugh as if much
amused, and his laughter seemed to be echoed by a chorus of
merriment from an unseen multitude. Then, for the first
time, Guph began to feel a trifle worried.

"Who else has promised to help you'?" finally asked the
First and Foremost.

"The Whimsies," replied the General.

Again the bear-headed Phanfasm laughed.

"Any others'?" he inquired.

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Chapter Eleven

"Only the Growleywogs," said Guph.
This answer set the First and Foremost laughing anew.
"What share of the spoils am I to have'?" was the next
question.

"Anything you like, except King Roquat's Magic Belt,"
replied Guph.

At this the Phanfasm set up a roar of laughter, which had
its echo in the unseen chorus, and the bear-man seemed so
amused that he actually rolled upon the ground and shouted
with merriment.

"Oh, these blind and foolish Nomes I" he said. "How big
they seem to themselves and how small they really are !"

Suddenly he arose and seized Guph's neck with one hairy
paw, dragging him out of the hut into the open.

Here he gave a curious wailing cry, and, as if in answer,
from all the rocky huts on the mountain-top came flocking a
horde of Phanfasms, all with hairy bodies, but wearing heads
of various animals, birds and reptiles. All were ferocious and
repulsive-looking to the deceived eyes of the Nome, and
Guph could not repress a shudder of disgust as he looked
upon them.

The First and Foremost slowly raised his arms, and in a
twinkling his hairy skin fell from him and he appeared be-
fore the astonished Nome as a beautiful woman, clothed in

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The Emerald City of Oz

a flowing gown of pink gauze. In her dark hair flowers were
entwined, and her face was noble and calm.

At the same instant the entire band of Phanfasms was
transformed into a pack of howling wolves, running here and
there as they snarled and showed their ugly yellow fangs.

The woman now raised her arms, even as the man-bear
had done, and in a twinkling the wolves became crawling
lizards, while she herself changed into a huge butterfly.

Guph had only time to cry out in fear and take a step
backward to avoid the lizards when another transformation
occurred, and all returned instantly to the forms they had
originally worn.

Then the First and Foremost, who had resumed his hairy
body and bear head, turned to the Nome and asked:

"Do you still demand our assistance?"

*'More than ever," answered the General, firmly.

''Then tell me: what can you offer the Phanfasms that
they have not already'?" inquired the First and Foremost.

Guph hesitated. He really did not know what to say.
The Nome King's vaunted Magic Belt seemed a poor thing
compared to the astonishing magical powers of these people.
Gold, jewels and slaves they might secure in any quantity
without especial effort. He felt that he was dealing with
powers greatly beyond him. There was but one argument
that might influence the Phanfasms, who were creatures of
evil.

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Chapter Eleven

"Permit me to call your attention to the exquisite joy of
making the happy unhappy," said he at last. "Consider the
pleasure of destroying innocent and harmless people."

"Ah! you have answered me," cried the First and Fore-
most. "For that reason alone we will aid you. Go home,

^C^

and tell your bandy-legged king that as soon as his tunnel
is finished the Phanfasms will be with him and lead his le-
gions to the conquest of Oz. The deadly desert alone has
kept us from destroying Oz long ago, and your underground
tunnel is a clever thought. Go home, and prepare for our

commg

125

The Emerald City of Oz

Guph was very glad to be permitted to go with this prom-
ise. The owl-man led him back down the mountain path
and ordered the scarlet alligator to crawl away and allow the
Nome to cross the bridge in safety.

After the visitor had gone a brilliant and gorgeous city
appeared upon the mountain top, clearly visible to the eyes
of the gaily dressed multitude of Phanfasms that lived there.
And the First and Foremost, beautifully arrayed, addressed
the others in these words :

"It is time we went into the world and brought sorrow
and dismay to its people. Too long have we remained by
ourselves upon this mountain top, for while we are thus se-
cluded many nations have grown happy and prosperous, and
the chief joy of the race of Phanfasms is to destroy happi-
ness. So I think it is lucky that this messenger from the
Nomes arrived among us just now, to remind us that the op-
portunity has come for us to make trouble. We will use King
Roquat's tunnel to conquer the Land of Oz. Then we will
destroy the Whimsies, the Growleywogs and the Nomes, and
afterward go out to ravage and annoy and grieve the whole
world."

The multitude of evil Phanfasms eagerly applauded this
plan, which they fully approved.

I am told that the Erbs are the most powerful and mer-
ciless of all the evil spirits, and the Phanfasms of Phantas-
tico belong to the race of Erbs.

126

a^ovA

aimiw

.(^

pV:

DOROTHY and her fellow travelers rode away from the
Cuttenclip village and followed the indistinct path as far as
the sign-post. Here they took the main road again and pro-
ceeded pleasantly through the pretty farming comitry.
When evening came they stopped at a dwelling and were
joyfully welcomed and given plenty to eat and good beds for
the night.

Early next morning, however, they were up and eager to
start, and after a good breakfast they bade their host good-
bye and climbed into the red wagon, to which the Sawhorse
had been hitched all night. Being made of wood, this horse
never got tired nor cared to lie down. Dorothy was not quite
sure whether he ever slept or not, but it was certain that he
never did when anybody was around.

The weather is always beautiful in Oz, and this morning

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The Emerald City of Oz

the air was cool and refreshing and the sunshine brilliant and
delightful.

In about an hour they came to a place where another road
branched off. There was a sign-post here which read :

THIS WAY TO FUDDLECUMJIG

"Oh, here is where we turn," said Dorothy, observing the
sign.

"What! Are we going to Fuddlecumjig*?" asked the
Captain General.

"Yes; Ozma thought we would enjoy the Fuddles. They
are said to be very interesting," she replied.

"No one would suspect it from their name," said Aunt
Em. "Who are they, anyhow'? More paper things^"

"I think not," answered Dorothy, laughing; "but I
can't say 'zactly. Aunt Em, what they are. We '11 find out
when we get there."

"Perhaps the Wizard knows," suggested Uncle Henry.

"No; I 've never been there before," said the Wizard.
"But I 've often heard of Fuddlecumjig and the Fuddles,
who are said to be the most peculiar people in all the Land
of Oz."

"In what way?" asked the Shaggy Man.

"I don't know, I 'm sure," said the Wizard.

Just then, as they rode along the pretty green lane to-

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ChapterTwelve

ward Fuddlecumjig, they espied a kangaroo sitting by the
roadside. The poor animal had its face covered with both
its front paws and was crying so bitterly that the tears
coursed down its cheeks in two tiny streams and trickled
across the road, where they formed a pool in a small hol-
low.

The Sawhorse stopped short at this pitiful sight, and
Dorothy cried out, with ready sympathy :

"What 's the matter, Kangaroo?'

"Boo-hoo! Boo-hoo!" wailed the kangaroo; "I 've lost
my mi — mi — mi — Oh, boo-hoo ! Boo-hoo !" —

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The Emerald City of Oz

"Poor thing," said the Wizard, "she 's lost her mister.
It 's probably her husband, and he 's dead."

'No, no, no!" sobbed the kangaroo. "It — it is n't that.
I 've lost my mi — mi — Oh, boo, boo-hoo I"

"I know," said the Shaggy Man ; "she 's lost her mirror."

"No; it 's my mi — mi — mi — Boo-hoo I My mi — Oh, Boo-
hoo!" and the kangaroo cried harder than ever.

"It must be her mince-pie," suggested Aunt Em.

"Or her milk-toast," proposed Uncle Henry.

"I 've lost my mi — mi — mittens!" said the kangaroo, get-
ting it out at last.

"Oh!" cried the Yellow Hen, with a cackle of relief.
"Why did n't you say so before *?"

"Boo-hoo! I — I — could n't," answered the kangaroo.

"But, see here," said Dorothy, "you don't need mittens
this warm weather."

"Yes, indeed I do," replied the animal, stopping her sobs
and removing her paws from her face to look at the little girl
reproachfully. "My hands will get all sunburned and tanned
without my mittens, and I 've worn them so long that I '11
probably catch cold without them."

"Nonsense!" said Dorothy. "I never heard before of any
kangaroo wearing mittens."

"Did n't you?" asked the animal, as if surprised

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Chapter Twelve

"Never!" repeated the girl. "And you '11 probably make
yourself sick if you don't stop crying. Where do you live'?"

"About two miles beyond Fuddlecumjig," was the an-
swer. "Grandmother Gnit made me the mittens, and she 's
one of the Fuddles."

"Well, you 'd better go home now, and perhaps the old
lady will make you another pair," suggested Dorothy.
"We 're on our way to Fuddlecumjig, and you may hop along
beside us."

So they rode on, and the kangaroo hopped beside the red
wagon and seemed quickly to have forgotten her loss. By and
by the Wizard said to the animal :

"Are the Fuddles nice people'?"

"Oh, very nice," answered the kangaroo; "that is, when
they 're properly put together. But they get dreadfully scat-
tered and mixed up, at times, and then you can't do anything
with them."

"What do you mean by their getting scattered'?" in-
quired Dorothy.

"Why, they 're made in a good many small pieces," ex-
plained the kangaroo; "and whenever any stranger comes
near them they have a habit of falling apart and scattering
themselves around. That 's when they get so dreadfully
mixed, and its a hard puzzle to put them together again."

"Who usually puts them together?" asked Omby Amby.

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The Emerald City of Oz

"Any one who is able to match the pieces. I sometimes
put Grandmother Gnit together myself, because I know her
so well I can tell every piece that belongs to her. Then, when
she 's all matched, she knits for me, and that 's how she made
my mittens. But it took a good many days hard knitting, and
I had to put Grandmother together a good many times, be-
cause every time I came near she 'd scatter herself."

"I should think she would get used to your coming, and
not be afraid," said Dorothy.

"It is n't that," replied the kangaroo. "They 're not a
bit afraid, when they 're put together, and usually they 're
very jolly and pleasant. It 's just a habit they have, to scat-
ter themselves, and if they did n't do it they would n't be
Fuddles."

The travelers thought upon this quite seriously for a time,
while the Sawhorse continued to carry them rapidly forward.
Then Aunt Em remarked :

"I don't see much use our visitin' these Fuddles. If we
find them scattered, all we can do is to sweep 'em up, and
then go about our business."

"Oh, I b'lieve we 'd better go on," replied Dorothy. "I 'm
getting hungry, and we must try to get some luncheon at
Fuddlecumjig. Perhaps the food won't be scattered as badly
as the people."

"You '11 find plenty to eat there," declared the kangaroo,

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Chapter Twelve

hopping along in big bounds because the Sawhorse was going
so fast; "and they have a fine cook, too, if you can manage
to put him together. There 's the town now — just ahead of

I"
us:

They looked ahead and saw a group of very pretty houses
standing in a green field a little apart from the main road.

"Some Munchkins came here a few days ago and matched
a lot of people together," said the kangaroo. "I think they
are together yet, and if you go softly, without making any
noise, perhaps they won't scatter."

"Let 's try it," suggested the Wizard.

So they stopped the Sawhorse and got out of the wagon,
and, after bidding good bye to the kangaroo, who hopped
away home, they entered the field and very cautiously ap-
proached the group of houses.

So silently did they move that soon they saw through the
windows of the houses, people moving around, while others
were passing to and fro in the yards between the buildings.
They seemed much like other people, from a distance, and
apparently they did not notice the little party so quietly ap-
proaching.

They had almost reached the nearest house when Toto
saw a large beetle crossing the path and barked loudly at it.
Instantly a wild clatter was heard from the houses and yards.
Dorothy thought it sounded like a sudden hailstorm, and

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The Emerald City of Oz

the visitors, knowing that caution was no longer necessary,
hurried forward to see what had happened.

After the clatter an intense stillness reigned in the town.
The strangers entered the first house they came to, which
was also the largest, and found the floor strewn with pieces
of the people who lived there. They looked much like frag-
ments of wood neatly painted, and were of all sorts of cu-
rious and fantastic shapes, no two pieces being in any way
alike.

They picked up some of these pieces and looked at them
carefully. On one which Dorothy held was an eye, which
looked at her pleasantly but with an interested expression,
as if it wondered what she was going to do with it. Quite
near by she discovered and picked up a nose, and by match-
ing the two pieces together found that they were part of a
face.

"If I could find the mouth," she said, "this Fuddle might
be able to talk, and tell us what to do next."

"Then let us find it," replied the Wizard, and so all got
down on their hands and knees and began examing the scat-
tered pieces.

"I 've found it!" cried the Shaggy Man, and ran to Doro-
thy with a queer-shaped piece that had a mouth on it. But
when they tried to fit it to the eye and nose they found the
parts would n't match together.

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Chapter Twelve

''That mouth belongs to some other person," said Doro-
thy. "You see we need a curve here and a point there, to
make it fit the face."

"Well, it must be here some place," declared the Wizard;
"so if we search long enough we shall find it."

Dorothy fitted an ear on next, and the ear had a little
patch of red hair above it. So while the others were search-
ing for the mouth she hunted for pieces with red hair, and
found several of them which, when matched to the other
pieces, formed the top of a man's head. She had also found
the other eye and the ear by the time Omby Amby in a far cor-
ner discovered the mouth. When the face was thus com-
pleted all the parts joined together with a nicety that was
astonishing.

"Why, it 's like a picture puzzle!" exclaimed the little
girl. "Let 's find the rest of him, and get him all together."

"What 's the rest of him like?" asked the Wizard. "Here
are some pieces of blue legs and green arms, but I don't know
whether they are his or not."

"Look for a white shirt and a white apron," said the head
which had been put together, speaking in a rather faint voice.
"I 'm the cook."

"Oh, thank you," said Dorothy. "It 's lucky we started
you first, for I 'm hungry, and you can be cooking something
for us to eat while we match the other folks together."

The Emerald City of Oz

It was not so very difficult, now that they had a hint as
to how the man was dressed, to hnd the other pieces belong-
ing to him, and as all of them now worked on the cook, trying
piece after piece to see if it would fit, they finally had the
cook set up complete.

When he was finished he made them a low bow and said :

"I will go at once to the kitchen and prepare your din-
ner. You will find it something of a job to get all the Fud-
dles together, so I advise you to begin on the Lord High
Chigglewitz, whose first name is Larry. He 's a bald-headed
fat man and is dressed in a blue coat with brass buttons, a
pink vest and drab breeches. A piece of his left knee is
missing, having been lost years ago when he scattered himself
too carelessly. That makes him limp a little, but he gets
along very well with half a knee. As he is the chief person-
age in this town of Fuddlecumjig, he will be able to welcome
you and assist you with the others. So it will be best to work
on him while I 'm getting your dinner."

"We will," said the Wizard; "and thank you very much,
Cook, for the suggestion."

Aunt Em was the first to discover a piece of the Lord
High Chigglewitz.

"It seems to me like a fool business, this matching folks
together," she remarked; "but as we have n't anything to do
till dinner 's ready we may as well get rid of some of this

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Chapter Twelve

rubbish. Here, Henry, get busy and look for Larry's bald
head. I 've got his pink vest, all right."

They worked with eager interest, and Billina proved a
great help to them. The Yellow Hen had sharp eyes and
could put her head close to the various pieces that lay scat-
tered around. She would examine the Lord High Chiggle-
witz and see which piece of him was next needed, and then
hunt around until she found it. So before an hour had passed
old Larry was standing complete before them.

"I congratulate you, my friends," he said, speaking in a
cheerful voice. "You are certainly the cleverest people who
ever visited us. I was never matched together so quickly in
my life. I 'm considered a great puzzle, usually."

"Well," said Dorothy, "there used to be a picture puzzle
craze in Kansas, and so I 've had some 'sperience matching
puzzles. But the pictures were flat, while you are round, and
that makes you harder to figure out."

"Thank you, my dear," replied old Larry, greatly pleased.
"I feel highly complimented. Were I not a really good puz-
zle there would be no object in my scattering myself."

"Why do you do it'?" asked Aunt Em, severely. "Why
don't you behave yourself, and stay put together?"

The Lord High Chigglewitz seemed annoyed by this
speech; but he replied, politely:

"Madam, you have perhaps noticed that every person

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The Emerald City of Oz

has some peculiarity. Mine is to scatter myself. What your
own peculiarity is I will not venture to say; but I shall never
find fault with you, whatever you do."

"Now, you 've got your diploma, Em," said Uncle Henry,
with a laugh, "and I 'm glad of it. This is a queer country,
and we may as well take people as we find them."

"If we did, we 'd leave these folks scattered," she re-
turned, and this retort made everybody laugh good-na-
turedly.

Just then Omby Amby found a hand with a knitting
needle in it, and they decided to put Grandmother Gnit to-
gether. She proved an easier puzzle than old Larry, and
when she was completed they found her a pleasant old lady
who welcomed them cordially. Dorothy told her how the
kangaroo had lost her mittens, and Grandmother Gnit
promised to set to work at once and make the poor animal an-
other pair.

Then the cook came to call them to dinner, and they found
an inviting meal prepared for them. The Lord High Chig-
glewitz sat at the head of the table and Grandmother Gnit
at the foot, and the guests had a merry time and thoroughly
enjoyed themselves.

After dinner they went out into the yard and matched
several other people together, and this work was so interest-
ing that they might have spent the entire day at Fuddlecum-

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Chapter Tw e 1 v e

jig had not the Wizard suggested that they resume their
journey.

"But I don't like to leave all these poor people scattered,"
said Dorothy, undecided what to do.

"Oh, don't mind us, my dear," returned old Larry.

"Every day or so some of the Gillikins, or Munchkins, or
Winkies com^e here to amuse themselves by matching us to-
gether, so there will be no harm in leaving these pieces where
they are for a time. But I hope you will visit us again, and
if you do you will always be welcome, I assure you."
"Don't you ever match each other?" she inquired.

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The Emerald City of Oz

"Never; for we are no puzzies to ourselves, and so there
would n't be any fun in it."

They now said goodbye to the queer Fuddles and got
into their wagon to continue their journey.

"Those are certainly strange people," remarked Aunt Em,
thoughfully, as they drove away from Fuddlecumjig, "but
I really can't see what use they are, at all."

"Why, they amused us all for several hours," replied the
Wizard. "That is being of use to us, I 'm sure."

"I think they 're more fun than playing solitaire or mum-
bletypeg," declared Uncle Henry, soberly. "For my part,
I 'm glad we visited the Fuddles."

140

WHEN General Guph returned to the cavern of the Nome
King his Majesty asked:

"Well, what luck? Will the Whimsies join us?'

"They will," answered the General. "They will fight for
us with all their strength and cunning."

"Good!" exclaimed the King. "What reward did you
promise them?"

"Your Majesty is to use the Magic Belt to give each
Whimsie a large, fine head, in place of the small one he is now
obliged to wear."

"I agree to that," said the King. "This is good news,
Guph, and it makes me feel more certain of the conquest of
Oz."

"But I have other news for you," announced the General.

"Good or bad?"

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The Emerald City of Oz

"Good, your Majesty."

"Then I will hear it," said the King, with interest.
"The Growleywogs will join us."
"No!" cried the astonished King.

"Yes, indeed," said the General. "I have their prom-
ise.

"But what reward do they demand'?" inquired the King,
suspiciously, for he knew how greedy the Growleywogs were.

"They are to take a few of the Oz people for their slaves,"
replied Guph. He did not think it necessary to tell Roquat
that the Growleywogs demanded twenty thousand slaves.
It would be time enough for that when Oz was conquered.

"A very reasonable request, I 'm sure," remarked the
King. "I must congratulate you, Guph, upon the wonder-
ful success of your journey."

"But that is not all," said the General, proudly.

The King seemed astonished.

"Speak out, sir I" he commanded.

"I have seen the First and Foremost Phanfasm of the
Mountain of Phantastico, and he will bring his people to
assist us."

"What!" cried the King. "The Phanfasmsl You don't
mean it, Guph!"

"It is true," declared the General, proudly.

The King became thoughtful, and his brows wrinkled.

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Chapter Thirteen

"I 'm afraid, Guph," he said rather anxiously, "that the
First and Foremost may prove as dangerous to us as to the Oz
people. If he and his terrible band come down from the
mountain they may take the notion to conquer the Nomes!"

"Pah I That is a foolish idea," retorted Guph, irritably,
but he knew in his heart that the King was right. "The First
and Foremost is a particular friend of mine, and will do us
no harm. Why, when I was there, he even invited me into
his house."

The General neglected to tell the King how he had been
jerked into the hut of the First and Foremost by means of
the brass hoop. So Roquat the Red looked at his General
admiringly and said :

"You are a wonderful Nome, Guph. I 'm sorry I did
not make you my General before. But what reward did the
First and Foremost demand?"

"Nothing at all," answered Guph. "Even the Magic
Belt itself could not add to his powers of sorcery. All the
Phanfasms wish is to destroy the Oz people, who are good
and happy. This pleasure will amply repay them for assist-
ing us."

"When will they come*?" asked Roquat, half fearfully.

"When the tunnel is completed," said the General.

"We are nearly half way under the desert now," an-
nounced the King; "and that is fast work, because the tunnel

143

The Emerald City of Oz

has to be drilled through solid rock. But after we have passed
the desert it will not take us long to extend the tunnel to the
walls of the Emerald City."

"Well, whenever you are ready, we shall be joined by the
Whimsies, the Growleywogs and the Phanfasms," said
Guph; "so the conquest of Oz is assured without a doubt."

Again the King seemed thoughtful.

"I 'm almost sorry we did not undertake the conquest
alone," said he. "All of these allies are dangerous people,
and they may demand more than you have promised them.
It might have been better to have conquered Oz without any
outside assistance."

"We could not do it," said the General, positively.

"Why not, Guph'?"

"You know very well. You have had one experience
with the Oz people, and they defeated you."

"That was because they rolled eggs at us," replied the
King, with a shudder. "My Nomes cannot stand eggs, any
more than I can myself. They are poison to all who live
underground."

"That is true enough," agreed Guph.

"But we might have taken the Oz people by surprise, and
conquered them before they had a chance to get any eggs.
Our former defeat was due to the fact that the girl Dorothy
had a Yellow Hen with her. I do not know what ever be-

144

Chapter Thirteen

came of that hen, but I believe there are no hens at all in the
Land of Oz, and so there could be no eggs there."

"On the contrary," said Guph, "there are now hundreds
of chickens in Oz, and they lay heaps of those dangerous eggs.
I met a goshawk on my way home, and the bird informed me
that he had lately been to Oz to capture and devour some of

the young chickens. But they are protected by magic, so tne
hawk did not get a single one of them."

"That is a very bad report," said the King, nervously.
"Very bad, indeed. My Nomes are willing to fight, but they
simply can't face hen's eggs — and I don't blame them."

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The Emerald City of Oz

'They won't need to face them," replied Guph. "I 'm
afraid of eggs myself, and don't propose to take any chances
of being poisoned by them. My plan is to send the Whim-
sies through the tunnel first, and then the Growleywogs and
the Phanfasms. By the time we Nomes get there the eggs
will all be used up, and we may then pursue and capture the
inhabitants at our leisure."

"Perhaps you are right," returned the King, with a dis-
mal sigh. "But I want it distinctly understood that I claim
Ozma and Dorothy as my own prisoners. They are rather
nice girls, and I do not intend to let any of those dreadful
creatures hurt them, or make them their slaves. When I have
captured them I will bring them here and transform them
into china ornaments to stand on my mantle. They will look
very pretty — Dorothy on one end of the mantle and Ozma
on the other — and I shall take great care to see they are not
broken when the maids dust them."

"Very well, your Majesty. Do what you will with the
girls, for all I care. Now that our plans are arranged, and
we have the three most powerful bands of evil spirits in the
world to assist us, let us make haste to get the tunnel finished
as soon as possible."

"It will be ready in three days," promised the King, and
hurried away to inspect the work and see that the Nomes
kept busy.

146

-4 P,^.

ciAriER raiETi

"WHERE next?" asked the Wizard, when they had left the
town of Fuddlecumjig and the Sawhorse had started back
along the road.

"Why, Ozma laid out this trip," replied Dorothy, "and
she 'vised us to see the Rigmaroles next, and then visit the
Tin Woodman."

"That sounds good," said the Wizard. "But what road
do we take to get to the Rigmaroles'?"

"I don't know, 'zactly," returned the little girl; "but it
must be somewhere just southwest from here."

"Then why need we go way back to the crossroads?"
asked the Shaggy Man. "We might save a lot of time by
branching off here."

"There is n't any path," asserted Uncle Henry.

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The Emerald City of Oz

"Then we 'd better go back to the signposts, and make
sure of our way," decided Dorothy.

But after they had gone a short distance farther the Saw-
horse, who had overheard their conversation, stopped and
said:

"Here is a path."

Sure enough, a dim path seemed to branch off from the
road they were on, and it led across pretty green meadows
and past leafy groves, straight toward the southwest.

"That looks like a good path," said Omby Amby. "Why
not try it'?"

"All right," answered Dorothy. "I 'm anxious to see
what the Rigmaroles are like, and this path ought to take
us there the quickest way."

No one made any objection to the plan, so the Sawhorse
turned into the path, which proved to be nearly as good as the
one they had taken to get to the Fuddles.

At first they passed a few retired farm houses, but soon
these scattered dwellings were left behind and only the mead-
ows and the trees were before them. But they rode along
in cheerful contentment, and Aunt Em got into an argument
with Billina about the proper way to raise chickens.

"I do not care to contradict you," said the Yellow Hen,
with dignity, "but I have an idea I know more about chickens
than human beings do."

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Chapter Fourteen

"Pshaw!" replied Aunt Em, "I 've raised chickens for
nearly forty years, Billina, and I know you 've got to starve
'em to make 'em lay lots of eggs, and stuff 'em if you want
eood broilers."

^'Broilers!" exclaimed Billina, in horror. "Broil my
chickens!"

"Why, that 's what they 're for, ain't it?' asked Aunt
Em, astonished.

"No, Aunt, not in Oz," said Dorothy. "People do not
eat chickens here. You see, Billina was the first hen that was
ever seen in this country, and I brought her here myself.
Everybody liked her an' respected her, so the Oz people
would n't any more eat her chickens than they would eat
Billina."

"Well, I declare," gasped Aunt Em. "How about the
eggs?'

"Oh, if we have more eggs than we want to hatch, we al-
low people to eat them," said Billina. "Indeed, I am very
glad the Oz folks like our eggs, for otherwise they would
spoil."

"This certainly is a queer country," sighed Aunt Em.

"Excuse me," called the Sawhorse, "the path has ended
and I 'd like to know which way to go."

They looked around and, sure enough, there was no path
to be seen,

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The Emerald City of Oz

"Well," said Dorothy, "we 're going southwest, and it
seems just as easy to follow that direction without a path as
with one."

"Certainly," answered the Sawhorse. "It is not hard to
draw the wagon over the meadow. I only want to know
where to go."

"There 's a forest over there across the prairie," said the
Wizard, "and it lies in the direction we are going. Make
straight for the forest, Sawhorse, and you 're bound to go
right."

So the wooden animal trotted on again and the meadow
grass was so soft under the wheels that it made easy riding.
But Dorothy was a little uneasy at losing the path, because
now there was nothing to guide them.

No houses were to be seen at all, so they could not ask
their way of any farmer; and although the Land of Oz was
always beautiful, wherever one might go, this part of the
country was strange to all the party.

"Perhaps we 're lost," suggested Aunt Em, after they had
proceeded quite a way in silence.

"Never mind," said the Shaggy Man; "I've been lost
many a time — and so has Dorothy — and we 've always been
found again."

"But we may get hungry," remarked Omby Amby.

Chapter Fourteen

"That is the worst of getting lost in a place where there are
no houses near."

"We had a good dinner at the Fuddle town," said Uncle
Henry, "and that will keep us from starving to death for a
long time."

"No one ever starved to death in Oz," declared Dorothy,
positively; "but people may get pretty hungry sometimes."

The Wizard said nothing, and he did not seem especially
anxious. The Sawhorse was trotting along briskly, yet the
forest seemed farther away than they had thought when they
first saw it. So it was nearly sundown when they finally
came to the trees; but now they found themselves in a most
beautiful spot, the wide-spreading trees being covered with
flowering vines and having soft mosses underneath them.

"This will be a good place to camp," said the Wizard, as
the Sawhorse stopped for further instructions.

"Camp!" they all echoed.

"Certainly," asserted the Wizard. "It will be dark be-
fore very long and we cannot travel through this forest at
night. So let us make a camp here, and have some supper,
and sleep until daylight comes again."

They all looked at the little man in astonishment, and
Aunt Em said, with a sniff:

"A pretty camp we '11 have, I must say! I suppose you in-
tend us to sleep under the wagon."

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The Emerald City of Oz

"And chew grass for our supper," added the Shaggy Man,
laughing.

But Dorothy seemed to have no doubts and was quite
cheerful.

"It 's lucky we have the wonderful Wizard with us,"
she said; "because he can do 'most anything he wants to."

"Oh, yes; I forgot we had a Wizard," said Uncle Henry,
looking at the little man curiously.

"I did n't," chirped Billina, contentedly.

The Wizard smiled and climbed out of the wagon, and
all the others followed him.

"In order to camp," said he, "the first thing we need is
tents. Will some one please lend me a handkerchief^"

The Shaggy Man offered him one, and Aunt Em another.
He took them both and laid them carefully upon the grass
near to the edge of the forest. Then he laid his own hand-
kerchief down, too, and standing a little back from them he
waved his left hand toward the handkerchiefs and said :
"Tents of canvas, white as snow,
Let me see how fast you grow!"

Then, lo and behold! the handkerchiefs became tiny
tents, and as the travelers looked at them the tents grew big-
ger and bigger until in a few minutes each one was large
enough to contain the entire party.

*Tbis,'*' gaid the Wizard, pointing to the first tent, "is

Chapter Fourteen

for the accomodation of the ladies. Dorothy, you and your
Aunt may step inside and take off your things."

Every one ran to look inside the tent, and they saw two
pretty white beds, all ready for Dorothy and Aunt Em, and
a silver roost for Billina. Rugs were spread upon the grassy
floor and some camp chairs and a table completed the furni-
ture.

"Well, well, well! This beats anything I ever saw or
heard of!" exclaimed Aunt Em, and she glanced at the Wiz-
ard almost fearfully, as if he might be dangerous because of
his great powers.

"Oh, Mr. Wizard! How did you manage to do it?"
asked Dorothy.

"It 's a trick Glinda the Sorceress taught me, and it is
much better magic than I used to practise in Omaha, or when
I first came to Oz," he answered. "When the Good Glinda
found I was to live in the Emerald City always, she prom-
ised to help me, because she said the Wizard of Oz ought
really to be a clever Wizard, and not a humbug. So we have
been much together and I am learning so fast that I expect
to be able to accomplish some really wonderful things in
time."

"You 've done it now!" declared Dorothy. "These tents
are just wonderful !"

"But come and see the men's tent," said the Wizard. So

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The Emerald City of Oz

they went to the second tent, which had shaggy edges because
it had been made from the Shaggy Man's handkerchief, and
found that completely furnished also. It contained four
neat beds for Uncle Henry, Omby Amby, the Shaggy Man'
and the Wizard. Also there was a soft rug for Toto to lie
upon.

"The third tent," explained the Wizard, "is our dining
room and kitchen."

They visited that next, and found a table and dishes in
the dining tent, with plenty of those things necessary to use
in cooking. The Wizard carried out a big kettle and set it
swinging on a crossbar before the tent. While he was do-
ing this Omby Amby and the Shaggy Man brought a supply
of twigs from the forest and then they built a fire underneath
the kettle.

"Now, Dorothy," said the Wizard, smiling, "I expect you
to cook our supper."

"But there is nothing in the kettle," she cried.

"Are you sure?" inquired the Wizard.

"I did n't see anything put in, and I 'm almost sure it
was empty when you brought it out," she replied.

"Nevertheless," said the little man, winking slyly at
Uncle Henry, "you will do well to watch our supper, my
dear, and see that it does n't boil over."

Then the men took some pails and went into the forest

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Chapter Fourteen

to search for a spring of water, and while they were gone
Aunt Em said to Dorothy:

"I believe the Wizard is fooling us. I saw the kettle my-
self, and when he hung it over the fire there was n't a thing
in it but air."

"Don't worry," remarked Billina, confidently, as she

nestled in the grass before the fire. ''You '11 find something
in the kettle when it 's taken off — and it won't be poor, in-
nocent chickens, either."

"Your hen has very bad manners, Dorothy," said Aunt
Em, looking somewhat disdainfully at Billina. "It seems
too bad she ever learned how to talk."

15s

TheEmerald City of Oz

There might have been another unpleasant quarrel be-
tween Aunt Em and Billina had not the men returned just
then with their pails filled with clear, sparkling water. The
Wizard told Dorothy that she was a good cook and he be-
lieved their supper was ready.

So Uncle Henry lifted the kettle from the fire and poured
its contents into a big platter which the Wizard held for
him. The platter was fairly heaped with a fine stew, smok-
ing hot, with many kinds of vegetables and dumplings and a
rich, delicious gravy.

The Wizard triumphantly placed the platter upon the
table in the dining tent and then they all sat down in camp
chairs to the feast.

There were several other dishes on the table, all carefully
covered, and when the time came to remove these covers they
found bread and butter, cakes, cheese, pickles and fruits —
including some of the luscious strawberries of Oz.

No one ventured to ask a question as to how these things
came there. They contented themselves by eating heartily
the good things provided, and Toto and Billina had their
full share, you may be sure. After the meal was over Aunt
Em whispered to Dorothy:

"That may have been magic food, my dear, and for that
reason perhaps it won't be very nourishing; but I 'm willing
to say it tasted as good as anything I ever et." Then she

156

Chapter Fourteen

added, in a louder tone: "Who 's going to do the dishes?'
"No one, madam," answered the Wizard. "The dishes
have 'done' themselves."

"La sakesi" ejaculated the good lady, holding up her
hands in amazement. For, sure enough, when she looked at
the dishes they had a moment before left upon the table,
she found them all washed and dried and piled up into neat
stacks.

157

CT*TEE miim

IT was a beautiful evening, so they drew their camp chairs
in a circle before one of the tents and began to tell stories
to amuse themselves and pass away the time before they
went to bed.

Pretty soon a zebra was seen coming out of the forest,
and he trotted straight up to them and said politely:

"Good evening, people."

The zebra was a sleek little animal and had a slender
head, a stubby mane and a paint-brush tail — very like a don-
key's. His neatly shaped white body was covered with regu-
lar bars of dark brown, and his hoofs were delicate as those
of a deer.

"Good evening, friend Zebra," said Omby Amby, in reply
to the creature's greeting. "Can we do anything for you?"

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Chapter Fifteen

"Yes," answered the zebra. "I should like you to set-
tle a dispute that has long been a bother to me, as to whether
there is more water or land in the world."

"Who are you disputing with'?" asked the Wizard.

"With a soft-shell crab," said the zebra. "He lives in
a pool where I go to drink every day, and he is a very imperti-
nent crab, I assure you. I have told him many times that the
land is much greater in extent than the water, but he will not
be convinced. Even this very evening, when I told him he
was an insignificant creature who lived in a small pool, he
asserted that the water was greater and more important than
the land. So, seeing your camp, I decided to ask you to set-
tle the dispute for once and all, that I may not be further an-
noyed by this ignorant crab."

When they had listened to this explanation Dorothy in-
quired :

"Where is the soft-shell crab'?"

"Not far away," replied the zebra. "If you will agree
to judge between us I will run and get him."

"Run along, then," said the little girl.

So the animal pranced into the forest and soon came trot-
ting back to them. When he drew near they found a soft-
shell crab clinging fast to the stiff hair of the zebra's head,
where it held on by one claw.

"Now then, Mr. Crab," said the zebra, "here are the peo-

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The Emerald City of Oz

pie I told you about ; and they know more than you do, who
live in a pool, and more than I do, who live in a forest. For
they have been travelers all over the world, and know every
part of it."

'There 's more of the world than Oz," declared the crab,
in a stubborn voice.

"That is true," said Dorothy; "but I used to live in Kan-
sas, in the United States, and I 've been to California and to
Australia — and so has Uncle Henry."

"For my part," added the Shaggy Man, "I 've been to
Mexico and Boston and many other foreign countries."

"And I," said the Wizard, "have been to Europe and Ire-
land."

"So you see," continued the zebra, addressing the crab,
"here are people of real consequence, who know what they
are talking about."

"Then they know there 's more water in the world than
there is land," asserted the crab, in a shrill, petulant voice.

"They know you are wrong to make such an absurd state-
ment, and they will probably think you are a lobster instead
of a crab," retorted the animal.

At this taunt the crab reached out its other claw and
seized the zebra's ear, and the creature gave a cry of pain and
began prancing up and down, trying to shake off the crab,
which clung fast.

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Chapter Fifteen

"Stop pinching I" cried the zebra. "You promised not
to pinch if I would carry you here !"

"And you promised to treat me respecttully," said the
crab, letting go the ear.

"Well, have n't I?" demanded the zebra.
"No; you called me a lobster," said the crab.

"Ladies and gentlemen," continued the zebra, "please
pardon my poor friend, because he is ignorant and stupid,
and does not understand. Also the pinch of his claw is very
annoying. So pray tell him that the world contains more
land than water, and when he has heard your judgment I
will carry him back and dump him into his pool, where I hope
he will be more modest in the future."

"But we cannot tell him that," said Dorothy, gravely,
"because it would not be true."

"What!" exclaimed the zebra, in astonishment; "do I
hear you aright *?"

"The soft-shell crab is correct," declared the Wizard.
"There is considerably more water than there is land in the
world."

"Impossible!" protested the zebra. "Why, I can run for
days upon the land, and find but little water."

"Did you ever see an ocean'?" asked Dorothy.

"Never," admitted the zebra. "There is no such thing as
an ocean in the Land of Oz."

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The Emerald City of Oz

"Well, there are several oceans in the world," said Dor-
othy, "and people sail in ships upon these oceans for weeks
and weeks, and never see a bit of land at all. And the jog-
gerfys will tell you that all the oceans put together are big-
ger than all the land put together."

At this the crab began laughing in queer chuckles that re-
minded Dorothy of the way Billina sometimes cackled.

''Now will you give up, Mr. Zebra'?" it cried, jeeringly;
"now will you give up*?"

The zebra seemed much humbled.

"Of course I cannot read geographys," he said.
"You could take one of the Wizard's School Pills," sug-
gested Billina," and that would make you learned and wise
without studying."

The crab began laughing again, which so provoked the
zebra that he tried to shake the little creature off. This re-
sulted in more ear-pinching, and finally Dorothy told them
that if they could not behave they must go back to the forest.

"I'm sorry I asked you to decide this question," said the
zebra, crossly. "So long as neither of us could prove we were
right we quite enjoyed the dispute; but now I can never
drink at that pool again without the soft-shell crab laughing
at me. So I must find another drinking place."

"Do I Do, you ignoramus!" shouted the crab, as loudly

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Chapter Fifteen

as his little voice would carry. "Rile some other pool with
your clumsy hoofs, and let your betters alone after this I"

Then the zebra trotted back to the forest, bearing the
crab with him, and disappeared amid the gloom of the trees.
And as it was now getting dark the travelers said good night
to one another and went to bed.

Dorothy awoke just as the light was beginning to get
strong next morning, and not caring to sleep any later she
quietly got out of bed, dressed herself, and left the tent where
Aunt Em was yet peacefully slumbering.

Outside she noticed Billina busily pecking around to se-
cure bugs or other food for breakfast, but none of the men in

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The Emerald City of Oz

the other tent seemed awake. So the little girl decided to
take a walk in the woods and try to discover some path or
road that they might follow when they again started upon
their journey.

She had reached the edge of the forest when the Yellow
Hen came fluttering along and asked where she was going.

''Just to take a walk, Billina; and maybe I'll find some
path," said Dorothy.

"Then I '11 go along," decided Billina, and scarcely had
she spoken when Toto ran up and joined them.

Toto and the Yellow Hen had become quite friendly by
this time, although at first they did not get along well to-
gether. Billina had been rather suspicious of dogs, and
Toto had had an idea that it was every dog's duty to chase
a hen on sight. But Dorothy had talked to them and scolded
them for not being agreeable to one another until they grew
better acquainted and became friends.

I won't say they loved each other dearly, but at least
they had stopped quarreling and now managed to get on
together very well.

The day was growing lighter every minute and driving
the black shadows out of the forest; so Dorothy found it
very pleasant walking under the trees. She went some dis-
tance in one direction, but not finding a path, presently
turned in a different direction. There was no path here,

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Chapter Fifteen

either, although she advanced quite a way into the forest,
winding here and there among the trees and peering through
the bushes in an endeavor to find some beaten track.

"I think we'd better go back," suggested the Yellow
Hen, after a time. "The people will all be up by this time
and breakfast will be ready."

"Very well," agreed Dorothy. "Let 's see — the camp
must be over this way."

She had probably made a mistake about that, for after
they had gone far enough to have reached the camp they
still found themselves in the thick of the woods. So the
little girl stopped short and looked around her, and Toto
glanced up into her face with his bright little eyes and
wagged his tail as if he knew something was wrong. He
could n't tell much about direction himself, because he had
spent his time prowling among the bushes and running here
and there; nor had Billina paid much attention to where
they were going, being interested in picking bugs from the
moss as they passed along. The Yellow Hen now turned
one eye up toward the little girl and asked:

"Have you forgotten where the camp is, Dorothy?"

"Yes," she admitted; "have you, Billina?"

"I did n't try to remember," returned Billina. "I 'd no
idea you would get lost, Dorothy."

"It 's the thing we don't expect, Billina, that usually hap-

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The Emerald City of Oz

pens," observed the girl, thoughtfully. "But it 's no use
standing here. Let 's go in that direction," pointing a fin-
ger at random. "It may be we '11 get out of the forest over
there."

So on Ihey went again, but this way the trees were closer
together, and the vines were so tangled that often they
tripped Dorothy up.

Suddenly a voice cried sharply:

"Halt!"

At first Dorothy could see nothing, although she looked
around very carefully. But Billina exclaimed:

"Well, I declare I"

"What is it'?" asked the little girl: for Toto began bark-
ing at something, and following his gaze she discovered
what it was.

A row of spoons had surrounded the three, and these
spoons stood straight up on their handles and carried swords
and muskets. Their faces were outlined in the polished
bowls and they looked very stern and severe.

Dorothy laughed at the queer things.

"Who are you'?" she asked.

"We 're the Spoon Brigade," said one.

"In the service of his Majesty King Kleaver," said
another.

"And you are our prisoners," said a third.

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Chapter Fifteen

Dorothy sat down on an old stump and looked at them,
her eyes twinkling with amusement.

"What would happen," she inquired, "if I should set
my dog on your Brigade'?"

"He would die," replied one of the spoons, sharply.
"One shot from our deadly muskets would kill him, big as
he is."

"Don't risk it, Dorothy," advised the Yellow Hen.
"Remember this is a fairy country, yet none of us three hap-
pens to be a fairy."

Dorothy grew sober at this.

"P'raps you 're right, Billina," she answered. "But how
funny it is, to be captured by a lot of spoons I"

"I do not see anything very funny about it," declared
a spoon. "We 're the regular military brigade of the
kingdom."

"What kingdom"?" she asked.

"Utensia," said he.

"I never heard of it before," asserted Dorothy. Then
she added, thoughtfully, "I don't believe Ozma ever heard
of Utensia, either. Tell me, are you not subjects of Ozma
of Oz^'

"We never have heard of her," retorted a spoon. "We
are subjects of King Kleaver, and obey only his orders,
which are to bring all prisoners to him as soon as they are

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The Emerald City of Oz

captured. So step lively, my girl, and march with us, or wc
may be tempted to cut off a few of your toes with our
swords."

This threat made Dorothy laugh again. She did not be-
lieve she was in any danger; but here was a new and inter-
esting adventure, so she was willing to be taken to Utensia
that she might see what King Kleaver's kingdom was like.

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CIn»irEEmMi

THERE must have been from six to eight dozen spoons
in the Brigade, and they marched away in the shape of a
hollow square, with Dorothy, Billina and Toto in the center
of the square. Before they had gone very far Toto knocked
over one of the spoons by wagging his tail, and then the
Captain of the Spoons told the little dog to be more careful,
or he would be punished. So Toto was careful, and the
Spoon Brigade moved along with astonishing swiftness,
while Dorothy really had to walk fast to keep up with it.

By and by they left the woods and entered a big clear-
ing, in which was the Kingdom of Utensia.

Standing all around the clearing were a good many cook-
stoves, ranges and grills, of all sizes and shapes, and besides
these there were several kitchen cabinets and cupboards and
a few kitchen tables. These things were crowded with uten-

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The Emerald City of Oz

sils of all sorts : frying pans, sauce pans, kettles, forks,
knives, basting and soup spoons, nutmeg graters, sifters, col-
enders, meat saws, flat irons, rolling pins and many other
things of a like nature.

When the Spoon Brigade appeared with the prisoners a
wild shout arose and many of the utensils hopped off their
stoves or their benches and ran crowding around Dorothy and
the hen and the dog.

"Stand back I" cried the Captain, sternly, and he led his
captives through the curious throng until they came before
a big range that stood in the center of the clearing. Beside
this range was a butcher's block upon which lay a great
cleaver with a keen edge. It rested upon the flat of its back,
its legs were crossed and it was smoking a long pipe.

"Wake up, your Majesty," said the Captain. "Here are
prisoners."

Hearing this. King Kleaver sat up and looked at Dor-
othy sharply.

"Gristle and fat!" he cried. "Where did this girl come
from?"

"I found her in the forest and brought her here a pris-
oner," replied the Captain.

"Why did you do that'?" inquired the King, puffing his
pipe lazily.

"To create some excitement," the Captain answered.

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The Emerald City of Oz

"It is so quiet here that we are all getting rusty for want of
amusement. For my part, I prefer to see stirring times."

"Naturally," returned the cleaver, with a nod. "I have
always said, Captain, without a bit of irony, that you are a
sterling officer and a solid citizen, bowled and polished to a
degree. But what do you expect me to do with these
prisoners'?"

"That is for you to decide," declared the Captain. "You
are the King."

"To be sure; to be sure," muttered the cleaver, musingly.
"As you say, we have had dull times since the steel and
grindstone eloped and left us. Command my Counselors
and the Royal Courtiers to attend me, as well as the High
Priest and the Judge. We '11 then decide what can be done."

The Captain saluted and retired and Dorothy sat down
on an overturned kettle and asked :

"Have you anything to eat in your kingdom'?"

"Here! Get up I Get off from me!" cried a faint voice,
at which his Majesty the cleaver said:

"Excuse me, but you 're sitting on my friend the Ten-
quart Kettle."

Dorothy at once arose, and the kettle turned right side
up and looked at her reproachfully.

"I 'm a friend of the King, so no one dares sit on me,"
said he.

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Chapter Sixteen

"I 'd prefer a chair, anyway," she replied.

"Sit on that hearth," commanded the King.

So Dorothy sat on the hearth-shelf of the big range, and
the subjects of Utensia began to gather around in a large
and inquisitive throng. Toto lay at Dorothy's feet and Bil-
lina flew upon the range, which had no fire in it, and perched
there as comfortably as she could.

When all the Counselors and Courtiers had assembled —
and these seemed to include most of the inhabitants of the
kingdom — the King rapped on the block for order and said :

"Friends and Fellow Utensils! Our worthy Commander
of the Spoon Brigade, Captain Dipp, has captured the three
prisoners you see before you and brought them here for —
for — I don't know what for. So I ask your advice how to
act in this matter, and what fate I should mete out to these
captives. Judge Sifter, stand on my right. It is your busi-
ness to sift this affair to the bottom. High Priest Colender,
stand on my left and see that no one testifies falsely in this
matter."

As these two officials took their places Dorothy asked :

"Why is the colender the High Priest'?"

"He 's the holiest thing we have in the kindgom," re-
plied King Kleaver.

"Except me," said a sieve. "I 'm the whole thing when
it comes to holes,"

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The Emerald City of Oz

"What we need," remarked the King, rebukingly, "is a
wireless sieve. I must speak to Marconi about it. These
old fashioned sieves talk too much. Now, it is the duty of
the King's Counselors to counsel the King at all times of
emergency, so I beg you to speak out and advise me what
to do with these prisoners."

"I demand that they be killed several times, until they
are dead!" shouted a pepperbox, hopping around very ex-
citedly.

"Compose yourself, Mr. Paprica," advised the King.
"Your remarks are piquant and highly-seasoned, but you
need a scattering of commonsense. It is only necessary to
kill a person once to make him dead; but I do not see that
it is necessary to kill this little girl at all."

"I don't, either," said Dorothy.

"Pardon me, but you are not expected to advise me in
this matter," replied King Kleaver.

"Why not?' asked Dorothy.

"You might be prejudiced in your own favor, and so
mislead us," he said. "Now then, good subjects, who speaks
next?'

"I 'd like to smooth this thing over, in some way," said
a flatiron, earnestly. "We are supposed to be useful to
mankind, you know."

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Chapter Sixteen

"But the girl is n't mankind I She 's womankind I"
yelled a corkscrew.

"What do you know about it'?" inquired the King.

"I 'm a lawyer," said the corkscrew, proudly. "I am ac-
customed to appear at the bar."

"But you 're crooked," retorted the King, "and that de-
bars you. You may be a corking good lawyer, Mr. Popp,
but I must ask you to withdraw your remarks."

"Very well," said the corkscrew, sadly; "I see I have n't
any pull at this court."

"Permit me," continued the flatiron, "to press my suit,
your Majesty. I do not wish to gloss over any fault the
prisoner may have committed, if such a fault exists; but we
owe her some consideration, and that 's flat I"

"1 'd like to hear from Prince Karver," said the King.

At this a stately carvingknife stepped forward and
bowed.

"The Captain was wrong to bring this girl here, and she
was wrong to come," he said. "But now that the foolish
deed is done let us all prove our mettle and have a slashing
good time."

"That 's it! that 's it!" screamed a fat choppingknife.
"We '11 make mincemeat of the girl and hash of the chicken
and sausage of the dog!"

The Emerald City of Oz

There was a shout of approval at this and the King had
to rap again for order.

"Gentlemen, gentlemen!" he said, "your remarks are
somewhat cutting and rather disjointed, as might be ex-
pected from such acute intellects. But you give no reasons
for your demands."

"See here, Kleaver; you make me tired," exclaimed a
saucepan, strutting before the King very impudently.
"You 're about the worst King that ever reigned in Utensia,
and that 's saying a good deal. Why don't you run things
yourself, instead of asking everybody's advice, like the big,
clumsy idiot you are?"

The King sighed.

"I wish there was n't a saucepan in my kingdom," he
said. "You fellows are always stewing, over something, and
every once in a while you slop over and make a mess of it.
Go hang yourself, sir — by the handle — and don't let me
hear from you again."

Dorothy was much shocked by the dreadful language
the untesils employed, and she thought that they must have
had very little proper training. So she said, addressing the
King, who seemed very unfit to rule his turbulent subjects:

"I wish you 'd decide my fate right away. I can't stay
here all day, trying to find out what you 're going to do with
me.

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Chapter Sixteen

"This thing is becoming a regular broil, and it 's time I
took part in it," observed a big gridiron, coming forward.

"What I 'd like to know," said a can-opener, in a shrill
voice, "is why the girl came to our forest, anyhow, and why
she intruded upon Captain Dipp — who ought to be called
Dippy — and who she is, and where she came from, and where
she is going, and why and wherefore and therefore and
when."

"I 'm sorry to see, Sir Jabber," remarked the King to the
can-opener, "that you have such a prying disposition. As a
matter of fact, all the things you mention are none of our
business."

Having said this the King relighted his pipe, which had
gone out.

"Tell me, please, what is our business?" inquired a po-
tato-masher, winking at Dorothy somewhat impertinently.
"I 'm fond of little girls, myself, and it seems to me she has
as much right to wander in the forest as we have."

"Who accuses the little girl, anyway*?" inquired a roll-
ing-pin. "What has she done?"

"I don't know," said the King. "What has she done,
Captain Dipp?"

"That 's the trouble, your Majesty. She has n't done
anything," replied the Captain.

"What do you want me to do?" asked Dorothy.

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The Emerald City of Oz

This question seemed to puzzle them all. Finally a
chafingdish, exclaimed, irritably:

"If no one can throw any light on this subject you must
excuse me if I go out."

At this a big kitchen fork pricked up its ears and said in a
tiny voice :

"Let 's hear from Judge Sifter."

"That 's proper," returned the King.

So Judge Sifter turned around slowly several times and
then said:

"We have nothing against the girl except the stove-
hearth upon which she sits. Therefore I order her instantly
discharged."

"Discharged!" cried Dorothy. "Why, I never was dis-
charged in my life, and I don't intend to be. If its all the
same to you, I '11 resign."

"It 's all the same," declared the King. "You are free
— you and your companions — and may go wherever you
like."

"Thank you," said the little girl. "But have n't you
anything to eat in your kingdom? I 'm hungry."

"Go into the woods and pick blackberries," advised the
King, lying down upon his back again and preparing to go
to sleep. "There is n't a morsel to eat in all Utensia, that
I know of."

178

Chapter Sixteen

So Dorothy jumped up and said:

*'Come on, Toto and Billina. If we can't find the camp
we may find some blackberries."

The untensils drew back and allowed them to pass with-
out protest, although Captain Dipp marched the Spoon Bri-
gade in close order after them until they had reached the
edge of the clearing.

There the spoons halted; but Dorothy and her compan-
ions entered the .forest again and began searching diligently
for a way back to the camp, that they might rejoin their
party.

179

ffiEliiilKf

•C

^'1/ r .^P5^b fern

^-Wlv)

WANDERING through the woods, without knowing where
you are going or what adventure you are about to meet next,
is not as pleasant as one might think. The woods are always
beautiful and impressive, and if you are not worried or hun-
gry you may enjoy them immensely; but Dorothy was wor-
ried and hungry that morning, so she paid little attention to
the beauties of the forest, and hurried along as fast as she
could go. She tried to keep in one direction and not circle
around, but she was not at all sure that the direction she had
chosen would lead her to the camp.

By and by, to her great joy, she came upon a path. It
fan to the right and to the left, being lost in the trees in both
directions, and just before her, upon a big oak, were fastened
two signs, with arms pointing both ways. One sign read:

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Chapter Seventeen

TAKE THE OTHER ROAD TO BUNBURY

and the second sign read:
^y^TAKE THE OTHER ROAD TO BUNNYBURY

"Weill" exclaimed Billina, eyeing the signs, "this looks
as if we were getting back to civilization again."

"I 'm not sure about the civil'zation, dear," replied the
little girl; "but it looks as if we might get somewhere, and
that 's a big relief, anyhow."

"Which path shall we take'?" inquired the Yellow Hen.

Dorothy stared at the signs thoughtfully.

"Bunbury sounds like something to eat," she said. "Let 's
go there."

"It 's all the same to me," replied Billina. She had
picked up enough bugs and insects from the moss as she went
along to satisfy her own hunger, but the hen knew Dorothy
could not eat bugs ; nor could Toto.

The path to Bunbury seemed little traveled, but it was
distinct enough and ran through the trees in a zigzag course
until it finally led them to an open space filled with the
queerest houses Dorothy had ever seen. They were all made
of crackers, laid out in tiny squares, and were of many pretty
and ornamental shapes, having balconies and porches with
posts of bread-sticks and roofs shingled with wafer-crackers.

There were walks of bread-crusts leading from house to

i8i

The Emerald City of Oz

house and forming streets, and the place seemed to have
many inhabitants.

When Dorothy, followed by Billina and Toto, entered
the place, they found people walking the streets or assem-
bled in groups talking together, or sitting upon the porches
and balconies.

And what funny people they were !

Men, women and children were all made of buns and
bread. Some were thin and others fat; some were white,
some light brown and some very dark of complexion. A few
of the buns, which seemed to form the more important class
of the people, were neatly frosted. Some had raisins for
eyes and currant buttons on their clothes; others had eyes
of cloves and legs of stick cinnamon, and many wore hats
and bonnets frosted pink and green.

There was something of a commotion in Bunbury when
the strangers suddenly appeared among them. Women
caught up their children and hurried into their houses, shut-
ting the cracker doors carefully behind them. Some men
ran so hastily that they tumbled over one another, while
others, more brave, assembled in a group and faced the in-
truders defiantly.

Dorothy at once realized that she must act with caution in
order not to frighten these shy people, who were evidently
unused to the presence of strangers. There was a delightful

182

Chapter Seventeen

fragrant odor of fresh bread in the town, and this made the
little girl more hungry than ever. She told Toto and Billina
to stay back while she slowly advanced toward the group
that stood silently awaiting her.

"You must 'sense me for coming unexpected," she said,
softly, "but I really did n't know I was coming here until
I arrived. I was lost in the woods, you know, and I 'm as
hungry as anything."

"Hungry I" they murmured, in a horrified chorus.

"Yes; I have n't had anything to eat since last night's
supper," she explained. "Are there any eatables in Bun-
bury?"

They looked at one another undecidedly, and then one
portly bun man, who seemed a person of consequence,
stepped forward and said:

"Little girl, to be frank with you, we are all eatables.
Everything in Bunbury is eatable to ravenous human crea-
tures like you. But it is to escape being eaten and destroyed
that we have secluded ourselves in this out-of-the-way place,
and there is neither right nor justice in your coming here to
feed upon us."

Dorothy looked at him longingly.

"You 're bread, are n't you'?" she asked.

"Yes; bread and butter. The butter is inside me, so it
won't melt and run. I do the running myself."

183

The Emerald City of Oz

At this joke all the others burst into a chorus of laugh-
ter, and Dorothy thought they could n't be much afraid if
they could laugh like that.

"Could n't I eat something besides people?" she asked.
"Could n't I eat just one house, or a side-walk, or something?
I would n't mind much what it was, you know."

"This is not a public bakery, child," replied the man,
sternly. "It 's private property."

"I know Mr.— Mr.— "

"My name is C. Bunn, Esquire," said the man. "C
stands for Cinnamon, and this place is called after my family,
which is the most aristocratic in the town."

"Oh, I don't know about that," objected another of the
queer people. "The Grahams and the Browns and Whites
are all excellent families, and there are none better of their
kind. I 'm a Boston Brown, myself."

"I admit you are all desirable citizens," said Mr. Bunn,
rather stiffly; "but the fact remains that our town is called
Bunbury."

" 'Scuse me," interrupted Dorothy; "but Tm getting hun-
grier every minute. Now, if you 're polite and kind, as I 'm
sure you ought to be, you '11 let me eat something. There 's
so much to eat here that you never will miss it."

Then a big, puffed-up man, of a delicate brown color,
stepped forward and said :

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Chapter Seventeen

"I think it would be a shame to send this child away
hungry, especially as she agrees to eat whatever we can spare
and not touch our people."

"So do I, Pop," replied a Roll who stood near.

"What, then, do you suggest, Mr. Over?" inquired Mr.
Bunn.

"Why, I '11 let her eat my back fence, if she wants to.
It 's made of waffies, and they 're very crisp and nice."

"She may also eat my wheelbarrow," added a pleasant
looking Muffin. "It 's made of nabiscos with a zuzu v/heel."

"Very good; very good," remarked Mr. Bunn. "That is
certainly very kind of you. Go with Pop Over and Mr.
Muffin, little girl, and they will feed you."

"Thank you very much," said Dorothy, gratefully. "May
I bring my dog Toto, and the Yellow Hen'? They 're hun-
gry, too."

"Will you make them behave'? ' asked the Muffin.

"Of course," promised Dorothy.

"Then come along," said Pop Over.

So Dorothy and Billina and Toto walked up the street
and the people seemed no longer to be at all afraid of them.
Mr. Muffin's house came first, and as his wheelbarrow stood
in the front yard the little girl ate that first. It did n't seem
very fresh, but she was so hungry that she was not particu-
lar. Toto ate some, too, while Billina picked up the crumbs.

185

The Emerald City of Oz

While the strangers were engaged in eating, many of
the people came and stood in the street curiously watching
them. Dorothy noticed six roguish looking brown children
standing all in a row, and she asked :

''Who are you, little ones'?"

"We 're the Graham Gems," replied one; "and we' re all

twins."

"I wonder if your mother could spare one or two of you*?"
asked Billina, who decided that they were fresh baked; but
at this dangerous question the six little gems ran away as
fast as they could go.

"You must n't say such things, Billina," said Dorothy,
reprovingly. "Now let 's go into Pop Over's back yard and
get the waffles."

"I sort of hate to let that fence go," remarked Mr. Over,
nervously, as they walked tov/ard his house. "The neigh-
bors back of us are Soda Biscuits, and I don't care to mix
with them."

"But I 'm hungry yet," declared the girl. "That wheel-
barrow was n't very big."

"I *ve got a shortcake piano, but none of my family can
play on it," he said, reflectively. "Suppose you eat that."

"All right," said Dorothy; "I don't mind. Anything to
be accomodating."

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Chapter Seventeen

So Mr. Over led her into the house, where she ate the
piano, which was of an excellent flavor.

"Is there anything to drink here'?" she asked .

"Yes; I 've a milk pump and a water pump; which will
you have?" he asked.

"I guess I '11 try 'em both," said Dorothy.

So Mr. Over called to his wife, who brought into the
yard a pail made of some kind of baked dough, and Dorothy
pumped the pail full of cool, sweet milk and drank it eagerly.

The wife of Pop Over was several shades darker than
her husband.

"Are n't you overdone?" the little girl asked her.

"No indeed," answered the woman. "I 'm neither over-
done nor done over; I 'm just Mrs. Over, and I 'm the Presi-
dent of the Bunbury Breakfast Band."

Dorothy thanked them for their hospitality and went
away. At the gate Mr. Cinnamon Bunn met her and said
he would show her around the town.

"We have some very interesting inhabitants," he re-
marked, walking stiffly beside her on his stick-cinnamon legs ;
"and all of us who are in good health are well bred. If you
are no longer hungry we will call upon a few of the most im-
portant citizens."

Toto and Billina followed behind them, behaving very
well, and a little way down the street they came to a hand-

187

The Emerald City of Oz

some residence where Aunt Sally Lunn lived. The old lady
was glad to meet the little girl and gave her a slice of white
bread and butter which had been used as a door-mat. It was
almost fresh and tasted better than anything Dorothy had
eaten in the town.

"Where do you get the butter?" she inquired.

**We dig it out of the ground, which, as you may have ob-
served, is all flour and meal," replied Mr. Bunn. "There is
a butter mine just at the opposite side of the village. The
trees which you see here are all doughleanders and dough-
deras, and in the season we get quite a crop of dough-nuts
off them."

"I should think the flour would blow around and get
into your eyes," said Dorothy.

"No," said he; "we are bothered with cracker dust some-
times, but never with flour."

Then he took her to see Johnny Cake, a cheerful old gen-
tleman who lived near by.

"I suppose you 've heard of me," said old Johnny, with
an air of pride. "I 'm a great favorite all over the world."

"Are n't you rather yellow?" asked Dorothy, looking at
him critically.

"Maybe, child. But don't think I 'm bilious, for I was
never in better health in my life," replied the old gentle-

188

Chapter Seventeen

man. "If anything ailed me, I 'd willingly acknowledge the
corn."

"Johnny 's a trifle stale," said Mr. Bunn, as they went
away; "but he 's a good mixer and never gets cross-grained.
I will now take you to call upon some of my own relatives."

They visited the Sugar Bunns, the Currant Bunns and the
Spanish Bunns, the latter having a decidedly foreign ap-
pearance. Then they saw the French Rolls, who were very
polite to them, and made a brief call upon the Parker H.
Rolls, who seemed a bit proud and overbearing.

"But they 're not as stuck up as the Frosted Jumbles,"
declared Mr. Bunn, "who are people I really can't abide.
I don't like to be suspicious or talk scandal, but sometimes
I think the Jumbles have too much baking powder in them."

Just then a dreadful scream was heard, and Dorothy
turned hastily around to find a scene of great excitement a
little way down the street. The people were crowding
around To to and throwing at him everything they could find
at hand. They pelted the little dog with hard-tack,
crackers, and even articles of furniture which were hard
baked and heavy enough for missiles.

Toto howled a little as the assortment of bake stuff
struck him; but he stood still, with head bowed and tail be-
tween his legs, until Dorothy ran up and inquired what the
matter was.

189

The Emerald City of Oz

"Matter I" cried a rye loafer, indignantly, "why the hor-
rid beast has eaten three of our dear Crumpets, and is now
devouring a Salt-rising Biscuit!"

"Oh, Totol How could you*?" exclaimed Dorothy,
much distressed.

Toto's mouth was full of his salt-rising victim; so he only
whined and wagged his tail. But Billina, who had flown to
the top of a cracker house to be in a safe place, called out:

"Don't blame him, Dorothy; the Crumpets dared him to
do it."

"Yes, and you pecked out the eyes of a Raisin Bunn —
one of our best citizens I" shouted a bread pudding, shaking
its fist at the Yellow Hen.

"What 's that! What 's that'?" wailed Mr. Cinnamon
Bunn, who had now joined them. "Oh, what a misfortune
— what a terrible misfortune!"

"See here," said Dorothy, determined to defend her pets,
"I think we 've treated you all pretty well, seeing you 're
eatables, an' reg 'lar food for us. I 've been kind to you,
and eaten your old wheelbarrows and pianos and rubbish,
an' not said a word. But Toto and Billina can't be 'spected
to go hungry when the town 's full of good things they like
to eat, 'cause they can't understand your stingy ways as I
do."

"You must leave here at once!" said Mr. Bunn, sternly.

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Chapter Seventeen

"Suppose we won't go?" asked Dorothy, who was now
much provoked.

"Then," said he, "we will put you into the great ovens
where we are made, and bake you."

Dorothy gazed around and saw threatening looks upon
the faces of all. She had not noticed any ovens in the town,
but they might be there, nevertheless, for some of the in-
habitants seemed very fresh. So she decided to go, and call-
ing to Toto and Billina to follow her she marched up the
street with as much dignity as possible, considering that she
was followed by the hoots and cries of the buns and biscuits
and other bake stuff.

191

PRINCESS Ozma was a very busy little ruler, for she
looked carefully after the comfort and welfare of her peo-
ple and tried to make them happy. If any quarrels arose
she decided them justly; if any one needed counsel or advice
she was ready and willing to listen to them.

For a day or two after Dorothy and her companions had
started on their trip, Ozma was occupied with the affairs of
her kingdom. Then she began to think of some manner of
occupation for Uncle Henry and Aunt Em that would be
light and easy and yet give the old people something to do.

She soon decided to make Uncle Henry the Keeper of the
Jewels, for some one really was needed to count and look
after the bins and barrels of emeralds, diamonds, rubies and
other precious stones that were in the Royal Storehouses.
That would keep Uncle Henry busy enough, but it was

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Chapter Eighteen

harder to find something for Aunt Em to do. The palace
was full of servants, so there was no detail of housework
that Aunt Em could look after.

While Ozma sat in her pretty room engaged in thought
she happened to glance at her Magic Picture.

This was one of the most important treasures in all the
Land of Oz. It was a large picture, set in a beautiful gold
frame, and it hung in a prominent place upon a wall of
Ozma's private room.

Usually this picture seemed merely a country scene, but
whenever Ozma looked at it and wished to know what any
of her friends or acquaintances were doing, the magic of this
wonderful picture was straightway disclosed. For the
country scene would gradually fade away and in its place
would appear the likeness of the person or persons Ozma
might wish to see, surrounded by the actual scenes in which
they were then placed. In this way the Princess could view
any part of the world she wished, and watch the actions of
any one in whom she was interested.

Ozma had often seen Dorothy in her Kansas home by
this means, and now, having a little leisure, she expressed a
desire to see her little friend again. It was while the trav-
elers were at Fuddlecumjig, and Ozma laughed merrily as
she watched in the picture her friends trying to match the
pieces of Grandmother Gnit.

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The Emerald City of Oz

"They seem happy and are doubtless having a good
time," the girl Ruler said to herself; and then she began to
think of the many adventures she herself had encountered
with Dorothy.

The images of her friends now faded from the Magic
Picture and the old landscape slowly reappeared.

Ozma was thinking of the time when with Dorothy and
her army she marched to the Nome King's underground cav-
ern, beyond the Land of Ev, and forced the old monarch to
liberate his captives, who belonged to the Royal Family of
Ev. That was the time when the Scarecrow nearly frightened
the Nome King into fits by throwing one of Billina's eggs at
him, and Dorothy had captured King Roquat's Magic Belt
and brought it away with her to the Land of Oz.

The pretty Princess smiled at the recollection of this ad-
venture, and then she wondered what had become of the
Nome King since then. Merely because she was curious and
had nothing better to do, Ozma glanced at the Magic Pic-
ture and wished to see in it the King of the Nomes.

Roquat the Red went every day into his tunnel to see
how the work was getting along and to hurry his workmen
as much as possible. He was there now, and Ozma saw him
plainly in the Magic Picture.

She saw the underground tunnel, reaching far under-
neath the Deadly Desert which separated the Land of Oz from

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Chapter Eighteen

the mountains beneath which the Nome King had his ex-
tensive caverns. She saw that the tunnel v/as being made
in the direction of the Emerald City, and knew at once it
was being dug so that the army of Nomes could march
through it and attack her own beautiful and peaceful coun-
try.

"I suppose King Roquat is planning revenge against us,"
she said, musingly, "and thinks he can surprise us and make
us his captives and slaves. How sad it is that any one can
have such wicked thoughts I But I must not blame King Ro-
quat too severely, for he is a Nome, and his nature is not
so gentle as my own."

Then she dismissed from her mind further thought of the
tunnel, for that time, and began to wonder if Aunt Em
would not be happy as Royal Mender of the Stockings of
the Ruler of Oz. Ozma wore few holes in her stockings;
still, they sometimes needed mending. Aunt Em ought to
be able to do that very nicely.

Next day the Princess watched the tunnel again in her
Magic Picture, and every day afterward she devoted a few
minutes to inspecting the work. It was not especially inter-
esting, but she felt that it was her duty.

Slowly but surely the big arched hole crept through the
rocks underneath the deadly desert, and day by day it drew
nearer and nearer to the Emerald City.

195

>-/"

DOROTHY left Bunbury the same way she had entered it
and when they were in the forest again she said to Billina:

"I never thought that things good to eat could be so
dis'gree'ble."

''Often I 've eaten things that tasted good but were dis-
agreeable afterward," returned the Yellow Hen. "I think,
Dorothy, if eatables are going to act badly, it 's better be-
fore than after you eat them."

"P 'raps you 're right," said the little girl, with a sigh.
"But what shall we do now'?"

"Let us follow the path back to the signpost," suggested
Billina. "That will be better than getting lost again."

"Why, we 're lost anyhow," declared Dorothy; "but I
guess you 're right about going back to that signpost, Bill-
ina.

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Chapter Nineteen

They returned along the path to the place where they had
first found it, and at once took "the other road" to Bunny-
bury. This road was a mere narrow strip, worn hard and
smooth but not wide enough for Dorothy's feet to tread.
Still it was a guide, and the walking through the forest was
not at all difficult.

Before long they reached a high wall of solid white mar-
ble, and the path came to an end at this wall.

At first Dorothy thought there was no opening at all in
the marble, but on looking closely she discovered a small
square door about on a level with her head, and underneath
this closed door was a bell-push. Near the bell-push a sign
was painted in neat letters upon the marble, and the sign
read:

No Admittance
Except on Business

This did not discourage Dorothy, however, and she rang
the bell.

Pretty soon a bolt was cautiously withdrawn and the
marble door swung slowly open. Then she saw it was not
really a door, but a window, for several brass bars were
placed across it, being set fast in the marble and so close
together that the little girl's fingers might barely go between
them. Back of the bars appeared the face of a white rabbit

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The Emerald City of Oz

— a very sober and sedate face — with an eye-glass held in
his left eye and attached to a cord in his button-hole.

"Weill what is it?" asked the rabbit, sharply.

"I 'm Dorothy," said the girl, "and I 'm lost, and — "

"State your business, please," interrupted the rabbit.

"My business," she replied, "is to find out where I am,
and to — "

"No one is allowed in Bunnybury without an order or a
letter of introduction from either Ozma of Oz or Glinda the
Good," announced the rabbit; "so that that settles the mat-
ter," and he started to close the window.

"Wait a minute I" cried Dorothy. "I 've got a letter from
Ozma."

"From the Ruler of Oz'?" asked the rabbit, doubtingly.

"Of course. Ozma 's my best friend, you know; and I 'm
a Princess myself," she announced, earnestly.

"Hum — ha! Let me see your letter," returned the rab-
bit, as if he still doubted her.

So she hunted in her pocket and found the letter Ozma
had given her. Then she handed it through the bars to the
rabbit, who took it in his paws and opened it. He read it
aloud in a pom.pous voice, as if to let Dorothy and Billina
see that he was educated and could read writing. The let-
ter was as follows :

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ChapterNineteen

"It will please me to have my subjects greet Prin-
cess Dorothy, the bearer of this royal missive, with
the same courtesy and consideration they would ex-
tend to me."

"Ha — hum ! It is signed 'Ozma of Oz,' " continued the

rabbit, "and is sealed with the Great Seal of the Emerald

City. Well, well, well! How strange I How remarkable!"

"What are you going to do about it?" inquired Dorothy,

impatiently.

"We must obey the royal mandate," replied the rabbit.
"We are subjects of Ozma of Oz, and we live in her coun-
try. Also we are under the protection of the great Sorceress
Glinda the Good, who made us promise to respect Ozma's
commands."

"Then may I come in'?" she asked.

"I '11 open the door," said the rabbit. He shut the win-
dow and disappeared, but a moment afterward a big door
in the wall opened and admitted Dorothy to a small room,
which seemed to be a part of the wall and built into it.

Here stood the rabbit she had been talking with, and now
that she could see all of him she gazed at the creature in sur-
prise. He was a good sized white rabbit with pink eyes,
much like all other white rabbits. But the astonishing thing
about him was the manner in which he was dressed. He wore
a white satin jacket embroidered with gold, and having dia-

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The Emerald City of Oz

mond buttons. His vest was rose-colored satin, with tour-
maline buttons. His trousers were white, to correspond with
the jacket, and they were baggy at the knees — like those of
a zouave — being tied with knots of rose ribbons. His shoes
were of white plush with diamond buckles, and his stock-
ings were rose silk.

The richness and even magnificence of the rabbit's cloth-
ing made Dorothy stare at the little creature wonderingly.
Toto and Billina had followed her into the room and when
he saw them the rabbit ran to a table and sprang upon it
nimbly. Then he looked at the three through his monocle
and said :

"These companions. Princess, cannot enter Bunnybury
with you."

"Why not'?" asked Dorothy.

"In the first place they would frighten our people, who dis-
like dogs above all things on earth; and, secondly, the letter
of the Royal Ozma does not mention them."

"But they 're my friends," persisted Dorothy, "and go
wherever I go."

"Not this time," said the rabbit, decidedly. "You, your-
self, Pincess, are a welcome visitor, since you come so highly
recommended; but unless you consent to leave the dog and
the hen in this room I cannot permit you to enter the town."

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Chapter Nineteen

''Never mind us, Dorothy," said Billina. "Go inside and
see what the place is like. You can tell us about it after-
ward, and Toto and I will rest comfortably here until you
return."

This seemed the best thing to do, for Dorothy was cu-
rious to see how the rabbit people lived and she was aware of
the fact that her friends might frighten the timid little crea-
tures. She had not forgotten how Toto and Billina had
misbehaved in Bunbury, and perhaps the rabbit was wise to
insist on their staying outside the town.

"Very well," she said, "I '11 go in alone. I s'pose you 're
the King of this town, are n't you'?"

"No," answered the rabbit, "I 'm merely the Keeper of
the Wicket, and a person of little importance, although I
try to do my duty. I must now inform you. Princess, that
before you enter our town you must consent to reduce."

"Reduce what'?" asked Dorothy.

"Your size. You must become the size of the rabbits,
although you may retain your own form."

"Would n't my clothes be too big for me'?" she inquired.

"No; they will reduce when your body does."

"Can you make me smaller?' asked the girl.

"Easily," returned the rabbit.

"And will you make me big again, when I 'm ready to go
away*?"

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The Emerald City of Oz

"I will," said he.

"All right, then; I 'm willing," she announced.

The rabbit jumped from the table and ran — or rather
hopped — to the further wall, where he opened a door so tiny
that even Toto could scarcely have crawled through it.

*Tollow me," he said.

Now, almost any other little girl would have declared
that she could not get through so small a door; but Dorothy
had already encountered so many fairy adventures that she
believed nothing was impossible in the Land of Oz. So she
quietly walked toward the door, and at every step she grew
smaller and smaller until, by the time the opening was
reached, she could pass through it with ease. Indeed, as
she stood beside the rabbit, who sat upon his hind legs and
used his paws as hands, her head was just about as high as
his own.

Then the Keeper of the Wicket passed through and she
followed, after which the door swung shut and locked itself
with a sharp click.

Dorothy now found herself in a city so strange and beau-
tiful that she gave a gasp of surprise. The high marble wall
extended all around the place and shut out all the rest of the
world. And here were marble houses of curious forms, most
of them resembling overturned kettles but with delicate
slender spires and minarets running far up into the sky. The

202

Chapter Nineteen

streets were paved with white marble and in front of each
house was a lawn of rich green clover. Everything was as
neat as wax, the green and white contrasting prettily to-
gether.

But the rabbit people were, after all, the most amazing
things Dorothy saw. The streets were full of them, and

their costumes were so splendid that the rich dress of the
Keeper of the Wicket was commonplace when compared with
the others. Silks and satins of delicate hues seemed always
used for material, and nearly every costume sparkled with
exquisite gems.

But the lady rabbits outshone the gentlemen rabbits in

203

The Emerald City of Oz

splendor, and the cut of their gowns was really wonderful.
They wore bonnets, too, with feathers and jewels in them,
and some wheeled baby carriages in which the girl could see
wee bunnies. Some were lying asleep while others lay suck-
ing their paws and looking around them with big pink eyes.

As Dorothy was no bigger in size than the grown-up rab-
bits she had a chance to observe them closely before they no-
ticed her presence. Then they did not seem at all alarmed,
although the little girl naturally became the center of at-
traction and all regarded her with great curiosity.

"Make way I" cried the Keeper of the Wicket, in a
pompous voice; "make way for Princess Dorothy, who comes
from Ozma of Oz."

Hearing this announcement, the throng of rabbits gave
place to them on the walks, and as Dorothy passed along
they all bowed their heads respectfully.

Walking thus through several handsome streets they
came to a square in the center of the City. In this square
were some pretty trees and a statue in bronze of Glinda the
Good, while beyond it were the portals of the Royal Palace
— an extensive and imposing building of white marble cov-
ered with a filigree of frosted gold.

204

Q^rjur.

Will Am©

OniPTEE. TWEITY

A LINE of rabbit soldiers was drawn up oefore the palace
entrance, and they wore green and gold uniforms with high
shakos upon their heads and held tiny spears in their hands.
The Captain had a sword and a white plume in his shako.

"Salute I" cried the Keeper of the Wicket. "Salute Prin-
cess Dorothy, who comes from Ozma of Ozl"

"Salute I" yelled the Captain, and all the soldiers
promptly saluted.

They now entered the great hall of the palace, where
they met a gaily dressed attendant, from whom the Keeper
of the Wicket inquired if the King were at leisure.

"I think so," was the reply. "I heard his Majesty blub-
bering and wailing as usual only a few minutes ago. If he
does n't stop acting like a cry-baby I 'm going to resign my
position here and go to work."

205

The Emerald City of Oz

"What 's the matter with your Xing'?" asked Dorothy,
surprised to hear the rabbit attendant speak so disrespect-
fully of his monarch.

"Oh, he does n't want to be King, that 's all; and he
simply has to," was the reply.

"Come!" said the Keeper of the Wicket, sternly; "lead
us to his Majesty; and do not air our troubles before strang-
ers, I beg of you."

"Why, if this girl is going to see the King, he '11 air his
own troubles," returned the attendant.

"That is his royal privilege," declared the Keeper.

So the attendant led them into a room all draped with
cloth-of-gold and furnished with satin-covered gold furni-
ture. There was a throne in this room, set on a dais and hav-
ing a big cushioned seat, and on this seat reclined the Rab-
bit King. He was lying on his back, with his paws in the
air, and whining very like a puppy-dog.

"Your Majesty I your Majesty! Get up. Here 's a
visitor," called out the attendant.

The King rolled over and looked at Dorothy with one
watery pink eye. Then he sat up and wiped his eyes care-
fully with a silk handkerchief and put on his jeweled crown,
which had fallen off.

"Excuse my grief, fair stranger," he said, in a sad voice.

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Chapter Twenty

''You behold in me the most miserable monarch in all the
world. What time is it, Blinkem?"

"One o'clock, your Majesty," replied the attendant to
whom the question was addressed.

"Serve luncheon at once!" commanded the King.

"Luncheon for two — that 's for my visitor and me — and see

that the human has some sort of food she 's accustomed to."

"Yes, your Majesty," answered the attendant, and went

away.

"Tie my shoe, Bristle," said the King to the Keeper of the
Wicket. "Ah, me! how unhappy I am!"

"What seems to be worrying your Majesty'?" asked
Dorothy.

"Why, it 's this king business, of course," he returned,
while the Keeper tied his shoe. "I did n't want to be King of
Bunnybury at all, and the rabbits all knew it. So they
elected me — to save themselves from such a dreadful fate,
I suppose — and here I am, shut up in a palace, when I might
be free and happy."

"Seems to me," said Dorothy, "it 's a great thing to be a
King."

"Were you ever a King'?" inquired the monarch.

"No," she answered, laughing.

"Then you know nothing about it," he said. "I have n't
inquired who you are, but it does n't matter. While we 're

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The Emerald City of Oz

at luncheon, I '11 tell you all my troubles. They 're a great
deal more interesting than anything you can say about your-
self."

"Perhaps they are, to you," replied Dorothy.

"Luncheon is served!" cried Blinkeni, throwing open the
door, and in came a dozen rabbits in livery, all bearing trays
which they placed upon the table, where they arranged the
dishes in an orderly manner.

"Now clear out — all of you I" exclaimed the King.
^'Bristle, you may wait outside, in case I want you."

When they had gone and the King was alone with Doro-
thy he came down from his throne, tossed his crown into a
corner and kicked his ermine robe under the table.

"Sit down," he said, "and try to be happy. It 's useless
for me to try, because I 'm always wretched and miserable.
But I 'm hungry, and I hope you are."

"I am," said Dorothy. "I 've only eaten a wheelbarrow
and a piano to-day — oh, yes I and a slice of bread and butter
that used to be a door-mat."

"That sounds like a square meal," remarked the King,
seating himself opposite her; "but perhaps it was n't a square
piano. Eh'?"

Dorothy laughed.

"You don't seem so very unhappy now," she said.

208

>»<i^t«i

The Emerald City of Oz

"But I am," protested the King, fresh tears gathering in
his eyes. ''Even my jokes are miserable. I 'm wretched, woe-
ful, afflicted, distressed and dismal as an individual can be.
Are you not sorry for meT'

"No," answered Dorothy, honestly, "I can't say I am.
Seems to me that for a rabbit you 're right in clover. This
is the prettiest little city I ever saw."

"Oh, the city is good enough," he admitted. "Glinda,
the Good Sorceress, made it for us because she was fond of
rabbits. I don't mind the City so much, although 1 would n't
live here if I had my choice. It is being King that has ab-
solutely ruined my happiness."

"Why would n't you live here by choice?" she asked.

"Because it is all unnatural, my dear. Rabbits are out
of place in such luxury. When I was young I lived in a bur-
row in the forest. I was surrounded by enemies and often
had to run for my life. It was hard getting enough to eat,
at times, and when I found a bunch of clover I had to listen
and look for danger while I ate it. Wolves prowled around
the hole in which I lived and sometimes I did n't dare stir
out for days at a time. Oh, how happy and contented I was
then ! I was a real rabbit, at nature made me — wild and free I
— and I even enjoyed listening to the startled throbbing of
my own heart!"

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Chapter Twenty

''I 've often thought," said Dorothy, who was busily eat-
ing, ''that it would be fun to be a rabbit."

"It is fun — when you 're the genuine article," agreed his
Majesty. "But look at me now! I live in a marble palace
instead of a hole in the ground. I have all I want to eat,
without the joy of hunting for it. Every day I must dress
in fine clothes and wear that horrible crown till it makes my
head ache. Rabbits come to me with all sorts of troubles,
when my own troubles are the only ones I care about. When
I walk out I can't hop and run; I must strut on my rear legs
and wear an ermine robe! And the soldiers salute me and
the band plays and the other rabbits laugh and clap their
paws and cry out : 'Hail to the King !' Now let me ask you, as
a friend and a young lady of good judgment: is n't all this
pomp and foolishness enough to make a decent rabbit mis-
erable'?"

"Once," said Dorothy, reflectively, "men were wild and
unclothed and lived in caves and hunted for food as wild
beasts do. But they got civ'lized, in time, and now they 'd
hate to go back to the old days."

"That is an entirely different case," replied the King.
"None of you Humans were civilized in one lifetime. It
came to you by degrees. But I have known the forest and
the free life, and that is why I resent being civilized all at

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The Emerald City of Oz

once, against my will, and being made a King with a crown
and an ermine robe. Pah I"

"If you don't like it, why don't you resign?" she asked.

"Impossible!" wailed the Rabbit, wiping his eyes again
with his handkerchief. "There 's a beastly law in this town
that forbids it. When one is elected a King there 's no get-
ting out of it."

"Who made the laws'?" inquired Dorothy.

"The same Sorceress who made the town — Glinda the
Good. She built the wall, and fixed up the City, and gave
us several valuable enchantments, and made the laws. Then
she invited all the pink-eyed white rabbits of the forest to
come here, after which she left us to our fate."

"What made you 'cept the invitation, and come here'?"
asked the child.

"I did n't know how dreadful city life was, and I 'd no
idea I would be elected King," said he, sobbing bitterly.
"And — and — now I 'm It — with a capital I — and can't es-
cape:

"I know Glinda," remarked Dorothy, eating for dessert
a dish of charlotte russe, "and when I see her again I '11 ask
her to put another King in your place."

"Will you'? Will you, indeed *?" asked the King, joy-
fully.

"I will if you want me to," she replied.

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Chapter Twenty

"Hurroo — hurray I" shouted the King; and then he
jumped up from the table and danced wildly about the room,
waving his napkin like a flag and laughing with glee.

After a time he managed to control his delight and re-
turned to the table.

"When are you likely to see Glinda*?" he inquired.

"Oh, p'raps in a few days," said Dorothy.
'And you won't forget to ask her?"

"Of course not."

"Princess," said the Rabbit King, earnestly, "you have
relieved me of a great unhappiness, and I am very grateful.
Therefore I propose to entertain you, since you are my guest
and I am the King, as a slight mark of my appreciation.
Come with me to my reception hall."

He then summoned Bristle and said to him: "Assemble
all the nobility in the great reception hall, and also tell
Blinkem that I want him immediately."

The Keeper of the Wicket bowed and hurried away, and
his Majesty turned to Dorothy and continued : "We '11 have
time for a walk in the gardens before the people get here."

The gardens were back of the palace and were filled with
beautiful flowers and fragrant shrubs, with many shade and
fruit trees and marble paved walks running in every direc-
tion. As they entered this place Blinkem came running to
the King, who gave him several orders in a low voice. Then

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The Emerald City of Oz

his Majesty rejoined Dorothy and led her through the gar-
dens, which she admired very much.

"What lovely clothes your Majesty wears I" she said,
glancing at the rich blue satin costume, embroidered with
pearls, in which the King was dressed.

"Yes," he returned, with an air of pride, "this is one of
my favorite suits ; but I have a good many that are even more
elaborate. We have excellent tailors in Bunnybury, and
Glinda supplies all the material. By the way, you might
ask the Sorceress, when you see her, to permit me to keep my
wardrobe."

"But if you go back to the forest you will not need
clothes," she said.

"N — ol" he faltered; "that may be so. But I 've dressed
up so long that I 'm used to it, and I don't imagine I 'd care to
run around naked again. So perhaps the Good Glinda will
let me keep the costumes."

"I '11 ask her," agreed Dorothy.

Then they left the gardens and went into a fine big recep-
tion hall, where rich rugs were spread upon the tiled floors
and the furniture was exquisitely carved and studded with
jewels. The King's chair was an especially pretty piece of
furniture, being in the shape of a silver lily with one leaf
bent over to form the seat. The silver was everywhere

214

Chapter Twenty

thickly encrusted with diamonds and the seat was uphol-
stered in white satin.

"Oh, what a splendid chair!" cried Dorothy, clasping her
hands admiringly.

"Is n't it*?" answered the King, proudly. "It is my fa-
vorite seat, and I think it especially becoming to my com-
plexion. While I think of it, I wish you 'd ask Glinda to
let me keep this lily chair when I go away."

"It would n't look very well in a hole in the ground,
would it'?" she suggested.

"Maybe not; but I 'm used to sitting in it and I 'd like
to take it with me," he answered. "But here come the ladies
and gentlemen of the court; so please sit beside me and be
presented."

c^M/mME.

CiAPT

ETWEin^

JUST then a rabbit band of nearly fifty pieces marched in,
playing upon golden instruments and dressed in neat uni-
forms. Following the band came the nobility of Bunnybury,
all richly dressed and hopping along on their rear legs. Both
the ladies and the gentlemen wore white gloves upon their
paws, with their rings on the outside of the gloves, as this
seemed to be the fashion here. Some of the lady rabbits
carried lorgnettes, while many of the gentlemen rabbits wore
monocles in their left eyes.

The courtiers and their ladies paraded past the King,
who introduced Princess Dorothy to each couple in a very
graceful manner. Then the company seated themselves in
chairs and on sofas and looked expectantly at their mon-
arch.

"It is our royal duty, as well as our royal pleasure," he

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Chapter Twenty-One

said, "to provide fitting entertainment for our distinguished
guest. We will now present the Royal Band of Whiskered
Friskers."

As he spoke the musicians, who had arranged themselves
in a corner, struck up a dance melody while into the room
pranced the Whiskered Friskers. They were eight pretty
rabbits dressed only in gauzy purple skirts fastened around
their waists with diamond bands. Their whiskers were col-
ored a rich purple, but otherwise they were pure white.

After bowing before the King and Dorothy the Friskers
began their pranks, and these were so comical that Dorothy
laughed with real enjoyment. They not only danced to-
gether, whirling and gyrating around the room, but they
leaped over one another, stood upon their heads and hopped
and skipped here and there so nimbly that it was hard work
to keep track of them. Finally they all made double somer-
saults and turned handsprings out of the room.

The nobility enthusiastically applauded, and Dorothy
applauded with them.

"They 're fine !" she said to the King.

"Yes, the Whiskered Friskers are really very clever," he
replied. "I shall hate to part with them when I go away, for
they have often amused me when I was very rxiiserable. I
wonder if you would ask Glinda — "

"No, it would n't do at all," declared Dorothy, posi-

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The Emerald City of Oz

tively. "There would n't be room in your hole in the ground
for so many rabbits, 'spec'ly when you get the lily chair and
your clothes there. Don't think of such a thing, your
Majesty."

The King sighed. Then he stood up and announced to
the company:

**We will now behold a military drill by my picked Body-
guard of Royal Pikemen."

Now the band played a march and a company of rabbit
soldiers came in. They wore green and gold uniforms and
marched very stiffly but in perfect time. Their spears, or
pikes, had slender shafts of polished silver with golden heads,
and during the drill they handled these weapons with won-
derful dexterity.

"I should think you 'd feel pretty safe with such a fine
Bodyguard," remarked Dorothy.

"I do," said the King. "They protect me from every
harm. I suppose Glinda would n't — "

"No," interrupted the girl; "I 'm sure she would n't. It s
the King's own Bodyguard, and when you are no longer King
you can 't have 'em."

The King did not reply, but he looked rather sorrowful
for a time.

When the soldiers had marcned out he said to the com-
pany :

218

Chapter Twenty-One

*'The Royal Jugglers will now appear."
Dorothy had seen many jugglers in her lifetime, but
never any so interesting as these. There were six of them,
dressed in black satin embroidered with queer symbols in sil-
ver— a costume which contrasted strongly with their snow-
white fur.

First they pushed in a big red ball and three of the rabbit
jugglers stood upon its top and made it roll. Then two of
them caught up a third and tossed him into the air, all van-
ishing, until only the two were left. Then one of these
tossed the other upward and remained alone of all his fel-
lows. This last juggler now touched the red ball, which fell
apart, being hollow, and the five rabbits who had disappeared
in the air scrambled out of the hollow ball.

Next they all clung together and rolled swiftly upon the
floor. When they came to a stop only one fat rabbit juggler
was seen, the others seeming to be inside him. This one
leaped lightly into the air and when he came down he ex-
ploded and separated into the original six. Then four of
them rolled themselves into round balls and the other two
tossed them around and played ball with them.

These were but a few of the tricks the rabbit jugglers per-
formed, and they were so skillful that all the nobility and
even the King applauded as loudly as did Dorothy.

219

The Emerald City of Oz

"I suppose there are no rabbit jugglers in all the world to
compare with these," remarked the King. "And since I may
not have the Whiskered Friskers or my Bodyguard, you might
ask Glinda to let me take away just two or three of these
jugglers. Will you?"

"I '11 ask her," replied Dorothy, doubtfully.
"Thank you," said the King; "thank you very much. And
now you shall listen to the Winsome Waggish Warblers, who
have often cheered me in my moments of anguish."

The Winsome Waggish Warblers proved to be a quar-
tette of rabbit singers, two gentlemen and two lady rabbits.
The gentlemen Warblers wore full-dress swallow-tailed suits
of white satin, with pearls for buttons, while the lady War-
blers were gowned in white satin dresses with long trails.
The first song they sang began in this way:
"When a rabbit gets a habit

Of living in a city
And wearing clothes and furbelows

And jewels rare and pretty,
He scorns the Bun who has to run

And burrow in the ground
And pities those whose watchful foes
Are man and gun and hound."
220

Chapter Twenty-One

Dorothy looked at the King when she heard this song and
noticed that he seemed disturbed and ill at ease.

"I don't like that song," he said to the Warblers. ''Give
us something jolly and rollicking."

So they sang to a joyous, tinkling melody as follows :

"Bunnies gay

Delight to play
In their fairy town secure ;

Ev'ry frisker

Flirts his whisker
At a pink-eyed girl demure.

Ev'ry maid

In silk arrayed
At her partner shyly glances,

Paws are grasped,

Waists are clasped
As they whirl in giddy dances.

Then together

Through the heather
'Neath the moonlight soft they stroll;

Each is very

Blithe and merry.
Gamboling with laughter droll.

Life is fun

To ev'ry one

221

The Emerald City of Oz

Guarded by our magic charm

For to dangers

We are strangers,
Safe from any thought of harm."

"You see," said Dorothy to the King, when the song
ended, ''the rabbits all seem to like Bunnybury except you.
And I guess you 're the only one that ever has cried or was
unhappy and wanted to get back to your muddy hole in the
ground."

His Majesty seemed thoughtful, and while the servants
passed around glasses of nectar and plates of frosted cakes
their King was silent and a bit nervous.

When the refreshments had been enjoyed by all and the
servants had retired Dorothy said :

"I must go now, for it 's getting late and I 'm lost. I 've
got to find the Wizard and Aunt Em and Uncle Henry and
all the rest sometime before night comes, if I poss'bly can."

"Won't you stay with us?" asked the King. "You will
be very welcome."

"No, thank you," she replied. "I must get back to my
friends. And I want to see Glinda just as soon as I can, you
know."

So the King dismissed his court and said he would him-
self walk with Dorothy to the gate. He did not weep nor

222

Chapter Twenty-One

groan any more, but his long face was quite solemn and his
big ears hung dejectedly on each side of it. He still wore his
crown and his ermine and walked with a handsome gold-
headed cane.

When they arrived at the room in the wall the little girl
found Toto and Billina waiting for her very patiently. They
had been liberally fed by some of the attendants and were in
no hurry to leave such comfortable quarters.

The Keeper of the Wicket was by this time back in his
old place, but he kept a safe distance from Toto. Dorothy
bade good bye to the King as they stood just inside the wall.

"You 've been good to me," she said, ''and I thank you
ever so much. As soon as poss'ble I '11 see Glinda and ask
her to put another King in your place and send you back into
the wild forest. And I '11 ask her to let you keep some of
your clothes and the lily chair and one or two jugglers to
amuse you. I 'm sure she will do it, 'cause she 's so kind she
does n't like any one to be unhappy."

"Ahem I" said the King, looking rather downcast. "I
don't like to trouble you with my misery; so you need n't see
Glinda."

"Oh, yes I will," she replied. "It won't be any trouble at
all."

"But, my dear," continued the King, in an embarrassed
way, "I 've been thinking the subject over carefully, and I

223

The Emerald City of Oz

find there are a lot of pleasant things here in Bunnybury that
I would miss if I went away. So perhaps I 'd better stay."

Dorothy laughed. Then she looked grave.

"It won't do for you to be a King and a cry-baby at the
same time," she said. "You 've been making all the other
rabbits unhappy and discontented with your howls about
being so miserable. So I guess its better to have another
King."

"Oh, no indeed I" exclaimed the King, earnestly. "If
you won't say anything to Glinda I '11 promise to be merry
and gay all the time, and never cry or wail again."

"Honor bright?" she asked.

"On the royal word of a King I promise it!" he answered.

"All right," said Dorothy. "You 'd be a reg'lar lunatic
to want to leave Bunnybury for a wild life in the forest, and
I 'm sure any rabbit outside the city would be glad to take
your place."

"Forget it, my dear; forget all my foolishness," pleaded
the King, earnestly. "Hereafter I '11 try to enjoy myself and
do my duty by my subjects."

So then she left him and entered through the little door
into the room in the wall, where she grew gradually bigger
and bigger until she had resumed her natural size.

The Keeper of the Wicket let them out into the forest
and told Dorothy that she had been of great service to

224

Chapter Twenty-One

Bunnybury because she had brought their dismal King to a
realization of the pleasure of ruling so beautiful a city.

"I shall start a petition to have your statue erected beside
Glinda's in the public square," said the Keeper. "I hope you
will come again, some day, and see it."

"Perhaps I shall," she replied.

Then, followed by Toto and Billina, she walked away
from the high marble wall and started back along the narrow
path toward the sign-post. .

225

c^&z^lfK ^fl

CMPIEB TWIY-W©

WHEN they came to the signpost, there, to their joy, were
the tents of the Wizard pitched beside the path and the ket-
tle bubbling merrily over a fire. The Shaggy Man and Omby
Amby were gathering firewood while Uncle Henry and
Aunt Em sat in their camp chairs talking with the Wizard.

They all ran forward to greet Dorothy, as she approached,
and Aunt Em exclaimed: "Goodness gracious, child! Where
have you been'?"

"You 've played hookey the whole day," added the
Shaggy Man, reproachfully.

"Well, you see, I 've been lost," explained the little girl,
"and I 've tried awful hard to find the way back to you, but
just could n't do it."

"Did you wander in the forest all day?" asked Uncle
Henry.

226

Chapter Twenty-Two

"You must be a'most starved!" said Aunt Em.

"No," said Dorothy, "I 'm not hungry. I had a wheel-
barrow and a piano for breakfast, and lunched with a King."

"Ah I" exclaimed the Wizard, nodding with a bright
smile. "So you 've been having adventures again."

"She 's stark crazy!" cried Aunt Em. "Whoever heard
of eating a wheelbarrow^"

"It was n't very big," said Dorothy; "and it had a zuzu
wheel."

"And I ate the crumbs," added Billina, soberly.

"Sit down and tell us about it," begged the Wizard.
"We 've hunted for you all day, and at last I noticed your
footsteps in this path — and the tracks of Billina. We found
the path by accident, and seeing it only led to two places I de-
cided you were at either one or the other of those places. So
we made camp and waited for you to return. And now,
Dorothy, tell us where you have been — to Bunbury or to
Bunnybury?"

"Why, I 've been to both," she replied; "but first I went
to Utensia, which is n't on any path at all."

She then sat down and related the day's adventures, and
you may be sure Aunt Em and Uncle Henry were much as-
tonished at the story.

"But after seeing the Cuttenclips and the Fuddles," re-

227

The Emerald City of Oz

marked her uncle, "we ought not to wonder at anything in
this strange country.

"Seems like the only common and ordinary folks here are
ourselves," rejoined Aunt Em, diffidently.

"Now that we 're together again, and one reunited party,'*
observed the Shaggy Man, "what are we to do next?"

"Have some supper and a night 's rest," answered the
Wizard promptly, "and then proceed upon our journey."

"Where to?" asked the Captain General.

"We have n't visited the Rigmaroles or the Flutterbud-
gets yet," said Dorothy. "I 'd like to see them — would n't
you?"

"They don't sound very interesting," objected Aunt Em.
"But perhaps they are."

"And then," continued the little Wizard, "we will call
upon the Tin Woodman and Jack Pumpkinhead and our old
friend the Scarecrow, on our way home."

"That will be nice I" cried Dorothy, eagerly.

"Can't say they sound very interesting, either," remarked
Aunt Em.

"Why, they 're the best friends I have !" asserted the little
girl, "and you 're sure to like them. Aunt Em, 'cause ever'-
body likes them."

By this time twilight was approaching, so they ate the

228

Chapter Twenty-Two

fine supper which the Wizard magically produced from the
kettle and then went to bed in the cosy tents.

They were all up bright and early next mornmg, but
Dorothy did n't venture to wander from the camp again for
fear of more accidents.

"Do you know where there 's a road?" she asked the lit-
tle man.

"No, my dear," replied the Wizard; "but I '11 find one."

After breakfast he waved his hand toward the tents and
they became handkerchiefs again, which were at once re-
turned to the pockets of their owners. Then they all climbed
into the red wagon and the Sawhorse inquired:

"Which way?"

"Never mind which way," replied the Wizard. "Just
go as you please and you 're sure to be right. I 've enchanted
the wheels of the wagon, and they will roll in the right direc-
tion, never fear."

As the Sawhorse started away through the trees Dorothy
said:

"If we had one of those new-fashioned airships we could
float away over the top of the forest, and look down and find
just the places we want.

"Airship? Pah!" retorted the little man, scornfully. "I
hate those things, Dorothy, although they are nothing new to
either you or me. I was a balloonist for many years, and

229

The Emerald City of Oz

once my balloon carried me to the Land of Oz, and once to
the Vegetable Kingdom. And once Ozma had a Gump that
flew all over this kingdom and had sense enough to go where
it was told to — which airships won't do. The house which
the cyclone brought to Oz all the way from Kansas, with you
and Toto in it — was a real airship at the time; so you see
we 've had plenty of experience flying with the birds."

"Airships are not so bad, after all," declared Dorothy.
"Some day they '11 fly all over the world, and perhaps bring
people even to the Land of Oz."

"I must speak to Ozma about that," said the Wizard,
with a slight frown. "It would n't do at all, you know, for
the Emerald City to become a way-station on an airship line."

"No," said Dorothy, "I don't s'pose it would. But what
can we do to prevent it*?"

"I 'm working out a magic recipe to fuddle men's brains,
so they '11 never make an airship that will go where they want
it to go," the Wizard confided to her. "That won't keep the
things from flying, now and then, but it '11 keep them from
flying to the Land of Oz."

Just then the Sawhorse drew the wagon out of the forest
and a beautiful landscape lay spread before the travelers'
eyes. Moreover, right before them was a good road that
wound away through the hills and valleys.

"Now," said the Wizard, with evident delight, "we are

230

Chapter iwenty-Tw

on the right track again, and there is nothing more to worry
about."

"It 's a foolish thing to take chances in a strange country,"
observed the Shaggy Man. "Had we kept to the roads we

never v/ould have been lost. Roads always leads to some
place, else they would n't be roads."

"This road," added the Wizard, "leads to Rigmarole
Town. I 'm sure of that because I enchanted the wagon
wheels."

Sure enough, after riding along the road for an hour or
two they entered a pretty valley where a village was nestled

231

The Emerald City of Oz

among the hills. The houses were Munchkin shaped, for they
were all domes, with windows wider than they were high, and
pretty balconies over the front doors.

Aunt Em was greatly relieved to find this town "neither
paper nor patch-work," and the only surprising thing about
it was that it was so far distant from all other towns.

As the Sawhorse drew the wagon into the main street the
travelers noticed that the place was filled with people, stand-
ing in groups and seeming to be engaged in earnest conversa-
tion. So occupied with themselves were the inhabitants that
they scarcely noticed the strangers at all. So the Wizard
stopped a boy and asked:

"Is this Rigmarole Town?"

"Sir," replied the boy, "if you nave traveled very much
you will have noticed that every town differs from every
other town in one way or another and so by observing the
methods of the people and the way they live as well as the
style of their dwelling places it ought not to be a difficult
thing to make up your mind without the trouble of asking
questions whether the town bears the appearance of the one
you intended to visit or whether perhaps having taken a dif-
ferent road from the one you should have taken you have
made an error in your way and arrived at some point
where — "

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Chapter Twenty-Two

"Land sakesi" cried Aunt Em, impatiently; "what 's all
this rigmarole about?"

"That 's it!" said the Wizard, laughing merrily. "It 's
a rigmarole because the boy is a Rigmarole and we 've come
to Rigmarole Town."

"Do they all talk like that?" asked Dorothy, wonderingly.

"He might have said yes' or 'no' and settled the ques-
tion," observed Uncle Henry.

"Not here," said Omby Amby. "I don't believe the Rig-
maroles know what 'yes' or 'no' means."

While the boy had been talking several other people had
approached the wagon and listened intently to his speech.
Then they began talking to one another in long, de-
liberate speeches, where many words were used but little was
said. But when the strangers criticised them so frankly one of
the women, who had no one else to talk to, began an address
to them, saying :

"It is the easiest thing in the world for a person to say
*yes' or 'no' vv^hen a question that is asked for the purpose of
gaining information or satisfying the curiosity of the one who
has given expression to the inquiry has attracted the attention
of an individual who may be competent either from personal
experience or the experience of others to answer it with more
or less correctness or at least an attempt to satisfy the desire

The Emerald City of Oz

for information on the part of the one who has made the in-
quiry by — "

"Dear me I" exclaimed Dorothy, interrupting the speech.
"I 've lost all track of what you are saying."

"Don't let her begin over again, for goodness sake I" cried
Aunt Em.

But the woman did not begin again. She did not even
stop talking, but went right on as she had begun, the words
flowing from her mouth in a stream.

"I 'm quite sure that if we waited long enough and lis-
tened carefully, some of these people might be able to tell
us something, in time," said the Wizard.

"Don't let 's wait," returned Dorothy. "I 've heard of
the Rigmaroles, and wondered what they were like ; but now
I know, and I 'm ready to move on."

"So arn I," declared Uncle Henry; "we 're wasting time
here."

"Why, we 're all ready to go," added the Shaggy Man,
putting his fingers to his ears to shut out the monotonous
babble of those around the wagon.

So the Wizard spoke to the Sawhorse, who trotted nimbly
through the village and soon gained the open country on
the other side of it. Dorothy looked back, as they rode away,
and noticed that the woman had not yet finished her speech

234

Chapter Twenty-Two

but was talking as glibly as ever, although no one was near
to hear her.

"If those people wrote books," Omby Amby remarked
with a smile, "it would take a whole library to say the cow
jumped over the moon."

'Perhaps some Ox em do write books," asserted the little
Wizard. "I 've read a few rigmaroles that might have come
from this very town."

"Some of the college lecturers and ministers are certainly
related to these people," observed the Shaggy Man; "and it
seems to me the Land of Oz is a little ahead of the United

235

The Emerald City of Oz

States in some of its laws. For here, if one can't talk clearly,
and straight to the point, they send him to Rigmarole Town;
while Uncle Sam lets him roam around wild and free, to tor-
ture innocent people."

Dorothy was thoughtful. The Rigmaroles had made a
strong impression upon her. She decided that whenever she
spoke, after this, she would use only enough words to ex-
press what she wanted to say.

236

c^2^ TlDf EiminilEi
"^ -HE Mil

THEY were soon among the pretty hills and valleys again,
and the Sawhorse sped up hill and down at a fast and easy
pace, the roads being hard and smooth. Mile after mile was
speedily covered, and before the ride had grown at all tire-
some they sighted another village. The place seemed even
larger than Rigmarole Town, but was not so attractive in ap-
pearance.

"This must be Flutterbudget Center," declared the Wiz-
ard. "You see, it 's no trouble at all to find places if you
keep to the right road."

"What are the Flutterbudgets like'?" inquired Dorothy.

"I do not know, my dear. But Ozma has given them a
town all their own, and I 've heard that whenever one of the
people becomes a Flutterbudget he is sent to this place to
live.

237

The Emerald City of Oz

"That is true," Omby Amby added; 'Tlutterbudget Cen-
ter and Rigmarole Town are called 'the Defensive Settle-
ments of Oz.' "

The village they now approached was not built in a val-
ley, but on top of a hill, and the road they followed wound
around the hill like a corkscrew, ascending the hill easily
until it came to the town.

"Look out I" screamed a voice. "Look out, or you '11 run
over my child!"

They gazed around and saw a woman standing upon the
sidewalk nervously wringing her hands as she gazed at them
appealingly.

"Where is your child'?" asked the Sawhorse.

"In the house," said the woman, bursting into tears; "but
if it should happen to be in the road, and you ran over it,
those great wheels would crush my darling to jelly. Oh,
dear! oh dear! Think of my darling child being crushed to
jelly by those great wheels !"

"Gid-dap!" said the Wizard, sharply, and the Sawhorse
started on.

They had not gone far before a man ran out of a house
shouting wildly : "Help! Help!"

The Sawhorse stopped short and the Wizard and Uncle
Henry and the Shaggy Man and Omby Amby jumped out of

238

Chapter Twenty-Three

the wagon and ran to the poor man's assistance. Dorothy
followed them as quickly as she could.

"What 's the matter?" asked the Wizard.

"Help I help !" screamed the man; "my wife has cut her fin-
ger off and she 's bleeding to death!"

Then he turned and rushed back to the house, and all
the party went with him. They found a woman in the front
dooryard moaning and groaning as if in great pain.

"Be brave, madam I" said the Wizard, consolingly. "You
won't die just because you have cut off a finger, you may be
sure."

"But I have n't cut off a finger!" she sobbed.

"Then what has happened?" asked Dorothy.

"I — I pricked my finger with a needle while I was sewing,
and — and the blood came !" she replied. "And now I '11 have
blood-poisoning, and the doctors will cut off my finger, and
that will give me a fever and I shall die!"

"Pshaw!" said Dorothy; "I 've pricked my finger many a
time, and nothing happened."

"Really?" asked the woman, brightening and wiping her
eyes upon her apron.

"Why, it 's nothing at all," declared the girl. "You 're
more scared than hurt."

"Ah, that 's because she 's a Flutterbudget," said the

239

The Emerald City of Oz

Wizard, nodding wisely. "I think I know now what these
people are like."

"So do I," announced Dorothy.

"Oh, boo-hoo-hoo!" sobbed the woman, giving way to a
fresh burst of grief.

"What 's wrong now'?" asked the Shaggy Man.

"Oh, suppose I had pricked my foot !" she wailed. "Then
the doctors would have cut my foot off, and I 'd be lamed for
life I"

"Surely, ma'am," replied the Wizard, "and if you 'd
pricked your nose they might cut your head off. But you
see you did n't."

"But I might have I" she exclaimed, and began to cry
again. So they left her and drove away in their wagon. And
her husband came out and began calling "Help I" as he had
before; but no one seemed to pay any attention to him.

As the travelers turned into another street they found a
man walking excitedly up and down the pavement. He ap-
peared to be in a very nervous condition and the Wizard
stopped him to ask:

"Is anything wrong, sirT'

"Everything is wrong," answered the man, dismally. "I
can't sleep."

"Why not?" inquird Omby Amby.

"If I go to sleep I '11 have to shut my eyes," he explained;

240

Chapter Twenty-Three

''and if I shut my eyes they may grow together, and then I 'd
be blind for life!"

"Did you ever hear of any one's eyes growing together?"
asked Dorothy.

"No," said the man, "I never did. But it would be a
dreadful thing, would n't it? And the thought of it makes me
so nervous I 'm afraid to go to sleep."

"There 's no help for this case," declared the Wizard; and
they went on.

At the next street corner a woman rushed up to them cry-
ing:

"Save my baby! Oh, good, kind people, save my baby!"

"Is it in danger?" asked Dorothy, noticing that the child
was clasped in her arms and seemed sleeping peacefully.

"Yes, indeed," said the woman, nervously. "If I should
go into the house and throw my child out of the window, it
would roll way down to the bottom of the hill; and then if
there were a lot of tigers and bears down there, they would
tear my darling babe to pieces and eat it up!"

"Are there any tigers and bears in this neighborhood?'*
the Wizard asked.

"I 've never heard of any," admitted the woman; "but if
there were — "

"Have you any idea of throwing your baby out of the
window?" questioned the little man.

241

The Emerald City of Oz

''None at all," she said; "but if — "

"All your troubles are due to those 'ifs','' declared the
Wizard. "If you were not a Flutterbudget you would n't
worry."

"There 's another 'if'," replied the woman. "Are you
a Flutterbudget, too^"

"I will be, if I stay here long," exclaimed the Wizard,
nervously.

"Another 'if I" cried the woman.

But the Wizard did not stop to argue with her. He made
the Sawhorse canter all the way down the hill, and only
breathed easily when they were miles away from the village.

After they had ridden in silence for a while Dorothy
':urned to the little man and asked :

"Do 'ifs' really make Flutterbudgets?'

"I think the 'ifs' help," he answered seriously . "Foolish
fears, and worries over nothing, with a mixture of nerves and
ifs, will soon make a Flutterbudget of any one."

Then there was another long silence, for all the travelers
were thinking over this statement, and nearly all decided it
must be true.

The country they were now passing through was every-
where tinted purple, the prevailing color of the Gillikin
Country; but as the Sawhorse ascended a hill they found that
upon the other side everything was of a rich yellow hue.

242

Chapter Twenty-Three

"Aha I" cried the Captain General; "here is the Country
of the Winkies. We are just crossing the boundary line."

"Then we may be able to lunch with the Tin Woodman,"
announced the Wizard, joyfully.

"Must we lunch on tin?" asked Aunt Em.

"Oh, no;" replied Dorothy. "Nick Chopper knows how
to feed meat people, and he will give us plenty of good things
to eat, never fear. I 've been to his castle before."

"Is Nick Chopper the Tin Woodman's name'?" asked
Uncle Henry.

"Yes; that 's one of his names," answered the little girl;
"and another of his names is 'Emp'ror of the Winkies.' He 's
the King of this country, you know, but Ozma rules over all
the countries of Oz."

"Does the Tin Woodman keep any Flutterbudgets or
Rigmaroles at his castle*?" inquired Aunt Em, uneasily.

"No, indeed," said Dorothy, positively. "He lives in a
new tin castle, all full of lovely things."

"I should think it would rust," said Uncle Henry.

"He has thousands of Winkies to keep it polished for
him," explained the Wizard. "His people love to do any-
thing in their power for their beloved Emperor, so there is n't
a particle of rust on all the big castle."

"I suppose they polish their Emperor, too," said Aunt
Em.

243

The Emerald City of Oz

"Why, some time ago he had himself nickel-plated," the
Wizard answered; "so he only needs rubbing up once in a
while. He 's the brightest man in all the world, is dear Nick
Chopper; and the kindest-hearted."

"I helped find him," said Dorothy, reflectively. "Once
the Scarecrow and I found the Tin Woodman in the woods,
and he was just rusted still, that time, an' no mistake. But
we oiled his joints, an' got 'em good and slippery, and after
that he went with us to visit the Wizard at the Em' raid
City."

^Was that the time the Wizard scared you^" asked Aunt
Em.

"He did n't treat us well, at first," acknowledged Doro-
thy; "for he made us go away and destroy the Wicked Witch.
But after we found out he was only a humbug wizard we were
not afraid of him."

The Wizard sighed and looked a little ashamed.

"When we try to deceive people we always make mis-
takes," he said. "But I 'm getting to be a real wizard now,
and Glinda the Good's magic, that I am trying to practice,
can never harm any one."

"You were always a good man," declared Dorothy, "even
when you were a bad wizard."

"He 's a good wizard now," asserted Aunt Em, looking
at the little man admiringly. "The way he made those tents

244

Chapter Twenty-Three

grow out of handkerchiefs was just wonderful I And did n't
he enchant the wagon wheels so they 'd find the road*?"

"All the people of Oz," said the Captain General, "are
very proud of their Wizard. He once made some soap-bub-
bles that astonished the world."

The Wizard blushed at this praise, yet it pleased him.
He no longer looked sad, but seemed to have recovered his
usual good humor.

The country through which they now rode was thickly
dotted with farmhouses, and yellow grain waved in all the
fields. Many of the Winkies could be seen working on their

245

The Emerald City of Oz

farms and the wild and unsettled parts of Oz were by this
time left far behind.

These Winkies appeared to be happy, light-hearted folk,
and all removed their caps and bowed low when the red
wagon with its load of travelers passed by.

It was not long before they saw something glittering in
the sunshine far ahead.

*'See I" cried Dorothy; "that 's the Tin Castle, Aunt Em I"

And the Sawhorse, knowing his passengers were eager to
arrive, broke into a swift trot that soon brought them to their
destination.

246

(S^oarimim

THE Tin Woodman received Princess Dorothy's party with
much grace and cordiality, yet the little girl decided that
something must be worrying her old friend, because he was
not so merry as usual.

But at first she said nothing about this, for Uncle Henry
and Aunt Em were fairly bubbling over with admiration for
the beautiful tin castle and its polished tin owner. So her
suspicion that something unpleasant had happened was for
a time forgotten.

"Where is the Scarecrow"?" she asked, when they had all
been ushered into the big tin drawing-room of the castle, the
Sawhorse being led around to the tin stable in the rear.

"Why, our old friend has just moved into his new man-
sion," explained the Tin Woodman. "It has been a long
time in building, although my Winkies and many other peo-

247

The Emerald City of Oz

pie from all parts of the country have been busily working
upon it. At last, however, it is completed, and the Scare-
crow took possession of his new home just two days ago."

"I had n't heard that he wanted a home of his own," said
Dorothy. "Why does n't he live with Ozma in the Emerald
City? He used to, you know; and I thought he was happy
there."

"It seems," said the Tin Woodman, "that our dear Scare-
crow cannot be contented with city life, however beautiful
his surroundings might be. Originally he was a farmer, for
he passed his early life in a cornfield, where he was supposed
to frighten away the crows."

"I know," said Dorothy, nodding. "I found him, and
lifted him down from his pole."

"So now, after a long residence in the Emerald City, his
tastes have turned to farm life again," continued the Tin
Man. "He feels that he cannot be happy without a farm of
his ov/n, so Ozma gave him some land and every one helped
him build his mansion, and now he is settled there for good."

"Who designed his house'?" asked the Shaggy Man.

"I believe it was Jack Pumpkinhead, who is also a far-
mer," was the reply.

They were now invited to enter the tin dining room,
where luncheon was served.

Aunt Em found, to her satisfaction, that Dorothy's prom-

248

Chapter Twenty-Four

ise was more than fulfilled ; for, although the Tin Woodman
had no appetite of his own, he respected the appetites of his
guests and saw that they were bountifully fed.

They passed the afternoon in wandering through the
beautiful gardens and grounds of the palace. The walks were
all paved with sheets of tin, brightly polished, and there were
tin fountains and tin statues here and there among the trees.
The flowers were mostly natural flowers and grew in the
regular way; but their host showed them one flower bed
which was his especial pride.

''You see, all common flowers fade and die in time," he
explained, "and so there are seasons when the pretty blooms
are scarce. Therefore I decided to make one tin flower bed all
of tin flowers, and my workmen have created them with rare
skill. Here you see tin camelias, tin marigolds, tin carnations,
tin poppies and tin hollyhocks growing as naturally as if
they were real."

Indeed, they were a pretty sight, and glistened under the
sunlight like spun silver.

"Is n't this tin hollyhock going to seed'?" asked the Wiz-
ard, bending over the flowers.

"Why, I believe it is!" exclaimed the Tin Woodman, as
if surprised. "I had n't noticed that before. But I shall
plant the tin seeds and raise another bed of tin hollyhocks."

In one corner of the gardens Nick Chopper had established

249

The Emerald City of Oz

a fish-pond, in which they saw swimming and disporting
themselves many pretty tin fishes.

"Would they bite on hooks ^" asked Aunt Em, curiously.

The Tin Woodman seemed hurt at this question.

*'Madam," said he, "do you suppose I would allow any-
one to catch my beautiful fishes, even if they were foolish
enough to bite on hooks'? No, indeed I Every created thing-
is safe from harm in my domain, and I would as soon think of
killing my little friend Dorothy as killing one of my tin
fishes."

"The Emperor is very kind-hearted, ma'am," explained
the Wizard. "If a fly happens to light upon his tin body he
does n't rudely brush it off, as some people might do; he asks
it politely to find some other resting place."

"What does the fly do then'?" enquired Aunt Em.

"Usually it begs his pardon and goes away," said the
Wizard, gravely. "Flies like to be treated politely as well
as other creatures, and here in Oz they understand what we
say to them, and behave very nicely."

"Well," said Aunt Em, "the flies in Kansas, where I came
from, don't understand anything but a swat. You have to
smash 'em to make 'em behave; and it 's the same way with
'skeeters. Do you have 'skeeters in Oz'?"

"We have some very large mosquitoes here, which sing
as beautifully as song birds," replied the Tin Woodman.

250

Chapter Twenty-Four

"But they never bite or annoy our people, because they are
well fed and taken care of. The reason they bite people in
your country is because they are hungry — poor things I"

*'Yes," agreed Aunt Em; "they 're hungry, all right. An'
they ain't very particular who they feed on. I 'm glad you 've
got the 'skeeters educated in Oz."

That evening after dinner they were entertained by the
Emperor's Tin Cornet Band, which played for them several
sweet melodies. Also the Wizard did a few sleight-of-hand
tricks to amuse the company; after which they all retired to
their cosy tin bedrooms and slept soundly until morning.

After breakfast Dorothy said to the Tin Woodman :

"If you '11 tell us which way to go we '11 visit the Scare-
crow on our way home."

"I will go with you, and show you the way," replied the
Emperor; "for I must journey to-day to the Emerald City."

He looked so anxious, as he said this, that the little girl
asked :

"There is n*t anything wrong with Ozma, is there"?"

He shook his tin head.

"Not yet," said he; "but I 'm afraid the time has come
when I must tell you some very bad news, little friend."

"Oh, what is it*?" cried Dorothy.

"Do you remember the Nome Xing'?" asked the Tin
Woodman.

251

The Emerald City of Oz

"I remember him very well," she replied.

"The Nome King has not a kind heart," said the Em-
peror, sadly, "and he has been harboring wicked thoughts of
revenge, because we once defeated him and liberated his
slaves and you took away his Magic Belt. So he has or-
dered his Nomes to dig a long tunnel underneath the deadly
desert, so that he may march his hosts right into the Emerald
City. When he gets there he intends to destroy our beauti-
ful country."

Dorothy was much surprised to hear this.

"How did Ozma find out about the tunnel?" she asked.

"She saw it in her Magic Picture."

"Of course," said Dorothy; "I might have known that.
And what is she going to do?"

"I cannot tell," was the reply.

"Pooh!" cried the Yellow Hen. "We 're not afraid of
the Nomes. If we roll a few of our eggs down the tunnel
they '11 run away back home as fast as they can go."

"Why, that 's true enough I" exclaimed Dorothy. "The
Scarecrow once conquered all the Nome King's army with
some of Billina's eggs."

"But you do not understand all of the dreadful plot,"
continued the Tin Woodman. "The Nome King is clever,
and he knows his Nomes would run from eggs ; so he has bar-
gained with many terrible creatures to help him. These evil

252

Chapter Twenty-Four

spirits are not afraid of eggs or anything else, and they are
very powerful. So the Nome King will send them through
the tunnel first, to conquer and destroy, and then the Nomes
will follow after to get their share of the plunder and slaves."

They were all startled to hear this, and every face wore a
troubled look.

"Is the tunnel all ready ^" asked Dorothy.

"Ozma sent me word yesterday that the tunnel was all
completed except for a thin crust of earth at the end. When
our enemies break through this crust they will be in the gar-
dens of the royal palace, in the heart of the Emerald City. I
offered to arm all my Winkles and march to Ozma's assist-
ance; but she said no."

"I wonder why'?" asked Dorothy.

"She answered that all the inhabitants of Oz, gathered
together, were not powerful enough to fight and overcome the
evil forces of the Nome King. Therefore she refuses to fight
at all."

"But they will capture and enslave us, and plunder and
ruin all our lovely land I" exclaimed the Wizard, greatly dis-
turbed by this statement.

"I fear they will," said the Tin Woodman, sorrowfully.
"And I also fear that those who are not fairies, such as the
Wizard, and Dorothy, and her uncle and aunt, as well as

^53

The Emerald City of Oz

Toto and Billina, will be speedily put to death by the con-
querors."

"What can be done*?" asked Dorothy, shuddering a lit-
tle at the prospect of this awful fate.

^'Nothing can be done!" gloomily replied the Emperor of
the Winkies. ''But since Ozma refuses my army I will go
myself to the Emerald City. The least I may do is to perish
beside my beloved Ruler."

254

THIS amazing news had saddened every heart and all were
now anxious to return to the Emerald City and share Ozma's
fate. So they started without loss of time, and as the road
led past the Scarecrow's new mansion they determined to
make a brief halt there and confer with him.

"The Scarecrow is probably the wisest man in all Oz,"
remarked the Tin Woodman, when they had started upon
their journey. "His brains are plentiful and of excellent
quality, and often he has told me things I might never have
thought of myself. I must say I rely a good deal upon the
Scarecrow's brains in this emergency."

The Tin Woodman rode on the front seat of the wagon,
where Dorothy sat between him and the Wizard.

"Has the Scarecrow heard of Ozma's trouble?" asked the
Captain General.

255

The Emerald City of Oz

"I do not know, sir," was the reply.

"When I was a private," said Omby Amby, "I was an ex-
cellent army, as I fully proved in our war against the Nomes.
But now there is not a single private left in our army, since
Ozma made me the Captain General, so there is no one to
fight and defend our lovely Ruler."

"True," said the Wizard. "The present army is com-
posed only of officers, and the business of an officer is to order
his men to fight. Since there are no men there can be no
fighting."

"Poor Ozma!" whispered Dorothy, with tears in her sweet
eyes. "It 's dreadful to think of all her lovely fairy country
being destroyed. I wonder if we could n't manage to es-
cape and get back to Kansas by means of the Magic Belt?
And we might take Ozma with us and all work hard to get
money for her, so she would n't be so very lonely and un-
happy about the loss of her fairyland."

"Do you think there would be any work for me in Kan-
sas?" asked the Tin Woodman.

"If you are hollow, they might use you in a canning fac-
tory," suggested Uncle Henry. "But I can't see the use
of your working for a living. You never eat or sleep or need
a new suit of clothes."

"I was not thinking of myself," replied the Emperor, with

256

Chapter Twenty-Five

dignity. "I merely wondered if I could not help to support
Dorothy and Ozma."

As they indulged in these sad plans for the future they
journeyed in sight of the Scarecrow's new mansion, and even
though filled with care and worry over the impending fate
of Oz, Dorothy could not help a feeling of wonder at the
sight she saw.

The Scarecrow's new house was shaped like an immense
ear of corn. The rows of kernels were made of solid gold,
and the green upon which the ear stood upright was a mass
of sparkling emeralds. Upon the very top of the structure
was perched a figure representing the Scarecrow himself, and
upon his extended arms, as well as upon his head, were sev-
eral crows carved out of ebony and having ruby eyes. You
may imagine how big this ear of corn was when I tell you that
a single gold kernal formed a window, swinging outward
upon hinges, while a row of four kernals opened to make the
front entrance. Inside there were five stories, each story be-
ing a single room.

The gardens around the mansion consisted of cornfields,
and Dorothy acknowledged that the place was in all respects
a very appropriate home for her good friend the Scarecrow.
"He would have been very happy here, I 'm sure," she
said, ''if only the Nome King had left us alone. But if Oz
is destroyed of course this place will be destroyed too."

257

The Emerald City of Oz

*'Yes," replied the Tin Woodman, "and also my beautiful
tin castle, that has been my joy and pride."

"Jack Pumpkinhead's house will go too," remarked the
Wizard, "as well as Professor Wogglebug's Athletic College,
and Ozma's royal palace, and all our other handsome build-
ings."

"Yes, Oz will indeed become a desert when the Nome
King gets through with it," sighed Omby Amby.

The Scarecrow came out to meet them and gave them all
a hearty welcome.

"I hear you have decided always to live in the Land of
Oz, after this," he said to Dorothy; "and that will delight
my heart, for I have greatly disliked our frequent partings.
But why are you all so downcast?"

"Have you heard the news?" asked the Tin Woodman.

"No news to make me sad," replied the Scarecrow.

Then Nick Chopper told his friend of the Nome King's
tunnel, and how the evil creatures of the North had allied
themselves with the underground monarch for the purpose
of conquering and destroying Oz. "Well," said the Scare-
crow, "it certainly looks bad for Ozma, and all of us. But I
believe it is wrong to worry over anything before it happens.
It is surely time enough to be sad when our country is de-

258

Chapter Twenty-Five

spoiled and our people made slaves. So let us not deprive
ourselves of the few happy hours remaining to us."

"Ah I that is real wisdom," declared the Shaggy Man, ap-
provingly. * 'After we become really unhappy we shall re-
gret these few hours that are left to us, unless we enjoy them
to the utmost."

"Nevertheless," said the Scarecrow, "I shall go with you
to the Emerald City and offer Ozma my services."

"She says we can do nothing to oppose our enemies," an-
nounced the Tin Woodman.

"And doubtless she is right, sir," answered the Scare-
crow. "Still, she will appreciate our sympathy, and it is the
duty of Ozma's friends to stand by her side when the final
disaster occurs."

He then led them into his queer mansion and showed
them the beautiful rooms in all the five stories. The lower
room was a grand reception hall, with a hand-organ in one
corner. This instrument the Scarecrow, when alone, could
turn to amuse himself, as he was very fond of music. The
walls were hung with white silk, upon which flocks of black
crows were embroidered in black diamonds. Some of the
chairs were made in the shape of big crows and upholstered
(vith cushions of corn-colored silk.

The second story contained a fine banquet room, where
the Scarecrow might entertain his guests, and the three sto-

259

The Emerald City of Oz

ries above that were bed-chambers exquisitely furnished and
decorated.

"From these rooms," said the Scarecrow, proudly, "one
may obtain fine views of the surrounding cornfields. The
corn I grow is always husky, and I call the ears my regiments,
because they have so many kernels. Of course I cannot ride
my cobs, but I really don't care shucks about that. Taken
altogether, my farm will stack up with any in the neighbor-
hood."

The visitors partook of some light refreshment and then
hurried away to resume the road to the Emerald City. The
Scarecrow found a seat in the wagon between Omby Amby
and the Shaggy Man, and his weight did not add much to
the load because he was stuffed with straw.

"You will notice I have one oat-field on my property,"
he remarked, as they drove away. "Oat-straw is, I have
found, the best of all straws to re-stuff myself with when my
interior gets musty or out of shape."

"Are you able to re-stuff youreslf without help*?" asked
Aunt Em. "I should think that after the straw was taken
out of you there would n't be anything left but your clothes."

"You are almost correct, madam," he answered. "My
servants do the stuffing, under my direction. For my head,
in which are my excellent brains, is a bag tied at the bottom.
My face is neatly painted upon one side of the bag, as you

260

Chapter Twenty-Five

may see. My head does not need re-stuffing, as my body does,
for all that it requires is to have the face touched up with
fresh paint occasionally."

It was not far from the Scarecrow's mansion to the farm
of Jack Pumpkinhead, and when they arived there both Un-
cle Henry and Aunt Em were much impressed. The farm was
one vast pumpkin field, and some of the pumpkins were of

enormous size. In one of them, which had been neatly hol-
lowed out, Jack himself lived, and he declared that it was a
very comfortable residence. The reason he grew so many
pumpkins was in order that he might change his head as often
as it became wrinkled or threatened to spoil.

The pumpkin-headed man welcomed his visitors joyfully
and offered them several delicious pumpkin pies to eat.

261

The Emerald City of Oz

"I don't indulge in pumpkin pies myself, for two rea-
sons," he said. "One reason is that were I to eat pumpkins
I would become a cannibal, and the other reason is that I
never eat, not being hollow inside."

"Very good reasons," agreed the Scarecrow.

They told Jack Pumpkinhead the dreadful news about the
Nome King, and he decided to go with them to the Emerald
City and help comfort Ozma.

"I had expected to live here in ease and comfort for many
centuries," said Jack, dolefully; "but of course if the Nome
King destroys everything in Oz I shall be destroyed too.
Really, it seems too bad, does n't it?'

They were soon on their journey again, and so swiftly
did the Sawhorse draw the wagon over the smooth roads that
before twilight fell that had reached the royal palace in the
Emerald City, and were at their journey's end.

262

c2&r ®m

I -*

l./t

.^-■#^

TFSK

OZMA was in her rose garden picking a bouquet when the
party arrived, and she greeted all her old and new friends
as smilingly and sweetly as ever.

Dorothy's eyes were full of tears as she kissed the lovely
Ruler of Oz, and she whispered to her:

"Oh, Ozma, Ozmal I 'm so sorry!"

Ozma seemed surprised.

"Sorry for what, Dorothy T' she asked.

"For all your trouble about the Nome King," was the
reply.

Ozma laughed with genuine amusement.

"Why, that has not troubled me a bit, dear Princess," she
replied. Then, looking around at the sad faces of her friends,
she added : "Have you all been worrying about this tunnel?"

"We have!" they exclaimed in a chorus.

263

The Emerald City of Oz

"Well, perhaps it is more serious than I imagined," ad-
mitted the fair Ruler; "but I have n't given the matter much
thought. After dinner we will all meet together and talk it
over."

So they went to their rooms and prepared for dinner, and
Dorothy dressed herself in her prettiest gown and put on her
coronet, for she thought that this might be the last time she
would ever appear as a Princess of Oz.

The Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and Jack Pumpkin-
head all sat at the dinner table, although none of them was
made so he could eat. Usually they served to enliven the
meal with their merry talk, but to-night all seemed strangely
silent and uneasy.

As soon as the dinner was finished Ozma led the com-
pany to her own private room in which hung the Magic Pic-
ture. When they had seated themselves the Scarecrow was
the first to speak.

"Is the Nome King's tunnel finished, Ozma?" he asked.

"It was completed to-day," she replied. "They have built
it right under my palace grounds, and it ends in front of
the Forbidden Fountain. Nothing but a crust of earth re-
mains to separate our enemies from us, and when they march
here they will easily break through this crust and rush upon
us."

"Who will assist the Nome King?" inquired the Scare-
crow.

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Chapter Twenty-Six

''The Whimsies, the Growleywogs and the Phanfasms,"
she replied. ''I watched to-day in my Magic Picture the mes-
sengers whom the Nome King sent to all these people to sum-
mon them to assemble in his great caverns."

"Let us see what they are doing now," suggested the Tin
Woodman.

So Ozma wished to see the Nome King's cavern, and at
once the landscape faded from the Magic Picture and was
replaced by the scene then being enacted in the jeweled cav-
ern of King Roquat.

A wild and startling scene it was which the Oz people be-
held.

Before the Nome King stood the Chief of the Whimsies
and the Grand Gallipoot of the Groweywogs, surrounded
by their most skillful generals. Very fierce and powerful
they looked, so that even the Nome King and General Guph,
who stood beside his master, seemed a bit fearful in the
presence of their allies.

Now a still more formidable creature entered the cavern.
It was the First and Foremost of the Phanfasms and he
proudly sat down in King Roquat's own throne and de-
manded the right to lead his forces through the tunnel in ad-
vance of all the others. The First and Foremost now ap-
peared to all eyes in his hairy skin and the bear's head. What
his real form was even Roquat did not know.

265

The Emerald City of Oz

Through the arches leading into the vast series of cav-
erns that lay beyond the throne room of King Roquat, could
be seen ranks upon ranks of the invaders — thousands of
Phanfasms, Growleywogs and Whimsies standing in serried
lines, while behind them were massed the thousands upon
thousands of General Guph's own army of Nomes.

"Listen I" whispered Ozma. "I think we can hear what
they are saying."

So they kept still and listened.

"Is all ready?" demanded the First and Foremost,
haughtily.

"The tunnel is finally completed," replied General Guph.

"How long will it take us to march to the Emerald City'?"
asked the Grand Gallipoot of the Growleywogs.

"If we start at midnight," replied the Nome King, "we
shall arrive at the Emerald City by daybreak. Then, while
all the Oz people are sleeping, we will capture them and
make them our slaves. After that we will destroy the city
itself and march through the Land of Oz, burning and de-
vastating as we go."

"Good!" cried the First and Foremost. "When we get
through with Oz it will be a desert wilderness. Ozma shall
be my slave."

"She shall be iny slave I" shouted the Grand Gallipoot,
angrily.

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Chapter Twenty-Six

*'We '11 decide that by and by," said King Roquat, hast-
ily. "Don't let us quarrel now, friends. First let us conquer
,Oz, and then we will divide the spoils of war in a satisfac-
tory manner."

The First and Foremost smiled wickedly; but he only
said:

"I and my Phanfasms go first, for nothing on earth can
oppose our power."

They all agreed to that, knowing the Phanfasms to be the
mightiest of the combined forces. King Roquat now in-
vited them to attend a banquet he had prepared, where they
might occupy themselves in eating and drinking until mid-
night arrived.

As they had now seen and heard all of the plot against
them that they cared to, Ozma allowed her Magic Picture
to fade away. Then she turned to her friends and said :

''Our enemies will be here sooner than I expected. What
do you advise me to do?"

"It is now too late to assemble our people," said the Tin
Woodman, despondently. "If you had allowed me to arm
and drill my Winkies we might have put up a good fight
and destroyed many of our enemies before we were con-
quered."

"The Munchkins are good fighters, too," said Omby
Amby; "and so are the Gillikins."

267

TheEmerald City of Oz

"But I do not wish to fight," declared Ozma, firmly. ''No
one has the right to destroy any living creatures, however evil
they may be, or to hurt them or make them unhappy. I will
not fight — even to save my kingdom."

"The Nome King is not so particular," remarked the
Scarecrow. "He intends to destroy us all and ruin our beau-
tiful country."

"Because the Nome King intends to do evil is no excuse
for my doing the same," replied Ozma.

"Self-preservation is the first law of nature," quoted the
Shaggy Man.

"True," she said, readily. "I would like to discover a
plan to save ourselves without fighting."

That seemed a hopeless task to them, but realizing that
Ozma was determined not to fight, they tried to think of
some means that might promise escape.

"Could n't we bribe our enemies, by giving them a lot
of emeralds and gold'?" asked Jack Pumpkinhead.

"No, because they believe they are able to take every-
thing we have," replied the Ruler.

"I have thought of something," said Dorothy.

"What is it, dear'?" asked Ozma.

"Let us use the Magic Belt to wish all of us in Kansas.
We will put some emeralds in our pockets, and can sell them

268

Chapter Twenty-Six

in Topeka for enough to pay off the mortgage on Uncle Hen-
ry's farm. Then we can all live together and be happy."

"A clever ideal" exclaimed the Scarecrow.

"Kansas is a very good country. I 've been there," said
the Shaggy Man.

'That seems to me an excellent plan," approved the Tin
Woodman.

"No!" said Ozma, decidedly. "Never will I desert my
people and leave them to so cruel a fate. I will use the
Magic Belt to send the rest of you to Kansas, if you wish,
but if my beloved country must be destroyed and my people
enslaved I will remain and share their fate."

"Quite right," asserted the Scarecrow, sighing. "I will
remain with you."

"And so will I," declared the Tin Woodman and the
Shaggy Man and Jack Pumpkinhead, in turn. Tiktok, the
machine man, also said he intended to stand by Ozma. "For,"
said he, "I should be of no use at all in Kansas."

"For my part," announced Dorothy, gravely, "if the
Ruler of Oz must not desert her people, a Princess of Oz has
no right to run away, either. I 'm willing to become a slave
with the rest of you ; so all we can do with the Magic Belt is
to use it to send Uncle Henry and Aunt Em back to Kan-
sas."

"I 've been a slave all my life," Aunt Em replied, with

269

The Emerald City of Oz

considerable cheerfulness, "and so has Henry. I guess we
won't go back to Kansas, anyway. I 'd rather take my
chances with the rest of you."

Ozma smiled upon them all gratefully.

"There is no need to despair just yet," she said. "I '11 get
up early to-morrow morning and be at the Forbidden Foun-
tain when the fierce warriors break through the crust of earth.
I will speak to them pleasantly and perhaps they won't be so
very bad, after all."

"Why do they call it the Forbidden Fountain'?" asked
Dorothy, thoughtfully.

"Don't you know, dear?" returned Ozma, surprised.

"No," said Dorothy. "Of course I 've seen the foun-
tain in the palace grounds, ever since I first came to Oz;
and I 've read the sign which says : 'All Persons are Forbidden
to Drink at this Fountain.' But I never knew why they were
forbidden. The water seems clear and sparkling and it bub-
bles up in a golden basin all the time."

"That water," declared Ozma, gravely, "is the most dan-
gerous thing in all the Land of Oz. It is the Water of Ob-
ivion.

"What does that mean?" asked Dorothy.

"Whoever drinks at the Forbidden Fountain at once for-
gets everything he has ever known," Ozma asserted.

"It would n't be a bad way to forget our troubles," sug-
gested Uncle Henry.

270

Chapter Twenty-Six

"That is true; but you would forget everything else, and
become as ignorant as a baby," returned Ozma.

"Does it make one crazy*?" asked Dorothy.

*'No; it only makes one forget," replied the girl Ruler.
"It is said that once — long, long ago — a wicked King ruled

Oz, and made himself and all his people very miserable and
unhappy. So Glinda, the Good Sorceress, placed this foun-
tain here, and the King drank of its water and forgot all his
wickedness. His mind became innocent and vacant, and
when he learned the things of life again they were all good
things. But the people remembered how wicked their King

271

The Emerald City of Oz

had been, and were still afraid of him. Therefore he made
them all drink of the Water of Oblivion and forget every-
thing they had known, so that they became as simple and in-
nocent as their King. After that they all grew wise together,
and their wisdom was good, so that peace and happiness
reigned in the land. But for fear some one might drink of
the water again, and in an instant forget all he had learned,
the King put that sign upon the fountain, where it has re-
mained for many centuries up to this very day."

They had all listened intently to Ozma's story, and when
she finished speaking there was a long period of silence while
all thought upon the curious magical power of the Water of
Oblivion.

Finally the Scarecrow's painted face took on a broad
smile that stretched the cloth as far as it would go.

"How thankful I am," he said, "that I have such an ex-
cellent assortment of brains!"

"I gave you the best brains I ever mixed," declared the
Wizard, with an air of pride.

"You did, indeed!" agreed the Scarecrow, "and they
work so splendidly that they have found a way to save Oz —
to save us all!"

"I 'm glad to hear that," said the Wizard. "We never
needed saving more than we do just now."

"Do you mean to say you can save us from those awful

272

Chapter Twenty- Six

Phanfasms, and Growleywogs and Whimsies?" asked Dor-
othy eagerly.

"I 'm sure of it, my dear," asserted the Scarecrow, still
smiling genially.

"Tell us howl" cried the Tin Woodman.

"Not now," said the Scarecrow. "You may all go to bed,
and I advise you to forget your worries just as completely as
if you had drunk of the Water of Oblivion in the Forbidden
Fountain. I 'm going to stay here and tell my plan to Ozma
alone, but if you will all be at the Forbidden Fountain at
daybreak, you '11 see how easily we will save the kmgdom

273

The Emerald City of Oz

when our enemies break through the crust of earth and come
from the tunnel."

So they went away and left the Scarecrow and Ozma
alone; but Dorothy could not sleep a wink all night.

*'He is only a Scarecrow," she said to herself, "and I 'm
not sure that his mixed brains are as clever as he thinks they
are."

But she knew that if the Scarecrow's plan failed they
were all lost; so she tried to have faith in him.

274

c5^ozir-m.f^mw

THE Nome King and his terrible allies sat at the banquet
table until midnight. There was much quarreling between
the Growleywogs and Phanfasms, and one of the wee-headed
Whimsies got angry at General Guph and choked him until
he nearly stopped breathing. Yet no one was seriously hurt,
and the Nome King felt much relieved when the clock struck
twelve and they all sprang up and seized their weapons.

"Aha!" shouted the First and Foremost. "Now to con-
quer the Land of Oz!"

He marshaled his Phanfasms in battle array and at his
word of command they marched into the tunnel and began
the long journey through it to the Emerald City. The First
and Foremost intended to take all the treasures in Oz for
himself; to kill all who could be killed and enslave the rest;
to destroy and lay waste the whole country, and afterward

275

The Emerald City of Oz

to conquer and enslave the Nomes, the Growleywogs and the
Whimsies. And he knew his power was sufficient to enable
him to do all these things easily.

Next marched into the tunnel the army of gigantic Grow-
leywogs, with their Grand Gallipoot at their head. They
were dreadful beings, indeed, and longed to get to Oz that
they might begin to pilfer and destroy. The Grand Galli-
poot was a little afraid of the First and Foremost, but had a
cunning plan to murder or destroy that powerful being and
secure the wealth of Oz for himself. Mighty little of the
plunder would the Nome King get, thought the Grand
Gallipoot.

The Chief of the Whimsies now marched his false-headed
forces into the tunnel. In his wicked little head was a plot
to destroy both the First and Foremost and the Grand Galli-
poot. He intended to let them conquer Oz, since they in-
sisted on going first; but he would afterward treacherously
destroy them, as well as King Roquat, and keep all the slaves
and treasure of Ozma's kingdom for himself.

After all his dangerous allies had marched into the tunnel
the Nome King and General Guph started to follow them,
at the head of fifty thousand Nomes, all fully armed.

"Guph," said the King, "those creatures ahead of us mean
mischief. They intend to get everything for themselves and
leave us nothing."

276

Chapter Twenty-Seven

"I know," replied the General; "but they are not as clever
as they think they are. When you get the Magic Belt you
must at once wish the Whimsies and Growleywogs and Phan-
fasms all back into their own countries — and the Belt will
surely take them there."

"Good!" cried the King. "An excellent plan, Guph. I '11
do it. While they are conquering Oz I '11 get the Magic Belt,
and then only the Nomes will remain to ravage the country."

So you see there was only one thing that all were agreed
upon — that Oz should be destroyed.

On, on, on the vast ranks of invaders marched, filling the

277

The Emerald City of Oz

tunnel from side to side. With a steady tramp, tramp, they
advanced, every step taking them nearer to the beautiful
Emerald City.

"Nothing can save the Land of Oz!" thought the First
and Foremost, scowling until his bear face was as black as
the tunnel.

"The Emerald City is as good as destroyed already!"
muttered the Grand Gallipoot, shaking his war club fiercely.

"In a few hours Oz will be a desert!" said the Chief of
the Whimsies, with an evil laugh.

"My dear Guph," remarked the Nome King to his Gen-
eral, "at last my vengeance upon Ozma of Oz and her peo-
ple is about to be accomplished."

"You are right!" declared the General. "Ozma is surely
lost."

And now the First and Foremost, who was in advance
and nearing the Emerald City, began to cough and to sneeze.

"This tunnel is terribly dusty," he growled, angrily. "I '11
punish that Nome King for not having it swept clean. My
throat and eyes are getting full of dust and I 'm as thirsty
as a fish!"

The Grand Gallipoot was coughing too, and his throat
was parched and dry.

"What a dusty place!" he cried. "I '11 be glad when we
reach Oz, where we can get a drink."

278 , • - .

Chapter Twenty-Seven

"Who has any water?" asked the Whimsie Chief, gasping
and choking. But none of his followers carried a drop of
water, so he hastened on to get through the dusty tunnel to
the Land of Oz.

"Where did all this dust come from'?" demanded General
Guph, trying hard to swallow but finding his throat so dry
he could n't.

"I don't know," answered the Nome King. "I 've been
in the tunnel every day while it was being built, but I never
noticed any dust before."

"Let 's hurry!" cried the General. "I 'd give half the
gold in Oz for a drink of water."

The dust grew thicker and thicker, and the throats and
eyes and noses of the invaders were filled with it. But not
one halted or turned back. They hurried forward more fierce
and vengeful than ever.

279

TnnBflMKMll'

THE Scarecrow had no need to sleep; neither had the Tin
Woodman or Tiktok or Jack Pumpkinhead. So they all
wandered out into the palace grounds and stood beside the
sparkling water of the Forbidden Fountain until daybreak.
During this time they indulged in occasional conversation.

"Nothing could make me forget what I know," remarked
the Scarecrow, gazing into the fountain, "for I cannot drink
the Water of Oblivion or water of any kind. And I am glad
that this is so, for I consider my wisdom unexcelled."

"You are cer-tain-ly- ve-ry wise," agreed Tiktok. "For
my part, I can on-ly think by ma-chin-er-y, so I do not pre-
tend to know as much as you do."

"My tin brains are very bright, but that is all I claim for
them," §aid Nick Chopper, modestly, ^'Yet I do not aspire

3§Q

Chapter Twenty-Eight

to being very wise, for I have noticed that the happiest peo-
ple are those who do not let their brains oppress them."

"Mine never worry me," Jack Pumpkinhead acknowl-
edged. "There are many seeds of thought in my head, but
they do not sprout easily. I am glad that it is so, for if I oc-
cupied my days in thinking I should have no time for any-
thing else."

In this cheery mood they passed the hours until the first
golden streaks of dawn appeared in the sky. Then Ozma
joined them, as fresh and lovely as ever and robed in one of
her prettiest gowns.

"Our enemies have not yet arrived," said the Scarecrow,
after greeting affectionately the sweet and girlish Ruler.

"They will soon be here," she said, "for I have just
glanced at my Magic Picture, and have seen them coughing
and choking with the dust in the tunnel."

"Oh, is there dust in the tunnel?' asked the Tin Wood-
man.

"Yes; Ozma placed it there by means of the Magic Belt,"
explained the Scarecrow, with one of his broad smiles.

Then Dorothy came to them. Uncle Henry and Aunt Em
following close after her- The little girl's eyes were heavy
because she had had a sleepless and anxious night. Toto
walked by her side, but the little dog's spirits were very much
subdued. Billina, who was always up by daybreak, was not
long in joining the group by the fountain.

381

The Emerald City of Oz

The Wizard and the Shaggy Man next arrived, and soon
after appeared Omby Amby, dressed in his best uniform.

"There lies the tunnel," said Ozma, pointing to a part
of the ground just before the Forbidden Fountain, "and in a
few moments the dreadful invaders will break through the
earth and swarm over the land. Let us all stand on the other
side of the Fountain and watch to see what happens."

At once they followed her suggestion and moved around "
the fountain of the Water of Oblivion. There they stood
silent and expectant until the earth beyond gave way with a
sudden crash and up leaped the powerful form of the First
and Foremost, followed by all his grim warriors.

As the leader sprang forward his gleaming eyes caught
the play of the fountain and he rushed toward it and drank
eagerly of the sparkling water. Many of the other Phan-
fasms drank, too, in order to clear their dry and dusty throats.
Then they stood around and looked at one another with sim-
ple, wondering smiles.

The First and Foremost saw Ozma and her companions
beyond the fountain, but instead of making an effort to cap-
ture her he merely stared at her in pleased admiration of her
beauty — for he had forgotten where he was and why he had
come there.

But now the Grand Gallipoot arrived, rushing from the

282

Chapter Twenty-Eight

tunnel with a hoarse cry of mingled rage and thirst. He too
saw the fountain and hastened to drink of its forbidden
waters. The other Growleywogs were not slow to follow
suit, and even before they had finished drinking the Chief of
the Whimsies and his people came to push them away, while
they one and all cast off their false heads that they might
slake their thirst at the fountain.

When the Nome King and General Guph arrived they
both made a dash to drink, but the General was so mad with
thirst that he knocked his King over, and while Roquat lay
sprawling upon the ground the General drank heartily of
the Water of Oblivion.

This rude act of his General made the Nome King so
angry that for a moment he forgot he was thirsty and rose to
his feet to glare upon the group of terrible warriors he had
brought here to assist him. He saw Ozma and her people,
too, and yelled out :

"Why don't you capture them*? Why don't you conquer
Oz, you idiots'? Why do you stand there like a lot of
dummies'?"

But the great warriors had become like little children.
They had forgotten all their enmity against Ozma and
against Oz. They had even forgotten who they themselves
were, or why they were in this strange and beautiful coun-

283

The Emerald City of Oz

try. As for the Nome King, they did not recognize him, and
wondered who he was.

The sun came up and sent its flood of silver rays to light
the faces of the invaders. The frowns and scowls and evil
looks were all gone. Even the most monstrous of the crea-
tures there assembled smiled innocently and seemed light-
hearted and content merely to be alive.

Not so with Roquat, the Nome King. He had not drunk
from the Forbidden Fountain and all his former rage against
Ozma and Dorothy now inflamed him as fiercely as ever. The
sight of General Guph babbling like a happy child and play-
ing with his hands in the cool waters of the fountain aston-
ished and maddened Red Roquat. Seeing that his terrible
allies and his own General refused to act, the Nome King
turned to order his great army of Nomes to advance from the
tunnel and seize the helpless Oz people.

But the Scarecrow suspected what was in the King's mind
and spoke a word to the Tin Woodman. Together they ran
at Roquat and grabbing him up tossed him into the great
basin of the fountain.

The Nome King's body was round as a ball, and it bobbed
up and down in the Water of Oblivion while he spluttered
and screamed with fear lest he should drown. And when he
cried out his mouth filled with water, which ran down his

284

Chapter Twenty-Eight

throat, so that straightway he forgot all he had formerly
known just as completely as had all the other invaders.

Ozma and Dorothy could not refrain from laughing to
see their dreaded enemies become as harmless as babes. There
was no danger now that Oz would be destroyed. The only
question remaining to solve was how to get rid of this horde
of intruders.

The Shaggy Man kindly pulled the Nome King out of
the fountain and set him upon his thin legs. Roquat was
dripping wet, but he chattered and laughed and wanted to
drink more of the water. No thought of injuring any per-
son was now in his mind.

285

The Emerald City of Oz

Before he left the tunnel he had commanded his fifty
thousand Nomes to remain there until he ordered them to
advance, as he wished to give his allies time to conquer Oz
before he appeared with his own army. Ozma did not wish
all these Nomes to overrun her land, so she advanced to King
Roquat and taking his hand in her own said gently:

"Who are you*? What is your name*?"

"I don't know," he replied, smiling at her. "Who are
you, my dear*?"

"My name is Ozma," she said; "and your name is
Roquat."

"Oh, is it?" he replied, seeming pleased.

"Yes; you are King of the Nomes," she said.

"Ah; I wonder what the Nomes are!" returned the King,
as if puzzled.

"They are underground elves, and that tunnel over there
is full of them," she answered. "You have a beautiful cavern
at the other end of the tunnel, so you must go to your Nomes
and say: 'March home I' Then follow after them and in
time you will reach the pretty cavern where you live."

The Nome King was much pleased to learn this, for he
had forgotten he had a cavern. So he went to the tunnel and
said to his army: "March home!" At once the Nomes turned
and marched back through the tunnel, and the King fol-
lowed after them, laughing with delight to find his orders so
readily obeyed.

286

Chapter Twenty-Eight

The Wizard went to General Guph, who was trying to
count his fingers, and told him to follow the Nome King,
who was his master. Guph meekly obeyed, and so all the
Nomes quitted the Land of Oz forever.

But there were still the Phanfasms and Whimsies and

Growleywogs standing around in groups, and they were so
many that they filled the gardens and trampled upon the
flowers and grass because they did not know that the tender
plants would be injured by their clumsy feet. But in all
other respects they were perfectly harmless and played to-

287

The Emerald City of Oz

gether like children or gazed with pleasure upon the pretty
sights of the royal gardens.

After counseling with the Scarecrow Ozma sent Omby
Amby to the palace for the Magic Belt, and when the Cap-
tain General returned with it the Ruler of Oz at once clasped
the precious Belt around her waist.

"I wish all these strange people — the Whimsies and the
Growleywogs and the Phanfasms — safe back in their own
homes!" she said.

It all happened in a twinkling, for of course the wish was
no sooner spoken than it was granted.

All the hosts of the invaders were gone, and only the
trampled grass showed that they had ever been in the Land
of Oz.

288

oiinm wmiMi:

"THAT was better than fighting," said Ozma, when all our
friends were assembled in the palace after the exciting events
of the morning; and each and every one agreed with her.

"No one was hurt," said the Wizard, delightedly.

"And no one hurt us," added Aunt Em.

"But, best of all," said Dorothy, "the wicked people
have all forgotten their wickedness, and will not wish to hurt
any one after this.'*

"True, Princess," declared the Shaggy Man. "It seems
to me that to have reformed all those evil characters is more
important than to have saved Oz."

"Nevertheless," remarked the Scarecrow, "I am glad Oz
is saved. I can now go back to my new mansion and live
happily."

289

The Emerald City of Oz

"And I am glad and grateful that my pumpkin farm is
saved," said Jack.

"For my part," added the Tin Woodman, "I cannot ex-
press my joy that my lovely tin castle is not to be demolished
by wicked enemies."

"Still," »aid Tiktok, "o-ther en-e-mies may come to Oz
some day."

"Why do you allow your clock-work brains to interrupt
our joy?" asked Omby Amby, frowning at the machine man.

"I say what I am wound up to say," answered Tiktok.

"And you are right," declared Ozma. "I myself have
been thinking of this very idea, and it seems to me there are
entirely too many ways for people to get to the Land of Oz.
We used to think the deadly desert that surrounds us was
enough protection; but that is no longer the case. The Wiz-
ard and Dorothy have both come here through the air, and I
am told the earth people have invented airships that can fly
anywhere they wish them to go."

"Why, sometimes they do, and sometimes they don't," as-
serted Dorothy.

"But in time the airships may cause us trouble," contin-
ued Ozma, "for if the earth folk learn how to manage them
we would be overrun with visitors who would ruin our lovely,
secluded fairyland,'*

**That U txm enough,** agreed the Wmtd.

^90

Chapter Twenty-Nine

"Also the desert fails to protect us in other ways," Ozma
went on, thoughtfully. "Johnny Dooit once made a sand-
boat that sailed across it, and the Nome King made a tunnel
under it. So I believe something ought to be done to cut us
off from the rest of the world entirely, so that no one in the
future will ever be able to intrude upon us."

"How will you do that?" a^ked the Scarecrow.

"I do not know; but in some way I am sure it can be ac-
complished. To-morrow I will make a journey to the castle
of Glinda the Good, and ask her advice."

"May I go with you*?" asked Dorothy, eagerly.

"Of course, my dear Princess; and also I invite any of our
friends here who would like to undertake the journey."

They all declared they wished to accompany their girl
Ruler, for this was indeed an imporftant mission, since the
future of the Land of Oz to a great extent depended upon it.
So Ozma gave orders to her servants to prepare for the jour-
ney on the morrow.

That day she watched her Magic Picture, and when it
showed her that all the Nomes had returned through the
tunnel to their underground caverns, Ozma us«d the Magic
Belt to close up the tunnel, so that the earth underneath the
desert sands became as solid as it was before the Nomes be-
gan to dig.

Early the following morning a gay cavalcade set out to

291

The Emerald City of Oz

visit the famous !:>orceress, Glinda the Good. Ozma and
Dorothy rode in a chariot drawn by the Cowardly Lion and
the Hungry Tiger, while the Sawhorse drew the red wagon
in which rode the rest of the party.

With hearts light and free from care they traveled mer-
rily along through the lovely and fascinating Land of Oz,
and in good season reached the stately castle in which re-
sided the Sorceress.

Glinda knew ^at they were coming.

'1 have been reading about you in my Magic Book,"
she said, as she greeted them in her gracious way.

"What is your Magic Book like?" inquired Aunt Em,
curiously.

"It is a record of everything that happens," replied the
Sorceress. "As soon as an event takes place, ajnywhere in the
world, it is immediately found printed in my Magic Book.
So when I read its pages I am well informed."

"Did it tell how our enemies drank the Water of 'Bliv-
ion'?" asked Dorothy.

"Yes, my dear; it told all about it. And also it told me
you were all coming to my castle, and why."

"Then," said Ozma, "I suppose you know what is in my
mind, and that I am seeking a way to prevent any one in the
future from discovering the Land of Oz."

"Yes; I know that. And while you were on your jour-

292

^ r, t»^:«ap«»v_, J^

^:v ■■ /

F" A

)^ ->i

Chapter Twenty-Nine

ney I have thought of a way to accomplish your desire. For
it seems to me unwise to allow too many outside people to
come here. Dorothy, with her uncle and aunt, has now re-
turned to Oz to live always, and there is no reason why we
should leave any way open for others to travel uninvited to
our fairyland. Let us make it impossible for any one ever to
communicate with us in any way, after this. Then we may
live peacefully and contentedly."

"Your advice is wise," returned Ozma. "1 thank you,
Glinda, for your promise to assist me."

"But how can you do it?" asked Dorothy. "How can
you keep every one from ever finding Oz*?"

"By making our country invisible to all eyes but our
own," replied the Sorceress, smiling. "I have a magic charm
powerful enough to accomplish that wonderful feat, and now
that we have been warned of our danger by the Nome King's
invasion, I believe we must not hesitate to separate ourselves
forever from all the rest of the world."

"I agree with you," said the Ruler of Oz.

"Won't it make any difference to us*?" asked Dorothy,
doubtfully.

"No, my dear," Glinda answered, assuringly. "We shall
still be able to see each other and everything in the Land of
Oz. It won't affect us at all; but those who fly through the
air over our country will look down and see nothing at all.

293

The Emerald City of Oz

Those who come to the edge of the desert, or try to cross it,
will catch no glimpse of Oz, or know in what direction it lies.
No one will try to tunnel to us again because we cannot be
seen and therefore cannot be found. In other words, the
Land of Oz will entirely disappear from the knowledge of
the rest of the world."

"That 's all right," said Dorothy, cheerfully. "You may
make Oz invis'ble as soon as you please, for all I care."

"It is already invisible," Glinda stated. "I knew Ozma's
wishes, and performed the Magic Spell before you arrived."

Ozma seized the hand of the Sorceress and pressed it
gratefully.

"Thank you!" she said.

294

aMFTERTlEri

THE writer of these Oz stones has received a little note
from Princess Dorothy of Oz which, for a time, has made him
feel rather discontented. The note was written on a broad
white feather from a stork's wing, and it said:

''Tou will never hear anything more about Oz,
because we are now cut off forever from all the rest of
the world. But 'Toto and I will always love you and
all the other children who love us.

"Dorothy Gale."

This seemed to me too bad, at first, for Oz is a very in-
teresting fairyland. Still, we have no right to feel grieved,
for we have had enough of the history of the Land of Oz to

The Emerald City of Oz

fill six story books, and from its quaint people and their
strange adventures we have been able to learn many useful
and amusing things.

So good luck to little Dorothy and her companions. May
they live long in their invisible country and be very happy!

THL LND

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