Therefore, the Tin Woodman having fitted new ears Sawhorse, the entire party proceeded upon its way, leaving the giant to pound the path behind them

11 The Nome King

By and by, drew near mountain that blocked their path and the furthermost edge Kingdom of Ev, the way grew dark and gloomy reason high peaks on either side shut out the sunshine And very silent, too, as there were no birds to sing or squirrels to chatter, the trees being left far behind them and only the bare rocks remaining

Ozma and Dorothy were little awed silence, and all the others were quiet and grave except the Sawhorse, which, as it trotted along Scarecrow upon his back, hummed queer song, the chorus:

"Would wooden horse in woodland go ? Aye, aye ! I sigh, , although Had he not had wooden head He'd mount the mountain top instead "

But no one paid any attention because they were now close Nome King's dominions, splendid underground palace very far away

Suddenly they heard shout of jeering laughter, and stopped short to stop in minute, anyway, huge mountain barred their further progress path ran close wall of rock and ended

"Who laughing ? " asked Ozma

no reply, but gloom see strange forms flit across the face rock Whatever the creations they seemed very like the rock itself, for they were the color of rocks and their shapes were as rough and rugged as broken away side mountain They kept close steep cliff facing our friends, and glided up and down, and , with lack of regularity that was quite confusing seemed not to need places to rest their feet, but clung surface rock as fly does to window-pane, and were never still for moment

" mind them," said Tiktok, as Dorothy shrank back " on-ly the Nomes "

"And Nomes ? " asked the girl, half frightened

" rock fair-ies, and serve the Nome King," replied the machine "But do us no harm call King, be-cause with-out him ne-ver find the en-trance pal-ace "

"YOU call," said Dorothy to Ozma

Just then the Nomes laughed again, sound was so weird and disheartening twenty-six officers commanded the private to "right-about-face ! " all started to run as fast as

The Tin Woodman at once pursued his army and cried "halt ! " and had stopped their flight he asked: "Where going ? "

"I-- I've forgotten the brush whiskers," said general, trembling with fear "S-s-so g-going back after it ! "

" impossible," replied the Tin Woodman " giant hammer would kill you all tried him "

"Oh ! I'd forgotten the giant," said the general, turning pale

"You seem to forget things," remarked the Tin Woodman " you won't forget that brave men "

"Never ! " cried the general, slapping his gold-embroidered chest

"Never ! " cried all the other officers, indignantly slapping their chests

" part," said the private, meekly, " obey my officers; so when told to run, I run; and when told to fight, I fight "

" right," agreed the Tin Woodman "And now all come back to Ozma, and obey HER orders And try to run away again her reduce all the twenty-six officers to privates, and private your general "

This terrible threat so frightened them at once returned to where Ozma was standing beside the Cowardly Lion

Then Ozma cried out in loud voice:

"I demand Nome King appear ! "

no reply, except shifting Nomes mountain laughed in derision

" not command the Nome King," said Tiktok, "for rule him, your own peo-ple "

So Ozma called again, saying:

"I request the Nome King to appear "

Only the mocking laughter replied to her, shadowy Nomes continued to flit here and there rocky cliff

"Try en-treat-y," said Tiktok to Ozma "If come at your re-quest, then the Nome King may list-en to your plead-ing "

Ozma looked around her proudly

" wish your ruler to plead wicked Nome King ? " she asked "Shall Ozma of Oz humble herself to creature who lives in an underground kingdom ? "

"No ! " they all shouted, with big voices; Scarecrow added:

"If come, dig him out hole, like fox, and conquer his stubbornness But our sweet little ruler must always maintain her dignity, just as I maintain mine "

"I'm not afraid to plead ," said Dorothy "I'm only little girl from Kansas, and we've got more dignity at home than what with I'LL call the Nome King "

"Do," said the Hungry Tiger; "and if he makes hash of you I'll willingly eat you for breakfast tomorrow morning "

So Dorothy stepped forward and said:

"PLEASE Mr Nome King, come here us "

The Nomes started to laugh again; but low growl came mountain, and in flash they had all vanished from sight and were silent

Then door rock opened, and voice cried:

"Enter ! "

"Isn't it trick ? " asked the Tin Woodman

"Never mind," replied Ozma "We came here to rescue the poor Queen of Ev and her ten children, and run some risks "

"The Nome King is hon-est and good na-tured," said Tiktok " trust him right "

So Ozma led the way, hand in hand with Dorothy, passed arched doorway of rock and entered long passage lighted by jewels set walls and having lamps behind them no one to escort them, or to show them the way, but all the party pressed passage until they came to round, domed cavern that was grandly furnished

center room was throne carved out of solid boulder of rock, rude and rugged in shape but glittering with great rubies and diamonds and emeralds on every part surface And throne sat the Nome King

This important monarch Underground World was little fat man clothed in gray-brown garments that were the exact color rock throne seated His bushy hair and flowing beard were also colored like the rocks, and so was his face He wore no crown of any sort, only ornament was broad, jewel-studded belt that encircled his fat little body As features, they seemed kindly and good humored, eyes were turned merrily upon his visitors as Ozma and Dorothy stood before him with their followers ranged in close order behind them

"Why, he looks just like Santa Claus--only he isn't the same color ! " whispered Dorothy to her friend; but the Nome King heard the speech, and it made him laugh aloud

"'He had red face and round little belly That shook when he laughed like bowl full of jelly ! '"

quoth the monarch, in pleasant voice; and all see that he really did shake like jelly when he laughed

Both Ozma and Dorothy were much relieved the Nome King so jolly, and minute later he waved his right hand girls each found cushioned stool at her side

"Sit down, my dears," said the King, "and tell me why come all me, and what do you happy "

While they seated themselves the Nome King picked up pipe, and taking glowing red coal out pocket he placed it bowl pipe and began puffing out clouds of smoke that curled in rings above his head Dorothy thought this made the little monarch look more like Santa Claus than ever; but Ozma now began speaking, and listened intently to her words

"Your Majesty," said she, " the ruler Land of Oz, and come here to to release the good Queen of Ev and her ten children, whom enchanted and hold prisoners "

"Oh, no; mistaken ," replied the King " my prisoners, but my slaves, whom I purchased King of Ev "

"But that was wrong," said Ozma

"According laws of Ev, the king can do no wrong," answered the monarch, eying ring of smoke he had just blown mouth; " he had perfect right his family in exchange for long life "

"You cheated him, though," declared Dorothy; " King of Ev have long life He jumped sea and was drowned "

"That was not my fault," said the Nome King, crossing his legs and smiling contentedly " him the long life, all right; but he destroyed it "

"Then how could it be long life ? " asked Dorothy

"Easily enough," reply "Now suppose, my dear, that I pretty doll in exchange for lock of your hair, after you had received the doll you smashed it into pieces and destroyed it Could you say that I given you pretty doll ? "

"No," answered Dorothy

"And could you, in fairness, ask me to return the lock of hair, just because you had smashed the doll ? "

"No," said Dorothy, again

" not," the Nome King returned "Nor will up the Queen and her children because the King of Ev destroyed his long life by jumping sea They belong and keep them "

"But treating them cruelly," said Ozma, who was much distressed King's refusal

"In what way ? " he asked