"Good idea," said Scraps, taking the candle mantel Breathlessly the two tip-toed along the hall to Ozma's apartment wall in one of Ozma's rooms hangs the most magic possession in Oz picture representing country scene, but ask it where certain person is, immediately shown picture and also what doing

"So," murmured the Scarecrow, gained the room in safety, " tells where other people are, it ought us where ourselves "

Drawing aside the curtain that covered the picture the Scarecrow demanded loudly, "Where are we ? "

Scraps held the candle its flickering rays fell directly picture Then both jumped in earnest, for in flash the face of Ruggedo, the wicked old gnome King, appeared, head great, green towering sort of hat

The Scarecrow seized the candle from Scraps and held it closer picture He squinted up one eye and almost rubbed his painted nose off

"Great Kinkajous ! " spluttered the Straw Man distractedly "That's palace head-an Emerald palace-Ozma's palace ! "

"But how ? " asked Scraps, her suspender button eyes almost dropping out "He's nothing but gnome He's-"

Before Scraps could finish her sentence the palace began to tilt forward both fell upon their faces Then the picture jerked loose and fell with clattering slam on their heads, followed by such ornaments as already tumbled down before Through it all Scraps held the candle high in air and fortunately it go out, despite the turmoil

In the palace stopped rocking and muffled call from Ozma sent the Scarecrow and Scraps hurrying to her bedside After some trouble, for they were both flimsily made, they managed to free the little Princess of Oz poles and bed curtains

"Goodness ! " sighed Ozma, looking around terrible confusion

"Not goodness, but badness," said the Scare-crow, settling his hat firmly, "and Ruggedo is bottom of it and of us " He quickly explained to Ozma what he had seen Magic Picture

Slipping on silk robe, Ozma followed them next room picture rehung, they all looked again Ozma asked where the palace was Immediately the old Gnome King appeared and there no mistake-the palace was set squarely head The picture show the real size of Ruggedo nor palace, but enough

" sprung into giant," gasped Ozma, scarcely believing her eyes "Oh, what shall ? "

"The first thing is him quiet Every time he shakes his head it tumbles us about so," complained the Scarecrow, plumping up the straw chest "And look after Dorothy and Betsy and Trot "

"And Sir Hokus," added the Patch Work Girl, flinging out one hand "He's yearning to slay giant 'Way Giant Killer ! "

Without waiting others Scraps ran back to Dorothy's sitting room Lighting another candle, for all the lights palace were out, Ozma Scarecrow followed

"Odds Goblins ! " gasped the Knight, entered sitting up with one hand head

"Not goblins-giants ! " cried the Patch Work Girl, with bounce, while Ozma ran for some water to restore her three little friends

"Where ? " puffed the Knight, lurching feet

"Beneath you," said the Scarecrow, clutching at wisp of straw that stuck out head "Say ! Some one wind up Tik Tok There's lot of thinking here head works , even has wheels inside "

Sir Hokus, though still bit dizzy, hastened to wind up all the Copper Man's keys

"Thanks," said Tik Tok immediately " lift up, Hokus " The Knight obligingly helped the Copper Man feet Then both stared in amazement topsy turvy room Even dim candle light see that something very serious had occurred

Jack Pumpkinhead picked himself up out of corner, looking dazed

Just then Dorothy opened her eyes, and Betsy and Trot, spluttering water the Patch Work Girl was pouring on their heads, sat up and wanted what had happened In few words Ozma told them what the magic picture had revealed

"Ruggedo to giant's grown And set us head We've made some headway, you'll admit, Since we to bed ! "

-shouted Scraps, who was growing more and more excited

"Rug-ge-do will never re-form," ticked the Copper Man sadly

"But we going ? " wailed Dorothy "Suppose he leans over and spills us all out ? "

" take my sword," said Sir Hokus, speaking very determinedly, and backing toward the window as he spoke, "climb down, and slay the villain " He threw one leg over the sill

"Come back ! " cried Ozma " Hokus, don't you kill Ruggedo fall down and break us to pieces ? Besides, wicked as , have him killed "

"Yes, all broken up if that," sighed the Scarecrow " try something else "

Reluctantly, the Knight dropped back room "Close the windows," ordered Ozma with little shudder

"I've thought of plan," said Tik Tok, slow, painstaking way "A ve-ry good plan "

"Tell us what ," begged Dorothy "And Oh, Tik Tok, hurry ! "

"Eggs," said the Copper Man solemnly

"Oh" gasped Dorothy, "I remember Eggs are the only things in Oz that Ruggedo is afraid of; for if an egg touches gnome he shrivels up and disappears "

"Then where are the eggs ? " demanded Sir Hokus gloomily "In faith, this sounds more like an omelet than battle But 're to fight with eggs instead of swords, draw them at once

"You mean throw them," corrected Dorothy But Tik Tok shook his head violently

"Not throw them," said the Copper Man slowly, "threat-en to throw them "

"But how can we threaten giant below us ? " asked Ozma

"Print sign," directed Tic Tok calmly, "and low-er it down to him "

"Tik Tok," cried the Scarecrow, rushing forward and embracing him impulsively, "your patent-action-double-guaranteed brains are marvels I couldn't have thought up better plan myself "

Now off ran Scraps to fetch huge piece of cardboard, Scarecrow for paint brush, and Sir Hokus for piece of rope "It's growing lighter,"Quavered Trot, looking toward the windows The sky was turning gray with little streaks of pink, three girls huddled together mattress gave sigh of relief, for nothing, not even giant, seems so bad by daylight

"Perhaps someone has already started to , said Ozma hopefully "But here's the sign board What shall we write ? "

"How shall I begin ? " asked the Scarecrow, dipping the brush into can of green paint "Dear Ruggedo ? "

" say not," said Dorothy indignantly, "Then simply say, Sir," said the Scarecrow

" move or turn or shake your head a-gain, ten thou-sand eggs hurl-ed pal-ace windows," suggested Tik Tok

message met with general approval, the Scarecrow set it down with many flourishes and blotches of paint spilled between Then Ozma painted her name Royal seal of Oz end

Meanwhile, help of pair of field glasses, Sir Hokus had located Ruggedo's nose, sticking out like huge cliff below the middle window of Dorothy's room So, tying long rope to each corner sign, and rolling it up so it would go window, the Knight let it down till it dangled directly in front of Ruggedo's nose

At first Ruggedo even see the sign, about as large tiniest visiting card compared to him But it blew against his face and tickled his cheek He tried to brush it away Then, suddenly noticing dangling from above, he seized it in one hand and held it close left eye The words were so small for giant that Ruggedo had to squint fearfully before make them out at all, but when bloodcurdling scream, and began to tremble violently

Up palace the entire company fell over and twenty windows were shaken to bits Then everything grew quiet and perfect silence; for Ruggedo, realizing his danger, grew rigid with fright Giant drops of perspiration trickled down his forehead How long keep from moving ?

"Well," said Dorothy after had passed, "I guess keep him quiet, but what next ? Shall we let ourselves down with ropes ? "

" none long enough," said Sir Hokus

"Then I'll fall out and go for help," said the Scarecrow brightly, and started toward the window When he reached it he paused in astonishment "Look," he cried, waving excitedly others, "here comes someone, walking right over the clouds "

CHAPTER 15

The Sand Man Takes Hand

Someone was coming toward the palace little gray-cloaked old gentleman-a surprisingly quick and nimble old gentleman-springing from cloud to cloud and pausing to straighten huge sack he carried over his left shoulder so busy admiring the lovely sky colors behind him and waving merrily fluffy cloud figures above his head, that Ozma's shining palace until almost upon it

"Stars ! " murmured the little old gentleman, balancing perilously very edge of silver cloud "Another air castle ! How delightful ! jump right through it ! "

Gathering himself together he leaped straight toward the window out Dorothy and Ozma others were looking With soft thud he struck the emerald setting just above the window, and down tumbled his sack opening as it fell and filling the air with clouds of silver sand Down tumbled the little old gentleman, turning over and over, and finally landing on blankety white cloud far below

All Dorothy saw, and was about to ask Ozma what it could mean when an overpowering drowsiness stole over her Before speak her eyes closed, and she sank backward into big arm chair Trot and Betsy Bobbin with two little sighs crumpled down floor The head of Sir Hokus dropped heavily sill, and not even in Pokes had he snored so lustily Ozma slipped gently down beside Betsy and Trot, and in moment not person awake whole big palace Even the little mice kitchen were fast asleep, with heads on their paws

Did everyone ? Well, not quite everyone had fallen under the strange spell Tik Tok, Scraps, Scarecrow, who had never slept in their lives, were still wide awake, and regarding their companions with astonishment and alarm The Tin Woodman was taking things calmly, oiling up his joints and polishing his tin jacket with silver polish