" happen if guilty ? " asked Dorothy

" die," answered the Princess

"Nine times ? " enquired the Scarecrow

"As as is necessary," reply " Tin Woodman to defend the prisoner, because he has such kind heart do his best to save her Woggle-Bug shall be the Public Accuser, because so learned that no one can deceive him "

" the jury ? " asked the Tin Woodman

"There several animals jury," said Ozma, "because animals understand better than we people understand them So the jury shall consist Cowardly Lion, the Hungry Tiger, Jim the Cab-horse, the Yellow Hen, the Scarecrow, the Wizard, Tik-tok the Machine Man, the Sawhorse and Zeb of Hugson's Ranch That makes the nine which the law requires, and all my people shall be admitted to hear the testimony "

They now separated sad ceremony; for whenever an appeal is made to law sorrow is almost certain --even in fairyland like Oz But is stated people Land were generally -behaved that not single lawyer amongst them, and it years since any Ruler had sat in judgment upon an offender law The crime of murder being the most dreadful crime of all, tremendous excitement prevailed Emerald City news of Eureka's arrest and trial became known

The Wizard, when he returned own room, was exceedingly thoughtful He had Eureka had eaten his piglet, but he realized that kitten depended upon at all times to act properly, since its nature is to destroy small animals and even birds for food, tame cat that we keep houses today is descended wild cat jungle--a very ferocious creature, indeed The Wizard knew that if Dorothy's pet was found guilty and condemned to death the little girl made very unhappy; so, although he grieved over the piglet's sad fate as any , he resolved to save Eureka's life

Sending Tin Woodman the Wizard took him into corner and whispered:

"My friend, your duty to defend the white kitten and try to save her, but fail because Eureka has long wished to eat piglet, to my certain knowledge, and my opinion she unable to resist the temptation Yet her disgrace and death bring back the piglet, but only serve Dorothy unhappy So I intend the kitten's innocence by trick "

He drew inside pocket eight tiny piglets that were remaining and continued:

"This creature hide in some safe place, and jury decides that Eureka is guilty then produce this piglet and claim one that was lost All the piglets are exactly alike, so no one can dispute your word This deception will save Eureka's life, and then all be happy again "

" like to deceive my friends," replied the Tin Woodman; "still, my kind heart urges me to save Eureka's life, and usually trust my heart right thing So do say, friend Wizard "

After some thought he placed the little pig inside his funnel-shaped hat, and then put the hat upon his head and went back room over his speech jury

19 The Wizard Performs Another Trick

At three o'clock the Throne Room was crowded with citizens, men, women and children being eager to witness the great trial

Princess Ozma, dressed in her most splendid robes of state, sat magnificent emerald throne, with her jewelled sceptre in her hand and her sparkling coronet upon her fair brow Behind her throne stood the twenty-eight officers of her army and many officials royal household At her right sat the queerly assorted Jury--animals, animated dummies and people--all gravely prepared to listen to said The kitten placed in large cage just throne, where she sat upon her haunches and gazed bars crowds around her, with seeming unconcern

And now, at signal from Ozma, the Woggle-Bug arose and addressed the jury His tone was pompous and he strutted up and down in an absurd attempt to appear dignified

"Your Royal Highness and Fellow Citizens," he began; "the small cat prisoner is accused crime of first murdering and then eating our esteemed Ruler's fat piglet--or else first eating and then murdering it In either case grave crime committed which deserves grave punishment "

" my kitten put in grave ? " asked Dorothy

"Don't interrupt, little girl," said the Woggle-Bug "When I get my thoughts arranged in good order like anything upset them or throw them into confusion "

"If your thoughts were any good they wouldn't become confused," remarked the Scarecrow, earnestly "My thoughts are always--"

" trial of thoughts, or of kittens ? " demanded the Woggle-Bug

"It's trial of one kitten," replied the Scarecrow; "but your manner is trial all "

"Let the Public Accuser continue," called Ozma from her throne, "and I pray interrupt him "

"The criminal who now sits court licking her paws," resumed the Woggle-Bug, "has long desired to unlawfully eat the fat piglet, no bigger than mouse And finally she made wicked plan to satisfy her depraved appetite for pork her, in my mind's eye--"

"What's that ? " asked the Scarecrow

" her in my mind's eye--"

"The mind has no eye," declared the Scarecrow "It's blind "

"Your Highness," cried the Woggle-Bug, appealing to Ozma, "have I mind's eye, or haven't I ? "

" , invisible," said the Princess

"Very true," returned the Woggle-Bug, bowing " the criminal, in my mind's eye, creeping stealthily room Ozma and secreting herself, when no one was looking, until the Princess had gone away door was closed Then the murderer was alone with her helpless victim, the fat piglet, and her pounce innocent creature and eat it up--"

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

" ; how else could it ? And the thing is true, because time interview no piglet found anywhere "

"I suppose, cat gone, instead 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 Jury, I assert that so awful crime deserves death, and case ferocious criminal -- now washing her face--the death penalty inflicted nine times "

great applause speaker sat down Then the Princess spoke in stern voice:

"Prisoner, what ? guilty, or not guilty ? "

"Why, that's out," replied Eureka " prove I'm guilty, I'll be willing to die nine times, but mind's eye is no proof, because the Woggle-Bug has no mind 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 the innocent kitten guilty, and surely unkind to accuse luncheon of being murder Eureka sweet pet of lovely little girl whom we all admire, and gentleness and innocence are her chief virtues Look 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 bars cage ) "Would such gentle animal be guilty of eating fellow creature ? No; 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 foolish to eat the piglet, because I had sense enough it would raise row if But don't try out I'm too innocent to eat fat piglet if and not be found out I imagine it would taste mighty good "

"Perhaps it would, who eat," remarked the Tin Woodman "I myself, not being built to eat, have no personal experience matters But I remember great poet once said:

'To eat is sweet When hunger's seat Demands treat Of savory meat '"

"Take this into consideration, friends Jury, and readily decide kitten is wrongfully accused and set at liberty "

Tin Woodman sat down no one applauded him, arguments very convincing and few believed that he had proved Eureka's innocence As Jury, the members whispered to 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 crime "

The judgment jury was received with great applause, although Dorothy was sobbing miserably fate of her pet The Princess was just about to order Eureka's head chopped off Tin Woodman's axe brilliant personage once more arose and addressed her

"Your Highness," said he, "see how easy for jury mistaken The kitten have eaten your piglet--for here ! "

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

Ozma was delighted and exclaimed, eagerly:

" my pet, Nick Chopper ! "

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

Princess held the white piglet in her arms and stroked its soft hair she said: "Let Eureka cage, for no longer prisoner, but our good friend Where did you find my missing pet, Nick Chopper ? "

"In room palace," he answered

"Justice," remarked the Scarecrow, with sigh, "is dangerous thing to meddle with hadn't happened the piglet, Eureka would surely executed "

"But justice prevailed last," said Ozma, "for my pet, and Eureka is once more free "