Glinda of Oz .........................................................................................................................................................1

L. Frank Baum.........................................................................................................................................1

Chapter One. The Call to Duty................................................................................................................1

Chapter Two. Ozma and Dorothy ............................................................................................................7

Chapter Three. The Mist Maidens.........................................................................................................10

Chapter Four. The Magic Tent ...............................................................................................................11

Chapter Five. The Magic Stairway........................................................................................................13

Chapter Six. Flathead Mountain............................................................................................................16

Chapter Seven. The Magic Isle ..............................................................................................................20

Chapter Eight. Queen Cooeeoh .........................................................................................................21

Chapter Nine. Lady Aurex .....................................................................................................................24

Chapter Ten. Under Water .....................................................................................................................28

Chapter Eleven. The Conquest of the Skeezers .....................................................................................30

Chapter Twelve. The Diamond Swan ....................................................................................................31

Chapter Thirteen. The Alarm Bell.........................................................................................................36

Chapter Fourteen. Ozma's Counsellors ..................................................................................................37

Chapter Fifteen. The Great Sorceress....................................................................................................40

Chapter Sixteen. The Enchanted Fishes .................................................................................................44

Chapter Seventeen. Under the Great Dome ...........................................................................................46

Chapter Eighteen. The Cleverness of Ervic ...........................................................................................50

Chapter Nineteen. Red Reera, the Yookoohoo ......................................................................................55

Chapter Twenty. A Puzzling Problem...................................................................................................58

Chapter TwentyOne. The Three Adepts ..............................................................................................61

Chapter TwentyTwo. The Sunken Island............................................................................................64

Chapter TwentyThree. The Magic Words ...........................................................................................66

Chapter TwentyFour. Glinda's Triumph ..............................................................................................69

Glinda, the good Sorceress of Oz, sat in the grand court of her palace, surrounded by her maids of honor a

hundred of the most beautiful girls of the Fairyland of Oz. The palace court was built of rare marbles,

exquisitely polished. Fountains tinkled musically here and there; the vast colonnade, open to the south,

allowed the maidens, as they raised their heads from their embroideries, to gaze upon a vista of rosehued

fields and groves of trees bearing fruits or laden with sweetscented flowers. At times one of the girls would

start a song, the others joining in the chorus, or one would rise and dance, gracefully swaying to the music of

a harp played by a companion. And then Glinda smiled, glad to see her maids mixing play with work.

Presently among the fields an object was seen moving, threading the broad path that led to the castle gate.

Some of the girls looked upon this object enviously; the Sorceress merely gave it a glance and nodded her

stately head as if pleased, for it meant the coming of her friend and mistress the only one in all the land

Then up the path trotted a wooden animal attached to a red wagon, and as the quaint steed halted at the gate

there descended from the wagon two young girls, Ozma, Ruler of Oz, and her companion, Princess Dorothy.

Both were dressed in simple white muslin gowns, and as they ran up the marble steps of the palace they

laughed and chatted as gaily as if they were not the most important persons in the world's loveliest fairyland.

The maids of honor had risen and stood with bowed heads to greet the royal Ozma, while Glinda came

"We've just come on a visit, you know," said Ozma. "Both Dorothy and I were wondering how we should

pass the day when we happened to think we'd not been to your Quadling Country for weeks, so we took the

"And we came so fast," added Dorothy, "that our hair is blown all fuzzy, for the Sawhorse makes a wind of

his own. Usually it's a day's journey from the Em'rald City, but I don't s'pose we were two hours on the way."

"You are most welcome," said Glinda the Sorceress, and led them through the court to her magnificent

reception hall. Ozma took the arm of her hostess, but Dorothy lagged behind, kissing some of the maids she

knew best, talking with others, and making them all feel that she was their friend. When at last she joined

Glinda and Ozma in the reception hall, she found them talking earnestly about the condition of the people,

and how to make them more happy and contented although they were already the happiest and most

This interested Ozma, of course, but it didn't interest Dorothy very much, so the little girl ran over to a big

This Book is one of the greatest treasures in Oz, and the Sorceress prizes it more highly than any of her

magical possessions. That is the reason it is firmly attached to the big marble table by means of golden

chains, and whenever Glinda leaves home she locks the Great Book together with five jeweled padlocks, and

I do not suppose there is any magical thing in any fairyland to compare with the Record Book, on the pages

of which are constantly being printed a record of every event that happens in any part of the world, at exactly

the moment it happens. And the records are always truthful, although sometimes they do not give as many

details as one could wish. But then, lots of things happen, and so the records have to be brief or even Glinda's

Glinda looked at the records several times each day, and Dorothy, whenever she visited the Sorceress, loved

to look in the Book and see what was happening everywhere. Not much was recorded about the Land of Oz,

which is usually peaceful and uneventful, but today Dorothy found something which interested her. Indeed,

"This is funny!" she exclaimed. "Did you know, Ozma, that there were people in your Land of Oz called

"Yes," replied Ozma, coming to her side, "I know that on Professor Wogglebug's Map of the Land of Oz

there is a place marked 'Skeezer,' but what the Skeezers are like I do not know. No one I know has ever seen

them or heard of them. The Skeezer Country is 'way at the upper edge of the Gillikin Country, with the

sandy, impassable desert on one side and the mountains of Oogaboo on another side. That is a part of the

"I guess no one else knows much about it either, unless it's the Skeezers themselves," remarked Dorothy.

"But the Book says: 'The Skeezers of Oz have declared war on the Flatheads of Oz, and there is likely to be

"Every word," said Dorothy, and Ozma and Glinda both looked at the Record and seemed surprised and

"I cannot, your Majesty," confessed the Sorceress. "Until now I never have heard of them, nor have I ever

heard the Skeezers mentioned. In the faraway corners of Oz are hidden many curious tribes of people, and

those who never leave their own countries and never are visited by those from our favored part of Oz,

naturally are unknown to me. However, if you so desire, I can learn through my arts of sorcery something of

"I wish you would," answered Ozma seriously. "You see, Glinda, if these are Oz people they are my subjects

and I cannot allow any wars or troubles in the Land I rule, if I can possibly help it."

"Very well, your Majesty," said the Sorceress, "I will try to get some information to guide you. Please excuse

"No, Princess," was the reply. "It would spoil the charm to have anyone present."

So Glinda locked herself in her own Room of Magic and Dorothy and Ozma waited patiently for her to come

"Your Majesty," she said to Ozma, "the Skeezers live on a Magic Isle in a great lake. For that reason

"Why, I didn't know there was a lake in that part of Oz," exclaimed Ozma. "The map shows a river running

"That is because the person who made the map never had visited that part of the country," explained the

Sorceress. "The lake surely is there, and in the lake is an island a Magic Isle and on that island live the

"My magic cannot tell me that," confessed Glinda, "for the magic of the Skeezers prevents anyone outside of

"The Flatheads must know, if they're going to fight the Skeezers," suggested Dorothy

"Perhaps so," Glinda replied, "but I can get little information concerning the Flatheads, either. They are

people who inhabit a mountain just south of the Lake of the Skeezers. The mountain has steep sides and a

broad, hollow top, like a basin, and in this basin the Flatheads have their dwellings. They also are magic

workers and usually keep to themselves and allow no one from outside to visit them. I have learned that the

Flatheads number about one hundred people men, women and children while the Skeezers number just

"What did they quarrel about, and why do they wish to fight one another?" was Ozma's next question.

"But see here!" cried Dorothy, "it's against the law for anyone but Glinda and the Wizard to work magic in

the Land of Oz, so if these two strange people are magicmakers they are breaking the law and ought to be

"Those who do not know me or my laws," she said, "cannot be expected to obey my laws. If we know

nothing of the Skeezers or the Flatheads, it is likely that they know nothing of us."

"But they ought to know, Ozma, and we ought to know. Who's going to tell them, and how are we going to

"That," returned Ozma, "is what I am now considering. What would you advise, Glinda?"

The Sorceress took a little time to consider this question, before she made reply. Then she said: "Had you not

learned of the existence of the Flatheads and the Skeezers, through my Book of Records, you would never

have worried about them or their quarrels. So, if you pay no attention to these peoples, you may never hear of

"But that wouldn't be right," declared Ozma. "I am Ruler of all the Land of Oz, which includes the Gillikin

Country, the Quadling Country, the Winkie Country and the Munchkin Country, as well as the Emerald City,

and being the Princess of this fairyland it is my duty to make all my people wherever they may be

happy and content and to settle their disputes and keep them from quarreling. So, while the Skeezers and

Flatheads may not know me or that I am their lawful Ruler, I now know that they inhabit my kingdom and

are my subjects, so I would not be doing my duty if I kept away from them and allowed them to fight."

"That's a fact, Ozma," commented Dorothy. "You've got to go up to the Gillikin Country and make these

people behave themselves and make up their quarrels. But how are you going to do it?"

"That is what is puzzling me also, your Majesty," said the Sorceress. "It may be dangerous for you to go into

"'Tisn't a question of being 'fraid," argued Dorothy. "Of course we know you're a fairy, and can't be killed or

hurt, and we know you've a lot of magic of your own to help you. But, Ozma dear, in spite of all this you've

been in trouble before, on account of wicked enemies, and it isn't right for the Ruler of all Oz to put herself in

"Perhaps I shall be in no danger at all," returned Ozma, with a little laugh. "You mustn't imagine danger,

Dorothy, for one should only imagine nice things, and we do not know that the Skeezers and Flatheads are

"Dorothy is right, your Majesty," asserted the Sorceress. "It is true we know nothing of these faraway

subjects, except that they intend to fight one another, and have a certain amount of magic power at their

command. Such folks do not like to submit to interference and they are more likely to resent your coming

"If you had an army to take with you," added Dorothy, "it wouldn't be so bad; but there isn't such a thing as

"Yes, the soldier with the green whiskers; but he's dreadful 'fraid of his gun and never loads it. I'm sure he'd

run rather than fight. And one soldier, even if he were brave, couldn't do much against two hundred and one

"I advise you to send the Wizard of Oz to them, and let him inform them that it is against the laws of Oz to

fight, and that you command them to settle their differences and become friends," proposed Glinda. "Let the

Wizard tell them they will be punished if they refuse to obey the commands of the Princess of all the Land of

"If they refuse, what then?" she asked. "I should be obliged to carry out my threat and punish them, and that

would be an unpleasant and difficult thing to do. I am sure it would be better for me to go peacefully, without

an army and armed only with my authority as Ruler, and plead with them to obey me. Then, if they prove

"It's a ticklish thing, anyhow you look at it," sighed Dorothy. "I'm sorry now that I noticed the Record in the

"But can't you realize, my dear, that I must do my duty, now that I am aware of this trouble?" asked Ozma. "I

am fully determined to go at once to the Magic Isle of the Skeezers and to the enchanted mountain of the

Flatheads, and prevent war and strife between their inhabitants. The only question to decide is whether it is

better for me to go alone, or to assemble a party of my friends and loyal supporters to accompany me."

"If you go I want to go, too," declared Dorothy. "Whatever happens it's going to be fun 'cause all

Neither Ozma nor Glinda paid any attention to this statement, for they were gravely considering the serious

"There are plenty of friends who would like to go with you," said the Sorceress, "but none of them would

afford your Majesty any protection in case you were in danger. You are yourself the most powerful fairy in

Oz, although both I and the Wizard have more varied arts of magic at our command. However, you have one

art that no other in all the world can equal the art of winning hearts and making people love to bow to

your gracious presence. For that reason I believe you can accomplish more good alone than with a large

"I believe that also," agreed the Princess. "I shall be quite able to take care of myself, you know, but might

not be able to protect others so well. I do not look for opposition, however. I shall speak to these people in

"Aren't you going to take me?" pleaded Dorothy. "You'll need some companion, Ozma."

"I see no reason why you should not accompany me," was her reply. "Two girls are not very warlike and they

will not suspect us of being on any errand but a kindly and peaceful one. But, in order to prevent war and

strife between these angry peoples, we must go to them at once. Let us return immediately to the Emerald

Glinda was not quite satisfied with this plan, but could not think of any better way to meet the problem. She

knew that Ozma, with all her gentleness and sweet disposition, was accustomed to abide by any decision she

had made and could not easily be turned from her purpose. Moreover she could see no great danger to the

fairy Ruler of Oz in the undertaking, even though the unknown people she was to visit proved obstinate. But

Dorothy was not a fairy; she was a little girl who had come from Kansas to live in the Land of Oz. Dorothy

might encounter dangers that to Ozma would be as nothing but to an "Earth child" would be very serious.

The very fact that Dorothy lived in Oz, and had been made a Princess by her friend Ozma, prevented her

from being killed or suffering any great bodily pain as long as she lived in that fairyland. She could not grow

big, either, and would always remain the same little girl who had come to Oz, unless in some way she left

that fairyland or was spirited away from it. But Dorothy was a mortal, nevertheless, and might possibly be

destroyed, or hidden where none of her friends could ever find her. She could, for instance be cut into pieces,

and the pieces, while still alive and free from pain, could be widely scattered; or she might be buried deep

underground or "destroyed" in other ways by evil magicians, were she not properly protected. These facts

Finally the good Sorceress paused and drew a ring from her finger, handing it to Dorothy.

"Wear this ring constantly until your return," she said to the girl. "If serious danger threatens you, turn the

ring around on your finger once to the right and another turn to the left. That will ring the alarm bell in my

palace and I will at once come to your rescue. But do not use the ring unless you are actually in danger of

destruction. While you remain with Princess Ozma I believe she will be able to protect you from all lesser

"Thank you, Glinda," responded Dorothy gratefully, as she placed the ring on her finger. "I'm going to wear

my Magic Belt which I took from the Nome King, too, so I guess I'll be safe from anything the Skeezers and

Ozma had many arrangements to make before she could leave her throne and her palace in the Emerald City,

even for a trip of a few days, so she bade goodbye to Glinda and with Dorothy climbed into the Red Wagon.

A word to the wooden Sawhorse started that astonishing creature on the return journey, and so swiftly did he

run that Dorothy was unable to talk or do anything but hold tight to her seat all the way back to the Emerald

Residing in Ozma's palace at this time was a live Scarecrow, a most remarkable and intelligent creature who

had once ruled the Land of Oz for a brief period and was much loved and respected by all the people. Once a

Munchkin farmer had stuffed an old suit of clothes with straw and put stuffed boots on the feet and used a

pair of stuffed cotton gloves for hands. The head of the Scarecrow was a stuffed sack fastened to the body,

with eyes, nose, mouth and ears painted on the sack. When a hat had been put on the head, the thing was a

good imitation of a man. The farmer placed the Scarecrow on a pole in his cornfield and it came to life in a

curious manner. Dorothy, who was passing by the field, was hailed by the live Scarecrow and lifted him off

his pole. He then went with her to the Emerald City, where the Wizard of Oz gave him some excellent brains,

Ozma considered the Scarecrow one of her best friends and most loyal subjects, so the morning after her visit

to Glinda she asked him to take her place as Ruler of the Land of Oz while she was absent on a journey, and

Ozma had warned Dorothy to keep their journey a secret and say nothing to anyone about the Skeezers and

Flatheads until their return, and Dorothy promised to obey. She longed to tell her girl friends, tiny Trot and

Betsy Bobbin, of the adventure they were undertaking, but refrained from saying a word on the subject

Indeed, only Glinda the Sorceress knew they were going, until after they had gone, and even the Sorceress

Princess Ozma took the Sawhorse and the Red Wagon, although she was not sure there was a wagon road all

the way to the Lake of the Skeezers. The Land of Oz is a pretty big place, surrounded on all sides by a Deadly

Desert which it is impossible to cross, and the Skeezer Country, according to the map, was in the farthest

northwestern part of Oz, bordering on the north desert. As the Emerald City was exactly in the center of Oz, it

Around the Emerald City the country is thickly settled in every direction, but the farther away you get from

the city the fewer people there are, until those parts that border on the desert have small populations. Also

those faraway sections are little known to the Oz people, except in the south, where Glinda lives and where

The least known of all is the Gillikin Country, which harbors many strange bands of people among its

mountains and valleys and forests and streams, and Ozma was now bound for the most distant part of the

"I am really sorry," said Ozma to Dorothy, as they rode away in the Red Wagon, "not to know more about the

wonderful Land I rule. It is my duty to be acquainted with every tribe of people and every strange and hidden

country in all Oz, but I am kept so busy at my palace making laws and planning for the comforts of those who

live near the Emerald City, that I do not often find time to make long journeys."

"Well," replied Dorothy, "we'll prob'bly find out a lot on this trip, and we'll learn all about the Skeezers and

Flatheads, anyhow. Time doesn't make much diff'rence in the Land of Oz, 'cause we don't grow up, or get

old, or become sick and die, as they do other places; so, if we explore one place at a time, we'll byan'by

Dorothy wore around her waist the Nome King's Magic Belt, which protected her from harm, and the Magic

Ring which Glinda had given her was on her finger. Ozma had merely slipped a small silver wand into the

bosom of her gown, for fairies do not use chemicals and herbs and the tools of wizards and sorcerers to

perform their magic. The Silver Wand was Ozma's one weapon of offense and defense and by its use she

They had left the Emerald City just at sunrise and the Sawhorse traveled very swiftly over the roads towards

the north, but in a few hours the wooden animal had to slacken his pace because the farm houses had become

few and far between and often there were no paths at all in the direction they wished to follow. At such times

they crossed the fields, avoiding groups of trees and fording the streams and rivulets whenever they came to

them. But finally they reached a broad hillside closely covered with scrubby brush, through which the wagon

"It will be difficult even for you and me to get through without tearing our dresses," said Ozma, "so we must

"That's all right," Dorothy replied, "I'm tired riding, anyhow. Do you s'pose, Ozma, we're anywhere near the

"I cannot tell, Dorothy dear, but I know we've been going in the right direction, so we are sure to find it in

The scrubby brush was almost like a grove of small trees, for it reached as high as the heads of the two girls,

neither of whom was very tall. They were obliged to thread their way in and out, until Dorothy was afraid

they would get lost, and finally they were halted by a curious thing that barred their further progress. It was a

huge web as if woven by gigantic spiders and the delicate, lacy film was fastened stoutly to the

branches of the bushes and continued to the right and left in the form of a half circle. The threads of this web

were of a brilliant purple color and woven into numerous artistic patterns, but it reached from the ground to

branches above the heads of the girls and formed a sort of fence that hedged them in.

"It doesn't look very strong, though," said Dorothy. "I wonder if we couldn't break through." She tried but

found the web stronger than it seemed. All her efforts could not break a single thread.

"We must go back, I think, and try to get around this peculiar web," Ozma decided.

So they turned to the right and, following the web found that it seemed to spread in a regular circle. On and

on they went until finally Ozma said they had returned to the exact spot from which they had started. "Here is

"In that case, they must have built the web behind us, after we walked into the trap," exclaimed the little girl.

"It's a spiderweb, I'm quite sure," returned Ozma, "but it must be the work of enormous spiders."

"Quite right!" cried a voice behind them. Turning quickly around they beheld a huge purple spider sitting not

Then there crawled from the bushes a dozen more great purple spiders, which saluted the first one and said:

Dorothy did not like the looks of these spiders at all. They had big heads, sharp claws, small eyes and fuzzy

"We need someone to keep house for us," answered the Spider King. "There is sweeping and dusting to be

done, and polishing and washing of dishes, and that is work my people dislike to do. So we decided that if

"Well, I am King of all Spiders," was the reply, "and that makes me your master. Come with me to my palace

"We'll see about that," returned the Spider in a severe tone, and the next instant he made a dive straight at

Dorothy, opening the claws in his legs as if to grab and pinch her with the sharp points. But the girl was

wearing her Magic Belt and was not harmed. The Spider King could not even touch her. He turned swiftly

and made a dash at Ozma, but she held her Magic Wand over his head and the monster recoiled as if it had

"So I see," returned the Spider King angrily. "Your magic is greater than mine. But I'll not help you to escape.

If you can break the magic web my people have woven you may go; if not you must stay here and starve."

With that the Spider King uttered a peculiar whistle and all the spiders disappeared.

"There is more magic in my fairyland than I dreamed of," remarked the beautiful Ozma, with a sigh of regret.

"It seems that my laws have not been obeyed, for even these monstrous spiders defy me by means of Magic."

"Never mind that now," said Dorothy; "let's see what we can do to get out of this trap."

They now examined the web with great care and were amazed at its strength. Although finer than the finest

silken hairs, it resisted all their efforts to work through, even though both girls threw all their weight against

"We must find some instrument which will cut the threads of the web," said Ozma, finally. "Let us look about

So they wandered among the bushes and finally came to a shallow pool of water, formed by a small bubbling

spring. Dorothy stooped to get a drink and discovered in the water a green crab, about as big as her hand. The

crab had two big, sharp claws, and as soon as Dorothy saw them she had an idea that those claws could save

Rather lazily the crab rose to the surface and caught hold of a bit of rock. With his head above the water he

"We want you to cut the web of the purple spiders with your claws, so we can get through it," answered

"I wish to be white, instead of green," said the crab. "Green crabs are very common, and white ones are rare;

besides the purple spiders, which infest this hillside, are afraid of white crabs. Could you make me white if I

"Yes," said Ozma, "I can do that easily. And, so you may know I am speaking the truth, I will change your

She waved her silver wand over the pool and the crab instantly became snowwhite all except his eyes,

which remained black. The creature saw his reflection in the water and was so delighted that he at once

climbed out of the pool and began moving slowly toward the web, by backing away from the pool. He moved

so very slowly that Dorothy cried out impatiently: "Dear me, this will never do!" Caching the crab in her

She had to hold him up even then, so he could reach with his claws strand after strand of the filmy purple

When enough of the web had been cut to allow them to pass, Dorothy ran back to the pool and placed the

white crab in the water, after which she rejoined Ozma. They were just in time to escape through the web, for

several of the purple spiders now appeared, having discovered that their web had been cut, and had the girls

not rushed through the opening the spiders would have quickly repaired the cuts and again imprisoned them.

Ozma and Dorothy ran as fast as they could and although the angry spiders threw a number of strands of web

after them, hoping to lasso them or entangle them in the coils, they managed to escape and clamber to the top

From the top of the hill Ozma and Dorothy looked down into the valley beyond and were surprised to find it

filled with a floating mist that was as dense as smoke. Nothing in the valley was visible except these rolling

waves of mist, but beyond, on the other side, rose a grassy hill that appeared quite beautiful.

"Well," said Dorothy, "what are we to do, Ozma? Walk down into that thick fog, an' prob'bly get lost in it, or

"I'm not sure it will clear away, however long we wait," replied Ozma, doubtfully. "If we wish to get on, I

"But we can't see where we're going, or what we're stepping on," protested Dorothy. "There may be dreadful

Even Ozma seemed to hesitate. She was silent and thoughtful for a little while, looking at the rolling drifts

"I believe this is a Mist Valley, where these moist clouds always remain, for even the sunshine above does

not drive them away. Therefore the Mist Maids must live here, and they are fairies and should answer my

She placed her two hands before her mouth, forming a hollow with them, and uttered a clear, thrilling, bird

like cry. It floated far out over the mist waves and presently was answered by a similar sound, as of a far off

Dorothy was much impressed. She had seen many strange things since coming to this fairy country, but here

was a new experience. At ordinary times Ozma was just like any little girl one might chance to meet

simple, merry, lovable as could be yet with a certain reserve that lent her dignity in her most joyous

moods. There were times, however, when seated on her throne and commanding her subjects, or when her

fairy powers were called into use, when Dorothy and all others about her stood in awe of their lovely girl

Ozma waited. Presently out from the billows rose beautiful forms, clothed in fleecy, trailing garments of gray

that could scarcely be distinguished from the mist. Their hair was mistcolor, too; only their gleaming arms

and sweet, pallid faces proved they were living, intelligent creatures answering the call of a sister fairy.

Like sea nymphs they rested on the bosom of the clouds, their eyes turned questioningly upon the two girls

"Will you please take us to the opposite hillside? We are afraid to venture into the mist. I am Princess Ozma

The Mist Maids came nearer, holding out their arms. Without hesitation Ozma advanced and allowed them to

embrace her and Dorothy plucked up courage to follow. Very gently the Mist Maids held them. Dorothy

thought the arms were cold and misty they didn't seem real at all yet they supported the two girls

above the surface of the billows and floated with them so swiftly to the green hillside opposite that the girls

were astonished to find themselves set upon the grass before they realized they had fairly started.

"Thank you!" said Ozma gratefully, and Dorothy also added her thanks for the service.

The Mist Maids made no answer, but they smiled and waved their hands in goodbye as again they floated

"Well," said Dorothy with a laugh, "that was easier than I expected. It's worth while, sometimes, to be a real

fairy. But I wouldn't like to be that kind, and live in a dreadful fog all the time."

They now climbed the bank and found before them a delightful plain that spread for miles in all directions.

Fragrant wild flowers were scattered throughout the grass; there were bushes bearing lovely blossoms and

luscious fruits; now and then a group of stately trees added to the beauty of the landscape. But there were no

The farther side of the plain was bordered by a row of palms, and just in front of the palms rose a queerly

shaped hill that towered above the plain like a mountain. The sides of this hill were straight up and down; it

"Oh, ho!" cried Dorothy; "I'll bet that's the mountain Glinda told us of, where the Flatheads live."

"If it is," replied Ozma, "the Lake of the Skeezers must be just beyond the line of palm trees. Can you walk

"Of course, in time," was the prompt answer. "I'm sorry we had to leave the Sawhorse and the Red Wagon

behind us, for they'd come in handy just now; but with the end of our journey in sight a tramp across these

It was a longer tramp than they suspected, however, and night overtook them before they could reach the flat

mountain. So Ozma proposed they camp for the night and Dorothy was quite ready to approve. She didn't like

to admit to her friend she was tired, but she told herself that her legs "had prickers in 'em," meaning they had

Usually when Dorothy started on a journey of exploration or adventure, she carried with her a basket of food,

and other things that a traveler in a strange country might require, but to go away with Ozma was quite a

different thing, as experience had taught her. The fairy Ruler of Oz only needed her silver wand tipped at

one end with a great sparkling emerald to provide through its magic all that they might need. Therefore

Ozma, having halted with her companion and selected a smooth, grassy spot on the plain, waved her wand in

graceful curves and chanted some mystic words in her sweet voice, and in an instant a handsome tent

appeared before them. The canvas was striped purple and white, and from the center pole fluttered the royal

"Come, dear," said Ozma, taking Dorothy's hand, "I am hungry and I'm sure you must be also; so let us go in

On entering the tent they found a table set for two, with snowy linen, bright silver and sparkling glassware, a

vase of roses in the center and many dishes of delicious food, some smoking hot, waiting to satisfy their

hunger. Also, on either side of the tent were beds, with satin sheets, warm blankets and pillows filled with

swansdown. There were chairs, too, and tall lamps that lighted the interior of the tent with a soft, rosy glow.

Dorothy, resting herself at her fairy friend's command, and eating her dinner with unusual enjoyment, thought

of the wonders of magic. If one were a fairy and knew the secret laws of nature and the mystic words and

ceremonies that commanded those laws, then a simple wave of a silver wand would produce instantly all that

men work hard and anxiously for through weary years. And Dorothy wished in her kindly, innocent heart,

that all men and women could be fairies with silver wands, and satisfy all their needs without so much work

and worry, for then, she imagined, they would have all their working hours to be happy in. But Ozma,

looking into her friend's face and reading those thoughts, gave a laugh and said:

"No, no, Dorothy, that wouldn't do at all. Instead of happiness your plan would bring weariness to the world.

If every one could wave a wand and have his wants fulfilled there would be little to wish for. There would be

no eager striving to obtain the difficult, for nothing would then be difficult, and the pleasure of earning

something longed for, and only to be secured by hard work and careful thought, would be utterly lost. There

would be nothing to do you see, and no interest in life and in our fellow creatures. That is all that makes life

worth our while to do good deeds and to help those less fortunate than ourselves."

"Yes, dear, because I can use my fairy powers to make others happy. Had I no kingdom to rule, and no

subjects to look after, I would be miserable. Also, you must realize that while I am a more powerful fairy than

any other inhabitant of Oz, I am not as powerful as Glinda the Sorceress, who has studied many arts of magic

that I know nothing of. Even the little Wizard of Oz can do some things I am unable to accomplish, while I

can accomplish things unknown to the Wizard. This is to explain that I'm not allpowerful, by any means.

"All the same," said Dorothy, "I'm mighty glad you could make this tent appear, with our dinners and beds all

"Yes, it is indeed wonderful," she agreed. "Not all fairies know that sort of magic, but some fairies can do

magic that fills me with astonishment. I think that is what makes us modest and unassuming the fact that

our magic arts are divided, some being given each of us. I'm glad I don't know everything, Dorothy, and that

Dorothy couldn't quite understand this, so she said nothing more on the subject and presently had a new

reason to marvel. For when they had quite finished their meal table and contents disappeared in a flash.

"No dishes to wash, Ozma!" she said with a laugh. "I guess you'd make a lot of folks happy if you could teach

For an hour Ozma told stories, and talked with Dorothy about various people in whom they were interested.

And then it was bedtime, and they undressed and crept into their soft beds and fell asleep almost as soon as

The flat mountain looked much nearer in the clear light of the morning sun, but Dorothy and Ozma knew

there was a long tramp before them, even yet. They finished dressing only to find a warm, delicious breakfast

awaiting them, and having eaten they left the tent and started toward the mountain which was their first goal.

After going a little way Dorothy looked back and found that the fairy tent had entirely disappeared. She was

"Can't your magic give us a horse an' wagon, or an automobile?" inquired Dorothy.

"No, dear; I'm sorry that such magic is beyond my power," confessed her fairy friend.

"Glinda has a stork chariot that carries her through the air," said Ozma, "but even our great Sorceress cannot

conjure up other modes of travel. Don't forget what I told you last night, that no one is powerful enough to do

"Well, I s'pose I ought to know that, having lived so long in the Land of Oz," replied Dorothy; "but I can't do

any magic at all, an' so I can't figure out e'zactly how you an' Glinda an' the Wizard do it."

"Don't try," laughed Ozma. "But you have at least one magical art, Dorothy: you know the trick of winning

"No, I don't," said Dorothy earnestly. "If I really can do it, Ozma, I am sure I don't know how I do it."

It took them a good two hours to reach the foot of the round, flat mountain, and then they found the sides so

"But there is some way for the Flatheads to get down and up again," declared Ozma; "otherwise they couldn't

"That's so, Ozma. Let's walk around a ways; perhaps we'll find a ladder or something."

They walked quite a distance, for it was a big mountain, and as they circled around it and came to the side

that faced the palm trees, they suddenly discovered an entrance way cut out of the rock wall. This entrance

was arched overhead and not very deep because it merely led to a short flight of stone stairs.

"Oh, we've found a way to the top at last," announced Ozma, and the two girls turned and walked straight

toward the entrance. Suddenly they bumped against something and stood still, unable to proceed farther.

"Dear me!" exclaimed Dorothy, rubbing her nose, which had struck something hard, although she could not

see what it was; "this isn't as easy as it looks. What has stopped us, Ozma? Is it magic of some sort?"

"Yes, dear, it is magic," she replied. "The Flatheads had to have a way from their mountain top from the plain

below, but to prevent enemies from rushing up the stairs to conquer them, they have built, at a small distance

before the entrance a wall of solid stone, the stones being held in place by cement, and then they made the

"I wonder why they did that?" mused Dorothy. "A wall would keep folks out anyhow, whether it could be

seen or not, so there wasn't any use making it invisible. Seems to me it would have been better to have left it

solid, for then no one would have seen the entrance behind it. Now anybody can see the entrance, as we did.

"I think I know the reason for making the wall invisible," she said after a while. "The Flatheads use the stairs

for coming down and going up. If there was a solid stone wall to keep them from reaching the plain they

would themselves be imprisoned by the wall. So they had to leave some place to get around the wall, and, if

the wall was visible, all strangers or enemies would find the place to go around it and then the wall would be

useless. So the Flatheads cunningly made their wall invisible, believing that everyone who saw the entrance

to the mountain would walk straight toward it, as we did, and find it impossible to go any farther. I suppose

the wall is really high and thick, and can't be broken through, so those who find it in their way are obliged to

"We must find it," returned Ozma, and began feeling her way along the wall. Dorothy followed and began to

get discouraged when Ozma had walked nearly a quarter of a mile away from the entrance. But now the

invisible wall curved in toward the side of the mountain and suddenly ended, leaving just space enough

The girls went in, single file, and Ozma explained that they were now behind the barrier and could go back to

"Most people, Ozma, wouldn't have figured this thing out the way you did," remarked Dorothy. "If I'd been

Reaching the entrance they began to mount the stone stairs. They went up ten stairs and then down five stairs,

following a passage cut from the rock. The stairs were just wide enough for the two girls to walk abreast, arm

in arm. At the bottom of the five stairs the passage turned to the right, and they ascended ten more stairs, only

to find at the top of the flight five stairs leading straight down again. Again the passage turned abruptly, this

The passage was now quite dark, for they were in the heart of the mountain and all daylight had been shut out

by the turns of the passage. However, Ozma drew her silver wand from her bosom and the great jewel at its

end gave out a lustrous, greentinted light which lighted the place well enough for them to see their way

Ten steps up, five steps down, and a turn, this way or that. That was the program, and Dorothy figured that

"Those Flatheads must be funny people," she said to Ozma. "They don't seem to do anything in a bold

straightforward manner. In making this passage they forced everyone to walk three times as far as is

necessary. And of course this trip is just as tiresome to the Flatheads as it is to other folks."

"That is true," answered Ozma; "yet it is a clever arrangement to prevent their being surprised by intruders.

Every time we reach the tenth step of a flight, the pressure of our feet on the stone makes a bell ring on top of

"I've heard the bell ever since we started," Ozma told her. "You could not hear it, I know, but when I am

"Yes. The people are calling to one another in alarm and many footsteps are approaching the place where we

This made Dorothy feel somewhat anxious. "I'd thought we were going to visit just common, ordinary

people," she remarked, "but they're pretty clever, it seems, and they know some kinds of magic, too. They

Finally the upstairsanddownstairs passage seemed coming to an end, for daylight again appeared ahead of

the two girls and Ozma replaced her wand in the bosom of her gown. The last ten steps brought them to the

surface, where they found themselves surrounded by such a throng of queer people that for a time they halted,

Dorothy knew at once why these mountain people were called Flatheads. Their heads were really flat on top,

as if they had been cut off just above the eyes and ears. Also the heads were bald, with no hair on top at all,

and the ears were big and stuck straight out, and the noses were small and stubby, while the mouths of the

Flatheads were well shaped and not unusual. Their eyes were perhaps their best feature, being large and

The costumes of the Flatheads were all made of metals dug from their mountain. Small gold, silver, tin and

iron discs, about the size of pennies, and very thin, were cleverly wired together and made to form knee

trousers and jackets for the men and skirts and waists for the women. The colored metals were skillfully

mixed to form stripes and checks of various sorts, so that the costumes were quite gorgeous and reminded

Aside from their flat heads, these people were not really bad looking. The men were armed with bows and

arrows and had small axes of steel stuck in their metal belts. They wore no hats nor ornaments.

When they saw that the intruders on their mountain were only two little girls, the Flatheads grunted with

satisfaction and drew back, permitting them to see what the mountain top looked like. It was shaped like a

saucer, so that the houses and other buildings all made of rocks could not be seen over the edge by

But now a big fat Flathead stood before the girls and in a gruff voice demanded:

"Well, I've never heard of the Land of Oz, so you may be what you claim," returned the Flathead.

"This is the Land of Oz part of it, anyway," exclaimed Dorothy. "So Princess Ozma rules you Flathead

The man laughed, and all the others who stood around laughed, too. Some one in the crowd called:

"She'd better not tell the Supreme Dictator about ruling the Flatheads. Eh, friends?"

"I think I'll let him tell you that himself," answered the man who had first spoken. "You have broken our laws

by coming here; and whoever you are the Supreme Dictator must fix your punishment. Come along with me."

He started down a path and Ozma and Dorothy followed him without protest, as they wanted to see the most

important person in this queer country. The houses they passed seemed pleasant enough and each had a little

yard in which were flowers and vegetables. Walls of rock separated the dwellings, and all the paths were

paved with smooth slabs of rock. This seemed their only building material and they utilized it cleverly for

Directly in the center of the great saucer stood a larger building which the Flathead informed the girls was the

palace of the Supreme Dictator. He led them through an entrance hall into a big reception room, where they

sat upon stone benches and awaited the coming of the Dictator. Pretty soon he entered from another room

a rather lean and rather old Flathead, dressed much like the others of this strange race, and only distinguished

from them by the sly and cunning expression of his face. He kept his eyes half closed and looked through the

"Yes, that's me," he said, rubbing his hands slowly together. "My word is law. I'm the head of the Flatheads

"Stop a minute," interrupted the Dictator, and turned to the man who had brought the girls there. "Go away,

Dictator Felo Flathead!" he commanded. "Return to your duty and guard the Stairway. I will look after these

"Of course," was the answer. "Everybody here is a dictator of something or other. They're all office holders.

That's what keeps them contented. But I'm the Supreme Dictator of all, and I'm elected once a year. This is a

democracy, you know, where the people are allowed to vote for their rulers. A good many others would like

to be Supreme Dictator, but as I made a law that I am always to count the votes myself, I am always elected."

"I am called the Sudic, which is short for Supreme Dictator. I sent that man away because the moment you

mentioned Ozma of Oz, and the Emerald City, I knew who you are. I suppose I'm the only Flathead that ever

"I don't see how you can have any brains at all," she remarked, "because the part of your head is gone where

"I don't blame you for thinking that," he said. "Once the Flatheads had no brains because, as you say, there is

no upper part to their heads, to hold brains. But long, long ago a band of fairies flew over this country and

made it all a fairyland, and when they came to the Flatheads the fairies were sorry to find them all very stupid

and quite unable to think. So, as there was no good place in their bodies in which to put brains the Fairy

Queen gave each one of us a nice can of brains to carry in his pocket and that made us just as intelligent as

other people. See," he continued, "here is one of the cans of brains the fairies gave us." He took from a pocket

a bright tin can having a pretty red label on it which said: Concentrated Brains, Extra Quality."

"Yes, they're all alike. Here's another can." From another pocket he produced a second can of brains.

"No, but one of the Flatheads thought he wanted to be the Sudic and tried to get my people to rebel against

me, so I punished him by taking away his brains. One day my wife scolded me severely, so I took away her

can of brains. She didn't like that and went out and robbed several women of their brains. Then I made a law

that if anyone stole another's brains, or even tried to borrow them, he would forfeit his own brains to the Su

dic. So each one is content with his own canned brains and my wife and I are the only ones on the mountain

with more than one can. I have three cans and that makes me very clever so clever that I'm a good

Sorcerer, if I do say it myself. My poor wife had four cans of brains and became a remarkable witch, but alas!

that was before those terrible enemies, the Skeezers, transformed her into a Golden Pig."

"She is. The Skeezers did it and so I have declared war on them. In revenge for making my wife a Pig I

intend to ruin their Magic Island and make the Skeezers the slaves of the Flatheads!"

The Sudic was very angry now; his eyes flashed and his face took on a wicked and fierce expression. But

"I am sorry to hear this. Will you please tell me more about your troubles with the Skeezers? Then perhaps I

She was only a girl, but there was dignity in her pose and speech which impressed the Sudic.

"If you are really Princess Ozma of Oz," the Flathead said, "you are one of that band of fairies who, under

Queen Lurline, made all Oz a Fairyland. I have heard that Lurline left one of her own fairies to rule Oz, and

"If you knew this why did you not come to me at the Emerald City and tender me your loyalty and

"Well, I only learned the fact lately, and I've been too busy to leave home," he explained, looking at the floor

"It was this way," began the Sudic, glad to change the subject. "We Flatheads love fish, and as we have no

fish on this mountain we would sometimes go to the Lake of the Skeezers to catch fish. This made the

Skeezers angry, for they declared the fish in their lake belonged to them and were under their protection and

they forbade us to catch them. That was very mean and unfriendly in the Skeezers, you must admit, and when

we paid no attention to their orders they set a guard on the shore of the lake to prevent our fishing.

"Now, my wife, Rora Flathead, having four cans of brains, had become a wonderful witch, and fish being

brain food, she loved to eat fish better than any one of us. So she vowed she would destroy every fish in the

lake, unless the Skeezers let us catch what we wanted. They defied us, so Rora prepared a kettleful of magic

poison and went down to the lake one night to dump it all in the water and poison the fish. It was a clever

idea, quite worthy of my dear wife, but the Skeezer Queen a young lady named Cooeeoh hid on the

bank of the lake and taking Rora unawares, transformed her into a Golden Pig. The poison was spilled on the

ground and wicked Queen Cooeeoh, not content with her cruel transformation, even took away my wife's

four cans of brains, so she is now a common grunting pig without even brains enough to know her own

"Then," said Ozma thoughtfully, "the Queen of the Skeezers must be a Sorceress."

"Yes," said the Sudic, "but she doesn't know much magic, after all. She is not as powerful as Rora Flathead

was, nor half as powerful as I am now, as Queen Cooeeoh will discover when we fight our great battle and

"No; even had Queen Cooeeoh left her the four cans of brains, poor Rora, in a pig's shape, couldn't do any

"It seems a sad story," was Ozma's comment, "and all the trouble arose because the Flatheads wanted fish that

"As for that," said the Sudic, again angry, "I made a law that any of my people could catch fish in the Lake

of the Skeezers, whenever they wanted to. So the trouble was through the Skeezers defying my law."

"You can only make laws to govern your own people," asserted Ozma sternly. "I, alone, am empowered to

"Pooh!" cried the Sudic scornfully. "You can't make me obey your laws, I assure you. I know the extent of

your powers, Princess Ozma of Oz, and I know that I am more powerful than you are. To prove it I shall keep

you and your companion prisoners in this mountain until after we have fought and conquered the Skeezers.

Dorothy was amazed by this effrontery and defiance of the beautiful girl Ruler of Oz, whom all until now had

obeyed without question. But Ozma, still unruffled and dignified, looked at the Sudic and said:

"You did not mean that. You are angry and speak unwisely, without reflection. I came here from my palace in

the Emerald City to prevent war and to make peace between you and the Skeezers. I do not approve of Queen

Cooeeoh's action in transforming your wife Rora into a pig, nor do I approve of Rora's cruel attempt to

poison the fishes in the lake. No one has the right to work magic in my dominions without my consent, so the

"If you want to make peace," said the Sudic, "make the Skeezers restore my wife to her proper form and

give back her four cans of brains. Also make them agree to allow us to catch fish in their lake."

"No," returned Ozma, "I will not do that, for it would be unjust. I will have the Golden Pig again transformed

into your wife Rora, and give her one can of brains, but the other three cans must be restored to those she

robbed. Neither may you catch fish in the Lake of the Skeezers, for it is their lake and the fish belong to them.

"Never!" cried the Sudic. Just then a pig came running into the room, uttering dismal grunts. It was made of

solid gold, with joints at the bends of the legs and in the neck and jaws. The Golden Pig's eyes were rubies,

"There!" said the Sudic, "gaze on the evil work of Queen Cooeeoh, and then say if you can prevent my

making war on the Skeezers. That grunting beast was once my wife the most beautiful Flathead on our

"Fight the Skeezers, fight the Skeezers, fight the Skeezers!" grunted the Golden Pig.

"I will fight the Skeezers," exclaimed the Flathead chief, "and if a dozen Ozmas of Oz forbade me I would

"You can't prevent it. But since you threaten me, I'll have you confined in the bronze prison until the war is

over," said the Sudic. He whistled and four stout Flatheads, armed with axes and spears, entered the room

and saluted him. Turning to the men he said: "Take these two girls, bind them with wire ropes and cast them

Ozma, seeing it was useless to argue with the Supreme Dictator of the Flatheads. had been considering how

best to escape from his power. She realized that his sorcery might be difficult to overcome, and when he

threatened to cast Dorothy and her into a bronze prison she slipped her hand into her bosom and grasped her

silver wand. With the other hand she grasped the hand of Dorothy, but these motions were so natural that the

Sudic did not notice them. Then when he turned to meet his four soldiers, Ozma instantly rendered both

herself and Dorothy invisible and swiftly led her companion around the group of Flatheads and out of the

Dorothy understood and she was a good runner. Ozma had marked the place where the grand stairway that

led to the plain was located, so they made directly for it. Some people were in the paths but these they dodged

around. One or two Flatheads heard the pattering of footsteps of the girls on the stone pavement and stopped

with bewildered looks to gaze around them, but no one interfered with the invisible fugitives.

The Sudic had lost no time in starting the chase. He and his men ran so fast that they might have overtaken

the girls before they reached the stairway had not the Golden Pig suddenly run across their path. The Sudic

tripped over the pig and fell flat, and his four men tripped over him and tumbled in a heap. Before they could

scramble up and reach the mouth of the passage it was too late to stop the two girls.

There was a guard on each side of the stairway, but of course they did not see Ozma and Dorothy as they

sped past and descended the steps. Then they had to go up five steps and down another ten, and so on, in the

same manner in which they had climbed to the top of the mountain. Ozma lighted their way with her wand

and they kept on without relaxing their speed until they reached the bottom. Then they ran to the right and

turned the corner of the invisible wall just as the Sudic and his followers rushed out of the arched entrance

Ozma now knew they were safe, so she told Dorothy to stop and both of them sat down on the grass until

As for the Sudic, he realized he was foiled and soon turned and climbed his stairs again. He was very angry

angry with Ozma and angry with himself because, now that he took time to think, he remembered that

he knew very well the art of making people invisible, and visible again, and if he had only thought of it in

time he could have used his magic knowledge to make the girls visible and so have captured them easily.

However, it was now too late for regrets and he determined to make preparations at once to march all his

"Let us find the Lake of the Skeezers," replied Ozma. "From what that dreadful Sudic said I imagine the

Skeezers are good people and worthy of our friendship, and if we go to them we may help them to defeat the

"I s'pose we can't stop the war now," remarked Dorothy reflectively, as they walked toward the row of palm

"No; the Sudic is determined to fight the Skeezers, so all we can do is to warn them of their danger and help

"Well, I do not think the Flathead people are as much to blame as their Supreme Dictator," was the answer.

"If he is removed from power and his unlawful magic taken from him, the people will probably be good and

respect the laws of the Land of Oz, and live at peace with all their neighbors in the future."

The palms were not far from the mountain and the girls reached them after a brisk walk. The huge trees were

set close together, in three rows, and had been planted so as to keep people from passing them, but the

Flatheads had cut a passage through this barrier and Ozma found the path and led Dorothy to the other side.

Beyond the palms they discovered a very beautiful scene. Bordered by a green lawn was a great lake fully a

mile from shore to shore, the waters of which were exquisitely blue and sparkling, with little wavelets

breaking its smooth surface where the breezes touched it. In the center of this lake appeared a lovely island,

not of great extent but almost entirely covered by a huge round building with glass walls and a high glass

dome which glittered brilliantly in the sunshine. Between the glass building and the edge of the island was no

grass, flowers or shrubbery, but only an expanse of highly polished white marble. There were no boats on

"Well," said Dorothy, gazing wistfully at the island, we've found the Lake of the Skeezers and their Magic

Isle. I guess the Skeezers are in that big glass palace, but we can't get at 'em."

Princess Ozma considered the situation gravely. Then she tied her handkerchief to her wand and, standing at

the water's edge, waved the handkerchief like a flag, as a signal. For a time they could observe no response.

"I don't see what good that will do," said Dorothy. "Even if the Skeezers are on that island and see us, and

But the Skeezers didn't need boats, as the girls soon discovered. For on a sudden an opening appeared at the

base of the palace and from the opening came a slender shaft of steel, reaching out slowly but steadily across

the water in the direction of the place where they stood. To the girls this steel arrangement looked like a

triangle, with the base nearest the water. It came toward them in the form of an arch, stretching out from the

palace wall until its end reached the bank and rested there, while the other end still remained on the island.

Then they saw that it was a bridge, consisting of a steel footway just broad enough to walk on, and two

slender guide rails, one on either side, which were connected with the footway by steel bars. The bridge

looked rather frail and Dorothy feared it would not bear their weight, but Ozma at once called, "Come on!"

and started to walk across, holding fast to the rail on either side. So Dorothy summoned her courage and

followed after. Before Ozma had taken three steps she halted and so forced Dorothy to halt, for the bridge

"We need not walk after all," said Ozma. So they stood still in their places and let the steel bridge draw them

onward. Indeed, the bridge drew them well into the glassdomed building which covered the island, and soon

they found themselves standing in a marble room where two handsomely dressed young men stood on a

Ozma at once stepped from the end of the bridge to the marble platform, followed by Dorothy, and then the

bridge disappeared with a slight clang of steel and a marble slab covered the opening from which it had

"Queen Cooeeoh bids you welcome, O Strangers. Her Majesty is waiting to receive you in her palace."

But instead of "leading on," the platform of marble began to rise, carrying them upward through a square hole

above which just fitted it. A moment later they found themselves within the great glass dome that covered

Within this dome was a little village, with houses, streets, gardens and parks. The houses were of colored

marbles, prettily designed, with many stainedglass windows, and the streets and gardens seemed well cared

for. Exactly under the center of the lofty dome was a small park filled with brilliant flowers, with an elaborate

fountain, and facing this park stood a building larger and more imposing than the others. Toward this

On the streets and in the doorways or open windows of the houses were men, women and children, all richly

dressed. These were much like other people in different parts of the Land of Oz, except that instead of

seeming merry and contented they all wore expressions of much solemnity or of nervous irritation. They had

beautiful homes, splendid clothes, and ample food, but Dorothy at once decided something was wrong with

their lives and that they were not happy. She said nothing, however, but looked curiously at the Skeezers.

At the entrance of the palace Ozma and Dorothy were met by two other young men, in uniform and armed

with queer weapons that seemed about halfway between pistols and guns, but were like neither. Their

conductors bowed and left them, and the two in uniforms led the girls into the palace.

In a beautiful throne room, surrounded by a dozen or more young men and women, sat the Queen of the

Skeezers, Cooeeoh. She was a girl who looked older than Ozma or Dorothy fifteen or sixteen, at least

and although she was elaborately dressed as if she were going to a ball she was too thin and plain of

feature to be pretty. But evidently Queen Cooeeoh did not realize this fact, for her air and manner betrayed

her as proud and haughty and with a high regard for her own importance. Dorothy at once decided she was

The Queen's hair was as black as her skin was white and her eyes were black, too. The eyes, as she calmly

examined Ozma and Dorothy, had a suspicious and unfriendly look in them, but she said quietly:

"I know who you are, for I have consulted my Magic Oracle, which told me that one calls herself Princess

Ozma, the Ruler of all the Land of Oz, and the other is Princess Dorothy of Oz, who came from a country

"Why, this is the Land of Oz!" cried Dorothy. "It's a part of the Land of Oz, anyhow, whether you know it or

"Oh, indeed!" answered Queen Cooeeoh, scornfully. "I suppose you will claim next that this Princess

By this time Ozma had made up her mind as to the character of this haughty and disdainful creature, whose

"I did not come here to quarrel with your Majesty," said the girl Ruler of Oz, quietly. "What and who I am is

well established, and my authority comes from the Fairy Queen Lurline, of whose band I was a member when

Lurline made all Oz a Fairyland. There are several countries and several different peoples in this broad land,

each of which has its separate rulers, Kings, Emperors and Queens. But all these render obedience to my laws

"If other Kings and Queens are fools that does not interest me in the least," replied Cooeeoh, disdainfully.

"In the Land of the Skeezers I alone am supreme. You are impudent to think I would defer to you or to

"Let us not speak of this now, please," answered Ozma. "Your island is in danger, for a powerful foe is

"My magic is greater than his. Let the Flatheads come! They will never return to their barren mountain top.

Ozma did not like this attitude, for it meant that the Skeezers were eager to fight the Flatheads, and Ozma's

object in coming here was to prevent fighting and induce the two quarrelsome neighbors to make peace. She

was also greatly disappointed in Cooeeoh, for the reports of Sudic had led her to imagine the Queen more

just and honorable than were the Flatheads. Indeed Ozma reflected that the girl might be better at heart than

her selfpride and overbearing manner indicated, and in any event it would be wise not to antagonize her but

"I do not like wars, your Majesty," said Ozma. "In the Emerald City, where I rule thousands of people, and in

the countries near to the Emerald City, where thousands more acknowledge my rule, there is no army at all,

because there is no quarreling and no need to fight. If differences arise between my people, they come to me

and I judge the cases and award justice to all. So, when I learned there might be war between two faraway

"No one asked you to come," declared Queen Cooeeoh. "It is my business to settle this dispute, not yours.

You say my island is a part of the Land of Oz, which you rule, but that is all nonsense, for I've never heard of

the Land of Oz, nor of you. You say you are a fairy, and that fairies gave you command over me. I don't

believe it! What I do believe is that you are an impostor and have come here to stir up trouble among my

people, who are already becoming difficult to manage. You two girls may even be spies of the vile Flatheads,

for all I know, and may be trying to trick me. But understand this," she added, proudly rising from her

jeweled throne to confront them, "I have magic powers greater than any fairy possesses, and greater than any

Flathead possesses. I am a Krumbic Witch the only Krumbic Witch in the world and I fear the magic

of no other creature that exists! You say you rule thousands. I rule one hundred and one Skeezers. But every

one of them trembles at my word. Now that Ozma of Oz and Princess Dorothy are here, I shall rule one

hundred and three subjects, for you also shall bow before my power. More than that, in ruling you I also rule

"I've got a pink kitten that sometimes talks like that," she said, "but after I give her a good whipping she

doesn't think she's so high and mighty after all. If you only knew who Ozma is you'd be scared to death to

"I happen to know," said she, "that the Flatheads intend to attack us tomorrow, but we are ready for them.

Until the battle is over, I shall keep you two strangers prisoners on my island, from which there is no chance

She turned and looked around the band of courtiers who stood silently around her throne.

"Lady Aurex," she continued, singling out one of the young women, "take these children to your house and

care for them, giving them food and lodging. You may allow them to wander anywhere under the Great

Dome, for they are harmless. After I have attended to the Flatheads I will consider what next to do with these

"I obey your Majesty's commands." Then to Ozma and Dorothy she added, "Follow me," and turned to leave

Dorothy looked to see what Ozma would do. To her surprise and a little to her disappointment Ozma turned

and followed Lady Aurex. So Dorothy trailed after them, but not without giving a parting, haughty look

toward Queen Cooeeoh, who had her face turned the other way and did not see the disapproving look

Lady Aurex led Ozma and Dorothy along a street to a pretty marble house near to one edge of the great glass

dome that covered the village. She did not speak to the girls until she had ushered them into a pleasant room,

comfortably furnished, nor did any of the solemn people they met on the street venture to speak.

When they were seated Lady Aurex asked if they were hungry, and finding they were summoned a maid and

This Lady Aurex looked to be about twenty years old, although in the Land of Oz where people have never

changed in appearance since the fairies made it a fairyland where no one grows old or dies it is always

difficult to say how many years anyone has lived. She had a pleasant, attractive face, even though it was

solemn and sad as the faces of all Skeezers seemed to be, and her costume was rich and elaborate, as became

"The Queen can hear everything that is spoken on this island even the slightest whisper," declared Lady

Aurex. "She is a wonderful witch, as she has told you, and it is folly to criticise her or disobey her

Ozma looked into her eyes and saw that she would like to say more if she dared. So she drew from her bosom

her silver wand, and having muttered a magic phrase in a strange tongue, she left the room and walked slowly

around the outside of the house, making a complete circle and waving her wand in mystic curves as she

walked. Lady Aurex watched her curiously and, when Ozma had again entered the room and seated herself,

"I've enchanted this house in such a manner that Queen Cooeeoh, with all her witchcraft, cannot hear one

word we speak within the magic circle I have made," replied Ozma. "We may now speak freely and as loudly

"Ev'rybody trusts Ozma," exclaimed Dorothy. "She is true and honest, and your wicked Queen will be sorry

"The Queen does not know me yet," said Ozma, "but I want you to know me, Lady Aurex, and I want you to

tell me why you, and all the Skeezers, are unhappy. Do not fear Cooeeoh's anger, for she cannot hear a

Lady Aurex was thoughtful a moment; then she said: "I shall trust you, Princess Ozma, for I believe you are

what you say you are our supreme Ruler. If you knew the dreadful punishments our Queen inflicts upon

us, you would not wonder we are so unhappy. The Skeezers are not bad people; they do not care to quarrel

and fight, even with their enemies the Flatheads; but they are so cowed and fearful of Cooeeoh that they

"She never displays mercy. She loves no one but herself," asserted Lady Aurex, but she trembled as she said

"That's pretty bad," said Dorothy, shaking her head gravely. "I see you've a lot to do here, Ozma, in this

forsaken corner of the Land of Oz. First place, you've got to take the magic away from Queen Cooeeoh,

and from that awful Sudic, too. My idea is that neither of them is fit to rule anybody, 'cause they're cruel and

hateful. So you'll have to give the Skeezers and Flatheads new rulers and teach all their people that they're

part of the Land of Oz and must obey, above all, the lawful Ruler, Ozma of Oz. Then, when you've done that,

Ozma smiled at her little friend's earnest counsel, but Lady Aurex said in an anxious tone:

"I am surprised that you suggest these reforms while you are yet prisoners on this island and in Cooeeoh's

power. That these things should be done, there is no doubt, but just now a dreadful war is likely to break out,

and frightful things may happen to us all. Our Queen has such conceit that she thinks she can overcome the

Sudic and his people, but it is said Sudic's magic is very powerful, although not as great as that possessed

"I don't blame her very much for doing that," remarked Dorothy, "for the Flatheads were wicked to try to

catch your beautiful fish and the Witch Rora wanted to poison all the fishes in the lake."

"Well, your Majesty, once a long time ago the Flatheads and the Skeezers were friendly. They visited

our island and we visited their mountain, and everything was pleasant between the two peoples. At that time

the Flatheads were ruled by three Adepts in Sorcery, beautiful girls who were not Flatheads, but had

wandered to the Flat Mountain and made their home there. These three Adepts used their magic only for

good, and the mountain people gladly made them their rulers. They taught the Flatheads how to use their

canned brains and how to work metals into clothing that would never wear out, and many other things that

"Cooeeoh was our Queen then, as now, but she knew no magic and so had nothing to be proud of. But the

three Adepts were very kind to Cooeeoh. They built for us this wonderful dome of glass and our houses of

marble and taught us to make beautiful clothing and many other things. Cooeeoh pretended to be very

grateful for these favors, but it seems that all the time she was jealous of the three Adepts and secretly tried to

discover their arts of magic. In this she was more clever than anyone suspected. She invited the three Adepts

to a banquet one day, and while they were feasting Cooeeoh stole their charms and magical instruments

and transformed them into three fishes a gold fish, a silver fish and a bronze fish. While the poor fishes

were gasping and flopping helplessly on the floor of the banquet room one of them said reproachfully: 'You

will be punished for this, Cooee oh, for if one of us dies or is destroyed, you will become shrivelled and

helpless, and all your stolen magic will depart from you.' Frightened by this threat, Cooeeoh at once

caught up the three fish and ran with them to the shore of the lake, where she cast them into the water. This

"I, myself, witnessed this shocking scene," continued Lady Aurex, "and so did many other Skeezers. The

news was carried to the Flatheads, who then turned from friends to enemies. The Sudic and his wife Rora

were the only ones on the mountain who were glad the three Adepts had been lost to them, and they at once

became Rulers of the Flatheads and stole their canned brains from others to make themselves the more

powerful. Some of the Adepts' magic tools had been left on the mountain, and these Rora seized and by the

"The result of Cooeeoh's treachery was to make both the Skeezers and the Flatheads miserable instead of

happy. Not only were the Sudic and his wife cruel to their people, but our Queen at once became proud and

arrogant and treated us very unkindly. All the Skeezers knew she had stolen her magic powers and so she

hated us and made us humble ourselves before her and obey her slightest word. If we disobeyed, or did not

please her, or if we talked about her when we were in our own homes she would have us dragged to the

whipping post in her palace and lashed with knotted cords. That is why we fear her so greatly."

This story filled Ozma's heart with sorrow and Dorothy's heart with indignation.

"I now understand," said Ozma, "why the fishes in the lake have brought about war between the Skeezers and

"Yes," Lady Aurex answered, "now that you know the story it is easy to understand. The Sudic and his wife

came to our lake hoping to catch the silver fish, or gold fish, or bronze fish any one of them would do

and by destroying it deprive Cooeeoh of her magic. Then they could easily conquer her. Also they had

another reason for wanting to catch the fish they feared that in some way the three Adepts might regain

their proper forms and then they would be sure to return to the mountain and punish Rora and the Sudic.

That was why Rora finally tried to poison all the fishes in the lake, at the time Cooeeoh transformed her

into a Golden Pig. Of course this attempt to destroy the fishes frightened the Queen, for her safety lies in

"I s'pose Cooeeoh will fight the Flatheads with all her might," observed Dorothy.

"I do not see how the Flatheads can get to this island to hurt us," said Lady Aurex.

"They have bows and arrows, and I guess they mean to shoot the arrows at your big dome, and break all the

"I dare not tell you why, but if the Flatheads come tomorrow morning you will yourselves see the reason."

"I do not think they will attempt to harm the island," Ozma declared. "I believe they will first attempt to

destroy the fishes, by poison or some other means. If they succeed in that, the conquest of the island will not

"They have no boats," said Lady Aurex, "and Cooee oh, who has long expected this war, has been

preparing for it in many astonishing ways. I almost wish the Flatheads would conquer us, for then we would

be free from our dreadful Queen; but I do not wish to see the three transformed fishes destroyed, for in them

"Ozma will take care of you, whatever happens," Dorothy assured her. But the Lady Aurex, not knowing the

extent of Ozma's power which was, in fact, not so great as Dorothy imagined could not take much

It was evident there would be exciting times on the morrow, if the Flatheads really attacked the Skeezers of

When night fell all the interior of the Great Dome, streets and houses, became lighted with brilliant

incandescent lamps, which rendered it bright as day. Dorothy thought the island must look beautiful by night

from the outer shore of the lake. There was revelry and feasting in the Queen's palace, and the music of the

royal band could be plainly heard in Lady Aurex's house, where Ozma and Dorothy remained with their

Lady Aurex gave them a nice supper and when they wished to retire showed them to a pretty room with

"What do you think of all this, Ozma?" Dorothy anxiously inquired when they were alone.

"I am glad we came," was the reply, "for although there may be mischief done tomorrow, it was necessary I

should know about these people, whose leaders are wild and lawless and oppress their subjects with injustice

and cruelties. My task, therefore, is to liberate the Skeezers and the Flatheads and secure for them freedom

"Just now, though, we're in a bad fix," asserted Dorothy. "If Queen Cooeeoh conquers tomorrow, she

"Do not worry, dear," said Ozma, "I do not think we are in danger, whatever happens, and the result of our

Dorothy was not worrying, especially. She had confidence in her friend, the fairy Princess of Oz, and she

enjoyed the excitement of the events in which she was taking part. So she crept into bed and fell asleep as

A sort of grating, grinding sound awakened her. The whole island seemed to tremble and sway, as it might do

in an earthquake. Dorothy sat up in bed, rubbing her eyes to get the sleep out of them, and then found it was

As soon as possible they finished dressing, while the creaking and swaying continued. Then they rushed into

the living room of the house and found Lady Aurex, fully dressed, awaiting them.

"Do not be alarmed," said their hostess. "Cooeeoh has decided to submerge the island, that is all. But it

Lady Aurex led them to a window which faced the side of the great dome which covered all the village, and

they could see that the island was indeed sinking, for the water of the lake was already half way up the side of

the dome. Through the glass could be seen swimming fishes, and tall stalks of swaying seaweeds, for the

water was clear as crystal and through it they could distinguish even the farther shore of the lake.

"The Flatheads are not here yet," said Lady Aurex. "They will come soon, but not until all of this dome is

"Oh, yes; on several occasions. But Cooeeoh doesn't care to do that often, for it requires a lot of hard work

to operate the machinery. The dome was built so that the island could disappear. I think," she continued, "that

our Queen fears the Flatheads will attack the island and try to break the glass of the dome."

"Well, if we're under water, they can't fight us, and we can't fight them," asserted Dorothy.

"We have ways to fight, also, even though our island is under water," claimed Lady Aurex. "I cannot tell you

all our secrets, but this island is full of surprises. Also our Queen's magic is astonishing."

"She stole the knowledge and the magic tools, but she has used them as the three Adepts never would have

By this time the top of the dome was quite under water and suddenly the island stopped sinking and became

On the bank, which was now far above their heads, a crowd of dark figures could be seen.

"Now let us see what Cooeeoh will do to oppose them," continued Lady Aurex, in a voice that betrayed

The Flatheads, pushing their way through the line of palm trees, had reached the shore of the lake just as the

top of the island's dome disappeared beneath the surface. The water now flowed from shore to shore, but

through the clear water the dome was still visible and the houses of the Skeezers could be dimly seen through

"Good!" exclaimed the Sudic, who had armed all his followers and had brought with him two copper

vessels, which he carefully set down upon the ground beside him. "If Cooeeoh wants to hide instead of

fighting our job will be easy, for in one of these copper vessels I have enough poison to kill every fish in the

"Kill them, then, while we have time, and then we can go home again," advised one of the chief officers.

"Not yet," objected the Sudic. "The Queen of the Skeezers has defied me, and I want to get her into my

power, as well as to destroy her magic. She transformed my poor wife into a Golden Pig, and I must have

"Look out!" suddenly exclaimed the officers, pointing into the lake; "something's going to happen."

From the submerged dome a door opened and something black shot swiftly out into the water. The door

instantly closed behind it and the dark object cleaved its way through the water, without rising to the surface,

"That is one of the Queen's submarines," was the reply. "It is all enclosed, and can move under water.

Cooeeoh has several of these boats which are kept in little rooms in the basement under our village. When

the island is submerged, the Queen uses these boats to reach the shore, and I believe she now intends to fight

The Sudic and his people knew nothing of Cooeeoh's submarines, so they watched with surprise as the

under water boat approached them. When it was quite near the shore it rose to the surface and the top parted

and fell back, disclosing a boat full of armed Skeezers. At the head was the Queen, standing up in the bow

The boat halted and Cooeeoh drew back her arm to throw the silver rope toward the Sudic, who was now

but a few feet from her. But the wily Flathead leader quickly realized his danger and before the Queen could

throw the rope he caught up one of the copper vessels and dashed its contents full in her face!

Queen Cooeeoh dropped the rope, tottered and fell headlong into the water, sinking beneath the surface,

while the Skeezers in the submarine assist her and only stared at the ripples in the water where she had

disappeared. A moment later there arose to the surface a beautiful White Swan. This Swan was of large size,

very gracefully formed, and scattered all over its white feathers were tiny diamonds, so thickly placed that as

the rays of the morning sun fell upon them the entire body of the Swan glistened like one brilliant diamond.

The head of the Diamond Swan had a bill of polished gold and its eyes were two sparkling amethysts.

"Hooray!" cried the Sudic, dancing up and down with wicked glee. "My poor wife, Rora, is avenged at last.

You made her a Golden Pig, Cooeeoh, and now I have made you a Diamond Swan. Float on your lake

forever, if you like, for your web feet can do no more magic and you are as powerless as the Pig you made of

"Villain! Scoundrel!" croaked the Diamond Swan. "You will be punished for this. Oh, what a fool I was to let

"A fool you were, and a fool you are!" laughed the Sudic, dancing madly in his delight. And then he

carelessly tipped over the other copper vessel with his heel and its contents spilled on the sands and were lost

The Sudic stopped short and looked at the overturned vessel with a rueful countenance.

"That's too bad too bad!" he exclaimed sorrowfully. "I've lost all the poison I had to kill the fishes with,

and I can't make any more because only my wife knew the secret of it, and she is now a foolish Pig and has

"Very well," said the Diamond Swan scornfully, as she floated upon the water and swam gracefully here and

there. I'm glad to see you are foiled. Your punishment is just beginning, for although you have enchanted me

and taken away my powers of sorcery you have still the three magic fishes to deal with, and they'll destroy

They let fly some arrows at the Diamond Swan, but she dove under the water and the missiles fell harmless.

When Cooceoh rose to the surface she was far from the shore and she swiftly swam across the lake to

The Sudic rubbed his chin and thought what to do next. Near by floated the submarine in which the Queen

had come, but the Skeezers who were in it were puzzled what to do with themselves. Perhaps they were not

sorry their cruel mistress had been transformed into a Diamond Swan, but the transformation had left them

quite helpless. The underwater boat was not operated by machinery, but by certain mystic words uttered by

Cooeeoh. They didn't know how to submerge it, or how to make the watertight shield cover them again,

or how to make the boat go back to the castle, or make it enter the little basement room where it was usually

kept. As a matter of fact, they were now shut out of their village under the Great Dome and could not get

back again. So one of the men called to the Supreme Dictator of the Flatheads, saying:

"Please make us prisoners and take us to your mountain, and feed and keep us, for we have nowhere to go."

"Not so. I can't be bothered by caring for a lot of stupid Skeezers. Stay where you are, or go wherever you

please, so long as you keep away from our mountain." He turned to his men and added: "We have conquered

Queen Cooeeoh and made her a helpless swan. The Skeezers are under water and may stay there. So,

having won the war, let us go home again and make merry and feast, having after many years proved the

So the Flatheads marched away and passed through the row of palms and went back to their mountain, where

the Sudic and a few of his officers feasted and all the others were forced to wait on them.

"I'm sorry we couldn't have roast pig," said the Su dic, "but as the only pig we have is made of gold, we

can't eat her. Also the Golden Pig happens to be my wife, and even were she not gold I am sure she would be

When the Flatheads had gone away the Diamond Swan swam back to the boat and one of the young Skeezers

"Am I not beautiful?" asked Cooeeoh, arching her neck gracefully and spreading her diamondsprinkled

wings. "I can see my reflection in the water, and I'm sure there is no bird nor beast, nor human as magnificent

"When my fame spreads throughout the land, people will travel from all parts of this lake to look upon my

loveliness," said Cooeeoh, shaking her feathers to make the diamonds glitter more brilliantly.

"But, your Majesty, we must go home and we do not know how to get there," Ervic persisted.

"My eyes," remarked the Diamond Swan, "are wonderfully blue and bright and will charm all beholders."

"Tell us how to make the boat go how to get back into the island," begged Ervic and the others cried just

"I was, of course, when I was a girl," she said, bending her head over the clear water to catch her reflection in

it; "but now I've forgotten all such foolish things as magic. Swans are lovelier than girls, especially when

they're sprinkled with diamonds. Don't you think so?" And she gracefully swam away, without seeming to

Ervic and his companions were in despair. They saw plainly that Cooeeoh could not or would not help

them. The former Queen had no further thought for her island, her people, or her wonderful magic; she was

Some of these events had been witnessed by Ozma and Dorothy and Lady Aurex, who had left the house and

gone close to the glass of the dome, in order to see what was going on. Many of the Skeezers had also

crowded against the dome, wondering what would happen next. Although their vision was to an extent

blurred by the water and the necessity of looking upward at an angle, they had observed the main points of

the drama enacted above. They saw Queen Coo eeoh's submarine come to the surface and open; they saw

the Queen standing erect to throw her magic rope; they saw her sudden transformation into a Diamond Swan,

"Good!" exclaimed Dorothy. "I hate that old Sudic, but I'm glad Cooeeoh is punished."

"This is a dreadful misfortune!" cried Lady Aurex, pressing her hands upon her heart.

"Yes," agreed Ozma, nodding her head thoughtfully; "Cooeeoh's misfortune will prove a terrible blow to

"What do you mean by that?" asked Dorothy in surprise. "Seems to me the Skeezers are in luck to lose their

"If that were all you would be right," responded Lady Aurex; "and if the island were above water it would not

be so serious. But here we all are, at the bottom of the lake, and fast prisoners in this dome."

"We can try," insisted Dorothy. "If it can be made to go down, it can be made to come up. The machinery is

"Yes; but the machinery works by magic, and Cooeeoh would never share her secret power with any one

"Well," said Dorothy, turning to Lady Aurex, "you say there are other subsubsinking boats. We can get in

one of those, and shoot out to the top of the water, like Cooeeoh did, and so escape. And then we can help

"No one knows how to work the underwater boats but the Queen," declared Lady Aurex.

"No; and, if there were, the water would rush in to flood the dome, and we could not get out."

"The Skeezers," said Ozma, "could not drown; they only get wet and soggy and in that condition they would

be very uncomfortable and unhappy. But you are a mortal girl, Dorothy, and if your Magic Belt protected you

"No, I'd rather die quickly," asserted the little girl. "But there are doors in the basement that open to let out

"Those doors open by a magic word, and only Cooeeoh knows the word that must be uttered," said Lady

"Dear me!" exclaimed Dorothy, "that dreadful Queen's witchcraft upsets all my plans to escape. I guess I'll

Ozma smiled, but her smile was not so cheerful as usual. The Princess of Oz found herself confronted with a

serious problem, and although she had no thought of despairing she realized that the Skeezers and their

island, as well as Dorothy and herself, were in grave trouble and that unless she could find a means to save

"In such a dilemma," said she, musingly, "nothing is gained by haste. Careful thought may aid us, and so may

the course of events. The unexpected is always likely to happen, and cheerful patience is better than reckless

"All right," returned Dorothy; "take your time, Ozma; there's no hurry. How about some breakfast, Lady

Their hostess led them back to the house, where she ordered her trembling servants to prepare and serve

breakfast. All the Skeezers were frightened and anxious over the transformation of their Queen into a swan.

Cooeeoh was feared and hated, but they had depended on her magic to conquer the Flatheads and she was

Before breakfast was over several of the leading Skeezers came to Aurex to ask her advice and to question

Princess Ozma, of whom they knew nothing except that she claimed to be a fairy and the Ruler of all the

"If what you told Queen Cooeeoh was the truth," they said to her, "you are our lawful mistress, and we

"I will try to do that" Ozma graciously assured them, "but you must remember that the powers of fairies are

granted them to bring comfort and happiness to all who appeal to them. On the contrary, such magic as

Cooee oh knew and practiced is unlawful witchcraft and her arts are such as no fairy would condescend to

use. However, it is sometimes necessary to consider evil in order to accomplish good, and perhaps by

studying Coo eeoh's tools and charms of witchcraft I may be able to save us. Do you promise to accept me

"Then," continued Ozma, "I will go to Cooeeoh's palace and take possession of it. Perhaps what I find

there will be of use to me. In the meantime tell all the Skeezers to fear nothing, but have patience. Let them

return to their homes and perform their daily tasks as usual. Cooeeoh's loss may not prove a misfortune,

This speech cheered the Skeezers amazingly. Really, they had no one now to depend upon but Ozma, and in

spite of their dangerous position their hearts were lightened by the transformation and absence of their cruel

They got out their brass band and a grand procession escorted Ozma and Dorothy to the palace, where all of

Cooeeoh's former servants were eager to wait upon them. Ozma invited Lady Aurex to stay at the palace

also, for she knew all about the Skeezers and their island and had also been a favorite of the former Queen, so

Ozma was somewhat disappointed in what she found in the palace. One room of Cooeeoh's private suite

was entirely devoted to the practice of witchcraft, and here were countless queer instruments and jars of

ointments and bottles of potions labeled with queer names, and strange machines that Ozma could not guess

the use of, and pickled toads and snails and lizards, and a shelf of books that were written in blood, but in a

"I do not see," said Ozma to Dorothy, who accompanied her in her search, "how Cooeeoh knew the use of

the magic tools she stole from the three Adept Witches. Moreover, from all reports these Adepts practiced

only good witchcraft, such as would be helpful to their people, while Cooeeoh performed only evil."

"Yes, and with the knowledge she gained Cooeeoh doubtless invented many evil things quite unknown to

the good Adepts, who are now fishes," added Ozma. "It is unfortunate for us that the Queen kept her secrets

so closely guarded, for no one but herself could use any of these strange things gathered in this room."

"Couldn't we capture the Diamond Swan and make her tell the secrets?" asked Dorothy.

"No; even were we able to capture her, Cooeeoh now has forgotten all the magic she ever knew. But until

we ourselves escape from this dome we could not capture the Swan, and were we to escape we would have

"That's a fact," admitted Dorothy. "But say, Ozma, here's a good idea! Couldn't we capture the three fishes

the gold and silver and bronze ones, and couldn't you transform 'em back to their own shapes, and then

"You are not very practical, Dorothy dear. It would be as hard for us to capture the three fishes, from among

"That is true," answered Ozma, smiling at her friend's eagerness. "You find a way to catch the fish, and I'll

She left the palace and went to a place where she could look through a clear pane of the glass dome into the

surrounding water. Immediately she became interested in the queer sights that met her view.

The Lake of the Skeezers was inhabited by fishes of many kinds and many sizes. The water was so

transparent that the girl could see for a long distance and the fishes came so close to the glass of the dome

that sometimes they actually touched it. On the white sands at the bottom of the lake were starfish, lobsters,

crabs and many shell fish of strange shapes and with shells of gorgeous hues. The water foliage was of

But the fishes were the most interesting of all. Some were big and lazy, floating slowly along or lying at rest

with just their fins waving. Many with big round eyes looked full at the girl as she watched them and Dorothy

wondered if they could hear her through the glass if she spoke to them. In Oz, where all the animals and birds

can talk, many fishes are able to talk also, but usually they are more stupid than birds and animals because

In the Lake of the Skeezers the fish of smaller size were more active than the big ones and darted quickly in

and out among the swaying weeds, as if they had important business and were in a hurry. It was among the

smaller varieties that Dorothy hoped to spy the gold and silver and bronze fishes. She had an idea the three

would keep together, being companions now as they were in their natural forms, but such a multitude of

fishes constantly passed, the scene shifting every moment, that she was not sure she would notice them even

if they appeared in view. Her eyes couldn't look in all directions and the fishes she sought might be on the

"P'raps, because they were afraid of Cooeeoh, they've hid themselves somewhere, and don't know their

She watched the fishes for a long time, until she became hungry and went back to the palace for lunch. But

"Not yet. But there isn't anything better for me to do, Ozma, so I guess I'll go back and watch again."

Glinda, the Good, in her palace in the Quadling Country, had many things to occupy her mind, for not only

did she look after the weaving and embroidery of her bevy of maids, and assist all those who came to her to

implore her help beasts and birds as well as people but she was a close student of the arts of sorcery

and spent much time in her Magical Laboratory, where she strove to find a remedy for every evil and to

Nevertheless, she did not forget to look in the Great Book of Records each day to see if any mention was

made of the visit of Ozma and Dorothy to the Enchanted Mountain of the Flatheads and the Magic Isle of the

Skeezers. The Records told her that Ozma had arrived at the mountain, that she had escaped, with her

companion, and gone to the island of the Skeezers, and that Queen Cooeeoh had submerged the island so

that it was entirely under water. Then came the statement that the Flatheads had come to the lake to poison

the fishes and that their Supreme Dictator had transformed Queen Coo eeoh into a swan.

No other details were given in the Great Book and so Glinda did not know that since Cooeeoh had

forgotten her magic none of the Skeezers knew how to raise the island to the surface again. So Glinda was not

worried about Ozma and Dorothy until one morning, while she sat with her maids, there came a sudden clang

of the great alarm bell. This was so unusual that every maid gave a start and even the Sorceress for a moment

Then she remembered the ring she had given Dorothy when she left the palace to start on her venture. In

giving the ring Glinda had warned the little girl not to use its magic powers unless she and Ozma were in real

danger, but then she was to turn it on her finger once to the right and once to the left and Glinda's alarm bell

So the Sorceress now knew that danger threatened her beloved Ruler and Princess Dorothy, and she hurried

to her magic room to seek information as to what sort of danger it was. The answer to her question was not

very satisfactory, for it was only: "Ozma and Dorothy are prisoners in the great Dome of the Isle of the

"No," was the reply, and the Record refused to say more except that Queen Cooeeoh, who alone could

command the island to rise, had been transformed by the Flathead Sudic into a Diamond Swan.

Then Glinda consulted the past records of the Skeezers in the Great Book. After diligent search she

discovered that Cooeeoh was a powerful sorceress who had gained most of her power by treacherously

transforming the Adepts of Magic, who were visiting her, into three fishes gold, silver and bronze after

Glinda reflected earnestly on this information and decided that someone must go to Ozma's assistance. While

there was no great need of haste, because Ozma and Dorothy could live in a submerged dome a long time, it

The Sorceress looked through all her recipes and books of sorcery, but could find no magic that would raise a

sunken island. Such a thing had never before been required in sorcery. Then Glinda made a little island,

covered by a glass dome, and sunk it in a pond near her castle, and experimented in magical ways to bring it

to the surface. She made several such experiments, but all were failures. It seemed a simple thing to do, yet

Nevertheless, the wise Sorceress did not despair of finding a way to liberate her friends. Finally she

concluded that the best thing to do was to go to the Skeezer country and examine the lake. While there she

was more likely to discover a solution to the problem that bothered her, and to work out a plan for the rescue

So Glinda summoned her storks and her aerial chariot, and telling her maids she was going on a journey and

might not soon return, she entered the chariot and was carried swiftly to the Emerald City.

In Princess Ozma's palace the Scarecrow was now acting as Ruler of the Land of Oz. There wasn't much for

him to do, because all the affairs of state moved so smoothly, but he was there in case anything unforeseen

Glinda found the Scarecrow playing croquet with Trot and Betsy Bobbin, two little girls who lived at the

palace under Ozma's protection and were great friends of Dorothy and much loved by all the Oz people.

"Something's happened!" cried Trot, as the chariot of the Sorceress descended near them. "Glinda never

"I hope no harm has come to Ozma, or Dorothy," said Betsy anxiously, as the lovely Sorceress stepped down

Glinda approached the Scarecrow and told him of the dilemma of Ozma and Dorothy and she added: "We

"Of course," replied the Scarecrow, stumbling over a wicket and falling flat on his painted face.

The girls picked him up and patted his straw stuffing into shape, and he continued, as if nothing had occurred:

"But you'll have to tell me what to do, for I never have raised a sunken island in all my life."

"We must have a Council of State as soon as possible," proposed the Sorceress. "Please send messengers to

summon all of Ozma's counsellors to this palace. Then we can decide what is best to be done."

The Scarecrow lost no time in doing this. Fortunately most of the royal counsellors were in the Emerald City

or near to it, so they all met in the throne room of the palace that same evening.

No Ruler ever had such a queer assortment of advisers as the Princess Ozma had gathered about her throne.

Indeed, in no other country could such amazing people exist. But Ozma loved them for their peculiarities and

First there was the Tin Woodman. Every bit of him was tin, brightly polished. All his joints were kept well

oiled and moved smoothly. He carried a gleaming axe to prove he was a woodman, but seldom had cause to

use it because he lived in a magnificent tin castle in the Winkie Country of Oz and was the Emperor of all the

Winkies. The Tin Woodman's name was Nick Chopper. He had a very good mind, but his heart was not of

much account, so he was very careful to do nothing unkind or to hurt anyone's feelings.

Another counsellor was Scraps, the Patchwork Girl of Oz, who was made of a gaudy patchwork quilt, cut into

shape and stuffed with cotton. This Patchwork Girl was very intelligent, but so full of fun and mad pranks

that a lot of more stupid folks thought she must be crazy. Scraps was jolly under all conditions, however

grave they might be, but her laughter and good spirits were of value in cheering others and in her seemingly

Then there was the Shaggy Man shaggy from head to foot, hair and whiskers, clothes and shoes but

TikTok was there, a copper man with machinery inside him, so cleverly constructed that he moved, spoke

and thought by three separate clockworks. TikTok was very reliable because he always did exactly what

he was wound up to do, but his machinery was liable to run down at times and then he was quite helpless

A different sort of person was Jack Pumpkinhead, one of Ozma's oldest friends and her companion on many

adventures. Jack's body was very crude and awkward, being formed of limbs of trees of different sizes,

jointed with wooden pegs. But it was a substantial body and not likely to break or wear out, and when it was

dressed the clothes covered much of its roughness. The head of Jack Pumpkinhead was, as you have guessed,

a ripe pumpkin, with the eyes, nose and mouth carved upon one side. The pumpkin was stuck on Jack's

wooden neck and was liable to get turned sidewise or backward and then he would have to straighten it with

The worst thing about this sort of a head was that it did not keep well and was sure to spoil sooner or later. So

Jack's main business was to grow a field of fine pumpkins each year, and always before his old head spoiled

he would select a fresh pumpkin from the field and carve the features on it very neatly, and have it ready to

replace the old head whenever it became necessary. He didn't always carve it the same way, so his friends

never knew exactly what sort of an expression they would find on his face. But there was no mistaking him,

A onelegged sailorman was a member of Ozma's council. His name was Cap'n Bill and he had come to the

Land of Oz with Trot, and had been made welcome on account of his cleverness, honesty and good nature.

He wore a wooden leg to replace the one he had lost and was a great friend of all the children in Oz because

Professor H. M. Wogglebug, T. E., was another member of the council. The "H. M." meant Highly

Magnified, for the Professor was once a little bug, who became magnified to the size of a man and always

remained so. The "T. E." meant that he was Thoroughly Educated. He was at the head of Princess Ozma's

Royal Athletic College, and so that the students would not have to study and so lose much time that could be

devoted to athletic sports, such as football, baseball and the like, Professor Wogglebug had invented the

famous Educational Pills. If one of the college students took a Geography Pill after breakfast, he knew his

geography lesson in an instant; if he took a Spelling Pill he at once knew his spelling lesson, and an

Arithmetic Pill enabled the student to do any kind of sum without having to think about it.

These useful pills made the college very popular and taught the boys and girls of Oz their lessons in the

easiest possible way. In spite of this, Professor Wogglebug was not a favorite outside his college, for he was

very conceited and admired himself so much and displayed his cleverness and learning so constantly, that no

one cared to associate with him. Ozma found him of value in her councils, nevertheless.

Perhaps the most splendidly dressed of all those present was a great frog as large as a man, called the

Frogman, who was noted for his wise sayings. He had come to the Emerald City from the Yip Country of Oz

and was a guest of honor. His longtailed coat was of velvet, his vest of satin and his trousers of finest silk.

There were diamond buckles on his shoes and he carried a goldheaded cane and a high silk hat. All of the

bright colors were represented in his rich attire, so it tired one's eyes to look at him for long, until one became

The best farmer in all Oz was Uncle Henry, who was Dorothy's own uncle, and who now lived near the

Emerald City with his wife Aunt Em. Uncle Henry taught the Oz people how to grow the finest vegetables

and fruits and grains and was of much use to Ozma in keeping the Royal Storehouses well filled. He, too, was

The reason I mention the little Wizard of Oz last is because he was the most important man in the Land of

Oz. He wasn't a big man in size but he was a man in power and intelligence and second only to Glinda the

Good in all the mystic arts of magic. Glinda had taught him, and the Wizard and the Sorceress were the only

ones in Oz permitted by law to practice wizardry and sorcery, which they applied only to good uses and for

The Wizard wasn't exactly handsome but he was pleasant to look at. His bald head was as shiny as if it had

been varnished; there was always a merry twinkle in his eyes and he was as spry as a schoolboy. Dorothy

says the reason the Wizard is not as powerful as Glinda is because Glinda didn't teach him all she knows, but

what the Wizard knows he knows very well and so he performs some very remarkable magic. The ten I have

mentioned assembled, with the Scarecrow and Glinda, in Ozma's throne room, right after dinner that evening,

"Of course we must rescue them," she continued, "and the sooner they are rescued the better pleased they will

be; but what we must now determine is how they can be saved. That is why I have called you together in

"The easiest way," remarked the Shaggy Man, "is to raise the sunken island of the Skeezers to the top of the

"How can we get under it when it rests on the bottom of the lake?" asked the Sorceress.

"Couldn't we throw a rope around it and pull it ashore?" inquired Jack Pumpkinhead.

"Why not pump the water out of the lake?" suggested the Patchwork Girl with a laugh.

"Do be sensible!" pleaded Glinda. "This is a serious matter, and we must give it serious thought."

"In that case," said the Scarecrow, "it appears to me we ought to go to the Skeezer country and examine it

"I could not stay away, knowing our loved Princess is in danger," said the Wizard.

Finally one and all present decided to go to the Skeezer country, with Glinda and the little Wizard to lead

them. Magic must meet magic in order to conquer it, so these two skillful magicworkers were necessary to

They were all ready to start at a moment's notice, for none had any affairs of importance to attend to. Jack

was wearing a newly made Pumpkinhead and the Scarecrow had recently been stuffed with fresh straw.

TikTok's machinery was in good running order and the Tin Woodman always was well oiled.

"It is quite a long journey," said Glinda, "and while I might travel quickly to the Skeezer country by means of

my stork chariot the rest of you will be obliged to walk. So, as we must keep together, I will send my chariot

back to my castle and we will plan to leave the Emerald City at sunrise tomorrow."

Betsy and Trot, when they heard of the rescue expedition, begged the Wizard to permit them to join it and he

consented. The Glass Cat, overhearing the conversation, wanted to go also and to this the Wizard made no

This Glass Cat was one of the real curiosities of Oz. It had been made and brought to life by a clever

magician named Dr. Pipt, who was not now permitted to work magic and was an ordinary citizen of the

Emerald City. The cat was of transparent glass, through which one could plainly see its ruby heart beating

The Glass Cat's eyes were emeralds; its fluffy tail was of spun glass and very beautiful. The ruby heart, while

pretty to look at, was hard and cold and the Glass Cat's disposition was not pleasant at all times. It scorned to

catch mice, did not eat, and was extremely lazy. If you complimented the remarkable cat on her beauty, she

would be very friendly, for she loved admiration above everything. The pink brains were always working and

Three other additions to the rescue party were made the next morning, just as they were setting out upon their

journey. The first was a little boy called Button Bright, because he had no other name that anyone could

remember. He was a fine, manly little fellow, well mannered and good humored, who had only one bad fault.

He was continually getting lost. To be sure, Button Bright got found as often as he got lost, but when he was

"Some day," predicted the Patchwork Girl, "he won't be found, and that will be the last of him." But that

didn't worry Button Bright, who was so careless that he did not seem to be able to break the habit of getting

The second addition to the party was a Munchkin boy of about Button Bright's age, named Ojo. He was often

called "Ojo the Lucky," because good fortune followed him wherever he went. He and Button Bright were

close friends, although of such different natures, and Trot and Betsy were fond of both.

The third and last to join the expedition was an enormous lion, one of Ozma's regular guardians and the most

important and intelligent beast in all Oz. He called himself the Cowardly Lion, saying that every little danger

scared him so badly that his heart thumped against his ribs, but all who knew him knew that the Cowardly

Lion's fears were coupled with bravery and that however much he might be frightened he summoned courage

to meet every danger he encountered. Often he had saved Dorothy and Ozma in times of peril, but afterward

"If Ozma needs help, I'm going to help her," said the great beast. "Also, I suspect the rest of you may need me

on the journey especially Trot and Betsy for you may pass through a dangerous part of the country. I

know that wild Gillikin country pretty well. Its forests harbor many ferocious beasts."

They were glad the Cowardly Lion was to join them, and in good spirits the entire party formed a procession

and marched out of the Emerald City amid the shouts of the people, who wished them success and a safe

They followed a different route from that taken by Ozma and Dorothy, for they went through the Winkie

Country and up north toward Oogaboo. But before they got there they swerved to the left and entered the

Great Gillikin Forest, the nearest thing to a wilderness in all Oz. Even the Cowardly Lion had to admit that

certain parts of this forest were unknown to him, although he had often wandered among the trees, and the

Scarecrow and Tin Woodman, who were great travelers, never had been there at all.

The forest was only reached after a tedious tramp, for some of the Rescue Expedition were quite awkward on

their feet. The Patchwork Girl was as light as a feather and very spry; the Tin Woodman covered the ground

as easily as Uncle Henry and the Wizard; but TikTok moved slowly and the slightest obstruction in the road

would halt him until the others cleared it away. Then, too, TikTok's machinery kept running down, so Betsy

The Scarecrow was more clumsy but less bother, for although he often stumbled and fell he could scramble

up again and a little patting of his strawstuffed body would put him in good shape again.

Another awkward one was Jack Pumpkinhead, for walking would jar his head around on his neck and then he

would be likely to go in the wrong direction. But the Frogman took Jack's arm and then he followed the path

Cap'n Bill's wooden leg didn't prevent him from keeping up with the others and the old sailor could walk as

When they entered the forest the Cowardly Lion took the lead. There was no path here for men, but many

beasts had made paths of their own which only the eyes of the Lion, practiced in woodcraft, could discern. So

he stalked ahead and wound his way in and out, the others following in single file, Glinda being next to the

There are dangers in the forest, of course, but as the huge Lion headed the party he kept the wild denizens of

the wilderness from bothering the travelers. Once, to be sure, an enormous leopard sprang upon the Glass Cat

and caught her in his powerful jaws, but he broke several of his teeth and with howls of pain and dismay

"How silly!" exclaimed the creature in an irritated tone of voice; "nothing can hurt glass, and I'm too solid to

break easily. But I'm annoyed at that leopard's impudence. He has no respect for beauty or intelligence. If he

had noticed my pink brains work, I'm sure he would have realized I'm too important to be grabbed in a wild

They were almost in the center of the forest when Ojo, the Munchkin boy, suddenly said: "Why, where's

"It was some time ago," replied Ojo. "He was trailing along at the end and throwing twigs at the squirrels in

the trees. Then I went to talk to Betsy and Trot, and just now I noticed he was gone."

"This is too bad," declared the Wizard, "for it is sure to delay our journey. We must find Button Bright before

we go any farther, for this forest is full of ferocious beasts that would not hesitate to tear the boy to pieces."

"But what shall we do?" asked the Scarecrow. "If any of us leaves the party to search for Button Bright he or

she might fall a victim to the beasts, and if the Lion leaves us we will have no protector.

"The Glass Cat could go," suggested the Frogman. "The beasts can do her no harm, as we have discovered."

She called to Uncle Henry, who had been carrying her wicker box, to bring it to her, and when he obeyed she

opened it and drew out a small round mirror. On the surface of the glass she dusted a white powder and then

wiped it away with her handkerchief and looked in the mirror. It reflected a part of the forest, and there,

beneath a widespreading tree, Button Bright was lying asleep. On one side of him crouched a tiger, ready to

spring; on the other side was a big gray wolf, its bared fangs glistening in a wicked way.

"Goodness me!" cried Trot, looking over Glinda's shoulder. "They'll catch and kill him sure."

"Guess he's a goner!" said the Frogman, wiping his eyes on his purple silk handkerchief.

"If we knew where he is we could probably save him," replied the little Wizard, "but that tree looks so much

Glinda, having handed the mirror to the Wizard, had stepped aside and was making strange passes with her

outstretched arms and reciting in low, sweet tones a mystical incantation. Most of them watched the

Sorceress with anxious eyes, despair giving way to the hope that she might be able to save their friend. the

Wizard, however, watched the scene in the mirror, while over his shoulders peered Trot, the Scarecrow and

What they saw was more strange than Glinda's actions. The tiger started to spring on the sleeping boy, but

suddenly lost its power to move and lay flat upon the ground. The gray wolf seemed unable to lift its feet

from the ground. It pulled first at one leg and then at another, and finding itself strangely confined to the spot

began to back and snarl angrily. They couldn't hear the barkings and snarls, but they could see the creature's

mouth open and its thick lips move. Button Bright, however, being but a few feet away from the wolf, heard

its cries of rage, which wakened him from his untroubled sleep. The boy sat up and looked first at the tiger

and then at the wolf. His face showed that for a moment he was quite frightened, but he soon saw that the

beasts were unable to approach him and so he got upon his feet and examined them curiously, with a

mischievous smile upon his face. Then he deliberately kicked the tiger's head with his foot and catching up a

fallen branch of a tree he went to the wolf and gave it a good whacking. Both the beasts were furious at such

Button Bright now threw down the stick and with his hands in his pockets wandered carelessly away.

"Now," said Glinda, "let the Glass Cat run and find him. He is in that direction," pointing the way, "but how

far off I do not know. Make haste and lead him back to us as quickly as you can."

The Glass Cat did not obey everyone's orders, but she really feared the great Sorceress, so as soon as the

The Wizard handed the mirror back to Glinda, for the woodland scene had now faded from the glass. Then

those who cared to rest sat down to await Button Bright's coming. It was not long before be appeared through

"Don't ever send that Glass Cat to find me again. She was very impolite and, if we didn't all know that she

"You have caused all of us much anxiety and annoyance," said she. "Only my magic saved you from

"Of course," he answered. "It won't be my fault if I get lost again; but it wasn't my fault this time."

I must now tell you what happened to Ervic and the three other Skeezers who were left floating in the iron

boat after Queen Cooeeoh had been transformed into a Diamond Swan by the magic of the Flathead

The four Skeezers were all young men and their leader was Ervic. Cooeeoh had taken them with her in the

boat to assist her if she captured the Flathead chief, as she hoped to do by means of her silver rope. They

knew nothing about the witchcraft that moved the submarine and so, when left floating upon the lake, were at

a loss what to do. The submarine could not be submerged by them or made to return to the sunken island.

There were neither oars nor sails in the boat, which was not anchored but drifted quietly upon the surface of

The Diamond Swan had no further thought or care for her people. She had sailed over to the other side of the

lake and all the calls and pleadings of Ervic and his companions were unheeded by the vain bird. As there

was nothing else for them to do, they sat quietly in their boat and waited as patiently as they could for

The Flatheads had refused to help them and had gone back to their mountain. All the Skeezers were

imprisoned in the Great Dome and could not help even themselves. When evening came, they saw the

Diamond Swan, still keeping to the opposite shore of the lake, walk out of the water to the sands, shake her

diamond sprinkled feathers, and then disappear among the bushes to seek a resting place for the night.

But it did them no good to complain. Night fell and the moon rose and cast a silvery sheen over the surface of

"Go to sleep," said Ervic to his companions. "I'll stay awake and watch, for we may be rescued in some

So the other three laid themselves down in the bottom of the boat and were soon fast asleep.

Ervic watched. He rested himself by leaning over the bow of the boat, his face near to the moonlit water, and

thought dreamily of the day's surprising events and wondered what would happen to the prisoners in the

Suddenly a tiny goldfish popped its head above the surface of the lake, not more than a foot from his eyes. A

silverfish then raised its head beside that of the goldfish, and a moment later a bronzefish lifted its head

beside the others. The three fish, all in a row, looked earnestly with their round, bright eyes into the

"We are the three Adepts whom Queen Cooeeoh betrayed and wickedly transformed," said the goldfish, its

"I know of our Queen's treacherous deed," replied Ervic, "and I am sorry for your misfortune. Have you been

"I I hope you are well and comfortable," stammered Ervic, not knowing what else to say.

"We knew that some day Oooeeoh would meet with the fate she so richly deserves," declared the

bronzefish. "We have waited and watched for this time. Now if you will promise to help us and will be

faithful and true, you can aid us in regaining our natural forms, and save yourself and all your people from

"Well," said Ervic, "you can depend on my doing the best I can. But I'm no witch, nor magician, you must

"All we ask is that you obey our instructions," returned the silverfish. "We know that you are honest and that

you served Cooeeoh only because you were obliged to in order to escape her anger. Do as we command

"You will find in the bottom of your boat the silver cord which dropped from Cooeeoh's hand when she

was transformed," said the goldfish. "Tie one end of that cord to the bow of your boat and drop the other end

Ervic much doubted that the three small fishes could move so heavy a boat, but he did as he was told and the

fishes all seized their end of the silver cord in their mouths and headed toward the nearest shore, which was

At first the boat did not move at all, although the fishes pulled with all their strength. But presently the strain

began to tell. Very slowly the boat crept toward the shore, gaining more speed at every moment. A couple of

yards away from the sandy beach the fishes dropped the cord from their mouths and swam to one side, while

the iron boat, being now under way, continued to move until its prow grated upon the sands.

"You will find upon the sand," said the silverfish, "a copper kettle, which the Sudic forgot when he went

away. Cleanse it thoroughly in the water of the lake, for it has had poison in it. When it is cleaned, fill it with

fresh water and hold it over the side of the boat, so that we three may swim into the kettle. We will then

So Ervic jumped out of the boat and found the copper kettle. Carrying it a little way down the beach, he

washed it well, scrubbing away every drop of the poison it had contained with sand from the shore

Ervic's comrades were still sound asleep and knew nothing of the three fishes or what strange happenings

were taking place about them. Ervic dipped the kettle in the lake, holding fast to the handle until it was under

water. The gold and silver and bronze fishes promptly swam into the kettle. The young Skeezer then lifted it,

poured out a little of the water so it would not spill over the edge, and said to the fishes: "What next?"

"Carry the kettle to the shore. Take one hundred steps to the east, along the edge of the lake, and then you

will see a path leading through the meadows, up hill and down dale. Follow the path until you come to a

cottage which is painted a purple color with white trimmings. When you stop at the gate of this cottage we

will tell you what to do next. Be careful, above all, not to stumble and spill the water from the kettle, or you

The goldfish issued these commands and Ervic promised to be careful and started to obey. He left his

sleeping comrades in the boat, stepping cautiously over their bodies, and on reaching the shore took exactly

one hundred steps to the east. Then he looked for the path and the moonlight was so bright that he easily

discovered it, although it was hidden from view by tall weeds until one came full upon it. This path was very

narrow and did not seem to be much used, but it was quite distinct and Ervic had no difficulty in following it.

He walked through a broad meadow, covered with tall grass and weeds, up a hill and down into a valley and

It seemed to Ervic that he had walked miles and miles. Indeed the moon sank low and day was beginning to

dawn when finally he discovered by the roadside a pretty little cottage, painted purple with white trimmings.

It was a lonely place no other buildings were anywhere about and the ground was not tilled at all. No

farmer lived here, that was certain. Who would care to dwell in such an isolated place?

But Ervic did not bother his head long with such questions. He went up to the gate that led to the cottage, set

When Glinda the Good and her followers of the Rescue Expedition came in sight of the Enchanted Mountain

of the Flatheads, it was away to the left of them, for the route they had taken through the Great Forest was

They halted awhile to decide whether they should call upon the Supreme Dictator first, or go on to the Lake

"If we go to the mountain," said the Wizard, "we may get into trouble with that wicked Sudic, and then we

would be delayed in rescuing Ozma and Dorothy. So I think our best plan will be to go to the Skeezer

Country, raise the sunken island and save our friends and the imprisoned Skeezers. Afterward we can visit the

The others, too, seemed to think the Wizard's plan the best, and Glinda herself commended it, so on they

Pretty soon they came to the palms. These were set closely together, the branches, which came quite to the

ground, being so tightly interlaced that even the Glass Cat could scarcely find a place to squeeze through. The

So the Tin Woodman, who was always glad to be of use, set to work with his sharp, gleaming axe, which he

always carried, and in a surprisingly short time had chopped away enough branches to permit them all to pass

Now the clear waters of the beautiful lake were before them and by looking closely they could see the

outlines of the Great Dome of the sunken island, far from shore and directly in the center of the lake.

Of course every eye was at first fixed upon this dome, where Ozma and Dorothy and the Skeezers were still

fast prisoners. But soon their attention was caught by a more brilliant sight, for here was the Diamond Swan

swimming just before them, its long neck arched proudly, the amethyst eyes gleaming and all the

"That," said Glinda, "is the transformation of Queen Cooceoh, the haughty and wicked witch who betrayed

"It doesn't seem like much of a punishment," said Trot. "The Flathead Sudic ought to have made her a toad."

"I am sure Cooeeoh is punished," said Glinda, "for she has lost all her magic power and her grand palace

So Glinda beckoned the Diamond Swan, which swam gracefully to a position near them. Before anyone

could speak Cooeeoh called to them in a rasping voice for the voice of a swan is always harsh and

"Admire me, Strangers! Admire the lovely Cooeeoh, the handsomest creature in all Oz. Admire me!"

"Handsome is as handsome does," replied the Scarecrow. "Are your deeds lovely, Cooceoh?"

"Deeds? What deeds can a swan do but swim around and give pleasure to all beholders?" said the sparkling

"Have you forgotten your former life? Have you forgotten your magic and witchcraft?" inquired the Wizard.

"Magic witchcraft? Pshaw, who cares for such silly things?" retorted Cooeeoh. "As for my past life, it

seems like an unpleasant dream. I wouldn't go back to it if I could. Don't you admire my beauty, Strangers?"

"Tell us, Cooeeoh," said Glinda earnestly, "if you can recall enough of your witchcraft to enable us to raise

the sunken island to the surface of the lake. Tell us that and I'll give you a string of pearls to wear around

"Nothing can add to my beauty, for I'm the most beautiful creature anywhere in the whole world."

"I don't know and I don't care. If ever I knew I've forgotten, and I'm glad of it," was the response. "Just watch

"It's no use," said Button Bright; "the old Swan is too much in love with herself to think of anything else."

"That's a fact," agreed Betsy with a sigh; "but we've got to get Ozma and Dorothy out of that lake, somehow

"But how?" asked Uncle Henry in a grave voice, for he could not bear to think of his dear niece Dorothy

"Leave that to Glinda," advised the Wizard, realizing he was helpless to do it himself.

"If it were just an ordinary sunken island," said the powerful sorceress, "there would be several ways by

which I might bring it to the surface again. But this is a Magic Isle, and by some curious art of witchcraft,

unknown to any but Queen Cooceoh, it obeys certain commands of magic and will not respond to any

other. I do not despair in the least, but it will require some deep study to solve this difficult problem. If the

Swan could only remember the witchcraft that she invented and knew as a woman, I could force her to tell

"It seems to me," said the Wizard after a brief silence had followed Glinda's speech, "that there are three

fishes in this lake that used to be Adepts at Magic and from whom Cooeeoh stole much of her knowledge.

If we could find those fishes and return them to their former shapes, they could doubtless tell us what to do to

"I have thought of those fishes," replied Glinda, "but among so many fishes as this lake contains how are we

You will understand, of course, that had Glinda been at home in her castle, where the Great Book of Records

was, she would have known that Ervic the Skeezer already had taken the gold and silver and bronze fishes

from the lake. But that act had been recorded in the Book after Glinda had set out on this journey, so it was

"I think I see a boat yonder on the shore," said Ojo the Munchkin boy, pointing to a place around the edge of

the lake. "If we could get that boat and row all over the lake, calling to the magic fishes, we might be able to

They walked around the lake to where the boat was stranded upon the beach, but found it empty. It was a

mere shell of blackened steel, with a collapsible roof that, when in position, made the submarine watertight,

but at present the roof rested in slots on either side of the magic craft. There were no oars or sails, no

machinery to make the boat go, and although Glinda promptly realized it was meant to be operated by

"However," said she, "the boat is merely a boat, and I believe I can make it obey a command of sorcery, as

well as it did the command of witchcraft. After I have given a little thought to the matter, the boat will take us

"Not all of us," returned the Wizard, "for it won't hold so many. But, most noble Sorceress, provided you can

"It will not be necessary to use the boat for that purpose," replied Glinda. "Wherever in the lake the enchanted

fishes may be, they will answer to my call. What I am trying to discover is how the boat came to be on this

shore, while the island on which it belongs is under water yonder. Did Cooeeoh come here in the boat to

No one could answer that question, of course; but while they pondered the matter three young men advanced

"We are Skeezers," answered one of them, "and our home is on the Magic Isle of the Lake. We ran away

when we saw you coming, and hid behind the trees, but as you are Strangers and seem to be friendly we

So they told her all the story: How the Queen had defied the Flatheads and submerged the whole island so

that her enemies could not get to it or destroy it; how, when the Flatheads came to the shore, Cooeeoh had

commanded them, together with their friend Ervic, to go with her in the submarine to conquer the Sudic,

and how the boat had shot out from the basement of the sunken isle, obeying a magic word, and risen to the

Then followed the account of how the Sudic had transformed Cooeeoh into a swan, after which she had

forgotten all the witchcraft she ever knew. The young men told how, in the night when they were asleep, their

comrade Ervic had mysteriously disappeared, while the boat in some strange manner had floated to the shore

That was all they knew. They had searched in vain for three days for Ervic. As their island was under water

and they could not get back to it, the three Skeezers had no place to go, and so had waited patiently beside

Being questioned by Glinda and the Wizard, they told all they knew about Ozma and Dorothy and declared

the two girls were still in the village under the Great Dome. They were quite safe and would be well cared for

When they had gleaned all the information they could from these Skeezers, the Wizard said to Glinda:

"If you find you can make this boat obey your sorcery, you could have it return to the island, submerge itself,

and enter the door in the basement from which it came. But I cannot see that our going to the sunken island

"Not so, friend Wizard," replied Glinda. "If the boat would obey my commands to enter the basement door, it

would also obey my commands to come out again, and I could bring Ozma and Dorothy back with me."

"And leave all of our people still imprisoned?" asked one of the Skeezers reproachfully.

"By making several trips in the boat, Glinda could fetch all your people to the shore," replied the Wizard.

"But what could they do then?" inquired another Skeezer. "They would have no homes and no place to go,

"That is true," said Glinda the Good. "And as these people are Ozma's subjects, I think she would refuse to

escape with Dorothy and leave the others behind, or to abandon the island which is the lawful home of the

Skeezers. I believe the best plan will be to summon the three fishes and learn from them how to raise the

"How will you summon them," he asked the lovely Sorceress, "and how can they hear you?"

"That is something we must consider carefully," responded stately Glinda, with a serene smile. "I think I can

All of Ozma's counsellors applauded this sentiment, for they knew well the powers of the Sorceress.

We must now return to Ervic the Skeezer, who, when he had set down the copper kettle containing the three

The goldfish stuck its head above the water in the kettle and said in its small but distinct voice:

"You are to lift the latch, open the door, and walk boldly into the cottage. Do not be afraid of anything you

see, for however you seem to be threatened with dangers, nothing can harm you. The cottage is the home of a

powerful Yookoohoo, named Reera the Red, who assumes all sorts of forms, sometimes changing her form

several times in a day, according to her fancy. What her real form may be we do not know. This strange

creature cannot be bribed with treasure, or coaxed through friendship, or won by pity. She has never assisted

anyone, or done wrong to anyone, that we know of. All her wonderful powers are used for her own selfish

amusement. She will order you out of the house but you must refuse to go. Remain and watch Reera closely

and try to see what she uses to accomplish her transformations. If you can discover the secret whisper it to us

"That sounds easy," returned Ervic, who had listened carefully. "But are you sure she will not hurt me, or try

"She may change your form," replied the goldfish, "but do not worry if that happens, for we can break that

enchantment easily. You may be sure that nothing will harm you, so you must not be frightened at anything

Now Ervic was as brave as any ordinary young man, and he knew the fishes who spoke to him were truthful

and to be relied upon, nevertheless he experienced a strange sinking of the heart as he picked up the kettle

and approached the door of the cottage. His hand trembled as he raised the latch, but he was resolved to obey

his instructions. He pushed the door open, took three strides into the middle of the one room the cottage

The sights that met his gaze were enough to frighten anyone who had not been properly warned. On the floor

just before Ervic lay a great crocodile, its red eyes gleaming wickedly and its wide open mouth displaying

rows of sharp teeth. Horned toads hopped about; each of the four upper corners of the room was festooned

with a thick cobweb, in the center of which sat a spider as big around as a washbasin, and armed with

pincherlike claws; a redandgreen lizard was stretched at full length on the windowsill and black rats

But the most startling thing was a huge gray ape which sat upon a bench and knitted. It wore a lace cap, such

as old ladies wear, and a little apron of lace, but no other clothing. Its eyes were bright and looked as if coals

were burning in them. The ape moved as naturally as an ordinary person might, and on Ervic's entrance

Ervic saw another bench, empty, just beyond him, so he stepped over the crocodile, sat down upon the bench

The spiders left their four corners, dropped to the floor and made a rush toward the young Skeezer, circling

around his legs with their pinchers extended. Ervic paid no attention to them. An enormous black rat ran up

Ervic's body, passed around his shoulders and uttered piercing squeals in his ears, but he did not wince. The

greenandred lizard, coming from the windowsill, approached Ervic and began spitting a flaming fluid at

The crocodile raised its tail and, swinging around, swept Ervic off the bench with a powerful blow. But the

Skeezer managed to save the kettle from upsetting and he got up, shook off the horned toads that were

All the creatures, after this first attack, remained motionless, as if awaiting orders. The old gray ape knitted

on, not looking toward Ervic now, and the young Skeezer stolidly kept his seat. He expected something else

"You may have that!" retorted the ape, and at this all the strange creatures in the room broke into a chorus of

"Knowing so much, you must also know that I do not like strangers. Your presence here in my home annoys

"Do you intend to obey me, and leave this house?" "No," replied Ervic, just as quietly as the Yookoohoo had

"Curiosity," it said, "has led to many a man's undoing. I suppose in some way you have learned that I do

tricks of magic, and so through curiosity you have come here. You may have been told that I do not injure

anyone, so you are bold enough to disobey my commands to go away. You imagine that you may witness

some of the rites of witchcraft, and that they may amuse you. Have I spoken truly?"

"Well," remarked Ervic, who had been pondering on the strange circumstances of his coming here, "you are

right in some ways, but not in others. I am told that you work magic only for your own amusement. That

seems to me very selfish. Few people understand magic. I'm told that you are the only real Yookoohoo in all

"If you wish to perform any magic, go ahead," said Ervic. "It may interest me and it may not. If you'd rather

This may have puzzled Red Reera, but the face beneath the lace cap could show no expression, being covered

with hair. Perhaps in all her career the Yookoohoo had never been visited by anyone who, like this young

man, asked for nothing, expected nothing, and had no reason for coming except curiosity. This attitude

practically disarmed the witch and she began to regard the Skeezer in a more friendly way. She knitted for

some time, seemingly in deep thought, and then she arose and walked to a big cupboard that stood against the

wall of the room. When the cupboard door was opened Ervic could see a lot of drawers inside, and into one

Until now Ervic could see over the bent form of the ape, but suddenly the form, with its back to him, seemed

to straighten up and blot out the cupboard of drawers. The ape had changed to the form of a woman, dressed

in the pretty Gillikin costume, and when she turned around he saw that it was a young woman, whose face

She laughed, saying: "During the heat of the day I like to be an ape, for an ape doesn't wear any clothes to

Ervic noticed her right hand was closed, as if she held something in it. She shut the cupboard door, bent over

the crocodile and in a moment the creature had changed to a red wolf. It was not pretty even now, and the

wolf crouched beside its mistress as a dog might have done. Its teeth looked as dangerous as had those of the

Next the Yookoohoo went about touching all the lizards and toads, and at her touch they became kittens. The

rats she changed into chipmunks. Now the only horrid creatures remaining were the four great spiders, which

"There!" Reera cried, "now my cottage presents a more comfortable appearance. I love the toads and lizards

and rats, because most people hate them, but I would tire of them if they always remained the same.

"You are clever," said Ervic. "I did not hear you utter any incantations or magic words. All you did was to

"Oh, do you think so?" she replied. "Well, touch them yourself, if you like, and see if you can change their

"No," said the Skeezer, "I don't understand magic and if I did I would not try to imitate your skill. You are a

This confession seemed to please Reera, who liked to have her witchcraft appreciated.

"You want no power for yourself, you say, and you're too stupid to be able to steal my secrets. This isn't a

pretty cottage, while outside are sunshine, broad prairies and beautiful wildflowers. Yet you insist on sitting

on that bench and annoying me with your unwelcome presence. What have you in that kettle?"

"I shall carry them to the home of a friend of mine who has three children. The children will love to have the

She came over to the bench and looked into the kettle, where the three fishes were swimming quietly in the

"I love to transform things; it's so interesting. And I've never transformed any fishes in all my life."

"What shapes would you prefer them to have? I can make them turtles, or cute little seahorses; or I could

make them piglets, or rabbits, or guineapigs; or, if you like I can make chickens of them, or eagles, or

"You're not a very pleasant visitor," laughed Red Reera. "People accuse me of being cross and crabbed and

unsociable, and they are quite right. If you had come here pleading and begging for favors, and half afraid of

my Yookoohoo magic, I'd have abused you until you ran away; but you're quite different from that. You're

the unsociable and crabbed and disagreeable one, and so I like you, and bear with your grumpiness. It's time

"Well, I am," Reera declared and clapped her hands together. Instantly a table appeared, spread with linen

and bearing dishes of various foods, some smoking hot. There were two plates laid, one at each end of the

table, and as soon as Reera seated herself all her creatures gathered around her, as if they were accustomed to

be fed when she ate. The wolf squatted at her right hand and the kittens and chipmunks gathered at her left.

"Come, Stranger, sit down and eat," she called cheerfully, "and while we're eating let us decide into what

"They're all right as they are," asserted Ervic, drawing up his bench to the table. "The fishes are beauties

one gold, one silver and one bronze. Nothing that has life is more lovely than a beautiful fish."

"I don't object to you for a Yookoohoo, you know," he said, helping himself to the food and eating with

"And don't you consider a beautiful girl more lovely than a fish, however pretty the fish may be?"

"Well," replied Ervic, after a period of thought, "that might be. If you transformed my three fish into three

girls girls who would be Adepts at Magic, you know they might please me as well as the fish do. You

won't do that of course, because you can't, with all your skill. And, should you be able to do so, I fear my

troubles would be more than I could bear. They would not consent to be my slaves especially if they were

Adepts at Magic and so they would command me to obey them. No, Mistress Reeraq let us not transform

The Skeezer had put his case with remarkable cleverness. He realized that if he appeared anxious for such a

transformation the Yookoohoo would not perform it, yet he had skillfully suggested that they be made Adepts

After the meal was over and Reera had fed her pets, including the four monster spiders which had come down

from their webs to secure their share, she made the table disappear from the floor of the cottage.

"I wish you'd consent to my transforming your fishes," she said, as she took up her knitting again.

The Skeezer made no reply. He thought it unwise to hurry matters. All during the afternoon they sat silent.

Once Reera went to her cupboard and after thrusting her hand into the same drawer as before, touched the

wolf and transformed it into a bird with gorgeous colored feathers. This bird was larger than a parrot and of a

"Sing!" said Reera to the bird, which had perched itself on a big wooden peg as if it had been in the

And the bird sang jolly, rollicking songs with words to them just as a person who had been carefully

trained might do. The songs were entertaining and Ervic enjoyed listening to them. In an hour or so the bird

stopped singing, tucked its head under its wing and went to sleep. Reera continued knitting but seemed

Now Ervic had marked this cupboard drawer well and had concluded that Reera took something from it

which enabled her to perform her transformations. He thought that if he managed to remain in the cottage,

and Reera fell asleep, he could slyly open the cupboard, take a portion of whatever was in the drawer, and by

dropping it into the copper kettle transform the three fishes into their natural shapes. Indeed, he had firmly

resolved to carry out this plan when the Yookoohoo put down her knitting and walked toward the door.

"I'm going out for a few minutes," said she; "do you wish to go with me, or will you remain here?"

Ervic did not answer but sat quietly on his bench. So Reera went out and closed the cottage door.

"Take care! Take care!" cried several voices, coming from the kittens and chipmunks. "If you touch anything

Ervic hesitated a moment but, remembering that he need not consider Reera's anger if he succeeded in

transforming the fishes, he was about to open the cupboard when he was arrested by the voices of the fishes,

"Let the cupboard alone," said the goldfish to him earnestly. "You could not succeed by getting that magic

powder, for only the Yookoohoo knows how to use it. The best way is to allow her to transform us into three

girls, for then we will have our natural shapes and be able to perform all the Arts of Magic we have learned

and well understand. You are acting wisely and in the most effective manner. We did not know you were so

intelligent, or that Reera could be so easily deceived by you. Continue as you have begun and try to persuade

The goldfish ducked its head down just as Reera re entered the cottage. She saw Ervic bent over the kettle,

"Sometimes," he replied, "for all fishes in the Land of Oz know how to speak. Just now they were asking me

"Well, they can have some bread," said Reera. "But it is nearly suppertime, and if you would allow me to

transform your fishes into girls they could join us at the table and have plenty of food much nicer than

"Well," said Ervic, as if hesitating, "ask the fishes. If they consent, why why, then, I'll think it over."

"I want to give you other forms, such as rabbits, or turtles or girls, or something; but your master, the surly

Skeezer, does not wish me to. However, he has agreed to the plan if you will consent."

"If you promise to make us three beautiful girls, we will consent," said the goldfish.

"I don't know exactly what that means," replied Reera musingly, "but as no Adept at Magic is as powerful as

"We won't try to harm you, or to interfere with your magic in any way," promised the goldfish. "On the

"Will you agree to go away and leave me alone in my cottage, whenever I command you to do so?" asked

"They have already consented," said the Yookoohoo, laughing in his face, "and you have promised me to

abide by their decision. So, friend Skeezer, I shall perform the transformation whether you like it or not."

Ervic seated himself on the bench again, a deep scowl on his face but joy in his heart. Reera moved over to

the cupboard, took something from the drawer and returned to the copper kettle. She was clutching something

tightly in her right hand, but with her left she reached within the kettle, took out the three fishes and laid them

Reera did not keep them in misery more than a few seconds, for she touched each one with her right hand and

instantly the fishes were transformed into three tall and slender young women, with fine, intelligent faces and

clothed in handsome, clinging gowns. The one who had been a goldfish had beautiful golden hair and blue

eyes and was exceedingly fair of skin; the one who had been a bronzefish had dark brown hair and clear gray

eyes and her complexion matched these lovely features. The one who had been a silverfish had snow white

hair of the finest texture and deep brown eyes. The hair contrasted exquisitely with her pink cheeks and

As soon as they secured these girlish shapes, all three bowed low to the Yookoohoo and said:

"Very good!" cried the Yookoohoo, examining her work with critical approval. "You are much better and

more interesting than fishes, and this ungracious Skeezer would scarcely allow me to do the transformations.

You surely have nothing to thank him for. But now let us dine in honor of the occasion."

She clapped her hands together and again a table loaded with food appeared in the cottage. It was a longer

table, this time, and places were set for the three Adepts as well as for Reera and Ervic.

"Sit down, friends, and eat your fill," said the Yookoohoo, but instead of seating herself at the head of the

table she went to the cupboard, saying to the Adepts: "Your beauty and grace, my fair friends, quite outshine

my own. So that I may appear properly at the banquet table I intend, in honor of this occasion, to take upon

Scarcely had she finished this speech when Reera transformed herself into a young woman fully as lovely as

the three Adepts. She was not quite so tall as they, but her form was more rounded and more handsomely

clothed, with a wonderful jeweled girdle and a necklace of shining pearls. Her hair was a bright auburn red,

"Yes," she replied. "This is the only form I am really entitled to wear. But I seldom assume it because there is

"It is on account of my red hair," she explained smiling. "I do not care for red hair myself, which is one

"It is beautiful," asserted the young man; and then remembering the other women present he added: "But, of

course, all women should not have red hair, because that would make it too common. Gold and silver and

The smiles that he saw interchanged between the four filled the poor Skeezer with embarrassment, so he fell

silent and attended to eating his supper, leaving the others to do the talking. The three Adepts frankly told

Reera who they were. how they became fishes and how they had planned secretly to induce the Yookoohoo

to transform them. They admitted that they had feared, had they asked her to help, that she would have

"You were quite right," returned the Yookoohoo. "I make it my rule never to perform magic to assist others,

for if I did there would always be crowd at my cottage demanding help and I hate crowds and want to be left

"However, now that you are restored to your proper shapes, I do not regret my action and I hope you will be

of use in saving the Skeezer people by raising their island to the surface of the lake, where it really belongs.

But you must promise me that after you go away you will never come here again, nor tell anyone what I have

The three Adepts and Ervic thanked the Yookoohoo warmly. They promised to remember her wish that they

should not come to her cottage again and so, with a goodbye, took their departure.

Glinda the Good, having decided to try her sorcery upon the abandoned submarine, so that it would obey her

commands, asked all of her party, including the Skeezers, to withdraw from the shore of the take to the line of

palm trees. She kept with her only the little Wizard of Oz, who was her pupil and knew how to assist her in

her magic rites. When they two were alone beside the stranded boat, Glinda said to the Wizard:

"I shall first try my magic recipe No. 1163, which is intended to make inanimate objects move at my

"Yes, I always carry one in my bag," replied the Wizard. He opened his black bag of magic tools and took out

a brightly polished skeropythrope, which he handed to the Sorceress. Glinda had also brought a small wicker

bag, containing various requirements of sorcery, and from this she took a parcel of powder and a vial of

liquid. She poured the liquid into the skeropythrope and added the powder. At once the skeropythrope began

to sputter and emit sparks of a violet color, which spread in all directions. The Sorceress instantly stepped

into the middle of the boat and held the instrument so that the sparks fell all around her and covered every bit

of the blackened steel boat. At the same time Glinda crooned a weird incantation in the language of sorcery,

After a little the violet sparks ceased, and those that had fallen upon the boat had disappeared and left no

mark upon its surface. The ceremony was ended and Glinda returned the skeropythrope to the Wizard, who

Speaking in a tone of command the Sorceress said to the boat: "Carry us across the lake, to the farther shore."

At once the boat backed off the sandy beach, turned its prow and moved swiftly over the water.

"Very good very good indeed!" cried the Wizard, when the boat slowed up at the shore opposite from that

whence they had departed. "Even Cooeeoh, with all her witchcraft, could do no better."

"Close up, submerge and carry us to the basement door of the sunken island the door from which you

The boat obeyed. As it sank into the water the top sections rose from the sides and joined together over the

heads of Glinda and the Wizard, who were thus enclosed in a waterproof chamber. There were four glass

windows in this covering, one on each side and one on either end, so that the passengers could see exactly

where they were going. Moving under water more slowly than on the surface, the submarine gradually

approached the island and halted with its bow pressed against the huge marble door in the basement under the

Dome. This door was tightly closed and it was evident to both Glinda and the Wizard that it would not open

to admit the underwater boat unless a magic word was spoken by them or someone from within the basement

"I'm afraid," said the Wizard regretfully, "that we can't get in, after all. Unless your sorcery can discover the

"That is probably some word only known to Cooceoh," replied the Sorceress. "I may be able to discover

what it is, but that will require time. Let us go back again to our companions."

"It seems a shame, after we have made the boat obey us, to be balked by just a marble door," grumbled the

At Glinda's command the boat rose until it was on a level with the glass dome that covered the Skeezer

Many faces were pressed against the glass from the inside, eagerly watching the submarine, and in one place

were Dorothy and Ozma, who quickly recognized Glinda and the Wizard through the glass windows of the

boat. Glinda saw them, too, and held the boat close to the Dome while the friends exchanged greetings in

pantomime. Their voices, unfortunately, could not be heard through the Dome and the water and the side of

the boat. The Wizard tried to make the girls understand, through signs, that he and Glinda had come to their

rescue, and Ozma and Dorothy understood this from the very fact that the Sorceress and the Wizard had

appeared. The two girl prisoners were smiling and in safety, and knowing this Glinda felt she could take all

As nothing more could be done just then, Glinda ordered the boat to return to shore and it obeyed readily.

First it ascended to the surface of the water, then the roof parted and fell into the slots at the side of the boat,

and then the magic craft quickly made the shore and beached itself on the sands at the very spot from which it

had departed at Glinda's command. All the Oz people and the Skeezers at once ran to the boat to ask if they

had reached the island, and whether they had seen Ozma and Dorothy. The Wizard told them of the obstacle

they had met in the way of a marble door, and how Glinda would now undertake to find a magic way to

Realizing that it would require several days to succeed in reaching the island raising it and liberating their

friends and the Skeezer people, Glinda now prepared a camp half way between the lake shore and the palm

The Wizard's wizardry made a number of tents appear and the sorcery of the Sorceress furnished these tents

all complete, with beds, chairs, tables, flags, lamps and even books with which to pass idle hours. All the

tents had the Royal Banner of Oz flying from the centerpoles and one big tent, not now occupied, had Ozma's

Betsy and Trot had a tent to themselves, and Button Bright and Ojo had another. The Scarecrow and the Tin

Woodman paired together in one tent and so did Jack Pumpkinhead and the Shaggy Man, Cap'n Bill and

Uncle Henry, TikTok and Professor Wogglebug. Glinda had the most splendid tent of all, except that

reserved for Ozma, while the Wizard had a little one of his own. Whenever it was meal time, tables loaded

with food magically appeared in the tents of those who were in the habit of eating, and these complete

arrangements made the rescue party just comfortable as they would have been in their own homes.

Far into the night Glinda sat in her tent studying a roll of mystic scrolls in search of a word that would open

the basement door of the island and admit her to the Great Dome. She also made many magical experiments,

hoping to discover something that would aid her. Yet the morning found the powerful Sorceress still

Glinda's art could have opened any ordinary door, you may be sure, but you must realize that this marble

door of the island had been commanded not to open save in obedience to one magic word, and therefore all

other magic words could have no effect upon it. The magic word that guarded the door had probably been

invented by Cooeeoh, who had now forgotten it. The only way, then, to gain entrance to the sunken island

was to break the charm that held the door fast shut. If this could be done no magic would be required to open

The next day the Sorceress and the Wizard again entered the boat and made it submerge and go to the marble

"We shall have to abandon this attempt, I think," said Glinda. "The easiest way to raise the island would be

for us to gain admittance to the Dome and then descend to the basement and see in what manner Cooeeoh

made the entire island sink or rise at her command. It naturally occurred to me that the easiest way to gain

admittance would be by having the boat take us into the basement through the marble door from which

Cooeeoh launched it. But there must be other ways to get inside the Dome and join Ozma and Dorothy,

"It won't be easy," declared the Wizard, "for we must not forget that Ozma herself understands considerable

magic, and has doubtless tried to raise the island or find other means of escape from it and failed."

"That is true," returned Glinda, "but Ozma's magic is fairy magic, while you are a Wizard and I am a

Sorceress. In this way the three of us have a great variety of magic to work with, and if we should all fail it

will be because the island is raised and lowered by a magic power none of us is acquainted with. My idea

therefore is to seek by such magic as we possess to accomplish our object in another way."

They made the circle of the Dome again in their boat, and once more saw Ozma and Dorothy through their

Ozma realized that her friends were doing all in their power to rescue her and smiled an encouragement to

their efforts. Dorothy seemed a little anxious but was trying to be as brave as her companion.

After the boat had returned to the camp and Glinda was seated in her tent, working out various ways by

which Ozma and Dorothy could be rescued, the Wizard stood on the shore dreamily eying the outlines of the

Great Dome which showed beneath the clear water, when he raised his eyes and saw a group of strange

people approaching from around the lake. Three were young women of stately presence, very beautifully

dressed, who moved with remarkable grace. They were followed at a little distance by a goodlooking young

The Wizard saw at a glance that these people might be very important, so he advanced to meet them. The

"I believe you are the famous Wizard of Oz, of whom I have often heard. We are seeking Glinda, the

The little Wizard was puzzled as to the identity of the three lovely visitors but he gave no sign that might

He understood they did not wish to be questioned, and so he made no remarks as he led the way to Glinda's

With a courtly bow the Wizard ushered the three visitors into the gracious presence of Glinda, the Good.

The Sorceress looked up from her work as the three maidens entered, and something in their appearance and

manner led her to rise and bow to them in her most dignified manner. The three knelt an instant before the

Glinda had never heard these names before, but looking closely at the three she asked:

"Some of the secret arts we have gleaned from Nature," replied the brownhaired maiden modestly, "but we do

"I suppose you are aware it is unlawful to practice magic in the Land of Oz, without the permission of our

"No, we were not aware of that," was the reply. "We have heard of Ozma, who is the appointed Ruler of all

"Princess Ozma is even now imprisoned in the Skeezer village. for the whole island with its Great Dome, was

sunk to the bottom of the lake by the witchcraft of Cooeeoh, whom the Flathead Sudic transformed into a

silly swan. I am seeking some way to overcome Cooeeoh's magic and raise the isle to the surface again.

"It seems," continued Glinda musingly, "that Cooeeoh derived most of her witchcraft from three Adepts at

Magic, who at one time ruled the Flatheads. While the Adepts were being entertained by Cooeeoh at a

banquet in her palace, she cruelly betrayed them and after transforming them into fishes cast them into the

"If I could find these three fishes and return them to their natural shapes they might know what magic

Cooeeoh used to sink the island. I was about to go to the shore and call these fishes to me when you

The maidens exchanged smiles now, and the golden haired one, Audah, said to Glinda:

"Indeed!" cried Glinda. "Then you are the three Adepts at Magic, restored to your proper forms?"

"Then," said Glinda, "my task is half accomplished. But who destroyed the transformation that made you

"We have promised not to tell," answered Aurah; "but this young Skeezer was largely responsible for our

Glinda looked at Ervic, who stood modestly behind the Adepts, hat in hand. "He shall be properly rewarded,"

she declared, "for in helping you he has helped us all, and perhaps saved his people from being imprisoned

The Sorceress now asked her guests to seat themselves and a long talk followed, in which the Wizard of Oz

"We are quite certain," said Aurah, "that if we could get inside the Dome we could discover Cooeeoh's

secrets, for in all her work, after we became fishes, she used the formulas and incantations and arts that she

stole from us. She may have added to these things, but they were the foundation of all her work."

The three Adepts hesitated to reply, for they had not yet considered what could be done to reach the inside of

the Great Dome. While they were in deep thought, and Glinda and the Wizard were quietly awaiting their

suggestions, into the tent rushed Trot and Betsy, dragging between them the Patchwork Girl.

"Oh, Glinda," cried Trot, "Scraps has thought of a way to rescue Ozma and Dorothy and all of the Skeezers."

The three Adepts could not avoid laughing merrily, for not only were they amused by the queer form of the

Patchwork Girl, but Trot's enthusiastic speech struck them as really funny. If the Great Sorceress and the

famous Wizard and the three talented Adepts at Magic were unable as yet to solve the important problem of

the sunken isle, there was little chance for a patched girl stuffed with cotton to succeed.

But Glinda, smiling indulgently at the earnest faces turned toward her, patted the children's heads and said:

"Well," said Trot, "Scraps says that if you could dry up all the water in the lake the island would be on dry

"If we should dry up the lake, what would become of all the beautiful fishes that now live in the water?"

"Dear me! That's so," admitted Betsy, crestfallen; "we never thought of that, did we Trot?"

"Couldn't you transform 'em into polliwogs?" asked Scraps, turning a somersault and then standing on one

leg. "You could give them a little, teeny pond to swim in, and they'd be just as happy as they are as fishes."

"No indeed!" replied the Wizard, severely. "It is wicked to transform any living creatures without their

"So you did," declared Glinda, her face now grave and thoughtful. "There is something in the Patchwork

"I think so, too," agreed the goldenhaired Adept. "The top of the Great Dome is only a few feet below the

surface of the water. If we could reduce the level of the lake until the Dome sticks a little above the water, we

could remove some of the glass and let ourselves down into the village by means of ropes."

"And there would be plenty of water left for the fishes to swim in," added the whitehaired maiden.

"If we succeed in raising the island we could fill up the lake again," suggested the brownhaired Adept.

"I believe," said the Wizard, rubbing his hands together in delight, "that the Patchwork Girl has shown us the

The girls were looking curiously at the three beautiful Adepts, wondering who they were, so Glinda

introduced them to Trot and Betsy and Scraps, and then sent the children away while she considered how to

Not much could be done that night, so the Wizard prepared another tent for the Adepts, and in the evening

Glinda held a reception and invited all her followers to meet the new arrivals. The Adepts were greatly

astonished at the extraordinary personages presented to them, and marveled that Jack Pumpkinhead and the

Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman and TikTok could really live and think and talk just like other people.

They were especially pleased with the lively Patchwork Girl and loved to watch her antics.

It was quite a pleasant party, for Glinda served some dainty refreshments to those who could eat, and the

Scarecrow recited some poems, and the Cowardly Lion sang a song in his deep bass voice. The only thing

that marred their joy was the thought that their beloved Ozma and dear little Dorothy were yet confined in the

As soon as they had breakfasted the next morning, Glinda and the Wizard and the three Adepts went down to

the shore of the lake and formed a line with their faces toward the submerged island. All the others came to

At the right of the Sorceress stood Audah and Aurah, while at the left stood the Wizard and Aujah. Together

they stretched their arms over the water's edge and in unison the five chanted a rhythmic incantation.

This chant they repeated again and again, swaying their arms gently from side to side, and in a few minutes

the watchers behind them noticed that the lake had begun to recede from the shore. Before long the highest

point of the dome appeared above the water. Gradually the water fell, making the dome appear to rise. When

it was three or four feet above the surface Glinda gave the signal to stop, for their work had been

The blackened submarine was now entirely out of water, but Uncle Henry and Cap'n Bill managed to push it

into the lake. Glinda, the Wizard, Ervic and the Adepts got into the boat, taking with them a coil of strong

rope, and at the command of the Sorceress the craft cleaved its way through the water toward the part of the

"There's still plenty of water for the fish to swim in," observed the Wizard as they rode along. "They might

like more but I'm sure they can get along until we have raised the island and can fill up the lake again."

The boat touched gently on the sloping glass of the Dome, and the Wizard took some tools from his black

bag and quickly removed one large pane of glass, thus making a hole large enough for their bodies to pass

through. Stout frames of steel supported the glass of the Dome, and around one of these frames the Wizard

"I'll go down first," said he, "for while I'm not as spry as Cap'n Bill I'm sure I can manage it easily. Are you

So the Wizard let down the rope and climbing through the opening lowered himself down, hand over hand,

clinging to the rope with his legs and feet. Below in the streets of the village were gathered all the Skeezers,

men, women and children, and you may be sure that Ozma and Dorothy, with Lady Aurex, were filled with

The Queen's palace, now occupied by Ozma, was directly in the center of the Dome, so that when the rope

was let down the end of it came just in front of the palace entrance. Several Skeezers held fast to the rope's

end to steady it and the Wizard reached the ground in safety. He hugged first Ozma and then Dorothy, while

The Wizard now discovered that the rope was long enough to reach from the top of the Dome to the ground

when doubled, so he tied a chair to one end of the rope and called to Glinda to sit in the chair while he and

some of the Skeezers lowered her to the pavement. In this way the Sorceress reached the ground quite

The Skeezers quickly recognized the three Adepts at Magic, whom they had learned to respect before their

wicked Queen betrayed them, and welcomed them as friends. All the inhabitants of the village had been

greatly frightened by their imprisonment under water, but now realized that an attempt was to be made to

Glinda, the Wizard and the Adepts followed Ozma and Dorothy into the palace, and they asked Lady Aurex

and Ervic to join them. After Ozma had told of her adventures in trying to prevent war between the Flatheads

and the Skeezers, and Glinda had told all about the Rescue Expedition and the restoration of the three Adepts

by the help of Ervic, a serious consultation was held as to how the island could be made to rise.

"I've tried every way in my power," said Ozma, "but Cooeeoh used a very unusual sort of magic which I

do not understand. She seems to have prepared her witchcraft in such a way that a spoken word is necessary

"I can do no more, Glinda," continued Ozma, "so I wish you would try what your sorcery can accomplish."

"First, then," said Glinda, "let us visit the basement of the island, which I am told is underneath the village."

A flight of marble stairs led from one of Cooeeoh's private rooms down to the basement, but when the

party arrived all were puzzled by what they saw. In the center of a broad, low room, stood a mass of great

cog wheels, chains and pulleys, all interlocked and seeming to form a huge machine; but there was no

"This, I suppose, is the means by which the island is lowered or raised," said Ozma, "but the magic word

The three Adepts were carefully examining the mass of wheels, and soon the goldenhaired one said:

"These wheels do not control the island at all. On the contrary, one set of them is used to open the doors of

the little rooms where the submarines are kept, as may be seen from the chains and pulleys used. Each boat is

kept in a little room with two doors, one to the basement room where we are now and the other letting into

"When Cooeeoh used the boat in which she attacked the Flatheads, she first commanded the basement

door to open and with her followers she got into the boat and made the top close over them. Then the

basement door being closed, the outer door was slowly opened, letting the water fill the room to float the

"Why the boat would enter the room filled with water and after the outer door was closed a word of command

started a pump which pumped all the water from the room. Then the boat would open and Cooeeoh could

"I see," said the Wizard. "It is a clever contrivance, but won't work unless one knows the magic words."

"Another part of this machinery," explained the whitehaired Adept, "is used to extend the bridge from the

island to the mainland. The steel bridge is in a room much like that in which the boats are kept, and at

Cooceoh's command it would reach out, joint by joint, until its far end touched the shore of the lake. The

same magic command would make the bridge return to its former position. Of course the bridge could not be

"But how do you suppose Cooeeoh managed to sink the island, and make it rise again?" inquired Glinda.

This the Adepts could not yet explain. As nothing more could be learned from the basement they mounted the

steps to the Queen's private suite again, and Ozma showed them to a special room where Cooeeoh kept her

Many interesting things were to be seen in the Room of Magic, including much that had been stolen from the

Adepts when they were transformed to fishes, but they had to admit that Cooeeoh had a rare genius for

mechanics, and had used her knowledge in inventing a lot of mechanical apparatus that ordinary witches,

They all carefully inspected this room, taking care to examine every article they came across.

"The island," said Glinda thoughtfully, "rests on a base of solid marble. When it is submerged, as it is now,

the base of the island is upon the bottom of the lake. What puzzles me is how such a great weight can be

"I now remember," returned Aujah, "that one of the arts we taught Cooeeoh was the way to expand steel,

and I think that explains how the island is raised and lowered. I noticed in the basement a big steel pillar that

passed through the floor and extended upward to this palace. Perhaps the end of it is concealed in this very

room. If the lower end of the steel pillar is firmly embedded in the bottom of the lake, Cooeeoh could utter

a magic word that would make the pillar expand, and so lift the entire island to the level of the water."

"I've found the end of the steel pillar. It's just here," announced the Wizard, pointing to one side of the room

"Yes, I am quite sure that is the upper end of the pillar that supports the island. I noticed it when I first came

here. It has been hollowed out, you see, and something has been burned in the basin, for the fire has left its

marks. I wondered what was under the great basin and got several of the Skeezers to come up here and try to

"It seems to me," said Audah the Adept, "that we have discovered the manner in which Cooeeoh raised the

island. She would burn some sort of magic powder in the basin, utter the magic word, and the pillar would

"What's this?" asked Dorothy, who had been searching around with the others, and now noticed a slight

hollow in the wall, near to where the steel basin stood. As she spoke Dorothy pushed her thumb into the

The three Adepts, Glinda and the Wizard sprang forward and peered into the drawer. It was half filled with a

grayish powder, the tiny grains of which constantly moved as if impelled by some living force.

"No," replied Glinda, "it is more wonderful than even radium, for I recognize it as a rare mineral powder

called Gaulau by the sorcerers. I wonder how Cooeeoh discovered it and where she obtained it."

"There is no doubt," said Aujah the Adept, "that this is the magic powder Cooeeoh burned in the basin. If

"How can we discover the magic word?" asked Ozma, turning to Glinda as she spoke.

So all of them sat down in the Room of Magic and began to think. It was so still that after a while Dorothy

grew nervous. The little girl never could keep silent for long, and at the risk of displeasing her

"Well, Cooeeoh used just three magic words, one to make the bridge work, and one to make the

submarines go out of their holes, and one to raise and lower the island. Three words. And Cooeeoh's name

The Wizard frowned but Glinda looked wonderingly at the young girl and Ozma cried out:

"I believe it is worth a trial," agreed Glinda. "It would be quite natural for Cooeeoh to divide her name into

"We must be careful not to use the wrong word, and send the bridge out under water. The main thing, if

In the drawer with the moving gray powder was a tiny golden cup, which they thought was used for

measuring. Glinda filled this cup with the powder and carefully poured it into the shallow basin, which was

the top of the great steel pillar supporting the island. Then Aurah the Adept lighted a taper and touched it to

the powder, which instantly glowed fiery red and tumbled about the basin with astonishing energy. While the

grains of powder still glowed red the Sorceress bent over it and said in a voice of command: "Coo!"

They waited motionless to see what would happen. There was a grating noise and a whirl of machinery, but

"But it's one which shows we are on the right track," declared Aujah the Adept. "We know now that

"If 'Coo' sends out the boats, it is probable that ee' works the bridge," suggested Ozma. "So the last part of the

He scraped the embers of the burned powder out of the basin and Glinda again filled the golden cup from the

drawer and placed it on top the steel pillar. Aurah lighted it with her taper and Ozma bent over the basin and

Instantly the island trembled and with a weird groaning noise it moved upward slowly, very slowly, but

with a steady motion, while all the company stood by in awed silence. It was a wonderful thing, even to those

skilled in the arts of magic, wizardry and sorcery, to realize that a single word could raise that great, heavy

"Why, we're way above the lake now!" exclaimed Dorothy from the window, when at last the island ceased

They could hear the Skeezers cheering lustily in the streets of the village as they realized that they were

"Not just yet," returned Glinda, a happy smile upon her lovely face, for she was overjoyed at their success.

"First let us extend the bridge to the mainland, where our friends from the Emerald City are waiting."

It didn't take long to put more powder in the basin, light it and utter the syllable "EE!" The result was that a

door in the basement opened and the steel bridge moved out, extended itself joint by joint, and finally rested

"Now," said Glinda, "we can go up and receive the congratulations of the Skeezers and of our friends of the

Across the water, on the shore of the lake, the Patchwork Girl was waving them a welcome.

Of course all those who had joined Glinda's expedition at once crossed the bridge to the island, where they

were warmly welcomed by the Skeezers. Before all the concourse of people Princess Ozma made a speech

from a porch of the palace and demanded that they recognize her as their lawful Ruler and promise to obey

the laws of the Land of Oz. In return she agreed to protect them from all future harm and declared they would

This pleased the Skeezers greatly, and when Ozma told them they might elect a Queen to rule over them, who

in turn would be subject to Ozma of Oz, they voted for Lady Aurex, and that same day the ceremony of

crowning the new Queen was held and Aurex was installed as mistress of the palace.

For her Prime Minister the Queen selected Ervic, for the three Adepts had told of his good judgment,

Glinda, the Wizard and the Adepts stood on the bridge and recited an incantation that quite filled the lake

with water again, and the Scarecrow and the Patchwork Girl climbed to the top of the Great Dome and

replaced the pane of glass that had been removed to allow Glinda and her followers to enter.

When evening came Ozma ordered a great feast prepared, to which every Skeezer was invited. The village

was beautifully decorated and brilliantly lighted and there was music and dancing until a late hour to

celebrate the liberation of the people. For the Skeezers had been freed, not only from the water of the lake but

As the people from the Emerald City prepared the next morning to depart Queen Aurex said to Ozma:

"There is only one thing I now fear for my people, and that is the enmity of the terrible Sudic of the

Flatheads. He is liable to come here at any time and try to annoy us, and my Skeezers are peaceful folks and

"Do not worry," returned Ozma, reassuringly. "We intend to stop on our way at the Flatheads' Enchanted

That satisfied Aurex and when Ozma and her followers trooped over the bridge to the shore, having taken

leave of their friends, all the Skeezers cheered them and waved their hats and handkerchiefs, and the band

The three Adepts at Magic, who had formerly ruled the Flatheads wisely and considerately, went with

Princess Ozma and her people, for they had promised Ozma to stay on the mountain and again see that the

Glinda had been told all about the curious Flatheads and she had consulted with the Wizard and formed a

When the party reached the mountain Ozma and Dorothy showed them how to pass around the invisible wall

which had been built by the Flatheads after the Adepts were transformed and how to gain the

The Sudic had watched the approach of the party from the edge of the mountain and was frightened when

he saw that the three Adepts had recovered their natural forms and were coming back to their former home.

He realized that his power would soon be gone and yet he determined to fight to the last. He called all the

Flatheads together and armed them, and told them to arrest all who came up the stairway and hurl them over

the edge of the mountain to the plain below. But although they feared the Supreme Dictator, who had

threatened to punish them if they did not obey his commands, as soon as they saw the three Adepts they

Seeing that his people had rebelled the Sudic ran away and tried to hide, but the Adepts found him and had

After this easy conquest of the Sudic, Glinda told the Adepts of her plan, which had already been approved

by Ozma of Oz, and they joyfully agreed to it. So, during the next few days, the great Sorceress transformed,

Taking them one at a time, she had the can of brains that belonged to each one opened and the contents

spread on the flat head, after which, by means of her arts of sorcery, she caused the head to grow over the

brains in the manner most people wear them and they were thus rendered as intelligent and good

When all had been treated in this manner there were no more Flatheads at all, and the Adepts decided to name

their people Mountaineers. One good result of Glinda's sorcery was that no one could now be deprived of the

brains that belonged to him and each person had exactly the share he was entitled to.

Even the Sudic was given his portion of brains and his flat head made round, like the others, but he was

deprived of all power to work further mischief, and with the Adepts constantly watching him he would be

The Golden Pig, which ran grunting about the streets, with no brains at all, was disenchanted by Glinda, and

in her woman's form was given brains and a round head. This wife of the Sudic had once been even more

wicked than her evil husband, but she had now forgotten all her wickedness and was likely to be a good

These things being accomplished in a satisfactory manner, Princess Ozma and her people bade farewell to the

three Adepts and departed for the Emerald City, well pleased with their interesting adventures.

They returned by the road over which Ozma and Dorothy had come, stopping to get the Sawhorse and the

"I'm very glad I went to see these peoples," said Princess Ozma, "for I not only prevented any further warfare

between them, but they have been freed from the rule of the Sudic and Cooeeoh and are now happy and

loyal subjects of the Land of Oz. Which proves that it is always wise to do one's duty, however unpleasant