Hedges of evergreen or of yellow roses bordered the broad highway farms showed the care industrious inhabitants The nearer the travelers came great city the more prosperous the country became, crossed many bridges over the sparkling streams and rivulets that watered the lands

walked leisurely along the shaggy man said Tin Woodman:

"What sort of Magic Powder that made your friend the Pumpkinhead live ? "

" called the Powder of Life," answer; "and invented by crooked Sorcerer who lived mountains North Country Witch named Mombi got powder crooked Sorcerer and took it home with her Ozma lived Witch then, for before she became our Princess, while Mombi had transformed her shape of boy Well, while Mombi was gone crooked Sorcerer's, the boy made this pumpkin-headed man to amuse himself, and also hope of frightening the Witch with it when she returned But Mombi was not scared, and she sprinkled the Pumpkinhead with her Magic Powder of Life, Powder would work Ozma was watching, and saw the Pumpkinhead come to life; night she took the pepper-box containing the Powder and ran away with it and with Jack, in search of adventures

" they found wooden Saw-Horse standing roadside, and sprinkled it Powder It came to life at once, and Jack Pumpkinhead rode the Saw-Horse Emerald City "

"What became Saw-Horse, afterward ? " asked the shaggy man, much interested story

"Oh, it's alive yet, and probably meet it presently Emerald City Afterward, Ozma used the last Powder to bring the Flying Gump to life; but it had carried her away from her enemies the Gump was taken apart, so it doesn't exist any more "

"It's too bad the Powder of Life was all used up," remarked the shaggy man; "it handy thing around "

" not so sure , sir," answered the Tin Woodman "A while ago the crooked Sorcerer who invented the Magic Powder fell down precipice and was killed All his possessions went to relative--an old woman named Dyna, who lives Emerald City She went mountains where the Sorcerer had lived and brought away everything she thought of value Among them was small bottle Powder of Life; but Dyna didn't know Magic Powder, at all It happened she had once had big blue bear for pet; but the bear choked to death on fishbone one day, and she loved it so dearly that Dyna made rug skin, leaving the head and four paws hide She kept the rug floor of her front parlor "

"I've seen rugs like that," said the shaggy man, nodding, "but never one made from blue bear "

"Well," continued the Tin Woodman, "the old woman had an idea Powder bottle moth-powder, because it smelled something like moth-powder; so one day she sprinkled it on her bear rug the moths out of it She said, looking lovingly skin: ' my dear bear were alive again ! ' To her horror, the bear rug at once came to life, having been sprinkled Magic Powder; and now this live bear rug is great trial to her, and makes her lot of trouble "

"Why ? " asked the shaggy man

"Well, it stands up on its four feet and walks all around, and gets way; spoils it for rug It can't speak, although alive; for, while its head might say words, it has no breath in solid body to push the words out mouth It's very slimpsy affair altogether, that bear rug, old woman is sorry it came to life Every day she scold it, and make it lie down flat parlor floor walked upon; but sometimes when she goes to market the rug will hump up its back skin, and stand on its four feet, and trot along after her "

" think Dyna would like that," said Dorothy

"Well, she doesn't; because knows it isn't real bear, but just hollow skin, and so of no actual use except for rug," answered the Tin Woodman "Therefore I believe good thing that all the Magic Powder of Life is now used up, as it can not cause any more trouble "

"Perhaps you're right," said the shaggy man, thoughtfully

At noon they stopped at farmhouse, where it delighted the farmer wife them good luncheon The farm people knew Dorothy, having seen her when she was country before, treated the little girl with respect the Emperor, because she was friend powerful Princess Ozma

They proceeded far after leaving this farm-house before coming to high bridge over broad river This river, the Tin Woodman informed them, boundary Country Winkies territory Emerald City The city itself was still long way off, but all around green meadow as pretty as well-kept lawn, and were neither houses nor farms to spoil the beauty scene

top high bridge see far away the magnificent spires and splendid domes superb city, sparkling like brilliant jewels towered above the emerald walls The shaggy man drew deep breath of awe and amazement, for never had he dreamed that such grand and beautiful place could exist--even fairyland of Oz

Polly was so pleased that her violet eyes sparkled like amethysts, and she danced away from her companions across the bridge and into group of feathery trees lining both the roadsides These trees she stopped to look at with pleasure and surprise, for their leaves were shaped like ostrich plumes, their feather edges beautifully curled; and all the plumes were tinted same dainty rainbow hues that appeared in Polychrome's own pretty gauze gown

"Father ought these trees," she murmured; " almost as lovely as his own rainbows "

Then she gave start of terror, for beneath the trees came stalking two great beasts, either one big enough to crush the little Daughter Rainbow with one blow paws, or to eat her up with one snap enormous jaws One was tawny lion, as tall as horse, nearly; the other striped tiger almost the same size

Polly was too frightened to scream or to stir; she stood still with wildly beating heart until Dorothy rushed past her and with glad cry threw her arms around the huge lion's neck, hugging and kissing the beast with evident joy

"Oh, I'm SO you again ! " cried the little Kansas girl " Hungry Tiger, too ! How fine you're both looking well and happy ? "

"We certainly are, Dorothy," answered the Lion, in deep voice that sounded pleasant and kind; "and greatly pleased that come to Ozma's party It's going grand affair, I promise you "

" lots of fat babies celebration, I hear," remarked the Hungry Tiger, yawning his mouth opened dreadfully wide and showed all his big, sharp teeth; "but 't eat any of 'em "

"Is your Conscience still in good order ? " asked Dorothy, anxiously

"Yes; it rules me like tyrant," answered the Tiger, sorrowfully " imagine nothing more unpleasant than to own Conscience," and he winked slyly at his friend the Lion

"You're fooling me ! " said Dorothy, with laugh "I don't b'lieve you'd eat baby lost your Conscience Come here, Polly," she called, "and be introduced to my friends "

Polly advanced rather shyly

" some queer friends, Dorothy," she said

"The queerness doesn't matter 're friends," answer " Cowardly Lion, who isn't coward at all, but just thinks The Wizard gave him some courage once, and he has part of it left "

The Lion bowed with great dignity to Polly

" very lovely, my dear," said he " friends when better acquainted "

"And Hungry Tiger," continued Dorothy " he longs to eat fat babies; but the truth is never hungry at all, 'cause he gets plenty to eat; and I don't s'pose he'd hurt anybody even if hungry "

"Hush, Dorothy," whispered the Tiger; "you'll ruin my reputation if more discreet It isn't what , but what folks think , that counts world And come of it Miss Polly would make fine variegated breakfast, I'm sure "

18 The Emerald City

The others now came up, Tin Woodman greeted the Lion Tiger cordially Button-Bright yelled with fear when Dorothy first took his hand and led him toward the great beasts; but the girl insisted they were kind and good, and so the boy mustered up courage enough to pat their heads; after they had spoken to him gently and he had looked into their intelligent eyes his fear vanished entirely and so delighted animals that close and stroke their soft fur

As shaggy man, afraid if he had met the beasts alone, or in country, but were the marvels in; the Land of Oz that no longer easily surprised, and Dorothy's friendship Lion and Tiger was enough to assure him they were safe companions Toto barked Cowardly Lion in joyous greeting, for the beast of old and loved him, and funny how gently the Lion raised his huge paw to pat Toto's head The little dog smelled Tiger's nose, Tiger politely shook paws ; so they were quite likely firm friends

Tik-tok and Billina knew the beasts well, so merely bade them good day and asked after their healths and inquired Princess Ozma

Now seen Cowardly Lion Hungry Tiger were drawing behind them splendid golden chariot, they were harnessed by golden cords The body chariot was decorated outside with designs in clusters of sparkling emeralds, while inside lined with green and gold satin, cushions seats were of green plush embroidered in gold with crown, underneath monogram

"Why, it's Ozma's own royal chariot ! " exclaimed Dorothy

"Yes," said the Cowardly Lion; "Ozma sent us to meet you here, for she feared weary with your long walk and she wished you to enter the City in style becoming your exalted rank "

"What ! " cried Polly, looking at Dorothy curiously " belong nobility ? "