Oz 13: The Magic of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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dance around on_the table- cloth . then, i_want each monkey to cut out a piece of cake and hand it to a guest ."

" mercy me ! " cried the little wizard, as he chuckled with laughter ." is_that all you_want, Dorothy ? "

" almost," said she ." can you_think of anything more the little monkeys can do, wizard ? "

" not just now," he replied ." but where will_you get such tiny monkeys ? "

" that's where you're to help me," said Dorothy ." in some_of_those wild forests in_the Gillikin country are lots of monkeys ."

" big ones," said the wizard .

" well, you and_I_will go there, and we'll get some_of_the big monkeys, and you_will make them small-- just three inches high-- by_means of your magic, and we'll put the little monkeys all in a basket and bring them home with_us . then you'll train them to dance-- up here in your room, where no one can_see them-- and on Ozma's birthday we'll put 'em into_the cake and_they'll know by_that_time just what to_do ."

the wizard looked at Dorothy with admiring approval, and chuckled again .

" that's really clever, my dear," he_said, " and I_see no reason why we_can't do_it, just the way you say, if only we_can get the wild monkeys to agree to_it ."

" do_you_think they'll object ? " asked the girl .

" yes; but perhaps we_can argue them into_it .Anyhow it's worth trying, and I'll help_you if_you'll agree to let this surprise cake be a present to Ozma from_you and me together .I've been wondering what I_could give Ozma, and as I've got to train the monkeys as_well as make them small, i_think you ought to_make me your partner ."

" of_course," said Dorothy; "I'll be_glad to_do_so ."

" then it's a bargain," declared the wizard ." we_must go to seek those monkeys at once, however, for it_will take time to train them and we'll have to travel a good way to_the Gillikin forests where they live ."

"I'm ready to_go any_time," agreed Dorothy ." shall we ask Ozma to let_us take_the sawhorse ? "

the wizard did_not answer that at once . he_took time to_think of_the suggestion .

" no," he answered at_length, " the red wagon couldn't get through_the thick forests and there's some danger to_us in going into_the wild places to search for monkeys . so I propose we take_the cowardly lion and_the hungry tiger . we_can ride on their backs as_well as in_the red wagon, and if_there_is danger to_us from other beasts, these two friendly champions will protect us from all harm ."

" that's a splendid idea ! " exclaimed Dorothy ." let's go now and ask_the hungry tiger and_the cowardly lion if they_will help_us . shall we ask Ozma if_we_can go ? "

" i_think not," said the wizard, getting his hat and_his black bag of magic tools ." this is_to_be a surprise for her birthday, and so she mustn't know where we're going . we'll just leave word, in_case Ozma inquires for_us, that we'll be back in_a_few_days ."

7 . the forest of Gugu

in_the central western part of_the Gillikin country is a great tangle of trees called Gugu forest . it_is_the biggest forest in all Oz and stretches miles and miles in every direction-- north, south, east and west .Adjoining it on_the east side is a range of rugged mountains covered with underbrush and small twisted trees . you_can find this place by looking at_the map of_the land of Oz .

Gugu forest is_the home of most of_the wild beasts that inhabit Oz . these are seldom disturbed in their leafy haunts because there_is no reason why Oz people should go there, except on rare occasions, and most parts of_the forest have never been seen by any eyes but the eyes of_the beasts who make their home there . the biggest beasts inhabit the great forest, while the smaller ones live mostly in_the mountain underbrush at_the east .

now, you_must know that_there_are laws in_the forests, as_well as in every_other place, and these laws are made by_the beasts themselves, and_are necessary to_keep them from fighting and tearing one another to pieces . in Gugu forest there_is a king-- an enormous yellow leopard called "Gugu"-- after whom the forest is named . and this king has three other beasts to advise him in keeping the laws and maintaining order--Bru the bear, Loo the unicorn and Rango the gray Ape-- who_are known as_the king's Counselors . all these are fierce and ferocious beasts, and hold their high offices because they_are more intelligent and more feared then their fellows .

since Oz became a fairyland, no man, woman or child ever dies in_that land nor is anyone ever sick . likewise the beasts of_the forests never die, so_that long years add to_their cunning and wisdom, as_well as to_their size and strength . it_is possible for beasts-- or even people-- to_be destroyed, but the task is so difficult that_it_is seldom attempted . because it_is free from sickness and death is one reason why Oz is a fairyland, but it_is doubtful whether those who come to Oz from_the outside world, as Dorothy and button- bright and trot and Cap'n bill and_the wizard did, will live forever or cannot_be injured . even Ozma is_not sure about_this, and so the guests of Ozma from other lands are always carefully protected from any danger, so as to_be on_the safe side .

in_spite of_the laws of_the forests there_are often fights among_the beasts; some_of_them have lost an eye or an ear or even had a leg torn off . the king and_the king's Counselors always punish those who start a fight, but so fierce is_the nature of some beasts that they_will at times fight in_spite of laws and punishment .

over this vast, wild forest of Gugu flew two eagles, one morning, and near the center of_the jungle the eagles alighted on a branch of a tall tree .

" here_is_the place for_us to_begin our work," said one, who was Ruggedo, the Nome .

" do many beasts live here ? " asked Kiki Aru, the other eagle .

" the forest is full of_them," said the Nome ." there_are enough beasts right here to enable us to conquer the people of Oz, if_we_can get them to consent to join us . to do_that, we_must go among them and tell them our plans, so we_must now decide on what shapes we had better assume while in_the forest ."

"I suppose we_must take_the shapes of beasts ? " said Kiki .

" of_course . but that requires some thought . all kinds of beasts live here, and a yellow leopard is king . if_we become leopards, the king will_be jealous of us . if_we take_the forms of some_of_the other beasts, we_shall_not command proper respect ."

"I wonder if_the beasts will attack us ? " asked Kiki .

"I'm aNome, and immortal, so nothing can hurt me," replied Ruggedo .

" i_was born in_the land of Oz, so nothing can hurt me," said Kiki .

" but, in_order to carry out our plans, we_must win the favor of all the animals of_the forest ."

" then what shall we_do ? " asked Kiki .

" let_us mix the shapes of several beasts, so we_will_not look like any_one_of_them," proposed the wily old Nome ." let_us_have the heads of lions, the bodies of monkeys, the wings of eagles and_the tails of wild asses, with knobs of gold on_the end of_them instead of bunches of hair ."

" won't that make a queer combination ? " inquired Kiki .

" the queerer the better," declared Ruggedo .

" all right," said Kiki ." you stay here, and I'll fly away to another tree and transform us both, and then we'll climb down our trees and meet in_the forest ."

" no," said the Nome, " we mustn't separate . you_must transform us while we_are together ."

"I won't do_that," asserted Kiki, firmly ." you're trying to_get my secret, and I won't let you ."

the eyes of_the other eagle flashed angrily, but Ruggedo did_not dare insist . if he offended this boy, he_might_have to remain an eagle always and he wouldn't like that . some day he hoped to_be_able to learn the secret word of_the magical transformations, but just now he_must let Kiki have his own way .

" all right," he_said gruffly; " do as_you please ."

so Kiki flew to a tree that was far enough distant so_that Ruggedo could_not overhear him and said: " i_want Ruggedo, the Nome, and myself to_have the heads of lions, the bodies of monkeys, the wings of eagles and_the tails of wild asses, with knobs of gold on_the ends of_them instead of bunches of hair--Pyrzqxgl ! "

he pronounced the magic word in_the proper manner and at once his form changed to_the one he had described . he spread his eagle's wings and finding they were strong enough to support his monkey body and lion head he flew swiftly to_the tree where he had left Ruggedo . the Nome was also transformed and was climbing down the tree because the branches all around him were so thickly entwined that there_was no room between_them to fly .

Kiki quickly joined his comrade and it did_not take them long to reach the ground .

8 . the LI-Mon-Eags make trouble

there had_been trouble in_the forest of Gugu that morning .Chipo the wild Boar had bitten the tail off Arx the giraffe while the latter had his head among_the leaves of a tree, eating his breakfast .Arx kicked with_his heels and struck Tirrip, the great kangaroo, who had a new baby in her pouch .Tirrip knew it was_the wild Boar's fault, so she knocked him over with one powerful blow and then ran away to escape Chipo's sharp tusks . in_the chase that followed a giant porcupine stuck fifty sharp quills into_the Boar and a chimpanzee in a tree threw acocoanut at_the porcupine that jammed its head into its body .

all this_was against the Laws of_the forest, and when_the excitement was over, Gugu the leopard king called his royal Counselors together to decide how best to punish the offenders .

the four lords of_the forest were holding solemn council in a small clearing when_they saw two strange beasts approaching them--beasts the like of_which they had never seen before .

not one_of_the four, however, relaxed his dignity or showed by a movement that he_was startled . the great leopard crouched at full length upon a fallen tree- trunk .Bru the bear sat on_his haunches before_the king; Rango the gray Ape stood with_his muscular arms folded, and Loo the unicorn reclined, much as a horse does, between his fellow-councillors . with one consent they remained silent, eyeing with steadfast looks the intruders, who were making their way into their forest domain .

" well met, Brothers ! " said one_of_the strange beasts, coming to a halt beside the group, while his comrade with hesitation lagged behind .

" we_are_not brothers," returned the gray Ape, sternly ." who_are you, and how came you in_the forest of Gugu ? "

" we_are two LI-Mon-Eags," said Ruggedo, inventing the name ." our home is in sky island, and we_have come to earth to warn the forest beasts that_the people of Oz are about to_make war upon them and enslave them, so_that they_will become beasts of burden forever after and obey only the will of_their two-legged masters ."

a low roar of anger arose from_the council of Beasts .

" who'S going to do_that ? " asked Loo the unicorn, in a high, squeaky voice, at_the same time rising to_his feet .

" the people of Oz," said Ruggedo .

" but what_will we be doing ? " inquired the unicorn .

" that's what I've come to_talk to_you about ."

" you needn't talk ! we'll fight the Oz people ! " screamed the unicorn ." we'll smash 'em; we'll trample 'em; we'll gore 'em; we'll--"

" silence ! " growled Gugu the king, and Loo obeyed, although still trembling with wrath . the cold, steady gaze of_the leopard wandered over the two strange beasts ." the people of Oz," said he, " have_not_been our friends; they have_not_been our enemies . they_have let_us alone, and we_have let them alone . there_is no reason for war between_us . they_have no slaves . they_could_not use us as slaves if_they should conquer us . i_think you_are telling us lies, you strange LI-Mon-Eag-- you mixed- up beast who_are neither one_thing nor another ."

"Oh, on my word, it's the truth ! " protested the Nome in_the beast's shape ."I wouldn't lie for_the world; I--"

" silence ! " again growled Gugu the king; and somehow, even Ruggedo was abashed and obeyed the edict .

" what do_you say, Bru ? " asked the king, turning to_the great bear, who had until now said nothing .

" how does the mixed beast know that what he_says is true ? " asked the bear .

" why, I_can fly, you_know, having the wings of an eagle," explained the Nome ."I and my comrade yonder," turning to Kiki, " flew to a grove in Oz, and there we heard the people telling how they_will make many ropes to snare you beasts, and then they_will surround this forest, and all other forests, and make you prisoners . so we came here to warn you, for being beasts ourselves, although we live in_the sky, we_are your friends ."

the leopard's lip curled and showed his enormous teeth, sharp as needles . he turned to_the gray Ape .

" what do_you_think, Rango ? " he asked .

" send these mixed beasts away, your majesty," replied the gray Ape ." they_are mischief-makers ."

"Don't do_that--don't do_that ! " cried the unicorn, nervously ." the stranger said he_would tell us what to_do . let him tell us, then . are we fools, not to heed awarning ? "

Gugu the king turned to Ruggedo .

" speak, stranger," he commanded .

" well," said the Nome, " it's this_way: the land of Oz is a fine country . the people of Oz have many good things--houses with soft beds, all sorts of nice-tasting food, pretty clothes, lovely jewels, and many_other things that beasts know nothing of . here in_the dark forests the poor beasts have hard work to_get enough to eat and to_find

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