" , Guph ? "

" one experience Oz people, defeated you "

"That was because they rolled eggs at us," replied the King, with shudder "My Nomes cannot stand eggs, any more than myself poison to all who live underground "

" true enough," agreed Guph

"But taken the Oz people by surprise, and conquered them had chance any eggs Our former defeat was due fact girl Dorothy had Yellow Hen with her know what ever became hen, but I believe no hens at all Land of Oz, and so there no eggs there "

" contrary," said Guph, " now hundreds of chickens in Oz, lay heaps dangerous eggs I met goshawk on my way home, bird informed me that he had lately been to Oz to capture and devour young chickens But protected by magic, so the hawk get single "

" very bad report," said the King, nervously "Very bad, indeed My Nomes are willing to fight, but they simply can't face hen's eggs--and I don't blame them "

"They won't need them," replied Guph "I'm afraid of eggs myself, and don't propose any chances of being poisoned My plan is to send the Whimsies tunnel first, and then the Growleywogs Phanfasms we Nomes get there the eggs will all be used up, and then pursue and capture the inhabitants at our leisure "

"Perhaps right," returned the King, with dismal sigh "But it distinctly understood that I claim Ozma and Dorothy as my own prisoners rather nice girls, and intend to let any dreadful creatures hurt them, or make them their slaves When captured them bring them here and transform them into china ornaments to stand on my mantle look very pretty--Dorothy on one end mantle and Ozma other--and take great care broken maids dust them "

" , your Majesty Do what girls for all I care Now plans are arranged, and the three most powerful bands of evil spirits to assist us, haste the tunnel finished "

" ready in three days," promised the King, and hurried away to inspect the work Nomes kept busy

14 How the Wizard Practiced Sorcery

"Where next ? " asked the Wizard had left the town of Fuddlecumjig Sawhorse had started back along the road

"Why, Ozma laid out this trip," replied Dorothy, "and she 'vised us the Rigmaroles next, and then visit the Tin Woodman "

"That sounds good," said the Wizard "But what road do we take Rigmaroles ? "

"I don't know, 'zactly," returned the little girl; "but it somewhere just southwest from here "

"Then why need we go way back crossroads ? " asked the Shaggy Man " save lot by branching off here "

"There isn't any path," asserted Uncle Henry

"Then we'd better go back signposts, and make sure way," decided Dorothy

But after they had gone short distance farther the Sawhorse, who had overheard their conversation, stopped and said:

" path "

Sure enough, dim path seemed to branch off road they were on, and it led across pretty green meadows and past leafy groves, straight toward the southwest

"That looks like good path," said Omby Amby " try it ? "

"All right," answered Dorothy "I'm anxious what the Rigmaroles are like, and this path ought us there the quickest way "

No one made any objection plan, so the Sawhorse turned path, which proved nearly as good one they had taken Fuddles As first they passed few retired farm houses, but soon these scattered dwellings were left behind and only the meadows trees were before them But they rode along in cheerful contentment, and Aunt Em got into an argument with Billina proper way to raise chickens

" care to contradict you," said the Yellow Hen, with dignity, "but an idea more about chickens than human beings do "

"Pshaw ! " replied Aunt Em "I've raised chickens for nearly forty years, Billina, and you've got to starve 'em 'em lay lots of eggs, and stuff 'em good broilers "

"Broilers ! " exclaimed Billina, in horror "Broil my chickens ! "

"Why, that's what they're for, ain't it ? " asked Aunt Em, astonished

"No, Aunt, not in Oz," said Dorothy "People eat chickens here , Billina first hen that was ever seen country, and I brought her here myself Everybody liked her an' respected her, so the Oz people wouldn't any more eat her chickens than eat Billina "

"Well, I declare," gasped Aunt Em "How eggs ? "

"Oh, more eggs than to hatch, we allow people to eat them," said Billina "Indeed, the Oz folks like our eggs, for otherwise spoil "

"This certainly is queer country," sighed Aunt Em

"Excuse me," called the Sawhorse, "the path has ended and I'd like "

They looked around and sure enough no path seen

"Well," said Dorothy, "we're going southwest, and it seems just as easy that direction without path as with one "

"Certainly," answered the Sawhorse " hard to draw the wagon over the meadow I only want where "

"There's forest over there across the prairie," said the Wizard, "and it lies direction going Make straight forest, Sawhorse, and you're bound right "

So the wooden animal trotted on again meadow grass was so soft under the wheels made easy riding But Dorothy was little uneasy at losing the path, because now nothing to guide them

No houses were seen at all, so ask their way of any farmer; and although the Land of Oz was always beautiful, wherever one might go, this part country was strange to all the party

"Perhaps we're lost," suggested Aunt Em, after they had proceeded quite way in silence

"Never mind," said the Shaggy Man; "I've been lost many time--and so has Dorothy--and we've always been found again "

"But get hungry," remarked Omby Amby " worst of getting lost in place where no houses near "

"We had good dinner Fuddle town," said Uncle Henry, "and keep us from starving to death "

"No one ever starved to death in Oz," declared Dorothy, positively; "but people may get pretty hungry sometimes "

The Wizard said nothing, and seem especially anxious The Sawhorse was trotting along briskly, yet the forest seemed farther away than they had thought first saw it So nearly sundown finally came trees; but now they found themselves in most beautiful spot, the wide-spreading trees being covered with flowering vines and having soft mosses underneath them " good place to camp," said the Wizard, Sawhorse stopped for further instructions

"Camp ! " they all echoed

"Certainly," asserted the Wizard " dark before very long and travel forest at night So camp here, some supper, and sleep until daylight comes again "

They all looked little man in astonishment, and Aunt Em said, with sniff:

"A pretty camp we'll have, say ! I suppose you intend us to sleep under the wagon "

"And chew grass supper," added the Shaggy Man, laughing

But Dorothy seemed no doubts and was quite cheerful

"It's lucky the wonderful Wizard ," she said; "because do 'most anything to "

"Oh, yes; I forgot we had Wizard," said Uncle Henry, looking little man curiously

"I didn't," chirped Billina, contentedly

The Wizard smiled and climbed wagon, and all the others followed him

" to camp," said he, "the first thing is tents Will some one please lend me handkerchief ? "

The Shaggy Man offered him one, and Aunt Em another them both and laid them carefully grass near edge forest Then he laid his own handkerchief down, too, and standing little back he waved his toward the handkerchiefs and said:

"Tents of canvas, white as snow, Let me see how fast you grow ! "

Then, lo and behold ! the handkerchiefs became tiny tents, and travelers looked at them the tents grew bigger and bigger until was large enough to contain the entire party

"This," said the Wizard, pointing first tent, "is accommodation ladies Dorothy, you and your Aunt may step inside and take off your things "

ran to look inside the tent, saw two pretty white beds, all ready for Dorothy and Aunt Em, and silver roost for Billina Rugs were spread grassy floor and some camp chairs and table completed the furniture

"Well, well, well ! This beats anything I ever saw or heard of ! " exclaimed Aunt Em, and she glanced Wizard almost fearfully, dangerous because great powers