Classic Audiobook Collection - Ozma of Oz by L. Frank Baum ~ Full Audiobook [fantasy]

Episode Date: February 9, 2023

Ozma of Oz by L. Frank Baum audiobook. Genre: fantasy Ozma of Oz was the third title in the Oz series by L. Frank Baum. In this book Dorothy is shipwrecked and lands on the shores of a fairy country that adjoins Oz, the land of Ev. There she meets Tiktok, a wind up mechanical man, a talking chicken, Billina, and Ozma, the girl ruler of Oz who is leading a quest to rescue the royal family of Ev from their captivity by the Nome King. Dorothy is also reunited with her old friends, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion. Together the adventurers travel to the Nome King's underground kingdom and have many exciting adventures before returning to Oz, and for Dorothy, eventual return to her family in the 'civilized' world. For ad-free listening try our premium subscription Chapters (Approximate) (00:00:00) Chapter 01 (00:10:51) Chapter 02 (00:23:47) Chapter 03 (00:35:21) Chapter 04 (00:49:13) Chapter 05 (01:02:18) Chapter 06 (01:27:03) Chapter 07 (01:41:57) Chapter 08 (01:52:17) Chapter 09 (02:05:47) Chapter 10 (02:20:06) Chapter 11 (02:39:26) Chapter 12 (02:46:30) Chapter 13 (02:55:41) Chapter 14 (03:08:39) Chapter 15 (03:17:34) Chapter 16 (03:28:02) Chapter 17 (03:38:44) Chapter 18 (03:49:07) Chapter 19 (03:56:23) Chapter 20 (04:05:05) Chapter 21 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Osma of Oz by El Frank Baum. The girl in the chicken coop. The wind blew hard and juggled the water of the ocean, sending ripples across its surface. Then the wind pushed the edges of the ripples until they became waves, and shoved the waves around until they became billows. The billows rolled dreadfully high, higher even than the tops of houses.

Some of them indeed rolled as high as the tops of tall trees, and seemed like mountains, and the gulfs between the great billows were like deep valleys. All this mad dashing and splashing of the waters of the big ocean, which the mischievous wind caused without any good reason whatever, resulted in a terrible storm, and a storm on the ocean is liable to cut many queer pranks and do a lot of damage. At the time the wind began to blow, a ship was sailing far out upon the waters. When the waves began to tumble and toss and to grow bigger and bigger, the ship rolled up and down and tipped sideways, first one way and then the other, and was jostled around so roughly that even the sailor men had to hold fast to the ropes and railings

to keep themselves from being swept away by the wind or pitched headlong into the sea. And the clouds were so thick in the sky that the sunlight couldn't get through them, so that the day grew dark as night, which added to the terrors of the storm. The captain of the ship was not afraid, because he had seen storms before, and had sailed his ship through them in safety. But he knew that his passengers would be in danger if they tried to stay on deck, so he put them all into the cabin and told them to stay there until after the storm was over, and to keep brave hearts and not be scared, and all would be well with them. now among these passengers was a little kansas girl named dorothy gale who was going with her uncle henry to australia to visit some relatives they had never before seen

uncle henry you must know was not very well because he had been working so hard on his kansas farm that his health had given way and left him weak and nervous so he left aunt emmit home to watch after the hired men and to take care of the farm while he traveled far away to australia to visit his cousins and have a good rest dorothy was eager to go with him on this journey and uncle henry thought she would be good company and helped cheer him up so he decided to take her along the little girl was quite an experienced traveler for she had once been carried by a cyclone as far away from home as the marvelous land of oz and she had met with a good many-advigerned in that strange country before she managed to get back to Kansas again. So she wasn't easily frightened, whatever happened, and when the wind began to howl and whistle and the waves began to tumble and toss, our little girl didn't mind the uproar the least bit. Of course we'll have to stay in the cabin, she said to Uncle Henry and the other passengers, and to keep as quiet as possible until the storm is over.

For the captain says, if we go on deck we may be blown now. overboard. No one wanted to risk such an accident as that, you may be sure. So all the passengers stayed huddled up in the dark cabin, listening to the shrieking of the storm and the creaking of the masts and rigging, and trying to keep from bumping into one another when the ship tipped sideways. Dorothy had almost fallen asleep when she was roused with a start to find that Uncle Henry was missing.

She couldn't imagine where he had gone. and as he was not very strong she began to worry about him, and to fear he might have been careless enough to go on deck. In that case he would be in great danger unless he instantly came down again. The fact was that Uncle Henry had gone to lie down in his little sleeping berth, but Dorothy did not know that. She only remembered that Aunt Em had cautioned her to take good care of her uncle, so at once she decided to go on deck and find him. despite of the fact that the tempest was now worse than ever, and the ship was plunging in a really dreadful manner.

Indeed, the little girl found it was as much as she could do to mount the stairs to the deck, and as soon as she got there, the wind struck her so fiercely that it almost tore away the skirts of her dress. Yet Dorothy felt a sort of joyous excitement in defying the storm, and while she held fast to the railing she peered around through the gloom. and thought she saw the dim form of a man clinging to a mask not far away from her. This might be her uncle, so she called as loudly as she could, Oh, Henry! Uncle Henry!

But the wind screeched and howled so madly that she scarce heard her own voice, and the man certainly failed to hear her for he did not move. Dorothy decided she must go to him, so she made a dash forward during a lull in the storm to where a big square chicken coop had been lashed to the deck with ropes. She reached this place in safety, but no sooner had she seized fast hold of the slats of the big box in which the chickens were kept, than the wind, as if enraged because the little girl dared to resist its power, suddenly redoubled its fury. With a scream like that of an angry giant it tore away the ropes that held the coop, and lifted it high into the air with

Dorothy still clinging to the slats. Around and over it world this way and that, and a few moments later, the chicken coop dropped far away into the sea, where the big waves caught it, and slid it uphill to a foaming crest, and then downhill into a deep valley, as if it were nothing more than a plaything to keep them amused. Dorothy had a good ducking, you may be sure, but she didn't lose her presence of mind even for a second. She kept tight hold of the stout slats, and as soon as she could get the water out of her eyes, she saw that the wind had ripped the cover from the coop, and the poor chickens were fluttering away in every direction, being blown by the wind until they look like feather

dusters without handles. The bottom of the coop was made of thick boards, so Dorothy found she was clinging to a sort of raft with sides of slats, which readily bore up her weight. After coughing the water out of her throat and getting her breath again, she managed to climb over the slats and stand upon the firm wooden bottom of the coop, which supported her easily enough. Why, I've got a ship of my own, she thought, more amused than frightened at her sudden change of condition, and then as the coop climbed up to the top of a big wave, she looked eagerly around for the ship from which she had been blown.

It was far, far away by this time. Perhaps no one on board had yet missed her, or knew of her strange adventure. Down into the valley between the waves, the coop swept her, and when she climbed another crest, the ship looked like a toy boat. It was such a long way off. Soon it had entirely disappeared in the gloom, and then Dorothy gave a sigh of regret at parting with Uncle Henry, and began to wonder what was going to be. to happen to her next. Just now she was tossing on the bosom of a big ocean, with nothing

to keep her afloat, but a miserable wooden hen-coop that had a plank-bottom and slatted sides, through which the water constantly splashed and wetted her through to the skin. And there was nothing to eat when she became hungry, as she was sure to do before long, and no fresh water to drink and no dry clothes to put on. Well, I declare, she exclaimed with a laugh. You're in a pretty fix, Dorothy Gale. I can tell you, and I haven't the least idea how you're going to get out of it. As if to add to her troubles, the night was now creeping on,

and the gray clouds overhead changed to inky blackness. But the wind, as if satisfied at last with its mischievous pranks, stopped blowing this ocean and hurried away to another part of the world to blow something else, so that the waves not being jogged anymore began to quiet down. and behave themselves. It was lucky for Dorothy, I think, that the storm subsided, otherwise brave though she was, I fear she might have perished. Many children in her place would have wept and given way to despair.

But because Dorothy had encountered so many adventures and come safely through them, it did not occur to her at this time to be especially afraid. She was wet and uncomfortable, it is true. But, after sighing that one sigh I told you of, she managed to recall some of her customary cheerfulness, and decided to patiently await whatever her fate might be. By and by the black clouds rolled away and showed a blue sky overhead, with the silver moon shining sweetly in the middle of it, and little stars winking merrily at Dorothy when she looked their way. The coop did not toss around any more, and rode the waves more

gently, almost like a cradle rocking, so that the floor upon which Dorothy stood was no longer swept by water coming through the slats. Seeing this and being quite exhausted by the excitement of the past few hours, the little girl decided that sleep would be the best thing to restore her strength, and the easiest way in which she could pass the time. The floor was damp and she was herself ringing wet, but fortunately this was a warm climate, and she did not feel it all cold. So she sat down in a corner of the coop, leaned her back against the slats, nodded at the friendly stars before she closed her eyes, and was asleep in half a minute. End of Chapter 1. Chapter 2 of Asma of Oz by L. Frank Baum. This Libravox recording is in the

public domain. Recording by Phil Chenevere. The Yellow Hinn A strange noise awoke Dorothy. who opened her eyes to find that day had dawned, and the sun was shining brightly in a clear sky. She had been dreaming that she was back in Kansas again, and playing in the old barnyard with the calves and pigs and chickens all around her, and at first, as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes, she really imagined she was there. Ah, here again was the strange noise that had awakened her. Surely it was a hen cackling.

But her wide-open eyes first saw through the slats of the coop, the blue waves of the ocean, now calm and placid, and her thoughts flew back to the past night, so full of danger and discomfort. Also she began to remember that she was a waif of the storm, adrift upon a treacherous and unknown sea. What's that? What's that?

cried Dorothy, starting to her feet. "'Why, I've just laid an egg, that's all,' replied a small but sharp and distinct voice, and looking around her, the little girl discovered a yellow hen squatting in the opposite corner of the coop. "'Dear me!' she exclaimed in surprise. "'Have you been here all night, too?' "'Of course,' answered the hen, fluttering her wings and yawning. "'When the coop blew away from the ship, I clung fast to this corner, with claws and beak,

for I knew if I fell into the water I'd surely be drowned. Indeed, I nearly drowned as it was. With all that water washing over me, I never was so wet before in my life. Yes, agreed Dorothy. It was pretty wet for a time, I know, but do you feel comfortable now? Not very. The sun has helped dry my feathers as it has your dress,

and I feel better since I laid my morning egg. But what's to become of us I should like to know, afloat on this big pond. I'd like to know that, too, said Dorothy. But tell me, how does it happen that you were able to talk? I thought hens could only cluck and cackle. Why, as for that, answered the yellow hen, thoughtfully. I have clucked and cackled all my life, and never spoken a word before this morning that I can

remember. But when you asked a question a minute ago, it seemed the most natural thing in the world to answer you. So I spoke, and I see. seem to keep on speaking, just as you and other human beings do. Strange, isn't it?" "'Very,' replied Dorothy. If we were in the land of Oz, I wouldn't think it's so queer, because many of the

animals can talk in that fairy country, but out here in the ocean must be a good long way from Oz. How is my grammar?' asked the yellow hen, anxiously. Do I speak quite properly in your judgment?" "'Yes,' said Dorothy. You do very well for a beginner." "'I'm glad to know that,' continue the yellow hen in a confidential tone. "'Because if one is going to talk, it's best to talk correctly.

The Red Rooster has often said that my cluck and my cackle were quite perfect, and now it's a comfort to know I am talking properly.' "'I'm beginning to get hungry,' remarked Dorothy. "'It's breakfast time, and there's no breakfast. You may have my egg,' said the yellow hen. "'I don't care for it, you know.' Don't you want to hatch it?" asked the little girl in surprise. "'No, indeed.

I never care to hatch eggs, unless I have a nice snug nest in some quiet place. With the baker's dozen of eggs under me—that's thirteen, you know. And it's a lucky number for hens. So you may as well eat this egg.' "'Oh, I couldn't possibly eat it unless it was cooked,' exclaimed Dorothy. But I'm much obliged for your kindness just the same. "'Don't mention it, my dear,' answered the hen, calmly. and began preening her feathers.

For a moment Dorothy stood looking out over the wide sea. She was still thinking of the egg, though, so presently she asked, Why do you lay eggs when you don't expect to hatch them? It's a habit I have, replied the yellow hen. It has always been my pride to lay a fresh egg every morning, except when I'm molding. I never feel like having my morning cackle till the egg is properly laid, and without the chance to cackle I would not be happy. It's strange, said the girl reflectively,

but as I am not a hen, I can't be expected to understand that. Certainly not, my dear. Then Dorothy fell silent again. The yellow hen was some company and a bit of comfort, too, but it was dreadfully lonely out on the big ocean nevertheless. After a time, the hen flew up and perched upon the topmost slat of the coop, which was a little above Dorothy's head when she was sitting upon the bottom, as she had been doing for some moments past.

"'Why, we are not far from land!' exclaimed the hen. "'Where, where is it?' cried Dorothy, jumping up in great excitement. "'Over there, a little way,' answered the hen, nodding her head on a certain direction. "'We seem to be drifting toward it so that before noon we ought to find ourselves upon dry land again.' "'I shall like that,' said Dorothy with a little sigh, for her feet, and legs were still wetted now and then by the seawater that came through the open slats. So shall I, answered her companion. There is nothing in the world so miserable as a wet hen.

The land which they seemed to be rapidly approaching, since it grew more distinct every minute, was quite beautiful, as viewed by the little girl in the floating hen-coop. Next to the water was a broad beach of white sand and gravel, and farther back were several rocky hills, while beyond these appeared a strip of green trees that marked the edge of a forest. But there were no houses to be seen, nor any sign of people who might inhabit this unknown land. I hope we shall find something to eat, said Dorothy, looking eagerly at the pretty beach

toward which they drifted. It's long past breakfast time now. I am a trifle hungry myself, declared the yellow hen. Why don't you eat the egg? asked the child. You don't need to have your food cooked as I do. Do you take me for a cannibal? cried the hen indignantly. I do not know what I have said or done that lead you to insult me. I beg your pardon. I'm sure. Mrs. By the way, may I inquire your name, ma'am?

Ask the little girl. My name is Bill, said the yellow hen somewhat gruffly. Bill? Why, that's a boy's name. What difference does that make? You're a lady? hen, aren't you? Of course, but when I was first hatched out, no one could tell whether I was going to be a hen or a rooster. So the little boy at the farm where I was born called me Bill, and made a pet of me, because I was the only yellow chicken in the whole brood. When I grew up and he found that I didn't crow and fight, as all the roosters do, he did not think to change my name, and every creature in the barnyard, as well as the people in the house, knew me as Bill, so bill i've always been called and bill is my name but it's all wrong you know declared dorothy earnestly and if you don't mind i shall call you billina putting the ena on the end makes it a girl's name you see

oh i don't mind in the least returned the yellow hen it doesn't matter at all what you call me so long as i know the name means me very well billina my name is dorothy gale just dorothy to my friend friends and miscal to strangers you may call me dorothy if you like we're getting very near the shore do you suppose it is too deep for me to wade the rest of the way wait a few minutes longer the sunshine is warm and pleasant and we are in no hurry but my feet are all wet and soggy said the girl my dress is dry enough but i won't feel real comfortable till i get my feet dried she waited however as the hint advised and before long the big wooden coop grated gently on the sandy beach, and the dangerous voyage was over. It did not take the castaways long to reach the shore, you may be sure. The yellow hen flew to the sands at once, but Dorothy had to climb over the high slats. Still for a country girl, that was not much of a feat, and as soon as she was safe ashore, Dorothy drew off her wet shoes and stockings, and spread them upon the sun-warmed beach to dry.

Then she sat down and watched Billina, who was pickpecking away with her sharp bill in the sand and gravel, which she scratched up and turned over with her strong claws. "'What are you doing?' asked Dorothy. "'Geting my breakfast, of course,' murmured the hen, busily pecking away. "'What do you find?' inquired the girl curiously. "'Oh, some fat red ants and some sandbugs and once in a while a tiny crab. They are very sweet and nice, I assure you.' "'How dreadful!' exclaimed.

Dorothy in a shocked voice. What is dreadful? Asked the hen, lifting her head to gaze with one bright eye at her companion. Why, eating live things and horrid bugs and crawly ants, you ought to be shamed of yourself. Goodness me, returned the hen in a puzzle tone. How queer you are, Dorothy. Live things are much fresher and more wholesome than dead ones.

And you humans eat all sorts of dead creatures. We don't, said Dorothy. "'You do indeed,' answered Belina. "'You eat lambs and sheep and cows and pigs and even chickens.' "'But we cook them,' said Dorothy triumphantly. "'What difference does that make?' "'Hey good deal,' said the girl in a graver tone. "'I can't just explain the difference, but it's there.

And anyhow, we never eat such dreadful things as bugs.' "'But you eat the chickens that eat the bugs?' retorted the yellow hen with an odd cackle. "'So you are just as bad. as we chickens are." This made Dorothy thoughtful. What Belina said was true enough, and it almost took away her appetite for breakfast. As for the yellow hen, she continued to peck away the sand busily, and seemed quite contented

with her bill of fare. Finally down near the water's edge, Belina stuck her bill deep into the sand, and then drew back and shivered. "'O!' she cried. I struck metal that time, and it nearly broke my beak. It probably was a rock, said Dorothy carelessly. Nonsense! I know a rock from metal, I guess, said the hen.

There's a different feel to it. But there couldn't be any metal on this wild deserted sea-shore, persisted the girl. Where's the place? I'll dig it up and prove to you, I'm right. Billina showed her the place where she had stubbed her bill, as she expressed it, and Dorothy dug away the sand, until she, She felt something hard. Then, thrusting in her hand, she pulled the thing out,

and discovered it to be a large-sized golden key, rather old, but still bright and of perfect shape. What did I tell you? cried the hen with a cackle of triumph. Can I tell metal when I bump into it, or is the thing a rock? It's metal, sure enough, answered the child, gazing thoughtfully at the curious thing she had found. I think it is pure gold,

and it must have laid hidden in the sand for a long time. How do you suppose it came there, Belina? And what do you suppose this mysterious key on locks? I can't say, replied the hen. You ought to know more about locks and keys than I do? Dorothy glanced around. There was no sign of any house in that part of the country, and she reasoned that every key must fit a lock,

and every lock must have a purpose. Perhaps the key had been lost by someone who lived far away, but had wandered on this very sure. Musing on these things, the girl put the key in the pocket of her dress, and then slowly drew on her shoes and stockings, which the sun had fully dried. I believe Belina, she said, I'll have a look round and see if I can find some breakfast. End of Chapter 2. Chapter 3 of Asma of Oz by L. Frank Baum.

This Libravox recording is in the public domain, recording by Phil Schenever. Letters in the Sand. Walking a little way back from the water's edge toward the grove of trees, Dorothy came to a flat stretch of white sand that seemed to have queer signs marked upon its surface, just as one would write upon sand with a stick. What does it say? she asked the yellow hen, who trotted along beside her in a rather dignified fashion. How should I know, returned the hen. I cannot read.

Oh, can't you? Certainly not. I've never been to school, you know. Well, I have admitted Dorothy, but the letters are big and far apart, and it's hard to spell out the words. But she looked at each letter carefully and finally discovered that these words were written in the sand.

Beware the Wheelers! That's whether strange, declared the hen, when Dorothy had read aloud the word. words, what do you suppose the wheelers are? Folks that wheel, I guess. They must have wheelbarrows, or baby-cabs, or hand-carts, said Dorothy. Perhaps they're automobiles, suggested the yellow hen. There is no need to beware of baby cabs and wheelbarrows, but automobiles are dangerous things. Several of my friends have been run over by them. It can't be automobiles, replied the girl, for this is a new wild country

without even trolley cars or telephones. The people here haven't been discovered yet, I'm sure. That is, if there are any people, so I don't believe there can be any automobiles, Belina. Perhaps not, admitted the Yellowhen. Where are you going now? Over to those trees to see if I can find some fruit or nuts, answered Dorothy. She tramped across the sand,

skirting the foot of one of the little rocky hills that stood near, and soon reached the edge of the forest. At first she was greatly disappointed, because the nearer trees were all Panetta or Cottonwood or Eucalyptus, and bore no fruit or nuts at all. But by and by when she was almost in despair, the little girl came upon two trees that promised to furnish her with plenty of food. One was quite full of square paper boxes,

which grew in clusters on all the limbs, and upon the biggest and ripest boxes the word lunch could be read in neat raised letters. The tree seemed to bear all the year round, for there were lunchbox blossoms on some of the branches and on others tiny little lunch boxes that were as yet quite green and evidently not fit to eat until they had grown bigger. The leaves of this tree were all paper napkins, and it presented a very pleasing appearance to the hungry little girl. But the tree next to the lunchbox tree was even more wonderful, for it bore quantities of tin dinner pails which were so full and heavy that the stout branches bent underneath their

weight. Some were small and dark brown in color. Those larger were of a dull tin color, but the really ripe ones were pales of bright tin that shone and glistened beautifully in the rays of sunshine that touched them. Dorothy was delighted, and even the yellow hen acknowledged that she was surprised. The little girl stood on tiptoe and picked one of the nicest and biggest lunch boxes, and then she sat down upon the ground and eagerly opened it. Inside, she found nicely wrapped in white papers, a ham sandwich, a piece of sponge cake,

a pickle, a slice of new cheese, and an apple. Each thing had a separate stem, and so had to be picked off the side of the box, but Dorothy found him all to be delicious, and she ate every bit of luncheon in the box before she had finished. A lunch isn't exactly breakfast, she said to Belina, who sat beside her curiously watching, but when one is hungry, one can eat even supper in the morning and not complain. I hope your lunch box was perfectly ripe, observed the yellow hen, in a an anxious tone. So much sickness is caused by eating green things.

Oh, I'm sure it was ripe, declared Dorothy. All that is, except the pickle, and a pickle just has to be green, Belina, but everything tasted perfectly splendid, and I'd rather have it than a church picnic. And now I think I'll pick a dinner pail to have when I get hungry again, and then we'll start out and explore the country and see where we are. Haven't you any idea what country this is?' inquired Belina. None at all, but listen, I'm quite sure it's a fairy country, or such things as lunchboxes and dinner pails wouldn't be growing upon trees. Besides Belina being a hen, you wouldn't be able to talk in any civilized country like

Kansas, where no fairies live at all. Perhaps we're in the land of Oz, said the hen thoughtfully. "'No, that can't be,' answered the little girl, "'because I've been to the land of Oz, "'and it's all surrounded by a hard desert that no one can cross.' "'Then how did you get away from there again?' asked Belina. "'I had a pair of silver shoes that carried me through the air, but I lost them,' said Dorothy.

"'Ah, indeed,' remarked the yellow hen in a tone of unbelief. "'Anyhow,' resumed the girl, There was no seashore near the land of Oz, so this must surely be some other fairy country. While she was speaking, she selected a bright and pretty dinner pail that seemed to have a stout handle and picked it from its branch. Then accompanied by the yellow hen, she walked out of the shadow of the trees toward the seashore. They were partway across the sands, when Belina suddenly cried in a voice of terror, What's that?" Dorothy turned quickly around and saw coming out of a path that led from between the trees

the most peculiar person her eyes had ever beheld. It had the form of a man, except that it walked, or rather rolled, upon all fours, and its legs were the same length as its arms, giving them the appearance of the four legs of a beast. Yet it was no beast that Dorothy had discovered, for the person was clothed most gargously in embroidered garments of many colors, and wore a straw hat perched jauntily upon the side of its head. But it differed from human beings in this respect, that instead of hands and feet there grew

at the end of its arms and legs round wheels, and by means of these wheels it rolled very swiftly over the level ground. Afterward, Dorothy found that these odd wheels were of the same hard substance that our fingernails and toenails are composed of, and she also learned that creatures of this strange race were born in this queer fashion. But when our little girl first caught sight of the first individual of a race that was destined to cause her a lot of trouble, she had an idea that the brilliantly clothed personage was on roller skates, which were attached to his hands as well as to his feet.

Run! screamed the yellow hen, fluttering away in great fright. It's a wheeler! A wheeler! exclaimed Dorothy. What can that be? Don't you remember the warning and the sand? Beware the wheelers, run, I tell you, run! So Dorothy ran, and the wheeler gave a sharp wild cry, and came after her in full chase. Looking over her shoulder as she ran, the girl now saw a great procession of wheelers

emerging from the forest, dozens and dozens of them, all clad in splendid, tight-fitting garments, and all rolling swiftly toward her and uttering their wild, strange cries. "'They're sure to catch us,' panted the girl, who was still carrying the heavy dinner pail she had picked. "'I can't run much farther, Belina. "'Clime up this hill, quick,' said the hen, and Dorothy found she was very near to the heap of loose and jagged rocks they had passed on their way to the forest. The yellow hen was even now fluttering among the rocks, and Dorothy followed as best she could, half-climbing and half-tumbling

up the rough and rugged steep. She was none too soon, for the foremost wheeler reached the hill a moment after her. But while the girl scrambled up the rocks, the creature stopped short with howls of rage and disappointment. Dorothy now heard the yellow hen laughing in her cackling henny way. Don't hurry, my dear, cried Belina. They can't follow us among these rocks, so we're safe enough now. Dorothy stopped at once and sat down upon a broad boulder, for she was all out of breath. The rest of the wheelers had now reached the foot of the hill, but it was evident that their wheels would not roll upon the rough and jagged rocks, and therefore they were helpless to follow Dorothy and the hen to where they had taken refuge.

But they circled all around the little hill, so the child and Belina were fast prisoners and could not come down without being captured. Then the creatures shook their front wheels at Dorothy in a third. threatening manner. And it seemed they were able to speak as well as to make their dreadful outcries. For several of them shouted, We'll get you in time, never fear, and when we do get you, we'll tear you into little bits. Why are you so cruel to me? asked Dorothy. I'm a stranger in your country and have done you no harm. No harm, cried one who seemed to be their leader. Did you not pick our lunchboxes and

dinner pails? Have you not a stolen dinner pails still in your hands? And?" I only picked one of each, she answered. I was hungry, and I didn't know the trees were yours. That is no excuse, retorted the leader, who was clothed in a most gorgeous suit. It is the law here that whoever picks a dinner pail without our permission must die immediately. Don't you believe him, said Belina. I'm sure the trees do not belong to these awful creatures.

They are fit for any mischief, and it's my opinion. They would try to kill us just the same if you hadn't picked a dinner pail." "'I think so, too,' agreed Dorothy, but what shall we do now? "'Stay where we are,' advised the Yellowhen. "'We are safe from the wheelers until we starve to death, anyhow, and before that time comes, a good many things can happen.' End of Chapter 3. Chapter 4 of Osma of Oz by L. Frank Baum.

This Libravox recording is in the public domain, recording by Phil Scho. Chenevere. Tick-Tock, the Machine Man. After an hour or so, most of the band of wheelers rolled back into the forest, leaving only three of their number to guard the hill. These curl themselves up like big dogs and pretended to go to sleep on the sands, but neither Dorothy nor Belina were fooled by this trick. So they remained in security among the rocks and paid no attention to their cunning enemies. Finally the hen, fluttering over the mound, exclaimed, why here's a path. So Dorothy at once clambered to where Belina sat,

and there, sure enough, was a smooth path cut between the rocks. It seemed to wind around the mound from top to bottom, like a corkscrew twisting here and there between the rough boulders, but always remaining level and easy to walk upon. Indeed, Dorothy wondered at first why the wheelers did not roll up this path, But when she followed it to the foot of the mound, she found that several big pieces of rock had been placed directly across the end of the way, thus preventing anyone outside from seeing it, and also preventing the wheelers from using it, to climb up the mound.

Then Dorothy walked back up the path, and followed it until she came to the very top of the hill where a solitary round rock stood that was bigger than any of the others surrounding it. The path came to an end just beside this great rock, and for a moment it puzzled the girl to know why the path had been made at all. But the hen, who had been gravely following her around and was now perched upon a point of rock behind Dorothy, suddenly remarked, "'It looks something like a door, doesn't it?' "'What looks like a door?' inquired the child. "'Why that crack in the rock just facing you?' replied Belina, whose little round eyes. were very sharp and seemed to see everything. It runs up one side and down the other and across the top and the bottom. What does? Why the crack? So I think it must be a door of rock, although I do not see any hinges. Oh, yes, said Dorothy, now observing for the first time the crack in the rock, and isn't this a key hole, Belina? pointing to a round, deep hole at one side of the door. Of course, if you're a small,

If we only had the key, now we could unlock it and see what is there," replied the yellow hen. Maybe it's a treasure chamber full of diamonds and rubies, or heaps of shining gold, or— That reminds me, said Dorothy, of the golden key I picked up on the shore. Do you think that it would fit this keyhole, Belina? Try it and see, suggested the hen. So Dorothy searched in the pocket of her dress and found the golden key. And when she had put it into the hole of the rock and turned it, a sudden, sharp snap was heard.

Then with a solemn creek that made the shivers run down the child's back, the face of the rock fell outward, like a door on hinges, and revealed a small, dark chamber just inside. Good gracious, cried Dorothy, shrinking back as far as the narrow path would let her. or standing within the narrow chamber of rock, was the form of a man, or at least it seemed like a man in the dim light. He was only about as tall as Dorothy herself, and his body was round as a ball and made out of burnished copper. Also his head and limbs were copper, and these were joined or hinged to his body, in a peculiar

way with metal caps over the joints, like the armor worn by nights in days of of old. He stood perfectly still, and where the light struck upon his form, it glittered as if made of pure gold. Don't be frightened, called Belina from her perch. It isn't alive. I see it isn't, replied the girl, drawing a long breath. It is only made out of copper, like the old kettle in the barnyard at home, continued the

hen, turning her head first to one side and then to the other, so that both her little round eyes could examine the object. Once, said Dorothy, I knew a man made out of tin, who was a woodman named Nick Chopper. But he was as alive as we are, because he was born a real man, and got his tin body a little at a time, first a leg and then a finger, and then an ear, for the reason that he had so many accidents with his axe, and caught himself up in a very careless manner. Oh, said the hen with a sniff, as if she did do. not believe the story.

But this copper man, continued Dorothy, looking at it with big eyes, is not alive at all, and I wonder what it was made for, and why it is locked up in this queer place. That is a mystery, remarked the hen, twisting her head to arrange her wing feathers with her bill. Dorothy stepped inside the little room to get a back view of the copper man, and in this way discovered a printed card that hung between his shoulders, it being suspended from a small copper peg at the back of his neck. She unfastened this card and returned to the path, where the light was better, and sat herself down upon a slab of rock to read the printing. What does it say? asked the hen, curiously.

Dorothy read the card aloud, spelling out the big words with some difficulty, and this is what she read. Smith and Tinkers. patent double action extra-responsive thought creating perfect-talking mechanical men fitted with our special clock-work attachment thinks speaks acts and does everything but live manufactured only at our works at evna land of ev all infringements will be promptly prosecuted according to law how queer said the yellow hen do you think that is all true my dear i don't know answered dorothy who had more to read. Listen to this, Belina. Directions for using. For thinking, wind the clockworked man under his left arm marked number one. For speaking, wind the clockwork man under his right arm marked number two. For walking and

action, wind clockwork in the middle of his back marked number three. In B, this mechanism is guaranteed to work perfectly for a thousand years. Well, I declare. glare gasped the yellow hen in amazement if the copper man can do half of these things he is a very wonderful machine but i suppose it is all humbug like so many other patented articles we might wind him up suggested dorothy and see what he'll do where is the key to the clockwork asked belina hanging on the peg where i found the card then said the hen let us try him and find out if he will go he is warranted for a thither thousand years, it seems, but we do not know how long he has been standing inside this rock. Dorothy had already taken the clock-key from the peg. Which shall I wind up first? she asked, looking again at the directions on the cord. Number one, I should think, returned Belina. That makes him think, doesn't it?

Yes, said Dorothy, and wound up number one under the left arm. He doesn't seem any different, remarked the hand critically. Why, of course not. He is only thinking, Now, said Dorothy, I wonder what he is thinking about. I wind up his talk, and then perhaps he can tell us, said the girl. So she wound up number two, and immediately the clockworked man said, without moving any part of his body except his lips. Good morning, little girl.

Good morning, Mrs. Hinn. The word sounded a little hoarse and creaky, and they were uttered all in the same tone, without any change of expression whatever, but both Dorothy and Belina understood them perfectly. Good morning, sir, they answered politely. Thank you for rescuing me, continued the machine in the same monotonous voice, which seemed to be worked by a bellows inside of him,

like the little toy lambs and cats the children squeeze so that they will make a noise. Don't mention it, answered Dorothy, and then being very curious, she asked, How did you come to be locked up in this place? it is a long story replied the copper man but i will tell it to you briefly i was purchased from smith and tinker my manufactures by a cruel king of ev named ev aldo who used to beat all his servants until they died however he was not able to kill me because i was not alive and one must first live in order to die so that all his beating did me no harm and merely kept my copper body well polished the cruel king had a lovely wife and ten beautiful children five boys and five girls but in a fit of anger he sold them all to the gnome king who by means of his magic arts changed them all into other forms and put them in his underground palace and put them in his underground palace to ornament the rooms afterward the king of eve regretted his wicked action and tried to get his wife and children away from the gnome king but without a veil

so in despair he locked me in this rock through the key into the ocean and then jumped in after it and was drowned how very dreadful exclaimed dorothy it is indeed said the machine when i found myself imprisoned i shouted for help until my voice ran down and then I walked back and forth in this little room until my action ran down, and then I stood still and thought until my thoughts ran down. After that I remember nothing until you wound me up again. It's a very wonderful story, said Dorothy, and proves that the land of Ev is really a fairyland as I thought it was. of course it is answered the copper man i do not suppose such a perfect machine as i am could be made in any place but a fairyland

i've never seen one in kansas said dorothy but where did you get the key to unlock this door asked the clockwork voice i found it on the shore where it was probably washed up by the waves she answered, and now, sir, if you don't mind, I'll wind up your action. That will please me very much, said the machine. So she wound up number three, and at once the copper man in a somewhat stiff and jerky fashion, walked out of the rocky cavern, took off his copper hat, and bowed politely, and then kneeled before Dorothy, said he. from this time forth i am your o bdient servant whatever you command that i will do willingly if you keep me wound up what is your name she asked tick-tock he replied my former master gave me that name because my clock work always ticks when it is wound up i can hear it now said the yellow hen so can i said dorothy and then she added with some anxiety you don't strike do you no answered

and there is no alarm connected with my machineri i can tell the time though by speaking and as i never sleep i can waken you at any hour you wish to get up in the morning that's nice said the little girl only i never wish to get up in the morning you can sleep until i lay my egg said the yellow hen then when i cackle tick-tock will know it is time to waken you do you lay your egg very early asked dorothy about eight o'clock said bellina and every one ought to be up by that time i'm sure end of chapter four chapter five of ozma of osm by el frank balm this librax recording is in the public domain, recording by Phil Chenevere. Dorothy opens the dinner pail. Now, Tick-Tock, said Dorothy, the first thing to be done is to find a way for us to escape from these rocks. The wheelers are down below, you know, and threaten to kill us.

There is no re-sun to be afraid of the wheelers, said Tick-Tock. The word's coming more slowly than before. Why not, she asked. because they are a g-a-a-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-h-h-h-h-h-h. He gave a sort of gurgle and stopped short, waving his hands frantically, until suddenly he became motionless, with one arm in the air, and the other held stiffly before him, with all the copper fingers of the hand, spread out like a fan. Dear me, said Dorothy in a frightened tone, what can the matter be?

He's run down. I suppose," said the hen calmly. You couldn't have wound him up very tight. I don't know how much to wind him," replied the girl, but I'll try to do better next time. She ran around the copper man to take the key from the peg at the back of his neck, but it was not there. It's gone, cried Dorothy in dismay. What's gone? asked Belina. The key.

It probably fell off when he made that low bow to you, returned the hen. Look around and see if you cannot find it again. dorothy looked and the hen helped her and by and by the girl discovered the clock-key which had fallen into a crack of the rock at once she wound up tik-tok's voice taking care to give the key as many turns as it would go around she found this quite a task as you may imagine if you have ever tried to wind a clock but the machine man's first words were to assure dorothy that he would now run for at least twenty-four hours you did not wind me much at first he calmly said and i told you that long story about king evaldo so it is no wonder that i ran down she next rewound the action clock work and then belina advised her to carry the key to tick-tock in her pocket so it would not get lost again and now said dorothy when all this was accomplished tell me what you were going to say about the wheelers why they are nothing to be frightened at said the machine they try to make folks believe they are very terrible but as a matter of fact the wheelers are harmless enough to any one that dares to fight them they might try to hurt a little girl like you perhaps because they are very mischievous but if i had a club they would have a club they would

run away as soon as they saw me. Haven't you a club? asked Dorothy. No, said Tick-Tock. And you won't find such a thing among these rocks either, declared the yellow hen. Then what shall we do? asked the girl. Wind up my think works tightly, and I will try to think of some other plan, said Tick-Tock. So Dorothy rewound his thought machinery, and while he was thinking she decided to eat her dinner. Belina was already pecking away at the cracks in the rocks to find something to eat,

so Dorothy sat down and opened her tin dinner pail. In the cover, she found a small tank that was full of very nice lemonade. It was covered by a cup, which might also, when removed, be used to drink the lemonade from. Within the pail were three slices of turkey, two slices of cold tongue, some lobster salad, four slices of bread and butter, a small custard, pie, an orange, and nine large strawberries, and some nuts and raisins. Singularly enough, the nuts in this dinner pail grew already cracked, so that Dorothy had no trouble in picking out their meats to eat. She spread the feast upon the rock beside her and began her dinner, first offering some of it to Tick-Tock, who declined because, as he said, he was merely a machine.

Afterwards she offered to share with Belina, but the hen murmured something about dead-de-old. things, and said she preferred her bugs and ants. Do the lunch-box trees and the dinner-pail trees belong to the wheelers? The child asked Tick-Tock while engaged in eating her meal. Of course not, he answered. They belong to the royal family of Ev. Only, of course, there is no royal family just now, because King Evoldo jumped into the sea,

and his wife and ten children have been transformed by the gnome king. So there is no one to rule the land of Ev that I can think of. Perhaps it is for this re-sun that the wheelers claim the trees for their own and pick the luncheons and dinners to eat themselves. But they belong to the king, and you will find the Roy old e stamped up on the bottom of every dinner pail. Dorothy turned the pail over, and at once discovered the royal mark upon it as Tick-Tock had said. Are the wheelers the only folks living in the land of Ev? inquired the girl.

No, they only inhabit a small portion of it just back of the woods, replied the machine. But they have always been miss. Schiface and impertinent, and my old master, King Evoldo, used to carry a whip with him when he walked out, to keep the creatures in order. When I was first made, the wheelers tried to run over me and butt me with their heads, but they soon found I was built of two solid. a material for them to injure. You seem very durable, said Dorothy. Who made you?

The firm of Smith and Tinker in the town of Evna where the Royal Palace stands, answered Tick-Tock. Did they make many of you? asked the child. No, I am the only automatic mechanical man they ever completed. he replied they were very wonderful inventors were my makers and quite artistic in all they did i'm sure of that said dorothy do they live in the town of ebna now they are both gone replied the machine mr smith was an artist as well as an inventor and he painted a picture of a river which was a was so natural that as he was reaching across it to paint some flowers on the opposite bank he fell into the water and was drowned oh i am sorry for that exclaimed the little girl mr tinker continued tic-t-tok made a ladder so tall that he could rest the end of it against the moon while he stood on the highest rung and picked the little stars to set in the points of the king's crown. But when he got to the moon, Mr. Tinker found it such a lovely place that he decided to live there,

so he pulled up the ladder after him, and we have never seen him since. He must have been a great loss to this country, said Dorothy, who was by this time eating her custard pie. He was acknowledged, Tick-Tock, and he is a great loss to me, for if I should get out of order, I do not know of anyone able to repair me because I am so complicated. You have no idea how full of machiner. I am. I can imagine it, said Dorothy readily. And now, continue the machine, I must stop talking and begin thinking a gain of a way to

escape from this rock, so he turned halfway around in order to think without being disturbed. The best thinker I ever knew, said Dorothy to the yellow hen, was a scarecrow. Nonsense, snapped Belina. "'It is true,' declared Dorothy. "'I met him in the land of Oz, "'and he traveled with me to the city of the great wizard of Oz, "'so as to get some brains, for his head was only stuffed with straw, "'but it seemed to me that he thought just as well

"'before he got his brains as he did afterward.' "'Do you expect me to believe all that rubbish about the land of Oz?' "'Inquired Belina, who seemed a little cross, "'perhaps because bugs were scarce.' "'What rubbish?' asked the child, "'who was now finishing her nuts. and raisins. Why, your impossible stories about animals that can talk, and a tin woodman who is alive, and a scarecrow who can think. They are all there, said Dorothy, for I have seen

them. I don't believe it, cried the hen with a toss of her head. That's because you're so ignorant, replied the girl, who was a little offended at her friend Belina's speech. In the land of Oz, remarked Tick-Tock, turning toward them, in Anything is possible, for it is a wonderful fairy country. There, Belina, what did I say? cried Dorothy. And then she turned to the machine and asked in an eager tone, Do you know the land of Oz, Tick-Tock? No, but I have heard about it, said the copper man,

for it is only separated from this land of Ev by a broad desert. dorothy clapped her hands together delightedly i'm glad of that she exclaimed it makes me quite happy to be so near my old friends the scarecrow i told you of belina is the king of the land of oz pardon me he is not the king now said tik-tok he was when i left there declared dorothy i know said tik-tok but there was a revolution in the land of oz and the scarecrow was deposed by a soldier woman named genoa ginger and then ginger was deposed by a little girl named ozma who was the rightful heir to the throne and now rules the land under the title of ozma of oz that is news to me said dorothy thoughtfully but i suppose lots of things have happened since i left the land of oz i wonder what has become of the scarecrow and of the tin woodman and the cowardly line and i wonder who this girl osma is for i never heard of her before but tik-tok did not reply to this he had turned around again to resume his thinking dorothy packed the rest of the food back into the pail so as not to be wasteful of good things and the other things and the other than the other than the food back into the pail so as not to be wasteful of good things and the other yellow hen forgot her dignity far enough to pick up all the scattered crumbs which she ate greedily although she had so lately pretended to despise the things that dorothy preferred as food by this time tik-tok approached them with his stiff bow be kind enough to follow me he said and i will lead you a way from here to the town of evna where you will be more comfortable and also i will be more comfortable and also i will

will protect you from the wheelers." All right, answered Dorothy promptly. I'm ready. End of Chapter 5. Chapter 6 of Osma of Oz by L. Frank Baum. This Libra Vox recording is in the public domain, recording by Phil Schenaber. The Heads of Languadier. They walked slowly down the path between the rocks,

Tick-Tock going first, Dorothy following him and the yellow hen trotting along last the at the foot of the path the copper man leaned down and tossed aside with ease the rocks that encumbered the way then he turned to dorothy and said let me carry your dinnir pail She placed it in his right hand at once, and the copper fingers closed firmly over the stout handle. Then the little procession marched out upon the level sands. As soon as the three-wheeler's who were guarding the mound saw them, they began to shout their wild cries and rolled swiftly toward the little group, as if to capture them or bore their way. But when the foremost had approached near enough,

Tick-tock swung the tin dinner-pail and struck the wheeler as sharp, blow over its head with the queer weapon. Perhaps it did not hurt very much, but it made a great noise, and the wheeler uttered a howl and tumbled over upon its side. The next minute it scrambled to its wheels and rolled away as fast as it could go, screeching with fear at the same time. I told you they were harmless, began Tick-Tock, but before he could say more, another wheeler was upon them. Crack! went the dinner pail against him. its head, knocking its straw hat a dozen feet away. And that was enough for this wheeler also. It rolled away after the first one, and the third did not wait to be pounded with the pail,

but joined its fellows as quickly as its wheels could whirl. The yellow hen gave a cackle of the light, and flying to a perch upon Tick-Tock's shoulder, she said, "'Bravely done, my copper friend, and wisely thought of two, now we are free from those ugly creatures. But just then, a large band of wheelers rolled from the forest, and relying upon their numbers to conquer, they advanced fiercely upon Tick-Tock. Dorothy grabbed Belina in her arms and held her tight, and the machine embraced the form of the little girl with his left arm, the better to protect her. Then the wheelers were upon them. Racklety, bang, bang! With the dinner pail in every direction. And it made so much.

clatter bumping against the heads of the wheelers, that they were much more frightened than hurt, and fled in a great panic. All that is, except their leader. This wheeler had stumbled against another, and fallen flat upon his back, and before he could get his wheels under him to rise again, Tick-Tock had fastened his copper fingers into the neck of the gorgeous jacket of his foe, and held him fast. Tell your Pete, Pell, to go away, commanded the machine. The leader of the wheelers hesitated to give this order, so Tick-Tock shook him as a terrier dog does a rat, until the wheeler's teeth rattled together with a noise like

hailstones on a window pane. Then, as soon as the creature could get its breath, it shouted to the others to roll away, which they immediately did. Now, said Tick-Tock, you shall come with us and tell me what I want to. to know. You'll be sorry for treating me in this way, whined the Wheeler. I'm a terribly fierce person. As for that, answer TikTok, I am only a machine and cannot feel sorrow or joy, no matter what happens,

but you are wrong to think yourself terrible or fierce. Why so? asked the wheeler. Because no one else thinks as you do, your wheels make you helpless to injure anyone, for you have no fists and cannot scratch or even pull hair, nor have you in any feet to kick with. All you can do is to yell and shout, and that does not hurt any one at all. burst into a flood of tears, to Dorothy's great surprise. Now I and my people are ruined forever, he sobbed. For you have discovered our secret.

Being so helpless, our only hope is to make people afraid of us by pretending we are very fierce and terrible, and riding in the sand warnings to beware the wheelers. Until now we have frightened everyone, but since you have discovered our weakness, our enemies will fall upon us and make us very miserable and unhappy. Oh, no, exclaimed Dorothy, who is sorry to see this beautifully dressed Wheeler so miserable? Tick-Tock will keep your secret, and so will Belina and I.

Only you must promise not to try to frighten children any more if they come near to you. I won't, indeed I won't, promised the Wheeler, seizing to cry and becoming more cheerful. I'm not really bad, you know, but we have to pretend to be terrible in order to prevent others from attacking us." That is not exactly true, said Tick-Tock, starting to walk toward the path through the forest, and still holding fast to his prisoner, who rolled slowly along beside him. You and your people are full of mischief and like to bother those who fear you. and you are often impudent and disagreeable too, but if you will try to cure those faults,

I will not tell any one how helpless you are. I'll try, of course, responded the Wheeler eagerly, and thank you, Mr. Tick-Tock, for your kindness. I am only a machine, said Tick-T-T-T-T-T. I cannot be, kind any more than I can be sorry or glad. I can only do what I am wound up to do. Are you wound up to keep my secret? asked the Wheeler anxiously. Yes, if you behave yourself. But tell me, who rules the land of Ev now? asked the machine.

There is no ruler, was the answer, because every member of the royal family is imprisoned by the Noam King. But the Princess Languadier, who is the niece of our late King Evaldo, lives in a part of the royal palace and takes as much money out of the royal treasury as she can spend. The Princess Languadier is not exactly a ruler, you see, because she doesn't rule, but she is the nearest approach to a ruler we have at present. I do not remember her, said Tick-Tock. What does she look like? "'That I cannot say,' replied the Wheeler, "'although I have seen her twenty times,

"'for the Princess Languadier is a different person every time I see her, "'and the only way her subjects can recognize her at all "'is by means of a beautiful ruby key "'which she always wears on a chain attached to her left wrist. "'When we see the key, we know we are beholding the princess.' "'That is strange,' said Dorothy in astonishment. Do you mean to say that so many different princesses are one and the same person?" "'Not exactly,' answered the Wheeler.

"'There is, of course, but one princess. But she appears to us in many forms, which are all more or less beautiful.' "'She must be a witch,' exclaimed the girl. "'I do not think so,' declared the Wheeler. "'But there is some mystery connected with her nevertheless. she is a very vain creature, and lives mostly in a room surrounded by mirrors, so that she can admire herself whichever way she looks. No one answered this speech because they had just passed out of the forest, and their attention was fixed upon the scene before them. A beautiful veil in

which were many fruit trees and green fields, with many pretty farmhouses scattered here and there, and broad smooth roads that led in every direction. direction. All these details, Dorothy was, of course, unable to notice or admire, until they had advanced along the road to a position quite near the palace, and she was still looking at the pretty sights when her little party entered the grounds and approached the big front door of the King's own apartments. To their disappointment, they found the door tightly closed. A sign was tacked to the panel which read as follows. absent, please knock at the third door in the left wing.

Now, said Tick-Tock to the captive wheeler, you must show us the way to the left wing. Very well, agreed the prisoner. It's around here at the right. How can the left wing be at the right? demanded Dorothy, who feared the wheeler was fooling them. Because there used to be three wings, and two were torn down, so the one on the right is the only one left. it is a trick of the princess languidier to prevent visitors from annoying her then the captive led them around to the wing after which the machine-man having no further use of the wheeler permitted him to depart and rejoin his fellows he immediately rolled away at a great pace and was soon lost to sight tik-tok now counted the doors in the wing and knocked loudly upon the third one it was opened by a little maid in a cap trimmed with the third one

it was opened by a little maid in a cap trimmed with gay ribbons who bowed respectively and asked what do you wish good people are you the princess languidier asked dorothy no miss i am her servant replied the maid may i see the princess please i will tell her you are here miss and ask her to grant you an audience said the maid step in please and take a seat in the drawing-room so dorothy walked in followed closely with her and followed closely by the machine. But as the yellow hen tried to enter after them, the little maid cried shoo, and flapped her apron in Belina's face. "'Shoo yourself!' retorted the hen, drawing back in anger and ruffling up her feathers. "'Haven't you any better matters than that?' "'Oh, do you talk?' inquired the maid, evidently surprised. "'Can't you hear me?' snapped Belina.

"'Drop that apron and get out of the doorway so that I may enter with my friends. The princess won't like it, said the maid, hesitating. I don't care whether she likes it or not, replied Belina, and fluttering her wings with a loud noise, she flew straight at the maid's face. The little servant at once ducked her head, and the hen reached Dorothy's side in safety. Very well, sighed the maid. If you are all ruined because of this obstinate hen, don't blame me for it. It isn't. safe to annoy the Princess Languadier." Tell her we are waiting, if you please," Dorothy requested with dignity.

Belina is my friend, and must go wherever I go." Without more words, the maid led them to a richly furnished drawing-room, lighted with subdued rainbow tints that came in through beautiful stained-glass windows. Remain here, she said. What names shall I give the Princess? I am Dorothy Gale of Kansas, replied the child, and this gentleman is a machine named Tick-Tuck, and the yellow hen is my friend Billina. The little servant bowed and withdrew, going through several passages, and mounting two marble stairways

before she came to the apartments occupied by her mistress. Princess Languadier's sitting-room was paneled with great mirrors, which reached from the ceiling to the floor, also the ceiling was composed of mirrors, and the floor was of polished silver that reflected every object upon it. So when Languadier sat in her easy chair and played soft melodies upon her mandolin, her form was mirrored hundreds of times in walls and ceilings and floor, and whichever way the lady turned her head, she could see and admire her own features. This she loved to do, And, just as the maid entered, she was saying to herself, "'The head with the Auburn hair and hazel eyes is quite attractive.

I must wear it more often than I have done of late, although it may not be the best of my collection.' "'You have company, Your Highness,' announced the maid, bowing low. "'Who is it?' asked Languadier, yawning. "'Darthy Gale of Kansas, Mr. Tick-Tock, and Belina,' answered the maid. What a queer lot of names, murmured the princess, beginning to be a little interested. What are they like? Is Dorothy Gale of Kansas pretty? She might be called so, the maid replied. And is Mr. Tick-Tock attractive?

Continued the princess. That I cannot say, Your Highness, but he seems very bright. Will your gracious Highness see them? Oh, I may as well, Nanda. But I am tired admiring this head. and if my visitor has any claim to beauty i must take care that she does not surpass me so i will go to my cabinet and change to number seventeen which i think is my best appearance don't you your number seventeen is exceedingly beautiful answered nanda with another bow again the princess yawned then she said help me to rise so the maid assisted her to gain her feet although languidier was the stronger of the two, then the princess slowly walked across the silver floor to her cabinet, leaning

heavily at every step upon Nanda's arm. Now I must explain to you that the Princess Languadier had thirty heads, as many as there are days in the month, but of course she could only wear one of them at a time, because she had but one neck. These heads were kept in what she called her cabinet, which was a beautiful dressing-room that lay just between Languadier's sleeping chamber and the mirrored sitting-room. Each head was in a separate cupboard lined with velvet. The cupboards ran all around the sides of the dressing-room,

and had elaborately carved doors with gold numbers on the outside, and jeweled-framed mirrors on the inside of them. When the princess got out of her crystal bed in the morning, she went to her cabinet, opened one of the velvet-lined cupboards, and took the headed contained from its golden shelf. Then by the aid of the mirror inside the open door, she put on the head, as neat and straight as could be, and afterward called her maids to robe her for the day.

She always wore a simple white costume that suited all the heads. For being able to change her face whenever she liked, the princess had no interest in wearing a variety of gowns, as have other ladies who were compelled to wear the same face, Of course the thirty heads were in great variety, no two formed the like, but all being of exceeding loveliness. There were heads with golden hair, brown hair, rich auburn hair, and black hair, but none with gray hair.

The heads had eyes of blue, of gray, of hazel, of brown and of black, but there were no red eyes among them, and all were bright and handsome. The noses were Grecian, Roman, Retrus, and Oriental, representing all types of beauty, and the mouths were of assorted sizes and shapes, displaying pearly teeth when the heads smiled. As for dimples, they appeared in cheeks and chins, wherever they might be most charming, and one or two heads had freckles upon the face to contrast the better with the brilliancy of their complexion. One key unlocked all the velvet cupboards containing these treasures. A curious key carved from a single blood-red ruby, and this was fastened to a strong but slender chain which the

princess wore around her left wrist. When Nanda had supported Languadier to a position in front of cupboard number 17, the princess unlocked the door with her ruby key, and after handing head number nine which she had been wearing, to the maid, she took number seventeen from its shelf and fitted it to her neck. It had black hair and dark eyes, and a lovely pearl and white complexion, and when Languadier wore it, she knew she was remarkably beautiful in appearance. There was only one trouble with number seventeen. The temper that went with it, and which was hidden somewhere under the glossy black hair, was fire. harsh and haughty in the extreme, and it often led the princess to do unpleasant things which

she regretted when she came to wear her other heads. But she did not remember this to-day, and went to meet her guests in the drawing-room with a feeling of certainty that she would surprise them with her beauty. However, she was greatly disappointed to find that her visitors were merely a small girl in a gingham dress, a copper man that would only go when while. found up, and a yellow hen that was sitting contentedly in Languadier's best work-basket, where there was a china egg used for darning stockings. It may surprise you to learn that a princess ever does such a common thing as darned stockings.

But if you will stop to think, you will realize that a princess is sure to wear holes in her stockings the same as other people, only it isn't considered quite polite to mention the matter. "'Oh,' said Languadier, slightly lifting the nose of number seventeen, "'I thought someone of importance had called.' "'Then you are right,' declared Dorothy. "'I'm a good deal of portents myself, "'and when Belina lays an egg she has the proudest cackle you ever heard. "'As for Tick-Tock, he's the stop, stop,' commanded the princess,

"'with an angry flash of her splendid eyes. "'How dare you annoy me with your senseless chatter?' why you horrid thing said dorothy who was not accustomed to being treated so rudely the princess looked at her more closely tell me she resumed are you of royal blood better than that ma'am said dorothy i came from kansas hum cried the princess scornfully you are a foolish child and i cannot allow you to annoy me run away you little goose and bother someone else dorothy was so indignant that for a moment she could find no words to reply but she rose from her chair and was about to leave the room when the princess who had been scanning the girl's face stopped her by saying more gently come nearer to me dorothy obeyed without a thought of fear and stood before the princess while languidier examined her face with careful attention you are rather attractive said the lady present not at all beautiful you understand but you have a certain style of prettiness that is different from that of any of my thirty heads so i believe i'll take your head and give you number twenty-six for it well i believe you won't exclaimed dorothy it will do you no good to refuse continued the princess for i need your head for my collection and in the land of ev my will is law i never have cared much for number twenty-six and you will

find that it is very little worn, besides, it will do you just as well as the one you're wearing for all practical purposes. I don't know anything about your number twenty-six, and I don't want to, said Dorothy firmly. I'm not used to taking cast off things, so I'll just keep my own head. You refuse, cried the princess with a frown. Of course I do, was the reply. Then, said Languadier, I shall lock you up in a tower,

until you decide to obey me. Nanda, turning to her maid, call my army. Nanda rang a silver bell, and at once a big, fat colonel, and a bright red uniform entered the room, followed by ten lean soldiers, who all looked sad and discouraged and saluted the princess in a very melancholy fashion. Carry that girl to the north tower and lock her up, cried the princess, pointing to Dorothy. To hear is to obey,

Answered the big red colonel, and caught the child by her arm, but at that moment Tick-Tock raised his dinner pail and pounded it so forcibly against the colonel's head that the big officer sat down upon the floor with a sudden bump, looking both dazed and very much astonished. Help, he shouted, and the ten lean soldiers sprang to assist their leader. There was great excitement for the next few moments, and Tick-Tock had knocked down, sat down, satire. of the army who were sprawling in every direction upon the carpet when suddenly the machine paused with the dinner pail raised for another blow and remained perfectly motionless my action has run down he called to dorothy wind me up quick she tried to obey but the big colonel had by this time managed to get upon his feet again so he grabbed fast hold of the girl and she was helpless to escape that is too bad said the machine i ought to have run six hours longer at least but i suppose my long walk and my fight with the wheelers made me run down faster than usual well it can't be helped said dorothy with a sigh will you exchange heads with me demanded the princess no indeed cried dorothy then Then lock her up, said Languadier to her soldiers, and they led Dorothy to a high tower at the

north of the palace and locked her securely within. The soldiers afterward tried to lift Tick-Tock, but they found the machine so solid and heavy that they could not stir it, so they left him standing in the center of the drawing-room. People will think I have a new statue, said Languadier, so it won't matter in the least, and Nanda can keep him well polished. What shall we do with the hen? asked the colonel, who had just discovered Belina in the work-basket. Put her in the chicken-house, answered the princess. Someday I'll have her fried for a breakfast.

She looks rather tough, Your Highness, said Nanda doubtfully. That is a base-slander, cried Belina, struggling frantically in the colonel's arms. But the breed of chickens I come from is said to be poisoned to all princesses. Then, remarked Langmeree, I won't. not fry the hen, but keep her to lay eggs, and if she doesn't do her duty, I'll have her drowned in the horse trough." End of Chapter 6. Chapter 7 of Asma of Oz by El Frank Baum.

This Libravox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Phil Chenevere. Osma of Oz to the rescue. Nanda brought Dorothy bread and water for her supper, and she slept upon a hard stone couch with a single pillow and a silken coverlet. In the morning she leaned out of the window of her prison in the tower to see if there was any way to escape. The room was not so very high up, when compared with our modern buildings, but it was

far enough above the trees and farmhouses to give her a good view of the surrounding country. To the east she saw the forest, with the sands beyond it, and the ocean beyond that. There was even a dark speck upon the shore that she was even a dark speck upon the shore that she she thought might be the chicken coop in which she had arrived at this singular country. Then she looked to the north, and saw a deep but narrow valley lying between two rocky mountains and a third mountain that shut off the valley at the farther end. Westward the fertile land of Ev suddenly ended a little way from the palace,

and the girl could see miles and miles of sandy desert that stretched further than her eyes could reach. It was this desert, she thought, with much interest, that alone separated her from the wonderful land of Oz, and she remembered sorrowfully that she had been told no one had ever been able to cross this dangerous waste but herself. Once a cyclone had carried her across it, and a magical pair of silver shoes had carried her back again. But now she had neither a cyclone nor silver shoes to assist her, and her condition was sad indeed for she had become the prisoner of a disagreeable princess who insisted that she must exchange her head for another one that she was not used to and which might not fit her at all really there seemed no hope of help for her from her old friends in the land of oz thoughtfully she gazed from her narrow window on all the desert not a living thing was stirring wait though something surely was

starring on the desert, something her eyes had not observed at first. Now it seemed like a cloud, now it seemed like a spot of silver, now it seemed to be a mass of rainbow colors that move swiftly toward her. What could it be, she wondered. Then, gradually, but in a brief space of time, nevertheless, the vision drew near enough to Dorothy to make out what it was. A broad green carpet was unrolling itself upon the desert, while advancing across the carpet was a wonderful procession that made the girl open her eyes in amazement as she gazed. First came a magnificent golden chariot, drawn by a great lion and an immense tiger, who stood shoulder to shoulder and trotted along as gracefully as a well-matched team of thoroughbred

horses, and standing upright within the chariot was a beautiful girl, clothed, and, in flowing robes of silver gauze and wearing a jeweled diadem upon her dainty head. She held in one hand the satin ribbons that guided her astonishing team, and in the other, an ivory wand that separated at the top into two prongs, the prongs being tipped by the letters O and Z made of glistening diamonds set closely together. The girl seemed neither older nor larger than Dorothy herself, and she was. And at once the prisoner in the tower guessed that the lovely driver of the chariot must be that Osma of Oz, of whom she had so lately heard from Tick-Tock. Following close behind the chariot, Dorothy saw her old friend the scarecrow, riding calmly astride a wooden saw-horse,

which pranced and trotted as naturally as any meat-horse could have done. And then came Nick Chopper, the tin woodman, with his funnel-shaped cap, tipped carelessly over his left ear, his gleamy axe over his right shoulder, and his whole body sparkling as brightly as it had ever done in the old days when first she knew him. The ten woodman was on foot, marching at the head of a company of twenty-seven soldiers, of whom some were lean and some fat, some short and some tall, but all twenty-seven were dressed in handsome uniforms of various designs and colors, no two being a lot. in any respect.

Behind the soldiers the green carpet rolled itself up again, so that there was always just enough of it for the procession to walk upon, in order that their feet might not come in contact with the deadly, life-destroying sands of the desert. Dorothy knew it once it was a magic carpet she beheld, and her heart beat high with hope and joy, as she realized she was soon to be rescued and allowed to greet her dearly beloved of Oz, the scarecrow, the tin woodman, and the cowardly line. Indeed, the girl felt herself as good as rescued as soon as she recognized those in the procession, for she well knew the courage and loyalty of her old comrades, and also believed that any

others who came from their marvelous country would prove to be pleasant and reliable acquaintances. As soon as the last bit of desert was passed, and all the procession From the beautiful and d'aitha to the last soldier, had reached the grassy meadows of the land of Ev, the magic carpet rolled itself together and entirely disappeared. Then the chariot driver turned her lion and tiger into a broad roadway leading up to the palace, and the others followed, while Dorothy still gazed from her tower window in eager excitement. They came quite close to the front door of the palace, and then they came quite close to the front door of the palace,

Then halted. The scarecrow dismounted from his saw-horse to approach the sign fastened to the door, that he might read what it said. Dorothy, just above him, could keep silent no longer. Here I am! she shouted, as loudly as she could. Here's Dorothy! Oh! asked the scarecrow, tipping his head to look upward, until he nearly lost his balance and

tumbled over backward. Dorothy, Gale, of course! friend from Kansas," she answered. "'Why, hello Dorothy,' said the scarecrow. "'What in the world are you doing up there?' "'Nothing,' she called down, because there's nothing to do. "'Save me, my friend, save me.' "'You seem to be quite safe now,' replied the scarecrow.

"'But I'm a prisoner. I'm locked in so that I can't get out,' she pleaded. "'That's all right,' said the scarecrow. "'You might be worse off, little Dorothy. just consider the matter. You can't get drowned or be run over by a wheeler, or fall out of an apple tree. Some folks would think that they were lucky to be up there. Well, I don't, declared the girl, and I want to get down immediately and see you and the tin woodman and the cowardly line. Very well, said the scarecrow nodding. It shall be just as you say, little friend,

who locked you up? The Princess languidier. who is a horrid creature, she answered. At this, Osma, who had been listening carefully to the conversation, called to Dorothy from her chariot, asking, Why did the princess lock you up, my dear? Because, exclaimed Dorothy, I wouldn't let her have my head for her collection, and take an old cast-off head in exchange for it. I do not blame you, exclaimed Osma promptly. I will see the princess at once, and oblige her to liberate you. oh thank you very very much cried dorothy who as soon as she heard the sweet voice of the girlish ruler of oz knew that she would soon learn to love her dearly

ozma now drove her chariot around to the third door of the wing upon which the tin woodman boldly proceeded to knock as soon as the maid opened the door ozma bearing in her hand her ivory wand stepped into the hall and made her way at once to the drawing-room followed by all her companions except the lion and the tiger. And the twenty-seven soldiers made such a noise and a clatter that the little maid Nanda ran away screaming to her mistress, whereupon the princess languidier, roused to great anger by this rude invasion of her palace, came running into the drawing-room without any assistance whatever. Then she stood before the slight and delicate form of the little girl from Oz and cried out,

"'How dare you enter my palace unbidden! Leave this room at once, or I will bind you and all your people in chains and throw you into my darkest dungeons.' "'What a dangerous lady!' murmured the scarecrow in a soft voice. "'She seems a little nervous,' replied the tin woodman. But Asma only smiled at the angry princess. "'Sit down, please,' she said quietly.

"'I have traveled a long way to see you.' you, and you must listen to what I have to say." "'Must!' screamed the princess, her black eyes flashing with fury, for she still wore her number seventeen head. "'Must? To me?' "'To be sure,' said Asma. "'I am ruler of the land of Oz, and I am powerful enough to destroy all your kingdom,

if I so wish. Yet I did not come here to do harm, but rather to free the royal family of Ev from the thrall of the gnome king, the news having reached me that he is holding the queen and her children prisoners." Hearing these words, Languadir suddenly became quiet. I wish you could indeed free my aunt and her ten royal children," said she eagerly, for if they were restored to their proper farms and station, they could rule the kingdom of them themselves, and that would save me a lot of worry and trouble.

present there are at least ten minutes every day that i must devote to affairs of state and i would like to be able to spend my whole time in admiring my beautiful heads then we will presently discuss this matter said ozma and try to find a way to liberate your aunt and cousins but first you must liberate another prisoner the little girl you have locked up in your tower of course said languidere readily I had forgotten all about her. That was yesterday, you know, and a princess cannot be expected to remember today, what she did yesterday. Come with me, and I will release the prisoner at once. So Asma followed her, and they passed up the stairs that led to the room in the tower. While they were gone, Osma's followers remained in the drawing-room,

and the scarecrow was leaning against a form that he had mistaken for a copper statue, when a harsh metallic voice said, suddenly in his ear. Get off my foot, please. You are scratching my polish. Oh, excuse me, he replied, hastily drawing back. Are you alive? No, said Tick-Tock.

I am only a machine, but I can think and speak and act when I am properly wound up. Just now my action is run down, and do they have. has the key to it that's all right replied the scarecrow dorothy will soon be free and then she'll attend to your works but it must be a great misfortune not to be alive i'm sorry for you why asked tik-tok because you have no brains as i have said the scarecrow oh yes i have returned tik-tok i am fitted with smith and tinkers improved the combination steal brains. They are what makes me think. What sort of brains are you fitted with?' "'I don't know,' admitted the scarecrow. They were given to me by the great wizard of Oz, and I didn't get a chance to examine them before he put them in. But they work splendidly, and my conscience is very active. Have you a conscience?' "'No,' said Tick-Tock.

"'And no heart, I suppose,' added the tin woodman, who had been listening with interest to this conversation. No, said Tick-Tock. Then, continued the Ten Woodman, I regret to say that you are greatly inferior to my friend the scarecrow and to myself, for we are both alive and he has brains which do not need to be wound up, while I have an excellent heart that is continually beating in my bosom. I congratulate you, replied Tick-Tock.

I cannot help be in my bosom. you're in fear e'er for i am a mere machine when i am wound up i do my duty by going just as my machinerie is made to go you have no idea how full of machineri i am i can guess said the scarecrow looking at the machine man curiously some day i'd like to take you apart and see just how you are made do not do that i beg of you said tick-tock for you could not put me together again and my usefulness would be destroyed oh are you useful asked the scarecrow surprised very said tick-tock in that case the scarecrow kindly promised i won't fool with your interior at all for i am a poor mechanic and might mix you up Thank you, said Tick-Tock. Just then, Osma re-entered the room, leading Dorothy by the hand, and followed closely by the Princess Languadier.

End of Chapter 7. Chapter 8 of Osma of Oz by L. Frank Baum. This Libravox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Phil Chenevere. The Hungry Tiger The first thing Dorothy did was to rush into the embrace. of the scarecrow, whose painted face beamed with the light as he pressed her form to his straw-padded bosom. Then the tin woodman embraced her very gently, for he knew his tin arms might hurt her

if he squeezed too roughly. These greetings, having been exchanged, Dorothy took the key to Tick-Tock from her pocket and wound up the machine man's action, so that he could bow properly when introduced to the rest of the company. While doing this, she told them how he, Useful TikTok had been to her, and both the scarecrow and the tin woodman shook hands with the machine once more, and thanked him for protecting their friend. Then Dorothy asked, Where is Belina? I don't know, said the scarecrow.

Who is Belina? She's a yellow hen who is another friend of mine, answered the girl anxiously. I wonder what has become of her. She is in the chicken house in the backyard, said the princess. my drawing-room is no place for hens. Without waiting to hear more, Dorothy ran to get Belina, and just outside the door she came upon the cowardly line, still hitched to the chariot beside the great tiger. The cowardly line had a big bow of blue ribbon fastened to the long hair between his ears, and the tiger wore a bow of red ribbon on his tail just in front of the bushy end.

In an instant Dorothy was hugging the huge lion joyfully. I'm so glad to see you again, she cried. I'm also glad to see you, Dorothy, said the lion. We've had some fine adventures together, haven't we? Yes, indeed, she replied. How are you? As cowardly as ever, the beast answered in a meek voice. Every little thing scares me and makes my heartbeat fast,

But let me introduce to you a new friend of mine, the hungry tiger. Oh, are you hungry? She asked, turning to the other beast, who was just then yawning so widely that he displayed two rows of terrible teeth and a mouth big enough to startle anyone. Dreadfully hungry, answered the tiger, snapping his jaws together with a fierce click. Then why don't you eat something? she asked. No use, said the tiger sadly. I've tried that, but I always get hungry again.

Why, it is the same with me, said Dorothy, yet I keep on eating. But you eat harmless things, so it doesn't matter, replied the tiger. For my part, I'm a savage beast, and have an appetite for all sorts of poor little living creatures, from a chipmunk to fat babies. How dreadful, said Dorothy. isn't it though returned the hungry tiger licking his lips with his long red tongue fat babies don't they sound delicious but i've never eaten any because my conscience tells me it is wrong if i had no conscience i would probably eat the babies and then get hungry again which would mean that i had sacrificed the poor babies for nothing no hungry i was born and hungry i shall die but i'll not have any cruel deeds on my conscience to be sorry for i think you are a very good tiger said dorothy patting the huge head of the beast

in that you are mistaken was the reply i am a good beast perhaps but a disgracefully bad tiger for it is the nature of tigers to be cruel and ferocious and in refusing to eat harmless living creatures. I am acting as no good tiger has ever before acted. That is why I left the forest and joined my friend the cowardly line. But the line is not really cowardly, said Dorothy. I have seen him act as bravely as can be. All a mistake, my dear, protested the line gravely. To others I may have seemed brave at times, but I have never been in any danger that I was not afraid. Nor I. said Dorothy truthfully. But I must go and set free Belina, and then I will see you again." She ran around to the backyard of the palace and soon found the chicken-house, being guided

to it by a loud cackling and crowing and a distracting hubbub of sounds such as chickens make when they are excited. Something seemed to be wrong in the chicken-house, and when Dorothy looked through the slats in the door she saw a group of hens and roosters, huddled in one corner, and watching what appeared to be a whirling ball of feathers. It bounded here and there about the chicken-house, and at first Dorothy could not tell what it was, while the screeching of the chickens nearly deafened her. But suddenly the bunch of feathers stopped whirling, and then, to her amazement, the girl saw

Belina, crouching upon the prostrate form of a speckled rooster. For an instant they both remained motionless, and then the yellow hen shook her wings to settle the feathers, and walked toward the door with a strut of proud defiance and a cluck of victory, while the speckled rooster limped away to the group of other chickens, trailing his crumpled plumage in the dust as he went. "'Why, Belina!' cried Dorothy in a shocked voice. "'Have you been fighting?' "'I really think I have,' retorted Belina.

Do you think I'd let that speckled villain of a rooster lauded over me, and claim to run this chicken-house as long as I'm able to peck and scratch? And not if my name is Bill. It isn't Bill, it's Billina, and you're talking slang, which is very undignified, said Dorothy reprovingly. Come here, Belina, and I'll let you out, for Osma of Oz is here and has set us free. So the yellow hen came to the door, which Dorothy unlatched for her to pass through, and the other chickens silently watched them from their corner without offering

to approach nearer. The girl lifted her friend in her arms and exclaimed, Oh, Belina, how dreadful you look! You've lost a lot of feathers, and one of your eyes is nearly pecked out, and your comb is bleeding. That's nothing, said Belina. Just look at the speckle rooster. Didn't I do him a brown?

Dorothy shook her head. I don't prove this at all, she said, carrying Belina away toward the palace. It isn't a good thing for you to associate with those common chickens. They would soon spoil your good manners, and you wouldn't be respectable anymore. I didn't ask to associate with them, replied Belina. It is that cross old princess who is to blame. But I was raised in the United States, and I won't allow any one harsh chicken of the land. of Ev to run over me and put on airs, as long as I can lift a claw in self-defense."

Very well, Belaine, said Dorothy. We won't talk about it any more." Soon they came to the cowardly line and the hungry tiger, to whom the girl introduced the yellow hen. Glad to meet any friend of Dorothe's, said the line politely. To judge by your present appearance you are not a coward as I am—' Your present appearance makes my mouth. Water," said the tiger, looking at Belina greedily.

"'My, my, how good you would taste if I could only crunch you between my jaws. But don't worry. You would only appease my appetite for a moment, so it isn't worth while to eat you.' "'Thank you,' said the hen, nestling closer in Dorothy's arms. "'Besides, it wouldn't be right,' continued the tiger, looking steadily at Belina and clicking his jaws together. Of course not, cried Dorothy hastily. Belina is my friend, and you mustn't ever eat her under any circumstances.

I'll try to remember that, said the tiger, but I'm a little absent-minded at times. Then Dorothy carried her pet into the drawing-room of the palace, where Tick-Tock, being invited to do so by Osma, had seated himself between the scarecrow and the tin woodman. Opposite to them sat Osma herself and the Princess Languadier, and beside them there was a vacant chair for Dorothy. Around this important group was ranged the Army of Oz, and as Dorothy looked at the handsome uniforms of the 27, she said, Why, they seem to be all officers. They are, all except one, answered the ten woodman. I have in my army eight generals, six colonels, seven majors, and four.

five captains, besides one private for them to command. I'd like to promote the private, for I believe no privates should ever be in public life, and I've also noticed that officers usually fight better and are more reliable than common soldiers, besides the officers are more important-looking and lend dignity to our army. No doubt you are right, said Dorothy, seating herself beside Asma, and now, announced the girlish ruler of Oz, we will hold a solemn conference to decide the best manner of liberating the royal family of this fair land of Ev from their long imprisonment. End of Chapter 8.

Chapter 9 of Osbal of Osby L. Frank Baum. This Libra Box recording is in the public domain. Recording by Phil Chenevere. The Royal Family of Ev. The Ten Woodman was the first to address. the meeting. To begin with, said he, word came to our noble and illustrious ruler, Osma of Oz, that the wife and ten children, five boys and five girls, of the former king of Ev, by name Evoldo, have been enslaved by the gnome king, and are held prisoners

in his underground palace. Also, that there was no one in Ev powerful enough to release them. Naturally, our Osma wished to undertake the adventure of liberating the poor prisoners, but for a long time she could find no way to cross the great desert between the two countries. Finally she went to a friendly sorceress of our land, named Glenda the Good, who heard the story and at once presented Osma a magic carpet, which would continually unrolled beneath our feet and so make a comfortable path for us to cross the desert. as soon as she had received the carpet our gracious ruler ordered me to assemble our army which i did you behold in these bold warriors the pick of all the finest soldiers of oz and if we are obliged to fight the nome king every officer as well as the private will battle fiercely unto death then tik-tok spoke why should you fight the gnome king he asked he has done noem-iq he has done

No wrong." No wrong, cried Dorothy. Isn't it wrong to imprison a queen mother and her ten children? They were sold to the Gnome King by King Ev Oldo, replied Tick-Tock. It was the King of Ev who did wrong, and when he realized what he had done he jumped into the sea and drowned himself. This is news to me," said Asma thoughtfully. I had supposed the Gnome King was all to blame in the matter, but in any case he must be made

to liberate the prisoners. My uncle Evaldo was a very wicked man, declared the Princess Languadier. If he had drowned himself before he sold his family, no one would have cared. But he sold them to the powerful Gnome King in exchange for a long life, and afterward destroyed the life by jumping into the life. the sea. Then, said Asma, he did not get the long life, and the known king must give up the prisoners. Where are they confined? No one knows exactly, replied the princess, for the king, whose name is Roquat of the rocks, owns a splendid palace underneath the great mountain,

which is at the north end of this kingdom, and he has transformed the queen and her children into ornaments and bric-a-brac with which to decorate his rooms. I'd like to know, said Dorothy, who this gnome-king is. I will tell you, replied Asma. He is said to be the ruler of the underground world, and commands the rocks and all that the rocks contain. Under his rule are many thousands of the gnomes, who are queerly shaped but powerful sprites

that labor at the furnaces and forges of their king. making gold and silver and other metals, which they conceal in the crevices of the rocks, so that those living upon the earth's surface can only find them with great difficulty. Also they make diamonds and rubies and emeralds, which they hide in the ground, so that the kingdom of the gnomes is wonderfully rich, and all we have of precious stones and silver and gold is what we take from the earth and rocks where the gnome king has hidden them. Understand, said Dorothy, nodding her little head wisely.

For the reason that we often steal his treasures, continued Asma, the ruler of the underground world, is not fond of those who live upon the earth's surface, and never appears among us. If we wish to see King Roquat of the rocks, we must visit his own country, where he is all-powerful, and therefore it will be a dangerous undertaking. But for the sake of the poor prisoners, said Dorothy, we ought to do it. We shall do it, replied the scarecrow, although it requires a lot of courage for me to go near to the furnaces of the Gnome King, for I am only stuffed with straw and a single spark of fire might destroy me entirely. The furnaces may also melt my tin, said the tin woodman, but I am going.

I can't bear heat, remarked the Princess Linguadier, yawning lazily, So I shall stay at home, but I wish you may have success in your undertaking, for I am heartily tired of ruling this stupid kingdom, and I need more leisure in which to admire my beautiful heads. We do not need you, said Asma, for if, with the aid of my brave followers I cannot accomplish my purpose, then it would be useless for you to undertake the journey." Quite true, sighed the princess. So if you'll excuse me, I will now retire to my cabinet.

I've worn this head quite a while, and I want to change it for another. When she had left, and you may be sure, no one was sorry to see her go, Osma said to Tick-Tock, will you join our party? I am the slave of the girl Dorothi, who will. rescued me from prison," replied the machine. Where she goes, I will go." Oh, I am going with my friends, of course," said Dorothy quickly. I wouldn't miss the fun for anything.

Will you go to Belina?" To be sure, said Belina in a careless tone. She was smoothing down the feathers of her back and not paying much attention. Heat is just in her line, remarked the scarecrow. If she is nicely roasted, she will be better. than ever. Then, said Asma, we will arrange to start for the kingdom of the gnomes at daybreak tomorrow, and in the meantime we will rest and prepare ourselves for the journey. Although Princess Languadir did not again appear to her guests, the palace servants waited

upon the strangers from Oz and did everything in their power to make the party comfortable. There were many vacant rooms at their disposal, and the brave army of twenty-seven was easily provided for and liberally feasted. The cowardly lion and the hungry tiger were unharnessed from the chariot, and allowed to roam at will throughout the palace, where they nearly frightened the servants into fits, although they did no harm at all. At one time Dorothy found the little maid Nanda crouching in terror in a corner with the hungry tiger standing before her. You certainly look delicious, the beast was saying. Will you kind of a little bit? Finally give me permission to eat you?"

No, no, no!" cried the maid in reply. Then, said the tiger, yawning frightfully, pleased to get me about thirty pounds of tenderloin steak cooked rare, with a peck of boiled potatoes on the side and five gallons of ice-cream for dessert. I—I'll do the best I can, said Nanda, and she ran away as fast as she could go. Are you so very hungry? asked Dorothy in one day. "'You can hardly imagine the size of my appetite,' replied the tiger sadly. "'It seems to fill my whole body from the end of my throat to the tip of my tail.

I am very sure the appetite doesn't fit me and is too large for the size of my body. Someday when I meet a dentist with a pair of forceps, I'm going to have it pulled.' "'What, your tooth?' asked Dorothy. "'No, my appetite,' said the hungry time. tiger. The little girl spent most of the afternoon talking with the scarecrow and the tin woodman who related to her all that had taken place in the land of Oz since Dorothy had left it. She was much interested in the story of Osma, who had been, when a baby, stolen by a wicked old witch and transformed into a boy. She did not know that she had ever been a girl,

until she was restored to her natural form by a kind sorceress. Then it was found that she was the only child of the former ruler of Oz, and was entitled to rule in his place. Osma had many adventures, however, before she regained her father's throne, and in these she was accompanied by a pumpkin-headed man, a highly magnified and thoroughly educated Wogglebug, and a wonderful saw-horse that had been brought to life by means of a magic powder. The scarecrow and the tin woodman had also assisted her, but the cowardly line, who ruled the great forest as the king of beasts, knew nothing of Osma until after she became the reigning princess of Oz.

Then he journeyed to the Emerald City to see her, and on hearing she was about to visit the land of Ev, to set free the royal family of that country, the cowardly line begged to go with her, and brought along his friend the hungry tiger as well. Having heard this story, Dorothy related to them her own adventures, and then went out with her friends to find the saw-horse, which Asma had caused to be shod with plates of gold, so that its legs would not wear out.

They came upon the saw-horse, standing motionless beside the garden gate, but when Dorothy was introduced to him, he bowed politely and, Blanked his eyes, which were knots of wood, and wagged his tail, which was only the branch of a tree. What a remarkable thing to be alive! exclaimed Dorothy. I quite agree with you, replied the saw-horse in a rough but not unpleasant voice. A creature like me has no business to live, as we all know, but it was the magic powder that did it, so I cannot justly be blamed.

Of course not, said Dorothy. And you seem to be of some use, because you seem to be of some use, because you are the magic powder. I noticed the scarecrow riding upon your back." "'Oh, yes, I'm of some use,' returned the saw-horse, and I never tire, never have to be fed or cared for in any way. "'Are you intelligent?' asked the girl. "'Not very,' said the creature. "'It would be foolish to waste intelligence on a common saw-horse when so many professors

need it, but I know enough to obey my masters, and to giddy-up or woe when I'm told to. pretty well satisfied. That night Dorothy slept in a pleasant little bedchamber next to that occupied by Asma of Oz, and Belina perched upon the foot of the bed, and tucked her head under her wing, and slept as soundly in that position, as did Dorothy upon her soft cushions. But before daybreak, everyone was awake and stirring, and soon the adventurers were eating a hearty breakfast in the great dining-room of the palace. Osma sat at the head of a long table on a raised platform, with Dorothy on her right hand,

and the scarecrow on her left. The scarecrow did not eat, of course, but Osma placed him near her so that she might ask his advice about the journey while she ate. Lower down the table were the twenty-seven warriors of Oz, and at the end of the room the lion and the tiger were eating out of a kettle that had been placed upon the floor, while Belina fluttered around to pick up any scrap-thouser. that might be scattered. It did not take long to finish the meal, and then the lion and the tiger were harnessed to

the chariot, and the party was ready to start for the Gnome King's Palace. First rode Osma, with Dorothy beside her in the golden chariot and holding Belina fast in her arms. Then came the scarecrow on the saw-horse, with the tin woodman and tick-tock marching side-by-side just behind him. After these tramped the army, looking brave. and handsome in their splendid uniforms the generals commanded the colonels and the colonels commanded the majors and the majors commanded the captains and the captains commanded the private who marched with an air of proud importance because it required so many officers to give him his orders and so the magnificent procession left the palace and started along the road just as day was breaking and by the time the sun came out they had

made good progress toward the valley that led to the Gnome King's domain. End of Chapter 9. Chapter 10 of Osama of Oz by L. Frank Baum. This Libravox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Phil Chenevere. The Giant with the Hammer. The road led for a time through a pretty farm country, and then passed a picnic grove that was very inviting, but the procession continued to

steadily advance, until Belina cried in an abrupt and commanding manner. Wait! Wait! Osma stopped her chariots so suddenly that the scarecrow's saw-horse nearly ran into it, and the ranks of the army tumbled over one another before they could come to a halt. Immediately the yellow hen struggled from Dorothy's arms and flew into a clump of bushes by the roadside. "'What's the matter?' called the Tin Woodman anxiously.

Why, Belina wants to lay her egg, that's all, said Dorothy. Lay her egg, repeated the tin woodman in astonishment. Yes, she lays one every morning about this time, and it's quite fresh, said the girl. But does your foolish old hen suppose that this entire cavalcade, which is bound on an important adventure, is going to stand still while she lays an egg, inquire the tin woodman earnestly? "'What else can we do?' asked the girl. "'It's a habit of Billina's, and she can't break herself of it.' "'Then she must hurry up,' said the Tin Woodman, impatiently.

"'No, no!' exclaimed the scarecrow. "'If she hurries she may lay scrambled eggs.' "'That's nonsense,' said Dorothy. But Belina won't be long, I'm sure. So they stood and waited, although all were restless and anxious to proceed, and by and by the yellow hen came from the bushes, saying, "'Kak, cock, cock, cock, cock, cock, cock, cut, cock, cock, cut, cock, what is she doing, singing her lay?' asked the scarecrow. "'Fforward! March!' shouted the tin woodman, waving his axe, and the procession started just as Dorothy had once more grabbed Belina in her arms.

"'Isn't anyone going to get my egg?' cried the hen in great excitement. "'I'll get it,' said the scarecrow. And at his command the saw-horse pranced into the bushes. The straw-man soon found the egg which he placed in his jacket pocket. The cavalcade, having moved rapidly on, was even then far in advance, but it did not take the saw-horse long to catch up with it, and presently the scarecrow was riding in his accustomed place behind Osma's chariot. "'What shall I do with the egg?' he asked Dorothy.

I don't know, the girl answered. Perhaps the hungry tiger would like it. It would not be enough to fill one of my back teeth, remarked the tiger. A bushel of them hard-boiled might take a little of the edge off my appetite. But one egg isn't good for anything at all that I know of. No, it wouldn't even make a sponge-cake, said the scarecrow thoughtfully. The ten woodman might carry it with his axe and have. hatch it, but after all I may as well keep it myself for a souvenir, so he left it in his pocket.

They had now reached that part of the valley that lay between the two high mountains which Dorothy had seen from her tower window. At the far end was the third great mountain which blocked the valley, and was the northern edge of the land of Ev. It was underneath this mountain that the Gnome King's palace was said to be, but it would be some time before they were reached that place. The path was becoming rocky and difficult for the wheels of the chariot to pass over, and presently a deep gulf appeared at their feet, which was too wide for them to leap. So Asma took a small square of green cloth from her pocket, and threw it upon the ground. At once it became the magic carpet, and unrolled itself far enough for all the cavalcade

to walk upon. The chariot now advanced, and the green carpet unrolled before it, crossing the gulf on a level with its banks, so that all passed over in safety. "'That's easy enough,' said the scarecrow. "'I wonder what will happen next.' He was not long in making the discovery, for the sides of the mountain came closer together, until finally there was but a narrow path between them, along with Asma and her party, were forced to pass in single file. They now heard a low and deep,

Dumb, Dump, which echoed throughout the valley, and seemed to grow louder as they advanced. Then, turning a corner of rock, they saw before them a huge farm, which towered above the path for more than a hundred feet. The farm was that of a gigantic man built out of plates of cast iron, and it stood with one foot on either side of the narrow road, and swung over its right shoulder,

an immense iron mallet, with which it constantly pounded the earth. These resounding blows explained the thumping sounds they had heard, for the mallet was much bigger than a barrel, and where it struck the path between the rocky sides of the mountain, it filled all the space through which our travelers would be obliged to pass. Of course they at once halted, a safe distance away from the terrible iron mallet. The magic carpet would do them no good in this case, for it was only meant to protect them from any dangers upon the ground beneath their feet, and not from dangers that appeared

in the air above them. "'Wo!' said the cowardly line with the shutter. It makes me dreadfully nervous to see that big hammer pounding so near my head. blow would crush me into a dormant." The iron giant is a fine fellow, said Tick-Tock, and works as steadily as a clock. He was made for the Gnome King by Smith and Tinker, who made me, and his duty is to keep folks from finding the underground palace. Is he not a great work of all?

Can he think and speak as you do?" asked Asma, regarding the giant with wondering eyes. No, replied the machine. He is only made to pound the road, and has no thinking or speaking at attachment, but he pounds very well, I think. Too well, observed the scarecrow. He is keeping us from going farther. Is there no way to stop his machinery? Only the gnome king, who has the key, can do that, answered Tick-Tock.

Then, said Dorothy anxiously, what shall we do? Excuse me for a few minutes, said the scarecrow, and I will think it over. He retired then to a position in the rear, where he turned his painted face to the rocks, and began to think. Meanwhile, the giant continued to raise his iron mallet high in the air and strike the path terrific blows that echoed through the mountains like the roar of a cannon. Each time the mallet lifted, however, there was a moment when the path beneath the monster was free, and perhaps the scarecrow had noticed this, for when he came back to the others, he said,

The matter is a very simple one after all. We have but to run under the hammer one at a time when it is lifted, and pass to the other side before it falls again. It will require quick work if we escape the blow, said the tin woodman with a shake of his head. But it really seems the only thing to be done, who will make the first attempt? They looked at one another, hesitatingly for a moment. Then the cowardly lion, who was trembling like a leaf in the wind, said to them, I suppose the head of the procession must go first, and that's me, but I'm terribly afraid of the big hammer. What will become of me? asked Asma.

You might rush under the hammer yourself, but the chariot would surely be crushed. We must leave the chariot, said the scarecrow. But you two girls can ride upon the backs of the lion and the tiger. So this was decided upon, and Osma, as soon as the lion was unfastened from the chariot, at once mounted the beasts back, and said she was ready. Cling fast to his main, advised Dorothy. I used to ride him myself, and that's the way I held on. So Asma clung fast to the main, and the line crouched in the path,

and eyed the swinging mallet carefully, until he knew just the instant it would begin to rise in the air. Then, before anyone thought he was ready, he made a sudden leap straight between the Iron Giant's legs, and before the mallet struck the ground again, the lion and Osma were safe on the other side. The tiger went next. Dorothy sat upon his back and locked her arms around his striped neck, for he had no mane to cling to.

He made the leap straight and true as an arrow from a bow, and ere Dorothy realized that she was out of danger and standing by Osma's side. now came the scarecrow on the saw-horse and while they made the dash in safety they were within a hair's breath of being caught by the descending hammer tick-tock walked up to the very edge of the spot the hammer struck and as it was raised for the next blow he calmly stepped forward and escaped its descent that was an idea for the ten woodman to follow and he also crossed in safety while the great hammer was in the air but when it came to the twenty-six officers and the private their knees were so weak that they could not walk a step in battle we are wonderfully courageous said one of the generals and our foes find us very terrible to face but war is one thing and this is another when it comes to being pounded upon the head by an iron hammer and smashed into pancakes we naturally object "'Make a run for it,' urged the scarecrow. "'Our knees shake so that we cannot run,' answered a captain.

"'If we should try it, we would all certainly be pounded to a jelly.' "'Well, well,' sighed the cowardly line. "'I see, friend Tiger, that we must place ourselves in great danger to rescue this bold army. Come with me, and we will do the best we can.' So Osma and Dorothy, having already dismounted from their backs, the lion and the tiger leaped back again under the awful hammer, and returned with two generals clinging to their necks. They repeated this daring passage twelve times, when all the officers had been carried beneath the giant's legs and landed safely on the further side.

By that time the beasts were very tired, and panted so hard that their tongues hung out of their great mouths. But what is to become of the private? asked Asma. Oh, leave him there to guard the chariot, said the lion. I'm tired out and won't pass under that mallet again. The officers at once protested that they must have the private with them, else there would be no one for them to command. But neither the lion or the tiger would go after him,

and the scarecrow sent the saw-horse. Either the wooden horse was careless, or it failed to properly time the descent of the hammer, for the mighty weapon caught it squarely upon its head, and thumped it against the ground so powerfully that the private flew off its back high into the air, and landed upon one of the giants cast iron arms. Here he clung desperately while the arm rose and fell with each one of the rapid strokes. The scarecrow dashed in to rescue his saw-horse, and had his left foot smashed by the hammer before he could pull the creature out of danger. They then found that the saw-horse had been badly dazed by the blow, for while the hard wooden knot of which his head was formed could not be crushed by the hammer, both his ears were broken off, and he would be unable to hear a sound until some new ones were made for him.

Also his left knee was cracked and had to be bound up with a string. Belina, having fluttered under the hammer, it now remained only to rescue the private, who was riding upon the Iron Giant's arm high in the air. The scarecrow lay flat upon the ground, and called to the man to jump down upon his body, which was soft because it was stuffed with straw. This the private managed to do, waiting until a time when he was nearest to the same, ground, and then letting himself drop upon the scarecrow. He accomplished the feat without breaking any bones, and the scarecrow declared he was not injured in the least. Therefore the ten woodman, having by this time fitted new ears to the saw-horse, the entire

party proceeded upon its way, leaving the giant to pound the path behind them. End of Chapter X. chapter eleven of osma of avas by el frank balm this labor box recording is in the public domain recording by phil chenevere the gnome king by and by when they drew near to the mountain that blocked their path which was the furthest edge of the kingdom of eve the way grew dark and gloomy for the reason that the high peaks on either side shut out the sunshine and it was very silent too as there were no birds to sing or squirt swirls to chatter, the trees being left far behind them, and only the bare rocks remaining. Osma and Dorothy were a little awed by the silence, and all the others were quiet and grave except the saw-horse, which, as it trotted along with the scarecrow upon its back, hummed a queer song of which this was the chorus.

"'Would a wooden horse in a woodland go, I, I sigh he would although, had he not a wooden head he mount the mountain top instead but no one paid any attention to this because they were now close to the gnom king's dominions and his splendid underground palace could not be very far away suddenly they heard a shout of jeering laughter and stopped short they would have to stop in a minute anyway for the huge mountain barred their further progress and the path ran close up to a wall of rock and ended. Who was that laughing? asked Asma.

There was no reply, but in the gloom they could see strange forms flit across the face of the rock. Whatever the creations might be, they seemed very like the rock itself, for they were the color of rocks, and their shapes were as rough and rugged as if they had been broken away from the side of the mountain. They kept close to the steep cliff facing our friends, and glided up to the rock. and down, and this way and that, with a lack of regularity that was quite confusing, and they seemed not to need places to rest their feet, but clung to the surface of the rock as a fly does to a window-pane, and were never still for a moment.

"'Do not mind them,' said Tick-Tock, as Dorothy shrank back. "'They are only the gnomes.' "'And what are gnomes?' asked the girl, half frightened. They are rock fairies and serve the gnome king, replied the machine. But they will do us no harm. You must call for the king, because without him you can never find the entrance to the palace. You call, said Dorothy to Osma. Just then the gnomes laughed again, and the sound was so weird and disheartening

that the twenty-six officers commanded the private to right about face, and they all started to run as fast as they could. The Tin Woodman at once pursued his army and cried, Halt! And when they had stopped their flight, he asked, where are you going? I find I've forgotten the brush for my whiskers, said a general, trembling with fear. So we are going back after it. That is impossible, replied the ten-and-lawful.

replied the tin woodman, for the giant with the hammer would kill you all if you tried to pass him. Oh, I'd forgotten the giant, said the general, turning pale. You seem to forget a good many things, remarked the tin woodman. I hope you won't forget that you are brave men. Never, cried the general, slapping his gold and broader chest. Never, cried all the other officers indignantly slapping their chests. For my part, said the private meekly, I must obey my officers, so when I am told to run,

I run, and when I am told to fight I fight. That is right, agreed the tin woodman, and now you must all come back to Asma and obey her orders, and if you try to run away again, I will have her reduce all the 26 officers to privates, and make the private your general. This terrible threat so frightened them that they at once returned to where Osma was standing beside the cowardly line. Then Osma cried out in the loud voice, I demand that the Gnome King appeared to us.

There was no reply, except that the shifting gnomes upon the mountain laughed in derision. You must not command the gnome king, said Tick-Tock, for you do not rule him as you do your own people. So Asma called again, saying, I request the gnome king to appear to us. Only the mocking laughter replied to her, and the shadowy gnomes continue to flit here and there upon the rocky cliff. Try in tree, said Tick-tock, to Asma. If he will not come at your request, then the gnome king may listen to your plea. Ding!

Osma looked around her proudly. Do you wish your ruler to plead with this wicked gnome king? she asked. Shall Osma of Oz humble herself to a creature who lives in an underground kingdom? No! They all shouted, with big voices. And the scarecrow added, If he will not come, we will dig him out of his hole like a fox and conquer his stubbornness. But our sweet little ruler must always maintain her dignity, just as I maintain mine.

I'm not afraid to plead with him, said Dorothy. I'm only a little girl from Kansas, and we've got more dignity at home than we know what to do with. I'll call the gnome king. Do, said the hungry tiger, and if he makes hash of you, I'll willingly eat you for breakfast tomorrow morning. So Dorothy stepped forward and said, Please, Mr. Gnome King, come here and see us." The gnomes started to laugh again, but a low growl came from the mountain, and in a flash they had all vanished from sight and were silent.

Then a door in the rock opened, and a voice cried, Enter. Isn't it a trick? asked the ten woodman. Never mind, replied Asma. We came here to rescue the poor Queen of Ev and her ten children, and we must run some risks to do it the gnome king is honest and good-natured said tick-tok you can trust him to do what is right so ozma led the way hand in hand with dorothy and they passed through the arched doorway of rock and entered a long passage which was lighted by jewels set in the walls and having lamps behind them there was no one to escort them or to show them the way, but all the party pressed through the passage until they came to a round, domed cavern that was grandly furnished.

In the center of this room was a throne carved out of a solid boulder of rock, rude and rugged in shape, but glittering with great rubies and diamonds and emeralds on every part of its surface, and upon the throne sat the gnome king. This important monarch of the underground world was a little fat man clothed in gray-brown garments that were the exact color of the rock throne in which he was seated. His bushy hair and flowing beard were also colored like the rocks, and so was his face. He wore no crown of any sort, and his only ornament was a broad, jewel-studded belt that circled his fat little body.

As for his features, they seemed kindly and good-natured. and its eyes were turned merrily upon his visitors as ozma and dorothy stood before him with their followers ranged in close order behind them why he looks just like santa claus only he isn't the same color whispered dorothy to her friend but the gnome king heard the speech and it made him laugh aloud he had a red face and a round little belly that shook when he laughed like a bowful of jelly quoth the monarch in a pleasant voice and they could all see that he really did shake like jelly when he laughed both ozma and dorothy were much relieved to find the gnome king so jolly and a minute later he waved his right hand and the girls each found a cushioned stool at her side sit down my dears said the king and tell me why you have come all this way to see me and what can i do to make you happy when they seated themselves the gnome king picked up a pipe and taking a glowing red coal out of his pocket he placed it in the bowl of the pipe and began puffing out clouds of smoke that curled in rings above his head dorothy thought this made the little monarch look more like santa claus than ever but ozma now began speaking and every one listened intently to her words your majesty said she i am the ruler of the land of oz and i have come here to ask you to release the good queen of eve and her ten children whom you have enchanted and hold as your prisoners Oh, no, you are mistaken about that, replied the king.

They are not my prisoners, but by slaves whom I purchased from the king of Ev. But that was wrong, said Asma. According to the laws of Ev, the king can do no wrong, answered the monarch, eyeing a ring of smoke he had just blown from his mouth, so that he had a perfect right to sell his family to me in exchange for a long life. You cheated him, though, declared Dorothy, for the king of Ev did not have a long life. He jumped into the sea and was drowned. That was not my fault, said the gnome king, crossing his legs and smiling contentedly.

I gave him the long life, all right, but he destroyed it. Then how could it be a long life? asked Dorothy. Easily enough, was their reply. Now suppose, my dear, that I gave you a pretty doll. in exchange for a lock of your hair, and that after you had received the doll, you smashed it into pieces and destroyed it. Could you say that I had not given you a pretty doll?" "'No,' answered Dorothy.

"'And could you, in fairness, ask me to return to you the lock of hair, just because you had smashed the doll?' "'No,' said Dorothy again. "'Of course not,' the Gnome King returned. Or will I give up the queen and her children, because the King of Ev destroyed his long life by jumping into the sea. They belong to me, and I shall keep them." But you are treating them cruelly," said Asma, who was much distressed by the king's refusal.

"'In what way?' he asked. "'By making them your slaves,' said she. "'Cruelty,' remarked the monarch, puffing out wreaths of smoke and watching them float into the air, is a thing I can't abide. So as slaves must work hard and the queen of Eve and her children were delicate and tender, I transformed them all into articles of ornament and bric-a-brac, and scatter them around the various rooms of my palace. Instead of being obliged to labor, they merely decorate my apartments, and I really think

I have treated them with great kindness." But what a dreadful fate is theirs! Osma earnestly, and the kingdom of Ev is in great need of its royal family to govern it. If you will liberate them and restore them to their proper forms, I will give you ten ornaments to replace each one you lose. The Gnome King looked grave. Suppose I refuse, he asked. Then, said Asma firmly, I am here with my friends and my army, to conquer your kingdom

and oblige you to obey my wishes. The Gnome King laughed until he choked, and he choked until he coughed, and he coughed until his face turned from grayish brown to bright red. And then he wiped his eyes with a rock-colored handkerchief and grew grave again. "'You are as brave as you are pretty, my dear,' he said to Asma. "'But you have little idea of the extent of the task you have undertaken. Come with me for a moment.' He arose and took Osma's hand, leading her to a little door at one side of the room. This he opened, and they stepped out upon a balcony, from whence they obtained a wonderful view of the underground world.

A vast cave extended from miles and miles under the mountain, and in every direction were furnaces and forges glowing brightly, and gnomes hammering upon precious metals or polishing gleaming jewels. All around the walls of the cave were thousands of doors of silver and gold built into the solid rock, and these extended and rose far away into the distance as far as Asma's eyes could follow them. While the little maid from Oz gazed wonderingly upon this scene, the Gnome King uttered a shrill whistle, and all at once the silver and gold doors flew open and solid ranks of no

Noam soldiers marched out from every one, so great were their numbers, that they quickly filled the immense underground cavern, and forced the busy workmen to abandon their tasks. Although this tremendous army consisted of rock-colored gnomes, all squat and fat, they were clothed in glittering armor of polished steel, inlaid with beautiful gems. Upon his brow each wore a brilliant electric light, and they bore. sharp spears and swords and battle-axes of solid bronze. It was evident they were perfectly trained, for they stood in straight rows rank after rank,

with their weapons held erect and true, as if awaiting but the word of command, to level them upon their foes. This, said the Gnome King, is but a small part of my army. No ruler upon earth has ever dared to fight me, and no ruler ever will, for I am to powerful to oppose. He whistled again, and at once the martial array filed through the silver and gold doorways and disappeared, after which the workmen again resumed their labors at the furnaces. Then, sad and discouraged, Osmavaz turned to her friends, and the Gnome King calmly receded

himself on his rock throne. It would be foolish for us to fight, the girl said to the tin woodman, for our brave twenty-seven would be quickly destroyed. I'm sure I do not know how to act in this emergency." "'Ask the king where his kitchen is,' suggested the tiger. "'I'm hungry as a bear.' "'I might pounce upon the king and tear him to pieces,' remarked the cowardly lion. "'Try it,' said the monarch, lighting his pipe with another hot coal which he took from his pocket.

The lion crouched low and tried to spring upon the gnome king, but he hopped only a little into the air, and came down again in the same place, not being able to approach the throne by even an inch. It seems to me, said the scarecrow thoughtfully, that our best plan is to wheedle his majesty into giving up his slaves, since he is too great a magician to oppose. That is the most sensible thing any of you have suggested, declared the Gnome King. It is folly to threaten me, but I am so kind-hearted that I cannot stop. stand coaxing or wheedling.

If you really wish to accomplish anything by your journey, my dear Asma, you must coax me." Very well, said Asma more cheerfully. Let us be friends and talk this over in a friendly manner. To be sure, agreed the king, his eyes twinkling merrily. I am very anxious, she continued, to liberate the Queen of Ev and her children, who are now ornaments and bric-a-brac in your Majesty's palace, and to restore them to their people. Tell me, sir, how may this be accomplished? The king remained thoughtful for a moment, after which he asked, Are you willing to take a few chances and risks yourself in order to set free the people of Ev?

Yes, indeed, answered Asma eagerly. Then, said the Gnome, king, I will make you this offer. You shall go alone and unattended into my palace, and examine carefully all that the rooms contain. Then you shall have permission to touch eleven different objects, pronouncing at the time the word Ev, and if any one of them, or more than one, proves to be the transformation of the Queen of Ev, or any of her ten children, then they will instantly be restored to their true forms, and may leave my palace and my kingdom in your company. without any objection whatever.

It is possible for you in this way to free the entire eleven. But if you do not guess all the objects correctly, and some of the slaves remain transformed, then each one of your friends and followers may, in turn, enter the palace and have the same privileges I grant you. Oh, thank you, thank you for this kind offer, said Asma eagerly. i make but one condition added the gnome king his eyes twinkling what is it she inquired if none of the eleven objects you touch proves to be the transformation of any of the royal family of ev then instead of freeing them You will yourself become enchanted and transformed into an article of brick or

or an ornament. This is only fair and just, and is the risk you declared you were willing to take." End of Chapter 11. Chapter 12 of Osma of Osme by L. Frank Baum. This Libravox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Phil Schinevere. The Eleven Guesses. Hearing this condition imposed by the Gnom king, Osma became silent and thoughtful,

and all her friends looked at her uneasily. "'Don't do it!' exclaimed Dorothy. "'If you guess wrong, you will be enslaved yourself.' "'But I shall have eleven guesses,' answered Osma. "'Surely I ought to guess one object in eleven correctly. And if I do, I shall rescue one of the royal family and be safe myself. Then the rest of you may attempt it, and soon we shall free all those who are enslaved." "'What if we fail?' inquired the scarecrow.

"'I'd look nice as a piece of brick or brack, wouldn't I?' "'We must not fail,' cried Asma courageously. "'Having come all this distance to free these poor people, it would be weak and cowardly in us to abandon the adventure. Therefore I will accept the gnome king's offer, and go at once into the rest. royal palace." "'Come along, then, my dear,' said the king, climbing down from his throne with some difficulty because he was so fat.

I'll show you the way." He approached a wall of the cave and waved his hand. Instantly an opening appeared, through which Osma, after a smiling farewell to her friends, boldly passed. She found herself in a splendid hall that was more beautiful and grand than anything she had be held. The ceilings were composed of great arches that rose far above her head, and the walls and floors were of polished marble, exquisitely tinted in many colors.

Thick velvet carpets were on the floor, and heavy silken draperies covered the arches leading to the various rooms of the palace. The furniture was made of rare old woods, richly carved and covered with delicate satins, and The entire palace was lighted by a mysterious rosy glow that seemed to come from no particular place but flooded each apartment with its soft and pleasing radiance. Osma passed from one room to another, greatly delighted by all she saw. The lovely palace had no other occupant, for the Gnome King had left her at the entrance, which closed behind her, and in all the magnificent rooms there appeared to be no other person.

Upon the mantles and on many shelves and brackets and tables were clustered ornaments of every description, seemingly made out of all sorts of metals, glass, china, stones, and marbles. There were vases and figures of men and animals, engraven platters and bowls, and mosaics of precious gems, and many other things. Pictures too were on the walls, and the underground palace was quite a museum of rare and curious and costly objects. After her first hasty examination of the rooms, Osma began to wonder which of all the numerous ornaments they contained were the transformations of the royal family of Ev. There was nothing to guide her for everything seemed without a spark of life. So she must guess blindly, and for the first time the girl came to realize how dangerous was her task, and how likely she was to lose her own freedom in striving to free others from the bondage of the gnome king.

No wonder the cunning monarch laughed good-natured with his visitors, when he knew how easily they might be entrapped. But Asma, having undertaken the venture, would not abandon it. She looked at a silver candelabra that had ten branches and thought, this may be the queen of Eve and her ten children. So she touched it, and uttered aloud the word Ev, as the gnome king had instructed her to do when she guessed. But the candelabra remained as it was before. Then she wandered into another room and touched a china lamb, thinking it might be one of the children she sought. But again she was unsuccessful. Three guesses, four guesses, five, six,

seven, eight, nine, and ten she made, and still not one of them was right. The girl shivered a little and grew pale even under the rosy light, for now but one guess remained, and her own fate depended upon the result. She resolved not to be hasty and strolled through all the rooms once more, gazing earnestly upon the various ornaments, and trying to decide which she would touch. Finally, in despair, she decided to leave it entirely to chance. She faced the doorway of a room, shut her eyes tightly, and then thrusting aside the heavy draperies, she advanced blindly with her right arm outstretched before her. Slowly, softly, she crept forward, until her hand came in contact with an object upon a small round table. She did not know what it was, but in a low voice

She pronounced the word Ev. The rooms were quite empty of life after that. The Gnom king had gained a new ornament, for upon the edge of the table, rested a pretty grasshopper that seemed to have been formed from a single emerald. It was all that remained of Asma of Oz. In the throne room, just beyond the palace,

the gnome king suddenly looked up and smiled. Next, he said in his pleasant voice, Dorothy, the scarecrow, and the tin woodman, who had been sitting in anxious silence, each gave a start of dismay and stared into one another's eyes. Has she failed? asked Tick-Tuck. "'So it seems,' answered the little monarch cheerfully. But that is no reason one of you should not succeed. The next may have twelve guesses instead of eleven, for there are now twelve persons transformed

into ornaments. Well, well, which of you goes next?" "'I'll go,' said Dorothy. "'Not so,' replied the tin woodman. "'As commander of Osman's army, it is my privilege to follow her and attempt her rescue.' "'Away you go, then,' said the scarecrow. "'But be careful, old friend. "'I will,' promised the ten woodman.'

And then he followed the gnome king to the entrance to the palace, and the rock closed behind him. End of Chapter 12. Chapter 13 of Osma of Oswald by L. Frank Baum. This Libra-Box recording is in the public domain, recording by Phil Schenever. The Gnome King laughs. In a moment, the king returned to his throne and re-lighted his pipe, and the rest of the little band of adventurers settle themselves for another long wait. They were greatly disheartened by the Phil.

of their girl ruler, and the knowledge that she was now an ornament in the Gnome King's palace, a dreadful, creepy place in spite of all its magnificence. Without their little leader, they did not know what to do next, and each one, down to the trembling private of the army, began to fear he would soon be more ornamental than useful. Suddenly the Gnome king began laughing. "'Ho ho, ho, he, he, ho. "'What's happened?' asked the scarecrow. "'Why, your friend the ten woodman, has become the funniest thing you can imagine,'

replied the king, wiping the tears of merriment from his eyes. "'No one would ever believe he could make such an amusing ornament. Next?' They gazed at each other with sinking hearts. One of the generals began to weep dolefully. What are you crying for?" asked the scarecrow, indignant at such a display of weakness. "'He owed me six weeks back pay,' said the General. "'And I hate to lose him.'

"'Then you shall go and find him,' declared the scarecrow. "'Me?' cried the General, greatly alarmed. "'Certainly. It is your duty to follow your commander. March.' "'I won't,' said the General. "'I'd like to, of course, but I just simply won't.' The scarecrow looked inquiringly at the gnome king. "'Never mind,' said the jolly monarch. "'If he doesn't care to enter the palace and make his guesses,

I'll throw him into one of my fiery furnaces.' "'I'll go. Of course I'm going!' yelled the general as quick as scat. "'Where is the entrance? Where is it? Let me go at once.' So the gnome king escorted him into the palace, and again returned to await the result. What the general did, no one can tell. But it was not long before the king called for the next victim, and a colonel was forced to try his fortune.

Thus, one after another, all of the twenty-six officers filed into the palace and made their guesses and became ornaments. Meanwhile the king ordered refreshments to be served to those waiting, and at his command a rudely shaped gnome entered bearing a tray. This gnome was not unlike the others that Dorothy had seen, but he had been. He wore a heavy gold chain around his neck to show that he was the chief steward of the known king, and he assumed an air of much importance and even told his majesty not to eat too much cake late at night, or he would be ill.

Dorothy, however, was hungry, and she was not afraid of being ill, so she ate several cakes and found them good, and also she drank a cup of excellent coffee made of a richly flavored clay, browned in the furnaces, and then ground fine, and found it most refreshing and not at all muddy. Of all the party which had started upon this adventure, the Little Kansas Girl was now left alone with the Scarecrow, Tick-Tock, and the Private for counselors and companions. Of course the cowardly line and the hungry tiger was still there, but they, having also eaten some of the cakes, had gone to sleep at one side of the can-es.

cave, while upon the other side stood the saw-horse, motionless and silent, as became a mere thing of wood. Belina had quietly walked around and picked up the crumbs of cake which had been scattered, and now, as it was long after bedtime, she tried to find some dark place in which to go to sleep. Presently the hen espied a hollow underneath the king's rocky throne and crept into it unnoticed. He could still hear the chattering of those around her, but it was almost dark underneath the throne, so that soon she had fallen fast asleep.

Next, called the king, and the private, whose turn it was to enter the fatal palace, shook hands with Dorothy and the scarecrow, and bade them a sorrowful goodbye, and passed through the rocky portal. They waited a long time, for the private was in no hurry to become an ornament and made his guesses very slowly. The gnome king, who seemed to know by some magical power, all that took place in his beautiful rooms of his palace, grew impatient finally and declared he would sit up no longer. "'I love ornaments,' said he, but I can wait until tomorrow to get more of them. So as soon

as that stupid private is transformed, we will all go to bed and leave the job to be finished in the morning." "'Is it so very late?' asked Dorian. Why, it is after midnight, said the king, and that strikes me as being late enough. There is neither night nor day in my kingdom, because it is under the earth's surface, where the sun does not shine. But we have to sleep just the same as the upstairs people do, and for my part I'm going to bed in a few minutes."

Indeed, it was not long after this that the Private made his last guess. course he guessed wrongly and of course he at once became an ornament so the king was greatly pleased and clapped his hands to summon his chief steward show these guests to some of the sleeping apartments he commanded and be quick about it too for i'm dreadfully sleepy myself you've no business to sit up so late replied the steward gruffly you'll be as cross as a griffin to-morrow morning his majesty made no answer to this remark and the chief steward led doris Thither threw another doorway into a long hall, from which several plain but comfortable sleeping rooms opened. The little girl was given the first room, and the scarecrow and Tick-Tock the next, although they never slept, and the lion and the tiger the third. The saw-horse hobbled after the steward into a fourth room to stand stiffly in the

center of it until morning. Each night was rather a bore to the Scarecrow, Tick-Tock, and the saw-horse, but hewere-horse, but They had learned from experience to pass the time patiently and quietly, since all their friends who were made of flesh had to sleep and did not like to be disturbed. When the Chief Stewart had left them alone, the scarecrow remarked sadly, I am in great sorrow over the loss of my old comrade the ten woodman. We have had many dangerous adventures together and escape them all, and now it grieves me to know he has become an ornament and it's lost to know he has become an ornament and it's lost to

to me forever. He was always an ornament to society, said Tick-Tock. True, but now the Gnome King laughs at him, and calls him the funniest ornament in all the palace. It will hurt my poor friend's pride to be laughed at, continued the scarecrow sadly. Just then, Dorothy ran into their room in a state of great anxiety, crying, Where's Belina? Have you seen Belina?

Is she here? No, answered the scarecrow. Then what has become of her? asked the girl. Why, I thought she was with you, said the scarecrow. Yet I do not remember seeing the yellow hen since she picked up the crumbs of cake. We must have left her in the room where the king's throne is, decided Dorothy, and at once she turned and ran down the hall to the door through which they had entered, but it was fast closed and locked on the other side,

and the heavy slab of rock proved to be so thick that no sound could pass through it. So Dorothy was forced to return to her chamber. The cowardly lion stuck his head into her room to try to console the girl for the loss of her feathered friend. The yellow hen is well able to take care of herself, said he, so don't worry about her but try to get all the sleep you can. It has been a long and weary day and you need rest. I'll probably get lots of rest tomorrow when I become an ornament, said Dorothy sleepily, but she lay down upon her couch nevertheless, and in spite of all her worries, was soon in

the land of dreams. End of Chapter 13. Chapter 14 of Ozby L. Frank Baum. This Librevox recording is in the public domain, recording by Phil Chenevere. Dorothy tries to be brave. Meanwhile the chief steward had returned to the throne room where he said to the king, You are a fool to waste so much time upon these people. What?

cried his majesty, in so enraged voice that it awoke Bolina, who was asleep under his throne. How dare you call me a fool? Because I like to speak the truth, said the steward. Why didn't you enchant them all at once instead of all. allowing them to go one by one into the palace, and guess which ornaments are the queen of Eve and her children?" "'Why, you stupid rascal, it is more fun this way,' returned the king. And it serves to keep me amused for a long time.

"'But suppose some of them happened to guess aright,' persisted the steward. Then you would lose your old ornaments and these new ones, too.' "'There is no chance of their guessing aright,' replied the monarch with a laugh. How could they know that the Queen of Eve and her children are all ornaments of a royal purple color? But there are no other purple ornaments in the palace, said Stuart. There are many other colors, however, and the purple ones are scattered throughout the rooms, and are of many different shapes and sizes. Take my word for it, Stuart.

They will never think of choosing the purple ornaments. Belina, squatting under the throne, had listened carefully to a all this talk, and now chuckled softly to herself as she heard the King disclose his secret. "'Still, you are acting foolishly by running the chance,' continued the Stuart, roughly, and it is still more foolish of you to transform all those people from Oz into green ornaments.' "'I did that because they came from the Emerald City,' replied the King, and I had no green ornaments in my collection until now. I think they look quite pretty mixed with the others, don't you?"

The steward gave an angry grunt. "'Have your own way, since you are the king,' he growled. "'But if you come to grief through your carelessness, remember that I told you so. If I wore the magic belt that enables you to work all your transformations and gives you so much other power, I am sure I would make a much wiser and better king than you are.' Oh, seize your tiresome chatter, commanded the cane getting angry again. Because you are my chief steward, you have an idea you can scold me as much as you please. But the very next time you become impudent I will send you to work in the furnaces and get

another gnome to fill your place. Now follow me to my chamber, for I am going to bed, and see that I am wakened early tomorrow morning, I want to enjoy the fun of transforming the rest of these people into ornaments." "'What color will you make the Kansas girl?' asked the steward. "'Gray, I think,' said his majesty. "'And the scarecrow and the machine-man?' "'Oh, they shall be solid gold, because they are so ugly in real life.' Then the voices died away, and Belina knew that the king and his steward had left the room.

She fixed up some of her tail feathers that were not straight, and then tucked her head under her wing again and went to sleep. In the morning Dorothy and the lion and tiger were given their breakfast in their rooms, and afterward joined the king in his throne room. The tiger complained bitterly that he was half-starved, and begged to go into the palace and become an ornament so that he would no longer suffer the pangs of hunger. haven't you had your breakfast asked the gnome king oh i had just a bite replied the beast but what good is a bite to a hungry tiger he ate seventeen bowls of porridge a platter full of fried sausages eleven loaves of bread and twenty-one mince pies said the steward what more do you want demanded the king a fat baby i want a fat baby said the hungry tiger

A nice, plump, juicy, tender, fat baby. But, of course, if I had one, my conscience would not allow me to eat it. So I'll have to be an ornament and forget my hunger. "'Impossible!' exclaimed the king. "'I'll have no clumsy beasts enter my palace, to overturn and break all my pretty knick-knacks. When the rest of your friends are transformed, you can return to the upper world and go about your business.'

As for that, we have to be able to your business. have no business when our friends are gone," said the line. So we do not care much what becomes of us. Dorothy begged to be allowed to go first into the palace, but Tick-Tock firmly maintained that the slave should face danger before the mistress. The scarecrow agreed with him and that, so the gnome king opened the door for the machine-man, who tramped into the palace to meet his fate. Then his majesty returned to his throne and puffed his pipe superflued his pipe.

so contentedly that a small cloud of smoke formed above his head. By and by, he said, I'm sorry there are so few of you left. Very soon now my fun will be over, and then for amusement I shall have nothing to do but admire my new ornaments. It seems to me, said Dorothy, that you are not so honest as you pretend to be. How's that? asked the king. Why, you made us think it would be easy to guess what ornaments the people of every, were changed into.

It is easy, declared the monarch, if one is a good guesser, but it appears that the members of your party are all poor guessers." "'What is Tick-Tock doing now?' asked the girl uneasily. "'Nothing,' replied the cane with a frown. "'He is standing perfectly still in the middle of a room.' "'Oh, I expect he's run down,' said Dorothy. I forgot to wind him up this morning. How many guesses has he made?'

all that he is allowed except one answered the king suppose you go in and wind him up and then you can stay there and make your own guesses all right said dorothy it's my turn next declared the scarecrow why you don't want to go away and leave me all alone do you asked the girl besides if i go now i can wind up tik-tok so that he can make his last guess very well then said the scarecrow with a sigh Run along, little Dorothy, and may good luck go with you. So Dorothy, trying to be brave in spite of her fears, passed through the doorway into the gorgeous rooms of the palace. The stillness of the place awed her at first, and the child drew short breaths, and, pressing her hand to her heart,

she looked all around with wondering eyes. Yes, it was a beautiful place, But enchantments lurked in every nook and corner. And she had not yet grown accustomed to the wizardries of these fairy countries, so different from the quiet and sensible commonplaces of her own native land. Slowly she passed through several rooms until she came upon Tick-Tock standing motionless. It really seemed then that she had found a friend in this mysterious palace, So she hastened to wind up the machine man's action and speech and thoughts.

Thank you, Dorothi, were his first words. I have now one more guess to make. Oh, be very careful, TikTok, won't you? cried the girl. Yes, but the gnome king has us in his power. He has set a trap for us. I fear we are all lost, he answered. I fear so, too, said Dorothy, sadly. If Smith and Tinkker had given me a guessing-clock work at attachment, continued Tick-Tock,

I might have defied the gnome king, but my thoughts are plain and simple, and not of much use in this case. Do the best you can, said Dorothy encouragingly. And if you fail, I will watch and see what shape you are changed. into. So Tick-Tock touched a yellow-glass face that had daisies painted on one side, and he spoke at the same time the word Ev. In a flash the machine man had disappeared, and although the girl looked quickly in every direction, she could not tell which of the many ornaments the room contained had a moment before been her faithful friend and servant. So all she could do was

to accept the hopeless task set her, and make her guesses. and abide by the result. It can't hurt very much, she thought, for I haven't heard any of them scream or cry out, not even the poor officers. Dear me, I wonder if Uncle Henry or Aunt M. Will ever know I have become an ornament in the Gome King's Palace and must stand forever and ever in one place and look pretty, except when I moved to be dusted.

It isn't the way I thought I'd turn out at all, but I suppose it can't be helped. She walked through all the rooms once more, and examined with care all the objects they contained, but there were so many they bewildered her, and she decided, after all, as Osma had done, that it could be only guesswork at best, and that the chances were much against her guessing aright. Timidly she touched an alabaster bowl, and said, Ev, that's one failure anyhow, she thought. But how am I to know which thing is enchanted and which is not?"

Next she touched the image of a purple kitten that stood on the corner of a mantle, and she pronounced the word Ev. The kitten disappeared and a pretty fair-haired boy stood beside her. At the same time a bell rang somewhere in the distance, and as Dorothy started back, partly in surprise and partly in joy, the little one exclaimed, "'Where am I? And who are you? And what has happened to me?' "'Well, I declare,' said Dorothy. "'I've really done it.'

"'Done what?' asked the boy. "'Saved myself from being an ornament,' replied the girl with a laugh, "'and saved you from being forever a purple kitten.' "'A purple kitten?' he repeated. "'There is no such thing.' "'I know,' she answered, but there was a minute ago. "'Don't you remember standing on a corner of the mantle?' of course not i am a prince of ev and my name is evering the little one announced proudly but my father of the king sold my mother and all her children to the cruel ruler of the gnomes and after that i remember nothing at all

a purple kitten can't be spected to remember evering said dorothy but now you are yourself again and i am going to try to save some of your brothers and sisters and perhaps your mother as well so come with me she seized the child's hand and eagerly hurried here and there trying to decide which object to choose next the third guess was another failure and so was the fourth and the fifth little evering could not imagine what she was doing but he trotted along beside her very willingly for he liked the new companion he had found dorothy's further quest proved unsuccessful but after her first disappointment was over the little girl was over the little girl was was filled with joy and thankfulness, to think that after all she had been able to save one member of the royal family of Ev and could restore the little prince to his sorrowing country. Now she might return to the terrible gnome king in safety, carrying with her the prize she had won in the person of this fair-haired boy. So she retraced her steps until she found the entrance to the palace, and as she approached

The massive doors of rock opened of their own accord, allowing both Dorothy and Evering to pass the portals and enter the throne room. End of Chapter 14. Chapter 15 of Osm of Oz by L. Frank Baum. This Libravox recording is in the public domain, recorded by Phil Schenever. Belina frightens the Gnome King. Now, when Dorothy had entered the palace to make her guesses and the scarecrow was left with the Gnome King, the two sat in moody silence for several minutes.

Then the monarch exclaimed in a tone of satisfaction, Very good! Who is very good? asked the scarecrow. The machine man, he won't need to be wound up anymore, for he has now become a very neat ornament, very neat indeed. How about Dorothy? The scarecrow inquired. Oh, she will begin to guess pretty soon, said the king cheerfully.

and then she will join my collection and it will be your turn the good scarecrow was much distressed by the thought that his little friend was about to suffer the fate of ozma and the rest of their party but while he sat in gloomy reverie a shrill voice suddenly cried the gnome king nearly jumped off his seat he was so startled good gracious what's that he yelled. Why, it's Belina, said the scarecrow. What do you mean by making a noise like that? shouted the king angrily as the yellow hen came from under the throne and strutted proudly about the room. I've got a right to cackle, I guess, replied Belina.

I just laid my egg. What? Laid an egg? In my throne room! How dare you do such a thing? asked the king in a voice of fury. "'I lay eggs wherever I happen to be,' said the hen, ruffling her feathers, and then shaking them into place.

"'But thunderation! Don't you know that eggs are poison?' roared the king, while his rock-colored eyes stuck out in great terror. "'Poison?' "'Well, I declare,' said Belina indignantly. "'I'll have you know all my eggs are warranted strictly fresh and up to date. Poison, indeed.' you don't understand retorted the little monarch nervously eggs belong only to the outside world to the world on the earth's surface where you came from here in my underground kingdom they are rank poison as i said and we gnomes can't bear them around well you'll have to bear this one around declared belina for i've laid it where asked the king under your throne said the hen

the king jumped three feet into the air so anxious was he to get away from the throne take it away take it away at once he shouted i can't said belina i haven't any hands i'll take the egg said the scarecrow i'm making a collection of belina's eggs there's one in my pocket now that she laid yesterday hearing this the monarch hastened to put a good distance between himself and the scarecrow who is about to reach under the throne for the egg when the hen suddenly cried. "'Stop!' "'What's wrong?' asked the scarecrow. "'Don't take the egg unless the king will allow me to enter the palace and guess as the others have done,' said Belina. "'Pshah!' returned the king.

"'You're only a hen. How could you guess my enchantments?' "'I can try, I suppose,' said Belina. "'And if I fail you will have another ornament.' "'A pretty ornament you'd make, wouldn't you?' growled the king, but you shall have your way. It will properly punish you for daring to lay an egg in my presence. After the scarecrow is enchanted, you shall follow him into the palace, but how will you touch the objects?'

"'With my claws,' said the hen, "'and I can speak the word ev as plainly as anyone. Also I must have the right to guess the enchantments of my friends, and to release them if I succeed.' "'Very well,' said the king. my promise." Then," said Belina to the scarecrow, you may get the egg. He knelt down and reached underneath the throne and found the egg, which he placed in another pocket of his jacket, fearing that if both eggs were in one pocket they would knock together

and get broken. Just then a bell above the throne rang briskly, and the king gave another nervous jump. "'Well, well,' said he with a rueful face. "'The girl has actually done it.' "'Don what?' asked the scarecrow. "'She has made one guess that is right, and broken one of my neatest enchantments. By rickety it's too bad. I never thought she would do it.' "'Do I understand that she will now return to us in safety?' inquired the scarecrow,

joyfully wrinkling his painted face into a broad smile. "'Of course,' said the king, fretfully pacing up and down the room, "'I always keep my promises, no matter how foolish they are.' But I shall make an ornament of the yellow hen to replace the one I have just lost." "'Perhaps you will and perhaps you won't,' murmured Belina calmly. "'I may surprise you by guessing right.' "'Gessing right?' snapped the king. "'How could you guess right?

Where your bellers have failed, you stupid foul!' Belina did not care to answer this question. And a moment later the doors flew open, and Dorothy entered, leading the little prince evering by the hand. The scarecrow welcomed the girl with a close embrace, and he would have embraced evering two in his delight, but the little prince was shy, and shrank away from the painted scarecrow because he did not yet know his many excellent qualities. But there was little time for the friends to talk, because the scarecrow must now enter the palace. Dorothy's success had greatly encouraged him, and they both hoped he would manage to make at least

one correct guess. However, he proved as unfortunate as the others except Dorothy, and although he took a good deal of time to select his objects, not one did the poor scarecrow guess aright. So he became a solid gold card receiver, and the beautiful but terrible palace awaited its next visitor. "'It's all over,' remarked the king with a sigh of satisfaction, and it has been a very amusing performance, except for the one good guest the Kansas girl made. I am richer by a great many pretty ornaments."

"'It's my turn now,' said Belina briskly. "'Oh, I'd forgotten you,' said the king. "'But you needn't go if you don't wish to. I will be generous and let you off.' "'No, you won't,' replied the hymn. "'I insist upon having my guesses as you promised.' "'Then go ahead, you absurd, feathered fool,' grumbled the king, and he called. he caused the opening that led to the palace to appear once more.

"'Don't go, Belina,' said Dorothy earnestly. "'It isn't easy to guess those ornaments, and only luck saved me from being one myself. Stay with me and we'll go back to the land of Ev together. I'm sure this little prince will give us a home.' "'Indeed I will,' said Evering with much dignity. "'Don't worry, my dear,' cried Belina, with a cluck that was meant for a laugh. "'I may not be human, but I'm no fool.' if I am a chicken?"

Oh, Belina," said Dorothy. You haven't been a chicken in a long time, not since you—you've been grown up." Perhaps that's true," answered Belina thoughtfully. But if a Kansas farmer sold me to someone, what would he call me? A hen or a chicken. You're not a Kansas farmer, Belina," replied the girl, and you said, never mind that, Dorothy, I'm going. I won't say goodbye because I'm coming back.

keep up your courage for i'll see you a little later then belina gave several loud cluck-clucks that seemed to make the fat little king more nervous than ever and marched through the entrance into the enchanted palace i hope i've seen the last of that bird declared the monarch seating himself again in his throne and mopping the perspiration from his forehead with his rock-colored handkerchief hens are bothersome enough at their best but when they can talk they are simply dreffle bellina's my friend said dorothy quietly she may not always be exactly polite but she means well i'm sure end of chapter fifteen chapter sixteen of ozma obaz by el frank this labor box recording is in the public domain recording by phil chenevere purple green and gold the yellow hen stepping high and with an air of vast important walked slowly over the rich velvet carpets of the splendid palace, examining everything she met with her sharp little eyes. Belina had a right to feel important, for she alone shared the Gnome King's secret and knew how to tell the objects that were transformations from those that had never been alive.

She was very sure that her guesses would be correct, and before she began to make them, She was curious to behold all the magnificence of this underground palace, which was perhaps one of the most splendid and beautiful places in any fairyland. As she went through the rooms she counted the purple ornaments, and although some were small and hidden in queer places, Belina spied them all, and found the entire tin scattered about the various rooms. The green ornaments she did not bother to count, for she thought she could find them all when the time came. Finally, having made a survey of the entire palace and enjoyed its splendor,

the yellow hen returned to one of the rooms where she had noticed a large purple footstool. She placed a claw upon this and said, Ev, and at once the footstool vanished, and a lovely lady, tall and slender and most beautifully robed, stood before her. The lady's eyes were round with astonishment for a moment, for she could not remember her transformation, nor imagine what had restored her to life. Good morning, ma'am, said Belina in her sharp voice. You're looking quite well, considering your age. Who speaks? demanded the Queen of Ev, drawing herself up proudly.

Why, my name's Bill by rights, answered the hen, who was now perched upon the back of a chair. Although Dorothy has put scallops on it and mated Belina, but the name doesn't matter, I've saved you from the Gnome King, and you are a... slave no longer." Then I thank you for the gracious favor," said the queen with a graceful curtsy. But my children tell me I beg of you where are my children?" And she clasped her hands in anxious entreaty. Don't worry, advised Belina, pecking at a tiny bug that was crawling over the chair back.

Just at present they are out of mischief, and perfectly safe, for they can't even wiggle. What do you mean, oh kindly stranger? the queen, striving to repress her anxiety. "'They're enchanted,' said Belina, "'just as you have been.' "'All that is, except the little fellow Dorothy picked out. "'And the chances are that they have been good boys and girls for some time "'because they couldn't help it?'

"'Oh, my poor darlings!' cried the queen with a sob of anguish. "'Not at all,' returned the hen. "'Don't let their condition make you unhappy, ma'am, "'because I'll soon have them crowding round to bother and worry you as naturally as ever. Come with me, if you please, and I'll show you how pretty they look." She flew down from her perch and walked into the next room, the queen following. As she passed a low table, a small green grasshopper caught her eye, and instantly Belina pounced upon it and snapped it up in her sharp bill, for grasshoppers are a favorite food with hens,

and they usually must be caught quickly before they can hop away. It might easily have been the End of Ospa of Oz, had she been a real grasshopper instead of an emerald one, but Belina found the grasshopper hard and lifeless, and suspecting it was not good to eat she quickly dropped it instead of letting it slide down her throat. I might have known better, she muttered to herself, for where there is no grass that can be no live grasshoppers, this is probably one of the king's transformations. A moment later, she approached one of the purple ornaments, and while the quothed the Queen watched her curiously, the hen broke the Gnome King's enchantment, and a sweet-faced girl,

whose golden hair fell in a cloud over her shoulders, stood beside them. "'Evanna!' cried the queen, my own Ivana!' and she clasped the girl to her bosom and covered her face with kisses. "'That's all right,' said Belina contentedly. "'Am I a good guesser, Mr. Gnome King? well, I guess. Then she disenchanted another girl, whom the queen addressed as Ev Rose, and afterwards a boy named Evardo, who was older than his brother Evering. Indeed the yellow hen kept the good queen exclaiming and embracing for some time,

until five princesses and four princes, all looking very much alike, except for the difference in size, stood in a row beside their happy mother. The princesses were named Evana, Evrose, Avella, Everine, and Evna, while the princes were Evrob, Evington, Evardo, and Everland. Of these, Evardo was the eldest and would inherit his father's throne and be crowned king of Ev when he returned to his own country. He was a grave and quiet youth and would doubtless rule his people wisely and with justice. Belina, having restored all of the royal family of Ev,

to their proper forms, now began to select the green ornaments which were the transformations of the people of Oz. She had little trouble in finding these, and before long all the 26 officers, as well as the private, were gathered around the Yellow Hinn, joyfully congratulating her upon their release. The 37 people who were now alive in the rooms of the palace knew very well that they owed their freedom to the cleverness of the Yellow Hinn, and they were earned. earnest in thanking her for saving them from the magic of the gnome king. Now, said Belina, I must find Osma. She is sure to be here somewhere. And of course she is

green being from Oz, so look around, you stupid soldiers that helped me in my search. For a while, however, they could discover nothing more that was green. But the queen who had kissed all her nine children once more and could now find time to take an interest in what was going on, said to the hen, "'Mayhap, my gentle friend, it is the grasshopper whom you seek.' "'Of course it's the grasshopper!' exclaimed Belina. "'I declare I'm nearly as stupid as these brave soldiers.

Wait here for me, and I'll go back and get it.' So she went into the room where she had seen the grasshopper, and presently Ospa of Oz, as lovely and dainty as ever, entered and approached the queen of Ev, greeting her as one high-born Princess greets another. But where are my friends the scarecrow and the tin woodman? asked the girl, ruler, when these courtesies had been exchanged. I'll hunt them up, replied Belina.

The scarecrow is solid gold, and so is Tick-Tock. But I don't exactly know what the tin woodman is, because the Gnome King said he had been transformed into something funny. Osma eagerly assisted the hen in her quest, and soon the scarecrow and the machine-man, being ornaments of shining gold, were discovered and restored to their accustomed forms. But searches they might in no place could they find a funny ornament that might be the transformation of the tin woodman.

Only one thing can be done, said Osma at last, and that is to return to the Gnome king and oblige him to tell us what has become of our friend. Perhaps he won't, suggested Belina. He must, returned Osma. firmly, the king has not treated us honestly, for under the mask of fairness and good nature, he entrapped us all, and we would have been forever enchanted had not our wise and clever friend, the yellow hen, found a way to save us. The king is a villain, declared the scarecrow.

His laugh is worse than another man's frown, said the private with a shudder. I thought he was honest, but I was misdistance. remarked Tick-Tock. My thoughts are usually correct, but it is Smith and Tinker's fault if they sometimes go wrong or do not work properly. Smith and Tinker made a very good job of you, said Asma kindly. I do not think they should be blamed if you are not quite perfect. Thank you, replied Tick-Tock.

Then, said Belina in her brisk little voice, Let us all go back to the Gnome King and see what he has to say for himself." So they started for the entrance, Osma going first with the queen and her train of little princes and princesses following. Then came Tick-Tock and the scarecrow with Belina perched upon his straw-stuffed shoulder. The twenty-seven officers and the private brought up the rear. As they reached the hall, the doors flew open before them, but then they all were all. stopped and stared into the domed cavern with faces of astonishment and dismay. For the room was filled with the male-clad warriors of the Gnom king, rank after rank, standing

in orderly array. The electric lights upon their brows gleamed brightly, their battle-axes were poised as as if to strike down their foes, yet there remained motionless a statues, awaiting the word of command. And in the center of this terrible army sat the little king upon his throne of rock, but he neither smiled nor laughed. Instead, his face was distorted with rage and most terrible to behold. End of chapter 16. Chapter 17 of Asma of Oz by El Frank Baum.

This Libravox recording is in the public domain, recorded by Phil Schenever. The Scarecrow wins the fight. After Belina had entered the palace, Dorothy and Evering sat down to await the success or failure of her mission, and the Gnome King occupied his throne and smoked his long pipe for a while in a cheerful and contented mood. Then the bell above the throne, which sounded whenever an enchantment was broken, began to ring, and the king gave a start of annoyance and exclaimed, rockety-rickets.

When the bell rang a second time, the king shouted angrily, smudge and blazes, and at a third ring he screamed in fury, hippocloric, which must be a dreadful word because we don't know what it means. After that, the bell went on ringing time after time, but the king was now so violently enraged that he could not utter a word but hopped out of his three. and all around the room in a mad frenzy, so that he reminded Dorothy of a jumping-jack. The girl was, for her part, filled with joy at every peal of the bell, for it announced the fact that Belina had transformed one more ornament into a living person.

Dorothy was also amazed at Belina's success, for she could not imagine how the yellow hen was able to guess correctly from all the bewildering number of articles clustered in the rooms of the palace. But after she had counted ten, and the bell continued to ring, she knew that not only the royal family of Ev, but Asma and her followers also were being restored to their natural forms, and she was so delighted that the antics of the angry king only made her laugh merrily. Perhaps the little monarch could not be more furious than he was before, but the girl's laughter nearly drove him frantic, and he roared at her like a savage beast. Then as he found that all his enchantments were likely to be dispelled, and his

victims every one set free, he suddenly ran to the little door that opened upon the balcony and gave the shrill whistle that summoned his warriors. At once the army filed out of the gold and silver doors in great numbers, and marched up a winding stairs and into the throne room, led by a stern-featured gnome who was their captain. When they had nearly filled the throne-room, they formed ranks in the big underground cavern below, and then stood still until they were told what to do next. Dorothy had pressed back to one side of the cavern when the warriors entered, and now she stood holding little Prince Evering's hand, while the great lion crouched upon one's

side, and the enormous tiger crouched on the other side. "'Sease that girl!' shouted the king to his captain, and a group of warriors sprang forward to obey. But both the lion and the tiger snarled so fiercely, and bared their strong, sharp teeth so threateningly that the men drew back an alarm. "'Don't mind them,' cried the gnome, King. "'They cannot leap beyond the places where they now stand. But they can bite those who attempt to touch the girl, said the captain. I'll fix that, answered the king.

I'll enchant them again so that they can't open their jaws. He stepped out of the throne to do this, but just then the saw-horse ran up behind him and gave the fat monarch a powerful kick with both his wooden hind legs. Oh, murder, treason! yelled the king, who had been hurled against several of his warriors, and was considerably bruised. Who did that? I did, growled the saw-horse viciously. You let Dorothy alone, or I'll kick you again.

We'll see about that, replied the king, and at once he waved his hand toward the saw-horse and muttered a magical word. Aha, he continued, now let us see you move, you wouldn't mule. But in spite of the magic, the saw-horse moved. and he moved so quickly toward the king that the fat little man could not get out of his way. Thump! bang! came the wooden heels, right against his round body, and the king flew into the air and fell upon the head of his captain, who let him drop flat upon the ground.

"'Well, well,' said the king, sitting up and looking surprised, "'why didn't my magic belt work, I wonder?' "'The creature is made of wood,' replied the captain. your magic will not work on wood, you know. Ah, I'd forgotten that, said the king, getting up and limping to his throne. Very well, let the girl alone. She can't escape us anyway. The warriors, who had been rather confused by these incidents, now formed their ranks again, and the saw-horse pranced across the room to Dorothy, and took a position beside the hungry tiger.

At that moment the doors that led to the palace flew open, and the pears. people of Ev and the people of Oz were disclosed to view. They paused, astonished at the sight of the warriors, and the angry gnome king seated in their midst. "'Surrender!' cried the king in a loud voice. "'You are my prisoners!' "'Go long,' answered Belina from the scarecrow's shoulder. You promised me that if I guessed correctly my friends and I might depart in safety, and

you always keep your promises. I said you might leave the palace in safety, retorted the king, and so you may, but you cannot leave my dominions. You are my prisoners, and I will hurl you all into my underground dungeons, where the volcanic fires glow and the mold and lava flows in every direction, and the air is hotter than blue blazes. That will be the end of me, all right, said the scarecrow sorrowfully. One small blaze, blue or green, is enough to reduce me to an ash-heap.

Do you surrender? demanded the king. Belina whispered something in the scarecrow's ear that made him smile and put his hands in his jacket pockets. No, returned Osma boldly answering the king. Then she said to her army, Forward my brave soldiers and fight for your ruler and yourselves unto death. Pardon me, most royal Osma, replied one of her generals, but I find that I and my brother officers all suffer from heart disease, and the slightest excitement might kill us.

If we fight, we may get excited. Would it not be well for us to avoid this grave danger? Soldiers should not have heart disease, said Asma. Private soldiers are not, I believe, afflicted that way, declared another general twirling his mustache, If your royal highness desires, we will order our private to attack yonder warriors. Do so, replied Asma. Forward march! cried all the generals with one voice.

Forward march, yelled the colonels. Forward march! shouted the majors. Forward march, commanded the captains. And at that the private leveled his spear and dashed furiously upon the foe. foe. The captain of the gnomes was so surprised by this sudden onslaught that he forgot to command his warriors to fight. So that the ten men in the first row, who stood in front of the private spear, fell over like so many toy soldiers. The spear could not go through their steel armor, however, so the warriors scrambled to their feet again, and by that time the private had knocked over

another row of them. Then the captain brought down his battle-axe with such a strong blow, that the private spear was shattered and knocked from his grasp, and he was helpless to fight any longer. The Gnome King had left his throne and pressed through his warriors to the front ranks so he could see what was going on, but as he faced Osma and her friends, the scarecrow as if aroused to action by the valor of the private, drew one of Belina's eggs from his right jacket pocket, and hurled it straight at the little monarch's head. It struck him squarely in his left eye, where the egg smashed and scattered as eggs will, and covered his face and hair and beard with its sticky contents.

"'Help! help!' screamed the king, blowing with his fingers at the egg in a struggle to remove it, an egg an egg run for your lives shouted the captain of the gnomes in a voice of horror and how they did run the warriors fairly tumbled over one another in their efforts to escape the fatal poison of that awful egg and those who could not rush down the winding stair fell off the balcony into the great cavern beneath knocking over those who stood below them Even while the king was still yelling for help, his throne room became emptied of every one of his warriors, and before the monarch had managed to clear the egg away from his left eye, the scarecrow threw the second egg against his right eye, where it smashed and blinded him entirely. The king was unable to flee because he could not see which way to run, so he stood still

and howled and shouted and screamed in abject fear. while this was going on belina flew over to dorothy and perching herself upon the lion's back the hen whispered eagerly to the girl get his belt get the gnome king's jeweled belt it unbuckles in the back quick dorothy quit end of chapter seventeen chapter eighteen of ozma of oz by l frank balm this librevox recording is in the public domain recording by phil the fate of the tin woodman dorothy obeyed she ran at once behind the gnome king who was still trying to free his eyes from the egg and in a twinkle she had unbuckled his splendid jeweled belt and carried it away with her to her place beside the tiger and lion, where, because she did not know what else to do with it, she fastened it around her own slim waist. Just then the chief steward rushed in with a sponge and a bowl of water, and began mopping away the broken eggs from his master's face.

In a few minutes, and while all the party stood looking on, the king regained the use of his eyes, and the first thing he did was to glare wickedly upon the scarecrow and exclaiming. I'll make you suffer for this, you hay-stuffed dummy. Don't you know eggs are poison to gnomes?" Really, said the scarecrow. They don't seem to agree with you, although I wonder why. They were strictly fresh and above suspicion, said Pelina. You ought to be glad to get them.

I'll transform you all into scorpions, cried the king angrily, and began waving his arms and muttering magic words. But none of the people became scorpions. So the king stopped and looked at them in surprise. What's wrong? he asked. Why you are not wearing your magic belt? replied the chief steward. After looking the king over carefully,

where is it? What have you done with it? The gnome king clapped his hand to his waist, and his rock-colored face turned white as chalk. It's gone, he cried helplessly. It's gone, and I am ruined." Dorothy now stepped forward and said, Royal Osma, and you, Queen of Ev,

I welcome you and your people back to the land of the living. Belina has saved you from your troubles, and now we will leave this dreadful place and return to Eve as soon as possible. While the child spoke, they could all see that she wore the magic belt, and a great cheer went up from all her friends, which was led by the voices of the scarecrow and the private.

But the gnome king did not join them. He crept back onto his throne like a whipped dog, and lay there, bitterly bemoaning his defeat. But we have not yet found my faithful follower, the ten woodman, said Asma to Dorothy, and without him I do not wish to go away. Nor I, replied Dorothy quickly. Wasn't he in the palace?

He must be there, said Belina. But I had no clue to guide me in guessing the tin woodman, so I must have missed him." We will go back into the rooms, said Dorothy. This magic belt, I am sure, will help us to find our dear old friend. So she re-entered the palace, the doors of which still stood open, and everyone followed her except the Gnome King, the Queen of Ev and Prince Ebring. The mother had taken the little prince in her lap, and was fondling. and kissing him lovingly, for he was her youngest born.

But the others went with Dorothy, and when she came to the middle of the first room, the girl waved her hand as she had seen the king do, and commanded the tin woodman, whatever form he might then have, to resume his proper shape. No result followed this attempt, so Dorothy went into another room and repeated it, and so through all the rooms of the palace. Yet the ten woodmen did not appear to them, nor could they imagine which among the thousands of ornaments was their transformed friend. Sadly they returned to the throne-room, where the king, seeing that they had met with failure,

cheered at Dorothy, saying, You do not know how to use my belt, so it is of no use to you. Give it back to me and I will let you go free, you and all the people who came with you. As for the royal family of Ev, they are my slave. and shall remain here." "'I shall keep the belt,' said Dorothy. "'But how can you escape without my consent?' asked the king. "'Easily enough,' answered the girl. All we need to do is to walk out the way that we came in.

"'Oh, that's all, is it?' sneer the king. "'Well, where is the passage through which you entered this room?' They all looked around but could not discover the place, for it had long since been closed. Dorothy, however, would not be dismayed. She waved her hand toward the seemingly solid wall of the cavern and said, "'I command the passage to open.' Instantly the order was obeyed. The opening appeared and the passage lay plainly before them. The king was amazed and all the others overjoyed.

"'Why, then, if the belt obeys you, were we unable to discover the ten woodmen?' asked Asma. I can't imagine, said Dorothy. See here, girl, proposed the king eagerly. Give me the belt, and I will tell you what shape the tin woodman was changed into, and then you can easily find him. Dorothy hesitated, but Belina cried out, don't you do it! If the gnome king gets the belt again, he will make every one of us prisoners, for

we will be in his power. Only by keeping the belt, Dorothy, will you ever be able to leave this place in safety." I think that is true," said the scarecrow. But I have another idea, due to my excellent brains. Let Dorothy transform the king into a goose egg unless he agrees to go into the palace and bring out to us the ornament which is our friend Nick Chopper, the tin woodman." "'A goose egg!' echoed the horrified king.

"'How dreadful!' "'Well, a goose egg you will be, unless you go and fetch us the ornament we want. declared Belina with a joyful chuckle. "'You can see for yourself that Dorothy is able to use the magic belt all right,' added the scarecrow. The gnome king thought it over and finally consented, for he did not want to be a goose egg. So he went into the palace to get the ornament, which was the transformation of the tin woodman, and they all awaited his return with considerable impatience, for they were anxious to leave

this underground cavern and see the sunshine once more. But when the gnome king came back, he brought nothing with him except a puzzled and anxious expression upon his face. He's gone, he said. The Tin Woodman is nowhere in the palace. Are you sure? asked Osma sternly. I'm very sure, answered the king, tremblingly, for I know just what I transformed him into, and exactly where he stood, but he is not the king. there."

And please don't change me into a goose egg, because I've done the best I could." They were all silent for a time, and then Dorothy said, There is no use punishing the Gnome King any more, and I'm afraid we'll have to go away without our friend. If he is not here, we cannot rescue him," agreed the scarecrow, sadly. Poor Nick, I wonder what has become of him. "'And he owed me six weeks back pay,' said one of the generals wiping the tears. from his eyes with his gold-laced coat-sleeve. Very sorrowfully they determined to return to the upper world without their former companion,

and so Asma gave the order to begin the march through the passage. The army went first and then the royal family of Ev, and afterward came Dorothy, Osma, Belina, the scarecrow, and Tick-Tock. They left the Gnome king, scowling at them from his throne, and had no thought of danger, until Asma chanced to look back and saw a large number of the warriors following them in full chase, with their swords and spears and axes raised to strike down the fugitives as soon as they drew near enough. Evidently the Gnome King had made this last attempt to prevent their escaping him, but it

did no good. For when Dorothy saw the danger they were in, she stopped and waved her hand and whispered a command to the magic belt. Instantly, the foremost warriors became eggs, which rolled upon the floor of the cavern in such numbers that those behind could not advance without stepping upon them. But when they saw the eggs, all desired to advance departed the warriors, and they turned and fled madly into the cavern, and refused to go back again. Our friends had no further trouble in reaching the end of the passage, and soon were standing

in the outer air upon the gloomy path between the the two high mountains. But the way to Ev lay plainly before them, and they fervently hoped that they had seen the last of the Gnome King and of his rutful palace. The cavalcade was led by Osma, mounted upon the cowardly lion, and the Queen of Eve who rode upon the back of the tiger. The children of the queen walked behind her hand in hand. Dorothy rode the saw-horse while the scarecrow walked and commanded the army in the absence

of the tin woodman. Presently the wave began to lighten, and more of the sunshine to come in between the two mountains, and before long they heard the thump, thump, thump, of the giant's hammer upon the road. How may we pass the monstrous man of iron? asked the queen, anxious for the safety of her children, but Dorothy solved the problem by a word to the magic belt. The giant paused with his hammer held motionless in the air, thus allowing the entire party to pass between his cast-iron legs in safety."

End of Chapter 18. Chapter 19 of Oz of Oz by El Frank Baum. This Libravox recording is in the public domain, recording by Phil Schoever. The King of Ev. If there were any shifting rock-colored domes on the mountainside now, they were silent and respectful, for our adventurers were not annoyed, as before, by their impudent laugh. Really, the gnomes had nothing to laugh at since the defeat of their king. On the other side they found Osma's golden chariot, standing as they had left it.

Soon the lion and the tiger were harnessed to the beautiful chariot, in which was enough room for Osma and the queen and six of the royal children. Little Evering preferred to ride with Dorothy upon the saw-horse which had a long back. The prince had recovered from his shyness and had become very fond of the girl who, who had rescued him, so they were fast friends and chatted pleasantly together as they rode along. Belina was also perched upon the head of the wooden steed, which seemed not to mind the added weight in the least, and the boy was full of wonder that a hen could talk and say such sensible things.

When they came to the gulf, Osma's magic carpet carried them all over it in safety, and now they began to pass the trees in which birds were singing, and the breeze that was wafted to them from the farms of ebb was spicy with flowers and new-mown hay and the sunshine fell full upon them to warm them and drive away from their bodies the chill and dampness of the underground kingdom of the gnomes i would be quite content said the scarecrow to tik-tok were only the tin woodman with us but it breaks my heart to leave him behind he was a fine fellow replied tik-tok although his material was not very durable oh tin is an excellent material the scarecrow hastened to say and if anything ever happened to poor nick chopper he was always easily soddered besides he did not have to be wound up and was not to be wound up and was not yet to be wound up and was not yet to be wound up and was not yet to be not liable to get out of order. I sometimes wish, said Tick-Tock, that I was stuffed with straw as you are. It is hard to be made of copper.

I have no reason to complain of my lot, replied the scarecrow. A little fresh straw now and then makes me as good as new, but I can never be the polished gentleman that my poor departed friend the tin woodman was. You may be sure the royal children of Ev and their queen mother were delighted it seeing again their beloved country, and when the towers of the palace of Ev came into view they could not forbear cheering at the sight. Little Evering, riding in front of Dorothy, was so overjoyed that he took a curious tin whistle from his pocket and blew a shrill blast that made the saw-horse leap and prance in sudden alarm.

"'What was that?' Espelina, who had been obliged to flutter her wings in order to keep her seat upon the head of the frightened saw-horse. that's my whistle said prince evering holding it out upon his hand it was in the shape of a little fat pig made of tin and painted green the whistle was in the tail of the pig where did you get it asked the yellow hen closely examining the toy with her bright eyes why i picked it up in the nome king's palace while dorothy was making her guesses and i put it in my pocket answered the little prince belina laughed or at least she made the peculiar cackle that served her for a laugh no wonder i couldn't find the tin woodman she said and no wonder the magic belt didn't make him appear or the king couldn't find him either what do you mean questioned dorothy why the prince had him in his pocket cried belina cackling again i did not protested little evering i only took the whistle well then watch me returned the hen and reaching up out of claw. She touched the whistle and said Ev. Swish. Good afternoon, said the tin woodman, taking off his funnel cap and bowing to Dorothy and

the prince. I think I must have been asleep for the first time since I was made of ten, for I do not remember our leaving the gnome king. You have been enchanted, answered the girl, throwing an arm around her old friend and hugging him tight in her joy. But it's all right now. I want my whistle, said the little prince, beginning to cry. Hush, cautioned Belina. The whistle is lost, but you may have another when you get home. The scarecrow had fairly thrown himself upon the bosom of his old comrade, so surprised

and delighted was he to see him again, and Tick-Tock squeezed the tin woodman's hands so earnestly that he dented some of his fingers. Then they had to make way for Asma to welcome the ten man, and the army caught sight of him and set up a cheer, and everybody was delighted and happy. For the ten woodman was a great favorite with all who knew him, and his sudden recovery after they had thought he was lost to them forever was indeed a pleasant surprise. Before long the cavalcade arrived at the royal palace

where a great crowd of people had gathered to welcome their queen and her ten children. There was much shouting and cheering, and the people threw flowers in their path, and every face wore a happy smile. They found the Princess Languadier in her mirrored chamber, where she was admiring one of her handsomest heads, one with rich chestnut hair, dreamy walnut eyes, and a shapely hickory nut nose. She was very glad to be relieved of her duties to the people of Ev, and the queen graciously permitted her to retain her rooms and her cabinet of heads as long as she lived.

Then the queen took her eldest son out upon a balcony that overlooked the crowd of subjects gathered below and said to them, Here is your future ruler, King Avardo 15th. He is fifteen years of age, has fifteen silver buckles on his jacket, and is the fifteenth Avardo to rule the land of Ev. The people shouted their approval fifteen times, and even the wheelers, some of whom were present, loudly promised to obey the new king. So the queen placed a big crown of gold, set with rubies upon Evardo's head, and threw an ermine robe over his shoulders, and proclaimed him king, and he bowed gratefully to all his subjects, and then went away to see if he could find any cake in the

royal pantry. Osma of Oz and her people, as well as Dorothy, Tick-Toc, and Belina, were splendidly entertained by the queen mother, who owed all her happiness to their kind offices, and that evening the yellow hen was publicly presented with a beautiful necklace of pearls and sapphires as a token of esteem from the new king. End of Chapter 19. Chapter 20 of Asma of Oz by L. Frank Baum. This Libravox recording is in the public domain.

Recording by Phil Schoever. The Emerald City Dorothy decided to accept Osma's invitation to return with her to the land of Oz. There was no greater chance of her getting home from Ev than from Oz, and the little girl was anxious to see once more the country where she had encountered such wonderful adventures. By this time Uncle Henry would have reached Australia in his ship, and had probably given her up for lost, so he couldn't worry any more than he did if she stayed away.

from him a while longer. So she would go to Oz. They bade goodbye to the people of Ev, and the king promised Osma that he would ever be grateful to her and render the land of Oz any service that might lie within his power. And then they approached the edge of the dangerous desert, and Osma threw down the magic carpet which at once unrolled far enough for all of them to walk upon it without being crowded. Tick-Tock, claiming to be Dorothy's faithful followers, and because he belonged to her, had been permitted to join the party, and before they started, the girl wound up his machinery as far as possible, and the copper man stepped off as briskly as any one of them. Osma also invited Belina to visit the land of Oz, and the yellow hen was glad

enough to go where new sights and scenes awaited her. They began the trip across the desert early in the morning, and as they stopped only long enough for Belina to lay her daily edge, before sunset they espied the green slopes and wooded hills of the beautiful land of Oz they entered it in the Munchkin territory and the king of the Munchkins met them at the border and welcomed Osma with great respect being very pleased by her safe return for Osma of Oz ruled the king of the Munchkins the king of the Winkies the king of the quadlings and the king of the Gillikins just as those kings ruled their own people and this supreme ruler of the Land of Oz, lived in a great town of her own called the Emerald City, which was in the exact center of the four kingdoms of the land of Oz. The Munchkin King entertained them at his palace that night, and in the morning they set out for the Emerald City, traveling over a road of yellow brick that led straight to the jewel-studded gates. Everywhere the people turned out to greet their beloved

Osma, and to hail joyfully the scarecrow, the tin woodman, and the cowardly line, who were popular favorites. Dorothy, too, remembered some of the people who had befriended her on the occasion of her first visit to Oz, and they were well pleased to see the little Kansas girl again, and showered her with compliments and good wishes. At one place where they stopped to refresh themselves, Osma accepted a bowl of milk from the hands of a pretty dairy-made. Then she looked at the girl more closely and exclaimed, Why, it's Ginger, isn't it? Yes, Your Highness, was the reply, as Ginger dropped a low curtsey.

And Dorothy looked wonderingly at this lively appearing person who had once assembled an army of women and driven the scarecrow from the throne of the Emerald City and even fought a battle with the powerful army of Glinda the Sorcerous. I've married a man who owns nine cows, said Ginger. to Asma, and now I am happy and contented and willing to lead a quiet life and mind my own business. Where is your husband? asked Asma.

He's in the house, nursing a black eye, replied Ginger calmly. The foolish man would insist upon milking the red cow when I wanted him to milk the white one, but he will know better next time I am sure. Then the party moved on again, and after crossing a broad river on a fairer, and passing many fine farmhouses that were dome-shaped and painted a pretty green color, they came in sight of a large building that was covered with flags and bunting. I don't remember that building, said Dorothy. What is it? That is the College of Art and Athletic Perfection, replied Asma.

I had it built quite recently, and the Wogglebug is its president. It keeps him busy, and the young men who attend the college are no worse off than they were before. You see, in this country are a number of youths who do not like to work, and the college is an excellent place for them. And now they came in sight of the Emerald City, and the people flocked out to greet their lovely ruler. There were several bands and many officers and officials of the realm, and a crowd of citizens in their holiday attire.

Thus the beautiful Osma was escorted by a brilliant procession to her royal city, and so great was the cheering that she was obliged to constantly bow to the right and left to acknowledge the greetings of her subjects. That evening there was a grand reception in the royal palace, attended by the most important persons of Oz, and Jack Pumpkinhead, who was a little overripe but still active, read and addressed congratulating Osama of Oz upon the success of her generous mission to rescue the royal family of a neighboring kingdom. Then magnificent gold medals set with precious stones were presented to each of the 26 officers, and the tin woodman was given a new axe studded with diamonds, and the scarecrow received a silver jar of complexion powder.

Dorothy was presented with a pretty coronet and made a princess of Oz, and Tick-Tock received two bracelets set with eight rows of very clear and sparkling emeralds. Afterward they sat down to a splendid feast, and Osma put Dorothy at her right and Belina at her left, where the hens sat upon a golden roost and ate from a jeweled platter. Then replaced the scarecrow, the tin woodman, and Tick-Tock, with baskets of lovely flowers before them because they did not require food. The twenty-six officers were at the lower end of the table, and the lion and the tiger also had seats and were served on golden platters that held a half a bushel at one time.

The wealthiest and most important citizens of the Emerald City were proud to wait upon these famous adventurers, and they were assisted by a sprightly little maid named Jaliyah Jam, whom the scarecrow pinched upon her rosy cheeks and seemed to know very well. During the feast, Asma grew thoughtful, and suddenly she asked, where is the private. Oh, he is sweeping out the barracks, replied one of the generals, who was busy eating a leg of a turkey, but I have ordered him a dish of bread and molasses to eat when his work is done.

Let him be sent for, said the girl, ruler. While they waited for this command to be obeyed, she inquired, Have we any other privates in the armies? Oh, yes, replied the ten woodman. I believe there are three altogether. The private now entered, saluting his officers and the Royal Osma very respectfully. "'What is your name, my man?' asked the girl. "'Ambiambi,' answered the private.

"'Then Ombyambi, said she, "'I promote you to be Captain General of all the armies of my kingdom, and especially to be commander of my bodyguard at the Royal Palace.' "'It is very expensive to hold so many offices,' said the private, hesitating. i have no money with which to buy uniforms you shall be supplied from the royal treasury said ozma then the private was given a seat at the table where the other officers welcomed him cordially and the feasting and merriment were resumed suddenly jalea jam exclaimed there is nothing more to eat the hungry tiger has consumed everything but that is not the worst of it declared the tiger mournfully somewhere or somehow I've actually lost my appetite. End of chapter 20.

Chapter 21 of Osma of Oz by L. Frank Baum. This Libravox recording is in the public domain, recorded by Phil Schenever. Dorothy's Magic Belt. Dorothy passed several very happy weeks in the land of Oz as the guest of the Royal Osma, who delighted to please and interest the little Kansas girl. Many new acquaintances were formed, and many old ones renewed, and wherever she went, Dorothy found herself among friends. One day, however, as she sat in Osma's private room, she noticed hanging upon the wall a picture

which constantly changed in appearance, at one time showing a meadow, and at another time a forest, a lake, or a village. How curious, she exclaimed, after watching the shifting scenes for a few moments. yes said ozma that is really a wonderful invention in magic if i wish to see any part of the world or any person living i need only express the wish and it is shown in the picture may i use it asked dorothy eagerly of course my dear then i'd like to see the old kansas farm and aunt m said the girl instantly the well-remembered farmhouse appeared in the picture and aunt m could be seen quite plainly she was engaged in washing dishes by the kitchen window and seemed quite well and contented the hired men and the teams were in the harvest fields behind the house and the corn and wheat seemed to the child to be in prime condition on the side porch dorothy's pet dog toto was lying fast asleep in the sun and to her surprise old speckles was running around with a brood of twelve new chickens trailing after her everything seems all right at home said dorothy with a sigh of relief now i wonder what uncle henry is doing the scene in the picture at once shifted to australia where in a pleasant room in sydney uncle henry was seated in an easy-chair solemnly smoking his briar pipe

he looked sad and lonely and his hair was now quite white in his hands and face thin and wasted oh cried dorothy in an anxious voice i'm sure uncle henry isn't getting any better and it's because he is worried about me ozma dear i must go to him at once how can you asked ozma i don't know replied dorothy but let us go to glinda the good i'm sure she will help me and advise me how to get to uncle henry osma readily agreed to this plan and caused the saw-horse to be harnessed to a pretty green and pink pathin and the two girls rode away to visit the famous sorceress glinda received them graciously and listened to dorothy's story with attention i have the magic belt you know said the little girl if i buckled it around my waist and commanded it to take me to uncle henry wouldn't it do so i think so replied glinda with a smile and then continued dorothy if i ever wanted to come back here again the belt would bring me in that you are wrong said the sorceress the belt has magical powers only while it is in some fairy country such as the land of oz or the land of ev indeed my little friend were you to wear it and wish yourself in australia with your uncle the wish would doubtless be fulfilled because it was made in fairyland but you would not find the magic belt around you when you arrived at your destination what would become of it asked the girl it would be lost as were your silver shoes when you visited oz before and no one would ever see it again it seems too bad to destroy the use of the magic belt in that way doesn't it then said dorothy after a moment's thought i will give the magic belt to ozma for she can use it in her own country and she can wish me transported to uncle henry without losing the belt that is a wise plan replied glinda

So they rode back to the Emerald City, and on the way it was arranged that every Saturday morning, Osma would look at Dorothy in her magic picture wherever the little girl might chance to be. And if she saw Dorothy make a certain signal, then Osma would know that the little Kansas girl wanted to revisit the land of Oz, and by means of the Gnomes' king's magic belt would wish that she might instantly return. This having been agreed upon, Dorothy bade goodbye to all her friends. Tick-Tock wanted to go to Australia too, but Dorothy knew that the machine man would never do for

a servant in a civilized country, and the chances were that his machinery wouldn't work at all. So she left him in Osma's care. Belina, on the contrary, preferred the land of Oz to any other country, and refused to accompany Dorothy. the bugs and ants that i find here are the finest flavored in the world declared the yellow hen and there are plenty of them so here i shall end my days and i must say dorothy my dear that you are very foolish to go back into that stupid humdrum world again uncle henry needs me said dorothy simply and every one except belina thought it was right that she should go All Dorothy's friends of the land of Oz, both old and new, gathered in a group in front of the palace to bid her a sorrowful good-bye, and to wish her long life and happiness. After much handshaking, Dorothy kissed Osama once more, and then handed her the Gnome King's magic belt, saying,

Now, dear princess, when I wave my handkerchief, please wish me with Uncle Henry. I'm awfully sorry to leave you, and the scarecrow and the tin will. and the cowardly line and tick-tock and everybody, but I do want my Uncle Henry. So, goodbye, all of you. Then the little girl stood on one of the big emeralds which decorated the courtyard, and after looking once again at each of her friends waved her handkerchief. No, said Dorothy, I wasn't drowned at all, and I've come to nurse you and take care of you, Uncle Henry, and you must promise to get well as soon as possible.

uncle henry smiled and coddled his little niece close in his lap i'm better already my darling said he end of chapter twenty one end of osma of oz by l frank baum