"I -- it up ! " replied the Woggle-Bug, meekly

" most sensible speech you've made," said the Tin Woodman

" really make another effort to discover where this girl is hidden," resumed the Sorceress, thoughtfully " in my library book in inscribed every action Wizard while land of Oz -- or, , every action that observed by my spies This book read carefully tonight, and try to single out the acts guide us in discovering the lost Ozma In

243 the meantime, pray amuse yourselves in my palace and command my servants as were your own grant you another audience tomorrow "

gracious speech Glinda dismissed the adventurers, wandered away beautiful gardens, where they passed several hours enjoying all the delightful things the Queen Southland had surrounded her royal palace

following morning they again appeared before Glinda, who said :

" searched carefully records Wizard's actions, and among them find but three that appear suspicious He ate beans with knife, made three secret visits to old Mombi, and limped slightly left foot "

"Ah ! that last is certainly suspicious ! " exclaimed the Pumpkinhead

"Not necessarily," said the Scarecrow " , corns Now, it seems his eating beans with knife is more suspicious "

"Perhaps polite custom in Omaha, great country the Wizard originally came," suggested the Tin Woodman

"It ," admitted the Scarecrow

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"But why," asked Glinda, "did he make three secret visits to old Mombi ? "

"Ah ! Why, indeed ! " echoed the Woggle-Bug, impressively

" Wizard taught the old woman many tricks of magic," continued Glinda; "and this had she not assisted him in some way So suspect with good reason that Mombi aided him to hide the girl Ozma, who real heir throne Emerald City, and constant danger usurper For, people knew that she lived, quickly make her their Queen and restore her to her rightful position "

"An able argument ! " cried the Scarecrow " that Mombi was mixed up wicked business But how does that knowledge ? "

" find Mombi," replied Glinda, "and force her where the girl is hidden "

"Mombi is now with Queen Jinjur, Emerald, City" said Tip " she who threw obstacles pathway, and made Jinjur threaten to destroy my friends and back old witch's power "

"Then," decided Glinda, " march with my

245 army Emerald City, and take Mombi prisoner , perhaps, force her the truth about Ozma "

" terrible old woman ! " remarked Tip, with shudder thought of Mombi's black kettle; "and obstinate, too "

" quite obstinate myself," returned the Sorceress, with sweet smile "so fear Mombi least Today make all necessary preparations, and march Emerald City at daybreak tomorrow "

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246 The Tin-Woodman Plucks Rose

The Army of Glinda the Good looked very grand and imposing when it assembled at daybreak palace gates The uniforms girl soldiers were pretty and of gay colors, and their silver-tipped spears were bright and glistening, the long shafts being inlaid with mother-of-pearl All the officers wore sharp, gleaming swords, and shields edged with peacock- feathers; and it really seemed that no foe could by any possibility defeat such brilliant army

The Sorceress rode in beautiful palanquin like the body of coach, having doors and

247 windows with silken curtains; but instead of wheels, which coach has, the palanquin rested upon two long, horizontal bars, which were borne shoulders of twelve servants

The Scarecrow comrades decided to ride Gump, up swift march army; so, Glinda had started and her soldiers had marched away inspiring strains of music played royal band, our friends climbed sofas and followed The Gump flew along slowly at point directly over the palanquin rode the Sorceress

"Be careful," said the

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248 Tin Woodman Scarecrow, who was leaning far over the side to look army below " fall "

"It wouldn't matter," remarked the educated Woggle-Bug " 't get broke as stuffed with money "

"Didn't I " began Tip, in reproachful voice

" ! " said the Woggle-Bug, promptly "And I beg your pardon really try to restrain myself "

"You'd better," declared the boy " , to travel company "

"Ah ! I couldn't bear to part now," murmured the Insect, feelingly; so Tip let the subject drop

The army moved steadily on, but night had fallen came walls Emerald City dim light new moon, however, Glinda's forces silently surrounded the city and pitched their tents of scarlet silk greensward The tent Sorceress was larger others, and was composed of pure white silk, with scarlet banners flying above it tent was also pitched Scarecrow's party; and when these preparations made, with military precision and quickness, the army retired to rest

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Great amazement of Queen Jinjur next morning when her soldiers came running to inform her vast army surrounding them She at once climbed to high tower royal palace and saw banners waving in every direction great white tent of Glinda standing directly gates

" surely lost ! " cried Jinjur, in despair; "for how can our knitting- needles avail against the long spears and terrible swords foes ? "

"The best thing do," said girls, "is to surrender as quickly as possible, before we get hurt "

"Not so," returned Jinjur, more bravely "The enemy is still outside the walls, so try to gain time by engaging them in parley Go you with flag of truce to Glinda and ask her why she has dared to invade my dominions, and her demands "

So the girl passed gates, bearing white flag to show she was on mission of peace, and came to Glinda's tent "Tell your Queen," said the Sorceress girl, "that deliver up old Mombi, my prisoner done molest her farther "

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250

Now message was delivered Queen it filled her with dismay, for Mombi was her chief counsellor, and Jinjur was terribly afraid old hag But she sent for Mombi, and told her what Glinda had said

" trouble ahead for all of us," muttered the old witch, after glancing into magic mirror she carried in her pocket "But even yet escape by deceiving this sorceress, clever as she thinks herself "

"Don't safer to deliver you into her hands ? " asked Jinjur, nervously

" , cost you the throne Emerald City ! " answered the witch, positively "But let me have my own way, save us both very easily "

"Then do please," replied Jinjur, " is so aristocratic Queen that wish obliged to return home again, beds and wash dishes mother "

So Mombi called Jellia Jamb to her, and performed certain magical rite she was familiar enchantment Jellia took form and features of Mombi, while the old witch grew to resemble the girl so closely seemed impossible anyone could guess the deception

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"Now," said old Mombi Queen, "let your soldiers deliver up this girl to Glinda She will think she real Mombi in her power, and so will return immediately to her own country South "

Therefore Jellia, hobbling along like an aged

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woman, was led city gates and taken before Glinda

" person you demanded," said guards, " Queen now begs go away, promised, and leave us in peace "

"That surely do," replied Glinda, much pleased; " really the person she "

" certainly old Mombi," said the guard, who believed she was speaking the truth; and then Jinjur's soldiers returned city's gates

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The Sorceress quickly summoned the Scarecrow friends to her tent, and began to question the supposed Mombi lost girl Ozma But Jellia knew nothing at all affair, and presently she grew so nervous under the questioning that she gave way and began to weep, to Glinda's great astonishment

" some foolish trickery ! " said the Sorceress, her eyes flashing with anger " Mombi at all, but some other person who made to resemble her ! Tell me," she demanded, turning trembling girl, " ? "

This Jellia dared not tell, having been threatened with death witch if she confessed the fraud But Glinda, sweet and fair though she was, understood magic better than person Land of Oz So, by uttering few potent words and making peculiar gesture, she quickly transformed the girl into her proper shape, while same time old Mombi, far away in Jinjur's palace, suddenly resumed her own crooked form and evil features

"Why, it's Jellia Jamb ! " cried the Scarecrow, recognizing girl one old friends

"It's our interpreter ! " said the Pumpkinhead, smiling pleasantly

Then Jellia was forced trick Mombi

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