" the end of me, all right," said the Scarecrow, sorrowfully "One small blaze, blue or green, is enough to reduce me to an ash-heap "

" surrender ? " demanded the King

Billina whispered something Scarecrow's ear that made him smile and put his hands jacket pockets

"No ! " returned Ozma, boldly answering the King Then she said to her army:

"Forward, my brave soldiers, and fight for your Ruler and yourselves, unto death ! "

"Pardon me, Most Royal Ozma," replied one of her generals; "but that I and my brother officers all suffer from heart disease, slightest excitement might kill us fight get excited Would it not be well to avoid this grave danger ? "

"Soldiers have heart disease," said Ozma

"Private soldiers , I believe, afflicted that way," declared another general, twirling his moustache thoughtfully "If your Royal Highness desires, order our private to attack yonder warriors "

" ," replied Ozma

"For-ward--march ! " cried all the generals, with one voice "For-ward--march ! " yelled the colonels "For-ward--march ! " shouted the majors "For-ward--march ! " commanded the captains

And at private leveled his spear and dashed furiously foe

The captain Nomes was so surprised sudden onslaught that he forgot to command his warriors to fight, so ten men first row, who stood in front private's spear, fell over like toy soldiers The spear go through their steel armor, however, so the warriors scrambled feet again, and the private had knocked over another row

Then the captain brought down his battle-axe strong blow private's spear was shattered and knocked grasp, and helpless to fight any longer

The Nome King had left his throne and pressed through his warriors front ranks, so he going on; but as he faced Ozma and her friends the Scarecrow, aroused to action valor private, drew one of Billina's eggs right jacket pocket and hurled it straight little monarch's head

It struck him squarely left eye, where the egg smashed and scattered, as eggs will, and covered his face and hair and beard with its sticky contents

"Help, help ! " screamed the King, clawing fingers egg, in struggle to remove it

"An egg ! an egg ! Run for your lives ! " shouted the captain Nomes, in voice of horror

And how run ! The warriors fairly tumbled over one another in their efforts to escape the fatal poison awful egg, and those rush down the winding stair fell off the balcony great cavern beneath, knocking over those who stood below them

Even while the King was still yelling for help his throne room became emptied of warriors, and monarch had managed to clear the egg away left eye the Scarecrow threw the second egg against his right eye, where it smashed and blinded him entirely The King was unable to flee because he to run; so he stood still and howled and shouted and screamed in abject fear

While going on, Billina flew over to Dorothy, and perching herself Lion's back the hen whispered eagerly girl:

"Get his belt ! Get the Nome King's jeweled belt ! It unbuckles back Quick, Dorothy--quick ! "

18 The Fate Tin Woodman

Dorothy obeyed She ran at once behind the Nome King, who was still trying to free his eyes egg, and in twinkling she had unbuckled his splendid jeweled belt and carried it away with her to her place beside the Tiger and Lion, where, because she know what else with it, she fastened it around her own slim waist

Just then the Chief Steward rushed in with sponge and bowl of water, and began mopping away the broken eggs master's face , and while all the party stood looking on, the King regained the use eyes, first thing was to glare wickedly Scarecrow and exclaim:

"I'll make you suffer , you hay-stuffed dummy ! Don't eggs are poison to Nomes ? "

"Really," said the Scarecrow, "they DON'T seem to agree , although I wonder why "

"They were strictly fresh and above suspicion," said Billina "You glad them "

"I'll transform you all into scorpions ! " cried the King, angrily, and began waving his arms and muttering magic words

But people became scorpions, so the King stopped and looked at them in surprise

"What's wrong ? " he asked

"Why, wearing your magic belt," replied the Chief Steward, after looking the King over carefully "Where ? What done with it ? "

The Nome King clapped his hand waist, rock colored face turned white as chalk

"It's gone," he cried, helplessly "It's gone, and ruined ! "

Dorothy now stepped forward and said:

"Royal Ozma, and you, Queen of Ev, I welcome you and your people back land living Billina has saved you from your troubles, and now leave this drea'ful place, and return to Ev poss'ble "

While the child spoke all see that she wore the magic belt, and great cheer went up from all her friends, led voices Scarecrow private But the Nome King join them He crept back onto his throne like whipped dog, and lay there bitterly bemoaning his defeat

"But found my faithful follower, the Tin Woodman," said Ozma to Dorothy, "and without him wish away "

"Nor I," replied Dorothy, quickly "Wasn't he palace ? "

" there," said Billina; "but I had no clue to guide me in guessing the Tin Woodman, so missed him "

" go back rooms," said Dorothy "This magic belt, , will our dear old friend "

So she re-entered the palace, the doors still stood open, and everyone followed her except the Nome King, the Queen of Ev and Prince Evring The mother had taken the little Prince in her lap and was fondling and kissing him lovingly, for her youngest born

But the others went with Dorothy, and when she came middle first room the girl waved her hand, as she had seen the King do, and commanded the Tin Woodman, whatever form he might then have, to resume his proper shape No result followed this attempt, so Dorothy went into another room and repeated it, and so through all the rooms palace Yet the Tin Woodman appear , nor could they imagine which thousands of ornaments was their transformed friend

Sadly they returned throne room, where the King, seeing had met with failure, jeered at Dorothy, saying:

" know how to use my belt, so of no use Give it back let you go free--you and all the people who came As royal family of Ev, my slaves, and shall remain here "

" keep the belt," said Dorothy

"But how escape, without my consent ? " asked the King

"Easily enough," answered the girl "All is to walk out the way that we came in "

"Oh, that's all, ? " sneered the King "Well, where passage through which you entered this room ? "

They all looked around, but discover the place, had long since been closed Dorothy, however, dismayed She waved her hand toward the seemingly solid wall cavern and said:

"I command the passage to open ! "

Instantly the order was obeyed; the opening appeared passage lay plainly before them

The King was amazed, and all the others overjoyed

"Why, then, belt obeys you, were we unable to discover the Tin Woodman ? " asked Ozma

" 't imagine," said Dorothy

"See here, girl," proposed the King, eagerly; " the belt, tell you what shape the Tin Woodman was changed into, and then easily find him "

Dorothy hesitated, but Billina cried out:

"Don't it ! Nome King gets the belt again make of us prisoners, for power Only by keeping the belt, Dorothy, ever to leave this place in safety "

" true," said the Scarecrow "But another idea, due to my excellent brains Let Dorothy transform the King into goose-egg unless he agrees palace and bring out the ornament our friend Nick Chopper, the Tin Woodman "

"A goose-egg ! " echoed the horrified King "How dreadful ! "

"Well, goose-egg unless you go and fetch us the ornament ," declared Billina, with joyful chuckle

"You that Dorothy is able to use the magic belt all right," added the Scarecrow

The Nome King thought it over and finally consented, for want goose-egg So he went palace the ornament the transformation Tin Woodman, all awaited his return with considerable impatience, for they were anxious to leave this underground cavern the sunshine once more But Nome King came back he brought nothing except puzzled and anxious expression upon his face

"He's gone ! " "The Tin Woodman is nowhere palace "

" sure ? " asked Ozma, sternly

"I'm very sure," answered the King, trembling, "for just what I transformed him into, and exactly where he stood But there, and please don't change me into goose-egg, because I've done the best "

They were all silent for time, and then Dorothy said:

" no use punishing the Nome King any more, and I'm 'fraid we'll have away without our friend "

"If here, rescue him," agreed the Scarecrow, sadly "Poor Nick ! I wonder what has become of him "

"And he owed me six weeks back pay ! " said generals, wiping the tears eyes gold-laced coat sleeve

Very sorrowfully they determined to return upper world without their former companion, and so Ozma gave the order the march passage

The army went first, and then the royal family of Ev, and afterward came Dorothy, Ozma, Billina, the Scarecrow and Tiktok

They left the Nome King scowling at them throne, and had no thought of danger until Ozma chanced to look back and saw large number warriors following them in full chase, with their swords and spears and axes raised to strike down the fugitives they drew near enough

Evidently the Nome King had made this last attempt their escaping him; but it did him no good, for when Dorothy saw the danger they were in she stopped and waved her hand and whispered command magic belt