"I'll go," said Dorothy

"Not so," replied the Tin Woodman "As commander of Ozma's army, my privilege her and attempt her rescue "

"Away you go, then," said the Scarecrow "But be careful, old friend "

" ," promised the Tin Woodman; and then he followed the Nome King entrance palace rock closed behind him

13 The Nome King Laughs

In moment the King returned throne and relighted his pipe, rest little band of adventurers settled themselves for another long wait They were greatly disheartened failure girl Ruler, knowledge that she was now an ornament Nome King's palace--a dreadful, creepy place of all its magnificence Without their little leader know what next, and , down trembling private army, began to fear soon be more ornamental than useful

Suddenly the Nome King began laughing

"Ha, ha, ha ! He, he, he ! Ho, ho, ho ! "

"What's happened ? " asked the Scarecrow

"Why, your friend, the Tin Woodman, has become the funniest thing imagine," replied the King, wiping the tears of merriment eyes "No one would ever believe make such an amusing ornament Next ! "

They gazed at with sinking hearts generals began to weep dolefully

" you crying for ? " asked the Scarecrow, indignant at such display of weakness

"He owed me six weeks back pay," said the general, "and I hate to lose him "

"Then you shall go and find him," declared the Scarecrow

"Me ! " cried the general, greatly alarmed

"Certainly your duty your commander March ! "

"I won't," said the general "I'd like to, ; but I just simply WON'T "

The Scarecrow looked enquiringly Nome King

"Never mind," said the jolly monarch "If he doesn't care to enter the palace and make his guesses I'll throw him into one fiery furnaces "

"I'll go ! -- I'm going," yelled the general, as quick as scat "Where entrance--where ? Let me go at once ! "

So the Nome King escorted him palace, and again returned to await the result What the general did, no one can tell; but not long King called next victim, and colonel was forced his fortune

Thus, one after another, all twenty-six officers filed palace and made their guesses-- and became ornaments

Meantime the King ordered refreshments served waiting, and at his command rudely shaped Nome entered, bearing tray This Nome was not unlike the others that Dorothy had seen, but he wore heavy gold chain around his neck to show that he Chief Steward Nome King, and he assumed an air of much importance, and even told his majesty not to eat cake late at night, or ill

Dorothy, however, was hungry, and she was not afraid of being ill; so she ate several cakes and found them good, and also she drank cup of excellent coffee made of richly flavored clay, browned furnaces and then ground fine, and found it most refreshing and not at all muddy

Of all the party which had started adventure, the little Kansas girl was now left alone Scarecrow, Tiktok, private for counsellors and companions the Cowardly Lion Hungry Tiger were still there, but they, having also eaten cakes, had gone to sleep at one side cave, while other side stood the Sawhorse, motionless and silent, as became mere thing of wood Billina had quietly walked around and picked up the crumbs of cake which scattered, and now, as long after bed-time, she tried some dark place to sleep

Presently the hen espied hollow underneath the King's rocky throne, and crept unnoticed still hear the chattering around her, but almost dark underneath the throne, soon she had fallen fast asleep

"Next ! " called the King, private, whose turn to enter the fatal palace, shook hands with Dorothy Scarecrow and bade them sorrowful good-bye, and passed rocky portal

They waited , private was in no hurry an ornament and made his guesses very slowly The Nome King, who seemed , by some magical power, all that took place beautiful rooms palace, grew impatient finally and declared sit up no longer

"I love ornaments," said he, "but wait until tomorrow more ; so, that stupid private is transformed, all go to bed and leave the job finished morning "

" so very late ? " asked Dorothy

"Why, after midnight," said the King, " strikes me as being late enough neither night nor day in my kingdom, because under the earth's surface, where the sun shine But to sleep, just the same up-stairs people do, and part I'm going to bed "

Indeed, not long private made his last guess he guessed wrongly, and he at once became an ornament So the King was greatly pleased, and clapped his hands to summon his Chief Steward

"Show these guests to sleeping apartments," he commanded, "and be quick , too, for I'm dreadfully sleepy myself "

"You've no business to sit up so late," replied the Steward, gruffly "You'll be as cross as griffin tomorrow morning "

His Majesty made no answer remark, Chief Steward led Dorothy through another doorway into long hall, several plain but comfortable sleeping rooms opened The little girl was given the first room, Scarecrow and Tiktok the next--although they never slept-- Lion Tiger the third The Sawhorse hobbled Steward into fourth room, to stand stiffly center of it until morning Each night was rather bore Scarecrow, Tiktok Sawhorse; but they had learned from experience the time patiently and quietly, since all their friends who were made of flesh had to sleep and like disturbed

Chief Steward had left them alone the Scarecrow remarked, sadly:

" in great sorrow over the loss old comrade, the Tin Woodman many dangerous adventures together, and escaped them all, and now it grieves me he has become an ornament, lost forever "

" al-ways an or-na-ment to so-ci-e-ty," said Tiktok

"True; but now the Nome King laughs at him, and calls him the funniest ornament in all the palace hurt my poor friend's pride laughed at," continued the Scarecrow, sadly

" make rath-er ab-surd or-na-ments, our-selves, to-mor-row," observed the machine, monotonous voice

Just then Dorothy ran into their room, in state of great anxiety, crying:

"Where's Billina ? seen Billina ? Is she here ? "

"No," answered the Scarecrow

"Then what has become of her ? " asked the girl

"Why, she was ," said the Scarecrow "Yet remember seeing the yellow hen since she picked up the crumbs of cake "

" left her room where the King's throne is," decided Dorothy, and at once she turned and ran down the hall door through which they had entered But fast closed and locked other side, heavy slab of rock proved so thick that no sound could pass through it So Dorothy was forced to return to her chamber

The Cowardly Lion stuck his head into her room to console the girl loss of her feathered friend

"The yellow hen is well able care of herself," said he; "so don't worry about her, but try all the sleep long and weary day, and rest "

"I'll prob'ly get lots of rest tomorrow, when I become an orn'ment," said Dorothy, sleepily But she lay down upon her couch, nevertheless, and of all her worries was soon land of dreams

14 Dorothy Tries Brave

Meantime the Chief Steward had returned throne room, where King:

" fool to waste time upon these people "

"What ! " cried his Majesty, in so enraged voice awoke Billina, who was asleep under his throne "How dare you call me fool ? "

"Because I like the truth," said the Steward "Why didn't you enchant them all at once, instead of allowing them one by one palace and guess which ornaments are the Queen of Ev and her children ? "

"Why, you stupid rascal, more fun ," returned the King, "and it serves me amused "

"But suppose happen to guess aright," persisted the Steward; "then lose your old ornaments and these new ones, too "

" no chance guessing aright," replied the monarch, with laugh "How could they know Queen of Ev and her family are all ornaments of royal purple color ? "

"But no other purple ornaments palace," said the Steward

" colors, however, purple ones are scattered rooms, of many different shapes and sizes Take my word , Steward, never think of choosing the purple ornaments "

Billina, squatting under the throne, had listened carefully to all this talk, and now chuckled softly to herself as she heard the King disclose his secret

"Still, acting foolishly by running the chance," continued the Steward, roughly; "and still more foolish of you to transform all those people from Oz into green ornaments "

" that because they came Emerald City," replied the King; "and I had no green ornaments in my collection until now look quite pretty, mixed others Don't you ? "

The Steward gave an angry grunt