But the wall was soon forgotten, for in front were number of quaint people who stared at them in amazement wondering where they had come from Our friends forgot their good manners for time and returned the stares with interest, for so remarkable people had never before been discovered in all the remarkable Land of Oz Their heads were shaped like diamonds, and their bodies like hearts All the hair they had was little bunch tip top diamond-shaped heads, and their eyes were very large and round, and their noses and mouths Their clothing was tight fitting and of brilliant colors, being handsomely embroidered in quaint designs with gold or silver threads; but on their feet they wore sandals with no stockings whatever The expression faces was pleasant enough, although they now showed surprise appearance of strangers so unlike themselves, friends thought they seemed quite harmless

"I beg your pardon," said the Wizard, speaking party, "for intruding upon you uninvited, but traveling on important business and find it necessary to visit your city kindly tell us by what name your city is called ? "

They looked at one another uncertainly, each expecting some other to answer Finally, short one whose heart-shaped body was very broad replied, " no occasion our city anything where we live, all "

"But by what name do others call your city ? "asked the Wizard

" of no others except yourselves," said the man And then he inquired, "Were you born with those queer forms , or has some cruel magician transformed you from your natural shapes ? "

"These are our natural shapes," declared the Wizard, "and we consider them shapes, too "

The group of inhabitants was constantly being enlarged by others who joined it All were evidently startled and uneasy arrival of strangers " King ? "asked Dorothy, who knew better with someone in authority

But the man shook his diamond-like head " King ? " he asked

"Isn't there anyone who rules over you ? "inquired the Wizard

"No," reply, "each of us rules himself, or tries an easy thing , probably know "

The Wizard reflected

" disputes among you," said he after little thought, "who settles them ? "

"The High Coco-Lorum," they answered in chorus

"And he ? "

"The judge who enforces the laws," said the man who had first spoken

"Then he principal person here ? "continued the Wizard

"Well, say that," returned the man in puzzled way "The High Coco-Lorum is public servant However, he represents the laws, which all obey "

" ," said the Wizard, "we ought your High Coco-Lorum and talk Our mission here requires us to consult one high in authority, High Coco-Lorum high, whatever else "

The inhabitants seemed to consider this proposition reasonable, for they nodded their diamond-shaped heads in approval So the broad one who their spokesman said, "Follow me," and turning led the way along streets The entire party followed him, the natives falling in behind The dwellings they passed were quite nicely planned and seemed comfortable and convenient After leading them few blocks, their conductor stopped before house neither better nor worse others The doorway was shaped to admit the strangely formed bodies people, being narrow top, broad middle and tapering bottom The windows were made in much the same way, giving the house most peculiar appearance When their guide opened the gate, music box concealed gatepost began to play, sound attracted the attention High Coco-Lorum, who appeared at an open window and inquired, "What has happened now ? "

But same moment his eyes fell strangers and he hastened to open the door and admit them--all but the animals, which were left outside throng of natives that had now gathered For small city there seemed large number of inhabitants, but try to enter the house and contented themselves with staring curiously strange animals Toto followed Dorothy

Our friends entered large room front house, where the High Coco-Lorum asked them seated " your mission peaceful one," , looking little worried, " Thists fighters and object to being conquered "

"Are your people called Thists ? " asked Dorothy

"Yes that And we call our city Thi "

"Oh ! "

" Thists because we eat thistles, ," continued the High Coco-Lorum

" really eat those prickly things ? "inquired Button-Bright wonderingly

" ? " replied the other "The sharp points thistles cannot hurt us, because all our insides are gold-lined "

"Gold-lined ! "

" Our throats and stomachs are lined with solid gold, and the thistles nourishing and good to eat As matter of fact, nothing else country fit for food All around the City of Thi grow countless thistles, and all do is and gather them wanted anything else to eat, to plant it, and grow it, and harvest it, and lot of trouble and make us work, an occupation we detest "

"But tell me, please," said the Wizard, "how does it happen that your city jumps around so, from one part country to another ? "

"The city doesn't jump It doesn't move at all," declared the High Coco-Lorum "However, admit land that surrounds it has trick of turning or that, and so if one is standing plain and facing north, likely himself suddenly facing west or east or south But once you reach the thistle fields, on solid ground "

"Ah, I begin to understand," said the Wizard, nodding his head "But another question to ask: How does it happen Thists have no King to rule over them ? "

"Hush ! "whispered the High Coco-Lorum, looking uneasily around sure they overheard "In reality, the King, but the people don't know it they rule themselves, but the fact is everything my own way No one else knows anything about our laws, and so I laws to suit myself If any oppose me or question my acts, I tell them it's the law settles it If I called myself King, however, and wore crown and lived in royal style, the people like me and might do me harm High Coco-Lorum of Thi, considered very agreeable person "

"It seems very clever arrangement," said the Wizard "And now, the principal person in Thi, I beg you us Royal Ozma is captive in your city "

"No," answered the diamond-headed man " no captives No strangers but yourselves are here, and never before heard Royal Ozma "

"She rules over all of Oz," said Dorothy, "and so she rules your city and you, because Winkie Country, part Land of Oz "

"It ," returned the High Coco-Lorum, "for study geography never inquired whether we live Land of Oz or not And any Ruler who rules us from distance and unknown is welcome job But what has happened to your Royal Ozma ? "

"Someone has stolen her," said the Wizard " happen any talented magician among your people, one especially clever, ? "

"No, none especially clever some magic, , but all ordinary kind any of us has yet aspired to stealing Rulers, either by magic or otherwise "

"Then we've come long way for nothing ! "exclaimed Trot regretfully

"But going farther than this," asserted the Patchwork Girl, bending her stuffed body backward until her yarn hair touched the floor and then walking around on her hands with her feet air

The High Coco-Lorum watched Scraps admiringly

" go farther on, ," said he, "but I advise you not to The Herkus live back of us, beyond the thistles twisting lands, and very nice people to meet, I assure you "

"Are they giants ? " asked Betsy

" worse than that," reply " giants for their slaves and stronger than giants poor slaves dare not rebel for fear of being torn to pieces "

"How ? " asked Scraps

"Everyone says so," answered the High Coco-Lorum

" seen the Herkus yourself ? "inquired Dorothy

"No, but what everyone says true, otherwise what the use saying it ? "

"We were told before we got here that you people hitch dragons to your chariots," said the little girl