"Humph ! " grunted the tiger, half closing his eyes Already Ippty's wicked plan was beginning to tempt him Surely eating criminals wrong, or , not so very wrong

"And these prisoners are dangerous fellows, I suppose ? " he asked casually, trying to appear careless and unconcerned whole queer business

"Villains, thieves and robbers, rascally fat rogues menace country By eating them doing Rash real service," Ippty assured him

"And where is Rash ? " asked the Hungry Tiger, waving his tail inquiringly

" southwestern corner of Ev," answered the Scribe, with wave that nearly put out his thumb "And ready, dear beast, start at once

"Ev ! " spluttered the tiger, "why that's miles away there , when Ozma, Dorothy and Billina rescued Prince Evardo Gnome King Too far ! " yawned the Hungry Tiger, rolling over dewy grass "I'm too tired for such journey "

"No trip at all ! " Ippty touched the hurry cane and in few words explained its curious mechanism, following it up tempting description Rash prisoners Hungry Tiger's appetite got the better conscience

"I'll go," he agreed gruffly, "but only , remember " Ippty said nothing, but smiled wickedly to himself Then, stuffing the directions for their return hurry cane, he sprang Hungry Tiger's back Next instant, in flash of fire and smoke, they had disappeared garden

"What ? " gasped Dorothy, clutching Ozma sleeve Both little girls, crouched behind button bush, had seen the strange flash

"Lightning, I guess ! " shuddered Ozma "Let's run back castle, Dorothy thunder Storm's coming ! "

CHAPTER 3

The Hungry Tiger in Rash

night time when Ippty Hungry Tiger arrived pink palace Travelling by hurry cane is hair-raising experience, let me tell you Showing the breathless beast to luxurious apartment, the Chief Scribe hurried off Pasha, and until long after midnight the two whispered and conferred together Hungry Tiger talked "A saucy but serviceable brute " finished Ippty, blowing out his thumb, "and require watching, Your Highness, for tiger fed on criminals grow dangerous ? "

"We'll lock him up prison court-yard," declared Irashi, rubbing his hands gleefully together, "then there'll be no chance running away or chewing off our heads Good work, old Butter-tub, I'll raise your wages " And clapping his Chief Scribe back, Irashi tumbled into bed and was soon snoring loudly

The Hungry Tiger find falling asleep so easy Already he regretted his rash action in coming with Ippty Padding up and down the big bedroom, he began anxiously to reflect duties new office right or wrong to eat the Rash criminals ? What would Ozma think if she knew ? The gentle face little fairy kept rising reproachfully between him thought fat and tempting prisoners "I'll stay just ," groaned the poor tiger at last, trying Ozma out mind, "and only eat the very worst and wickedest ones they'll not taste too bad," he yawned, sinking down wearily soft pink rug, "nor have too many knives and swords in their pockets Hah, hoh, hum ! " With great yawn, the tired tiger rolled over and fell into troubled sleep

shrill blast of trumpets wakened him next morning and later Ippty came to conduct him Pasha Irashi had craftily arranged to receive the Hungry Tiger prison courtyard, and surrounded Rash Guardsmen, with Fizzenpop standing anxiously at his side, he waited tiger to appear The walk palace prison was not long, but it gave the Hungry Tiger quite glimpse country people The palace and all cottages and stores were of pink stone Pink trees lined the pink marble walks and even the sky had rosy glow The Rashers, themselves, hurrying to and fro in their tremendous flapping turbans, oddly quilted robes and soft pink slippers, seemed pleasant enough fellows and again the Hungry Tiger's conscience began to trouble him But too late back now, so he stalked uncomfortably after Ippty The prison itself looked quite like wing pink palace and unsuspectingly the Hungry Tiger passed great golden gates and into high walled court

"Ah hah ! " exclaimed Irashi, as he advanced majestically center court-yard "So here at last, the famous and famished tiger of Oz And in uniform, too not splendid future jailer of Rash should wear stripes," chuckled the Pasha, poking Fizzenpop playfully ribs "Even now our prisoners will go behind the bars-after eaten," he whispered hoarsely, fearing Fizzenpop get the joke Ippty burst into roar, but the Grand Vizier, after one look huge figure tiger, began to tremble from top to toe The Hungry Tiger, himself, was not at all pleased reception

" laughing at me" he growled, lashing his tail and showing teeth the Rash Guardsmen took pink heels " laughing at ME ? "

"No ! No, certainly not," grunted Irashi, moving hurriedly toward the gates " be most comfortable and happy here " At each word, Irashi took great leap, followed closely by Ippty and Fizzenpop he finished his sentence and Hungry Tiger realized happening, all three were other side gates tiger, himself, was locked fast courtyard "Stay here, you saucy monster " puffed Irashi, shaking his scepter playfully, and taking Fizzenpop by one arm and Ippty other, he waddled off, leaving the Hungry Tiger to reflect upon his folly First he hurled himself again and again golden gates, then he ran round and round the prison yard examining every inch high walls But useless not as chink marble blocks Raging with anger at Irashi and disgusted with himself for being so easily caught, he crouched down in gloomy corner yard All choice matter of eating the Rash prisoners was now removed, for, as he sadly reflected, there would probably be nothing else to eat But eating prisoners, free and happy, and eating prisoners because nothing else are entirely different matters and already half the pleasure was gone experiment How was he to escape miserable little monarch ? Would Dorothy and Betsy miss him ? Why, oh why, had he not listened voice conscience or even had himself stuffed, Wizard suggested ?

Blinking his eyes mournfully, the Hungry Tiger began sorry Rash prisoners, but dreadfully sorry for himself, for was he not prisoner, too ? He had plenty sorry, for not soul came near him all day-not even Rash mouse tub of water corner yard, but nothing to eat, and shadows grew longer and longer the poor tiger grew hungrier and hungrier Betsy's party seemed and when, toward evening, shrill screams wall announced the approach of Irashi guards, he looked up almost hopefully whether they were bringing prisoner They were Propped up between two guards, and advancing most unwillingly, was tall turbaned figure

"Here ! " shouted Irashi, leaning far over the wall, " your supper Eat this rogue at once He has wakened me from my sacred nap horrible howling "

"I suppose I'll have to," mumbled the Hungry Tiger uncomfortably to himself, and growling his courage up conscience down, he advanced toward the wall just guardsmen dropped the luckless Rasher over He landed lightly balls feet and after one look Hungry Tiger pulled his turban over his eyes and began to screech with terror

"Eat him up ! Shut him up ! What's the matter, no teeth ? " bawled Irashi covering his ears

"I never dine till ten o'clock," answered the Hungry Tiger stiffly not going bullied wretched little sovereign of Rash "And I never eat until alone," he growled raising his roar above the wails prisoner

"Suit yourself," grumbled Irashi But secretly disappointed To watch the Hungry Tiger devour the prisoner real treat wicked little Pasha Covering both ears to drown the poor fellow's doleful yells, he scrambled down the steps other side wall "We'll return later if eaten," puffed the little Pasha, turning back toward the castle, guardsmen, exchanging uneasy glances, clanked after him they were alone, the Hungry Tiger approached the prisoner

"Would you mind stopping that noise ? " he begged earnestly "You're really spoiling my supper

"Your supper ? " gulped the Rasher, trembling violently, " expect me to submit to eating without sound ? "

"Well, that ," sighed the tiger hopefully "I never cared for music with my meals Now don't be frightened, I won't hurt you-much so tall, I'd swallow you whole "

"Oh ! " groaned the prisoner falling upon his knees, " no heart ? No conscience ? really cruel enough to devour poor fellow like me ? " At each word, the Hungry Tiger recoiled bit further

"But what can ? I've nothing else to eat and Rash law that perish , your crime ? " he asked sadly Now time for eating live man was at hand, himself curiously disturbed

"I'm singer," began the prisoner, in choked and frightened voice "This afternoon, hoping to earn few Rash pence, I stopped beneath the palace balcony and-" Straightening up and throwing out his chest, the singer burst into tears and song, mingling them so thoroughly the Hungry Tiger was soon crying like baby himself Without the tears, the song went something like this:

"Oh why must lovely roses die ? Oh why, snif ! snif ! Oh why, say why ? Oh why must hay be cut and mown In its first hey-day ? Groan, snif, groan !

And why must grass be trodden down And trees cut build town ? Should little lambs grow into chops And hang around in butcher shops ? No ! No ! I weep, too sad Snif, snuffle, snif, so sad ! "