"Our enemies arrived," said the Scarecrow, after greeting affectionately the sweet and girlish Ruler

" soon be here," she said, "for just glanced at my Magic Picture, seen them coughing and choking dust tunnel "

"Oh, dust tunnel ? " asked the Tin Woodman

"Yes; Ozma placed it there Magic Belt," explained the Scarecrow, with one broad smiles

Then Dorothy came , Uncle Henry and Aunt Em following close after her The little girl's eyes were heavy because she had had sleepless and anxious night Toto walked by her side, but the little dog's spirits were subdued Billina, who was always up by daybreak, was not long in joining the group fountain

The Wizard Shaggy Man next arrived, and soon after appeared Omby Amby, dressed best uniform

"There lies the tunnel," said Ozma, pointing to part ground just Forbidden Fountain, "and in the dreadful invaders will break earth and swarm over the land all stand other side Fountain and watch what happens "

At once they followed her suggestion and moved around the fountain Water of Oblivion There they stood silent and expectant until the earth beyond gave way with sudden crash and up leaped the powerful form First and Foremost, followed by all his grim warriors

leader sprang forward his gleaming eyes caught the play fountain and he rushed toward it and drank eagerly sparkling water other Phanfasms drank, too, to clear their dry and dusty throats Then they stood around and looked at one another with simple, wondering smiles

The First and Foremost saw Ozma and her companions beyond the fountain, but instead of making an effort to capture her he merely stared at her in pleased admiration of her beauty--for he had forgotten where and why he had come there

But now the Grand Gallipoot arrived, rushing tunnel with hoarse cry of mingled rage and thirst He too saw the fountain and hastened to drink forbidden waters The other Growleywogs slow suit, and even had finished drinking the Chief Whimsies people came to push them away, while they one and all cast off their false heads that slake their thirst fountain

Nome King and General Guph arrived they both made dash to drink, but the General was so mad with thirst that he knocked his King over, and while Roquat lay sprawling ground the General drank heartily Water of Oblivion

This rude act General made the Nome King so angry that for moment he forgot thirsty and rose feet to glare group of terrible warriors he had brought here to assist him Ozma and her people, too, and yelled out:

"Why don't you capture them ? Why don't you conquer Oz, you idiots ? Why stand there like lot of dummies ? "

But the great warriors had become like little children They had forgotten all their enmity against Ozma and against Oz They had even forgotten who they themselves were, or why they were strange and beautiful country As Nome King, recognize him, and wondered who

The sun came up and sent its flood of silver rays to light the faces invaders The frowns and scowls and evil looks were all gone Even the most monstrous creatures there assembled smiled innocently and seemed light-hearted and content merely alive

Not so with Roquat, the Nome King He drunk Forbidden Fountain and all his former rage against Ozma and Dorothy now inflamed him as fiercely as ever The sight of General Guph babbling like happy child and playing hands cool waters fountain astonished and maddened Red Roquat Seeing that his terrible allies own General refused to act, the Nome King turned to order his great army of Nomes to advance tunnel and seize the helpless Oz people

But the Scarecrow suspected King's mind and spoke word Tin Woodman Together they ran at Roquat and grabbing him up tossed him great basin fountain

The Nome King's body was round as ball, and it bobbed up and down Water of Oblivion while he spluttered and screamed with fear lest drown And when he cried out, his mouth filled with water, which ran down his throat, straightway he forgot all he had formerly known just as completely as had all the other invaders

Ozma and Dorothy refrain from laughing their dreaded enemies become as harmless as babies no danger now that Oz destroyed The only question remaining to solve was how rid horde of intruders

The Shaggy Man kindly pulled the Nome King fountain and set him upon his thin legs Roquat was dripping wet, but he chattered and laughed and wanted to drink more water No thought of injuring any person was now mind

Before he left the tunnel he had commanded his fifty thousand Nomes to remain there until he ordered them to advance, as his allies time to conquer Oz before he appeared own army Ozma wish all these Nomes to overrun her land, so she advanced to King Roquat and taking his hand in her own said gently:

"Who ? ? "

"I don't know," he replied, smiling at her "Who , my dear ? "

"My name is Ozma," she said; "and is Roquat "

"Oh, ? " he replied, seeming pleased

"Yes; King Nomes," she said

"Ah; I wonder what the Nomes are ! " returned the King, puzzled

" underground elves, tunnel over full ," she answered " beautiful cavern other end tunnel, so go to your Nomes and say: 'March home ! ' Then follow after them and reach the pretty cavern where you live "

The Nome King was much pleased to learn this, for he had forgotten he had cavern So he went tunnel and said army: 'March home ! ' At once the Nomes turned and marched back tunnel, King followed after them, laughing with delight his orders so readily obeyed

The Wizard went to General Guph, who was trying to count his fingers, and told him the Nome King, who was his master Guph meekly obeyed, and so all the Nomes quitted the Land of Oz forever

But there were still the Phanfasms and Whimsies and Growleywogs standing around in groups, were filled the gardens and trampled flowers and grass because know tender plants injured by their clumsy feet But in all other respects they were perfectly harmless and played together like children or gazed with pleasure pretty sights royal gardens

After counseling Scarecrow Ozma sent Omby Amby palace Magic Belt, and Captain General returned with it the Ruler of Oz at once clasped the precious Belt around her waist

" all these strange people--the Whimsies Growleywogs Phanfasms--safe back in their own homes ! " she said

It all happened in twinkling, for the wish was no sooner spoken than granted

All the hosts invaders were gone, and only the trampled grass showed had ever been Land of Oz

29 How Glinda Worked Magic Spell

"That was better than fighting," said Ozma, when all our friends were assembled palace exciting events morning; and each and agreed with her

"No one was hurt," said the Wizard, delightedly

"And no one hurt us," added Aunt Em

"But, best of all," said Dorothy, "the wicked people have all forgotten their wickedness, and will not wish to hurt "

"True, Princess," declared the Shaggy Man "It seems that reformed all those evil characters is more important than saved Oz "

"Nevertheless," remarked the Scarecrow, " Oz is saved now go back to my new mansion and live happily "

"And and grateful that my pumpkin farm is saved," said Jack

" part," added the Tin Woodman, " express my joy that my lovely tin castle demolished by wicked enemies "

"Still," said Tiktok, "o-ther en-e-mies may come to Oz some day "

"Why allow your clock-work brains to interrupt our joy ? " asked Omby Amby, frowning machine man

" what wound up ," answered Tiktok

"And right," declared Ozma "I myself thinking very idea, and it seems entirely too many ways for people Land of Oz We used the deadly desert that surrounds us was enough protection; but no longer the case The Wizard and Dorothy have both come here air, and told the earth people have invented airships fly anywhere they wish them "

"Why, sometimes , and sometimes they don't," asserted Dorothy

"But the airships may cause us trouble," continued Ozma, "for earth folk learn how to manage them overrun with visitors ruin our lovely, secluded fairyland "

" true enough," agreed the Wizard

"Also the desert fails to protect us in other ways," Ozma went on, thoughtfully "Johnny Dooit once made sand-boat that sailed across it, Nome King made tunnel under it So I believe something to cut us off rest world entirely, no one will ever to intrude upon us "

"How ? " asked the Scarecrow

" know; but in some way it accomplished To-morrow make journey castle of Glinda the Good, and ask her advice "

"May I go ? " asked Dorothy, eagerly

" , my dear Princess; and I also invite any friends here like to undertake the journey "