The Su-dic had lost no time in starting the chase He men ran so fast overtaken the girls reached the stairway the Golden Pig suddenly run across their path The Su-dic tripped over the pig and fell flat, four men tripped over him and tumbled in heap could scramble up and reach the mouth passage too late to stop the two girls

guard on each side stairway, but see Ozma and Dorothy sped past and descended the steps Then they had up five steps and down another ten, and so on, same manner they had climbed top mountain Ozma lighted their way with her wand kept on without relaxing their speed until they reached the bottom Then they ran right and turned the corner invisible wall just Su-dic followers rushed arched entrance and looked around in an attempt to discover the fugitives

Ozma now knew they were safe, so she told Dorothy to stop and both sat down grass until breathe freely and become rested from their mad flight

As Su-dic, he realized foiled and soon turned and climbed his stairs again very angry -- angry with Ozma and angry with himself -- because, now that time , he remembered that the art of making people invisible, and visible again, and if he had only thought of it he used his magic knowledge to girls visible and so have captured them easily However, now too late for regrets and he determined preparations at once to march all his forces against the Skeezers

"What shall next ? " asked Dorothy, were rested

" find the Lake Skeezers," replied Ozma "From what that dreadful Su-dic said I imagine the Skeezers are good people and worthy friendship, and go help them to defeat the Flatheads "

"I s'pose 't stop the war now," remarked Dorothy reflectively, walked toward the row of palm trees

"No; the Su-dic is determined to fight the Skeezers, so all do is to warn them danger and help them as possible "

" you'll punish the Flatheads," said Dorothy

"Well, the Flathead people are to blame as their Supreme Dictator," answer "If removed from power unlawful magic taken , the people will probably be good and respect the laws Land of Oz, and live at peace with all their neighbors "

" so," said Dorothy with sigh of doubt

The palms far mountain girls reached them after brisk walk The huge trees were set close together, in three rows, and planted so as people from passing them, but the Flatheads had cut passage barrier and Ozma found the path and led Dorothy other side

Beyond the palms they discovered very beautiful scene Bordered by green lawn was great lake fully mile from shore to shore, the waters were exquisitely blue and sparkling, with little wavelets breaking its smooth surface where the breezes touched it center lake appeared lovely island, not of great extent but almost entirely covered by huge round building with glass walls and high glass dome which glittered brilliantly sunshine glass building edge island was no grass, flowers or shrubbery, but only an expanse of highly polished white marble There were no boats on either shore and no signs of life seen anywhere island

"Well," said Dorothy, gazing wistfully island, we've found the Lake Skeezers and their Magic Isle I guess the Skeezers are big glass palace, but 't get at 'em "

Chapter Eight

Queen Coo-ee-oh

Princess Ozma considered the situation gravely Then she tied her handkerchief to her wand and, standing water's edge, waved the handkerchief like flag, as signal For time observe no response

"I don't see what good do," said Dorothy "Even Skeezers are island us, and know we're friends, they haven't any boats and get us "

But the Skeezers didn't need boats, girls soon discovered For on sudden an opening appeared base palace and opening came slender shaft of steel, reaching out slowly but steadily across the water direction place where they stood girls this steel arrangement looked like triangle, base nearest the water It came toward them form of an arch, stretching out palace wall until its end reached the bank and rested there, while the other end still remained island

Then they saw bridge, consisting of steel footway just broad enough to walk on, and two slender guide rails, one on either side, which were connected footway by steel bars The bridge looked rather frail and Dorothy feared it bear their weight, but Ozma at once called, "Come on ! " and started to walk across, holding fast rail on either side So Dorothy summoned her courage and followed after Before Ozma had taken three steps she halted and so forced Dorothy to halt, bridge was again moving and returning island

" not walk after all," said Ozma So they stood still in their places and let the steel bridge draw them onward Indeed, the bridge drew them well glass-domed building which covered the island, and soon they found themselves standing in marble room where two handsomely dressed young men stood on platform to receive them

Ozma at once stepped end bridge marble platform, followed by Dorothy, and then the bridge disappeared with slight clang of steel and marble slab covered the opening it had emerged

The two young men bowed profoundly to Ozma, and said:

"Queen Coo-ee-oh bids you welcome, O Strangers Her Majesty is waiting to receive you in her palace "

"Lead on," replied Ozma with dignity

But instead of "leading on," the platform of marble began to rise, carrying them upward through square hole above which just fitted it moment later they found themselves great glass dome that covered almost all island

Within this dome was little village, with houses, streets, gardens and parks The houses were of colored marbles, prettily designed, with many stained-glass windows, streets and gardens seemed well cared for Exactly under the center lofty dome was small park filled with brilliant flowers, with an elaborate fountain, and facing this park stood building larger and more imposing others Toward this building the young men escorted Ozma and Dorothy

streets and doorways or open windows houses were men, women and children, all richly dressed These were much like other people in different parts Land of Oz, except that instead of seeming merry and contented they all wore expressions of much solemnity or of nervous irritation They had beautiful homes, splendid clothes, and ample food, but Dorothy at once decided something was wrong with their lives and happy She said nothing, however, but looked curiously Skeezers

entrance palace Ozma and Dorothy were met by two other young men, in uniform and armed with queer weapons that seemed about halfway between pistols and guns, but were like neither Their conductors bowed and left them, two in uniforms led the girls palace

In beautiful throne room, surrounded by dozen or more young , sat the Queen Skeezers, Coo-ee-oh She was girl who looked older than Ozma or Dorothy -- fifteen or sixteen, -- and although she was elaborately dressed she were going to ball she was too thin and plain of feature pretty But evidently Queen Coo-ee-oh realize this fact, for her air and manner betrayed her as proud and haughty and with high regard for her own importance Dorothy at once decided she was "snippy" not like Queen Coo-ee-oh as companion

The Queen's hair was as black as her skin was white and her eyes were black, too The eyes, as she calmly examined Ozma and Dorothy, had suspicious and unfriendly look , but she said quietly:

" who , for consulted my Magic Oracle, which told me that one calls herself Princess Ozma, the Ruler of all the Land of Oz, other is Princess Dorothy of Oz, who came from country called Kansas nothing Land of Oz, and nothing of Kansas "

"Why, Land of Oz ! " cried Dorothy "It's part Land of Oz, anyhow, whether it or not "

"Oh, in-deed ! " answered Queen Coo-ee-oh, scornfully "I suppose claim next Princess Ozma, ruling the Land of Oz, rules me ! "

" ," returned Dorothy "There's of it "

The Queen turned to Ozma

" dare make such claim ? " she asked

Ozma had made up her mind character haughty and disdainful creature, whose self-pride evidently led her herself superior to all others

" come here to quarrel with your Majesty," said the girl Ruler of Oz, quietly "What and who is well established, and my authority comes Fairy Queen Lurline, of whose band member when Lurline made all Oz Fairyland several countries and several different peoples broad land, each of its separate rulers, Kings, Emperors and Queens But all these render obedience to my laws and acknowledge me supreme Ruler "

"If other Kings and Queens are fools interest me least," replied Coo-ee-oh, disdainfully " Land Skeezers I alone am supreme impudent defer -- or to anyone else "