" fairy country ? " asked the boy

" ," returned Dorothy promptly "Only fairy country veg'table people; and only in fairy country could Eureka and Jim talk do "

"That's true," said Zeb, thoughtfully

vegetable gardens they found the strawberries and melons, and unknown but delicious fruits, they ate heartily But the kitten bothered them constantly by demanding milk or meat, and called the Wizard names because bring her dish of milk magical arts

sat grass watching Jim, who was still busily eating, Eureka said:

"I don't believe Wizard at all ! "

"No," answered the little man, " quite right strict sense word not Wizard, but only humbug "

"The Wizard of Oz has always been humbug," agreed Dorothy "I've known him "

" is so," said the boy, "how could he wonderful trick nine tiny piglets ? "

"Don't know," said Dorothy, "but it must humbug "

"Very true," declared the Wizard, nodding at her " necessary to deceive that ugly Sorcerer Prince, as their stupid people; but I don't mind telling you, my friends, thing was only trick "

"But the little pigs with my own eyes ! " exclaimed Zeb

"So did I," purred the kitten

" ," answered the Wizard "You saw them because they were there in my inside pocket now But the pulling apart and pushing them together again was only sleight-of-hand trick "

"Let's see the pigs," said Eureka, eagerly

The little man felt carefully pocket and pulled out the tiny piglets, setting them grass one by one, where they ran around and nibbled the tender blades

"They're hungry, too,"

"Oh, what cunning things ! " cried Dorothy, catching up one and petting it

"Be careful ! " said the piglet, with squeal, "you're squeezing me ! "

"Dear me ! " murmured the Wizard, looking at his pets in astonishment " actually talk ! "

"May I eat ? " asked the kitten, in pleading voice "I'm awfully hungry "

"Why, Eureka," said Dorothy, reproachfully, "what cruel question ! It dreadful to eat these dear little things "

" say so ! " grunted another piglets, looking uneasily kitten; "cats are cruel things "

"I'm not cruel," replied the kitten, yawning "I'm just hungry "

" eat my piglets, even starving," declared the little man, in stern voice " the only things I'm wizard "

"How did they happen so little ? " asked Dorothy "I never saw such small pigs before "

" Island of Teenty-Weent," said the Wizard, "where everything is small because it's small island sailor brought them to Los Angeles and him nine tickets circus "

"But what am I going to eat ? " wailed the kitten, sitting in front of Dorothy and looking pleadingly into her face " no cows here milk; or any mice, or even grasshoppers And if 't eat the piglets plant me at once and raise catsup "

" an idea," said the Wizard, " fishes brooks like fish ? "

"Fish ! " cried the kitten "Do I like fish ? Why, they're better than piglets--or even milk ! "

"Then I'll try to catch you some," said he

"But won't they be veg'table, like everything else here ? " asked the kitten

" not Fishes animals, and as cold and moist vegetables themselves no reason, that , why not exist waters strange country "

Then the Wizard bent pin for hook and took long piece of string pocket for fish-line The only bait find was bright red blossom from flower; but fishes are easy to fool if anything bright attracts their attention, so he decided the blossom Having thrown the end line water of nearby brook he soon felt sharp tug that told him fish had bitten and was caught bent pin; so the little man drew string and, sure enough, the fish came with it and was landed safely shore, where it began to flop around in great excitement

The fish was fat and round, and its scales glistened like beautifully cut jewels set close together; but no time to examine it closely, for Eureka made jump and caught it between her claws, and in it had entirely disappeared

"Oh, Eureka ! " cried Dorothy, "did you eat the bones ? "

" had any bones, I ate them," replied the kitten, composedly, as it washed its face meal "But I don't think that fish had any bones, because I didn't feel them scratch my throat "

"You were very greedy," said the girl

" very hungry," replied the kitten

The little pigs had stood huddled in group, watching this scene with frightened eyes

"Cats are dreadful creatures ! " said

"I'm glad fishes ! " said another

"Don't worry," Dorothy murmured, soothingly, "I'll not let the kitten hurt you "

Then she happened to remember that in corner of her suit-case were crackers that were left over from her luncheon train, and she went buggy and brought them Eureka stuck up her nose at such food, but the tiny piglets squealed delightedly sight crackers and ate them up in jiffy

"Now go back city," suggested the Wizard " , if Jim has had enough pink grass "

The cab-horse, who was browsing near, lifted his head with sigh

"I've tried to eat lot while I had the chance," said he, " 's likely long while between meals strange country But I'm ready , now, at you wish "

So, Wizard had put the piglets back into his inside pocket, where they cuddled up and went to sleep, the three climbed buggy and Jim started back town

"Where shall we stay ? " asked the girl

" take possession House Sorcerer," replied the Wizard; " Prince said presence people that keep me until they picked another Sorcerer, new Princess won't know but that we belong there "

They agreed plan, and reached the great square Jim drew the buggy big door domed hall

"It doesn't look very homelike," said Dorothy, gazing around bare room "But it's place to stay, anyhow "

" those holes up there ? " enquired the boy, pointing to some openings that appeared near the top dome

"They look like doorways," said Dorothy; "only no stairs "

"You forget that stairs are unnecessary," observed the Wizard " walk up, where the doors lead to "

he began walking air toward the high openings, and Dorothy and Zeb followed him It same sort of climb one experiences when walking up hill, were nearly out of breath came row of openings, which they perceived doorways leading into halls upper part house Following these halls they discovered many small rooms opening , and some were furnished with glass benches, tables and chairs But there were no beds at all

"I wonder if these people never sleep," said the girl

"Why, there no night at all country," Zeb replied "Those colored suns are exactly same place they were when we came, and no sunset there no night "

"Very true," agreed the Wizard "But since any sleep, and I'm tired So lie down upon hard glass benches and take nap "

" , too," said Dorothy, and chose little room end hall

Zeb walked down again to unharness Jim, who, when himself free, rolled over and then settled down to sleep, with Eureka nestling comfortably beside his big, boney body Then the boy returned to upper rooms, and hardness glass bench was soon deep in slumberland

6 The Mangaboos Prove Dangerous

Wizard awoke the six colored suns were shining down Land Mangaboos just had done his arrival The little man, having had good sleep, felt rested and refreshed, and looking glass partition room Zeb sitting up bench and yawning So the Wizard went in to him