"I wonder beasts will attack us ? " asked Kiki

"I'm Nome, and immortal, so nothing can hurt me," replied Ruggedo

" born Land of Oz, so nothing can hurt me," said Kiki

"But, to carry out our plans, win the favor of all the animals forest "

"Then what shall ? " asked Kiki

" mix the shapes of several beasts, so look like ," proposed the wily old Nome " the heads of lions, the bodies of monkeys, the wings of eagles tails of wild asses, with knobs of gold end instead of bunches of hair "

"Won't that make queer combination ? " inquired Kiki

"The queerer the better," declared Ruggedo

"All right," said Kiki "You stay here, and I'll fly away to another tree and transform us both, and then we'll climb down our trees and meet forest "

"No," said the Nome, "we mustn't separate transform us while together "

"I won't ," asserted Kiki, firmly "You're trying my secret, and I won't let you "

The eyes other eagle flashed angrily, but Ruggedo dare insist If he offended this boy, to remain an eagle always and he wouldn't like that Some day he hoped to learn the secret word magical transformations, but just now let Kiki have his own way

"All right," gruffly; "do please "

So Kiki flew to tree that was far enough distant Ruggedo overhear him and said: " Ruggedo, the Nome, and myself the heads of lions, the bodies of monkeys, the wings of eagles tails of wild asses, with knobs of gold ends instead of bunches of hair--Pyrzqxgl ! "

He pronounced the magic word proper manner and at once his form changed one he had described He spread his eagle's wings and finding they were strong enough to support his monkey body and lion head he flew swiftly tree where he had left Ruggedo The Nome was also transformed and was climbing down the tree because the branches all around him were so thickly entwined that no room to fly

Kiki quickly joined his comrade and it take them long to reach the ground

8 The Li-Mon-Eags Make Trouble

There trouble Forest of Gugu that morning Chipo the Wild Boar had bitten the tail off Arx the Giraffe while the latter had his head leaves of tree, eating his breakfast Arx kicked heels and struck Tirrip, the great Kangaroo, who had new baby in her pouch Tirrip knew it Wild Boar's fault, so she knocked him over with one powerful blow and then ran away to escape Chipo's sharp tusks chase that followed giant porcupine stuck fifty sharp quills Boar and chimpanzee in tree threw cocoanut porcupine that jammed its head into its body

All against the Laws Forest, and excitement was over, Gugu the Leopard King called his royal Counselors together to decide how best to punish the offenders

The four lords forest were holding solemn council in small clearing saw two strange beasts approaching them--beasts the like they had never seen before

Not four, however, relaxed his dignity or showed by movement that startled The great Leopard crouched at full length upon fallen tree-trunk Bru the Bear sat haunches King; Rango the Gray Ape stood muscular arms folded, and Loo the Unicorn reclined, much as horse does, between his fellow-councillors With one consent they remained silent, eyeing with steadfast looks the intruders, who were making their way into their forest domain

"Well met, Brothers ! " said strange beasts, coming to halt beside the group, while his comrade with hesitation lagged behind

" brothers," returned the Gray Ape, sternly "Who , and how came you forest of Gugu ? "

" two Li-Mon-Eags," said Ruggedo, inventing the name "Our home is in Sky Island, and come to earth to warn the forest beasts people of Oz are about war upon them and enslave them, become beasts of burden forever after and obey only the will two-legged masters "

low roar of anger arose Council of Beasts

"WHO'S going to ? " asked Loo the Unicorn, in high, squeaky voice, same time rising feet

"The people of Oz," said Ruggedo

"But WE be doing ? " inquired the Unicorn

"That's what I've come about "

"You needn't talk ! We'll fight the Oz people ! " screamed the Unicorn "We'll smash 'em; we'll trample 'em; we'll gore 'em; we'll--"

"Silence ! " growled Gugu the King, and Loo obeyed, although still trembling with wrath The cold, steady gaze Leopard wandered over the two strange beasts "The people of Oz," said he, " our friends; they our enemies alone, and let them alone no reason for war no slaves use us as slaves should conquer us telling us lies, you strange Li-Mon-Eag--you mixed-up beast neither nor another "

"Oh, on my word, it's the truth ! " protested the Nome beast's shape "I wouldn't lie world; I--"

"Silence ! " again growled Gugu the King; and somehow, even Ruggedo was abashed and obeyed the edict

"What say, Bru ? " asked the King, turning great Bear, who had until now said nothing

"How does the Mixed Beast know that what is true ? " asked the Bear

"Why, fly, , having the wings of an Eagle," explained the Nome "I and my comrade yonder," turning to Kiki, "flew to grove in Oz, and there we heard the people telling how make many ropes to snare you beasts, and then surround this forest, and all other forests, and make you prisoners So we came here to warn you, for being beasts ourselves, although we live sky, your friends "

The Leopard's lip curled and showed his enormous teeth, sharp as needles He turned Gray Ape

"What , Rango ? " he asked

"Send these mixed beasts away, Your Majesty," replied the Gray Ape " mischief-makers "

"Don't --don't ! " cried the Unicorn, nervously "The stranger said tell us what Let him tell us, then Are we fools, not to heed warning ? "

Gugu the King turned to Ruggedo

"Speak, Stranger," he commanded

"Well," said the Nome, "it's : The Land of Oz is fine country The people of Oz have many good things--houses with soft beds, all sorts of nice-tasting food, pretty clothes, lovely jewels, and things that beasts know nothing of Here dark forests the poor beasts have hard work enough to eat and bed to rest in But the beasts are better people, and why should they not have all the good things the people have ? So I propose that Oz people have the time all those ropes to snare you with, that all we beasts get together and march against the Oz people and capture them Then the beasts will become the masters people their slaves "

"What good would us ? " asked Bru the Bear

"It would save you from slavery, , and enjoy all the fine things of Oz people have "

"Beasts wouldn't know what things people use," said the Gray Ape

"But only part plan," insisted the Nome "Listen rest of it We two Li-Mon-Eags are powerful magicians have conquered the Oz people transform them all into beasts, and forests to live, and transform all the beasts into people, so enjoy all the wonderful delights Emerald City "

For moment no beast spoke Then the King said: "Prove it "

"Prove what ? " asked Ruggedo

"Prove that transform us magician transform the Unicorn into man Then believe you fail, destroy you "

"All right," said the Nome "But I'm tired, so I'll let my comrade transformation "

Kiki Aru had stood back circle, but he had heard all that was said He now realized that make good Ruggedo's boast, so he retreated edge clearing and whispered the magic word

Instantly the Unicorn became fat, chubby little man, dressed purple Gillikin costume, and hard the more astonished, the King, the Bear, the Ape or the former Unicorn

"It's true ! " shorted the man-beast "Good gracious, look what ! It's wonderful ! "

The King of Beasts now addressed Ruggedo in more friendly tone

" believe your story, since given us proof of your power," said he "But why, so great magician, cannot you conquer the Oz people without our help, and so save us the trouble ? "

"Alas ! " replied the crafty old Nome, "no magician is able everything The transformations are easy because Li-Mon-Eags, but fight, or conquer even such weak creatures Oz people But stay and advise and , and transform all the Oz people into beasts, time comes, and all the beasts into people "

Gugu the King turned Counselors

"How shall we answer this friendly stranger ? " he asked

Loo the former Unicorn was dancing around and cutting capers like clown