Oz 04: Dorthy and the Wizard in Oz by L. Frank Baum
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eye, or haven't I ? "

" if_you_have, it_is invisible," said the princess .

" very true," returned the Woggle- bug, bowing ." I_say I_see the criminal, in my mind's eye, creeping stealthily into_the room of_our Ozma and secreting herself, when no one was looking, until the princess had gone away and_the door was closed . then the murderer was alone with her helpless victim, the fat piglet, and I_see her pounce upon_the innocent creature and eat it up--"

" are_you still seeing with your mind's eye ? " enquired the Scarecrow .

" of_course; how else could I_see it ? and we_know the thing is true, because since_the time of_that interview there_is no piglet to_be found anywhere ."

"I suppose, if_the cat had_been gone, instead of_the piglet, your mind's eye would see the piglet eating the cat," suggested the Scarecrow .

" very likely," acknowledged the Woggle- bug ." and now, fellow Citizens and Creatures of_the jury, I assert that so awful a crime deserves death, and in_the case of_the ferocious criminal before_you-- who_is now washing her face-- the death penalty should_be inflicted nine times ."

there_was great applause when_the speaker sat down . then the princess spoke in a stern voice:

" prisoner, what have_you to_say for_yourself ? are_you guilty, or not guilty ? "

" why, that's for_you to_find out," replied eureka ." if_you_can prove I'm guilty, I'll be willing to die nine times, but a mind's eye is no proof, because the Woggle- bug has no mind to_see with ."

" never mind, dear," said Dorothy .

then the tin woodman arose and said:

" respected jury and dearly beloved Ozma, I pray you not to judge this feline prisoner unfeelingly . I_do_not_think the innocent kitten can_be guilty, and surely it_is unkind to accuse a luncheon of being a murder . eureka is_the sweet pet of a lovely little girl whom we all admire, and gentleness and innocence are her chief virtues . look at_the kitten's intelligent eyes;" ( here eureka closed her eyes sleepily) " gaze at her smiling countenance ! " ( here eureka snarled and showed her teeth) " mark the tender pose of her soft, padded little hands ! " ( here eureka bared her sharp claws and scratched at_the bars of_the cage .) " would such a gentle animal be guilty of eating a fellow creature ? no; a thousand times, no ! "

"Oh, cut it short," said eureka; " you've talked long enough ."

"I'm trying to defend you," remonstrated the tin woodman .

" then say something sensible," retorted the kitten ." tell them it would_be foolish for_me to eat the piglet, because I had sense enough to_know it would raise a row if I_did . but don't try to_make out I'm too innocent to eat a fat piglet if I_could do_it and not be found out .I imagine it would taste mighty good ."

" perhaps it would, to_those who eat," remarked the tin woodman ."I myself, not being built to eat, have no personal experience in_such matters . but I remember that_our great poet once said:

' to eat is sweet when hunger's seat Demands a treat of savory meat .'"

" take this into consideration, friends of_the jury, and you_will readily decide that_the kitten is wrongfully accused and should_be set at liberty ."

when_the tin woodman sat down no one applauded him, for_his arguments had_not_been very convincing and few believed that he had proved eureka's innocence . as for_the jury, the members whispered to each_other for_a_few_minutes and then they appointed the hungry tiger their spokesman . the huge beast slowly arose and said:

"Kittens have no consciences, so they eat whatever pleases them . the jury believes the white kitten known as eureka is guilty of having eaten the piglet owned by princess Ozma, and recommends that she be put to death in punishment of_the crime ."

the judgment of_the jury was received with great applause, although Dorothy was sobbing miserably at_the fate of her pet . the princess was just about to order eureka's head chopped off with_the tin woodman's axe when_that brilliant personage once more arose and addressed her .

" your highness," said he, " see how easy it_is for a jury to_be mistaken . the kitten could_not have eaten your piglet-- for here it_is ! "

he_took off his funnel hat and from beneath it produced a tiny white piglet, which he held aloft that all might see it clearly .

Ozma was delighted and exclaimed, eagerly:

" give_me my pet, nick chopper ! "

and all the people cheered and clapped their hands, rejoicing that_the prisoner had escaped death and been proved to_be innocent .

as_the princess held the white piglet in her arms and stroked its soft hair she said: " let eureka out_of_the cage, for she_is no longer a prisoner, but our good friend . where did you find my missing pet, nick chopper ? "

" in a room of_the palace," he answered .

" justice," remarked the Scarecrow, with a sigh, " is a dangerous thing to meddle with . if_you hadn't happened to_find the piglet, eureka would surely have_been executed ."

" but justice prevailed at_the last," said Ozma, " for here_is my pet, and eureka is once more free ."

"I refuse to_be free," cried the kitten, in a sharp voice, " unless the wizard can do his trick with eight piglets . if he_can produce but seven, then this_is_not the piglet that was lost, but another one ."

" hush, eureka ! " warned the wizard .

"Don't be foolish," advised the tin woodman, " or you_may_be sorry for_it ."

" the piglet that belonged to_the princess wore an emerald collar," said eureka, loudly enough for all to hear .

" so it did ! " exclaimed Ozma ." this_cannot_be the one the wizard gave_me ."

" of_course not; he had nine of_them, altogether," declared eureka; " and I_must say it_was very stingy of him not to let me eat just a few . but now that_this foolish trial is ended, i_will tell you what really became of your pet piglet ."

at_this everyone in_the throne room suddenly became quiet, and_the kitten continued, in a calm, mocking tone of voice:

" i_will confess that I intended to eat the little Pig for_my breakfast; so I crept into_the room where it_was kept while the princess was dressing and hid myself under a chair . when Ozma went away she closed the door and left her pet on_the table . at once I jumped up and told the piglet not to_make a fuss, for he_would_be inside of me in half a second; but no one can teach one_of_these creatures to_be reasonable . instead of keeping still, so I_could eat him comfortably, he trembled so with fear that he fell off the table into a big vase that was standing on_the floor . the vase had a very_small neck, and spread out at_the top like a bowl . at first the piglet stuck in_the neck of_the vase and i_thought i_should get him, after all, but he wriggled himself through and fell down into_the deep bottom part-- and I suppose he's there yet ."

all were astonished at_this confession, and Ozma at once sent an officer to her room to fetch the vase . when he returned the princess looked down the narrow neck of_the big ornament and discovered her lost piglet, just as eureka had said she_would .

there_was no way to_get the creature out without breaking the vase, so the tin woodman smashed it with_his axe and set the little prisoner free .

then the crowd cheered lustily and Dorothy hugged the kitten in her arms and told her how delighted she was to_know that she was innocent .

" but why didn't you tell us at first ? " she asked .

" it would_have spoiled the fun," replied the kitten, yawning .

Ozma gave the wizard back the piglet he had so kindly allowed nick chopper to substitute for_the lost one, and then she carried her own into_the apartments of_the palace where she lived . and now, the trial being over, the good citizens of_the emerald city scattered to_their homes, well content with_the day's amusement .

20 .Zeb Returns to_the ranch

eureka was much surprised to_find herself in disgrace; but she was, in_spite of_the fact that she had_not eaten the piglet . for_the folks of Oz knew the kitten had tried to commit the crime, and_that only an accident had prevented her from doing_so; therefore even the hungry tiger preferred not to associate with her . eureka was forbidden to wander around the palace and was_made to stay in confinement in Dorothy's room; so she began to beg her mistress to send her to some other place where she_could enjoy herself better .

Dorothy was herself anxious to_get home, so she promised eureka they_would not stay in_the land of Oz much longer .

the next evening after_the trial the little girl begged Ozma to allow her to look in_the enchanted picture, and_the princess readily consented . she took the child to her room and said: " make your wish, dear, and_the picture will show the scene you_desire to behold ."

then Dorothy found, with_the aid of_the enchanted picture, that uncle Henry had returned to_the farm in Kansas, and she also saw that both he and aunt Em were dressed in mourning, because they thought their little niece had_been killed by_the earthquake .

" really," said the girl, anxiously, " I_must get back as_soon_as poss'ble to my own folks ."

Zeb also wanted to_see his home, and although he_did_not find anyone morning for him, the sight of Hugson's ranch in_the picture made him long to_get back there .

" this_is a fine country, and I like all the people that live in_it," he_told Dorothy ." but the fact is, Jim and I don't seem to fit into a fairyland, and_the old horse has_been begging me to_go home again ever_since he_lost the race . so, if_you_can find a way to fix it, we'll be much obliged to_you ."

"Ozma can do_it, easily," replied Dorothy ." tomorrow morning I'll go to Kansas and you_can go to Californy ."

that last evening was so delightful that_the boy will never forget it as long as he lives . they were all together ( except eureka) in_the pretty rooms of_the princess, and_the wizard did some new tricks, and_the Scarecrow told stories, and_the tin woodman sang a love song in a sonorous, metallic voice, and everybody laughed and had a good_time . then Dorothy wound up Tik-tok and he danced a jig to amuse the company, after which the yellow Hen related some of her adventures with_the Nome king in_the land of Ev .

the princess served delicious refreshments to_those who were in_the habit of eating, and when Dorothy's bed time arrived the company separated after exchanging many friendly sentiments .

next morning they all assembled for_the final parting, and many_of_the officials and courtiers came to look upon_the impressive ceremonies .

Dorothy held eureka in her arms and bade her friends a fond good-bye .

" you_must come again, some_time," said the little wizard; and she promised she_would if she found it possible to_do_so .

" but uncle Henry and aunt Em need me to help them," she added, " so I_can't ever be very long away from_the farm in Kansas ."

Ozma wore the magic belt; and, when she had kissed Dorothy farewell and had made her wish, the little girl and her kitten disappeared in atwinkling .

" where is she ? " asked Zeb, rather bewildered by_the suddenness of it .

"Greeting her uncle and aunt in Kansas, by_this_time," returned Ozma, with a smile .

then Zeb brought out Jim, all harnessed to_the buggy, and took his seat .

"I'm much obliged for all your kindness," said the boy, " and very grateful to_you for saving my life and sending me home again after all the good times I've had . i_think this_is_the loveliest country in_the_world; but not being fairies Jim and I_feel we ought_to_be where we belong-- and_that's at_the ranch . good-bye, everybody ! "

he_gave a start and rubbed his eyes .Jim was trotting along the well- known road, shaking his ears and whisking his tail with a contented motion . just ahead of_them were the gates of Hugson's ranch, and uncle Hugson now came out and stood with uplifted arms and wide open mouth, staring in amazement .

" goodness gracious ! it's Zeb-- and Jim, too ! " he exclaimed ." where in_the_world have_you been, my lad ? "

" why, in_the_world, uncle," answered Zeb, with a laugh .

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