Faithful Record Amazing Adventures
in an Underground World; and How
Aid Friends Zeb Hugson, Eureka
the Kitten, and Jim the Cab-Horse,
They Finally Reached the
Wonderful Land
of Oz

by L Frank Baum

"Royal Historian of Oz"

Contents:

--To My Readers--
1 The Earthquake
2 The Glass City
3 The Arrival Wizard
4 The Vegetable Kingdom
5 Dorothy Picks the Princess
6 The Mangaboos Prove Dangerous
7 Black Pit and Out Again
8 The Valley of Voices
9 They Fight the Invisible Bears
10 The Braided Man of Pyramid Mountain
11 They Meet the Wooden Gargoyles
12 Wonderful Escape
13 The Den Dragonettes
14 Ozma Uses the Magic Belt
15 Old Friends are Reunited
16 Jim, the Cab-Horse
17 The Nine Tiny Piglets
18 The Trial of Eureka, the Kitten
19 The Wizard Performs Another Trick
20 Zeb Returns Ranch

To My Readers

It's no use; no use at all The children won't let me stop telling tales Land of Oz lots of other stories, and them, or another; but just now my loving tyrants won't allow me They cry: "Oz--Oz ! more about Oz, Mr Baum ! " and what can but obey their commands ?

Our Book--mine children's For flooded me with thousands of suggestions in regard , and honestly tried to adopt as suggestions as fitted into one story

wonderful success of "Ozma of Oz" evident that Dorothy has become firm fixture Oz stories The little ones all love Dorothy, and as one small friends aptly states: "It isn't real Oz story without her " So here again, as sweet and gentle and innocent as ever, , heroine of another strange adventure

There were many requests from my little correspondents for "more Wizard " It seems the jolly old fellow made hosts of friends first Oz book, fact that he frankly acknowledged himself "a humbug " The children had heard how he mounted sky in balloon were all waiting for him down again So what could but tell "what happened Wizard afterward" ? him pages, just the same humbug Wizard as before

the children demanded which it impossible present book: they bade me introduce Toto, Dorothy's little black dog, who has many friends among my readers But , begin to read the story, that Toto was in Kansas while Dorothy was in California, and so she had to start on her adventure without him book Dorothy had her kitten with her instead of her dog; but next Oz book, if permitted to write one, I intend about Toto's further history

Princess Ozma, whom I love as my readers do, is again introduced story, and so are several old friends of Oz also become acquainted with Jim the Cab-Horse, the Nine Tiny Piglets, and Eureka, the Kitten sorry the kitten was not behaved as she been; but perhaps she wasn't brought up properly Dorothy found her, , and who her parents were nobody knows

I believe, my dears, that the proudest story-teller that ever lived Many time tears of pride and joy have stood in my eyes while the tender, loving, appealing letters that came in almost every mail from my little readers pleased you, interested you, won your friendship, and perhaps your love, through my stories, is to my mind as great an achievement as President United States Indeed, much rather be your story-teller, under these conditions, than the President So helped me to fulfill my life's ambition, and more grateful , my dears, than express in words

I try to answer every letter young correspondents; yet sometimes letters that little time must pass get your answer But be patient, friends, answer will surely come, and by writing you more than repay me pleasant task of preparing these books Besides, proud to acknowledge books are partly yours, for your suggestions often guide me in telling the stories, and they half so good without your clever and thoughtful assistance

L FRANK BAUM

Coronado, 1908

1 The Earthquake

The train from 'Frisco was very late It arrived at Hugson's Siding at midnight, but already five o'clock gray dawn was breaking east little train slowly rumbled open shed that served station-house As it came to stop the conductor called out in loud voice:

"Hugson's Siding ! "

At once little girl rose from her seat and walked door car, carrying wicker suit-case in one hand and round bird-cage covered up with newspapers other, while parasol was tucked under her arm The conductor helped her off the car and then the engineer started his train again, so puffed and groaned and moved slowly away up the track The reason so late was because all night there were times solid earth shook and trembled under him, engineer was afraid that at any moment the rails might spread apart and an accident happen passengers So he moved the cars slowly and with caution

The little girl stood still to watch until the train had disappeared around curve; then she turned where she was

The shed at Hugson's Siding was bare save for an old wooden bench, and look very inviting As she peered soft gray light not house of any sort was visible near the station, nor was any person in sight; but after while the child discovered horse and buggy standing near group of trees short distance away She walked toward it and found the horse tied to tree and standing motionless, with its head hanging down almost ground big horse, tall and bony, with long legs and large knees and feet count his ribs easily where they showed skin body, head was long and seemed altogether too big for him, it fit His tail was short and scraggly, harness broken in many places and fastened together again with cords and bits of wire The buggy seemed almost new, had shiny top and side curtains Getting around in front, look inside, the girl saw boy curled up seat, fast asleep

She set down the bird-cage and poked the boy with her parasol Presently he woke up, rose to sitting position and rubbed his eyes briskly

"Hello ! " , seeing her, " Dorothy Gale ? "

"Yes," she answered, looking gravely at his tousled hair and blinking gray eyes " come me to Hugson's Ranch ? "

" ," he answered "Train in ? "

"I couldn't be here wasn't," she said

He laughed , laugh was merry and frank Jumping buggy he put Dorothy's suit-case under the seat and her bird-cage floor in front

"Canary-birds ? " he asked

"Oh no; it's just Eureka, my kitten that best way to carry her "

The boy nodded

"Eureka's funny name for cat," he remarked

"I named my kitten that because it," she explained "Uncle Henry says 'Eureka' means ' found it '"

"All right; hop in "

She climbed buggy and he followed her Then the boy picked up the reins, shook them, and said "Gid-dap ! "

The horse stir Dorothy thought he just wiggled one drooping ears, but that was all

"Gid-dap ! " called the boy, again

The horse stood still

"Perhaps," said Dorothy, " untied him, go "

The boy laughed cheerfully and jumped out

"Guess I'm half asleep yet," , untying the horse "But Jim knows his business all right--don't you, Jim ? " patting the long nose animal

Then he got buggy again and took the reins, horse at once backed away tree, turned slowly around, and began to trot down the sandy road just visible dim light

"Thought that train would never come," observed the boy "I've waited station for five hours "

"We had lot of earthquakes," said Dorothy "Didn't you feel the ground shake ? "

"Yes; but we're used to such things in California," he replied "They don't scare us much "

"The conductor said it worst quake he ever knew "

"Did he ? Then it happened while asleep," thoughtfully

"How is Uncle Henry ? " she enquired, after pause during which the horse continued to trot with long, regular strides

"He's pretty well He and Uncle Hugson having fine visit "

"Is Mr Hugson your uncle ? " she asked

"Yes Uncle Bill Hugson married your Uncle Henry's wife's sister; so second cousins," said the boy, in an amused tone "I work for Uncle Bill ranch, and he pays me six dollars month and my board "

"Isn't that great deal ? " she asked, doubtfully

"Why, it's great deal for Uncle Hugson, but not I'm splendid worker I work as I sleep," he added, with laugh