Oz 04: Dorthy and the Wizard in Oz by L. Frank Baum
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returned Dorothy ." the mother dragon may come down and catch us here ."

" it_is possible," agreed the wizard, " if_this proves to_be the path she usually takes . but I_have_been examining this tunnel, and I_do_not_see any signs of so large a beast having passed through it ."

" then we're all right," said the girl, " for if_the dragon went the other way she_can't poss'bly get to_us now ."

" of_course not, my dear . but there_is another thing to consider . the mother dragon probably knows the road to_the earth's surface, and if she went the other way then we_have come the wrong way," said the wizard, thoughtfully .

" dear me ! " cried Dorothy ." that_would_be unlucky, wouldn't it ? "

" very . unless this passage also leads to_the top of_the earth," said Zeb ." for_my part, if_we manage to_get out of here I'll be_glad it isn't the way the dragon goes ."

" so will I," returned Dorothy ." it's enough to_have your pedigree flung in your face by_those saucy dragonettes . no one knows what the mother might do ."

they now moved on again, creeping slowly up another steep incline . the lanterns were beginning to grow dim, and_the wizard poured the remaining oil from one into_the other, so that_the one light would last longer . but their journey was almost over, for in a short time they reached a small cave from_which there_was no further outlet .

they_did_not realize their ill fortune at first, for their hearts were gladdened by_the sight of a ray of sunshine coming through a small crack in_the roof of_the cave, far overhead . that meant that their world-- the real world-- was not very far away, and_that the succession of perilous adventures they had encountered had at last brought them near the earth's surface, which meant home to_them . but when_the adventurers looked more carefully around them they discovered that there were in a strong prison from_which there_was no hope of escape .

" but we're almost on earth again," cried Dorothy, " for there_is the sun-- the most BEAU'FUL sun that shines ! " and she pointed eagerly at_the crack in_the distant roof .

" almost on earth isn't being there," said the kitten, in a discontented tone ." it wouldn't be possible for even me to_get up to_that crack-- or through it if I got there ."

" it appears that_the path ends here," announced the wizard, gloomily .

" and there_is no way to_go back," added Zeb, with a low whistle of perplexity .

" i_was sure it would come to_this, in_the end," remarked the old cab- horse ."Folks don't fall into_the middle of_the earth and then get back again to_tell of_their adventures-- not in real life . and_the whole thing has_been unnatural because that cat and I are both able to_talk your language, and to understand the words you say ."

" and so can the nine tiny piglets," added eureka ."Don't forget them, for I_may_have to eat them, after all ."

"I've heard animals talk before," said Dorothy, " and no harm came of it ."

" were you ever before shut up in a cave, far under the earth, with no way of getting out ? " enquired the horse, seriously .

" no," answered Dorothy ." but don't you lose heart, Jim, for I'm sure this isn't the end of_our story, by any means ."

the reference to_the piglets reminded the wizard that his pets had_not enjoyed much exercise lately, and must_be tired of_their prison in_his pocket . so he sat down upon_the floor of_the cave, brought the piglets out one by one, and allowed them to run around as_much as_they pleased .

" my dears," he_said to_them, "I'm afraid I've got you into alot of trouble, and_that you_will never again be_able to leave this gloomy cave ."

" what's wrong ? " asked a piglet ." we've been in_the dark quite a while, and you_may as_well explain what has happened ."

the wizard told them of_the misfortune that had overtaken the wanderers .

" well," said another piglet, " you_are a wizard, are_you not ? "

" I_am," replied the little man .

" then you_can do a few wizzes and get us out of_this hole," declared the tiny one, with much confidence .

" I_could if I happened to_be a real wizard," returned the master sadly ." but I'm not, my piggy-wees; I'm a humbug wizard ."

" nonsense ! " cried several of_the piglets, together .

" you_can ask Dorothy," said the little man, in an injured tone .

" it's true enough," returned the girl, earnestly ." our friend Oz is merely a humbug wizard, for he once proved it to_me . he_can do several very wonderful things-- if he_knows how . but he_can't wiz a single thing if he hasn't the tools and machinery to work with ."

" thank_you, my dear, for doing me justice," responded the wizard, gratefully ." to_be accused of being a real wizard, when I'm not, is a slander i_will_not tamely submit to . but I_am one_of_the greatest humbug wizards that ever lived, and you_will realize this when we_have all starved together and_our bones are scattered over the floor of_this lonely cave ."

"I don't believe we'll realize anything, when it comes to_that," remarked Dorothy, who had_been deep in thought ." but I'm not going to scatter my bones just yet, because I_need them, and you prob'ly need yours, too ."

" we_are helpless to escape," sighed the wizard .

" we_may_be helpless," answered Dorothy, smiling at him, " but there_are others who_can do more than we_can . cheer up, friends .I'm sure Ozma will help_us ."

"Ozma ! " exclaimed the wizard ." who_is Ozma ? "

" the girl that rules the marvelous land of Oz," was_the reply ." she's a friend of_mine, for I met her in_the land of Ev, not long_ago, and went to Oz with her ."

" for_the second time ? " asked the wizard, with great interest .

" yes . the first time I went to Oz I_found you there, ruling the emerald city . after you went up in a balloon, and escaped us, I got back to Kansas by_means of a pair of magical silver shoes ."

"I remember those shoes," said the little man, nodding ." they once belonged to_the wicked witch . have_you them here with_you ? "

" no; I lost them somewhere in_the air," explained the child ." but the second time I went to_the land of Oz I owned the Nome king's magic belt, which_is much more powerful than were the silver shoes ."

" where is_that magic belt ? " enquired the wizard, who had listened with great interest .

"Ozma has it; for its powers won't work in a common, ordinary country like the United_States . anyone in a fairy country like the land of Oz can do anything with it; so I left it with my friend the princess Ozma, who used it to wish me in Australia with uncle Henry ."

" and were you ? " asked Zeb, astonished at what he heard .

" of_course; in just ajiffy . and Ozma has an enchanted picture hanging in her room that shows her the exact scene where any of her friends may_be, at any_time she chooses . all she has_to do is to_say: 'I wonder what so- and- so is doing,' and at once the picture shows where her friend is and what the friend is doing . that's real magic, Mr wizard; isn't it ? well, every day at four o'clock Ozma has promised to look at me in_that picture, and if I_am in need of help I_am to_make her a certain sign and she will put on_the Nome king's magic belt and wish me to_be with her in Oz ."

" do_you_mean that princess Ozma will see this cave in her enchanted picture, and_see all of us here, and what we_are doing ? " demanded Zeb .

" of_course; when it_is four o'clock," she replied, with a laugh at his startled expression .

" and when_you make a sign she will bring you to her in_the land of Oz ? " continued the boy .

" that's it, exactly; by_means of_the magic belt ."

" then," said the wizard, " you_will_be saved, little Dorothy; and I_am very_glad of it . the rest of us will die much more cheerfully when we_know you_have escaped our sad fate ."

"I won't die cheerfully ! " protested the kitten ." there's nothing cheerful about dying that I_could ever see, although they say acat has nine lives, and so must die nine times ."

" have_you ever died yet ? " enquired the boy .

" no, and I'm not anxious to_begin," said eureka .

"Don't worry, dear," Dorothy exclaimed, "I'll hold you in my arms, and take you with me ."

" take us, too ! " cried the nine tiny piglets, all in one breath .

" perhaps I_can," answered Dorothy ."I'll try ."

"Couldn't you manage to hold me in your arms ? " asked the cab- horse .

Dorothy laughed .

"I'll do better than that," she promised, " for I_can easily save you all, once I_am myself in_the land of Oz ."

" how ? " they asked .

" by using the magic belt . all I_need do is to wish you with me, and there you'll be-- safe in_the royal palace ! "

" good ! " cried Zeb .

"I built that palace, and_the emerald city, too," remarked the wizard, in a thoughtful tone, " and I'd like to_see them again, for i_was very happy among_the Munchkins and Winkies and Quadlings and Gillikins ."

" who_are they ? " asked the boy .

" the four nations that inhabit the land of Oz," was_the reply ."I wonder if_they_would treat me nicely if I went there again ."

" of_course they_would ! " declared Dorothy ." they_are still proud of_their former wizard, and often speak of you kindly ."

" do_you happen to_know whatever became of_the tin woodman and_the Scarecrow ? " he enquired .

" they live in Oz yet," said the girl, " and_are very_important people ."

" and_the cowardly lion ? "

"Oh, he lives there too, with_his friend the hungry tiger; and Billina is_there, because she liked the place better than Kansas, and wouldn't go with me to Australia ."

"I'm afraid I don't know the hungry tiger and Billina," said the wizard, shaking his head ." is Billina a girl ? "

" no; she's a yellow hen, and a great friend of_mine . you're sure to like Billina, when_you know her," asserted Dorothy .

" your friends sound like a menagerie," remarked Zeb, uneasily ."Couldn't you wish me in some safer place than Oz ."

"Don't worry," replied the girl ." you'll just love the folks in Oz, when_you get acquainted . what time is_it, Mr wizard ? "

the little man looked at his watch--a big silver one that he carried in_his vest pocket .

" half- past three," he_said .

" then we_must wait for half an hour," she continued; " but it won't take long, after_that, to carry us all to_the emerald city ."

they sat silently thinking for a time . then Jim suddenly asked:

" are there any horses in Oz ? "

" only_one," replied Dorothy, " and he's a sawhorse ."

"A what ? "

"A sawhorse . princess Ozma once brought him to life with a witch- powder, when she was a boy ."

" was Ozma once a boy ? " asked Zeb, wonderingly .

" yes; a wicked witch enchanted her, so she_could_not rule her kingdom . but she's a girl now, and_the sweetest, loveliest girl in all the world ."

"A sawhorse is a thing they saw boards on," remarked Jim, with a sniff .

" it_is when it's not alive," acknowledged the girl ." but this sawhorse can trot as fast as_you_can, Jim; and he's very wise, too ."

"Pah ! I'll race the miserable wooden donkey any day in_the week ! " cried the cab- horse .

Dorothy did_not reply to_that . she felt that Jim would know more about_the saw- horse later on .

the time dragged wearily enough to_the eager watchers, but finally the wizard announced that four o'clock had arrived, and Dorothy caught up the kitten and began to make_the signal that had_been agreed upon to_the far- away invisible Ozma .

" nothing seems to happen," said Zeb, doubtfully .

"Oh, we_must give Ozma time to_put on_the magic belt," replied the girl .

she had scarcely spoken the words then she suddenly disappeared from_the cave, and with her went the kitten . there had_been no sound of any kind and no warning . one moment Dorothy sat beside them with_the kitten in her lap, and a moment later the horse, the piglets, the wizard and_the boy were all that remained in_the underground prison .

"I believe we_will soon follow her," announced the wizard, in a tone of great relief; " for I_know something about_the magic of_the fairyland that_is called the land of Oz . let_us be ready, for we_may_be sent for any minute ."

he put the piglets safely away in_his pocket again and then he and Zeb got into_the buggy and sat expectantly upon_the seat .

" will it hurt ? " asked the boy, in a voice that trembled a little .

" not at all," replied the wizard ." it_will all happen as quick as a wink ."

and_that was_the way it did happen .

the cab- horse gave a nervous start and Zeb began to rub his eyes to_make sure he_was not asleep . for they were in_the streets of a beautiful emerald- green city, bathed in a grateful green light that was especially pleasing to_their eyes, and surrounded by merry faced people in gorgeous green- and- gold costumes of many extraordinary designs .

before them were the jewel- studded gates of a magnificent palace, and now the gates opened slowly as_if inviting them to enter the courtyard, where splendid flowers

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