She flew down from her perch and walked next room, the Queen following As she passed low table small green grasshopper caught her eye, and instantly Billina pounced upon it and snapped it up in her sharp bill For grasshoppers are favorite food with hens, usually caught quickly, can hop away It might easily the end of Ozma of Oz, had she been real grasshopper instead of an emerald one But Billina found the grasshopper hard and lifeless, and suspecting not good to eat she quickly dropped it instead of letting it slide down her throat

" known better," she muttered to herself, "for where no grass there no live grasshoppers probably King's transformations "

moment later she approached purple ornaments, and while the Queen watched her curiously the hen broke the Nome King's enchantment and sweet-faced girl, whose golden hair fell in cloud over her shoulders, stood beside them

"Evanna ! " cried the Queen, "my own Evanna ! " and she clasped the girl to her bosom and covered her face with kisses

"That's all right," said Billina, contentedly "Am I good guesser, Mr Nome King ? Well, I guess ! "

Then she disenchanted another girl, whom the Queen addressed as Evrose, and afterwards boy named Evardo, who was older than his brother Evring Indeed, the yellow hen kept the good Queen exclaiming and embracing for , until five Princesses and four Princes, all looking alike except difference in size, stood in row beside their happy mother

The Princesses were named, Evanna, Evrose, Evella, Evirene and Evedna, while the Princes were Evrob, Evington, Evardo and Evroland Evardo eldest and would inherit his father's throne and be crowned King of Ev when he returned own country grave and quiet youth, and would doubtless rule his people wisely and with justice

Billina, having restored all royal family of Ev proper forms, now began to select the green ornaments which were the transformations people of Oz She had little trouble in finding these, and before long all the twenty-six officers, private, were gathered around the yellow hen, joyfully congratulating her upon their release The thirty-seven people who were now alive rooms palace knew owed their freedom cleverness yellow hen, were earnest in thanking her for saving them magic Nome King

"Now," said Billina, " find Ozma sure here, somewhere, and green, being from Oz So look around, you stupid soldiers, and help me in my search "

For while, however, discover nothing more that was green But the Queen, who had kissed all her nine children once more and could now find time an interest in going on, said hen:

"Mayhap, my gentle friend, grasshopper whom you seek "

" it's the grasshopper ! " exclaimed Billina "I declare, I'm nearly as stupid brave soldiers Wait here , and I'll go back and get it "

So she went room where she had seen the grasshopper, and presently Ozma of Oz, as lovely and dainty as ever, entered and approached the Queen of Ev, greeting her as one high born princess greets another

"But where are my friends, the Scarecrow Tin Woodman ? " asked the girl Ruler, when these courtesies exchanged

"I'll hunt them up," replied Billina "The Scarecrow is solid gold, and so is Tiktok; but I don't exactly know what the Tin Woodman is, because the Nome King said he transformed into something funny "

Ozma eagerly assisted the hen in her quest, and soon the Scarecrow machine man, being ornaments of shining gold, were discovered and restored accustomed forms But, search as , in no place could they find funny ornament that the transformation Tin Woodman

"Only ," said Ozma, at last, " is to return Nome King and oblige him us what has become friend "

"Perhaps he won't," suggested Billina

" ," returned Ozma, firmly "The King treated us honestly, for under the mask of fairness and good nature he entrapped us all, and we forever enchanted our wise and clever friend, the yellow hen, found way to save us "

"The King is villain," declared the Scarecrow

"His laugh is worse than another man's frown," said the private, with shudder

" hon-est, but mis-tak-en," remarked Tiktok "My thoughts are us-u-al-ly cor-rect, but Smith & Tin-ker's fault some-times go wrong or work prop-er-ly "

"Smith & Tinker made job of you," said Ozma, kindly " they blamed if quite perfect "

" ," replied Tiktok

"Then," said Billina, in her brisk little voice, " all go back Nome King, what he has for himself "

So they started entrance, Ozma going first, Queen and her train of little Princes and Princesses following Then came Tiktok, Scarecrow with Billina perched upon his straw-stuffed shoulder The twenty-seven officers private brought up the rear

reached the hall the doors flew open before them; but then they all stopped and stared domed cavern with faces of astonishment and dismay room was filled mail-clad warriors Nome King, rank after rank standing in orderly array The electric lights upon their brows gleamed brightly, their battle-axes were poised to strike down their foes; yet they remained motionless as statues, awaiting the word of command

And center terrible army sat the little King upon his throne of rock But he neither smiled nor laughed Instead, his face was distorted with rage, and most dreadful to behold

17 The Scarecrow Wins the Fight

After Billina had entered the palace Dorothy and Evring sat down to await the success or failure of her mission, Nome King occupied his throne and smoked his long pipe for while in cheerful and contented mood

Then the bell above the throne, which sounded whenever an enchantment was broken, began to ring, King gave start of annoyance and exclaimed, "Rocketty-ricketts ! "

bell rang second time the King shouted angrily, "Smudge and blazes ! " and at third ring he screamed in fury, "Hippikaloric ! " be dreadful word because we don't know what it means

the bell went on ringing time after time; but the King was now so violently enraged that utter word, but hopped out throne and all around the room in mad frenzy, he reminded Dorothy of jumping-jack

The girl was, for her part, filled with joy at every peal bell, announced the fact that Billina had transformed one more ornament into living person Dorothy was also amazed at Billina's success, for imagine how the yellow hen was able to guess correctly from all the bewildering number of articles clustered rooms palace But after she had counted ten, bell continued to ring, she knew that the royal family of Ev, but Ozma and her followers also, were being restored natural forms, and she was so delighted antics angry King only made her laugh merrily

Perhaps the little monarch more furious than before, but the girl's laughter nearly drove him frantic, and he roared at her like savage beast Then, as that all his enchantments were likely dispelled victims set free, he suddenly ran little door that opened balcony and gave the shrill whistle that summoned his warriors

At once the army filed gold and silver doors in great numbers, and marched up winding stairs and throne room, led by stern featured Nome who was their captain had nearly filled the throne room they formed ranks big underground cavern below, and then stood still until they were told what next

Dorothy had pressed back to one side cavern warriors entered, and now she stood holding little Prince Evring's hand while the great Lion crouched upon one side enormous Tiger crouched other side

"Seize that girl ! " shouted the King captain, and group of warriors sprang forward to obey But both the Lion and Tiger snarled so fiercely and bared their strong, sharp teeth so threateningly, men drew back in alarm

"Don't mind them ! " cried the Nome King; " leap beyond the places where they now stand "

"But bite those who attempt to touch the girl," said the captain

"I'll fix that," answered the King "I'll enchant them again, so can't open their jaws "

He stepped throne to , but just then the Sawhorse ran up behind him and gave the fat monarch powerful kick with both his wooden hind legs

"Ow ! Murder ! Treason ! " yelled the King, who hurled against several warriors and was considerably bruised "Who did that ? "

" ," growled the Sawhorse, viciously "You let Dorothy alone, or I'll kick you again "

"We'll see ," replied the King, and at once he waved his hand toward the Sawhorse and muttered magical word "Aha ! " he continued; "NOW you move, you wooden mule ! "

But magic the Sawhorse moved; and he moved so quickly toward the King, fat little man get out way Thump--BANG ! came the wooden heels, right against his round body, King flew air and fell head captain, who let him drop flat ground

"Well, well ! " said the King, sitting up and looking surprised "Why didn't my magic belt work, I wonder ? "

"The creature is made of wood," replied the captain "Your magic will not work on wood, "

"Ah, I'd forgotten that," said the King, getting up and limping throne " , let the girl alone 't escape us, anyway "

The warriors, who rather confused incidents, now formed their ranks again, Sawhorse pranced across the room to Dorothy and took position beside the Hungry Tiger

moment the doors that led palace flew open people of Ev people of Oz were disclosed to view They paused, astonished, at sight warriors angry Nome King, seated in their midst

"Surrender ! " cried the King, in loud voice " my prisoners "

"Go 'long ! " answered Billina, Scarecrow's shoulder "You promised me that if I guessed correctly my friends and depart in safety And you always keep your promises "