" rooms," said the Scarecrow, proudly, "one may obtain fine views surrounding cornfields The corn I grow is always husky, and I call the ears my regiments, because kernels ride my cobs, but I really don't care shucks Taken altogether, my farm will stack up with any neighborhood "

The visitors partook of some light refreshment and then hurried away to resume the road Emerald City The Scarecrow found seat wagon between Omby Amby Shaggy Man, weight add much load because stuffed with straw

" notice one oat-field on my property," he remarked, drove away "Oat-straw is, found, the best of all straws to re-stuff myself with when my interior gets musty or out of shape "

" able to re-stuff yourself without help ? " asked Aunt Em " think that straw was taken out of you there wouldn't be anything left but your clothes "

" almost correct, madam," he answered "My servants stuffing, under my direction head, are my excellent brains, is bag tied bottom My face is neatly painted upon one side bag, see My head need re-stuffing, as my body does, for all requires is the face touched up with fresh paint occasionally "

not far Scarecrow's mansion farm of Jack Pumpkinhead, and arrived there both Uncle Henry and Aunt Em were much impressed The farm was one vast pumpkin field, and pumpkins were of enormous size In , which neatly hollowed out, Jack himself lived, and he declared very comfortable residence The reason he grew pumpkins was he might change his head as often as it became wrinkled or threatened to spoil

The pumpkin-headed man welcomed his visitors joyfully and offered them several delicious pumpkin pies to eat

"I don't indulge in pumpkin pies myself, for two reasons," "One reason were I to eat pumpkins become cannibal, other reason I never eat, not being hollow inside "

" reasons," agreed the Scarecrow

They told Jack Pumpkinhead dreadful news Nome King, and he decided Emerald City and help comfort Ozma

"I had expected to live here in ease and comfort for many centuries," said Jack, dolefully; "but Nome King destroys everything in Oz destroyed too Really, it seems too bad, doesn't it ? "

They were soon on their journey again, and so swiftly did the Sawhorse draw the wagon over the smooth roads that before twilight fell they had reached the royal palace Emerald City, and were at their journey's end

26 How Ozma Refused to Fight for Her Kingdom

Ozma was in her rose garden picking bouquet party arrived, and she greeted all her old and new friends as smilingly and sweetly as ever

Dorothy's eyes were full of tears as she kissed the lovely Ruler of Oz, and she whispered to her:

"Oh, Ozma, Ozma ! I'm SO sorry ! "

Ozma seemed surprised

"Sorry for what, Dorothy ? " she asked

"For all your trouble Nome King," reply

Ozma laughed with genuine amusement

"Why, that troubled me bit, dear Princess," she replied Then, looking around sad faces of her friends, she added: " all been worrying tunnel ? "

" ! " they exclaimed in chorus

"Well, perhaps more serious than I imagined," admitted the fair Ruler; "but I haven't given the matter much thought After dinner all meet together and talk it over "

So they went rooms and prepared for dinner, and Dorothy dressed herself in her prettiest gown and put on her coronet, for she thought the last time ever appear as Princess of Oz

The Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and Jack Pumpkinhead all sat dinner table, although so eat Usually they served to enliven the meal with their merry talk, but to-night all seemed strangely silent and uneasy

dinner was finished Ozma led the company to her own private room hung the Magic Picture had seated themselves the Scarecrow first

" Nome King's tunnel finished, Ozma ? " he asked

" completed to-day," she replied " built it right under my palace grounds, and it ends in front Forbidden Fountain Nothing but crust of earth remains to separate our enemies , and march here, easily break crust and rush upon us "

" assist the Nome King ? " inquired the Scarecrow

"The Whimsies, the Growleywogs Phanfasms," she replied "I watched to-day in my Magic Picture the messengers whom the Nome King sent to all these people to summon them to assemble great caverns "

" what doing now," suggested the Tin Woodman

So Ozma wished the Nome King's cavern, and at once the landscape faded Magic Picture and was replaced scene then being enacted jeweled cavern of King Roquat

wild and startling scene which the Oz people beheld

Nome King stood the Chief Whimsies Grand Gallipoot Growleywogs, surrounded by their most skillful generals Very fierce and powerful they looked, even the Nome King and General Guph, who stood beside his master, seemed bit fearful presence allies

Now still more formidable creature entered the cavern It First and Foremost Phanfasms and he proudly sat down in King Roquat's own throne and demanded the right to lead his forces tunnel in advance of all the others The First and Foremost now appeared to all eyes hairy skin bear's head What his real form was even Roquat know

arches leading vast series of caverns that lay beyond the throne room of King Roquat seen ranks upon ranks invaders--thousands of Phanfasms, Growleywogs and Whimsies standing in serried lines, while behind them were massed the thousands upon thousands of General Guph's own army of Nomes

"Listen ! " whispered Ozma " hear what saying "

So they kept still and listened

"Is all ready ? " demanded the First and Foremost, haughtily

"The tunnel is finally completed," replied General Guph

"How long will it take us to march Emerald City ? " asked the Grand Gallipoot Growleywogs

" start at midnight," replied the Nome King, " arrive Emerald City by daybreak Then, while all the Oz people are sleeping, capture them and make them our slaves destroy the city itself and march Land of Oz, burning and devastating go "

"Good ! " cried the First and Foremost "When we get through with Oz desert wilderness Ozma shall be my slave "

"She shall be MY slave ! " shouted the Grand Gallipoot, angrily

"We'll decide that by and by," said King Roquat hastily "Don't quarrel now, friends First conquer Oz, and then divide the spoils of war in satisfactory manner "

The First and Foremost smiled wickedly; but he only said:

"I and my Phanfasms go first, for nothing on earth can oppose our power "

They all agreed , knowing the Phanfasms the mightiest combined forces King Roquat now invited them to attend banquet he had prepared, where occupy themselves in eating and drinking until midnight arrived

had now seen and heard all plot against them cared to, Ozma allowed her Magic Picture to fade away Then she turned to her friends and said:

"Our enemies here sooner than I expected What advise me ? "

" now too late to assemble our people," said the Tin Woodman, despondently " had allowed me to arm and drill my Winkies, put up good fight and destroyed many enemies before we were conquered "

"The Munchkins are good fighters, too," said Omby Amby; "and so are the Gillikins "

"But wish to fight," declared Ozma, firmly "No one right to destroy any living creatures, however evil , or to hurt them or make them unhappy fight, even to save my kingdom "

"The Nome King so particular," remarked the Scarecrow "He intends to destroy us all and ruin our beautiful country "

"Because the Nome King intends evil is no excuse doing the same," replied Ozma

"Self-preservation first law of nature," quoted the Shaggy Man

"True," she said, readily " like to discover plan to save ourselves without fighting "

That seemed hopeless task , but realizing that Ozma was determined not to fight, they tried of some means that might promise escape

"Couldn't we bribe our enemies, by giving them lot of emeralds and gold ? " asked Jack Pumpkinhead

"No, because they believe able everything ," replied the Ruler

" thought of something," said Dorothy

" it, dear ? " asked Ozma

" use the Magic Belt to wish all of us in Kansas put some emeralds pockets, and can sell them in Topeka for enough off the mortgage on Uncle Henry's farm Then all live together and be happy "

"A clever idea ! " exclaimed the Scarecrow

"Kansas is country I've been there," said the Shaggy Man

"That seems an excellent plan," approved the Tin Woodman