Oz 04: Dorthy and the Wizard in Oz by L. Frank Baum
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to frighten the striped beast by such language he_was mistaken . the tiger seemed to smile, and winked one eye slowly .

" you_have a good conscience, friend horse," it said, " and if_you attend to its teachings it_will do much to protect you from harm . some day i_will let you try to crush in my skull, and afterward you_will know more about tigers than you_do now ."

" any friend of Dorothy," remarked the cowardly lion, " must_be our friend, as_well . so let_us cease this talk of skull crushing and converse upon more pleasant subjects . have_you breakfasted, sir horse ? "

" not yet," replied Jim ." but here_is plenty of excellent clover, so if_you_will excuse me i_will eat now ."

" he's a vegetarian," remarked the tiger, as_the horse began to munch the clover ." if I_could eat grass i_would_not need a conscience, for nothing could then tempt me to devour babies and lambs ."

just then Dorothy, who had risen early and heard the voices of_the animals, ran out to greet her old friends . she hugged both the lion and_the tiger with eager delight, but seemed to love the king of Beasts a little better than she did his hungry friend, having known him longer .

by_this_time they had indulged in a good talk and Dorothy had told them all about_the awful earthquake and her recent adventures, the breakfast bell rang from_the palace and_the little girl went inside to join her human comrades . as she entered the great hall a voice called out, in a rather harsh tone:

" what ! are_you here again ? "

" yes, I_am," she answered, looking all around to_see where the voice came from .

" what brought you back ? " was_the next question, and Dorothy's eye rested on an antlered head hanging on_the wall just over the fireplace, and caught its lips in_the act of moving .

" good gracious ! " she exclaimed ." i_thought you were stuffed ."

" so I_am," replied the head ." but once on a time i_was part of_the Gump, which Ozma sprinkled with_the powder of life . i_was then for a time the head of_the finest Flying machine that was ever known to exist, and we_did many wonderful things .Afterward the Gump was taken apart and i_was put back on_this wall; but I_can still talk when I_feel in_the mood, which_is not often ."

" it's very strange," said the girl ." what were you when_you were first alive ? "

" that I_have forgotten," replied the Gump's head, " and I_do_not_think it_is of much importance . but here comes Ozma; so I'd better hush up, for_the princess doesn't like me to chatter since she changed her name from tip to Ozma ."

just then the girlish ruler of Oz opened the door and greeted Dorothy with a good- morning kiss . the little princess seemed fresh and rosy and in good spirits .

" breakfast is served, dear," she said, " and I_am hungry . so don't let_us keep it waiting a single minute ."

17 . the Nine tiny Piglets

after breakfast Ozma announced that she had ordered a holiday to_be observed throughout_the emerald city, in honor of her visitors . the people had learned that their old wizard had returned to_them and all were anxious to_see him again, for he had always been a rare favorite . so first there_was to_be a grand procession through_the streets, after which the little old man was requested to perform some of_his wizardries in_the great throne room of_the palace . in_the afternoon there were to_be games and races .

the procession was very imposing . first came the imperial cornet band of Oz, dressed in emerald velvet uniforms with slashes of pea- green satin and buttons of immense cut emeralds . they played the national air called " the Oz spangled banner," and behind them were the standard bearers with_the royal flag . this flag was divided into four quarters, one being colored sky- blue, another pink, a third lavender and a fourth white . in_the center was a large emerald- green star, and all over the four quarters were sewn spangles that glittered beautifully in_the sunshine . the colors represented the four countries of Oz, and_the green star the emerald city .

just behind the royal standard-bearers came the princess Ozma in her royal chariot, which_was of gold encrusted with emeralds and diamonds set in exquisite designs . the chariot was drawn on_this occasion by_the cowardly lion and_the hungry tiger, who were decorated with immense pink and blue bows . in_the chariot rode Ozma and Dorothy, the former in splendid raiment and wearing her royal coronet, while the little Kansas girl wore around her waist the magic belt she had once captured from_the Nome king .

Following the chariot came the Scarecrow mounted on_the sawhorse, and_the people cheered him almost as loudly as_they_did their lovely ruler . behind him stalked with regular, jerky steps, the famous machine- man called Tik-tok, who had_been wound up by Dorothy for_the occasion .Tik-tok moved by clockwork, and was_made all of burnished copper . he really belonged to_the Kansas girl, who had much respect for_his thoughts after they had_been properly wound and set going; but as_the copper man would_be useless in any place but a fairy country Dorothy had left him in charge of Ozma, who saw that he_was suitably cared for .

there followed another band after_this, which_was called the royal court band, because the members all lived in_the palace . they wore white uniforms with real diamond buttons and played " what_is Oz without Ozma" very sweetly .

then came professor Woggle- bug, with a group of students from_the royal college of scientific athletics . the boys wore long hair and striped sweaters and yelled their college yell every_other step they took, to_the great satisfaction of_the populace, which_was glad_to_have this evidence that their lungs were in good condition .

the brilliantly polished tin woodman marched next, at_the head of_the royal army of Oz which consisted of twenty-eight officers, from Generals down to Captains . there were no privates in_the army because all were so courageous and skillful that_they had_been promoted one by one until there were no privates left .Jim and_the buggy followed, the old cab- horse being driven by Zeb while the wizard stood up on_the seat and bowed his bald head right and left in answer to_the cheers of_the people, who crowded thick about him .

taken altogether the procession was a grand success, and when it had returned to_the palace the citizens crowded into_the great throne room to_see the wizard perform his tricks .

the first thing the little humbug did was to_produce a tiny white piglet from underneath his hat and pretend to pull it apart, making two . this act he repeated until all of_the nine tiny piglets were visible, and_they were so glad to_get out of_his pocket that_they ran around in a very lively manner . the pretty little creatures would_have_been a novelty anywhere, so the people were as amazed and delighted at their appearance as even the wizard could_have desired . when he had made them all disappear again Ozma declared she was sorry they were gone, for she wanted one_of_them to pet and play with . so the wizard pretended to_take one_of_the piglets out_of_the hair of_the princess ( while really he slyly took it from_his inside pocket) and Ozma smiled joyously as_the creature nestled in her arms, and she promised to_have an emerald collar made for its fat neck and to_keep the little squealer always at hand to amuse her .

Afterward it_was noticed that_the wizard always performed his famous trick with eight piglets, but it seemed to_please the people just as_well as_if there had_been nine of_them .

in_his little room back of_the throne room the wizard had found alot of things he had left behind him when he went away in_the balloon, for no one had occupied the apartment in_his absence . there_was enough material there to enable him to_prepare several new tricks which he had learned from some_of_the jugglers in_the circus, and he had passed part of_the night in getting them ready . so he followed the trick of_the nine tiny piglets with several_other wonderful feats that greatly delighted his audience and_the people did_not seem to care a bit whether the little man was a humbug wizard or not, so_long as he succeeded in amusing them . they applauded all his tricks and at_the end of_the performance begged him earnestly not to_go away again and leave them .

" in_that case," said the little man, gravely, " i_will cancel all of_my engagements before_the crowned heads of Europe and America and devote myself to_the people of Oz, for I love you all so_well that I_can deny you nothing ."

after_the people had_been dismissed with_this promise our friends joined princess Ozma at an elaborate luncheon in_the palace, where even the tiger and_the lion were sumptuously fed and Jim the cab- horse ate his oatmeal out of a golden bowl with seven rows of rubies, sapphires and diamonds set around the rim of it .

in_the afternoon they all went to a great field outside the city gates where the games were to_be held . there_was a beautiful canopy for Ozma and her guests to sit under and watch the people run races and jump and wrestle . you_may_be_sure the folks of Oz did their best with_such a distinguished company watching them, and finally Zeb offered to wrestle with a little Munchkin who seemed to_be the champion . in appearance he_was twice as old as Zeb, for he had long pointed whiskers and wore a peaked hat with little bells all around the brim of it, which tinkled gaily as he moved . but although the Munchkin was hardly tall enough to_come to Zeb's shoulder he_was so strong and clever that he laid the boy three times on_his back with apparent ease .

Zeb was greatly astonished at his defeat, and when_the pretty princess joined her people in laughing at him he proposed aboxing- match with_the Munchkin, to_which_the little Ozite readily agreed . but the first time that Zeb managed to_give him a sharp box on_the ears the Munchkin sat down upon_the ground and cried until the tears ran down his whiskers, because he had_been hurt . this made Zeb laugh, in turn, and_the boy felt comforted to_find that Ozma laughed as merrily at her weeping subject as she had at him .

just then the Scarecrow proposed a race between_the sawhorse and_the cab- horse; and although all the others were delighted at_the suggestion the sawhorse drew back, saying:

" such a race would_not_be fair ."

" of_course not," added Jim, with a touch of scorn; " those little wooden legs of yours are_not half as long as my own ."

" it isn't that," said the sawhorse, modestly; " but I never tire, and you_do ."

"Bah ! " cried Jim, looking with great disdain at_the other; " do_you imagine for an instant that such a shabby imitation of a horse as_you_are can run as fast as I ? "

"I don't know, I'm sure," replied the sawhorse .

" that_is what we_are trying to_find out," remarked the Scarecrow ." the object of a race is to_see who_can win it-- or at_least that_is what my excellent brains think ."

" once, when i_was young," said Jim, " i_was a race horse, and defeated all who dared run against me . i_was born in Kentucky, you_know, where all the best and most aristocratic horses come from ."

" but you're old, now, Jim," suggested Zeb .

" old ! why, I_feel like a colt today," replied Jim ."I only wish there_was a real horse here for_me to race with .I'd show the people a fine sight, I_can tell you ."

" then why_not race with_the sawhorse ? " enquired the Scarecrow .

" he's afraid," said Jim .

"Oh, no," answered the sawhorse ."I merely said it wasn't fair . but if_my friend the real horse is willing to undertake the race I_am quite ready ."

so they unharnessed Jim and took the saddle off the sawhorse, and_the two queerly matched animals were stood side by side for_the start .

" when I_say ' go ! '" Zeb called to_them, " you_must dig out and race until you reach those three trees you_see over yonder . then circle ' round them and come back again . the first one that passes the place where the princess sits shall be named the winner . are_you ready ? "

"I suppose I ought to_give the wooden dummy a good start of me," growled Jim .

" never mind that," said the sawhorse ."I'll do_the best I_can ."

" go ! " cried Zeb; and at_the word the two horses leaped forward and_the race was begun .

Jim's big hoofs pounded away at a great rate, and although he_did_not look very graceful he ran in a way to_do credit to_his Kentucky breeding . but the sawhorse was swifter than_the wind . its wooden legs moved so fast that their twinkling could scarcely be seen, and although so_much smaller than_the cab- horse it covered the ground much faster . before_they had reached the trees the sawhorse was far ahead, and_the wooden animal returned to_the starting place as was being lustily cheered by_the Ozites before Jim came panting up_to_the canopy where the princess and her friends were seated .

I_am sorry to record the fact that Jim was not_only ashamed of_his defeat but for a moment lost control of_his temper . as he looked at_the comical face of_the sawhorse he imagined that_the creature was laughing

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