Oz 06: Emerald City of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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round fat body of_the old Nome, to_see him jump and hear him yell .

but while this_was going on_the grand Gallipoot was talking with_his counselors, who were the most important officials of_the Growleywogs . when he had stated to_them the proposition of_the Nome king, he_said:

" my advice is to offer to help them . then, when we_have conquered the land of Oz, we_will take not_only our twenty thousand prisoners but all the gold and jewels we_want ."

" let_us take_the magic belt, too," suggested one counselor .

" and rob the Nome king and make him our slave," said another .

" that_is a good idea," declared the grand Gallipoot ."I'd like king Roquat for_my own slave . he_could black my boots and bring me my porridge every morning while I_am in bed ."

" there_is a famous Scarecrow in Oz .I'll take him for_my slave," said acounselor .

"I'll take Tiktok, the machine man," said another .

" give_me the tin woodman," said a third .

they went on for some_time, dividing up the people and_the treasure of Oz in advance of_the conquest . for they had no_doubt at all that they_would_be_able to destroy Ozma's domain . were they not the strongest people in all the world ?

" the deadly desert has kept us out of Oz before," remarked the grand Gallipoot, " but now that_the Nome king is building a tunnel we_shall get into_the emerald city very easily . so let_us send the little fat general back to_his king with_our promise to assist him . we_will_not say that we intend to conquer the Nomes after we_have conquered Oz, but we_will do_so, just the same ."

this plan being agreed upon, they all went home to dinner, leaving general Guph still in prison . the Nome had no idea that he had succeeded in_his mission, for finding himself in prison he feared the Growleywogs intended to_put him to death .

by_this_time the jailer had tired of sticking pins in_the general, and was amusing himself by carefully pulling the Nome's whiskers out by_the roots, one at_a_time . this enjoyment was interrupted by_the grand Gallipoot sending for_the prisoner .

" wait a few hours," begged the jailer ."I haven't pulled out a quarter of_his whiskers yet ."

" if_you keep the grand Gallipoot waiting, he'll break your back," declared the messenger .

" perhaps you're right," sighed the jailer ." take_the prisoner away, if_you_will, but I advise you to kick him at every step he takes . it_will_be good fun, for he_is as soft as a ripe peach ."

so Guph was led away to_the royal castle, where the grand Gallipoot told him that_the Growleywogs had decided to assist the Nomes in conquering the land of Oz .

" whenever you_are ready," he added, " send me word and_I_will march with eighteen thousand of_my most powerful warriors to your aid ."

Guph was so delighted that he forgot all the smarting caused by_the pins and_the pulling of whiskers . he_did_not even complain of_the treatment he had received, but thanked the grand Gallipoot and hurried away upon his journey .

he had now secured the assistance of_the Whimsies and_the Growleywogs; but his success made him long for still more allies . his own life depended upon his conquering Oz, and he_said to himself:

"I'll take no chances .I'll be certain of success . then, when Oz is destroyed, perhaps I_shall_be a greater man than old Roquat, and I_can throw him away and be king of_the Nomes myself . why_not ? the Whimsies are stronger than_the Nomes, and_they also are my friends . there_are some people still stronger than_the Growleywogs, and if I_can but induce them to aid me I_shall_have nothing more to fear ."

9 . how the Wogglebug taught athletics

it did_not take Dorothy long to establish herself in her new home, for she knew the people and_the manners and customs of_the emerald city just as_well as she knew the old Kansas farm .

but uncle Henry and aunt Em had some trouble in getting used to_the finery and pomp and ceremony of Ozma's palace, and felt uneasy because they were obliged to_be " dressed up" all the time . yet every_one was very courteous and kind to_them and endeavored to_make them happy .Ozma, especially, made much of Dorothy's relatives, for her little friend's sake, and she well knew that_the awkwardness and strangeness of_their new mode of life would all wear off in_time .

the old people were chiefly troubled by_the fact that there_was no work for_them to_do .

"Ev'ry day is like Sunday, now," declared aunt Em, solemnly, " and I_can't say I like it . if_they'd only let me do up the dishes after meals, or even sweep an' dust my own rooms, I'd be a deal happier .Henry don't know what to_do with himself either, and once when he stole out an' fed the chickens Billina scolded him for letting 'em eat between meals .I never knew before what a hardship it is_to_be rich and_have everything you_want ."

these complaints began to worry Dorothy; so she had a long talk with Ozma upon_the_subject .

" I_see I_must find them something to_do," said the girlish ruler of Oz, seriously ." I_have_been watching your uncle and aunt, and I believe they_will_be more contented if occupied with some light tasks . while I_am considering this_matter, Dorothy, you_might make a trip with_them through_the land of Oz, visiting some_of_the odd corners and introducing your relatives to some_of_our curious people ."

"Oh, that_would_be fine ! " exclaimed Dorothy, eagerly .

" i_will give_you an escort befitting your rank as a princess," continued Ozma; " and you_may go to some_of_the places you have_not_yet visited yourself, as_well as some others that you_know . i_will mark out a plan of_the trip for_you and_have everything in readiness for_you to start to- morrow morning . take your time, dear, and be gone as long as_you wish . by_the_time you return I_shall_have found some occupation for uncle Henry and aunt Em that_will keep them from being restless and dissatisfied ."

Dorothy thanked her good friend and kissed the lovely ruler gratefully . then she ran to_tell the joyful news to her uncle and aunt .

next morning, after breakfast, everything was found ready for their departure .

the escort included Omby Amby, the captain general of Ozma's army, which consisted merely of twenty-seven officers besides the captain general . once Omby Amby had_been a private soldier-- the only private in_the army-- but as_there_was never any fighting to_do Ozma saw no need of a private, so she made Omby Amby the highest officer of_them all . he_was very tall and slim and wore a gay uniform and a fierce mustache . yet the mustache was_the only fierce thing about Omby Amby, whose nature was as gentle as_that of a child .

the wonderful wizard had asked to join the party, and with_him came his friend the shaggy man, who was shaggy but not ragged, being dressed in fine silks with satin shags and bobtails . the shaggy man had shaggy whiskers and hair, but a sweet disposition and a soft, pleasant voice .

there_was an open wagon, with three seats for_the passengers, and_the wagon was drawn by_the famous wooden sawhorse which had once been brought to life by Ozma by_means of a magic powder . the sawhorse wore wooden shoes to_keep his wooden legs from wearing away, and he_was strong and swift . as_this curious creature was Ozma's own favorite steed, and very popular with all the people of_the emerald city, Dorothy knew that she had_been highly favored by being permitted to use the sawhorse on her journey .

in_the front seat of_the wagon sat Dorothy and_the wizard . uncle Henry and aunt Em sat in_the next seat and_the shaggy man and Omby Amby in_the third seat . of_course Toto was with_the party, curled up at Dorothy's feet, and just as_they were about to start, Billina came fluttering along the path and begged to_be taken with_them . Dorothy readily agreed, so the yellow Hen flew up and perched herself upon_the dashboard . she wore her pearl necklace and three bracelets upon each leg, in honor of_the occasion .

Dorothy kissed Ozma good-bye, and all the people standing around waved their handkerchiefs, and_the band in an upper balcony struck up a military march . then the wizard clucked to_the sawhorse and said: "Gid-dap ! " and_the wooden animal pranced away and drew behind him the big red wagon and all the passengers, without any effort at all .a servant threw open a gate of_the palace enclosure, that they_might pass out; and so, with music and shouts following them, the journey was begun .

" it's almost like a circus," said aunt Em, proudly ." I_can't help feelin' high an' mighty in_this kind of a turn- out ."

indeed, as_they passed down the street, all the people cheered them lustily, and_the shaggy man and_the wizard and_the captain general all took off their hats and bowed politely in acknowledgment .

when_they came to_the great wall of_the emerald city, the gates were opened by_the guardian who always tended them . over the gateway hung a dull- colored metal magnet shaped like a horse- shoe, placed against a shield of polished gold .

" that," said the shaggy man, impressively, " is_the wonderful love magnet .I brought it to_the emerald city myself, and all who pass beneath this gateway are both loving and beloved ."

" it's a fine thing," declared aunt Em, admiringly ." if_we'd had it in Kansas I guess the man who held a mortgage on_the farm wouldn't have turned us out ."

" then I'm glad we didn't have it," returned uncle Henry ."I like Oz better than Kansas, even; an' this little wood sawhorse beats all the critters I ever saw . he don't have to_be curried, or fed, or watered, an' he's strong as an ox . can he talk, Dorothy ? "

" yes, uncle," replied the child ." but the sawhorse never says much . he_told me once that he_can't talk and think at_the same time, so he prefers to_think ."

" which_is very sensible," declared the wizard, nodding approvingly ." which_way do we go, Dorothy ? "

" straight ahead into_the Quadling country," she answered ."I've got a letter of interduction to miss Cuttenclip ."

"Oh ! " exclaimed the wizard, much interested ." are we going there ? then I'm glad I_came, for I've always wanted to meet the Cuttenclips ."

" who_are they ? " inquired aunt Em .

" wait till we get there," replied Dorothy, with a laugh; " then you'll see for_yourself .I've never seen the Cuttenclips, you_know, so I_can't 'zactly 'splain 'em to_you ."

once free of_the emerald city the sawhorse dashed away at tremendous speed . indeed, he went so fast that aunt Em had hard work to catch her breath, and uncle Henry held fast to_the seat of_the red wagon .

" gently-- gently, my boy ! " called the wizard, and at_this the sawhorse slackened his speed .

" what's wrong ? " asked the animal, slightly turning his wooden head to look at_the party with one eye, which_was a knot of wood .

" why, we_wish to admire the scenery, that's all," answered the wizard .

" some of your passengers," added the shaggy man, " have never been out_of_the emerald city before, and_the country is all new to_them ."

" if_you go too fast you'll spoil all the fun," said Dorothy ." there's no hurry ."

" very_well; it_is all the same to_me," observed the sawhorse; and after_that he went at a more moderate pace .

uncle Henry was astonished .

" how can a wooden thing be so intelligent ? " he asked .

" why, I_gave him some sawdust brains the last time I fitted his head with new ears," explained the wizard ." the sawdust was_made from hard knots, and now the sawhorse is able to_think out any knotty problem he meets with ."

" I_see," said uncle Henry .

"I don't," remarked aunt Em; but no one paid any attention to_this statement .

before long they came to a stately building that stood upon a green plain with handsome shade trees grouped here and there .

" what_is that ? " asked uncle Henry .

" that," replied the wizard, " is_the royal athletic college of Oz, which_is directed by professor H .M .Wogglebug, T .E ."

" let's stop and make a call," suggested Dorothy .

so the sawhorse drew up in front of_the great building and_they were met at_the door by_the learned Wogglebug himself . he_seemed fully as tall as_the wizard, and was dressed in a red and white checked vest and a blue swallow- tailed coat, and had yellow knee breeches and purple silk stockings upon his slender legs .a tall hat was jauntily set upon his head and he wore spectacles over his big bright eyes .

" welcome, Dorothy," said the Wogglebug; " and welcome to all your friends . we_are indeed pleased to receive you at_this great temple of Learning ."

" i_thought it_was an athletic college," said the shaggy man .

" it_is, my dear_Sir," answered the Wogglebug, proudly ." here it is_that we teach the youth of_our great land scientific college athletics-- in all their purity ."

"Don't you teach them anything else ? " asked Dorothy ."Don't they get any reading, writing and 'rithmetic ? "

"Oh, yes; of_course . they get all those, and more," returned the professor ." but such things occupy little of_their time . please follow me and_I_will show you how my scholars are usually occupied . this_is a class hour and_they are all busy ."

they followed him to a big field back of_the college building, where several hundred young Ozites were at

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