"By making them your slaves," said she

"Cruelty," remarked the monarch, puffing out wreathes of smoke and watching them float air, "is thing 't abide So, as slaves must work hard, Queen of Ev and her children were delicate and tender, I transformed them all into articles of ornament and bric-a-brac and scattered them around the various rooms palace Instead of being obliged to labor, they merely decorate my apartments, and I really think treated them with great kindness "

"But what dreadful fate is theirs ! " exclaimed Ozma, earnestly " Kingdom of Ev is in great need royal family to govern it liberate them, and restore them proper forms, ten ornaments to replace you lose "

The Nome King looked grave

"Suppose I refuse ? " he asked

"Then," said Ozma, firmly, " here with my friends and my army to conquer your kingdom and oblige you to obey my wishes "

The Nome King laughed until he choked; and he choked until he coughed; and he coughed until his face turned from grayish-brown to bright red And then he wiped his eyes with rock-colored handkerchief and grew grave again

" as brave pretty, my dear," to Ozma "But little idea extent task undertaken Come with me for moment "

He arose and took Ozma's hand, leading her to little door at one side room This he opened stepped out upon balcony, from whence they obtained wonderful view Underground World

vast cave extended for miles and miles under the mountain, and in every direction were furnaces and forges glowing brightly and Nomes hammering upon precious metals or polishing gleaming jewels All around the walls cave were thousands of doors of silver and gold, built solid rock, and these extended in rows far away distance, as far as Ozma's eyes could follow them

While the little maid from Oz gazed wonderingly scene the Nome King uttered shrill whistle, and at once all the silver and gold doors flew open and solid ranks of Nome soldiers marched out from So great were their numbers quickly filled the immense underground cavern and forced the busy workmen to abandon their tasks

Although this tremendous army consisted of rock-colored Nomes, all squat and fat, they were clothed in glittering armor of polished steel, inlaid with beautiful gems Upon his brow each wore brilliant electric light, bore sharp spears and swords and battle-axes of solid bronze evident they were perfectly trained, for they stood in straight rows, rank after rank, with their weapons held erect and true, awaiting but the word of command to level them upon their foes

"This," said the Nome King, "is but small part army No ruler upon Earth has ever dared to fight me, and no ruler ever will, for too powerful to oppose "

He whistled again, and at once the martial array filed silver and gold doorways and disappeared, after which the workmen again resumed their labors furnaces

Then, sad and discouraged, Ozma of Oz turned to her friends, Nome King calmly reseated himself rock throne

"It foolish to fight," the girl said Tin Woodman " brave Twenty-Seven quickly destroyed I'm sure know how to act emergency "

" King where his kitchen is," suggested the Tiger "I'm hungry as bear "

" pounce King and tear him in pieces," remarked the Cowardly Lion

"Try it," said the monarch, lighting his pipe with another hot coal which pocket

The Lion crouched low and tried to spring Nome King; but he hopped only little way air and came down again same place, not being able to approach the throne by even an inch

"It seems ," said the Scarecrow, thoughtfully, " best plan is to wheedle his Majesty into giving up his slaves, since too great magician to oppose "

" most sensible thing any of suggested," declared the Nome King " folly to threaten me, but I'm so kind-hearted that stand coaxing or wheedling really wish to accomplish anything by your journey, my dear Ozma, coax me "

" ," said Ozma, more cheerfully " be friends, and talk this over in friendly manner "

" ," agreed the King, his eyes twinkling merrily

" very anxious," she continued, "to liberate the Queen of Ev and her children now ornaments and bric-a-brac in your Majesty's palace, and to restore them people Tell me, sir, how accomplished "

The king remained thoughtful for moment, after which he asked:

" willing few chances and risks yourself, to set free the people of Ev ? "

"Yes, indeed ! " answered Ozma, eagerly

"Then," said the Nome King, " make you this offer: You shall go alone and unattended into my palace and examine carefully all rooms contain Then permission to touch eleven different objects, pronouncing the word 'Ev,' and if , or more than one, proves the transformation Queen of Ev or any of her ten children, then instantly be restored true forms and may leave my palace and my kingdom in your company, without any objection whatever possible , , to free the entire eleven; but guess all the objects correctly, and slaves remain transformed, then of your friends and followers may, in turn, enter the palace the same privileges I grant you "

"Oh, ! this kind offer ! " said Ozma, eagerly

"I make but one condition," added the Nome King, his eyes twinkling

" it ? " she enquired

"If eleven objects you touch proves the transformation of any royal family of Ev, then, instead of freeing them, yourself become enchanted, and transformed into an article of bric-a-brac or an ornament only fair and just, and risk you declared you were willing "

12 The Eleven Guesses

Hearing this condition imposed Nome King, Ozma became silent and thoughtful, and all her friends looked at her uneasily

"Don't it ! " exclaimed Dorothy " guess wrong, enslaved yourself "

"But eleven guesses," answered Ozma "Surely I ought to guess one object in eleven correctly; and, if , rescue royal family and be safe myself Then the rest of attempt it, and soon free all those enslaved "

"What fail ? " enquired the Scarecrow "I'd look nice as piece of bric-a-brac, wouldn't I ? "

" not fail ! " cried Ozma, courageously "Having come all this distance to free these poor people, it weak and cowardly in us to abandon the adventure Therefore accept the Nome King's offer, and go at once royal palace "

"Come along, then, my dear," said the King, climbing down throne with some difficulty, because so fat; "I'll show you the way "

He approached wall cave and waved his hand Instantly an opening appeared, through which Ozma, after smiling farewell to her friends, boldly passed

She found herself in splendid hall that was more beautiful and grand than anything she had ever beheld The ceilings were composed of great arches that rose far above her head, and all the walls and floors were of polished marble exquisitely tinted in many colors Thick velvet carpets were floor and heavy silken draperies covered the arches leading various rooms palace The furniture of rare old woods richly carved and covered with delicate satins, entire palace was lighted by mysterious rosy glow that seemed from no particular place but flooded each apartment with its soft and pleasing radiance

Ozma passed from one room to another, greatly delighted by all she saw The lovely palace had no other occupant, Nome King had left her entrance, which closed behind her, and in all the magnificent rooms there appeared no other person

mantels, and on many shelves and brackets and tables, were clustered ornaments of every description, seemingly made out of all sorts of metals, glass, china, stones and marbles There were vases, and figures of men and animals, and graven platters and bowls, and mosaics of precious gems, and things Pictures, too, were walls, underground palace was quite museum of rare and curious and costly objects

After her first hasty examination rooms Ozma began to wonder which of all the numerous ornaments they contained were the transformations royal family of Ev nothing to guide her, for everything seemed without spark of life So guess blindly; and first time the girl came to realize how dangerous was her task, and how likely she was to lose her own freedom in striving to free others bondage Nome King No wonder the cunning monarch laughed good naturedly visitors, when how easily entrapped

But Ozma, having undertaken the venture, abandon it She looked at silver candelabra that had ten branches, and thought: " the Queen of Ev and her ten children " So she touched it and uttered aloud the word "Ev," Nome King had instructed her when she guessed But the candelabra remained as before

Then she wandered into another room and touched china lamb, thinking it children she sought But again she was unsuccessful Three guesses; four guesses; five, six, seven, eight, nine and ten she made, and still not was right !

The girl shivered little and grew pale even under the rosy light; for now but one guess remained, and her own fate depended result

She resolved not hasty, and strolled through all the rooms once more, gazing earnestly various ornaments and trying to decide which touch Finally, in despair, she decided to leave it entirely to chance She faced the doorway of room, shut her eyes tightly, and then, thrusting aside the heavy draperies, she advanced blindly with her right arm outstretched before her

Slowly, softly she crept forward until her hand came in contact with an object upon small round table She know what , but in low voice she pronounced the word "Ev "

The rooms were quite empty of life The Nome King had gained new ornament For edge table rested pretty grasshopper, that seemed formed from single emerald all that remained of Ozma of Oz

throne room just beyond the palace the Nome King suddenly looked up and smiled

"Next ! " , pleasant voice

Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, who sitting in anxious silence, each gave start of dismay and stared into one another's eyes

"Has she failed ? " asked Tiktok