"The egg ! " gasped Peter wildly "It's hatched ! " And it most certainly had ! startled company sprang feet, the baby oztrich stepped awkwardly out shell, wobbled edge chair and fell off was not all ! For oztrich, with great strides, rushed side child, the magic belt, the box of wishing pills magic box disappeared and blue patch began to flutter and dance horrified eyes now thoroughly alarmed guests of Ozma

"The Gnome King ! " groaned the Wizard, slamming his book with bang

"The belt ! " screamed Peter, dashing toward the blue patch Feeling that something might happen enable him to carry out his plans, Ruggedo had returned banquet hall and, watching from safe distance, saw utter relief and astonishment egg had hatched Instantly its power over him ceased and, dashing forward, he had pounced belt and clasped it about his waist

"Revenge ! " roared the voice invisible gnome "Revenge ! Next moment all bottom Nonestic Ocean ! "

"Not that ! Not that ! " faltered the Patchwork Girl, clutching Ozma in panic "I never could stand water ! "

CHAPTER 19

The Wizard Makes the Gnome King Visible

AT Ruggedo's words, the celebrities and courtiers clung shuddering together Knowing the awful power belt and feeling were indeed lost, they waited Gnome King But Peter, seizing first tumbler, then plate, sent them flying blue patch Ruggedo invisible, but still there Shaking his head angrily tumbler broke over his crown he cried in loud voice, "I command you to transport-"

The plate, crashing against his nose, made him pause, and Peter followed this with vase and water pitcher But gnomes have hard heads and, with an angry roar, Ruggedo began again, "I command you to transport these people-"

Peter had thrown everything in reach Feeling desperately pocket he sent top, baseball and box of fish hooks whizzing air Then, as his fingers closed sorcerer's stone, he flung that, too, invisible gnome Instantly complete and utter silence The patch still fluttered wildly before their eyes and, stunned company eyed it in horrified suspense, the hand of Kuma descended and closed roughly invisible shoulder of Ruggedo

"Hold him ! Hold him ! " panted the Wizard, rushing forward black bag "I remember now the magic him visible " The little Wizard of Oz seldom uses chants and, instead verse Wumbo had employed, sprinkled black and white powder over the Gnome King Even years afterward Peter could remember the distorted and furious face of Ruggedo, spell magic cloak was broken and he stood revealed enemies Struggling to shake off the clutch of Kuma's hand, desperately trying magic belt But, though his mouth moved, not sound is-sued lips

"Struck dumb ! " cried the Scarecrow, un-clasping his arms Knight's neck, where he had flung them extreme agitation "But how ! And why ? "

" it ! it ! " exclaimed the Wizard, pouncing emerald that Peter, as last resort, had hurled Gnome King " famous Silence Stone, used ancient Emperors of Oz their wives quiet in times of war How it came possession of Soob imagine, but see, here written in magic emerald itself whole story: 'Whom this stone touches head shall remain silent for seven years

"Yon honest lad hath saved the realm ! " boomed Sir Hokus, slapping Peter back and beaming joyfully still trembling company

" read that before," puffed Peter

"Well, it's lucky you threw it did," answered the Wizard "One more word and we'd bottom sea -" Calmly the wizard unclasped the belt scowling Gnome King and, snatching the box of mixed magic wishing pills, handed them back to Ozma-" , Ruggedo is perfectly harmless "

"Three cheers for Peter ! " cried the Scarecrow, waving his hat over his head "His aim and arm have saved the day "

"That's because he's such good pitcher," mumbled the little bear, cheers were given will all the dishes table skipped Ozwold, who had buried his head in flower pot first Gnome King's threats, now reared it cautiously and, with mud still sticking bill, approached the Queen

"If Your Highness will excuse me," quavered the oztrich hoarsely, " going This excitement is very bad child "

Plucking plume tail, Ozwold ex-tended it politely Smiling kindly, Ozma took the plume and sent Jellia, her little maid, to fetch an emerald necklace, for Scraps had, just , reminded her hatchday present baby oztrich

" simply magnif- ! " murmured Oz-wold and, as Ozma fastened the necklace round his long neck, the company cheered and cheered again, for they felt great green bird was in large measure responsible for their safety Ozwold, himself, was anxious his child over wife and tell her the story amazing adventures, so Dorothy and Peter placed the baby oztrich back, fastening it securely with hair ribbon Nodding stiffly right and left, Ozwold strutted proudly banquet hall, and immediately the Ozites surrounded Peter, congratulating and praising him, till the little boy grew quite red with embarrassment and pleasure

At Ozma's command, Ruggedo was led away cellar and, with nothing more to worry them or mar the festivities, the party began again and lasted far night The Emerald Palace is so large and so roomy that guests thought of going home and, Wizard had performed the last tricks and Scraps had recited the funniest of her verses, they all trooped off to bed, calling cheerily to mounted the golden stairs Peter had royal suite to himself and, curling down luxuriously grand gold bed, wondered if he already asleep and dreaming of all this magnificence bare little room found for Grumpy, little bear, well pleased new quarters and comrades, was soon asleep and snoring tremendously

CHAPTER 20

Peter is Made Prince of Oz

WITH Scraps and Dorothy for guides Cowardly Lion and Hungry Tiger for steeds, Peter and Grumpy rode over the whole Emerald City next morning, receiving everywhere the cheers and acclaim inhabitants The story of Peter's prowess had gone abroad and everywhere hailed hero hour Right after breakfast, he had written long note to Kuma, telling him the whole story of Ruggedo's treachery and thanking him great generosity Kuma's arm, which had needed night only little elbow room, immediately flew back to its master, note and great bag of emeralds sent by Ozma to express her thanks and appreciation

Luncheon was another party, but, as Dorothy and Betsy explained little boy, every day Emerald City is just like one big party

"Do stay here ! " urged Dorothy and, Ozma herself, coming to Peter's chair, begged him his home marvelous land of Oz

"You shall be Prince ! " promised Ozma graciously, "and rule over smaller Kingdoms Prince Peter the First, how ? " The celebrities waved and cheered at Ozma's words, and Peter, seeing that everyone expected it, rose to most important speech life

"I'd like to stay and be Prince," said Peter slowly, "but , folks, I'm pitcher and I couldn't go back fellows and on my grandfather, so if your Majesty will just transport me to Philadelphia, why reward enough "

"Spoken like true and loyal Knight ! " cried Sir Hokus, thumping table

"Good-night ! " sighed Scraps, for she had taken great fancy to Peter, and had rather hoped stay in Oz

"Would you like now ? " asked Ozma, with merry smile, for Ozma had little plan of her own Peter nodded little bashfully, did seem bit rude to want to leave so delightful place and company, but that he ought in little practice game So Ozma immediately put on her magic belt and, extending her right hand, said, imperiously:

"I command you to transport this boy pirate's gold to Philadelphia ! " Instantly Peter vanished Ozites, running up the stairs two , crowded round the magic picture in Ozma's sitting room

"Show us Peter," panted Ozma, for she was little out of breath from her run At her words the country scene picture faded and Peter, sitting middle of dusty ball field, with bag of gold on each side, and crowd of cheering boys around him

" gold real ! " exclaimed Ozma, turning triumphantly Wizard "Polacky must real pirate before he sailed Nonestic Ocean and while transport any gold or jewels to Philadelphia, two bags pirate's gold were real "

"Oh ! Won't he have fun ! " squealed Dorothy, giving Scraps hug

That night Peter, sitting arm grandfather's chair, had the pleasure of seeing evening paper the heading he had thought up himself:

"Philadelphia Boy Finds Treasure and Saves the Emerald City of Oz "

Back capital there were only few things to settle now The Silence Stone and Magic Cloak were carefully stored away emerald safe Wizard's laboratory used of extreme danger or war

Kaliko was at once notified of Ruggedo's capture and permitted to resume his place as King Gnomes

Walking garden, the same afternoon that Peter sent back to Philadelphia, the Wizard of Oz had noticed gold thread running under benches Following it curiously led palace, up the stairs very top sunny chamber where an old Winkie Woman named Susan Smiggs did all the palace mending Susan, then, proper ruler of Patch, and Scraps, shaking her head dubiously, watched the fat little seamstress drive away Red Wagon, up her duties as Queen Quilties But as Ozma had promised to revise the laws of Patch, perhaps Susan better time Patchwork Girl did

As for Ruggedo, deciding loss of speech for seven years was punishment enough, Ozma kindly granted the gnome his freedom, first taking the precaution him dipped fountain of Oblivion As anyone touched waters forgets all his past wickedness, from now on Ruggedo will lead better life and cause no more trouble in Oz

THE END