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+**Project Gutenberg's Etext of Glinda of Oz, by L. Frank Baum**
+#14 in the L. Frank Baum's Wonderful World Of Oz Series
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+Glinda of Oz
+
+by L. Frank Baum
+
+July, 1997  [Etext #961]
+
+
+**Project Gutenberg's Etext of Glinda of Oz, by L. Frank Baum**
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+
+
+                      GLINDA OF OZ
+
+In which are related the Exciting Experiences of Princess
+   Ozma of Oz, and Dorothy, in their hazardous journey
+      to the home of the Flatheads, and to the Magic
+         Isle of the Skeezers, and how they were
+              rescued from dire peril by the
+                  sorcery of Glinda the
+                           Good
+
+                      by L. FRANK BAUM
+                   "Royal Historian of Oz"
+
+
+This Book
+is Dedicated to
+My Son
+Robert Stanton Baum
+
+
+
+LIST OF CHAPTERS
+ 1  The Call of Duty
+ 2  Ozma and Dorothy
+ 3  The Mist Maidens
+ 4  The Magic Tent
+ 5  The Magic Stairway
+ 6  Flathead Mountain
+ 7  The Magic Isle
+ 8  Queen Coo-ee-oh
+ 9  Lady Aurex
+10  Under Water
+11  The Conquest of the Skeezers
+12  The Diamond Swan
+13  The Alarm Bell
+14  Ozma's Counsellors
+15  The Great Sorceress
+16  The Enchanted Fishes
+17  Under the Great Dome
+18  The Cleverness of Ervic
+19  Red Reera, the Yookoohoo..
+20  A Puzzling Problem
+21  The Three Adepts
+22  The Sunken Island
+23  The Magic Words
+24  Glinda's Triumph
+
+
+
+
+
+Chapter One
+
+The Call to Duty
+
+
+Glinda, the good Sorceress of Oz, sat in the grand
+court of her palace, surrounded by her maids of honor
+-- a hundred of the most beautiful girls of the
+Fairyland of Oz. The palace court was built of rare
+marbles, exquisitely polished. Fountains tinkled
+musically here and there; the vast colonnade, open to
+the south, allowed the maidens, as they raised their
+heads from their embroideries, to gaze upon a vista of
+rose-hued fields and groves of trees bearing fruits or
+laden with sweet-scented flowers. At times one of the
+girls would start a song, the others joining in the
+chorus, or one would rise and dance, gracefully swaying
+to the music of a harp played by a companion. And then
+Glinda smiled, glad to see her maids mixing play with
+work.
+
+Presently among the fields an object was seen moving,
+threading the broad path that led to the castle gate.
+Some of the girls looked upon this object enviously;
+the Sorceress merely gave it a glance and nodded her
+stately head as if pleased, for it meant the coming of
+her friend and mistress -- the only one in all the land
+that Glinda bowed to.
+
+Then up the path trotted a wooden animal attached to
+a red wagon, and as the quaint steed halted at the gate
+there descended from the wagon two young girls, Ozma,
+Ruler of Oz, and her companion, Princess Dorothy. Both
+were dressed in simple white muslin gowns, and as they
+ran up the marble steps of the palace they laughed and
+chatted as gaily as if they were not the most important
+persons in the world's loveliest fairyland.
+
+The maids of honor had risen and stood with bowed
+heads to greet the royal Ozma, while Glinda came
+forward with outstretched arms to greet her guests.
+
+"We've just come on a visit, you know," said Ozma.
+"Both Dorothy and I were wondering how we should pass
+the day when we happened to think we'd not been to your
+Quadling Country for weeks, so we took the Sawhorse and
+rode straight here."
+
+"And we came so fast," added Dorothy, "that our hair
+is blown all fuzzy, for the Sawhorse makes a wind of
+his own. Usually it's a day's journey from the Em'rald
+City, but I don't s'pose we were two hours on the way."
+
+"You are most welcome," said Glinda the Sorceress,
+and led them through the court to her magnificent
+reception hall. Ozma took the arm of her hostess, but
+Dorothy lagged behind, kissing some of the maids she
+knew best, talking with others, and making them all
+feel that she was their friend. When at last she joined
+Glinda and Ozma in the reception hall, she found them
+talking earnestly about the condition of the people,
+and how to make them more happy and contented --
+although they were already the happiest and most
+contented folks in all the world.
+
+This interested Ozma, of course, but it didn't
+interest Dorothy very much, so the little girl ran over
+to a big table on which was lying open Glinda's Great
+Book of Records.
+
+This Book is one of the greatest treasures in Oz, and
+the Sorceress prizes it more highly than any of her
+magical possessions. That is the reason it is firmly
+attached to the big marble table by means of golden
+chains, and whenever Glinda leaves home she locks the
+Great Book together with five jeweled padlocks, and
+carries the keys safely hidden in her bosom.
+
+I do not suppose there is any magical thing in any
+fairyland to compare with the Record Book, on the pages
+of which are constantly being printed a record of every
+event that happens in any part of the world, at exactly
+the moment it happens.  And the records are always
+truthful, although sometimes they do not give as many
+details as one could wish. But then, lots of things
+happen, and so the records have to be brief or even
+Glinda's Great Book could not hold them all.
+
+Glinda looked at the records several times each day,
+and Dorothy, whenever she visited the Sorceress, loved
+to look in the Book and see what was happening
+everywhere. Not much was recorded about the Land of Oz,
+which is usually peaceful and uneventful, but today
+Dorothy found something which interested her. Indeed,
+the printed letters were appearing on the page even
+while she looked.
+
+"This is funny!" she exclaimed. "Did you know,
+Ozma, that there were people in your Land of Oz
+called Skeezers?"
+
+"Yes," replied Ozma, coming to her side, "I know that
+on Professor Wogglebug's Map of the Land of Oz there is
+a place marked 'Skeezer,' but what the Skeezers are
+like I do not know. No one I know has ever seen them or
+heard of them. The Skeezer Country is 'way at the upper
+edge of the Gillikin Country, with the sandy,
+impassable desert on one side and the mountains of
+Oogaboo on another side. That is a part of the Land of
+Oz of which I know very little."
+
+"I guess no one else knows much about it either,
+unless it's the Skeezers themselves," remarked Dorothy.
+"But the Book says: 'The Skeezers of Oz have declared
+war on the Flatheads of Oz, and there is likely to be
+fighting and much trouble as the result.'"
+
+"Is that all the Book says?" asked Ozma.
+
+"Every word," said Dorothy, and Ozma and Glinda both
+looked at the Record and seemed surprised and
+perplexed.
+
+"Tell me, Glinda," said Ozma, "who are the
+Flatheads?"
+
+"I cannot, your Majesty," confessed the Sorceress.
+"Until now I never have heard of them, nor have I ever
+heard the Skeezers mentioned. In the faraway corners of
+Oz are hidden many curious tribes of people, and those
+who never leave their own countries and never are
+visited by those from our favored part of Oz, naturally
+are unknown to me. However, if you so desire, I can
+learn through my arts of sorcery something of the
+Skeezers and the Flatheads."
+
+"I wish you would," answered Ozma seriously. "You
+see, Glinda, if these are Oz people they are my
+subjects and I cannot allow any wars or troubles in the
+Land I rule, if I can possibly help it."
+
+"Very well, your Majesty," said the Sorceress, "I
+will try to get some information to guide you. Please
+excuse me for a time, while I retire to my Room of
+Magic and Sorcery."
+
+"May I go with you?" asked Dorothy, eagerly.
+
+"No, Princess," was the reply. "It would spoil the
+charm to have anyone present."
+
+So Glinda locked herself in her own Room of Magic and
+Dorothy and Ozma waited patiently for her to come out
+again.
+
+In about an hour Glinda appeared, looking grave and
+thoughtful.
+
+"Your Majesty," she said to Ozma, "the Skeezers live
+on a Magic Isle in a great lake. For that reason --
+because the Skeezers deal in magic -- I can learn
+little about them."
+
+"Why, I didn't know there was a lake in that part of
+Oz," exclaimed Ozma. "The map shows a river running
+through the Skeezer Country, but no lake."
+
+"That is because the person who made the map never
+had visited that part of the country," explained the
+Sorceress. "The lake surely is there, and in the lake
+is an island -- a Magic Isle -- and on that island live
+the people called the Skeezers."
+
+"What are they like?" inquired the Ruler of Oz.
+
+"My magic cannot tell me that," confessed Glinda,
+"for the magic of the Skeezers prevents anyone outside
+of their domain knowing anything about them."
+
+"The Flatheads must know, if they're going to fight
+the Skeezers," suggested Dorothy
+
+"Perhaps so," Glinda replied, "but I can get little
+information concerning the Flatheads, either. They are
+people who inhabit a mountain just south of the Lake of
+the Skeezers. The mountain has steep sides and a broad,
+hollow top, like a basin, and in this basin the
+Flatheads have their dwellings. They also are magic-
+workers and usually keep to themselves and allow no one
+from outside to visit them. I have learned that the
+Flatheads number about one hundred people -- men, women
+and children -- while the Skeezers number just one
+hundred and one."
+
+"What did they quarrel about, and why do they wish to
+fight one another?" was Ozma's next question.
+
+"I cannot tell your Majesty that," said Glinda.
+
+"But see here!" cried Dorothy, "it's against the law
+for anyone but Glinda and the Wizard to work magic in
+the Land of Oz, so if these two strange people are
+magic-makers they are breaking the law and ought to be
+punished!" Ozma smiled upon her little friend.
+
+"Those who do not know me or my laws," she said,
+"cannot be expected to obey my laws. If we know nothing
+of the Skeezers or the Flatheads, it is likely that
+they know nothing of us."
+
+"But they ought to know, Ozma, and we ought to know.
+Who's going to tell them, and how are we going to make
+them behave?"
+
+"That," returned Ozma, "is what I am now considering.
+What would you advise, Glinda?"
+
+The Sorceress took a little time to consider this
+question, before she made reply. Then she said: "Had
+you not learned of the existence of the Flatheads and
+the Skeezers, through my Book of Records, you would
+never have worried about them or their quarrels. So, if
+you pay no attention to these peoples, you may never
+hear of them again."
+
+"But that wouldn't be right," declared Ozma. "I am
+Ruler of all the Land of Oz, which includes the
+Gillikin Country, the Quadling Country, the Winkie
+Country and the Munchkin Country, as well as the
+Emerald City, and being the Princess of this fairyland
+it is my duty to make all my people -- wherever they
+may be -- happy and content and to settle their
+disputes and keep them from quarreling. So, while the
+Skeezers and Flatheads may not know me or that I am
+their lawful Ruler, I now know that they inhabit my
+kingdom and are my subjects, so I would not be doing my
+duty if I kept away from them and allowed them to
+fight."
+
+"That's  a  fact,  Ozma,"  commented  Dorothy.
+"You've got to go up to the Gillikin Country and make
+these people behave themselves and make up their
+quarrels. But how are you going to do it?"
+
+"That is what is puzzling me also, your Majesty,"
+said the Sorceress. "It may be dangerous for you to go
+into those strange countries, where the people are
+possibly fierce and warlike."
+
+"I am not afraid," said Ozma, with a smile.
+
+"'Tisn't a question of being 'fraid," argued Dorothy.
+"Of course we know you're a fairy, and can't be killed
+or hurt, and we know you've a lot of magic of your own
+to help you. But, Ozma dear, in spite of all this
+you've been in trouble before, on account of wicked
+enemies, and it isn't right for the Ruler of all Oz to
+put herself in danger."
+
+"Perhaps I shall be in no danger at all," returned
+Ozma, with a little laugh. "You mustn't imagine danger,
+Dorothy, for one should only imagine nice things, and
+we do not know that the Skeezers and Flatheads are
+wicked people or my enemies. Perhaps they would be good
+and listen to reason."
+
+"Dorothy is right, your Majesty," asserted the
+Sorceress. "It is true we know nothing of these faraway
+subjects, except that they intend to fight one another,
+and have a certain amount of magic power at their
+command. Such folks do not like to submit to
+interference and they are more likely to resent your
+coming among them than to receive you kindly and
+graciously, as is your due."
+
+"If you had an army to take with you," added Dorothy,
+"it wouldn't be so bad; but there isn't such a thing as
+an army in all Oz."
+
+"I have one soldier," said Ozma.
+
+"Yes, the soldier with the green whiskers; but he's
+dreadful 'fraid of his gun and never loads it. I'm sure
+he'd run rather than fight. And one soldier, even if he
+were brave, couldn't do much against two hundred and
+one Flatheads and Skeezers."
+
+"What then, my friends, would you suggest?" inquired
+Ozma.
+
+"I advise you to send the Wizard of Oz to them, and
+let him inform them that it is against the laws of Oz
+to fight, and that you command them to settle their
+differences and become friends," proposed Glinda. "Let
+the Wizard tell them they will be punished if they
+refuse to obey the commands of the Princess of all the
+Land of Oz."
+
+Ozma shook her head, to indicate that the advice was
+not to her satisfaction.
+
+"If they refuse, what then?" she asked. "I should be
+obliged to carry out my threat and punish them, and
+that would be an unpleasant and difficult thing to do.
+I am sure it would be better for me to go peacefully,
+without an army and armed only with my authority as
+Ruler, and plead with them to obey me. Then, if they
+prove obstinate I could resort to other means to win
+their obedience."
+
+"It's a ticklish thing, anyhow you look at it,"
+sighed Dorothy. "I'm sorry now that I noticed the
+Record in the Great Book."
+
+"But can't you realize, my dear, that I must do my
+duty, now that I am aware of this trouble?" asked Ozma.
+"I am fully determined to go at once to the Magic Isle
+of the Skeezers and to the enchanted mountain of the
+Flatheads, and prevent war and strife between their
+inhabitants. The only question to decide is whether it
+is better for me to go alone, or to assemble a party of
+my friends and loyal supporters to accompany me."
+
+"If you go I want to go, too," declared Dorothy.
+"Whatever happens it's going to be fun -- 'cause all
+excitement is fun -- and I wouldn't miss it for the
+world!"
+
+Neither Ozma nor Glinda paid any attention to this
+statement, for they were gravely considering the
+serious aspect of this proposed adventure.
+
+"There are plenty of friends who would like to go
+with you," said the Sorceress, "but none of them would
+afford your Majesty any protection in case you were in
+danger. You are yourself the most powerful fairy in Oz,
+although both I and the Wizard have more varied arts of
+magic at our command. However, you have one art that no
+other in all the world can equal -- the art of winning
+hearts and making people love to bow to your gracious
+presence. For that reason I believe you can accomplish
+more good alone than with a large number of subjects in
+your train."
+
+"I believe that also," agreed the Princess. "I shall
+be quite able to take care of myself, you know, but
+might not be able to protect others so well. I do not
+look for opposition, however. I shall speak to these
+people in kindly words and settle their dispute --
+whatever it may be -- in a just manner."
+
+"Aren't you going to take me?" pleaded Dorothy.
+"You'll need some companion, Ozma."
+
+The Princess smiled upon her little friend.
+
+"I see no reason why you should not accompany me,"
+was her reply. "Two girls are not very warlike and they
+will not suspect us of being on any errand but a kindly
+and peaceful one. But, in order to prevent war and
+strife between these angry peoples, we must go to them
+at once. Let us return immediately to the Emerald City
+and prepare to start on our journey early tomorrow
+morning."
+
+Glinda was not quite satisfied with this plan, but
+could not think of any better way to meet the problem.
+She knew that Ozma, with all her gentleness and sweet
+disposition, was accustomed to abide by any decision
+she had made and could not easily be turned from her
+purpose. Moreover she could see no great danger to the
+fairy Ruler of Oz in the undertaking, even though the
+unknown people she was to visit proved obstinate. But
+Dorothy was not a fairy; she was a little girl who had
+come from Kansas to live in the Land of Oz. Dorothy
+might encounter dangers that to Ozma would be as
+nothing but to an "Earth child" would be very serious.
+
+The very fact that Dorothy lived in Oz, and had been
+made a Princess by her friend Ozma, prevented her from
+being killed or suffering any great bodily pain as long
+as she lived in that fairyland. She could not grow big,
+either, and would always remain the same little girl
+who had come to Oz, unless in some way she left that
+fairyland or was spirited away from it. But Dorothy was
+a mortal, nevertheless, and might possibly be
+destroyed, or hidden where none of her friends could
+ever find her. She could, for instance be cut into
+pieces, and the pieces, while still alive and free from
+pain, could be widely scattered; or she might be buried
+deep underground or "destroyed" in other ways by evil
+magicians, were she not properly protected. These facts
+Glinda was considering while she paced with stately
+tread her marble hall.
+
+Finally the good Sorceress paused and drew a ring
+from her finger, handing it to Dorothy.
+
+"Wear this ring constantly until your return," she
+said to the girl. "If serious danger threatens you,
+turn the ring around on your finger once to the right
+and another turn to the left. That will ring the alarm
+bell in my palace and I will at once come to your
+rescue. But do not use the ring unless you are actually
+in danger of destruction. While you remain with
+Princess Ozma I believe she will be able to protect you
+from all lesser ills."
+
+"Thank you, Glinda," responded Dorothy gratefully, as
+she placed the ring on her finger. "I'm going to wear
+my Magic Belt which I took from the Nome King, too, so
+I guess I'll be safe from anything the Skeezers and
+Flatheads try to do to me."
+
+Ozma had many arrangements to make before she could
+leave her throne and her palace in the Emerald City,
+even for a trip of a few days, so she bade goodbye to
+Glinda and with Dorothy climbed into the Red Wagon. A
+word to the wooden Sawhorse started that astonishing
+creature on the return journey, and so swiftly did he
+run that Dorothy was unable to talk or do anything but
+hold tight to her seat all the way back to the Emerald
+City.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Two
+
+Ozma and Dorothy
+
+
+
+Residing in Ozma's palace at this time was a live
+Scarecrow, a most remarkable and intelligent creature
+who had once ruled the Land of Oz for a brief period
+and was much loved and respected by all the people.
+Once a Munchkin farmer had stuffed an old suit of
+clothes with straw and put stuffed boots on the feet
+and used a pair of stuffed cotton gloves for hands. The
+head of the Scarecrow was a stuffed sack fastened to
+the body, with eyes, nose, mouth and ears painted on
+the sack. When a hat had been put on the head, the
+thing was a good imitation of a man. The farmer placed
+the Scarecrow on a pole in his cornfield and it came to
+life in a curious manner. Dorothy, who was passing by
+the field, was hailed by the live Scarecrow and lifted
+him off his pole. He then went with her to the Emerald
+City, where the Wizard of Oz gave him some excellent
+brains, and the Scarecrow soon became an important
+personage.
+
+Ozma considered the Scarecrow one of her best friends
+and most loyal subjects, so the morning after her visit
+to Glinda she asked him to take her place as Ruler of
+the Land of Oz while she was absent on a journey, and
+the Scarecrow at once consented without asking any
+questions.
+
+Ozma had warned Dorothy to keep their journey a
+secret and say nothing to anyone about the Skeezers and
+Flatheads until their return, and Dorothy promised to
+obey. She longed to tell her girl friends, tiny Trot
+and Betsy Bobbin, of the adventure they were
+undertaking, but refrained from saying a word on the
+subject although both these girls lived with her in
+Ozma's palace.
+
+Indeed, only Glinda the Sorceress knew they were
+going, until after they had gone, and even the
+Sorceress didn't know what their errand might be.
+
+Princess Ozma took the Sawhorse and the Red Wagon,
+although she was not sure there was a wagon road all
+the way to the Lake of the Skeezers. The Land of Oz is
+a pretty big place, surrounded on all sides by a Deadly
+Desert which it is impossible to cross, and the Skeezer
+Country, according to the map, was in the farthest
+northwestern part of Oz, bordering on the north desert.
+As the Emerald City was exactly in the center of Oz, it
+was no small journey from there to the Skeezers.
+
+Around the Emerald City the country is thickly
+settled in every direction, but the farther away you
+get from the city the fewer people there are, until
+those parts that border on the desert have small
+populations. Also those faraway sections are little
+known to the Oz people, except in the south, where
+Glinda lives and where Dorothy has often wandered on
+trips of exploration.
+
+The least known of all is the Gillikin Country, which
+harbors many strange bands of people among its
+mountains and valleys and forests and streams, and Ozma
+was now bound for the most distant part of the Gillikin
+Country.
+
+"I am really sorry," said Ozma to Dorothy, as they
+rode away in the Red Wagon, "not to know more about the
+wonderful Land I rule. It is my duty to be acquainted
+with every tribe of people and every strange and hidden
+country in all Oz, but I am kept so busy at my palace
+making laws and planning for the comforts of those who
+live near the Emerald City, that I do not often find
+time to make long journeys."
+
+"Well," replied Dorothy, "we'll prob'bly find out a
+lot on this trip, and we'll learn all about the
+Skeezers and Flatheads, anyhow. Time doesn't make much
+diff'rence in the Land of Oz, 'cause we don't grow up,
+or get old, or become sick and die, as they do other
+places; so, if we explore one place at a time, we'll
+by-an'-by know all about every nook and corner in Oz."
+
+Dorothy wore around her waist the Nome King's Magic
+Belt, which protected her from harm, and the Magic Ring
+which Glinda had given her was on her finger. Ozma had
+merely slipped a small silver wand into the bosom of
+her gown, for fairies do not use chemicals and herbs
+and the tools of wizards and sorcerers to perform their
+magic. The Silver Wand was Ozma's one weapon of offense
+and defense and by its use she could accomplish many
+things.
+
+They had left the Emerald City just at sunrise and
+the Sawhorse traveled very swiftly over the roads
+towards the north, but in a few hours the wooden animal
+had to slacken his pace because the farm houses had
+become few and far between and often there were no
+paths at all in the direction they wished to follow. At
+such times they crossed the fields, avoiding groups of
+trees and fording the streams and rivulets whenever
+they came to them. But finally they reached a broad
+hillside closely covered with scrubby brush, through
+which the wagon could not pass.
+
+"It will be difficult even for you and me to get
+through without tearing our dresses," said Ozma, "so we
+must leave the Sawhorse and the Wagon here until our
+return."
+
+"That's all right," Dorothy replied, "I'm tired
+riding, anyhow. Do you s'pose, Ozma, we're anywhere
+near the Skeezer Country?"
+
+"I cannot tell, Dorothy dear, but I know we've been
+going in the right direction, so we are sure to find it
+in time."
+
+The scrubby brush was almost like a grove of small
+trees, for it reached as high as the heads of the two
+girls, neither of whom was very tall. They were obliged
+to thread their way in and out, until Dorothy was
+afraid they would get lost, and finally they were
+halted by a curious thing that barred their further
+progress. It was a huge web -- as if woven by gigantic
+spiders -- and the delicate, lacy film was fastened
+stoutly to the branches of the bushes and continued to
+the right and left in the form of a half circle. The
+threads of this web were of a brilliant purple color
+and woven into numerous artistic patterns, but it
+reached from the ground to branches above the heads of
+the girls and formed a sort of fence that hedged them
+in.
+
+"It doesn't look very strong, though," said Dorothy.
+"I wonder if we couldn't break through." She tried but
+found the web stronger than it seemed. All her efforts
+could not break a single thread.
+
+"We must go back, I think, and try to get around this
+peculiar web," Ozma decided.
+
+So they turned to the right and, following the web
+found that it seemed to spread in a regular circle. On
+and on they went until finally Ozma said they had
+returned to the exact spot from which they had started.
+"Here is a handkerchief you dropped when we were here
+before," she said to Dorothy.
+
+"In that case, they must have built the web behind
+us, after we walked into the trap," exclaimed the
+little girl.
+
+"True," agreed Ozma, "an enemy has tried to imprison
+us."
+
+"And they did it, too," said Dorothy. "I wonder who
+it was."
+
+"It's a spider-web, I'm quite sure," returned Ozma,
+"but it must be the work of enormous spiders."
+
+"Quite right!" cried a voice behind them. Turning
+quickly around they beheld a huge purple spider sitting
+not two yards away and regarding them with its small
+bright eyes.
+
+Then there crawled from the bushes a dozen more great
+purple spiders, which saluted the first one and said:
+
+"The web is finished, O King, and the strangers are
+our prisoners."
+
+Dorothy did not like the looks of these spiders at
+all. They had big heads, sharp claws, small eyes and
+fuzzy hair all over their purple bodies.
+
+"They look wicked," she whispered to Ozma. "What
+shall we do?"
+
+Ozma gazed upon the spiders with a serious face.
+
+"What is your object in making us prisoners?" she
+inquired.
+
+"We need someone to keep house for us," answered the
+Spider King. "There is sweeping and dusting to be done,
+and polishing and washing of dishes, and that is work
+my people dislike to do. So we decided that if any
+strangers came our way we would capture them and make
+them our servants."
+
+"I am Princess Ozma, Ruler of all Oz," said the girl
+with dignity.
+
+"Well, I am King of all Spiders," was the reply, "and
+that makes me your master. Come with me to my palace
+and I will instruct you in your work."
+
+"I won't," said Dorothy indignantly. "We won't have
+anything to do with you."
+
+"We'll see about that," returned the Spider in a
+severe tone, and the next instant he made a dive
+straight at Dorothy, opening the claws in his legs as
+if to grab and pinch her with the sharp points. But the
+girl was wearing her Magic Belt and was not harmed. The
+Spider King could not even touch her. He turned swiftly
+and made a dash at Ozma, but she held her Magic Wand
+over his head and the monster recoiled as if it had
+been struck.
+
+"You'd better let us go," Dorothy advised him, "for
+you see you can't hurt us."
+
+"So I see," returned the Spider King angrily. "Your
+magic is greater than mine. But I'll not help you to
+escape. If you can break the magic web my people have
+woven you may go; if not you must stay here and
+starve." With that the Spider King uttered a peculiar
+whistle and all the spiders disappeared.
+
+"There is more magic in my fairyland than I dreamed
+of," remarked the beautiful Ozma, with a sigh of regret.
+"It seems that my laws have not been obeyed, for even
+these monstrous spiders defy me by means of Magic."
+
+"Never mind that now," said Dorothy; "let's see what
+we can do to get out of this trap."
+
+They now examined the web with great care and were
+amazed at its strength. Although finer than the finest
+silken hairs, it resisted all their efforts to work
+through, even though both girls threw all their weight
+against it.
+
+"We must find some instrument which will cut the
+threads of the web," said Ozma, finally. "Let us look
+about for such a tool."
+
+So they wandered among the bushes and finally came to
+a shallow pool of water, formed by a small bubbling
+spring. Dorothy stooped to get a drink and discovered
+in the water a green crab, about as big as her hand.
+The crab had two big, sharp claws, and as soon as
+Dorothy saw them she had an idea that those claws could
+save them.
+
+"Come out of the water," she called to the crab; "I
+want to talk to you."
+
+Rather lazily the crab rose to the surface and caught
+hold of a bit of rock. With his head above the water he
+said in a cross voice:
+
+"What do you want?"
+
+"We want you to cut the web of the purple spiders
+with your claws, so we can get through it," answered
+Dorothy. "You can do that, can't you?"
+
+"I suppose so," replied the crab. "But if I do what
+will you give me?"
+
+"What do you wish?" Ozma inquired.
+
+"I wish to be white, instead of green," said the
+crab. "Green crabs are very common, and white ones are
+rare; besides the purple spiders, which infest this
+hillside, are afraid of white crabs. Could you make me
+white if I should agree to cut the web for you?"
+
+"Yes," said Ozma, "I can do that easily. And, so you
+may know I am speaking the truth, I will change your
+color now."
+
+She waved her silver wand over the pool and the crab
+instantly became snow-white -- all except his eyes,
+which remained black. The creature saw his reflection
+in the water and was so delighted that he at once
+climbed out of the pool and began moving slowly toward
+the web, by backing away from the pool. He moved so
+very slowly that Dorothy cried out impatiently: "Dear
+me, this will never do!" Caching the crab in her hands
+she ran with him to the web.
+
+She had to hold him up even then, so he could reach
+with his claws strand after strand of the filmy purple
+web, which he was able to sever with one nip.
+
+When enough of the web had been cut to allow them to
+pass, Dorothy ran back to the pool and placed the white
+crab in the water, after which she rejoined Ozma. They
+were just in time to escape through the web, for
+several of the purple spiders now appeared, having
+discovered that their web had been cut, and had the
+girls not rushed through the opening the spiders would
+have quickly repaired the cuts and again imprisoned
+them.
+
+Ozma and Dorothy ran as fast as they could and
+although the angry spiders threw a number of strands of
+web after them, hoping to lasso them or entangle them
+in the coils, they managed to escape and clamber to the
+top of the hill.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Three
+
+The Mist Maidens
+
+
+
+From the top of the hill Ozma and Dorothy looked down
+into the valley beyond and were surprised to find it
+filled with a floating mist that was as dense as smoke.
+Nothing in the valley was visible except these rolling
+waves of mist, but beyond, on the other side, rose a
+grassy hill that appeared quite beautiful.
+
+"Well," said Dorothy, "what are we to do, Ozma? Walk
+down into that thick fog, an' prob'bly get lost in it,
+or wait till it clears away?"
+
+"I'm not sure it will clear away, however long we
+wait," replied Ozma, doubtfully. "If we wish to get on,
+I think we must venture into the mist."
+
+"But we can't see where we're going, or what we're
+stepping on," protested Dorothy.  "There may be
+dreadful things mixed up in that fog, an' I'm scared
+just to think of wading into it."
+
+Even Ozma seemed to hesitate. She was silent and
+thoughtful for a little while, looking at the rolling
+drifts that were so gray and forbidding. Finally she
+said:
+
+"I believe this is a Mist Valley, where these moist
+clouds always remain, for even the sunshine above does
+not drive them away. Therefore the Mist Maids must live
+here, and they are fairies and should answer my call."
+
+She placed her two hands before her mouth, forming a
+hollow with them, and uttered a clear, thrilling, bird-
+like cry. It floated far out over the mist waves and
+presently was answered by a similar sound, as of a far-
+off echo.
+
+Dorothy was much impressed. She had seen many strange
+things since coming to this fairy country, but here was
+a new experience. At ordinary times Ozma was just like
+any little girl one might chance to meet -- simple,
+merry, lovable as could be -- yet with a certain
+reserve that lent her dignity in her most joyous moods.
+There were times, however, when seated on her throne
+and commanding her subjects, or when her fairy powers
+were called into use, when Dorothy and all others about
+her stood in awe of their lovely girl Ruler and
+realized her superiority.
+
+Ozma waited. Presently out from the billows rose
+beautiful forms, clothed in fleecy, trailing garments
+of gray that could scarcely be distinguished from the
+mist. Their hair was mist-color, too; only their
+gleaming arms and sweet, pallid faces proved they were
+living, intelligent creatures answering the call of a
+sister fairy.
+
+Like sea nymphs they rested on the bosom of the
+clouds, their eyes turned questioningly upon the two
+girls who stood upon the bank. One came quite near and
+to her Ozma said:
+
+"Will you please take us to the opposite hillside? We
+are afraid to venture into the mist. I am Princess Ozma
+of Oz, and this is my friend Dorothy, a Princess of
+Oz."
+
+The Mist Maids came nearer, holding out their arms.
+Without hesitation Ozma advanced and allowed them to
+embrace her and Dorothy plucked up courage to follow.
+Very gently the Mist Maids held them. Dorothy thought
+the arms were cold and misty -- they didn't seem real
+at all -- yet they supported the two girls above the
+surface of the billows and floated with them so swiftly
+to the green hillside opposite that the girls were
+astonished to find themselves set upon the grass before
+they realized they had fairly started.
+
+"Thank you!" said Ozma gratefully, and Dorothy also
+added her thanks for the service.
+
+The Mist Maids made no answer, but they smiled and
+waved their hands in good-bye as again they floated out
+into the mist and disappeared from view.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Four
+
+The Magic Tent
+
+
+"Well," said Dorothy with a laugh, "that was easier
+than I expected. It's worth while, sometimes, to be a
+real fairy. But I wouldn't like to be that kind, and
+live in a dreadful fog all the time."
+
+They now climbed the bank and found before them a
+delightful plain that spread for miles in all
+directions. Fragrant wild flowers were scattered
+throughout the grass; there were bushes bearing lovely
+blossoms and luscious fruits; now and then a group of
+stately trees added to the beauty of the landscape. But
+there were no dwellings or signs of life.
+
+The farther side of the plain was bordered by a row
+of palms, and just in front of the palms rose a queerly
+shaped hill that towered above the plain like a
+mountain. The sides of this hill were straight up and
+down; it was oblong in shape and the top seemed flat
+and level.
+
+"Oh, ho!" cried Dorothy; "I'll bet that's the
+mountain Glinda told us of, where the Flatheads live."
+
+"If it is," replied Ozma, "the Lake of the Skeezers
+must be just beyond the line of palm trees. Can you
+walk that far, Dorothy?"
+
+"Of course, in time," was the prompt answer. "I'm
+sorry we had to leave the Sawhorse and the Red Wagon
+behind us, for they'd come in handy just now; but with
+the end of our journey in sight a tramp across these
+pretty green fields won't tire us a bit."
+
+It was a longer tramp than they suspected, however,
+and night overtook them before they could reach the
+flat mountain. So Ozma proposed they camp for the night
+and Dorothy was quite ready to approve. She didn't like
+to admit to her friend she was tired, but she told
+herself that her legs "had prickers in 'em," meaning
+they had begun to ache.
+
+Usually when Dorothy started on a journey of
+exploration or adventure, she carried with her a basket
+of food, and other things that a traveler in a strange
+country might require, but to go away with Ozma was
+quite a different thing, as experience had taught her.
+The fairy Ruler of Oz only needed her silver wand --
+tipped at one end with a great sparkling emerald -- to
+provide through its magic all that they might need.
+Therefore Ozma, having halted with her companion and
+selected a smooth, grassy spot on the plain, waved her
+wand in graceful curves and chanted some mystic words
+in her sweet voice, and in an instant a handsome tent
+appeared before them. The canvas was striped purple and
+white, and from the center pole fluttered the royal
+banner of Oz.
+
+"Come, dear," said Ozma, taking Dorothy's hand, "I am
+hungry and I'm sure you must be also; so let us go in
+and have our feast."
+
+On entering the tent they found a table set for two,
+with snowy linen, bright silver and sparkling
+glassware, a vase of roses in the center and many
+dishes of delicious food, some smoking hot, waiting to
+satisfy their hunger. Also, on either side of the tent
+were beds, with satin sheets, warm blankets and pillows
+filled with swansdown. There were chairs, too, and
+tall lamps that lighted the interior of the tent with a
+soft, rosy glow.
+
+Dorothy, resting herself at her fairy friend's
+command, and eating her dinner with unusual enjoyment,
+thought of the wonders of magic. If one were a fairy
+and knew the secret laws of nature and the mystic words
+and ceremonies that commanded those laws, then a simple
+wave of a silver wand would produce instantly all that
+men work hard and anxiously for through weary years.
+And Dorothy wished in her kindly, innocent heart, that
+all men and women could be fairies with silver wands,
+and satisfy all their needs without so much work and
+worry, for then, she imagined, they would have all
+their working hours to be happy in. But Ozma, looking
+into her friend's face and reading those thoughts, gave
+a laugh and said:
+
+"No, no, Dorothy, that wouldn't do at all. Instead of
+happiness your plan would bring weariness to the world.
+If every one could wave a wand and have his wants
+fulfilled there would be little to wish for. There
+would be no eager striving to obtain the difficult, for
+nothing would then be difficult, and the pleasure of
+earning something longed for, and only to be secured by
+hard work and careful thought, would be utterly lost.
+There would be nothing to do you see, and no interest
+in life and in our fellow creatures. That is all that
+makes life worth our while -- to do good deeds and to
+help those less fortunate than ourselves."
+
+"Well, you're a fairy, Ozma. Aren't you happy?" asked
+Dorothy
+
+"Yes, dear, because I can use my fairy powers to make
+others happy. Had I no kingdom to rule, and no subjects
+to look after, I would be miserable. Also, you must
+realize that while I am a more powerful fairy than any
+other inhabitant of Oz, I am not as powerful as Glinda
+the Sorceress, who has studied many arts of magic that
+I know nothing of. Even the little Wizard of Oz can do
+some things I am unable to accomplish, while I can
+accomplish things unknown to the Wizard. This is to
+explain that I'm not all-powerful, by any means. My
+magic is simply fairy magic, and not sorcery or
+wizardry."
+
+"All the same," said Dorothy, "I'm mighty glad you
+could make this tent appear, with our dinners and beds
+all ready for us."
+
+Ozma smiled.
+
+"Yes, it is indeed wonderful," she agreed. "Not all
+fairies know that sort of magic, but some fairies can
+do magic that fills me with astonishment. I think that
+is what makes us modest and unassuming -- the fact that
+our magic arts are divided, some being given each of
+us. I'm glad I don't know everything, Dorothy, and that
+there still are things in both nature and in wit for me
+to marvel at."
+
+Dorothy couldn't quite understand this, so she said
+nothing more on the subject and presently had a new
+reason to marvel. For when they had quite finished
+their meal table and contents disappeared in a flash.
+
+"No dishes to wash, Ozma!" she said with a laugh. "I
+guess you'd make a lot of folks happy if you could
+teach 'em just that one trick."
+
+For an hour Ozma told stories, and talked with
+Dorothy about various people in whom they were
+interested. And then it was bedtime, and they undressed
+and crept into their soft beds and fell asleep almost
+as soon as their heads touched their pillows.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Five
+
+The Magic Stairway
+
+
+
+The flat mountain looked much nearer in the clear
+light of the morning sun, but Dorothy and Ozma knew
+there was a long tramp before them, even yet. They
+finished dressing only to find a warm, delicious
+breakfast awaiting them, and having eaten they left the
+tent and started toward the mountain which was their
+first goal. After going a little way Dorothy looked
+back and found that the fairy tent had entirely
+disappeared. She was not surprised, for she knew this
+would happen.
+
+"Can't your magic give us a horse an' wagon, or an
+automobile?" inquired Dorothy.
+
+"No, dear; I'm sorry that such magic is beyond my
+power," confessed her fairy friend.
+
+"Perhaps Glinda could," said Dorothy thoughtfully.
+
+"Glinda has a stork chariot that carries her through
+the air," said Ozma, "but even our great Sorceress
+cannot conjure up other modes of travel. Don't forget
+what I told you last night, that no one is powerful
+enough to do everything."
+
+"Well, I s'pose I ought to know that, having lived so
+long in the Land of Oz," replied Dorothy; "but I can't
+do any magic at all, an' so I can't figure out e'zactly
+how you an' Glinda an' the Wizard do it."
+
+"Don't try," laughed Ozma. "But you have at least one
+magical art, Dorothy: you know the trick of winning all
+hearts."
+
+"No, I don't," said Dorothy earnestly. "If I really
+can do it, Ozma, I am sure I don't know how I do it."
+
+It took them a good two hours to reach the foot of
+the round, flat mountain, and then they found the
+sides so steep that they were like the wall of a house.
+
+"Even my purple kitten couldn't climb 'em," remarked
+Dorothy, gazing upward.
+
+"But there is some way for the Flatheads to get down
+and up again," declared Ozma; "otherwise they couldn't
+make war with the Skeezers, or even meet them and
+quarrel with them."
+
+"That's so, Ozma. Let's walk around a ways; perhaps
+we'll find a ladder or something."
+
+They walked quite a distance, for it was a big
+mountain, and as they circled around it and came to the
+side that faced the palm trees, they suddenly
+discovered an entrance way cut out of the rock wall.
+This entrance was arched overhead and not very deep
+because it merely led to a short flight of stone
+stairs.
+
+"Oh, we've found a way to the top at last," announced
+Ozma, and the two girls turned and walked straight
+toward the entrance. Suddenly they bumped against
+something and stood still, unable to proceed farther.
+
+"Dear me!" exclaimed Dorothy, rubbing her nose, which
+had struck something hard, although she could not see
+what it was; "this isn't as easy as it looks. What has
+stopped us, Ozma? Is it magic of some sort?"
+
+Ozma was feeling around, her bands outstretched
+before her.
+
+"Yes, dear, it is magic," she replied. "The Flatheads
+had to have a way from their mountain top from the
+plain below, but to prevent enemies from rushing up the
+stairs to conquer them, they have built, at a small
+distance before the entrance a wall of solid stone, the
+stones being held in place by cement, and then they
+made the wall invisible."
+
+"I wonder why they did that?" mused Dorothy. "A wall
+would keep folks out anyhow, whether it could be seen
+or not, so there wasn't any use making it invisible.
+Seems to me it would have been better to have left it
+solid, for then no one would have seen the entrance
+behind it. Now anybody can see the entrance, as we did.
+And prob'bly anybody that tries to go up the stairs
+gets bumped, as we did."
+
+Ozma made no reply at once. Her face was grave and
+thoughtful.
+
+"I think I know the reason for making the wall
+invisible," she said after a while. "The Flatheads use
+the stairs for coming down and going up. If there was a
+solid stone wall to keep them from reaching the plain
+they would themselves be imprisoned by the wall. So
+they had to leave some place to get around the wall,
+and, if the wall was visible, all strangers or enemies
+would find the place to go around it and then the wall
+would be useless. So the Flatheads cunningly made their
+wall invisible, believing that everyone who saw the
+entrance to the mountain would walk straight toward it,
+as we did, and find it impossible to go any farther. I
+suppose the wall is really high and thick, and can't be
+broken through, so those who find it in their way are
+obliged to go away again."
+
+"Well," said Dorothy, "if there's a way around the
+wall, where is it?"
+
+"We must find it," returned Ozma, and began feeling
+her way along the wall. Dorothy followed and began to
+get discouraged when Ozma had walked nearly a quarter
+of a mile away from the entrance. But now the invisible
+wall curved in toward the side of the mountain and
+suddenly ended, leaving just space enough between the
+wall and the mountain for an ordinary person to pass
+through.
+
+The girls went in, single file, and Ozma explained
+that they were now behind the barrier and could go
+back to the entrance. They met no further obstructions.
+
+"Most people, Ozma, wouldn't have figured this thing
+out the way you did," remarked Dorothy. "If I'd been
+alone the invisible wall surely would have stumped me."
+
+Reaching the entrance they began to mount the stone
+stairs. They went up ten stairs and then down five
+stairs, following a passage cut from the rock. The
+stairs were just wide enough for the two girls to walk
+abreast, arm in arm. At the bottom of the five stairs
+the passage turned to the right, and they ascended ten
+more stairs, only to find at the top of the flight five
+stairs leading straight down again. Again the passage
+turned abruptly, this time to the left, and ten more
+stairs led upward.
+
+The passage was now quite dark, for they were in the
+heart of the mountain and all daylight had been shut
+out by the turns of the passage. However, Ozma drew her
+silver wand from her bosom and the great jewel at its
+end gave out a lustrous, green-tinted light which
+lighted the place well enough for them to see their way
+plainly.
+
+Ten steps up, five steps down, and a turn, this way
+or that. That was the program, and Dorothy figured that
+they were only gaining five stairs upward each trip
+that they made.
+
+"Those Flatheads must be funny people," she said to
+Ozma. "They don't seem to do anything in a bold
+straightforward manner. In making this passage they
+forced everyone to walk three times as far as is
+necessary. And of course this trip is just as tiresome
+to the Flatheads as it is to other folks."
+
+"That is true," answered Ozma; "yet it is a clever
+arrangement to prevent their being surprised by
+intruders. Every time we reach the tenth step of a
+flight, the pressure of our feet on the stone makes a
+bell ring on top of the mountain, to warn the Flatheads
+of our coming."
+
+"How do you know that?" demanded Dorothy, astonished.
+
+"I've heard the bell ever since we started," Ozma
+told her. "You could not hear it, I know, but when I am
+holding my wand in my hand I can hear sounds a great
+distance off."
+
+"Do you hear anything on top of the mountain 'cept
+the bell?" inquired Dorothy
+
+"Yes. The people are calling to one another in alarm
+and many footsteps are approaching the place where we
+will reach the flat top of the mountain."
+
+This made Dorothy feel somewhat anxious. "I'd thought
+we were going to visit just common, ordinary people,"
+she remarked, "but they're pretty clever, it seems, and
+they know some kinds of magic, too. They may be
+dangerous, Ozma. P'raps we'd better stayed at home."
+
+Finally the upstairs-and-downstairs passage seemed
+coming to an end, for daylight again appeared ahead of
+the two girls and Ozma replaced her wand in the bosom
+of her gown. The last ten steps brought them to the
+surface, where they found themselves surrounded by
+such a throng of queer people that for a time they
+halted, speechless, and stared into the faces that
+confronted them.
+
+Dorothy knew at once why these mountain people were
+called Flatheads. Their heads were really flat on top,
+as if they had been cut off just above the eyes and
+ears. Also the heads were bald, with no hair on top at
+all, and the ears were big and stuck straight out, and
+the noses were small and stubby, while the mouths of
+the Flatheads were well shaped and not unusual. Their
+eyes were perhaps their best feature, being large and
+bright and a deep violet in color.
+
+The costumes of the Flatheads were all made of metals
+dug from their mountain. Small gold, silver, tin and
+iron discs, about the size of pennies, and very thin,
+were cleverly wired together and made to form knee
+trousers and jackets for the men and skirts and waists
+for the women. The colored metals were skillfully mixed
+to form stripes and checks of various sorts, so that
+the costumes were quite gorgeous and reminded Dorothy
+of pictures she had seen of Knights of old clothed
+armor.
+
+Aside from their flat heads, these people were not
+really bad looking. The men were armed with bows and
+arrows and had small axes of steel stuck in their metal
+belts. They wore no hats nor ornaments.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Six
+
+Flathead Mountain
+
+
+
+When they saw that the intruders on their mountain
+were only two little girls, the Flatheads grunted with
+satisfaction and drew back, permitting them to see what
+the mountain top looked like. It was shaped like a
+saucer, so that the houses and other buildings -- all
+made of rocks -- could not be seen over the edge by
+anyone standing in the plain below.
+
+But now a big fat Flathead stood before the girls and
+in a gruff voice demanded:
+
+"What are you doing here? Have the Skeezers sent you
+to spy upon us?"
+
+"I am Princess Ozma, Ruler of all the Land of Oz."
+
+"Well, I've never heard of the Land of Oz, so you may
+be what you claim," returned the Flathead.
+
+"This is the Land of Oz -- part of it, anyway,"
+exclaimed Dorothy. "So Princess Ozma rules you Flathead
+people, as well as all the other people in Oz."
+
+The man laughed, and all the others who stood around
+laughed, too. Some one in the crowd called:
+
+"She'd better not tell the Supreme Dictator about
+ruling the Flatheads. Eh, friends?"
+
+"No, indeed!" they all answered in positive tones.
+
+"Who is your Supreme Dictator?" answered Ozma.
+
+"I think I'll let him tell you that himself,"
+answered the man who had first spoken. "You have broken
+our laws by coming here; and whoever you are the
+Supreme Dictator must fix your punishment. Come along
+with me."
+
+He started down a path and Ozma and Dorothy followed
+him without protest, as they wanted to see the most
+important person in this queer country. The houses they
+passed seemed pleasant enough and each had a little
+yard in which were flowers and vegetables. Walls of
+rock separated the dwellings, and all the paths were
+paved with smooth slabs of rock. This seemed their only
+building material and they utilized it cleverly for
+every purpose.
+
+Directly in the center of the great saucer stood a
+larger building which the Flathead informed the girls
+was the palace of the Supreme Dictator. He led them
+through an entrance hall into a big reception room,
+where they sat upon stone benches and awaited the
+coming of the Dictator. Pretty soon he entered from
+another room -- a rather lean and rather old Flathead,
+dressed much like the others of this strange race, and
+only distinguished from them by the sly and cunning
+expression of his face. He kept his eyes half closed
+and looked through the slits of them at Ozma and
+Dorothy, who rose to receive him.
+
+"Are you the Supreme Dictator of the Flatheads?"
+inquired Ozma.
+
+"Yes, that's me," he said, rubbing his hands slowly
+together. "My word is law. I'm the head of the
+Flatheads on this flat headland."
+
+"I am Princess Ozma of Oz, and I have come from the
+Emerald City to --"
+
+"Stop a minute," interrupted the Dictator, and turned
+to the man who had brought the girls there. "Go away,
+Dictator Felo Flathead!" he commanded. "Return to your
+duty and guard the Stairway. I will look after these
+strangers." The man bowed and departed, and Dorothy
+asked wonderingly:
+
+"Is he a Dictator, too?"
+
+"Of course," was the answer. "Everybody here is a
+dictator of something or other. They're all office
+holders. That's what keeps them contented. But I'm the
+Supreme Dictator of all, and I'm elected once a year.
+This is a democracy, you know, where the people are
+allowed to vote for their rulers. A good many others
+would like to be Supreme Dictator, but as I made a law
+that I am always to count the votes myself, I am always
+elected."
+
+"What is your name?" asked Ozma.
+
+"I am called the Su-dic, which is short for Supreme
+Dictator. I sent that man away because the moment you
+mentioned Ozma of Oz, and the Emerald City, I knew who
+you are. I suppose I'm the only Flathead that ever
+heard of you, but that's because I have more brains
+than the rest."
+
+Dorothy was staring hard at the Su-dic.
+
+"I don't see how you can have any brains at all," she
+remarked, "because the part of your head is gone where
+brains are kept."
+
+"I don't blame you for thinking that," he said. "Once
+the Flatheads had no brains because, as you say, there
+is no upper part to their heads, to hold brains. But
+long, long ago a band of fairies flew over this country
+and made it all a fairyland, and when they came to the
+Flatheads the fairies were sorry to find them all very
+stupid and quite unable to think. So, as there was no
+good place in their bodies in which to put brains the
+Fairy Queen gave each one of us a nice can of brains to
+carry in his pocket and that made us just as
+intelligent as other people. See," he continued, "here
+is one of the cans of brains the fairies gave us." He
+took from a pocket a bright tin can having a pretty red
+label on it which said: Concentrated Brains, Extra
+Quality."
+
+"And does every Flathead have the same kind of
+brains?" asked Dorothy.
+
+"Yes, they're all alike. Here's another can." From
+another pocket he produced a second can of brains.
+
+"Did the fairies give you a double supply?" inquired
+Dorothy.
+
+"No, but one of the Flatheads thought he wanted to be
+the Su-dic and tried to get my people to rebel against
+me, so I punished him by taking away his brains. One
+day my wife scolded me severely, so I took away her can
+of brains. She didn't like that and went out and robbed
+several women of their brains. Then I made a law that
+if anyone stole another's brains, or even tried to
+borrow them, he would forfeit his own brains to the Su-
+dic. So each one is content with his own canned brains
+and my wife and I are the only ones on the mountain
+with more than one can. I have three cans and that
+makes me very clever -- so clever that I'm a good
+Sorcerer, if I do say it myself. My poor wife had four
+cans of brains and became a remarkable witch, but alas!
+that was before those terrible enemies, the Skeezers,
+transformed her into a Golden Pig."
+
+"Good gracious!" cried Dorothy; "is your wife really
+a Golden Pig?"
+
+"She is. The Skeezers did it and so I have declared
+war on them. In revenge for making my wife a Pig I
+intend to ruin their Magic Island and make the Skeezers
+the slaves of the Flatheads!"
+
+The Su-dic was very angry now; his eyes flashed and
+his face took on a wicked and fierce expression. But
+Ozma said to him, very sweetly and in a friendly voice:
+
+"I am sorry to hear this. Will you please tell me
+more about your troubles with the Skeezers?  Then
+perhaps I can help you."
+
+She was only a girl, but there was dignity in her
+pose and speech which impressed the Su-dic.
+
+"If you are really Princess Ozma of Oz," the Flathead
+said, "you are one of that band of fairies who, under
+Queen Lurline, made all Oz a Fairyland. I have heard
+that Lurline left one of her own fairies to rule Oz,
+and gave the fairy the name of Ozma."
+
+"If you knew this why did you not come to me at the
+Emerald City and tender me your loyalty and obedience?"
+asked the Ruler of Oz.
+
+"Well, I only learned the fact lately, and I've been
+too busy to leave home," he explained, looking at the
+floor instead of into Ozma's eyes. She knew he had
+spoken a falsehood, but only said:
+
+"Why did you quarrel with the Skeezers?"
+
+"It was this way," began the Su-dic, glad to change
+the subject. "We Flatheads love fish, and as we have no
+fish on this mountain we would sometimes go to the Lake
+of the Skeezers to catch fish. This made the Skeezers
+angry, for they declared the fish in their lake
+belonged to them and were under their protection and
+they forbade us to catch them. That was very mean and
+unfriendly in the Skeezers, you must admit, and when we
+paid no attention to their orders they set a guard on
+the shore of the lake to prevent our fishing.
+
+"Now, my wife, Rora Flathead, having four cans of
+brains, had become a wonderful witch, and fish being
+brain food, she loved to eat fish better than any one
+of us. So she vowed she would destroy every fish in the
+lake, unless the Skeezers let us catch what we wanted.
+They defied us, so Rora prepared a kettleful of magic
+poison and went down to the lake one night to dump it
+all in the water and poison the fish. It was a clever
+idea, quite worthy of my dear wife, but the Skeezer
+Queen -- a young lady named Coo-ee-oh -- hid on the
+bank of the lake and taking Rora unawares, transformed
+her into a Golden Pig. The poison was spilled on the
+ground and wicked Queen Coo-ee-oh, not content with her
+cruel transformation, even took away my wife's four
+cans of brains, so she is now a common grunting pig
+without even brains enough to know her own name."
+
+"Then," said Ozma thoughtfully, "the Queen of the
+Skeezers must be a Sorceress."
+
+"Yes," said the Su-dic, "but she doesn't know much
+magic, after all. She is not as powerful as Rora
+Flathead was, nor half as powerful as I am now, as
+Queen Coo-ee-oh will discover when we fight our great
+battle and destroy her."
+
+"The Golden Pig can't be a witch any more, of
+course," observed Dorothy.
+
+"No; even had Queen Coo-ee-oh left her the four cans
+of brains, poor Rora, in a pig's shape, couldn't do any
+witchcraft. A witch has to use her fingers, and a pig
+has only cloven hoofs."
+
+"It seems a sad story," was Ozma's comment, "and all
+the trouble arose because the Flatheads wanted fish
+that did not belong to them."
+
+"As for that," said the Su-dic, again angry, "I made
+a law that any of my people could catch fish in the
+Lake of the Skeezers, whenever they wanted to. So the
+trouble was through the Skeezers defying my law."
+
+"You can only make laws to govern your own people,"
+asserted Ozma sternly. "I, alone, am empowered to make
+laws that must be obeyed by all the peoples of Oz."
+
+"Pooh!" cried the Su-dic scornfully. "You can't make
+me obey your laws, I assure you. I know the extent of
+your powers, Princess Ozma of Oz, and I know that I am
+more powerful than you are. To prove it I shall keep
+you and your companion prisoners in this mountain until
+after we have fought and conquered the Skeezers. Then,
+if you promise to be good, I may let you go home
+again."
+
+Dorothy was amazed by this effrontery and defiance of
+the beautiful girl Ruler of Oz, whom all until now had
+obeyed without question. But Ozma, still unruffled and
+dignified, looked at the Su-dic and said:
+
+"You did not mean that. You are angry and speak
+unwisely, without reflection. I came here from my
+palace in the Emerald City to prevent war and to make
+peace between you and the Skeezers. I do not approve of
+Queen Coo-ee-oh's action in transforming your wife Rora
+into a pig, nor do I approve of Rora's cruel attempt to
+poison the fishes in the lake. No one has the right to
+work magic in my dominions without my consent, so the
+Flatheads and the Skeezers have both broken my laws --
+which must be obeyed."
+
+"If you want to make peace," said the Su-dic, "make
+the Skeezers restore my wife to her proper form and
+give back her four cans of brains. Also make them agree
+to allow us to catch fish in their lake."
+
+"No," returned Ozma, "I will not do that, for it
+would be unjust. I will have the Golden Pig again
+transformed into your wife Rora, and give her one can
+of brains, but the other three cans must be restored to
+those she robbed. Neither may you catch fish in the
+Lake of the Skeezers, for it is their lake and the fish
+belong to them. This arrangement is just and honorable,
+and you must agree to it."
+
+"Never!" cried the Su-dic. Just then a pig came
+running into the room, uttering dismal grunts. It was
+made of solid gold, with joints at the bends of the
+legs and in the neck and jaws. The Golden Pig's eyes
+were rubies, and its teeth were polished ivory.
+
+"There!" said the Su-dic, "gaze on the evil work of
+Queen Coo-ee-oh, and then say if you can prevent my
+making war on the Skeezers. That grunting beast was
+once my wife -- the most beautiful Flathead on our
+mountain and a skillful witch. Now look at her!"
+
+"Fight the Skeezers, fight the Skeezers, fight the
+Skeezers!" grunted the Golden Pig.
+
+"I will fight the Skeezers," exclaimed the Flathead
+chief, "and if a dozen Ozmas of Oz forbade me I would
+fight just the same."
+
+"Not if I can prevent it!" asserted Ozma.
+
+"You can't prevent it. But since you threaten me,
+I'll have you confined in the bronze prison until the
+war is over," said the Su-dic. He whistled and four
+stout Flatheads, armed with axes and spears, entered
+the room and saluted him. Turning to the men he said:
+"Take these two girls, bind them with wire ropes and
+cast them into the bronze prison."
+
+The four men bowed low and one of them asked:
+
+"Where are the two girls, most noble Su-dic?"
+
+The Su-dic turned to where Ozma and Dorothy had stood
+but they had vanished!
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Seven
+
+The Magic Isle
+
+
+
+Ozma, seeing it was useless to argue with the Supreme
+Dictator of the Flatheads. had been considering how
+best to escape from his power. She realized that his
+sorcery might be difficult to overcome, and when he
+threatened to cast Dorothy and her into a bronze prison
+she slipped her hand into her bosom and grasped her
+silver wand. With the other hand she grasped the hand
+of Dorothy, but these motions were so natural that the
+Su-dic did not notice them. Then when he turned to meet
+his four soldiers, Ozma instantly rendered both herself
+and Dorothy invisible and swiftly led her companion
+around the group of Flatheads and out of the room. As
+they reached the entry and descended the stone steps,
+Ozma whispered:
+
+"Let us run, dear! We are invisible, so no one will
+see us."
+
+Dorothy understood and she was a good runner. Ozma
+had marked the place where the grand stairway that led
+to the plain was located, so they made directly for it.
+Some people were in the paths but these they dodged
+around. One or two Flatheads heard the pattering of
+footsteps of the girls on the stone pavement and
+stopped with bewildered looks to gaze around them, but
+no one interfered with the invisible fugitives.
+
+The Su-dic had lost no time in starting the chase. He
+and his men ran so fast that they might have overtaken
+the girls before they reached the stairway had not the
+Golden Pig suddenly run across their path. The Su-dic
+tripped over the pig and fell flat, and his four men
+tripped over him and tumbled in a heap. Before they
+could scramble up and reach the mouth of the passage it
+was too late to stop the two girls.
+
+There was a guard on each side of the stairway, but
+of course they did not see Ozma and Dorothy as they
+sped past and descended the steps. Then they had to go
+up five steps and down another ten, and so on, in the
+same manner in which they had climbed to the top of the
+mountain. Ozma lighted their way with her wand and they
+kept on without relaxing their speed until they reached
+the bottom. Then they ran to the right and turned the
+corner of the invisible wall just as the Su-dic and his
+followers rushed out of the arched entrance and looked
+around in an attempt to discover the fugitives.
+
+Ozma now knew they were safe, so she told Dorothy to
+stop and both of them sat down on the grass until they
+could breathe freely and become rested from their mad
+flight.
+
+As for the Su-dic, he realized he was foiled and soon
+turned and climbed his stairs again. He was very angry
+-- angry with Ozma and angry with himself -- because,
+now that he took time to think, he remembered that he
+knew very well the art of making people invisible, and
+visible again, and if he had only thought of it in time
+he could have used his magic knowledge to make the
+girls visible and so have captured them easily.
+However, it was now too late for regrets and he
+determined to make preparations at once to march all
+his forces against the Skeezers.
+
+"What shall we do next?" asked Dorothy, when they
+were rested.
+
+"Let us find the Lake of the Skeezers," replied Ozma.
+"From what that dreadful Su-dic said I imagine the
+Skeezers are good people and worthy of our friendship,
+and if we go to them we may help them to defeat the
+Flatheads."
+
+"I s'pose we can't stop the war now," remarked
+Dorothy reflectively, as they walked toward the row of
+palm trees.
+
+"No; the Su-dic is determined to fight the Skeezers,
+so all we can do is to warn them of their danger and
+help them as much as possible."
+
+"Of course you'll punish the Flatheads," said
+Dorothy.
+
+"Well, I do not think the Flathead people are as much
+to blame as their Supreme Dictator," was the answer.
+"If he is removed from power and his unlawful magic
+taken from him, the people will probably be good and
+respect the laws of the Land of Oz, and live at peace
+with all their neighbors in the future."
+
+"I hope so," said Dorothy with a sigh of doubt
+
+The palms were not far from the mountain and the
+girls reached them after a brisk walk. The huge trees
+were set close together, in three rows, and had been
+planted so as to keep people from passing them, but the
+Flatheads had cut a passage through this barrier and
+Ozma found the path and led Dorothy to the other side.
+
+Beyond the palms they discovered a very beautiful
+scene. Bordered by a green lawn was a great lake fully
+a mile from shore to shore, the waters of which were
+exquisitely blue and sparkling, with little wavelets
+breaking its smooth surface where the breezes touched
+it. In the center of this lake appeared a lovely
+island, not of great extent but almost entirely covered
+by a huge round building with glass walls and a high
+glass dome which glittered brilliantly in the sunshine.
+Between the glass building and the edge of the island
+was no grass, flowers or shrubbery, but only an expanse
+of highly polished white marble. There were no boats on
+either shore and no signs of life could be seen
+anywhere on the island.
+
+"Well," said Dorothy, gazing wistfully at the island,
+we've found the Lake of the Skeezers and their Magic
+Isle. I guess the Skeezers are in that big glass
+palace, but we can't get at 'em."
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Eight
+
+Queen Coo-ee-oh
+
+
+
+Princess Ozma considered the situation gravely. Then
+she tied her handkerchief to her wand and, standing at
+the water's edge, waved the handkerchief like a flag,
+as a signal. For a time they could observe no response.
+
+"I don't see what good that will do," said Dorothy.
+"Even if the Skeezers are on that island and see us,
+and know we're friends, they haven't any boats to come
+and get us."
+
+But the Skeezers didn't need boats, as the girls soon
+discovered. For on a sudden an opening appeared at the
+base of the palace and from the opening came a slender
+shaft of steel, reaching out slowly but steadily across
+the water in the direction of the place where they
+stood. To the girls this steel arrangement looked like
+a triangle, with the base nearest the water. It came
+toward them in the form of an arch, stretching out from
+the palace wall until its end reached the bank and
+rested there, while the other end still remained on the
+island.
+
+Then they saw that it was a bridge, consisting of a
+steel footway just broad enough to walk on, and two
+slender guide rails, one on either side, which were
+connected with the footway by steel bars. The bridge
+looked rather frail and Dorothy feared it would not
+bear their weight, but Ozma at once called, "Come on!"
+and started to walk across, holding fast to the rail on
+either side. So Dorothy summoned her courage and
+followed after. Before Ozma had taken three steps she
+halted and so forced Dorothy to halt, for the bridge
+was again moving and returning to the island.
+
+"We need not walk after all," said Ozma. So they
+stood still in their places and let the steel bridge
+draw them onward. Indeed, the bridge drew them well
+into the glass-domed building which covered the island,
+and soon they found themselves standing in a marble
+room where two handsomely dressed young men stood on a
+platform to receive them.
+
+Ozma at once stepped from the end of the bridge to
+the marble platform, followed by Dorothy, and then the
+bridge disappeared with a slight clang of steel and a
+marble slab covered the opening from which it had
+emerged.
+
+The two young men bowed profoundly to Ozma, and one
+of them said:
+
+"Queen Coo-ee-oh bids you welcome, O Strangers. Her
+Majesty is waiting to receive you in her palace."
+
+"Lead on," replied Ozma with dignity.
+
+But instead of "leading on," the platform of marble
+began to rise, carrying them upward through a square
+hole above which just fitted it. A moment later they
+found themselves within the great glass dome that
+covered almost all of the island.
+
+Within this dome was a little village, with houses,
+streets, gardens and parks. The houses were of colored
+marbles, prettily designed, with many stained-glass
+windows, and the streets and gardens seemed well cared
+for. Exactly under the center of the lofty dome was a
+small park filled with brilliant flowers, with an
+elaborate fountain, and facing this park stood a
+building larger and more imposing than the others.
+Toward this building the young men escorted Ozma and
+Dorothy.
+
+On the streets and in the doorways or open windows of
+the houses were men, women and children, all richly
+dressed. These were much like other people in different
+parts of the Land of Oz, except that instead of seeming
+merry and contented they all wore expressions of much
+solemnity or of nervous irritation. They had beautiful
+homes, splendid clothes, and ample food, but Dorothy at
+once decided something was wrong with their lives and
+that they were not happy. She said nothing, however,
+but looked curiously at the Skeezers.
+
+At the entrance of the palace Ozma and Dorothy were
+met by two other young men, in uniform and armed with
+queer weapons that seemed about halfway between pistols
+and guns, but were like neither. Their conductors bowed
+and left them, and the two in uniforms led the girls
+into the palace.
+
+In a beautiful throne room, surrounded by a dozen or
+more young men and women, sat the Queen of the
+Skeezers, Coo-ee-oh. She was a girl who looked older
+than Ozma or Dorothy -- fifteen or sixteen, at least --
+and although she was elaborately dressed as if she were
+going to a ball she was too thin and plain of feature
+to be pretty. But evidently Queen Coo-ee-oh did not
+realize this fact, for her air and manner betrayed her
+as proud and haughty and with a high regard for her own
+importance. Dorothy at once decided she was "snippy"
+and that she would not like Queen Coo-ee-oh as a
+companion.
+
+The Queen's hair was as black as her skin was white
+and her eyes were black, too. The eyes, as she calmly
+examined Ozma and Dorothy, had a suspicious and
+unfriendly look in them, but she said quietly:
+
+"I know who you are, for I have consulted my Magic
+Oracle, which told me that one calls herself Princess
+Ozma, the Ruler of all the Land of Oz, and the other is
+Princess Dorothy of Oz, who came from a country called
+Kansas. I know nothing of the Land of Oz, and I know
+nothing of Kansas."
+
+"Why, this is the Land of Oz!" cried Dorothy. "It's a
+part of the Land of Oz, anyhow, whether you know it or
+not."
+
+"Oh, in-deed!" answered Queen Coo-ee-oh, scornfully.
+"I suppose you will claim next that this Princess Ozma,
+ruling the Land of Oz, rules me!"
+
+"Of course," returned Dorothy. "There's no doubt of
+it."
+
+The Queen turned to Ozma.
+
+"Do you dare make such a claim?" she asked.
+
+By this time Ozma had made up her mind as to the
+character of this haughty and disdainful creature,
+whose self-pride evidently led her to believe herself
+superior to all others.
+
+"I did not come here to quarrel with your Majesty,"
+said the girl Ruler of Oz, quietly. "What and who I am
+is well established, and my authority comes from the
+Fairy Queen Lurline, of whose band I was a member when
+Lurline made all Oz a Fairyland. There are several
+countries and several different peoples in this broad
+land, each of which has its separate rulers, Kings,
+Emperors and Queens. But all these render obedience to
+my laws and acknowledge me as the supreme Ruler."
+
+"If other Kings and Queens are fools that does not
+interest me in the least," replied Coo-ee-oh,
+disdainfully. "In the Land of the Skeezers I alone am
+supreme. You are impudent to think I would defer to you
+-- or to anyone else."
+
+"Let us not speak of this now, please," answered
+Ozma. "Your island is in danger, for a powerful foe is
+preparing to destroy it."
+
+"Pah! The Flatheads. I do not fear them."
+
+"Their Supreme Dictator is a Sorcerer."
+
+"My magic is greater than his. Let the Flatheads
+come! They will never return to their barren mountain-
+top. I will see to that."
+
+Ozma did not like this attitude, for it meant that
+the Skeezers were eager to fight the Flatheads, and
+Ozma's object in coming here was to prevent fighting
+and induce the two quarrelsome neighbors to make peace.
+She was also greatly disappointed in Coo-ee-oh, for the
+reports of Su-dic had led her to imagine the Queen more
+just and honorable than were the Flatheads. Indeed Ozma
+reflected that the girl might be better at heart than
+her self-pride and overbearing manner indicated, and in
+any event it would be wise not to antagonize her but to
+try to win her friendship.
+
+"I do not like wars, your Majesty," said Ozma. "In
+the Emerald City, where I rule thousands of people, and
+in the countries near to the Emerald City, where
+thousands more acknowledge my rule, there is no army at
+all, because there is no quarreling and no need to
+fight. If differences arise between my people, they
+come to me and I judge the cases and award justice to
+all. So, when I learned there might be war between two
+faraway people of Oz, I came here to settle the dispute
+and adjust the quarrel."
+
+"No one asked you to come," declared Queen Coo-ee-oh.
+"It is my business to settle this dispute, not yours.
+You say my island is a part of the Land of Oz, which
+you rule, but that is all nonsense, for I've never
+heard of the Land of Oz, nor of you. You say you are a
+fairy, and that fairies gave you command over me. I
+don't believe it! What I do believe is that you are an
+impostor and have come here to stir up trouble among my
+people, who are already becoming difficult to manage.
+You two girls may even be spies of the vile Flatheads,
+for all I know, and may be trying to trick me. But
+understand this," she added, proudly rising from her
+jeweled throne to confront them, "I have magic powers
+greater than any fairy possesses, and greater than any
+Flathead possesses. I am a Krumbic Witch -- the only
+Krumbic Witch in the world -- and I fear the magic of
+no other creature that exists! You say you rule
+thousands. I rule one hundred and one Skeezers. But
+every one of them trembles at my word. Now that Ozma of
+Oz and Princess Dorothy are here, I shall rule one
+hundred and three subjects, for you also shall bow
+before my power. More than that, in ruling you I also
+rule the thousands you say you rule."
+
+Dorothy was very indignant at this speech.
+
+"I've got a pink kitten that sometimes talks like
+that," she said, "but after I give her a good whipping
+she doesn't think she's so high and mighty after all.
+If you only knew who Ozma is you'd be scared to death
+to talk to her like that!"
+
+Queen Coo-ee-oh gave the girl a supercilious look.
+Then she turned again to Ozma.
+
+"I happen to know," said she, "that the Flatheads
+intend to attack us tomorrow, but we are ready for
+them. Until the battle is over, I shall keep you two
+strangers prisoners on my island, from which there is
+no chance for you to escape."
+
+She turned and looked around the band of courtiers
+who stood silently around her throne.
+
+"Lady Aurex," she continued, singling out one of the
+young women, "take these children to your house and
+care for them, giving them food and lodging. You may
+allow them to wander anywhere under the Great Dome, for
+they are harmless. After I have attended to the
+Flatheads I will consider what next to do with these
+foolish girls."
+
+She resumed her seat and the Lady Aurex bowed low and
+said in a humble manner:
+
+"I obey your Majesty's commands." Then to Ozma and
+Dorothy she added, "Follow me," and turned to leave the
+throne room.
+
+Dorothy looked to see what Ozma would do. To her
+surprise and a little to her disappointment Ozma turned
+and followed Lady Aurex. So Dorothy trailed after them,
+but not without giving a parting, haughty look toward
+Queen Coo-ee-oh, who had her face turned the other way
+and did not see the disapproving look
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Nine
+
+Lady Aurex
+
+
+
+Lady Aurex led Ozma and Dorothy along a street to a
+pretty marble house near to one edge of the great glass
+dome that covered the village. She did not speak to the
+girls until she had ushered them into a pleasant room,
+comfortably furnished, nor did any of the solemn people
+they met on the street venture to speak.
+
+When they were seated Lady Aurex asked if they were
+hungry, and finding they were summoned a maid and
+ordered food to be brought.
+
+This Lady Aurex looked to be about twenty years old,
+although in the Land of Oz where people have never
+changed in appearance since the fairies made it a
+fairyland -- where no one grows old or dies -- it is
+always difficult to say how many years anyone has
+lived. She had a pleasant, attractive face, even though
+it was solemn and sad as the faces of all Skeezers
+seemed to be, and her costume was rich and elaborate,
+as became a lady in waiting upon the Queen.
+
+Ozma had observed Lady Aurex closely and now asked
+her in a gentle tone:
+
+"Do you, also, believe me to be an impostor?"
+
+"I dare not say," replied Lady Aurex in a low tone.
+
+"Why are you afraid to speak freely?" inquired Ozma.
+
+"The Queen punishes us if we make remarks that she
+does not like."
+
+"Are we not alone then, in this house?"
+
+"The Queen can hear everything that is spoken on this
+island -- even the slightest whisper," declared Lady
+Aurex. "She is a wonderful witch, as she has told you,
+and it is folly to criticise her or disobey her
+commands."
+
+Ozma looked into her eyes and saw that she would like
+to say more if she dared. So she drew from her bosom
+her silver wand, and having muttered a magic phrase in
+a strange tongue, she left the room and walked slowly
+around the outside of the house, making a complete
+circle and waving her wand in mystic curves as she
+walked. Lady Aurex watched her curiously and, when Ozma
+had again entered the room and seated herself, she
+asked:
+
+"What have you done?"
+
+"I've enchanted this house in such a manner that
+Queen Coo-ee-oh, with all her witchcraft, cannot hear
+one word we speak within the magic circle I have made,"
+replied Ozma. "We may now speak freely and as loudly as
+we wish, without fear of the Queen's anger."
+
+Lady Aurex brightened at this.
+
+"Can I trust you?" she asked.
+
+"Ev'rybody trusts Ozma," exclaimed Dorothy. "She is
+true and honest, and your wicked Queen will be sorry
+she insulted the powerful Ruler of all the Land of Oz."
+
+"The Queen does not know me yet," said Ozma, "but I
+want you to know me, Lady Aurex, and I want you to tell
+me why you, and all the Skeezers, are unhappy. Do not
+fear Coo-ee-oh's anger, for she cannot hear a word we
+say, I assure you."
+
+Lady Aurex was thoughtful a moment; then she said: "I
+shall trust you, Princess Ozma, for I believe you are
+what you say you are -- our supreme Ruler. If you knew
+the dreadful punishments our Queen inflicts upon us,
+you would not wonder we are so unhappy. The Skeezers
+are not bad people; they do not care to quarrel and
+fight, even with their enemies the Flatheads; but they
+are so cowed and fearful of Coo-ee-oh that they obey
+her slightest word, rather than suffer her anger."
+
+"Hasn't she any heart, then?" asked Dorothy.
+
+"She never displays mercy. She loves no one but
+herself," asserted Lady Aurex, but she trembled as she
+said it, as if afraid even yet of her terrible Queen.
+
+"That's pretty bad," said Dorothy, shaking her head
+gravely. "I see you've a lot to do here, Ozma, in this
+forsaken corner of the Land of Oz. First place, you've
+got to take the magic away from Queen Coo-ee-oh, and
+from that awful Su-dic, too. My idea is that neither of
+them is fit to rule anybody, 'cause they're cruel and
+hateful. So you'll have to give the Skeezers and
+Flatheads new rulers and teach all their people that
+they're part of the Land of Oz and must obey, above
+all, the lawful Ruler, Ozma of Oz. Then, when you've
+done that, we can go back home again."
+
+Ozma smiled at her little friend's earnest counsel,
+but Lady Aurex said in an anxious tone:
+
+"I am surprised that you suggest these reforms while
+you are yet prisoners on this island and in Coo-ee-oh's
+power. That these things should be done, there is no
+doubt, but just now a dreadful war is likely to break
+out, and frightful things may happen to us all.  Our
+Queen has such conceit that she thinks she can overcome
+the Su-dic and his people, but it is said Su-dic's
+magic is very powerful, although not as great as that
+possessed by his wife Rora, before Coo-ee-oh
+transformed her into a Golden Pig."
+
+"I don't blame her very much for doing that,"
+remarked Dorothy, "for the Flatheads were wicked to try
+to catch your beautiful fish and the Witch Rora wanted
+to poison all the fishes in the lake."
+
+"Do you know the reason?" asked the Lady Aurex.
+
+"I don't s'pose there was any reason, 'cept just
+wickedness," replied Dorothy.
+
+"Tell us the reason," said Ozma earnestly.
+
+"Well, your Majesty, once -- a long time ago -- the
+Flatheads and the Skeezers were friendly. They visited
+our island and we visited their mountain, and
+everything was pleasant between the two peoples. At
+that time the Flatheads were ruled by three Adepts in
+Sorcery, beautiful girls who were not Flatheads, but
+had wandered to the Flat Mountain and made their home
+there. These three Adepts used their magic only for
+good, and the mountain people gladly made them their
+rulers. They taught the Flatheads how to use their
+canned brains and how to work metals into clothing that
+would never wear out, and many other things that added
+to their happiness and content.
+
+"Coo-ee-oh was our Queen then, as now, but she knew
+no magic and so had nothing to be proud of. But the
+three Adepts were very kind to Coo-ee-oh. They built
+for us this wonderful dome of glass and our houses of
+marble and taught us to make beautiful clothing and
+many other things. Coo-ee-oh pretended to be very
+grateful for these favors, but it seems that all the
+time she was jealous of the three Adepts and secretly
+tried to discover their arts of magic. In this she was
+more clever than anyone suspected. She invited the
+three Adepts to a banquet one day, and while they were
+feasting Coo-ee-oh stole their charms and magical
+instruments and transformed them into three fishes -- a
+gold fish, a silver fish and a bronze fish. While the
+poor fishes were gasping and flopping helplessly on the
+floor of the banquet room one of them said
+reproachfully: 'You will be punished for this, Coo-ee-
+oh, for if one of us dies or is destroyed, you will
+become shrivelled and helpless, and all your stolen
+magic will depart from you.' Frightened by this threat,
+Coo-ee-oh at once caught up the three fish and ran with
+them to the shore of the lake, where she cast them into
+the water. This revived the three Adepts and they swam
+away and disappeared.
+
+"I, myself, witnessed this shocking scene," continued
+Lady Aurex, "and so did many other Skeezers. The news
+was carried to the Flatheads, who then turned from
+friends to enemies. The Su-dic and his wife Rora were
+the only ones on the mountain who were glad the three
+Adepts had been lost to them, and they at once became
+Rulers of the Flatheads and stole their canned brains
+from others to make themselves the more powerful. Some
+of the Adepts' magic tools had been left on the
+mountain, and these Rora seized and by the use of them
+she became a witch.
+
+"The result of Coo-ee-oh's treachery was to make both
+the Skeezers and the Flatheads miserable instead of
+happy. Not only were the Su-dic and his wife cruel to
+their people, but our Queen at once became proud and
+arrogant and treated us very unkindly. All the Skeezers
+knew she had stolen her magic powers and so she hated
+us and made us humble ourselves before her and obey her
+slightest word. If we disobeyed, or did not please her,
+or if we talked about her when we were in our own homes
+she would have us dragged to the whipping post in her
+palace and lashed with knotted cords. That is why we
+fear her so greatly."
+
+This story filled Ozma's heart with sorrow and
+Dorothy's heart with indignation.
+
+"I now understand," said Ozma, "why the fishes in the
+lake have brought about war between the Skeezers and
+the Flatheads."
+
+"Yes," Lady Aurex answered, "now that you know the
+story it is easy to understand. The Su-dic and his wife
+came to our lake hoping to catch the silver fish, or
+gold fish, or bronze fish -- any one of them would do -
+- and by destroying it deprive Coo-ee-oh of her magic.
+Then they could easily conquer her. Also they had
+another reason for wanting to catch the fish -- they
+feared that in some way the three Adepts might regain
+their proper forms and then they would be sure to
+return to the mountain and punish Rora and the Su-dic.
+That was why Rora finally tried to poison all the
+fishes in the lake, at the time Coo-ee-oh transformed
+her into a Golden Pig. Of course this attempt to
+destroy the fishes frightened the Queen, for her safety
+lies in keeping the three fishes alive."
+
+"I s'pose Coo-ee-oh will fight the Flatheads with all
+her might," observed Dorothy.
+
+"And with all her magic," added Ozma, thoughtfully.
+
+"I do not see how the Flatheads can get to this
+island to hurt us," said Lady Aurex.
+
+"They have bows and arrows, and I guess they mean to
+shoot the arrows at your big dome, and break all the
+glass in it," suggested Dorothy.
+
+But Lady Aurex shook her head with a smile.
+
+"They cannot do that," she replied.
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"I dare not tell you why, but if the Flatheads come
+to-morrow morning you will yourselves see the reason."
+
+"I do not think they will attempt to harm the
+island," Ozma declared. "I believe they will first
+attempt to destroy the fishes, by poison or some other
+means. If they succeed in that, the conquest of the
+island will not be difficult."
+
+"They have no boats," said Lady Aurex, "and Coo-ee-
+oh, who has long expected this war, has been preparing
+for it in many astonishing ways. I almost wish the
+Flatheads would conquer us, for then we would be free
+from our dreadful Queen; but I do not wish to see the
+three transformed fishes destroyed, for in them lies
+our only hope of future happiness."
+
+"Ozma will take care of you, whatever happens,"
+Dorothy assured her. But the Lady Aurex, not knowing
+the extent of Ozma's power -- which was, in fact, not
+so great as Dorothy imagined -- could not take much
+comfort in this promise.
+
+It was evident there would be exciting times on the
+morrow, if the Flatheads really attacked the Skeezers
+of the Magic Isle.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Ten
+
+Under Water
+
+
+
+When night fell all the interior of the Great Dome,
+streets and houses, became lighted with brilliant
+incandescent lamps, which rendered it bright as day.
+Dorothy thought the island must look beautiful by night
+from the outer shore of the lake. There was revelry and
+feasting in the Queen's palace, and the music of the
+royal band could be plainly heard in Lady Aurex's
+house, where Ozma and Dorothy remained with their
+hostess and keeper. They were prisoners, but treated
+with much consideration.
+
+Lady Aurex gave them a nice supper and when they
+wished to retire showed them to a pretty room with
+comfortable beds and wished them a good night and
+pleasant dreams.
+
+"What do you think of all this, Ozma?" Dorothy
+anxiously inquired when they were alone.
+
+"I am glad we came," was the reply, "for although
+there may be mischief done to-morrow, it was necessary
+I should know about these people, whose leaders are
+wild and lawless and oppress their subjects with
+injustice and cruelties. My task, therefore, is to
+liberate the Skeezers and the Flatheads and secure for
+them freedom and happiness. I have no doubt I can
+accomplish this in time."
+
+"Just now, though, we're in a bad fix," asserted
+Dorothy. "If Queen Coo-ee-oh conquers to-morrow, she
+won't be nice to us, and if the Su-dic conquers, he'll
+be worse."
+
+"Do not worry, dear," said Ozma, "I do not think we
+are in danger, whatever happens, and the result of our
+adventure is sure to be good."
+
+Dorothy was not worrying, especially. She had
+confidence in her friend, the fairy Princess of Oz, and
+she enjoyed the excitement of the events in which she
+was taking part. So she crept into bed and fell asleep
+as easily as if she had been in her own cosy room in
+Ozma's palace.
+
+A sort of grating, grinding sound awakened her. The
+whole island seemed to tremble and sway, as it might do
+in an earthquake. Dorothy sat up in bed, rubbing her
+eyes to get the sleep out of them, and then found it
+was daybreak.
+
+Ozma was hurriedly dressing herself.
+
+"What is it?" asked Dorothy, jumping out of bed.
+
+"I'm not sure," answered Ozma "but it feels as if the
+island is sinking."
+
+As soon as possible they finished dressing, while the
+creaking and swaying continued. Then they rushed into
+the living room of the house and found Lady Aurex,
+fully dressed, awaiting them.
+
+"Do not be alarmed," said their hostess. "Coo-ee-oh
+has decided to submerge the island, that is all. But it
+proves the Flatheads are coming to attack us."
+
+"What do you mean by sub-sub-merging the island?"
+asked Dorothy.
+
+"Come here and see," was the reply.
+
+Lady Aurex led them to a window which faced the side
+of the great dome which covered all the village, and
+they could see that the island was indeed sinking, for
+the water of the lake was already half way up the side
+of the dome. Through the glass could be seen swimming
+fishes, and tall stalks of swaying seaweeds, for the
+water was clear as crystal and through it they could
+distinguish even the farther shore of the lake.
+
+"The Flatheads are not here yet," said Lady Aurex.
+"They will come soon, but not until all of this dome is
+under the surface of the water."
+
+"Won't the dome leak?" Dorothy inquired anxiously.
+
+"No, indeed."
+
+"Was the island ever sub-sub-sunk before?"
+
+"Oh, yes; on several occasions. But Coo-ee-oh doesn't
+care to do that often, for it requires a lot of hard
+work to operate the machinery. The dome was built so
+that the island could disappear. I think," she
+continued, "that our Queen fears the Flatheads will
+attack the island and try to break the glass of the
+dome."
+
+"Well, if we're under water, they can't fight us, and
+we can't fight them," asserted Dorothy.
+
+"They could kill the fishes, however," said Ozma
+gravely
+
+"We have ways to fight, also, even though our island
+is under water," claimed Lady Aurex. "I cannot tell you
+all our secrets, but this island is full of surprises.
+Also our Queen's magic is astonishing."
+
+"Did she steal it all from the three Adepts in
+Sorcery that are now fishes?"
+
+"She stole the knowledge and the magic tools, but she
+has used them as the three Adepts never would have
+done."
+
+By this time the top of the dome was quite under
+water and suddenly the island stopped sinking and
+became stationary.
+
+"See!" cried Lady Aurex, pointing to the shore. "The
+Flatheads have come."
+
+On the bank, which was now far above their heads, a
+crowd of dark figures could be seen.
+
+"Now let us see what Coo-ee-oh will do to oppose
+them," continued Lady Aurex, in a voice that betrayed
+her excitement.
+
+   *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *
+
+The Flatheads, pushing their way through the line of
+palm trees, had reached the shore of the lake just as
+the top of the island's dome disappeared beneath the
+surface. The water now flowed from shore to shore, but
+through the clear water the dome was still visible and
+the houses of the Skeezers could be dimly seen through
+the panes of glass.
+
+"Good!" exclaimed the Su-dic, who had armed all his
+followers and had brought with him two copper vessels,
+which he carefully set down upon the ground beside him.
+"If Coo-ee-oh wants to hide instead of fighting our job
+will be easy, for in one of these copper vessels I have
+enough poison to kill every fish in the lake."
+
+"Kill them, then, while we have time, and then we can
+go home again," advised one of the chief officers.
+
+"Not yet," objected the Su-dic. "The Queen of the
+Skeezers has defied me, and I want to get her into my
+power, as well as to destroy her magic. She transformed
+my poor wife into a Golden Pig, and I must have revenge
+for that, whatever else we do."
+
+"Look out!" suddenly exclaimed the officers, pointing
+into the lake; "something's going to happen."
+
+From the submerged dome a door opened and something
+black shot swiftly out into the water. The door
+instantly closed behind it and the dark object cleaved
+its way through the water, without rising to the
+surface, directly toward the place where the Flatheads
+were standing.
+
+"What is that?" Dorothy asked the Lady Aurex.
+
+"That is one of the Queen's submarines," was the
+reply. "It is all enclosed, and can move under water.
+Coo-ee-oh has several of these boats which are kept in
+little rooms in the basement under our village. When
+the island is submerged, the Queen uses these boats to
+reach the shore, and I believe she now intends to fight
+the Flatheads with them."
+
+The Su-dic and his people knew nothing of Coo-ee-oh's
+submarines, so they watched with surprise as the under-
+water boat approached them. When it was quite near the
+shore it rose to the surface and the top parted and
+fell back, disclosing a boat full of armed Skeezers. At
+the head was the Queen, standing up in the bow and
+holding in one hand a coil of magic rope that gleamed
+like silver.
+
+The boat halted and Coo-ee-oh drew back her arm to
+throw the silver rope toward the Su-dic, who was now
+but a few feet from her. But the wily Flathead leader
+quickly realized his danger and before the Queen could
+throw the rope he caught up one of the copper vessels
+and dashed its contents full in her face!
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Eleven
+
+The Conquest of the Skeezers
+
+
+
+Queen Coo-ee-oh dropped the rope, tottered and fell
+headlong into the water, sinking beneath the surface,
+while the Skeezers in the submarine assist her and only
+stared at the ripples in the water where she had
+disappeared. A moment later there arose to the surface
+a beautiful White Swan. This Swan was of large size,
+very gracefully formed, and scattered all over its
+white feathers were tiny diamonds, so thickly placed
+that as the rays of the morning sun fell upon them the
+entire body of the Swan glistened like one brilliant
+diamond. The head of the Diamond Swan had a bill of
+polished gold and its eyes were two sparkling
+amethysts.
+
+"Hooray!" cried the Su-dic, dancing up and down with
+wicked glee. "My poor wife, Rora, is avenged at last.
+You made her a Golden Pig, Coo-ee-oh, and now I have
+made you a Diamond Swan. Float on your lake forever, if
+you like, for your web feet can do no more magic and
+you are as powerless as the Pig you made of my wife!
+
+"Villain! Scoundrel!" croaked the Diamond Swan. "You
+will be punished for this. Oh, what a fool I was to let
+you enchant me!
+
+"A fool you were, and a fool you are!" laughed the
+Su-dic, dancing madly in his delight. And then he
+carelessly tipped over the other copper vessel with his
+heel and its contents spilled on the sands and were
+lost to the last drop.
+
+The Su-dic stopped short and looked at the overturned
+vessel with a rueful countenance.
+
+"That's too bad -- too bad!" he exclaimed
+sorrowfully. "I've lost all the poison I had to kill
+the fishes with, and I can't make any more because only
+my wife knew the secret of it, and she is now a foolish
+Pig and has forgotten all her magic."
+
+"Very well," said the Diamond Swan scornfully, as she
+floated upon the water and swam gracefully here and
+there. I'm glad to see you are foiled. Your punishment
+is just beginning, for although you have enchanted me
+and taken away my powers of sorcery you have still the
+three magic fishes to deal with, and they'll destroy
+you in time, mark my words."
+
+The Su-dic stared at the Swan a moment. Then he
+yelled to his men:
+
+"Shoot her! Shoot the saucy bird!"
+
+They let fly some arrows at the Diamond Swan, but she
+dove under the water and the missiles fell harmless.
+When Coo-ce-oh rose to the surface she was far from the
+shore and she swiftly swam across the lake to where no
+arrows or spears could reach her.
+
+The Su-dic rubbed his chin and thought what to do
+next. Near by floated the submarine in which the Queen
+had come, but the Skeezers who were in it were puzzled
+what to do with themselves. Perhaps they were not sorry
+their cruel mistress had been transformed into a
+Diamond Swan, but the transformation had left them
+quite helpless. The under-water boat was not operated
+by machinery, but by certain mystic words uttered by
+Coo-ee-oh. They didn't know how to submerge it, or how
+to make the water-tight shield cover them again, or how
+to make the boat go back to the castle, or make it
+enter the little basement room where it was usually
+kept. As a matter of fact, they were now shut out of
+their village under the Great Dome and could not get
+back again. So one of the men called to the Supreme
+Dictator of the Flatheads, saying:
+
+"Please make us prisoners and take us to your
+mountain, and feed and keep us, for we have nowhere to
+go."
+
+Then the Su-dic laughed and answered:
+
+"Not so. I can't be bothered by caring for a lot of
+stupid Skeezers. Stay where you are, or go wherever you
+please, so long as you keep away from our mountain." He
+turned to his men and added: "We have conquered Queen
+Coo-ee-oh and made her a helpless swan. The Skeezers
+are under water and may stay there. So, having won the
+war, let us go home again and make merry and feast,
+having after many years proved the Flatheads to be
+greater and more powerful than the Skeezers."
+
+So the Flatheads marched away and passed through the
+row of palms and went back to their mountain, where the
+Su-dic and a few of his officers feasted and all the
+others were forced to wait on them.
+
+"I'm sorry we couldn't have roast pig," said the Su-
+dic, "but as the only pig we have is made of gold, we
+can't eat her. Also the Golden Pig happens to be my
+wife, and even were she not gold I am sure she would be
+too tough to eat."
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Twelve
+
+The Diamond Swan
+
+
+
+When the Flatheads had gone away the Diamond Swan
+swam back to the boat and one of the young Skeezers
+named Ervic said to her eagerly:
+
+"How can we get back to the island, your Majesty?"
+
+"Am I not beautiful?" asked Coo-ee-oh, arching her
+neck gracefully and spreading her diamond-sprinkled
+wings. "I can see my reflection in the water, and I'm
+sure there is no bird nor beast, nor human as
+magnificent as I am!"
+
+"How shall we get back to the island, your Majesty?"
+pleaded Ervic.
+
+"When my fame spreads throughout the land, people
+will travel from all parts of this lake to look upon my
+loveliness," said Coo-ee-oh, shaking her feathers to
+make the diamonds glitter more brilliantly.
+
+"But, your Majesty, we must go home and we do not
+know how to get there," Ervic persisted.
+
+"My eyes," remarked the Diamond Swan, "are
+wonderfully blue and bright and will charm all
+beholders."
+
+"Tell us how to make the boat go -- how to get back
+into the island," begged Ervic and the others cried
+just as earnestly: "Tell us, Coo-ee-oh; tell us!"
+
+"I don't know," replied the Queen in a careless tone.
+
+"You are a magic-worker, a sorceress, a witch!"
+
+"I was, of course, when I was a girl," she said,
+bending her head over the clear water to catch her
+reflection in it; "but now I've forgotten all such
+foolish things as magic. Swans are lovelier than girls,
+especially when they're sprinkled with diamonds. Don't
+you think so?" And she gracefully swam away, without
+seeming to care whether they answered or not.
+
+Ervic and his companions were in despair. They saw
+plainly that Coo-ee-oh could not or would not help
+them. The former Queen had no further thought for her
+island, her people, or her wonderful magic; she was
+only intent on admiring her own beauty.
+
+"Truly," said Ervic, in a gloomy voice, "the
+Flatheads have conquered us!"
+
+   *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *
+
+Some of these events had been witnessed by Ozma
+and Dorothy and Lady Aurex, who had left the house
+and gone close to the glass of the dome, in order to see
+what was going on. Many of the Skeezers had also
+crowded against the dome, wondering what would
+happen next. Although their vision was to an extent
+blurred by the water and the necessity of looking
+upward at an angle, they had observed the main points
+of the drama enacted above. They saw Queen Coo-
+ee-oh's submarine come to the surface and open; they
+saw the Queen standing erect to throw her magic rope;
+they saw her sudden transformation into a Diamond
+Swan, and a cry of amazement went up from the
+Skeezers inside the dome.
+
+"Good!" exclaimed Dorothy. "I hate that old Su-dic,
+but I'm glad Coo-ee-oh is punished."
+
+"This is a dreadful misfortune!" cried Lady Aurex,
+pressing her hands upon her heart.
+
+"Yes," agreed Ozma, nodding her head thoughtfully;
+"Coo-ee-oh's misfortune will prove a terrible blow to
+her people."
+
+"What do you mean by that?" asked Dorothy in
+surprise. "Seems to me the Skeezers are in luck to lose
+their cruel Queen."
+
+"If that were all you would be right," responded Lady
+Aurex; "and if the island were above water it would not
+be so serious. But here we all are, at the bottom of
+the lake, and fast prisoners in this dome."
+
+"Can't you raise the island?" inquired Dorothy.
+
+"No. Only Coo-ee-oh knew how to do that," was the
+answer.
+
+"We can try," insisted Dorothy. "If it can be made to
+go down, it can be made to come up. The machinery is
+still here, I suppose.
+
+"Yes; but the machinery works by magic, and Coo-ee-oh
+would never share her secret power with any one of us."
+
+Dorothy's face grew grave; but she was thinking.
+
+"Ozma knows a lot of magic," she said.
+
+"But not that kind of magic," Ozma replied.
+
+"Can't you learn how, by looking at the machinery?"
+
+"I'm afraid not, my dear. It isn't fairy magic at
+all; it is witchcraft."
+
+"Well," said Dorothy, turning to Lady Aurex, "you say
+there are other sub-sub-sinking boats. We can get in
+one of those, and shoot out to the top of the water,
+like Coo-ee-oh did, and so escape. And then we can help
+to rescue all the Skeezers down here."
+
+"No one knows how to work the under-water boats but
+the Queen," declared Lady Aurex.
+
+"Isn't there any door or window in this dome that we
+could open?"
+
+"No; and, if there were, the water would rush in
+to flood the dome, and we could not get out."
+
+"The Skeezers," said Ozma, "could not drown; they
+only get wet and soggy and in that condition they would
+be very uncomfortable and unhappy. But you are a mortal
+girl, Dorothy, and if your Magic Belt protected you
+from death you would have to lie forever at the bottom
+of the lake."
+
+"No, I'd rather die quickly," asserted the little
+girl. "But there are doors in the basement that open --
+to let out the bridges and the boats -- and that would
+not flood the dome, you know."
+
+"Those doors open by a magic word, and only Coo-ee-oh
+knows the word that must be uttered," said Lady Aurex.
+
+"Dear me!" exclaimed Dorothy, "that dreadful Queen's
+witchcraft upsets all my plans to escape. I guess I'll
+give it up, Ozma, and let you save us."
+
+Ozma smiled, but her smile was not so cheerful as
+usual. The Princess of Oz found herself confronted with
+a serious problem, and although she had no thought of
+despairing she realized that the Skeezers and their
+island, as well as Dorothy and herself, were in grave
+trouble and that unless she could find a means to save
+them they would be lost to the Land of Oz for all
+future time.
+
+"In such a dilemma," said she, musingly, "nothing is
+gained by haste. Careful thought may aid us, and so may
+the course of events. The unexpected is always likely
+to happen, and cheerful patience is better than
+reckless action."
+
+"All right," returned Dorothy; "take your time, Ozma;
+there's no hurry. How about some breakfast, Lady
+Aurex?"
+
+Their hostess led them back to the house, where she
+ordered her trembling servants to prepare and serve
+breakfast. All the Skeezers were frightened and anxious
+over the transformation of their Queen into a swan.
+Coo-ee-oh was feared and hated, but they had depended
+on her magic to conquer the Flatheads and she was the
+only one who could raise their island to the surface of
+the lake again.
+
+Before breakfast was over several of the leading
+Skeezers came to Aurex to ask her advice and to
+question Princess Ozma, of whom they knew nothing
+except that she claimed to be a fairy and the Ruler of
+all the land, including the Lake of the Skeezers.
+
+"If what you told Queen Coo-ee-oh was the truth,"
+they said to her, "you are our lawful mistress, and we
+may depend on you to get us out of our difficulties."
+
+"I will try to do that" Ozma graciously assured them,
+"but you must remember that the powers of fairies are
+granted them to bring comfort and happiness to all who
+appeal to them. On the contrary, such magic as Coo-ee-
+oh knew and practiced is unlawful witchcraft and her
+arts are such as no fairy would condescend to use.
+However, it is sometimes necessary to consider evil in
+order to accomplish good, and perhaps by studying Coo-
+ee-oh's tools and charms of witchcraft I may be able to
+save us. Do you promise to accept me as your Ruler and
+to obey my commands?"
+
+They promised willingly.
+
+"Then," continued Ozma, "I will go to Coo-ee-oh's
+palace and take possession of it. Perhaps what I find
+there will be of use to me. In the meantime tell all
+the Skeezers to fear nothing, but have patience. Let
+them return to their homes and perform their daily
+tasks as usual. Coo-ee-oh's loss may not prove a
+misfortune, but rather a blessing."
+
+This speech cheered the Skeezers amazingly. Really,
+they had no one now to depend upon but Ozma, and in
+spite of their dangerous position their hearts were
+lightened by the transformation and absence of their
+cruel Queen.
+
+They got out their brass band and a grand procession
+escorted Ozma and Dorothy to the palace, where all of
+Coo-ee-oh's former servants were eager to wait upon
+them. Ozma invited Lady Aurex to stay at the palace
+also, for she knew all about the Skeezers and their
+island and had also been a favorite of the former
+Queen, so her advice and information were sure to prove
+valuable.
+
+Ozma was somewhat disappointed in what she found in
+the palace. One room of Coo-ee-oh's private suite was
+entirely devoted to the practice of witchcraft, and
+here were countless queer instruments and jars of
+ointments and bottles of potions labeled with queer
+names, and strange machines that Ozma could not guess
+the use of, and pickled toads and snails and lizards,
+and a shelf of books that were written in blood, but in
+a language which the Ruler of Oz did not know.
+
+"I do not see," said Ozma to Dorothy, who accompanied
+her in her search, "how Coo-ee-oh knew the use of the
+magic tools she stole from the three Adept Witches.
+Moreover, from all reports these Adepts practiced only
+good witchcraft, such as would be helpful to their
+people, while Coo-ee-oh performed only evil."
+
+"Perhaps she turned the good things to evil uses?"
+suggested Dorothy.
+
+"Yes, and with the knowledge she gained Coo-ee-oh
+doubtless invented many evil things quite unknown to
+the good Adepts, who are now fishes," added Ozma. "It
+is unfortunate for us that the Queen kept her secrets
+so closely guarded, for no one but herself could use
+any of these strange things gathered in this room."
+
+"Couldn't we capture the Diamond Swan and make her
+tell the secrets?" asked Dorothy.
+
+"No; even were we able to capture her, Coo-ee-oh now
+has forgotten all the magic she ever knew. But until we
+ourselves escape from this dome we could not capture
+the Swan, and were we to escape we would have no use for
+Coo-ee-oh's magic."
+
+"That's a fact," admitted Dorothy. "But -- say, Ozma,
+here's a good idea!  Couldn't we capture the three
+fishes -- the gold and silver and bronze ones, and
+couldn't you transform 'em back to their own shapes,
+and then couldn't the three Adepts get us out of here?"
+
+"You are not very practical, Dorothy dear. It would
+be as hard for us to capture the three fishes, from
+among all the other fishes in the lake, as to capture
+the Swan."
+
+"But if we could, it would be more help to us,"
+persisted the little girl.
+
+"That is true," answered Ozma, smiling at her
+friend's eagerness. "You find a way to catch the fish,
+and I'll promise when they are caught to restore them
+to their proper forms."
+
+"I know you think I can't do it," replied Dorothy,
+"but I'm going to try."
+
+She left the palace and went to a place where she
+could look through a clear pane of the glass dome into
+the surrounding water. Immediately she became
+interested in the queer sights that met her view.
+
+The Lake of the Skeezers was inhabited by fishes of
+many kinds and many sizes. The water was so transparent
+that the girl could see for a long distance and the
+fishes came so close to the glass of the dome that
+sometimes they actually touched it. On the white sands
+at the bottom of the lake were star-fish, lobsters,
+crabs and many shell fish of strange shapes and with
+shells of gorgeous hues. The water foliage was of
+brilliant colors and to Dorothy it resembled a splendid
+garden.
+
+But the fishes were the most interesting of all. Some
+were big and lazy, floating slowly along or lying at
+rest with just their fins waving. Many with big round
+eyes looked full at the girl as she watched them and
+Dorothy wondered if they could hear her through the
+glass if she spoke to them. In Oz, where all the
+animals and birds can talk, many fishes are able to
+talk also, but usually they are more stupid than birds
+and animals because they think slowly and haven't much
+to talk about.
+
+In the Lake of the Skeezers the fish of smaller size
+were more active than the big ones and darted quickly
+in and out among the swaying weeds, as if they had
+important business and were in a hurry. It was among
+the smaller varieties that Dorothy hoped to spy the
+gold and silver and bronze fishes. She had an idea the
+three would keep together, being companions now as they
+were in their natural forms, but such a multitude of
+fishes constantly passed, the scene shifting every
+moment, that she was not sure she would notice them
+even if they appeared in view. Her eyes couldn't look
+in all directions and the fishes she sought might be on
+the other side of the dome, or far away in the lake.
+
+"P'raps, because they were afraid of Coo-ee-oh,
+they've hid themselves somewhere, and don't know their
+enemy has been transformed," she reflected.
+
+She watched the fishes for a long time, until she
+became hungry and went back to the palace for lunch.
+But she was not discouraged.
+
+"Anything new, Ozma?" she asked.
+
+"No, dear. Did you discover the three fishes?"
+
+"Not yet. But there isn't anything better for me to
+do, Ozma, so I guess I'll go back and watch again."
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Thirteen
+
+The Alarm Bell
+
+
+
+Glinda, the Good, in her palace in the Quadling
+Country, had many things to occupy her mind, for not
+only did she look after the weaving and embroidery of
+her bevy of maids, and assist all those who came to her
+to implore her help -- beasts and birds as well as
+people -- but she was a close student of the arts of
+sorcery and spent much time in her Magical Laboratory,
+where she strove to find a remedy for every evil and to
+perfect her skill in magic.
+
+Nevertheless, she did not forget to look in the Great
+Book of Records each day to see if any mention was made
+of the visit of Ozma and Dorothy to the Enchanted
+Mountain of the Flatheads and the Magic Isle of the
+Skeezers. The Records told her that Ozma had arrived at
+the mountain, that she had escaped, with her companion,
+and gone to the island of the Skeezers, and that Queen
+Coo-ee-oh had submerged the island so that it was
+entirely under water. Then came the statement that the
+Flatheads had come to the lake to poison the fishes and
+that their Supreme Dictator had transformed Queen Coo-
+ee-oh into a swan.
+
+No other details were given in the Great Book and so
+Glinda did not know that since Coo-ee-oh had forgotten
+her magic none of the Skeezers knew how to raise the
+island to the surface again. So Glinda was not worried
+about Ozma and Dorothy until one morning, while she sat
+with her maids, there came a sudden clang of the
+great alarm bell. This was so unusual that every maid
+gave a start and even the Sorceress for a moment could
+not think what the alarm meant.
+
+Then she remembered the ring she had given Dorothy
+when she left the palace to start on her venture. In
+giving the ring Glinda had warned the little girl not
+to use its magic powers unless she and Ozma were in
+real danger, but then she was to turn it on her finger
+once to the right and once to the left and Glinda's
+alarm bell would ring.
+
+So the Sorceress now knew that danger threatened her
+beloved Ruler and Princess Dorothy, and she hurried to
+her magic room to seek information as to what sort of
+danger it was. The answer to her question was not very
+satisfactory, for it was only: "Ozma and Dorothy are
+prisoners in the great Dome of the Isle of the
+Skeezers, and the Dome is under the water of the lake."
+
+"Hasn't Ozma the power to raise the island to the
+surface?" inquired Glinda.
+
+"No," was the reply, and the Record refused to say
+more except that Queen Coo-ee-oh, who alone could
+command the island to rise, had been transformed by the
+Flathead Su-dic into a Diamond Swan.
+
+Then Glinda consulted the past records of the
+Skeezers in the Great Book. After diligent search she
+discovered that Coo-ee-oh was a powerful sorceress who
+had gained most of her power by treacherously
+transforming the Adepts of Magic, who were visiting
+her, into three fishes -- gold, silver and bronze --
+after which she had them cast into the lake.
+
+Glinda reflected earnestly on this information and
+decided that someone must go to Ozma's assistance.
+While there was no great need of haste, because Ozma
+and Dorothy could live in a submerged dome a long time,
+it was evident they could not get out until someone was
+able to raise the island.
+
+The Sorceress looked through all her recipes and
+books of sorcery, but could find no magic that would
+raise a sunken island. Such a thing had never before
+been required in sorcery. Then Glinda made a little
+island, covered by a glass dome, and sunk it in a pond
+near her castle, and experimented in magical ways to
+bring it to the surface. She made several such
+experiments, but all were failures. It seemed a simple
+thing to do, yet she could not do it.
+
+Nevertheless, the wise Sorceress did not despair of
+finding a way to liberate her friends. Finally she
+concluded that the best thing to do was to go to the
+Skeezer country and examine the lake. While there she
+was more likely to discover a solution to the problem
+that bothered her, and to work out a plan for the
+rescue of Ozma and Dorothy.
+
+So Glinda summoned her storks and her aerial chariot,
+and telling her maids she was going on a journey and
+might not soon return, she entered the chariot and was
+carried swiftly to the Emerald City.
+
+In Princess Ozma's palace the Scarecrow was now
+acting as Ruler of the Land of Oz. There wasn't much
+for him to do, because all the affairs of state moved
+so smoothly, but he was there in case anything
+unforeseen should happen.
+
+Glinda found the Scarecrow playing croquet with Trot
+and Betsy Bobbin, two little girls who lived at the
+palace under Ozma's protection and were great friends
+of Dorothy and much loved by all the Oz people.
+
+"Something's happened!" cried Trot, as the chariot of
+the Sorceress descended near them. "Glinda never comes
+here 'cept something's gone wrong."
+
+"I hope no harm has come to Ozma, or Dorothy," said
+Betsy anxiously, as the lovely Sorceress stepped down
+from her chariot.
+
+Glinda approached the Scarecrow and told him of the
+dilemma of Ozma and Dorothy and she added: "We must
+save them, somehow, Scarecrow."
+
+"Of course," replied the Scarecrow, stumbling over a
+wicket and falling flat on his painted face.
+
+The girls picked him up and patted his straw stuffing
+into shape, and he continued, as if nothing had
+occurred: "But you'll have to tell me what to do, for I
+never have raised a sunken island in all my life."
+
+"We must have a Council of State as soon as
+possible," proposed the Sorceress. "Please send
+messengers to summon all of Ozma's counsellors to this
+palace. Then we can decide what is best to be done."
+
+The Scarecrow lost no time in doing this. Fortunately
+most of the royal counsellors were in the Emerald City
+or near to it, so they all met in the throne room of
+the palace that same evening.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Fourteen
+
+Ozma's Counsellors
+
+
+
+No Ruler ever had such a queer assortment of advisers
+as the Princess Ozma had gathered about her throne.
+Indeed, in no other country could such amazing people
+exist. But Ozma loved them for their peculiarities and
+could trust every one of them.
+
+First there was the Tin Woodman. Every bit of him was
+tin, brightly polished. All his joints were kept well
+oiled and moved smoothly. He carried a gleaming axe to
+prove he was a woodman, but seldom had cause to use it
+because he lived in a magnificent tin castle in the
+Winkie Country of Oz and was the Emperor of all the
+Winkies. The Tin Woodman's name was Nick Chopper. He
+had a very good mind, but his heart was not of much
+account, so he was very careful to do nothing unkind or
+to hurt anyone's feelings.
+
+Another counsellor was Scraps, the Patchwork Girl of
+Oz, who was made of a gaudy patchwork quilt, cut into
+shape and stuffed with cotton. This Patchwork Girl was
+very intelligent, but so full of fun and mad pranks
+that a lot of more stupid folks thought she must be
+crazy. Scraps was jolly under all conditions, however
+grave they might be, but her laughter and good spirits
+were of value in cheering others and in her seemingly
+careless remarks much wisdom could often be found.
+
+Then there was the Shaggy Man -- shaggy from head to
+foot, hair and whiskers, clothes and shoes -- but very
+kind and gentle and one of Ozma's most loyal
+supporters.
+
+Tik-Tok was there, a copper man with machinery inside
+him, so cleverly constructed that he moved, spoke and
+thought by three separate clock-works. Tik-Tok was very
+reliable because he always did exactly what he was
+wound up to do, but his machinery was liable to run
+down at times and then he was quite helpless until
+wound up again.
+
+A different sort of person was Jack Pumpkinhead, one
+of Ozma's oldest friends and her companion on many
+adventures. Jack's body was very crude and awkward,
+being formed of limbs of trees of different sizes,
+jointed with wooden pegs. But it was a substantial body
+and not likely to break or wear out, and when it was
+dressed the clothes covered much of its roughness. The
+head of Jack Pumpkinhead was, as you have guessed, a
+ripe pumpkin, with the eyes, nose and mouth carved upon
+one side. The pumpkin was stuck on Jack's wooden neck
+and was liable to get turned sidewise or backward and
+then he would have to straighten it with his wooden
+hands.
+
+The worst thing about this sort of a head was that it
+did not keep well and was sure to spoil sooner or
+later. So Jack's main business was to grow a field of
+fine pumpkins each year, and always before his old head
+spoiled he would select a fresh pumpkin from the field
+and carve the features on it very neatly, and have it
+ready to replace the old head whenever it became
+necessary. He didn't always carve it the same way, so
+his friends never knew exactly what sort of an
+expression they would find on his face. But there was
+no mistaking him, because he was the only pumpkin-
+headed man alive in the Land of Oz.
+
+A one-legged sailor-man was a member of Ozma's
+council. His name was Cap'n Bill and he had come to the
+Land of Oz with Trot, and had been made welcome on
+account of his cleverness, honesty and good nature. He
+wore a wooden leg to replace the one he had lost and
+was a great friend of all the children in Oz because he
+could whittle all sorts of toys out of wood with his
+big jack-knife.
+
+Professor H. M. Wogglebug, T. E., was another member
+of the council. The "H. M." meant Highly Magnified, for
+the Professor was once a little bug, who became
+magnified to the size of a man and always remained so.
+The "T. E." meant that he was Thoroughly Educated. He
+was at the head of Princess Ozma's Royal Athletic
+College, and so that the students would not have to
+study and so lose much time that could be devoted to
+athletic sports, such as football, baseball and the
+like, Professor Wogglebug had invented the famous
+Educational Pills. If one of the college students took
+a Geography Pill after breakfast, he knew his geography
+lesson in an instant; if he took a Spelling Pill he at
+once knew his spelling lesson, and an Arithmetic Pill
+enabled the student to do any kind of sum without
+having to think about it.
+
+These useful pills made the college very popular and
+taught the boys and girls of Oz their lessons in the
+easiest possible way. In spite of this, Professor
+Wogglebug was not a favorite outside his college, for
+he was very conceited and admired himself so much and
+displayed his cleverness and learning so constantly,
+that no one cared to associate with him. Ozma found him
+of value in her councils, nevertheless.
+
+Perhaps the most splendidly dressed of all those
+present was a great frog as large as a man, called the
+Frogman, who was noted for his wise sayings. He had
+come to the Emerald City from the Yip Country of Oz and
+was a guest of honor. His long-tailed coat was of
+velvet, his vest of satin and his trousers of finest
+silk. There were diamond buckles on his shoes and he
+carried a gold-headed cane and a high silk hat. All of
+the bright colors were represented in his rich attire,
+so it tired one's eyes to look at him for long, until
+one became used to his splendor.
+
+The best farmer in all Oz was Uncle Henry, who was
+Dorothy's own uncle, and who now lived near the Emerald
+City with his wife Aunt Em. Uncle Henry taught the Oz
+people how to grow the finest vegetables and fruits and
+grains and was of much use to Ozma in keeping the Royal
+Storehouses well filled. He, too, was a counsellor.
+
+The reason I mention the little Wizard of Oz last is
+because he was the most important man in the Land of
+Oz. He wasn't a big man in size but he was a man in
+power and intelligence and second only to Glinda the
+Good in all the mystic arts of magic. Glinda had taught
+him, and the Wizard and the Sorceress were the only
+ones in Oz permitted by law to practice wizardry and
+sorcery, which they applied only to good uses and for
+the benefit of the people.
+
+The Wizard wasn't exactly handsome but he was
+pleasant to look at. His bald head was as shiny as if
+it had been varnished; there was always a merry twinkle
+in his eyes and he was as spry as a schoolboy.  Dorothy
+says the reason the Wizard is not as powerful as Glinda
+is because Glinda didn't teach him all she knows, but
+what the Wizard knows he knows very well and so he
+performs some very remarkable magic. The ten I have
+mentioned assembled, with the Scarecrow and Glinda, in
+Ozma's throne room, right after dinner that evening,
+and the Sorceress told them all she knew of the plight
+of Ozma and Dorothy
+
+"Of course we must rescue them," she continued, "and
+the sooner they are rescued the better pleased they
+will be; but what we must now determine is how they can
+be saved. That is why I have called you together in
+council."
+
+"The easiest way," remarked the Shaggy Man, "is to
+raise the sunken island of the Skeezers to the top of
+the water again."
+
+"Tell me how?" said Glinda.
+
+"I don't know how, your Highness, for I have never
+raised a sunken island."
+
+"We might all get under it and lift," suggested
+Professor Wogglebug.
+
+"How can we get under it when it rests on the bottom
+of the lake?" asked the Sorceress.
+
+"Couldn't we throw a rope around it and pull it
+ashore?" inquired Jack Pumpkinhead.
+
+"Why not pump the water out of the lake?" suggested
+the Patchwork Girl with a laugh.
+
+"Do be sensible!" pleaded Glinda. "This is a serious
+matter, and we must give it serious thought."
+
+"How big is the lake and how big is the island?" was
+the Frogman's question.
+
+"None of us can tell, for we have not been there."
+
+"In that case," said the Scarecrow, "it appears to me
+we ought to go to the Skeezer country and examine it
+carefully."
+
+"Quite right," agreed the Tin Woodman.
+
+"We-will-have-to-go-there-any-how," remarked Tik-Tok
+in his jerky machine voice.
+
+"The question is which of us shall go, and how many
+of us?" said the Wizard.
+
+"I shall go of course," declared the Scarecrow.
+
+"And I," said Scraps.
+
+"It is my duty to Ozma to go," asserted the Tin
+Woodman.
+
+"I could not stay away, knowing our loved Princess is
+in danger," said the Wizard.
+
+"We all feel like that," Uncle Henry said.
+
+Finally one and all present decided to go to the
+Skeezer country, with Glinda and the little Wizard to
+lead them. Magic must meet magic in order to conquer
+it, so these two skillful magic-workers were necessary
+to insure the success of the expedition.
+
+They were all ready to start at a moment's notice,
+for none had any affairs of importance to attend to.
+Jack was wearing a newly made Pumpkin-head and the
+Scarecrow had recently been stuffed with fresh straw.
+Tik-Tok's machinery was in good running order and the
+Tin Woodman always was well oiled.
+
+"It is quite a long journey," said Glinda, "and while
+I might travel quickly to the Skeezer country by means
+of my stork chariot the rest of you will be obliged to
+walk. So, as we must keep together, I will send my
+chariot back to my castle and we will plan to leave the
+Emerald City at sunrise to-morrow."
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Fifteen
+
+The Great Sorceress
+
+
+
+Betsy and Trot, when they heard of the rescue
+expedition, begged the Wizard to permit them to join it
+and he consented. The Glass Cat, overhearing the
+conversation, wanted to go also and to this the Wizard
+made no objection.
+
+This Glass Cat was one of the real curiosities of Oz.
+It had been made and brought to life by a clever
+magician named Dr. Pipt, who was not now permitted to
+work magic and was an ordinary citizen of the Emerald
+City. The cat was of transparent glass, through which
+one could plainly see its ruby heart beating and its
+pink brains whirling around in the top of the head.
+
+The Glass Cat's eyes were emeralds; its fluffy tail
+was of spun glass and very beautiful. The ruby heart,
+while pretty to look at, was hard and cold and the
+Glass Cat's disposition was not pleasant at all times.
+It scorned to catch mice, did not eat, and was
+extremely lazy. If you complimented the remarkable cat
+on her beauty, she would be very friendly, for she
+loved admiration above everything. The pink brains were
+always working and their owner was indeed more
+intelligent than most common cats.
+
+Three other additions to the rescue party were made
+the next morning, just as they were setting out upon
+their journey. The first was a little boy called Button
+Bright, because he had no other name that anyone could
+remember. He was a fine, manly little fellow, well
+mannered and good humored, who had only one bad fault.
+He was continually getting lost. To be sure, Button
+Bright got found as often as he got lost, but when he
+was missing his friends could not help being anxious
+about him.
+
+"Some day," predicted the Patchwork Girl, "he won't
+be found, and that will be the last of him." But that
+didn't worry Button Bright, who was so careless that he
+did not seem to be able to break the habit of getting
+lost.
+
+The second addition to the party was a Munchkin boy
+of about Button Bright's age, named Ojo. He was often
+called "Ojo the Lucky," because good fortune followed
+him wherever he went. He and Button Bright were close
+friends, although of such different natures, and Trot
+and Betsy were fond of both.
+
+The third and last to join the expedition was an
+enormous lion, one of Ozma's regular guardians and the
+most important and intelligent beast in all Oz. He
+called himself the Cowardly Lion, saying that every
+little danger scared him so badly that his heart
+thumped against his ribs, but all who knew him knew
+that the Cowardly Lion's fears were coupled with
+bravery and that however much he might be frightened he
+summoned courage to meet every danger he encountered.
+Often he had saved Dorothy and Ozma in times of peril,
+but afterward he moaned and trembled and wept because
+he had been so scared.
+
+"If Ozma needs help, I'm going to help her," said the
+great beast. "Also, I suspect the rest of you may need
+me on the journey -- especially Trot and Betsy -- for
+you may pass through a dangerous part of the country. I
+know that wild Gillikin country pretty well. Its
+forests harbor many ferocious beasts."
+
+They were glad the Cowardly Lion was to join them,
+and in good spirits the entire party formed a
+procession and marched out of the Emerald City amid the
+shouts of the people, who wished them success and a
+safe return with their beloved Ruler.
+
+They followed a different route from that taken by
+Ozma and Dorothy, for they went through the Winkie
+Country and up north toward Oogaboo. But before they
+got there they swerved to the left and entered the
+Great Gillikin Forest, the nearest thing to a
+wilderness in all Oz. Even the Cowardly Lion had to
+admit that certain parts of this forest were unknown to
+him, although he had often wandered among the trees,
+and the Scarecrow and Tin Woodman, who were great
+travelers, never had been there at all.
+
+The forest was only reached after a tedious tramp,
+for some of the Rescue Expedition were quite awkward on
+their feet. The Patchwork Girl was as light as a
+feather and very spry; the Tin Woodman covered the
+ground as easily as Uncle Henry and the Wizard; but
+Tik-Tok moved slowly and the slightest obstruction in
+the road would halt him until the others cleared it
+away. Then, too, Tik-Tok's machinery kept running down,
+so Betsy and Trot took turns in winding it up.
+
+The Scarecrow was more clumsy but less bother, for
+although he often stumbled and fell he could scramble
+up again and a little patting of his straw-stuffed body
+would put him in good shape again.
+
+Another awkward one was Jack Pumpkinhead, for walking
+would jar his head around on his neck and then he would
+be likely to go in the wrong direction. But the Frogman
+took Jack's arm and then he followed the path more
+easily.
+
+Cap'n Bill's wooden leg didn't prevent him from
+keeping up with the others and the old sailor could
+walk as far as any of them.
+
+When they entered the forest the Cowardly Lion took
+the lead. There was no path here for men, but many
+beasts had made paths of their own which only the eyes
+of the Lion, practiced in woodcraft, could discern. So
+he stalked ahead and wound his way in and out, the
+others following in single file, Glinda being next to
+the Lion.
+
+There are dangers in the forest, of course, but as
+the huge Lion headed the party he kept the wild
+denizens of the wilderness from bothering the
+travelers. Once, to be sure, an enormous leopard sprang
+upon the Glass Cat and caught her in his powerful jaws,
+but he broke several of his teeth and with howls of
+pain and dismay dropped his prey and vanished among the
+trees.
+
+"Are you hurt?" Trot anxiously inquired of the Glass
+Cat.
+
+"How silly!" exclaimed the creature in an irritated
+tone of voice; "nothing can hurt glass, and I'm too
+solid to break easily. But I'm annoyed at that
+leopard's impudence. He has no respect for beauty or
+intelligence. If he had noticed my pink brains work,
+I'm sure he would have realized I'm too important to be
+grabbed in a wild beast's jaws."
+
+"Never mind," said Trot consolingly; "I'm sure he
+won't do it again."
+
+They were almost in the center of the forest when
+Ojo, the Munchkin boy, suddenly said: "Why, where's
+Button Bright?"
+
+They halted and looked around them. Button Bright was
+not with the party.
+
+Dear me," remarked Betsy, "I expect he's lost again!"
+
+"When did you see him last, Ojo?"inquired Glinda.
+
+"It was some time ago," replied Ojo. "He was trailing
+along at the end and throwing twigs at the squirrels in
+the trees. Then I went to talk to Betsy and Trot, and
+just now I noticed he was gone."
+
+"This is too bad," declared the Wizard, "for it is
+sure to delay our journey. We must find Button Bright
+before we go any farther, for this forest is full of
+ferocious beasts that would not hesitate to tear the
+boy to pieces."
+
+"But what shall we do?" asked the Scarecrow. "If any
+of us leaves the party to search for Button Bright he
+or she might fall a victim to the beasts, and if the
+Lion leaves us we will have no protector.
+
+"The Glass Cat could go," suggested the Frogman.
+"The beasts can do her no harm, as we have discovered."
+
+The Wizard turned to Glinda.
+
+"Cannot your sorcery discover where Button Bright
+is?" he asked.
+
+"I think so," replied the Sorceress.
+
+She called to Uncle Henry, who had been carrying her
+wicker box, to bring it to her, and when he obeyed she
+opened it and drew out a small round mirror. On the
+surface of the glass she dusted a white powder and then
+wiped it away with her handkerchief and looked in the
+mirror. It reflected a part of the forest, and there,
+beneath a wide-spreading tree, Button Bright was lying
+asleep. On one side of him crouched a tiger, ready to
+spring; on the other side was a big gray wolf, its
+bared fangs glistening in a wicked way.
+
+"Goodness me!" cried Trot, looking over Glinda's
+shoulder. "They'll catch and kill him sure."
+
+Everyone crowded around for a glimpse at the magic
+mirror.
+
+"Pretty bad -- pretty bad!" said the Scarecrow
+sorrowfully.
+
+"Comes of getting lost!" said Cap'n Bill, sighing.
+
+"Guess he's a goner!" said the Frogman, wiping his
+eyes on his purple silk handkerchief.
+
+"But where is he?  Can't we save him?" asked Ojo the
+Lucky.
+
+"If we knew where he is we could probably save him,"
+replied the little Wizard, "but that tree looks so much
+like all the other trees, that we can't tell whether
+it's far away or near by."
+
+"Look at Glinda!" exclaimed Betsy
+
+Glinda, having handed the mirror to the Wizard, had
+stepped aside and was making strange passes with her
+outstretched arms and reciting in low, sweet tones a
+mystical incantation. Most of them watched the
+Sorceress with anxious eyes, despair giving way to the
+hope that she might be able to save their friend. the
+Wizard, however, watched the scene in the mirror, while
+over his shoulders peered Trot, the Scarecrow and the
+Shaggy Man.
+
+What they saw was more strange than Glinda's actions.
+The tiger started to spring on the sleeping boy, but
+suddenly lost its power to move and lay flat upon the
+ground. The gray wolf seemed unable to lift its feet
+from the ground. It pulled first at one leg and then at
+another, and finding itself strangely confined to the
+spot began to back and snarl angrily. They couldn't
+hear the barkings and snarls, but they could see the
+creature's mouth open and its thick lips move. Button
+Bright, however, being but a few feet away from the
+wolf, heard its cries of rage, which wakened him from
+his untroubled sleep. The boy sat up and looked first
+at the tiger and then at the wolf. His face showed that
+for a moment he was quite frightened, but he soon saw
+that the beasts were unable to approach him and so he
+got upon his feet and examined them curiously, with a
+mischievous smile upon his face. Then he deliberately
+kicked the tiger's head with his foot and catching up a
+fallen branch of a tree he went to the wolf and gave it
+a good whacking. Both the beasts were furious at such
+treatment but could not resent it.
+
+Button Bright now threw down the stick and with his
+hands in his pockets wandered carelessly away.
+
+"Now," said Glinda, "let the Glass Cat run and find
+him. He is in that direction," pointing the way, "but
+how far off I do not know. Make haste and lead him back
+to us as quickly as you can."
+
+The Glass Cat did not obey everyone's orders, but she
+really feared the great Sorceress, so as soon as the
+words were spoken the crystal animal darted away and
+was quickly lost to sight.
+
+The Wizard handed the mirror back to Glinda, for the
+woodland scene had now faded from the glass. Then those
+who cared to rest sat down to await Button Bright's
+coming. It was not long before be appeared through the
+trees and as he rejoined his friends he said in a
+peevish tone:
+
+"Don't ever send that Glass Cat to find me again. She
+was very impolite and, if we didn't all know that she
+had no manners, I'd say she insulted me."
+
+Glinda turned upon the boy sternly.
+
+"You have caused all of us much anxiety and
+annoyance," said she. "Only my magic saved you from
+destruction. I forbid you to get lost again."
+
+"Of course," he answered. "It won't be my fault if I
+get lost again; but it wasn't my fault this time."
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Sixteen
+
+The Enchanted Fishes
+
+
+
+I must now tell you what happened to Ervic and the
+three other Skeezers who were left floating in the iron
+boat after Queen Coo-ee-oh had been transformed into a
+Diamond Swan by the magic of the Flathead Su-dic.
+
+The four Skeezers were all young men and their leader
+was Ervic. Coo-ee-oh had taken them with her in the
+boat to assist her if she captured the Flathead chief,
+as she hoped to do by means of her silver rope. They
+knew nothing about the witchcraft that moved the
+submarine and so, when left floating upon the lake,
+were at a loss what to do. The submarine could not be
+submerged by them or made to return to the sunken
+island. There were neither oars nor sails in the boat,
+which was not anchored but drifted quietly upon the
+surface of the lake.
+
+The Diamond Swan had no further thought or care for
+her people. She had sailed over to the other side of
+the lake and all the calls and pleadings of Ervic and
+his companions were unheeded by the vain bird. As there
+was nothing else for them to do, they sat quietly in
+their boat and waited as patiently as they could for
+someone to come to their aid.
+
+The Flatheads had refused to help them and had gone
+back to their mountain. All the Skeezers were
+imprisoned in the Great Dome and could not help even
+themselves. When evening came, they saw the Diamond
+Swan, still keeping to the opposite shore of the lake,
+walk out of the water to the sands, shake her diamond-
+sprinkled feathers, and then disappear among the bushes
+to seek a resting place for the night.
+
+"I'm hungry," said Ervic.
+
+"I'm cold," said another Skeezer.
+
+"I'm tired," said a third.
+
+"I'm afraid," said the last one of them.
+
+But it did them no good to complain. Night fell and
+the moon rose and cast a silvery sheen over the surface
+of the water.
+
+"Go to sleep," said Ervic to his companions. "I'll
+stay awake and watch, for we may be rescued in some
+unexpected way.
+
+So the other three laid themselves down in the bottom
+of the boat and were soon fast asleep.
+
+Ervic watched. He rested himself by leaning over the
+bow of the boat, his face near to the moonlit water,
+and thought dreamily of the day's surprising events and
+wondered what would happen to the prisoners in the
+Great Dome.
+
+Suddenly a tiny goldfish popped its head above the
+surface of the lake, not more than a foot from his
+eyes. A silverfish then raised its head beside that of
+the goldfish, and a moment later a bronzefish lifted
+its head beside the others. The three fish, all in a
+row, looked earnestly with their round, bright eyes
+into the astonished eyes of Ervic the Skeezer.
+
+"We are the three Adepts whom Queen Coo-ee-oh
+betrayed and wickedly transformed," said the goldfish,
+its voice low and soft but distinctly heard in the
+stillness of the night.
+
+"I know of our Queen's treacherous deed," replied
+Ervic, "and I am sorry for your misfortune. Have you
+been in the lake ever since?"
+
+"Yes," was the reply.
+
+"I -- I hope you are well -- and comfortable,"
+stammered Ervic, not knowing what else to say.
+
+"We knew that some day Ooo-ee-oh would meet with the
+fate she so richly deserves," declared the bronzefish.
+"We have waited and watched for this time. Now if you
+will promise to help us and will be faithful and true,
+you can aid us in regaining our natural forms, and save
+yourself and all your people from the dangers that now
+threaten you."
+
+"Well," said Ervic, "you can depend on my doing the
+best I can. But I'm no witch, nor magician, you must
+know."
+
+"All we ask is that you obey our instructions,"
+returned the silverfish. "We know that you are honest
+and that you served Coo-ee-oh only because you were
+obliged to in order to escape her anger. Do as we
+command and all will be well."
+
+"I promise!" exclaimed the young man. "Tell me what I
+am to do first."
+
+"You will find in the bottom of your boat the silver
+cord which dropped from Coo-ee-oh's hand when she was
+transformed," said the goldfish. "Tie one end of that
+cord to the bow of your boat and drop the other end to
+us in the water. Together we will pull your boat to the
+shore."
+
+Ervic much doubted that the three small fishes could
+move so heavy a boat, but he did as he was told and the
+fishes all seized their end of the silver cord in their
+mouths and headed toward the nearest shore, which was
+the very place where the Flatheads had stood when they
+conquered Queen Coo-ee-oh.
+
+At first the boat did not move at all, although the
+fishes pulled with all their strength. But presently
+the strain began to tell. Very slowly the boat crept
+toward the shore, gaining more speed at every moment. A
+couple of yards away from the sandy beach the fishes
+dropped the cord from their mouths and swam to one
+side, while the iron boat, being now under way,
+continued to move until its prow grated upon the sands.
+
+Ervic leaned over the side and said to the fishes:
+"What next?"
+
+"You will find upon the sand," said the silverfish,
+"a copper kettle, which the Su-dic forgot when he went
+away. Cleanse it thoroughly in the water of the lake,
+for it has had poison in it. When it is cleaned, fill
+it with fresh water and hold it over the side of the
+boat, so that we three may swim into the kettle. We
+will then instruct you further."
+
+"Do you wish me to catch you, then?" asked Ervic in
+surprise.
+
+"Yes," was the reply.
+
+So Ervic jumped out of the boat and found the copper
+kettle. Carrying it a little way down the beach, he
+washed it well, scrubbing away every drop of the poison
+it had contained with sand from the shore
+
+Then he went back to the boat.
+
+Ervic's comrades were still sound asleep and knew
+nothing of the three fishes or what strange happenings
+were taking place about them. Ervic dipped the kettle
+in the lake, holding fast to the handle until it was
+under water. The gold and silver and bronze fishes
+promptly swam into the kettle. The young Skeezer then
+lifted it, poured out a little of the water so it would
+not spill over the edge, and said to the fishes: "What
+next?"
+
+"Carry the kettle to the shore. Take one hundred
+steps to the east, along the edge of the lake, and then
+you will see a path leading through the meadows, up
+hill and down dale. Follow the path until you come to a
+cottage which is painted a purple color with white
+trimmings. When you stop at the gate of this cottage we
+will tell you what to do next. Be careful, above all,
+not to stumble and spill the water from the kettle, or
+you would destroy us and all you have done would be in
+vain."
+
+The goldfish issued these commands and Ervic promised
+to be careful and started to obey. He left his sleeping
+comrades in the boat, stepping cautiously over their
+bodies, and on reaching the shore took exactly one
+hundred steps to the east. Then he looked for the path
+and the moonlight was so bright that he easily
+discovered it, although it was hidden from view by tall
+weeds until one came full upon it. This path was very
+narrow and did not seem to be much used, but it was
+quite distinct and Ervic had no difficulty in following
+it. He walked through a broad meadow, covered with tall
+grass and weeds, up a hill and down into a valley and
+then up another hill and down again.
+
+It seemed to Ervic that he had walked miles and
+miles. Indeed the moon sank low and day was beginning
+to dawn when finally he discovered by the roadside a
+pretty little cottage, painted purple with white
+trimmings. It was a lonely place -- no other buildings
+were anywhere about and the ground was not tilled at
+all. No farmer lived here, that was certain. Who would
+care to dwell in such an isolated place?
+
+But Ervic did not bother his head long with such
+questions. He went up to the gate that led to the
+cottage, set the copper kettle carefully down and
+bending over it asked:
+
+"What next?"
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Seventeen
+
+Under the Great Dome
+
+
+
+When Glinda the Good and her followers of the Rescue
+Expedition came in sight of the Enchanted Mountain of
+the Flatheads, it was away to the left of them, for the
+route they had taken through the Great Forest was some
+distance from that followed by Ozma and Dorothy.
+
+They halted awhile to decide whether they should call
+upon the Supreme Dictator first, or go on to the Lake
+of the Skeezers.
+
+"If we go to the mountain," said the Wizard, "we may
+get into trouble with that wicked Su-dic, and then we
+would be delayed in rescuing Ozma and Dorothy. So I
+think our best plan will be to go to the Skeezer
+Country, raise the sunken island and save our friends
+and the imprisoned Skeezers. Afterward we can visit the
+mountain and punish the cruel magician of the
+Flatheads."
+
+"That is sensible," approved the Shaggy Man. "I quite
+agree with you."
+
+The others, too, seemed to think the Wizard's plan
+the best, and Glinda herself commended it, so on they
+marched toward the line of palm trees that hid the
+Skeezers' lake from view.
+
+Pretty soon they came to the palms. These were set
+closely together, the branches, which came quite to the
+ground, being so tightly interlaced that even the Glass
+Cat could scarcely find a place to squeeze through. The
+path which the Flatheads used was some distance away.
+
+"Here's a job for the Tin Woodman," said the
+Scarecrow.
+
+So the Tin Woodman, who was always glad to be of use,
+set to work with his sharp, gleaming axe, which he
+always carried, and in a surprisingly short time had
+chopped away enough branches to permit them all to pass
+easily through the trees.
+
+Now the clear waters of the beautiful lake were
+before them and by looking closely they could see the
+outlines of the Great Dome of the sunken island, far
+from shore and directly in the center of the lake.
+
+Of course every eye was at first fixed upon this
+dome, where Ozma and Dorothy and the Skeezers were
+still fast prisoners. But soon their attention was
+caught by a more brilliant sight, for here was the
+Diamond Swan swimming just before them, its long neck
+arched proudly, the amethyst eyes gleaming and all the
+diamond-sprinkled feathers glistening splendidly under
+the rays of the sun.
+
+"That," said Glinda, "is the transformation of Queen
+Coo-ce-oh, the haughty and wicked witch who betrayed
+the three Adepts at Magic and treated her people like
+slaves."
+
+"She's wonderfully beautiful now," remarked the
+Frogman.
+
+"It doesn't seem like much of a punishment," said
+Trot. "The Flathead Su-dic ought to have made her a
+toad."
+
+"I am sure Coo-ee-oh is punished," said Glinda, "for
+she has lost all her magic power and her grand palace
+and can no longer misrule the poor Skeezers."
+
+"Let us call to her, and hear what she has to say,"
+proposed the Wizard.
+
+So Glinda beckoned the Diamond Swan, which swam
+gracefully to a position near them. Before anyone could
+speak Coo-ee-oh called to them in a rasping voice --
+for the voice of a swan is always harsh and unpleasant
+-- and said with much pride:
+
+"Admire me, Strangers!  Admire the lovely Coo-ee-oh,
+the handsomest creature in all Oz. Admire me!"
+
+"Handsome is as handsome does," replied the
+Scarecrow. "Are your deeds lovely, Coo-ce-oh?"
+
+"Deeds?  What deeds can a swan do but swim around and
+give pleasure to all beholders?" said the sparkling
+bird.
+
+"Have you forgotten your former life? Have you
+forgotten your magic and witchcraft?" inquired the
+Wizard.
+
+"Magic -- witchcraft? Pshaw, who cares for such silly
+things?" retorted Coo-ee-oh. "As for my past life, it
+seems like an unpleasant dream. I wouldn't go back to
+it if I could. Don't you admire my beauty, Strangers?"
+
+"Tell us, Coo-ee-oh," said Glinda earnestly, "if you
+can recall enough of your witchcraft to enable us to
+raise the sunken island to the surface of the lake.
+Tell us that and I'll give you a string of pearls to
+wear around your neck and add to your beauty."
+
+"Nothing can add to my beauty, for I'm the most
+beautiful creature anywhere in the whole world."
+
+"But how can we raise the island?"
+
+"I don't know and I don't care. If ever I knew I've
+forgotten, and I'm glad of it," was the response. "Just
+watch me circle around and see me glitter!
+
+"It's no use," said Button Bright; "the old Swan is
+too much in love with herself to think of anything
+else."
+
+"That's a fact," agreed Betsy with a sigh; "but we've
+got to get Ozma and Dorothy out of that lake, somehow
+or other."
+
+"And we must do it in our own way," added the
+Scarecrow.
+
+"But how?" asked Uncle Henry in a grave voice, for he
+could not bear to think of his dear niece Dorothy being
+out there under water; "how shall we do it?"
+
+"Leave that to Glinda," advised the Wizard, realizing
+he was helpless to do it himself.
+
+"If it were just an ordinary sunken island," said the
+powerful sorceress, "there would be several ways by
+which I might bring it to the surface again. But this
+is a Magic Isle, and by some curious art of witchcraft,
+unknown to any but Queen Coo-ce-oh, it obeys certain
+commands of magic and will not respond to any other. I
+do not despair in the least, but it will require some
+deep study to solve this difficult problem. If the Swan
+could only remember the witchcraft that she invented
+and knew as a woman, I could force her to tell me the
+secret, but all her former knowledge is now forgotten."
+
+"It seems to me," said the Wizard after a brief
+silence had followed Glinda's speech, "that there are
+three fishes in this lake that used to be Adepts at
+Magic and from whom Coo-ee-oh stole much of her
+knowledge. If we could find those fishes and return
+them to their former shapes, they could doubtless tell
+us what to do to bring the sunken island to the
+surface."
+
+"I have thought of those fishes," replied Glinda,
+"but among so many fishes as this lake contains how are
+we to single them out?"
+
+You will understand, of course, that had Glinda been
+at home in her castle, where the Great Book of Records
+was, she would have known that Ervic the Skeezer
+already had taken the gold and silver and bronze fishes
+from the lake. But that act had been recorded in the
+Book after Glinda had set out on this journey, so it
+was all unknown to her.
+
+"I think I see a boat yonder on the shore," said Ojo
+the Munchkin boy, pointing to a place around the edge
+of the lake. "If we could get that boat and row all
+over the lake, calling to the magic fishes, we might be
+able to find them."
+
+"Let us go to the boat," said the Wizard.
+
+They walked around the lake to where the boat was
+stranded upon the beach, but found it empty. It was a
+mere shell of blackened steel, with a collapsible roof
+that, when in position, made the submarine watertight,
+but at present the roof rested in slots on either side
+of the magic craft. There were no oars or sails, no
+machinery to make the boat go, and although Glinda
+promptly realized it was meant to be operated by
+witchcraft, she was not acquainted with that sort of
+magic.
+
+"However," said she, "the boat is merely a boat, and
+I believe I can make it obey a command of sorcery, as
+well as it did the command of witchcraft. After I have
+given a little thought to the matter, the boat will
+take us wherever we desire to go."
+
+"Not all of us," returned the Wizard, "for it won't
+hold so many. But, most noble Sorceress, provided you
+can make the boat go, of what use will it be to us?"
+
+"Can't we use it to catch the three fishes?" asked
+Button Bright.
+
+"It will not be necessary to use the boat for that
+purpose," replied Glinda. "Wherever in the lake the
+enchanted fishes may be, they will answer to my call.
+What I am trying to discover is how the boat came to be
+on this shore, while the island on which it belongs is
+under water yonder. Did Coo-ee-oh come here in the boat
+to meet the Flatheads before the island was sunk, or
+afterward?"
+
+No one could answer that question, of course; but
+while they pondered the matter three young men advanced
+from the line of trees, and rather timidly bowed to the
+strangers.
+
+"Who are you, and where did you come from?" inquired
+the Wizard.
+
+"We are Skeezers," answered one of them, "and our
+home is on the Magic Isle of the Lake. We ran away when
+we saw you coming, and hid behind the trees, but as you
+are Strangers and seem to be friendly we decided to
+meet you, for we are in great trouble and need
+assistance."
+
+"If you belong on the island, why are you here?"
+demanded Glinda.
+
+So they told her all the story: How the Queen had
+defied the Flatheads and submerged the whole island so
+that her enemies could not get to it or destroy it;
+how, when the Flatheads came to the shore, Coo-ee-oh
+had commanded them, together with their friend Ervic,
+to go with her in the submarine to conquer the Su-dic,
+and how the boat had shot out from the basement of the
+sunken isle, obeying a magic word, and risen to the
+surface, where it opened and floated upon the water.
+
+Then followed the account of how the Su-dic had
+transformed Coo-ee-oh into a swan, after which she had
+forgotten all the witchcraft she ever knew. The young
+men told how, in the night when they were asleep, their
+comrade Ervic had mysteriously disappeared, while the
+boat in some strange manner had floated to the shore
+and stranded upon the beach.
+
+That was all they knew. They had searched in vain for
+three days for Ervic. As their island was under water
+and they could not get back to it, the three Skeezers
+had no place to go, and so had waited patiently beside
+their boat for something to happen.
+
+Being questioned by Glinda and the Wizard, they told
+all they knew about Ozma and Dorothy and declared the
+two girls were still in the village under the Great
+Dome. They were quite safe and would be well cared for
+by Lady Aurex, now that the Queen who opposed them was
+out of the way.
+
+When they had gleaned all the information they could
+from these Skeezers, the Wizard said to Glinda:
+
+"If you find you can make this boat obey your
+sorcery, you could have it return to the island,
+submerge itself, and enter the door in the basement
+from which it came. But I cannot see that our going to
+the sunken island would enable our friends to escape.
+We would only Join them as prisoners."
+
+"Not so, friend Wizard," replied Glinda. "If the boat
+would obey my commands to enter the basement door, it
+would also obey my commands to come out again, and I
+could bring Ozma and Dorothy back with me."
+
+"And leave all of our people still imprisoned?" asked
+one of the Skeezers reproachfully.
+
+"By making several trips in the boat, Glinda could
+fetch all your people to the shore," replied the
+Wizard.
+
+"But what could they do then?" inquired another
+Skeezer. "They would have no homes and no place to go,
+and would be at the mercy of their enemies, the
+Flatheads."
+
+"That is true," said Glinda the Good. "And as these
+people are Ozma's subjects, I think she would refuse to
+escape with Dorothy and leave the others behind, or to
+abandon the island which is the lawful home of the
+Skeezers. I believe the best plan will be to summon the
+three fishes and learn from them how to raise the
+island."
+
+The little Wizard seemed to think that this was
+rather a forlorn hope.
+
+"How will you summon them," he asked the lovely
+Sorceress, "and how can they hear you?"
+
+"That is something we must consider carefully,"
+responded stately Glinda, with a serene smile.  "I
+think I can find a way."
+
+All of Ozma's counsellors applauded this sentiment,
+for they knew well the powers of the Sorceress.
+
+"Very well," agreed the Wizard. "Summon them, most
+noble Glinda."
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Eighteen
+
+The Cleverness of Ervic
+
+
+
+We must now return to Ervic the Skeezer, who, when he
+had set down the copper kettle containing the three
+fishes at the gate of the lonely cottage, had asked,
+"What next?"
+
+The goldfish stuck its head above the water in the
+kettle and said in its small but distinct voice:
+
+"You are to lift the latch, open the door, and walk
+boldly into the cottage. Do not be afraid of anything
+you see, for however you seem to be threatened with
+dangers, nothing can harm you. The cottage is the home
+of a powerful Yookoohoo, named Reera the Red, who
+assumes all sorts of forms, sometimes changing her form
+several times in a day, according to her fancy. What
+her real form may be we do not know. This strange
+creature cannot be bribed with treasure, or coaxed
+through friendship, or won by pity. She has never
+assisted anyone, or done wrong to anyone, that we know
+of. All her wonderful powers are used for her own
+selfish amusement. She will order you out of the house
+but you must refuse to go. Remain and watch Reera
+closely and try to see what she uses to accomplish her
+transformations. If you can discover the secret
+whisper it to us and we will then tell you what to do
+next."
+
+"That sounds easy," returned Ervic, who had listened
+carefully. "But are you sure she will not hurt me, or
+try to transform me?"
+
+"She may change your form," replied the goldfish,
+"but do not worry if that happens, for we can break
+that enchantment easily. You may be sure that nothing
+will harm you, so you must not be frightened at
+anything you see or hear."
+
+Now Ervic was as brave as any ordinary young man, and
+he knew the fishes who spoke to him were truthful and
+to be relied upon, nevertheless he experienced a
+strange sinking of the heart as he picked up the kettle
+and approached the door of the cottage. His hand
+trembled as he raised the latch, but he was resolved to
+obey his instructions. He pushed the door open, took
+three strides into the middle of the one room the
+cottage contained, and then stood still and looked
+around him.
+
+The sights that met his gaze were enough to frighten
+anyone who had not been properly warned. On the floor
+just before Ervic lay a great crocodile, its red eyes
+gleaming wickedly and its wide open mouth displaying
+rows of sharp teeth. Horned toads hopped about; each
+of the four upper corners of the room was festooned
+with a thick cobweb, in the center of which sat a
+spider as big around as a washbasin, and armed with
+pincher-like claws; a red-and-green lizard was
+stretched at full length on the window-sill and black
+rats darted in and out of the holes they had gnawed in
+the floor of the cottage.
+
+But the most startling thing was a huge gray ape
+which sat upon a bench and knitted. It wore a lace cap,
+such as old ladies wear, and a little apron of lace,
+but no other clothing. Its eyes were bright and looked
+as if coals were burning in them. The ape moved as
+naturally as an ordinary person might, and on Ervic's
+entrance stopped knitting and raised its head to look
+at him.
+
+"Get out!" cried a sharp voice, seeming to come from
+the ape's mouth.
+
+Ervic saw another bench, empty, just beyond him, so
+he stepped over the crocodile, sat down upon the bench
+and carefully placed the kettle beside him.
+
+"Get out!" again cried the voice.
+
+Ervic shook his head.
+
+"No," said he, "I'm going to stay."
+
+The spiders left their four corners, dropped to the
+floor and made a rush toward the young Skeezer,
+circling around his legs with their pinchers extended.
+Ervic paid no attention to them. An enormous black rat
+ran up Ervic's body, passed around his shoulders and
+uttered piercing squeals in his ears, but he did not
+wince. The green-and-red lizard, coming from the
+window-sill, approached Ervic and began spitting a
+flaming fluid at him, but Ervic merely stared at the
+creature and its flame did not touch him.
+
+The crocodile raised its tail and, swinging around,
+swept Ervic off the bench with a powerful blow. But the
+Skeezer managed to save the kettle from upsetting and
+he got up, shook off the horned toads that were
+crawling over him and resumed his seat on the bench.
+
+All the creatures, after this first attack, remained
+motionless, as if awaiting orders. The old gray ape
+knitted on, not looking toward Ervic now, and the young
+Skeezer stolidly kept his seat. He expected something
+else to happen, but nothing did. A full hour passed and
+Ervic was growing nervous.
+
+"What do you want?" the ape asked at last.
+
+"Nothing," said Ervic.
+
+"You may have that!" retorted the ape, and at this
+all the strange creatures in the room broke into a
+chorus of cackling laughter.
+
+Another long wait.
+
+"Do you know who I am?" questioned the ape.
+
+"You must be Reera the Red -- the Yookoohoo," Ervic
+answered.
+
+"Knowing so much, you must also know that I do not
+like strangers. Your presence here in my home annoys
+me. Do you not fear my anger?"
+
+"No," said the young man.
+
+"Do you intend to obey me, and leave this house?"
+"No," replied Ervic, just as quietly as the Yookoohoo
+had spoken.
+
+The ape knitted for a long time before resuming the
+conversation.
+
+"Curiosity," it said, "has led to many a man's
+undoing. I suppose in some way you have learned that I
+do tricks of magic, and so through curiosity you have
+come here. You may have been told that I do not injure
+anyone, so you are bold enough to disobey my commands
+to go away. You imagine that you may witness some of
+the rites of witchcraft, and that they may amuse you.
+Have I spoken truly?"
+
+"Well," remarked Ervic, who had been pondering on the
+strange circumstances of his coming here, "you are
+right in some ways, but not in others. I am told that
+you work magic only for your own amusement. That seems
+to me very selfish. Few people understand magic. I'm
+told that you are the only real Yookoohoo in all Oz.
+Why don't you amuse others as well as yourself?"
+
+"What right have you to question my actions?"
+
+"None at all."
+
+"And you say you are not here to demand any
+favors of me?"
+
+"For myself I want nothing from you."
+
+"You are wise in that. I never grant favors."
+
+"That doesn't worry me," declared Ervic.
+
+"But you are curious? You hope to witness some of my
+magic transformations?"
+
+"If you wish to perform any magic, go ahead," said
+Ervic. "It may interest me and it may not. If you'd
+rather go on with your knitting, it's all the same to
+me. I am in no hurry at all."
+
+This may have puzzled Red Reera, but the face beneath
+the lace cap could show no expression, being covered
+with hair. Perhaps in all her career the Yookoohoo had
+never been visited by anyone who, like this young man,
+asked for nothing, expected nothing, and had no reason
+for coming except curiosity. This attitude practically
+disarmed the witch and she began to regard the Skeezer
+in a more friendly way. She knitted for some time,
+seemingly in deep thought, and then she arose and
+walked to a big cupboard that stood against the wall of
+the room. When the cupboard door was opened Ervic could
+see a lot of drawers inside, and into one of these
+drawers -- the second from the bottom -- Reera thrust a
+hairy hand.
+
+Until now Ervic could see over the bent form of the
+ape, but suddenly the form, with its back to him,
+seemed to straighten up and blot out the cupboard of
+drawers. The ape had changed to the form of a woman,
+dressed in the pretty Gillikin costume, and when she
+turned around he saw that it was a young woman, whose
+face was quite attractive.
+
+"Do you like me better this way?" Reera inquired with
+a smile.
+
+"You look better," he said calmly, "but I'm not sure
+I like you any better."
+
+She laughed, saying: "During the heat of the day I
+like to be an ape, for an ape doesn't wear any clothes
+to speak of. But if one has gentlemen callers it is
+proper to dress up."
+
+Ervic noticed her right hand was closed, as if she
+held something in it. She shut the cupboard door, bent
+over the crocodile and in a moment the creature had
+changed to a red wolf. It was not pretty even now, and
+the wolf crouched beside its mistress as a dog might
+have done. Its teeth looked as dangerous as had those
+of the crocodile.
+
+Next the Yookoohoo went about touching all the
+lizards and toads, and at her touch they became
+kittens. The rats she changed into chipmunks. Now the
+only horrid creatures remaining were the four great
+spiders, which hid themselves behind their thick webs.
+
+"There!" Reera cried, "now my cottage presents a more
+comfortable appearance. I love the toads and lizards
+and rats, because most people hate them, but I would
+tire of them if they always remained the same.
+Sometimes I change their forms a dozen times a day."
+
+"You are clever," said Ervic. "I did not hear you
+utter any incantations or magic words. All you did was
+to touch the creatures."
+
+"Oh, do you think so?" she replied. "Well, touch them
+yourself, if you like, and see if you can change their
+forms."
+
+"No," said the Skeezer, "I don't understand magic and
+if I did I would not try to imitate your skill. You are
+a wonderful Yookoohoo, while I am only a common
+Skeezer."
+
+This confession seemed to please Reera, who liked to
+have her witchcraft appreciated.
+
+"Will you go away now?" she asked. "I prefer to be
+alone."
+
+"I prefer to stay here," said Ervic.
+
+"In another person's home, where you are not wanted?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Is not your curiosity yet satisfied?" demanded
+Reera, with a smile.
+
+"I don't know. Is there anything else you can do?"
+
+"Many things. But why should I exhibit my powers to a
+stranger?"
+
+"I can think of no reason at all," he replied.
+
+She looked at him curiously.
+
+"You want no power for yourself, you say, and you're
+too stupid to be able to steal my secrets. This isn't a
+pretty cottage, while outside are sunshine, broad
+prairies and beautiful wildflowers. Yet you insist on
+sitting on that bench and annoying me with your
+unwelcome presence. What have you in that kettle?"
+
+"Three fishes," he answered readily.
+
+"Where did you get them?"
+
+"I caught them in the Lake of the Skeezers."
+
+"What do you intend to do with the fishes?"
+
+"I shall carry them to the home of a friend of mine
+who has three children. The children will love to have
+the fishes for pets."
+
+She came over to the bench and looked into the
+kettle, where the three fishes were swimming quietly in
+the water.
+
+"They're pretty," said Reera. "Let me transform them
+into something else."
+
+"No," objected the Skeezer.
+
+"I love to transform things; it's so interesting. And
+I've never transformed any fishes in all my life."
+
+"Let them alone," said Ervic.
+
+"What shapes would you prefer them to have? I can
+make them turtles, or cute little sea-horses; or I
+could make them piglets, or rabbits, or guinea-pigs;
+or, if you like I can make chickens of them, or eagles,
+or bluejays."
+
+"Let them alone!" repeated Ervic.
+
+"You're not a very pleasant visitor," laughed Red
+Reera. "People accuse me of being cross and crabbed
+and unsociable, and they are quite right. If you had
+come here pleading and begging for favors, and half
+afraid of my Yookoohoo magic, I'd have abused you until
+you ran away; but you're quite different from that.
+You're the unsociable and crabbed and disagreeable one,
+and so I like you, and bear with your grumpiness. It's
+time for my midday meal; are you hungry?"
+
+"No," said Ervic, although he really desired food.
+
+"Well, I am," Reera declared and clapped her hands
+together. Instantly a table appeared, spread with linen
+and bearing dishes of various foods, some smoking hot.
+There were two plates laid, one at each end of the
+table, and as soon as Reera seated herself all her
+creatures gathered around her, as if they were
+accustomed to be fed when she ate. The wolf squatted at
+her right hand and the kittens and chipmunks gathered
+at her left.
+
+"Come, Stranger, sit down and eat," she called
+cheerfully, "and while we're eating let us decide into
+what forms we shall change your fishes."
+
+"They're all right as they are," asserted Ervic,
+drawing up his bench to the table. "The fishes are
+beauties -- one gold, one silver and one bronze.
+Nothing that has life is more lovely than a beautiful
+fish."
+
+"What! Am I not more lovely?" Reera asked, smiling at
+his serious face.
+
+"I don't object to you -- for a Yookoohoo, you know,"
+he said, helping himself to the food and eating with
+good appetite.
+
+"And don't you consider a beautiful girl more lovely
+than a fish, however pretty the fish may be?"
+
+"Well," replied Ervic, after a period of thought,
+"that might be. If you transformed my three fish into
+three girls -- girls who would be Adepts at Magic, you
+know they might please me as well as the fish do. You
+won't do that of course, because you can't, with all
+your skill. And, should you be able to do so, I fear my
+troubles would be more than I could bear. They would
+not consent to be my slaves -- especially if they were
+Adepts at Magic -- and so they would command me to obey
+them. No, Mistress Reeraq let us not transform the
+fishes at all."
+
+The Skeezer had put his case with remarkable
+cleverness. He realized that if he appeared anxious for
+such a transformation the Yookoohoo would not perform
+it, yet he had skillfully suggested that they be made
+Adepts at Magic.
+
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Nineteen
+
+Red Reera, the Yookoohoo
+
+
+
+After the meal was over and Reera had fed her pets,
+including the four monster spiders which had come down
+from their webs to secure their share, she made the
+table disappear from the floor of the cottage.
+
+"I wish you'd consent to my transforming your
+fishes," she said, as she took up her knitting again.
+
+The Skeezer made no reply. He thought it unwise to
+hurry matters. All during the afternoon they sat
+silent. Once Reera went to her cupboard and after
+thrusting her hand into the same drawer as before,
+touched the wolf and transformed it into a bird with
+gorgeous colored feathers. This bird was larger than a
+parrot and of a somewhat different form, but Ervic had
+never seen one like it before.
+
+"Sing!" said Reera to the bird, which had perched
+itself on a big wooden peg -- as if it had been in the
+cottage before and knew just what to do.
+
+And the bird sang jolly, rollicking songs with words
+to them -- just as a person who had been carefully
+trained might do. The songs were entertaining and Ervic
+enjoyed listening to them. In an hour or so the bird
+stopped singing, tucked its head under its wing and
+went to sleep. Reera continued knitting but seemed
+thoughtful.
+
+Now Ervic had marked this cupboard drawer well and
+had concluded that Reera took something from it which
+enabled her to perform her transformations. He thought
+that if he managed to remain in the cottage, and Reera
+fell asleep, he could slyly open the cupboard, take a
+portion of whatever was in the drawer, and by dropping
+it into the copper kettle transform the three fishes
+into their natural shapes. Indeed, he had firmly
+resolved to carry out this plan when the Yookoohoo put
+down her knitting and walked toward the door.
+
+"I'm going out for a few minutes," said she; "do you
+wish to go with me, or will you remain here?"
+
+Ervic did not answer but sat quietly on his bench. So
+Reera went out and closed the cottage door.
+
+As soon as she was gone, Ervic rose and tiptoed to
+the cupboard.
+
+"Take care! Take care!" cried several voices, coming
+from the kittens and chipmunks. "If you touch anything
+we'll tell the Yookoohoo!"
+
+Ervic hesitated a moment but, remembering that he
+need not consider Reera's anger if he succeeded in
+transforming the fishes, he was about to open the
+cupboard when he was arrested by the voices of the
+fishes, which stuck their heads above the water in the
+kettle and called out:
+
+"Come here, Ervic!"
+
+So he went back to the kettle and bent over it
+
+"Let the cupboard alone," said the goldfish to him
+earnestly. "You could not succeed by getting that magic
+powder, for only the Yookoohoo knows how to use it. The
+best way is to allow her to transform us into three
+girls, for then we will have our natural shapes and be
+able to perform all the Arts of Magic we have learned
+and well understand. You are acting wisely and in the
+most effective manner. We did not know you were so
+intelligent, or that Reera could be so easily deceived
+by you. Continue as you have begun and try to persuade
+her to transform us. But insist that we be given the
+forms of girls."
+
+The goldfish ducked its head down just as Reera re-
+entered the cottage. She saw Ervic bent over the
+kettle, so she came and joined him.
+
+"Can your fishes talk?" she asked.
+
+"Sometimes," he replied, "for all fishes in the Land
+of Oz know how to speak. Just now they were asking me
+for some bread. They are hungry."
+
+"Well, they can have some bread," said Reera. "But it
+is nearly supper-time, and if you would allow me to
+transform your fishes into girls they could join us at
+the table and have plenty of food much nicer than
+crumbs. Why not let me transform them?"
+
+"Well," said Ervic, as if hesitating, "ask the
+fishes. If they consent, why -- why, then, I'll think
+it over."
+
+Reera bent over the kettle and asked:
+
+"Can you hear me, little fishes?"
+
+All three popped their heads above water.
+
+"We can hear you," said the bronzefish.
+
+"I want to give you other forms, such as rabbits, or
+turtles or girls, or something; but your master, the
+surly Skeezer, does not wish me to. However, he has
+agreed to the plan if you will consent."
+
+"We'd like to be girls," said the silverfish.
+
+"No, no!" exclaimed Ervic.
+
+"If you promise to make us three beautiful girls,
+we will consent," said the goldfish.
+
+"No, no!" exclaimed Ervic again.
+
+"Also make us Adepts at Magic," added the bronzefish.
+
+"I don't know exactly what that means," replied Reera
+musingly, "but as no Adept at Magic is as powerful as
+Yookoohoo, I'll add that to the transformation."
+
+"We won't try to harm you, or to interfere with your
+magic in any way," promised the goldfish. "On the
+contrary, we will be your friends."
+
+"Will you agree to go away and leave me alone in my
+cottage, whenever I command you to do so?" asked Reera.
+
+"We promise that," cried the three fishes.
+
+"Don't do it! Don't consent to the transformation,"
+urged Ervic.
+
+"They have already consented," said the Yookoohoo,
+laughing in his face, "and you have promised me to
+abide by their decision. So, friend Skeezer, I shall
+perform the transformation whether you like it or not."
+
+Ervic seated himself on the bench again, a deep scowl
+on his face but joy in his heart. Reera moved over to
+the cupboard, took something from the drawer and
+returned to the copper kettle. She was clutching
+something tightly in her right hand, but with her left
+she reached within the kettle, took out the three
+fishes and laid them carefully on the floor, where they
+gasped in distress at being out of water.
+
+Reera did not keep them in misery more than a few
+seconds, for she touched each one with her right hand
+and instantly the fishes were transformed into three
+tall and slender young women, with fine, intelligent
+faces and clothed in handsome, clinging gowns. The one
+who had been a goldfish had beautiful golden hair and
+blue eyes and was exceedingly fair of skin; the one who
+had been a bronzefish had dark brown hair and clear
+gray eyes and her complexion matched these lovely
+features. The one who had been a silverfish had snow-
+white hair of the finest texture and deep brown eyes.
+The hair contrasted exquisitely with her pink cheeks
+and ruby-red lips, nor did it make her look a day older
+than her two companions.
+
+As soon as they secured these girlish shapes, all
+three bowed low to the Yookoohoo and said:
+
+"We thank you, Reera."
+
+Then they bowed to the Skeezer and said:
+
+"We thank you, Ervic."
+
+"Very good!" cried the Yookoohoo, examining her work
+with critical approval. "You are much better and more
+interesting than fishes, and this ungracious Skeezer
+would scarcely allow me to do the transformations. You
+surely have nothing to thank him for. But now let us
+dine in honor of the occasion."
+
+She clapped her hands together and again a table
+loaded with food appeared in the cottage. It was a
+longer table, this time, and places were set for the
+three Adepts as well as for Reera and Ervic.
+
+"Sit down, friends, and eat your fill," said the
+Yookoohoo, but instead of seating herself at the head
+of the table she went to the cupboard, saying to the
+Adepts: "Your beauty and grace, my fair friends, quite
+outshine my own. So that I may appear properly at the
+banquet table I intend, in honor of this occasion, to
+take upon myself my natural shape."
+
+Scarcely had she finished this speech when Reera
+transformed herself into a young woman fully as lovely
+as the three Adepts. She was not quite so tall as they,
+but her form was more rounded and more handsomely
+clothed, with a wonderful jeweled girdle and a necklace
+of shining pearls. Her hair was a bright auburn red,
+and her eyes large and dark.
+
+"Do you claim this is your natural form?" asked Ervic
+of the Yookoohoo.
+
+"Yes," she replied. "This is the only form I am
+really entitled to wear. But I seldom assume it because
+there is no one here to admire or appreciate it and I
+get tired admiring it myself."
+
+"I see now why you are named Reera the Red," remarked
+Ervic.
+
+"It is on account of my red hair," she explained
+smiling. "I do not care for red hair myself, which is
+one reason I usually wear other forms."
+
+"It is beautiful," asserted the young man; and then
+remembering the other women present he added: "But, of
+course, all women should not have red hair, because
+that would make it too common. Gold and silver and
+brown hair are equally handsome."
+
+The smiles that he saw interchanged between the four
+filled the poor Skeezer with embarrassment, so he fell
+silent and attended to eating his supper, leaving the
+others to do the talking. The three Adepts frankly told
+Reera who they were. how they became fishes and how
+they had planned secretly to induce the Yookoohoo to
+transform them. They admitted that they had feared, had
+they asked her to help, that she would have refused
+them.
+
+"You were quite right," returned the Yookoohoo. "I
+make it my rule never to perform magic to assist
+others, for if I did there would always be crowd at my
+cottage demanding help and I hate crowds and want to be
+left alone."
+
+"However, now that you are restored to your proper
+shapes, I do not regret my action and I hope you will
+be of use in saving the Skeezer people by raising their
+island to the surface of the lake, where it really
+belongs. But you must promise me that after you go away
+you will never come here again, nor tell anyone what I
+have done for you."
+
+The three Adepts and Ervic thanked the Yookoohoo
+warmly. They promised to remember her wish that they
+should not come to her cottage again and so, with a
+good-bye, took their departure.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Twenty
+
+A Puzzling Problem
+
+
+
+Glinda the Good, having decided to try her sorcery
+upon the abandoned submarine, so that it would obey her
+commands, asked all of her party, including the
+Skeezers, to withdraw from the shore of the take to the
+line of palm trees. She kept with her only the little
+Wizard of Oz, who was her pupil and knew how to assist
+her in her magic rites. When they two were alone beside
+the stranded boat, Glinda said to the Wizard:
+
+"I shall first try my magic recipe No. 1163, which is
+intended to make inanimate objects move at my command.
+Have you a skeropythrope with you?"
+
+"Yes, I always carry one in my bag," replied the
+Wizard. He opened his black bag of magic tools and took
+out a brightly polished skeropythrope, which he handed
+to the Sorceress. Glinda had also brought a small
+wicker bag, containing various requirements of sorcery,
+and from this she took a parcel of powder and a vial of
+liquid. She poured the liquid into the skeropythrope
+and added the powder. At once the skeropythrope began
+to sputter and emit sparks of a violet color, which
+spread in all directions. The Sorceress instantly
+stepped into the middle of the boat and held the
+instrument so that the sparks fell all around her and
+covered every bit of the blackened steel boat. At the
+same time Glinda crooned a weird incantation in the
+language of sorcery, her voice sounding low and
+musical.
+
+After a little the violet sparks ceased, and those
+that had fallen upon the boat had disappeared and left
+no mark upon its surface. The ceremony was ended and
+Glinda returned the skeropythrope to the Wizard, who
+put it away in his black bag.
+
+"That ought to do the business all right," he said
+confidently
+
+"Let us make a trial and see," she replied.
+
+So they both entered the boat and seated themselves.
+
+Speaking in a tone of command the Sorceress said to
+the boat: "Carry us across the lake, to the farther
+shore."
+
+At once the boat backed off the sandy beach, turned
+its prow and moved swiftly over the water.
+
+"Very good -- very good indeed!" cried the Wizard,
+when the boat slowed up at the shore opposite from that
+whence they had departed. "Even Coo-ee-oh, with all
+her witchcraft, could do no better."
+
+The Sorceress now said to the boat:
+
+"Close up, submerge and carry us to the basement door
+of the sunken island -- the door from which you emerged
+at the command of Queen Coo-ee-oh."
+
+The boat obeyed. As it sank into the water the top
+sections rose from the sides and joined together over
+the heads of Glinda and the Wizard, who were thus
+enclosed in a water-proof chamber. There were four
+glass windows in this covering, one on each side and
+one on either end, so that the passengers could see
+exactly where they were going. Moving under water more
+slowly than on the surface, the submarine gradually
+approached the island and halted with its bow pressed
+against the huge marble door in the basement under the
+Dome. This door was tightly closed and it was evident
+to both Glinda and the Wizard that it would not open to
+admit the underwater boat unless a magic word was
+spoken by them or someone from within the basement of
+the island. But what was this magic word?  Neither of
+them knew.
+
+"I'm afraid," said the Wizard regretfully, "that we
+can't get in, after all. Unless your sorcery can
+discover the word to open the marble door."
+
+"That is probably some word only known to Coo-ce-oh,"
+replied the Sorceress. "I may be able to discover what
+it is, but that will require time. Let us go back
+again to our companions."
+
+"It seems a shame, after we have made the boat obey
+us, to be balked by just a marble door," grumbled the
+Wizard.
+
+At Glinda's command the boat rose until it was on a
+level with the glass dome that covered the Skeezer
+village, when the Sorceress made it slowly circle all
+around the Great Dome.
+
+Many faces were pressed against the glass from the
+inside, eagerly watching the submarine, and in one
+place were Dorothy and Ozma, who quickly recognized
+Glinda and the Wizard through the glass windows of the
+boat. Glinda saw them, too, and held the boat close to
+the Dome while the friends exchanged greetings in
+pantomime. Their voices, unfortunately, could not be
+heard through the Dome and the water and the side of
+the boat. The Wizard tried to make the girls
+understand, through signs, that he and Glinda had come
+to their rescue, and Ozma and Dorothy understood this
+from the very fact that the Sorceress and the Wizard
+had appeared. The two girl prisoners were smiling and
+in safety, and knowing this Glinda felt she could take
+all the time necessary in order to effect their final
+rescue.
+
+As nothing more could be done just then, Glinda
+ordered the boat to return to shore and it obeyed
+readily. First it ascended to the surface of the water,
+then the roof parted and fell into the slots at the
+side of the boat, and then the magic craft quickly made
+the shore and beached itself on the sands at the very
+spot from which it had departed at Glinda's command.
+All the Oz people and the Skeezers at once ran to the
+boat to ask if they had reached the island, and whether
+they had seen Ozma and Dorothy. The Wizard told them of
+the obstacle they had met in the way of a marble door,
+and how Glinda would now undertake to find a magic way
+to conquer the door.
+
+Realizing that it would require several days to
+succeed in reaching the island raising it and
+liberating their friends and the Skeezer people, Glinda
+now prepared a camp half way between the lake shore and
+the palm trees.
+
+The Wizard's wizardry made a number of tents appear
+and the sorcery of the Sorceress furnished these tents
+all complete, with beds, chairs, tables, flags, lamps
+and even books with which to pass idle hours. All the
+tents had the Royal Banner of Oz flying from the
+centerpoles and one big tent, not now occupied, had
+Ozma's own banner moving in the breeze.
+
+Betsy and Trot had a tent to themselves, and Button
+Bright and Ojo had another. The Scarecrow and the Tin
+Woodman paired together in one tent and so did Jack
+Pumpkinhead and the Shaggy Man, Cap'n Bill and Uncle
+Henry, Tik-Tok and Professor Wogglebug. Glinda had the
+most splendid tent of all, except that reserved for
+Ozma, while the Wizard had a little one of his own.
+Whenever it was meal time, tables loaded with food
+magically appeared in the tents of those who were in
+the habit of eating, and these complete arrangements
+made the rescue party just comfortable as they would
+have been in their own homes.
+
+Far into the night Glinda sat in her tent studying a
+roll of mystic scrolls in search of a word that would
+open the basement door of the island and admit her to
+the Great Dome. She also made many magical experiments,
+hoping to discover something that would aid her. Yet
+the morning found the powerful Sorceress still
+unsuccessful.
+
+Glinda's art could have opened any ordinary door, you
+may be sure, but you must realize that this marble door
+of the island had been commanded not to open save in
+obedience to one magic word, and therefore all other
+magic words could have no effect upon it. The magic
+word that guarded the door had probably been invented
+by Coo-ee-oh, who had now forgotten it. The only way,
+then, to gain entrance to the sunken island was to
+break the charm that held the door fast shut. If this
+could be done no magic would be required to open it.
+
+The next day the Sorceress and the Wizard again
+entered the boat and made it submerge and go to the
+marble door, which they tried in various ways to open,
+but without success.
+
+"We shall have to abandon this attempt, I think,"
+said Glinda. "The easiest way to raise the island would
+be for us to gain admittance to the Dome and then
+descend to the basement and see in what manner
+Coo-ee-oh made the entire island sink or rise at her
+command. It naturally occurred to me that the easiest
+way to gain admittance would be by having the boat take
+us into the basement through the marble door from which
+Coo-ee-oh launched it. But there must be other ways to
+get inside the Dome and join Ozma and Dorothy, and such
+ways we must find by study and the proper use of our
+powers of magic."
+
+"It won't be easy," declared the Wizard, "for we must
+not forget that Ozma herself understands considerable
+magic, and has doubtless tried to raise the island or
+find other means of escape from it and failed."
+
+"That is true," returned Glinda, "but Ozma's magic is
+fairy magic, while you are a Wizard and I am a
+Sorceress. In this way the three of us have a great
+variety of magic to work with, and if we should all
+fail it will be because the island is raised and
+lowered by a magic power none of us is acquainted with.
+My idea therefore is to seek -- by such magic as we
+possess -- to accomplish our object in another way."
+
+They made the circle of the Dome again in their boat,
+and once more saw Ozma and Dorothy through their
+windows and exchanged signals with the two imprisoned
+girls.
+
+Ozma realized that her friends were doing all in
+their power to rescue her and smiled an encouragement
+to their efforts. Dorothy seemed a little anxious but
+was trying to be as brave as her companion.
+
+After the boat had returned to the camp and Glinda
+was seated in her tent, working out various ways by
+which Ozma and Dorothy could be rescued, the Wizard
+stood on the shore dreamily eying the outlines of the
+Great Dome which showed beneath the clear water, when
+he raised his eyes and saw a group of strange people
+approaching from around the lake. Three were young
+women of stately presence, very beautifully dressed,
+who moved with remarkable grace. They were followed at
+a little distance by a good-looking young Skeezer.
+
+The Wizard saw at a glance that these people might be
+very important, so he advanced to meet them. The three
+maidens received him graciously and the one with the
+golden hair said:
+
+"I believe you are the famous Wizard of Oz, of whom I
+have often heard. We are seeking Glinda, the Sorceress,
+and perhaps you can lead us to her."
+
+"I can, and will, right gladly," answered the Wizard.
+"Follow me, please."
+
+The little Wizard was puzzled as to the identity of
+the three lovely visitors but he gave no sign that
+might embarrass them.
+
+He understood they did not wish to be questioned, and
+so he made no remarks as he led the way to Glinda's
+tent.
+
+With a courtly bow the Wizard ushered the three
+visitors into the gracious presence of Glinda, the
+Good.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Twenty-One
+
+The Three Adepts
+
+
+
+The Sorceress looked up from her work as the three
+maidens entered, and something in their appearance and
+manner led her to rise and bow to them in her most
+dignified manner. The three knelt an instant before the
+great Sorceress and then stood upright and waited for
+her to speak.
+
+"Whoever you may be," said Glinda, "I bid you
+welcome."
+
+"My name is Audah," said one.
+
+"My name is Aurah," said another.
+
+"My name is Aujah," said the third.
+
+Glinda had never heard these names before, but
+looking closely at the three she asked:
+
+"Are you witches or workers in magic?"
+
+"Some of the secret arts we have gleaned from
+Nature," replied the brownhaired maiden modestly, "but
+we do not place our skill beside that of the Great
+Sorceress, Glinda the Good."
+
+"I suppose you are aware it is unlawful to practice
+magic in the Land of Oz, without the permission of our
+Ruler, Princess Ozma?"
+
+"No, we were not aware of that," was the reply.  "We
+have heard of Ozma, who is the appointed Ruler of all
+this great fairyland, but her laws have not reached us,
+as yet."
+
+Glinda studied the strange maidens thoughtfully; then
+she said to them:
+
+"Princess Ozma is even now imprisoned in the Skeezer
+village. for the whole island with its Great Dome, was
+sunk to the bottom of the lake by the witchcraft of
+Coo-ee-oh, whom the Flathead Su-dic transformed into a
+silly swan. I am seeking some way to overcome
+Coo-ee-oh's magic and raise the isle to the surface
+again. Can you help me do this?"
+
+The maidens exchanged glances, and the white-haired
+one replied
+
+"We do not know; but we will try to assist you."
+
+"It seems," continued Glinda musingly, "that
+Coo-ee-oh derived most of her witchcraft from three
+Adepts at Magic, who at one time ruled the Flatheads.
+While the Adepts were being entertained by Coo-ee-oh at
+a banquet in her palace, she cruelly betrayed them and
+after transforming them into fishes cast them into the
+lake.
+
+"If I could find these three fishes and return them
+to their natural shapes -- they might know what magic
+Coo-ee-oh used to sink the island. I was about to go to
+the shore and call these fishes to me when you arrived.
+So, if you will join me, we will try to find them."
+
+The maidens exchanged smiles now, and the golden-
+haired one, Audah, said to Glinda:
+
+"It will not be necessary to go to the lake. We are
+the three fishes."
+
+"Indeed!" cried Glinda. "Then you are the three
+Adepts at Magic, restored to your proper forms?"
+
+"We are the three Adepts," admitted Aujah.
+
+"Then," said Glinda, "my task is half accomplished.
+But who destroyed the transformation that made you
+fishes?"
+
+"We have promised not to tell," answered Aurah; "but
+this young Skeezer was largely responsible for our
+release; he is brave and clever, and we owe him our
+gratitude."
+
+Glinda looked at Ervic, who stood modestly behind the
+Adepts, hat in hand. "He shall be properly rewarded,"
+she declared, "for in helping you he has helped us all,
+and perhaps saved his people from being imprisoned
+forever in the sunken isle."
+
+The Sorceress now asked her guests to seat themselves
+and a long talk followed, in which the Wizard of Oz
+shared.
+
+"We are quite certain," said Aurah, "that if we could
+get inside the Dome we could discover Coo-ee-oh's
+secrets, for in all her work, after we became fishes,
+she used the formulas and incantations and arts that
+she stole from us. She may have added to these things,
+but they were the foundation of all her work."
+
+"What means do you suggest for our getting into the
+Dome?" inquired Glinda.
+
+The three Adepts hesitated to reply, for they had not
+yet considered what could be done to reach the inside
+of the Great Dome. While they were in deep thought, and
+Glinda and the Wizard were quietly awaiting their
+suggestions, into the tent rushed Trot and Betsy,
+dragging between them the Patchwork Girl.
+
+"Oh, Glinda," cried Trot, "Scraps has thought of a
+way to rescue Ozma and Dorothy and all of the
+Skeezers."
+
+The three Adepts could not avoid laughing merrily,
+for not only were they amused by the queer form of the
+Patchwork Girl, but Trot's enthusiastic speech struck
+them as really funny. If the Great Sorceress and the
+famous Wizard and the three talented Adepts at Magic
+were unable as yet to solve the important problem of
+the sunken isle, there was little chance for a patched
+girl stuffed with cotton to succeed.
+
+But Glinda, smiling indulgently at the earnest faces
+turned toward her, patted the children's heads and
+said:
+
+"Scraps is very clever. Tell us what she has thought
+of, my dear."
+
+"Well," said Trot, "Scraps says that if you could dry
+up all the water in the lake the island would be on dry
+land, an' everyone could come and go whenever they
+liked."
+
+Glinda smiled again, but the Wizard said to the
+girls:
+
+"If we should dry up the lake, what would become of
+all the beautiful fishes that now live in the water?"
+
+"Dear me! That's so," admitted Betsy, crestfallen; "we
+never thought of that, did we Trot?"
+
+"Couldn't you transform 'em into polliwogs?" asked
+Scraps, turning a somersault and then standing on one
+leg. "You could give them a little, teeny pond to swim
+in, and they'd be just as happy as they are as fishes."
+
+"No indeed!" replied the Wizard, severely. "It is
+wicked to transform any living creatures without their
+consent, and the lake is the home of the fishes and
+belongs to them."
+
+"All right," said Scraps, making a face at him; "I
+don't care."
+
+"It's too bad," sighed Trot, "for I thought we'd
+struck a splendid idea."
+
+"So you did," declared Glinda, her face now grave and
+thoughtful. "There is something in the Patchwork Girl's
+idea that may be of real value to us."
+
+"I think so, too," agreed the golden-haired Adept.
+"The top of the Great Dome is only a few feet below the
+surface of the water. If we could reduce the level of
+the lake until the Dome sticks a little above the
+water, we could remove some of the glass and let
+ourselves down into the village by means of ropes."
+
+"And there would be plenty of water left for the
+fishes to swim in," added the white-haired maiden.
+
+"If we succeed in raising the island we could fill up
+the lake again," suggested the brown-haired Adept.
+
+"I believe," said the Wizard, rubbing his hands
+together in delight, "that the Patchwork Girl has shown
+us the way to success."
+
+The girls were looking curiously at the three
+beautiful Adepts, wondering who they were, so Glinda
+introduced them to Trot and Betsy and Scraps, and then
+sent the children away while she considered how to
+carry the new idea into effect.
+
+Not much could be done that night, so the Wizard
+prepared another tent for the Adepts, and in the
+evening Glinda held a reception and invited all her
+followers to meet the new arrivals. The Adepts were
+greatly astonished at the extraordinary personages
+presented to them, and marveled that Jack Pumpkinhead
+and the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman and Tik-Tok could
+really live and think and talk just like other people.
+They were especially pleased with the lively Patchwork
+Girl and loved to watch her antics.
+
+It was quite a pleasant party, for Glinda served some
+dainty refreshments to those who could eat, and the
+Scarecrow recited some poems, and the Cowardly Lion
+sang a song in his deep bass voice. The only thing
+that marred their joy was the thought that their
+beloved Ozma and dear little Dorothy were yet confined
+in the Great Dome of the Sunken island.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Twenty-Two
+
+The Sunken Island
+
+
+
+As soon as they had breakfasted the next morning,
+Glinda and the Wizard and the three Adepts went down to
+the shore of the lake and formed a line with their
+faces toward the submerged island. All the others came
+to watch them, but stood at a respectful distance in
+the background.
+
+At the right of the Sorceress stood Audah and Aurah,
+while at the left stood the Wizard and Aujah. Together
+they stretched their arms over the water's edge and in
+unison the five chanted a rhythmic incantation.
+
+This chant they repeated again and again, swaying
+their arms gently from side to side, and in a few
+minutes the watchers behind them noticed that the lake
+had begun to recede from the shore. Before long the
+highest point of the dome appeared above the water.
+Gradually the water fell, making the dome appear to
+rise. When it was three or four feet above the surface
+Glinda gave the signal to stop, for their work had been
+accomplished.
+
+The blackened submarine was now entirely out of
+water, but Uncle Henry and Cap'n Bill managed to push
+it into the lake. Glinda, the Wizard, Ervic and the
+Adepts got into the boat, taking with them a coil of
+strong rope, and at the command of the Sorceress the
+craft cleaved its way through the water toward the part
+of the Dome which was now visible.
+
+"There's still plenty of water for the fish to swim
+in," observed the Wizard as they rode along. "They
+might like more but I'm sure they can get along until
+we have raised the island and can fill up the lake
+again."
+
+The boat touched gently on the sloping glass of the
+Dome, and the Wizard took some tools from his black bag
+and quickly removed one large pane of glass, thus
+making a hole large enough for their bodies to pass
+through. Stout frames of steel supported the glass of
+the Dome, and around one of these frames the Wizard
+tied the end of a rope.
+
+"I'll go down first," said he, "for while I'm not as
+spry as Cap'n Bill I'm sure I can manage it easily.  Are
+you sure the rope is long enough to reach the bottom?"
+
+"Quite sure," replied the Sorceress.
+
+So the Wizard let down the rope and climbing through
+the opening lowered himself down, hand over hand,
+clinging to the rope with his legs and feet. Below in
+the streets of the village were gathered all the
+Skeezers, men, women and children, and you may be sure
+that Ozma and Dorothy, with Lady Aurex, were filled
+with joy that their friends were at last coming to
+their rescue.
+
+The Queen's palace, now occupied by Ozma, was
+directly in the center of the Dome, so that when the
+rope was let down the end of it came just in front of
+the palace entrance. Several Skeezers held fast to the
+rope's end to steady it and the Wizard reached the
+ground in safety. He hugged first Ozma and then
+Dorothy, while all the Skeezers cheered as loud as they
+could.
+
+The Wizard now discovered that the rope was long
+enough to reach from the top of the Dome to the ground
+when doubled, so he tied a chair to one end of the rope
+and called to Glinda to sit in the chair while he and
+some of the Skeezers lowered her to the pavement. In
+this way the Sorceress reached the ground quite
+comfortably and the three Adepts and Ervic soon
+followed her.
+
+The Skeezers quickly recognized the three Adepts at
+Magic, whom they had learned to respect before their
+wicked Queen betrayed them, and welcomed them as
+friends. All the inhabitants of the village had been
+greatly frightened by their imprisonment under water,
+but now realized that an attempt was to be made to
+rescue them.
+
+Glinda, the Wizard and the Adepts followed Ozma and
+Dorothy into the palace, and they asked Lady Aurex and
+Ervic to join them. After Ozma had told of her
+adventures in trying to prevent war between the
+Flatheads and the Skeezers, and Glinda had told all
+about the Rescue Expedition and the restoration of the
+three Adepts by the help of Ervic, a serious
+consultation was held as to how the island could be
+made to rise.
+
+"I've tried every way in my power," said Ozma, "but
+Coo-ee-oh used a very unusual sort of magic which I do
+not understand. She seems to have prepared her
+witchcraft in such a way that a spoken word is
+necessary to accomplish her designs, and these spoken
+words are known only to herself."
+
+"That is a method we taught her," declared Aurah the
+Adept.
+
+"I can do no more, Glinda," continued Ozma, "so I
+wish you would try what your sorcery can accomplish."
+
+"First, then," said Glinda, "let us visit the
+basement of the island, which I am told is underneath
+the village."
+
+A flight of marble stairs led from one of Coo-ee-oh's
+private rooms down to the basement, but when the party
+arrived all were puzzled by what they saw. In the
+center of a broad, low room, stood a mass of great cog-
+wheels, chains and pulleys, all interlocked and seeming
+to form a huge machine; but there was no engine or
+other motive power to make the wheels turn.
+
+"This, I suppose, is the means by which the island is
+lowered or raised," said Ozma, "but the magic word
+which is needed to move the machinery is unknown to
+us."
+
+The three Adepts were carefully examining the mass of
+wheels, and soon the golden-haired one said:
+
+"These wheels do not control the island at all. On
+the contrary, one set of them is used to open the doors
+of the little rooms where the submarines are kept, as
+may be seen from the chains and pulleys used. Each boat
+is kept in a little room with two doors, one to the
+basement room where we are now and the other letting
+into the lake.
+
+"When Coo-ee-oh used the boat in which she attacked
+the Flatheads, she first commanded the basement door to
+open and with her followers she got into the boat and
+made the top close over them. Then the basement door
+being closed, the outer door was slowly opened, letting
+the water fill the room to float the boat, which then
+left the island, keeping under water."
+
+"But how could she expect to get back again?" asked
+the Wizard.
+
+"Why the boat would enter the room filled with water
+and after the outer door was closed a word of command
+started a pump which pumped all the water from the
+room. Then the boat would open and Coo-ee-oh could
+enter the basement."
+
+"I see," said the Wizard. "It is a clever
+contrivance, but won't work unless one knows the magic
+words."
+
+"Another part of this machinery," explained the
+white-haired Adept, "is used to extend the bridge from
+the island to the mainland. The steel bridge is in a
+room much like that in which the boats are kept, and at
+Coo-ce-oh's command it would reach out, joint by joint,
+until its far end touched the shore of the lake. The
+same magic command would make the bridge return to its
+former position. Of course the bridge could not be used
+unless the island was on the surface of the water."
+
+"But how do you suppose Coo-ee-oh managed to sink the
+island, and make it rise again?" inquired Glinda.
+
+This the Adepts could not yet explain. As nothing
+more could be learned from the basement they mounted
+the steps to the Queen's private suite again, and Ozma
+showed them to a special room where Coo-ee-oh kept her
+magical instruments and performed all her arts of
+witchcraft.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Twenty-Three
+
+The Magic Words
+
+
+
+Many interesting things were to be seen in the Room
+of Magic, including much that had been stolen from the
+Adepts when they were transformed to fishes, but they
+had to admit that Coo-ee-oh had a rare genius for
+mechanics, and had used her knowledge in inventing a
+lot of mechanical apparatus that ordinary witches,
+wizards and sorcerers could not understand.
+
+They all carefully inspected this room, taking care
+to examine every article they came across.
+
+"The island," said Glinda thoughtfully, "rests on a
+base of solid marble. When it is submerged, as it is
+now, the base of the island is upon the bottom of the
+lake. What puzzles me is how such a great weight can be
+lifted and suspended in the water, even by magic."
+
+"I now remember," returned Aujah, "that one of the
+arts we taught Coo-ee-oh was the way to expand steel,
+and I think that explains how the island is raised and
+lowered. I noticed in the basement a big steel pillar
+that passed through the floor and extended upward to
+this palace. Perhaps the end of it is concealed in this
+very room. If the lower end of the steel pillar is
+firmly embedded in the bottom of the lake, Coo-ee-oh
+could utter a magic word that would make the pillar
+expand, and so lift the entire island to the level of
+the water."
+
+"I've found the end of the steel pillar. It's just
+here," announced the Wizard, pointing to one side of
+the room where a great basin of polished steel seemed
+to have been set upon the floor.
+
+They all gathered around, and Ozma said:
+
+"Yes, I am quite sure that is the upper end of the
+pillar that supports the island. I noticed it when I
+first came here. It has been hollowed out, you see, and
+something has been burned in the basin, for the fire
+has left its marks. I wondered what was under the great
+basin and got several of the Skeezers to come up here
+and try to lift it for me. They were strong men, but
+could not move it at all."
+
+"It seems to me," said Audah the Adept, "that we have
+discovered the manner in which Coo-ee-oh raised the
+island. She would burn some sort of magic powder in the
+basin, utter the magic word, and the pillar would
+lengthen out and lift the island with it."
+
+"What's this?" asked Dorothy, who had been searching
+around with the others, and now noticed a slight hollow
+in the wall, near to where the steel basin stood. As
+she spoke Dorothy pushed her thumb into the hollow and
+instantly a small drawer popped out from the wall.
+
+The three Adepts, Glinda and the Wizard sprang
+forward and peered into the drawer. It was half filled
+with a grayish powder, the tiny grains of which
+constantly moved as if impelled by some living force.
+
+"It may be some kind of radium," said the Wizard.
+
+"No," replied Glinda, "it is more wonderful than even
+radium, for I recognize it as a rare mineral powder
+called Gaulau by the sorcerers. I wonder how Coo-ee-oh
+discovered it and where she obtained it."
+
+"There is no doubt," said Aujah the Adept, "that this
+is the magic powder Coo-ee-oh burned in the basin. If
+only we knew the magic word, I am quite sure we could
+raise the island."
+
+"How can we discover the magic word?" asked Ozma,
+turning to Glinda as she spoke.
+
+"That we must now seriously consider," answered the
+Sorceress.
+
+So all of them sat down in the Room of Magic and
+began to think. It was so still that after a while
+Dorothy grew nervous. The little girl never could keep
+silent for long, and at the risk of displeasing her
+magic-working friends she suddenly said:
+
+"Well, Coo-ee-oh used just three magic words, one to
+make the bridge work, and one to make the submarines go
+out of their holes, and one to raise and lower the
+island. Three words. And Coo-ee-oh's name is made up of
+just three words. One is 'Coo,' and one is 'ee,' and
+one is 'oh.'
+
+The Wizard frowned but Glinda looked wonderingly at
+the young girl and Ozma cried out:
+
+"A good thought, Dorothy dear! You may have solved
+our problem."
+
+"I believe it is worth a trial," agreed Glinda. "It
+would be quite natural for Coo-ee-oh to divide her
+name into three magic syllables, and Dorothy's
+suggestion seems like an inspiration."
+
+The three Adepts also approved the trial but the
+brown-haired one said:
+
+"We must be careful not to use the wrong word, and
+send the bridge out under water. The main thing, if
+Dorothy's idea is correct, is to hit upon the one word
+that moves the island."
+
+"Let us experiment," suggested the Wizard.
+
+In the drawer with the moving gray powder was a tiny
+golden cup, which they thought was used for measuring.
+Glinda filled this cup with the powder and carefully
+poured it into the shallow basin, which was the top of
+the great steel pillar supporting the island. Then
+Aurah the Adept lighted a taper and touched it to the
+powder, which instantly glowed fiery red and tumbled
+about the basin with astonishing energy. While the
+grains of powder still glowed red the Sorceress bent
+over it and said in a voice of command: "Coo!"
+
+They waited motionless to see what would happen.
+There was a grating noise and a whirl of machinery, but
+the island did not move a particle.
+
+Dorothy rushed to the window, which overlooked
+the glass side of the dome.
+
+"The boats!" she exclaimed. "The boats are all
+loose an' sailing under water."
+
+"We've made a mistake," said the Wizard gloomily.
+
+"But it's one which shows we are on the right track,"
+declared Aujah the Adept. "We know now that Coo-ee-oh
+used the syllables of her name for the magic words."
+
+"If 'Coo' sends out the boats, it is probable that
+ee' works the bridge," suggested Ozma. "So the last
+part of the name may raise the island."
+
+"Let us try that next then," proposed the Wizard.
+
+He scraped the embers of the burned powder out of the
+basin and Glinda again filled the golden cup from the
+drawer and placed it on top the steel pillar. Aurah
+lighted it with her taper and Ozma bent over the basin
+and murmured the long drawn syllable: "Oh-h-h!"
+
+Instantly the island trembled and with a weird
+groaning noise it moved upward -- slowly, very slowly,
+but with a steady motion, while all the company stood
+by in awed silence. It was a wonderful thing, even to
+those skilled in the arts of magic, wizardry and
+sorcery, to realize that a single word could raise that
+great, heavy island, with its immense glass Dome.
+
+"Why, we're way above the lake now!" exclaimed
+Dorothy from the window, when at last the island ceased
+to move.
+
+"That is because we lowered the level of the water,"
+explained Glinda.
+
+They could hear the Skeezers cheering lustily in the
+streets of the village as they realized that they were
+saved.
+
+"Come," said Ozma eagerly, "let us go down and join
+the people."
+
+"Not just yet," returned Glinda, a happy smile upon
+her lovely face, for she was overjoyed at their
+success. "First let us extend the bridge to the
+mainland, where our friends from the Emerald City are
+waiting."
+
+It didn't take long to put more powder in the basin,
+light it and utter the syllable "EE!" The result was
+that a door in the basement opened and the steel bridge
+moved out, extended itself joint by joint, and finally
+rested its far end on the shore of the lake just in
+front of the encampment.
+
+"Now," said Glinda, "we can go up and receive the
+congratulations of the Skeezers and of our friends of
+the Rescue Expedition."
+
+Across the water, on the shore of the lake, the
+Patchwork Girl was waving them a welcome.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Twenty-Four
+
+Glinda's Triumph
+
+
+
+Of course all those who had joined Glinda's
+expedition at once crossed the bridge to the island,
+where they were warmly welcomed by the Skeezers. Before
+all the concourse of people Princess Ozma made a speech
+from a porch of the palace and demanded that they
+recognize her as their lawful Ruler and promise to obey
+the laws of the Land of Oz. In return she agreed to
+protect them from all future harm and declared they
+would no longer be subjected to cruelty and abuse.
+
+This pleased the Skeezers greatly, and when Ozma told
+them they might elect a Queen to rule over them, who in
+turn would be subject to Ozma of Oz, they voted for
+Lady Aurex, and that same day the ceremony of crowning
+the new Queen was held and Aurex was installed as
+mistress of the palace.
+
+For her Prime Minister the Queen selected Ervic, for
+the three Adepts had told of his good judgment,
+faithfulness and cleverness, and all the Skeezers
+approved the appointment.
+
+Glinda, the Wizard and the Adepts stood on the bridge
+and recited an incantation that quite filled the lake
+with water again, and the Scarecrow and the Patchwork
+Girl climbed to the top of the Great Dome and replaced
+the pane of glass that had been removed to allow Glinda
+and her followers to enter.
+
+When evening came Ozma ordered a great feast
+prepared, to which every Skeezer was invited. The
+village was beautifully decorated and brilliantly
+lighted and there was music and dancing until a late
+hour to celebrate the liberation of the people. For the
+Skeezers had been freed, not only from the water of the
+lake but from the cruelty of their former Queen.
+
+As the people from the Emerald City prepared the next
+morning to depart Queen Aurex said to Ozma:
+
+"There is only one thing I now fear for my people,
+and that is the enmity of the terrible Su-dic of the
+Flatheads. He is liable to come here at any time and
+try to annoy us, and my Skeezers are peaceful folks and
+unable to fight the wild and wilful Flatheads."
+
+"Do not worry," returned Ozma, reassuringly. "We
+intend to stop on our way at the Flatheads' Enchanted
+Mountain and punish the Su-dic for his misdeeds."
+
+That satisfied Aurex and when Ozma and her followers
+trooped over the bridge to the shore, having taken
+leave of their friends, all the Skeezers cheered them
+and waved their hats and handkerchiefs, and the band
+played and the departure was indeed a ceremony long to
+be remembered.
+
+The three Adepts at Magic, who had formerly ruled the
+Flatheads wisely and considerately, went with Princess
+Ozma and her people, for they had promised Ozma to stay
+on the mountain and again see that the laws were
+enforced.
+
+Glinda had been told all about the curious Flatheads
+and she had consulted with the Wizard and formed a plan
+to render them more intelligent and agreeable.
+
+When the party reached the mountain Ozma and Dorothy
+showed them how to pass around the invisible wall --
+which had been built by the Flatheads after the Adepts
+were transformed -- and how to gain the up-and-down
+stairway that led to the mountain top.
+
+The Su-dic had watched the approach of the party from
+the edge of the mountain and was frightened when he saw
+that the three Adepts had recovered their natural forms
+and were coming back to their former home. He realized
+that his power would soon be gone and yet he determined
+to fight to the last. He called all the Flatheads
+together and armed them, and told them to arrest all
+who came up the stairway and hurl them over the edge of
+the mountain to the plain below. But although they
+feared the Supreme Dictator, who had threatened to
+punish them if they did not obey his commands, as soon
+as they saw the three Adepts they threw down their arms
+and begged their former rulers to protect them.
+
+The three Adepts assured the excited Flatheads that
+they had nothing to fear.
+
+Seeing that his people had rebelled the Su-dic ran
+away and tried to hide, but the Adepts found him and
+had him cast into a prison, all his cans of brains
+being taken away from him.
+
+After this easy conquest of the Su-dic, Glinda told
+the Adepts of her plan, which had already been approved
+by Ozma of Oz, and they joyfully agreed to it. So,
+during the next few days, the great Sorceress
+transformed, in a way, every Flathead on the mountain.
+
+Taking them one at a time, she had the can of brains
+that belonged to each one opened and the contents
+spread on the flat head, after which, by means of her
+arts of sorcery, she caused the head to grow over the
+brains -- in the manner most people wear them -- and
+they were thus rendered as intelligent and good looking
+as any of the other inhabitants of the Land of Oz.
+
+When all had been treated in this manner there were
+no more Flatheads at all, and the Adepts decided to
+name their people Mountaineers. One good result of
+Glinda's sorcery was that no one could now be deprived
+of the brains that belonged to him and each person had
+exactly the share he was entitled to.
+
+Even the Su-dic was given his portion of brains and
+his flat head made round, like the others, but he was
+deprived of all power to work further mischief, and
+with the Adepts constantly watching him he would be
+forced to become obedient and humble.
+
+The Golden Pig, which ran grunting about the streets,
+with no brains at all, was disenchanted by Glinda, and
+in her woman's form was given brains and a round head.
+This wife of the Su-dic had once been even more wicked
+than her evil husband, but she had now forgotten all
+her wickedness and was likely to be a good woman
+thereafter.
+
+These things being accomplished in a satisfactory
+manner, Princess Ozma and her people bade farewell to
+the three Adepts and departed for the Emerald City,
+well pleased with their interesting adventures.
+
+They returned by the road over which Ozma and Dorothy
+had come, stopping to get the Sawhorse and the Red
+Wagon where they had left them.
+
+"I'm very glad I went to see these peoples," said
+Princess Ozma, "for I not only prevented any further
+warfare between them, but they have been freed from the
+rule of the Su-dic and Coo-ee-oh and are now happy and
+loyal subjects of the Land of Oz. Which proves that it
+is always wise to do one's duty, however unpleasant
+that duty may seem to be."
+
+
+
+
+
+
+The Wonderful Oz Books by L. Frank Baum:
+
+The Wizard of Oz
+The Land of Oz
+Ozma of Oz
+Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
+The Road to Oz
+The Emerald city of Oz
+The Patchwork Girl of Oz
+Tik-Tok of Oz
+The Scarecrow of Oz
+Rinkitink in Oz
+The Lost Princess of Oz
+The Tin Woodman of Oz
+The Magic of Oz
+Glinda of Oz
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Etext of Glinda of Oz, by L. Frank Baum
+