The result wise persistence the General finally reached firmer soil and, after penetrating dense forest, came Dominion Growleywogs

No sooner had he crossed the border domain when two guards seized him and carried him Grand Gallipoot Growleywogs, who scowled upon him ferociously and asked him why he dared intrude upon his territory

"I'm the Lord High General Invincible Army Nomes, and my name is Guph," reply "All the world trembles name is mentioned "

The Growleywogs gave shout of jeering laughter , and caught the Nome strong arms and tossed him high air Guph was considerably shaken when he fell hard ground, but he appeared no notice impertinence and composed himself again Grand Gallipoot

"My master, King Roquat the Red, has sent me here to confer He wishes your assistance to conquer the Land of Oz "

Here the General paused, Grand Gallipoot scowled upon him more terribly than ever and said:

"Go on ! "

The voice Grand Gallipoot was partly roar and partly growl He mumbled his words badly and Guph had to listen carefully to understand him

These Growleywogs were certainly remarkable creatures They were of gigantic size, yet were all bone and skin and muscle, there being no meat or fat upon their bodies at all Their powerful muscles lay just underneath their skins, like bunches of tough rope, weakest Growleywog was so strong that pick up an elephant and toss it seven miles away

It seems unfortunate that strong people are usually so disagreeable and overbearing that no one cares , different from your fellow creatures is always misfortune The Growleywogs knew were disliked and avoided by , so they had become surly and unsociable even among themselves Guph knew hated all people, including the Nomes; but he hoped to win them over, nevertheless, and knew that if he succeeded afford him very powerful assistance

"The Land of Oz is ruled by namby-pamby girl disgustingly kind and good," he continued "Her people are all happy and contented no care or worries whatever "

"Go on ! " growled the Grand Gallipoot

"Once the Nome King enslaved the Royal Family of Ev--another goody-goody lot that we detest," said the General "But Ozma interfered, although none of her business, and marched her army against us With her was Kansas girl named Dorothy, and Yellow Hen, marched directly Nome King's cavern There they liberated our slaves from Ev and stole King Roquat's Magic Belt, which they carried away So now our King is making tunnel under the deadly desert, so march through it Emerald City When we get there we mean to conquer and destroy all the land and recapture the Magic Belt "

Again he paused, and again the Grand Gallipoot growled:

"Go on ! "

Guph tried what next, and happy thought soon occurred to him

" you to conquest," he announced, "for the mighty aid Growleywogs sure that be defeated the strongest people in all the world, and you hate good and happy creatures Nomes do real pleasure to tear down the beautiful Emerald City, and in return for your valuable assistance allow you to bring back to your country ten thousand people of Oz, your slaves "

"Twenty thousand ! " growled the Grand Gallipoot

"All right, we promise you twenty thousand," agreed the General

The Gallipoot made signal and at once his attendants picked up General Guph and carried him away to prison, where the jailer amused himself by sticking pins round fat body old Nome, him jump and hear him yell

But while going Grand Gallipoot was talking counselors, who were the most important officials Growleywogs When he had stated the proposition Nome King, :

"My advice is to offer to help them Then, when conquered the Land of Oz, take our twenty thousand prisoners but all the gold and jewels "

" Magic Belt, too," suggested one counselor

"And rob the Nome King and make him our slave," said another

" good idea," declared the Grand Gallipoot "I'd like King Roquat own slave black my boots and bring me my porridge every morning while in bed "

" famous Scarecrow in Oz I'll take him slave," said counselor

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

" the Tin Woodman," said third

They went on for , dividing up the people treasure of Oz in advance conquest For they had at all that 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 Nome King is building tunnel get Emerald City very easily So send the little fat General back King promise to assist him say that we intend to conquer the Nomes after conquered Oz, but , 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 mission, for finding himself in prison he feared the Growleywogs intended him to death

the jailer had tired of sticking pins General, and was amusing himself by carefully pulling the Nome's whiskers out roots, one This enjoyment was interrupted Grand Gallipoot sending prisoner

"Wait few hours," begged the jailer "I haven't pulled out quarter whiskers yet "

" keep the Grand Gallipoot waiting, he'll break your back," declared the messenger

"Perhaps you're right," sighed the jailer " prisoner away, , but I advise you to kick him at every step he takes good fun, for as soft as ripe peach "

So Guph was led away royal castle, where the Grand Gallipoot told him Growleywogs had decided to assist the Nomes in conquering the Land of Oz

"Whenever ready," he added, "send me word march with eighteen thousand most powerful warriors to your aid "

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

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

"I'll take no chances I'll be certain of success Then, when Oz is destroyed, perhaps greater man than old Roquat, and throw him away and be King Nomes myself ? The Whimsies are stronger Nomes, also are my friends some people still stronger Growleywogs, and if but induce them to aid me nothing more to fear "

9 How the Wogglebug Taught Athletics

It take Dorothy long to establish herself in her new home, for she knew the people manners and customs Emerald City just as she knew the old Kansas farm

But Uncle Henry and Aunt Em had some trouble in getting used finery and pomp and ceremony of Ozma's palace, and felt uneasy because they were obliged "dressed up" all the time Yet was very courteous and kind and endeavored them happy Ozma, especially, made much of Dorothy's relatives, for her little friend's sake, and she well knew awkwardness and strangeness new mode of life would all wear off

The old people were chiefly troubled fact that no work

"Ev'ry day is like Sunday, now," declared Aunt Em, solemnly, "and 't say I like it 'd only let me do up the dishes after meals, or even sweep an' dust my own rooms, I'd be deal happier Henry don't know what 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 hardship it rich everything "

These complaints began to worry Dorothy; so she had long talk with Ozma

" find them something ," said the girlish Ruler of Oz, seriously " watching your uncle and aunt, and I believe more contented if occupied with some light tasks While considering , Dorothy, make trip Land of Oz, visiting odd corners and introducing your relatives to curious people "

"Oh, fine ! " exclaimed Dorothy, eagerly