Dorothy was staring hard Su-dic

"I don't see how any brains at all," she remarked, "because the part of your head is gone where brains are kept "

"I don't blame you for thinking that," "Once the Flatheads had no brains because, say, no upper part heads, to hold brains But long, band of fairies flew over this country and made it all fairyland, and came Flatheads the fairies were sorry them all very stupid and quite unable So, no good place in their bodies brains the Fairy Queen gave of us nice can of brains to carry pocket made us just as intelligent as other people See," he continued, " cans of brains the fairies " from pocket bright tin can having pretty red label which said: Concentrated Brains, Extra Quality "

"And does every Flathead have the same kind of brains ? " asked Dorothy

"Yes, they're all alike Here's another can " From another pocket he produced second can of brains

"Did the fairies double supply ? " inquired Dorothy

"No, but Flatheads thought the Su-dic and tried my people to rebel against me, so I punished him by taking away his brains One day my wife scolded me severely, so away her can of brains She didn't like that and went out and robbed several women brains Then law that if anyone stole another's brains, or even tried to borrow them, forfeit his own brains Su- dic So is content own canned brains and my wife and I are the only ones mountain with more than one can three cans makes me very clever -- so clever that I'm good Sorcerer, if say it myself My poor wife had four cans of brains and became remarkable witch, but alas ! that was before those terrible enemies, the Skeezers, transformed her into Golden Pig "

"Good gracious ! " cried Dorothy; "is your wife really Golden Pig ? "

" The Skeezers did it and so declared war on them In revenge for making my wife Pig I intend to ruin their Magic Island and Skeezers the slaves Flatheads ! "

The Su-dic was very angry now; his eyes flashed face took on wicked and fierce expression But Ozma said to him, very sweetly and in friendly voice:

" sorry to hear this tell me more troubles Skeezers ? Then perhaps "

She was only girl, but dignity in her pose and speech which impressed the Su-dic

" really Princess Ozma of Oz," the Flathead said, " one band of fairies who, under Queen Lurline, made all Oz Fairyland heard that Lurline left one of her own fairies to rule Oz, and gave the fairy the name of Ozma "

"If this why did you not come Emerald City and tender me your loyalty and obedience ? " asked the Ruler of Oz

"Well, I only learned the fact lately, and I've been too busy to leave home," he explained, looking floor instead of into Ozma's eyes She knew he had spoken falsehood, but only said:

"Why did you quarrel Skeezers ? "

"It way," began the Su-dic, glad the subject "We Flatheads love fish, and as no fish mountain sometimes go Lake Skeezers to catch fish This made the Skeezers angry, for they declared the fish in their lake belonged and were under their protection forbade us to catch them That was very mean and unfriendly Skeezers, admit, and when we paid no attention orders they set guard shore lake our fishing

"Now, my wife, Rora Flathead, having four cans of brains, had become wonderful witch, and fish being brain food, she loved to eat fish better than of us So she vowed destroy every fish lake, unless the Skeezers catch what we wanted They defied us, so Rora prepared kettleful of magic poison and went down lake one night to dump it all water and poison the fish clever idea, quite worthy dear wife, but the Skeezer Queen -- young lady named Coo-ee-oh -- hid bank lake and taking Rora unawares, transformed her into Golden Pig The poison was spilled ground and wicked Queen Coo-ee-oh, not content with her cruel transformation, even took away my wife's four cans of brains, so now common grunting pig without even brains enough her own name "

"Then," said Ozma thoughtfully, "the Queen Skeezers Sorceress "

"Yes," said the Su-dic, "but she doesn't know much magic, after all as powerful as Rora Flathead was, nor half as powerful as now, as Queen Coo-ee-oh will discover when we fight our great battle and destroy her "

"The Golden Pig can't be witch any more, ," observed Dorothy

"No; even had Queen Coo-ee-oh left her the four cans of brains, poor Rora, in pig's shape, couldn't do any witchcraft witch use her fingers, and pig has only cloven hoofs "

"It seems sad story," was Ozma's comment, "and all the trouble arose because the Flatheads wanted fish that belong "

"As ," said the Su-dic, again angry, " law that any people could catch fish Lake Skeezers, whenever they wanted to So the trouble was Skeezers defying my law "

" only make laws to govern your own people," asserted Ozma sternly "I, alone, am empowered laws be obeyed by all the peoples of Oz "

"Pooh ! " cried the Su-dic scornfully " 't make me obey your laws, I assure you the extent of your powers, Princess Ozma of Oz, and that more powerful than it keep you and your companion prisoners mountain until after fought and conquered the Skeezers Then, promise good, let you go home again "

Dorothy was amazed effrontery and defiance beautiful girl Ruler of Oz, whom all until now had obeyed without question But Ozma, still unruffled and dignified, looked Su-dic and said:

" mean that angry and speak unwisely, without reflection here from my palace Emerald City war and peace between you Skeezers approve of Queen Coo-ee-oh's action in transforming your wife Rora into pig, nor do I approve of Rora's cruel attempt to poison the fishes lake No one right to work magic in my dominions without my consent, so the Flatheads Skeezers have both broken my laws -- be obeyed "

" peace," said the Su-dic, " Skeezers restore my wife to her proper form and give back her four cans of brains Also make them agree to allow us to catch fish in their lake "

"No," returned Ozma, " , unjust the Golden Pig again transformed into your wife Rora, and give her one can of brains, but the other three cans restored she robbed Neither may you catch fish Lake Skeezers, is their lake fish belong This arrangement is just and honorable, and agree "

"Never ! " cried the Su-dic Just then pig came running room, uttering dismal grunts It of solid gold, with joints bends legs and neck and jaws The Golden Pig's eyes were rubies, and its teeth were polished ivory

"There ! " said the Su-dic, "gaze evil work of Queen Coo-ee-oh, and then say prevent my making war Skeezers That grunting beast was once my wife -- the most beautiful Flathead mountain and skillful witch Now look at her ! "

"Fight the Skeezers, fight the Skeezers, fight the Skeezers ! " grunted the Golden Pig

" fight the Skeezers," exclaimed the Flathead chief, "and if dozen Ozmas of Oz forbade me fight just the same "

"Not if prevent it ! " asserted Ozma

" 't prevent it But since you threaten me, I'll confined bronze prison until the war is over," said the Su-dic He whistled and four stout Flatheads, armed with axes and spears, entered the room and saluted him Turning men : "Take these two girls, bind them with wire ropes and cast them bronze prison "

The four men bowed low and asked:

"Where are the two girls, most noble Su-dic ? "

The Su-dic turned to where Ozma and Dorothy had stood but they had vanished !

Chapter Seven

The Magic Isle

Ozma, seeing useless to argue Supreme Dictator Flatheads considering how best to escape power She realized that his sorcery difficult to overcome, and when he threatened to cast Dorothy and her into bronze prison she slipped her hand into her bosom and grasped her silver wand other hand she grasped the hand of Dorothy, but these motions were so natural Su-dic notice them Then when he turned to meet his four soldiers, Ozma instantly rendered both herself and Dorothy invisible and swiftly led her companion around the group of Flatheads and room reached the entry and descended the stone steps, Ozma whispered:

" run, dear ! invisible, so no one will see us "