After his last attempt to capture Oz, the gnome given small cottage to live in, just outside the Emerald City But Ruggedo bear life above ground The sunlight hurt his eyes, contented, happy faces people hurt his feelings, for exactly what Wag had called him-an old scrabble-scratch So, while he pretended to live little cottage, according to Ozma's orders, he really spent most time deep, dark cave He entered it by secret passage, opening cellar

Digging the long passage the hardest work Ruggedo had ever done bad little life While toiling one day, he had bumped underground burrow of Wag, wandering rabbit of Oz, and after deal of bargaining, the rabbit had agreed to help him Wag was to receive ruby month services, gnome still had large bag of precious stones, which he had brought old Kingdom bargain with Wag , the passage progressed rapidly, rabbit was an expert digger

Ruggedo's idea to tunnel himself out secret chamber, directly under Ozma's palace, and there establish kingdom own But had almost reached the spot, the earth began to crumble away, and few strokes of Ruggedo's spade revealed great dark cavern, already tunneled by someone else huge exact shape royal palace This Ruggedo discovered by careful measurement, and also directly beneath the gorgeous green edifice, so footsteps servants heard faintly, pattering to and fro

This dark, underground retreat suited the former Gnome King exactly and, without stopping to wonder it had belonged, Ruggedo gleefully took possession For almost two years he had lived here without anyone suspecting it, but his kingdom progressed Wag had tried to coax some rabbit relations the old gnome as subjects, but Ruggedo, besides his terrible temper, had mean habit of pulling their ears, so whole crew had deserted the first week He had pulled Wag's ears once, but the rabbit tore out pawful whiskers, and bit him so severely leg that Ruggedo had never dared it again Wag had stayed partly because Ruggedo amused him and partly because bribes, for every day, in fear of losing his only retainer, Ruggedo brought Wag something Emerald City-something he had stolen ! In return, Wag waited bad little gnome and listened grumblings against everybody in Oz All the furnishings strange cave stolen from various houses Emerald City The twenty-seven brocade cushions taken, one palace; the green emerald lamp also Every day Ruggedo ran innocently city, pretending to visit , and every day cups, spoons, and candlesticks disappeared

The doll's rocker, which Ruggedo insisted upon calling his throne, he had taken from Betsy Bobbin, little girl who lived with Ozma palace He had lugged it secret passage with great difficulty The wooden doll stolen from Trot, another of Ozma's companions She was Trot's favorite doll, for she carved out of wood by Captain Bill, an old one-legged sailor, who was celebrated characters in all Oz He had carved her for Trot one day were on picnic Winkie Country, wood of small yellow tree, and as Captain Bill had old-fashioned notions, Peg was very old-fashioned doll But she had splendid joints and could sit down and stand up Her face was painted and as pleasant as laughing blue eyes, turned-up nose, and smiling mouth could make it Trot had dressed her in funny, old-fashioned dress, with pantalettes, and then, thinking Peg too short name, the little girl had added Amy, because she was so amiable, she confided laughingly old sailor Captain Bill had wagged his head understandingly, and Peg Amy had straightway become the most popular doll palace; , until she disappeared, for Ruggedo had found her one day garden and, chuckling wickedly, had carried her off cave

How Trot felt if she had seen her poor doll being shaken and scolded old Gnome King ! But Trot never knew She hunted and hunted for her doll, and finally gave up in despair Fortunately, Peg was well made, or she shaken to bits, but her joints held bravely, and nothing-not even the terrible scolding bad old gnome-could change her pleasant expression

Being the sole subject of so wicked King, however, was wearing even for wooden doll, and Peg was beginning to show signs of wear Her nose was badly chipped, one pantalette was missing, and both sleeves jerked from her dress furious old gnome rabbit was around, Ruggedo shake Peg as hard as to, but rabbit was gone, he pretended she was his old steward, Kaliko, and scolded and flung her about heart's content

When not carving his history or shaking Peg, Ruggedo had spent most time digging new tunnels and chambers, leading off main cavern was perfect network of underground passages back of Ruggedo's head was notion that some day conquer the Emerald City, regain his magic powers and then, after changing all the inhabitants to mouldy muffins, return dominions and oust Kaliko throne Just how , he decided, but the secret passages useful So meanwhile he dug secret passages

Above ground the little rascal went about so meekly and pretended delighted life inhabitants Emerald City, that Ozma really thought he had reformed Wag, he confided his plans, would shake his head gloomily and often planned to leave the services wicked old gnome no real harm in Wag, but the rabbit had weakness for collecting, spoons, cups and odds and ends that Ruggedo brought him Emerald City filled him with delight gotten honestly, but his work for Ruggedo was honest and hard, "and it's not my fault old scrabble-scratch steals 'em," Wag would mumble to himself heart that doing wrong to stay with Ruggedo, but like all foolish creatures make up his mind So this very night, while the old gnome sat playing the accordion and howling doleful snatches Gnome National Air, Wag was gloating over his treasures They quite filled his little dug-out room There were two emerald plates, gold pencil, dozen china cups and saucers, twenty thimbles stolen work baskets good dames of Oz, scraps of silk, pictures and almost everything imagine

"I'll soon have enough to marry and go to housekeeping on," murmured the rabbit, clasping his paws and twitching his nose very fast He picked up pair of purple wool socks that had once belonged to little girl's doll and regarded them rapturously Out of all the articles Ruggedo had given him, Wag considered these purple socks the most valuable, perhaps because they exactly fitted him and were the only things really use The squeaking accordion stopped at last and, supposing his wicked little master had retired night, Wag prepared to enjoy himself Draping green silk scarf over his shoulders, he strutted mirror, pretending Courtier of Oz Then, throwing down the scarf, he sat down floor and had just drawn on socks when loud shrill scream from Ruggedo made his ears stand straight on end in amazement

"What now ? " coughed the rabbit, seizing the candle Ruggedo was knees rocking chair

"As sitting here, playing and singing," spluttered the old gnome, "I noticed little ring in rocks floor ! "

"Well, what of it ? " sniffed Wag, leaning down to pull up his socks "What of it ? " shrieked the gnome

"What of it, you poor, puny earth worm ! Look ! " leaning over Ruggedo's shoulder and dropping hot candle grease down the gnome's neck, Wag peered into square opening floor There lay small gold box Studded in gems lid were these words:

Glegg's Box of Mixed Magic

"Mixed magic ! " stuttered Wag, dropping the candle "Oh, my socks and soup spoons ! " Ruggedo said nothing, but his little red eyes blazed maliciously Reaching down, he lifted out the box and, clasping it fat little stomach, shook his fist high domed ceiling cave

"Now ! " hissed Ruggedo triumphantly "Now see what mixed magic will do Emerald City of Oz ! "

CHAPTER 7

Sir Hokus Giants

"Oh ! " sighed Sir Hokus of Pokes and Oz, stretching his armored legs fire "How I yearn to slay giant ! How it would refresh me ! Hast any real giants in Oz, Dorothy ? "

"Don't you remember the candy giant ? " laughed the little girl, looking up handkerchief she was making for Ozma

"Not to my taste," said the Knight, "though his vest buttons were vastly nourishing "

"Well, there's Mr Yoo he's real blood-and-bone giant plenty of giants, I guess, if just where them ! " said the little girl, biting off her thread

"Find 'em-bind 'em, Get behind 'em ! Hokus Pokus He don't mind 'em ! "

screamed the Patch Work Girl, bounding out of her chair "But why can't you stay peaceably at home, old Iron Sides, and be jolly like the rest of us ? "

"You don't understand, Scraps," put in Dorothy gravely "Sir Hokus is Knight and true Knight's duty to slay giants and dragons and go on quests ! "

" , my Lady Patches ! " boomed Sir Hokus, puffing out his chest "I've rusted here in idleness long enough To-morrow, with Ozma's permission, start on giant quest "

"I'd go , only I've promised to help Ozma count the royal emeralds," said the Scarecrow, who had ridden over Corn-Ear residence week old friends Emerald City

"Giants, Sir, are bluff and rude And might mistake man for food ! Hokus Pokus, be discreet, Or soon be giant meat ! "

chuckled the Patch Work Girl, crooking her finger under the Knight's nose,

"Nonsense ! " blustered Sir Hokus, waving Scraps aside Rising green arm chair, he strode up and down the room, his armor clanking at every step Straightway the company began about wild giants they had read of or known Trot and Betsy Bobbin held hands sat together sofa, and Toto, Dorothy's small dog, crept closer little mistress, the bristles back rising higher as each story was finished, "Giant stories are all , but why tell 'em at night ? " shivered Toto, peering nervously long shadows corners room

It evening after Ruggedo's strange discovery mixed magic and royal palace Ozma and most Courtiers had retired But few of Princess Dorothy's special friends had gathered cozy sitting-room of her apartment about old times They were very unusual and interesting friends, not at all the sort one would expect in royal palace, even in Fairyland Dorothy, herself, before she had become Princess of Oz, little girl from Kansas but, after several visits delightful country, she had preferred Oz her home

Trot and Betsy Bobbin also had come United States by way of shipwrecks, so , and invited to remain by Ozma, the little fairy Princess who ruled Oz, and now each girls had cozy little apartment royal palace Toto had come with Dorothy, but the rest company were of more or less magic extraction