 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Osma of Oz by L. Frank Baum, Chapter 9, The Royal Family of Ev. The Tin Woodman was the first to address the meeting. To begin with, said he, word came to our noble and illustrious ruler, Osma of Oz, that the wife and ten children, five boys and five girls, of the former King of Ev, by name of Avaldo, have been enslaved by the Nome King and are held prisoners in his underground palace. Also, that there was no one in Ev powerful enough to release them. Naturally, our Osma wished to undertake the adventure of liberating the poor prisoners, but for a long time she could find no way to cross the great desert between the two countries. Finally, she went to a friendly sorceress of our land, named Glinda the Good, who heard the story and at once presented Osma a magic carpet, which would continually unroll beneath our feet, and so make a comfortable path for us to cross the desert. As soon as she had received the carpet, our gracious ruler ordered me to assemble our army, which I did. You behold in these bold warriors the pick of all the finest soldiers of Oz, and if we are obliged to fight the Nome King, every officer as well as the private will battle fiercely unto death. Then Tiktok spoke. Why should you fight the Nome King? he asked. He has done no wrong. No wrong, cried Dorothy. Isn't it wrong to imprison a queen mother and her ten children? They were sold to the Nome King by King Evaldo, replied Tiktok. It was the King of Ev who did wrong, and when he realized what he had done he jumped into the sea and drowned himself. This is news to me, said Osma thoughtfully. I had supposed the Nome King was all to blame in the matter, but in any case he must be made to liberate the prisoners. My uncle Evaldo was a very wicked man, declared the Princess Languidere. If he had drowned himself before he sold his family, no one would have cared. But he sold them to the powerful Nome King in exchange for a long life, and afterward destroyed the life by jumping into the sea. Then said Osma, he did not get the long life, and the Nome King must give up the prisoners. Where are they confined? No one knows exactly, replied the Princess. For the king, whose name is Rokat of the Rocks, owns a splendid palace underneath the Great Mountain, which is at the north end of this kingdom, and he has transformed the queen and her children into ornaments and bric-a-brac, with which to decorate his rooms. I'd like to know, said Dorothy, who this Nome King is. I will tell you, replied Osma. He is said to be the ruler of the underground world, and commands the Rocks and all that the Rocks contain. Under his rule are many thousands of the Nomes, who are clearly shaped but powerful sprites that labor at the furnaces and forges of their King, making gold and silver and other metals, which they conceal in the crevices of the Rocks, so that those living upon the earth's surface can only find them with great difficulty. Also they make diamonds and rubies and emeralds, which they hide in the ground, so that the kingdom of the Nomes is wonderfully rich, and all we have of precious stones and silver and gold is what we take from the earth and Rocks, where the Nome King has hidden them. I understand, said Dorothy, knotting her little head wisely. For the reason that we often steal his treasures, continued Osma, the ruler of the underground world is not fond of those who live upon the earth's surface, and never appears among us. If we wish to see King Rockat of the Rocks, we must visit his own country, where he is all powerful, and therefore it will be a dangerous undertaking. But for the sake of the poor prisoners, said Dorothy, we ought to do it. We shall do it, replied the scarecrow, although it requires a lot of courage for me to go near to the furnaces of the Nome King, for I am only stuffed with straw, and a single spark of fire might destroy me entirely. The furnaces may also melt my tin, said the tin woodman, but I am going. I can't bear heat, remarked the Princess Languidere, yawning lazily, so I shall stay at home, but I wish you may have success in your undertaking, for I am heartily tired of ruling this stupid kingdom, and I need more leisure in which to admire my beautiful heads. We do not need you, said Osma, for, if with the aid of my brave followers I cannot accomplish my purpose, then it would be useless for you to undertake the journey. Quite true, sighed the Princess, so if you'll excuse me, I will now retire to my cabinet. I've worn this head quite a while, and I want to change it for another. When she had left them, and you may be sure no one was sorry to see her go, Osma said to TikTok, will you join our party? I am the slave of the girl Dorothy, who rescued me from prison, replied the machine, where she goes, I will go. Oh, I am going with my friends, of course, said Dorothy quickly. I wouldn't miss the fun for anything. Will you go to Belina? To be sure, said Belina, in a careless tone, she was smoothing down the feathers of her back and not paying much attention. Heat is just in her line, remarked the Scarecrow, if she is nicely roasted she will be better than ever. Then, said Osma, we will arrange to start for the Kingdom of the Gnomes at Daybreak tomorrow, and in the meantime we will rest and prepare ourselves for the journey. Although Princess Languidere did not again appear to her guests, the palace servants waited upon the strangers from Oz, and did everything in their power to make the party comfortable. There were many vacant rooms at their disposal, and the brave army of twenty-seven was easily provided for and liberally feasted. The Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger were unharnessed from the chariot, and allowed to roam at Will throughout the palace, where they nearly frightened the servants into fits, although they did no harm at all. At one time Dorothy found the little maid Nanda crouching in terror in a corner, with the Hungry Tiger standing before her. You certainly look delicious, the beast was saying. Will you kindly give me permission to eat you? No, no, no! cried the maid in reply. Then, said the tiger, yawning frightfully, please to get me about thirty pounds of tenderloin steak cooked rare, with a pack of boiled potatoes on the side and five gallons of ice cream for dessert. I'll do the best I can, said Nanda, and she ran away as fast as she could go. Are you so very hungry, asked Dorothy in wonder? You can hardly imagine the size of my appetite, replied the tiger sadly. It seems to fill my whole body from the end of my throat to the tip of my tail. I am very sure the appetite doesn't fit me, and is too large for the size of my body. Someday, when I meet a dentist with a pair of forceps, I'm going to have it pulled. What, your tooth, asked Dorothy? No, my appetite, said the Hungry Tiger. The little girl spent most of the afternoon talking with the scarecrow and the tin woodman, who related to her all that had taken place in the land of Oz since Dorothy had left it. She was much interested in the story of Osma, who had been, when a baby, stolen by a wicked old witch and transformed into a boy. She did not know that she had ever been a girl until she was restored to her natural form by a kind sorceress. Then it was found that she was the only child of the former ruler of Oz and was entitled to rule in his place. Osma had many adventures, however, before she regained her father's throne, and in these she was accompanied by a pumpkin-headed man, a highly magnified and thoroughly educated wagglebug, and a wonderful saw-horse that had been brought to life by means of a magic powder. The scarecrow and the tin woodman had also assisted her, but the cowardly lion, who ruled the great forest as the king of beasts, knew nothing of Osma until after she became the reigning princess of Oz. Then he journeyed to the Emerald City to see her, and on hearing she was about to visit the land of Ev to set free the royal family of that country, the cowardly lion begged to go with her and brought along his friend the hungry tiger as well. Having heard this story, Dorothy related to them her own adventures, and then went out with her friends to find the saw-horse, which Osma had caused to be shod with plates of gold so that its legs would not wear out. They came upon the saw-horse standing motionless beside the garden gate, but when Dorothy was introduced to him he bowed politely and blinked his eyes, which were knots of wood, and wagged his tail, which was only the branch of a tree. What a remarkable thing to be alive, exclaimed Dorothy. I quite agree with you, replied the saw-horse, in a rough but not unpleasant voice. A creature like me has no business to live, as we all know, but it was the magic powder that did it so I cannot justly be blamed. Of course not, said Dorothy, and you seem to be of some use, because I noticed the scarecrow riding upon your back. Oh yes, I'm of use, returned the saw-horse, and I never tire, never have to be fed or cared for in any way. Are you intelligent, asked the girl? Not very, said the creature. It would be foolish to waste intelligence on a common saw-horse when so many professors need it, but I know enough to obey my masters and to giddy up or woe when I'm told to, so I'm pretty well satisfied. That night, Dorothy slept in a pleasant little bed-chamber next to that occupied by Osma of Oz, and Belina perched upon the foot of the bed, and tucked her head under her wing, and slept as soundly in that position as did Dorothy upon her soft cushions. But before daybreak, everyone was awake and stirring, and soon the adventurers were eating a hasty breakfast in the great dining-room of the palace. Osma sat at the head of a long table on a raised platform with Dorothy on her right hand and the scarecrow on her left. The scarecrow did not eat, of course, but Osma placed him near her so that she might ask his advice about the journey while she ate. Lower down the table were the twenty-seven warriors of Oz, and at the end of the room the lion and the tiger were eating out of a kettle that had been placed upon the floor, while Belina fluttered around to pick up any scraps that might be scattered. It did not take long to finish the meal, and then the lion and the tiger were harnessed to the chariot, and the party was ready to start for the Nam King's palace. First rode Osma with Dorothy beside her in the golden chariot, and holding Belina fast in her arms. Then came the scarecrow on the saw-horse, with the tin woodmen and TikTok marching side by side just behind him. After these tramped the army, looking brave and handsome in their splendid uniforms. The generals commanded the colonels, and the colonels commanded the majors, and the majors commanded the captains, and the captains commanded the private, who marched with an air of proud importance because it required so many officers to give him his orders. And so the magnificent procession left the palace and started along the road. Just as day was breaking, and by the time the sun came out they had made good progress toward the valley that led to the Nam King's domain. End of chapter 9 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Osma of Oz by L. Frank Baum Chapter 10 The Giant with the Hammer The road led for a time through a pretty farm country and then passed a picnic grove that was very inviting. But the procession continued to steadily advance until Belina cried in an abrupt and commanding manner. Wait, wait! Osma stopped her chariot so suddenly that the scarecrow saw horse nearly ran into it, and the ranks of the army tumbled over one another before they could come to a halt. Immediately the yellow hen struggled from Dorothy's arms and flew into a clump of bushes by the roadside. What's the matter called to Tin Woodman anxiously? Why, Belina wants to lay her egg, that's all, said Dorothy. Lay her egg, repeated the Tin Woodman, in astonishment. Yes, she lays one every morning about this time, and it's quite fresh, said the girl. But does your foolish old hen suppose that this entire cavalcade, which is bound on an important adventure, is going to stand still while she lays her egg, inquired the Tin Woodman earnestly? What else can we do, asked the girl, it's a habit of Belina's, and she can't break herself of it. Then she must hurry up, said the Tin Woodman impatiently. No, no, exclaimed the scarecrow, if she hurries, she may lay scrambled eggs. That's nonsense, said Dorothy, but Belina won't be long, I'm sure. So they stood and waited, although all were restless and anxious to proceed, and by and by the yellow hen came from the bushes saying, cat, cat, cat, cat, cat, cat, cat, cat, cat. What is she doing, singing her lay, asked the scarecrow? For March, shouted the Tin Woodman, waving his axe, and the procession started just as Dorothy had once more grabbed Belina in her arms. Isn't anyone going to get my egg, cried the hen in great excitement? I'll get it, said the scarecrow, and at his command the soul-horse pranced into the bushes. The straw man soon found the egg which he placed in his jacket pocket. The cavalcade, having moved rapidly on, was even then far in advance. But it did not take the soul-horse long to catch up with it, and presently the scarecrow was riding in his accustomed place behind Osma's chariot. What shall I do with the egg, he asked Dorothy. I do not know, the girl answered. Perhaps the hungry tiger would like it. It would not be enough to fill one of my back teeth, remarked the tiger. A bushel of them, hard-boiled, might take a little of the edge off my appetite. But one egg isn't good for anything at all that I know of. No, it wouldn't even make a sponge cake, said the scarecrow thoughtfully. The Tin Woodman might carry it with his axe and hatch it. But after all, I may as well keep it myself for a souvenir. So he left it in his pocket. They had now reached that part of the valley that lay between the two high mountains, which Dorothy had seen from her tower window. At the far end was the third great mountain, which blocked the valley and was the northern edge of the land of Ev. It was underneath this mountain that the Gnome King's palace was said to be, but it would be some time before they reached that place. The path was becoming rocky and difficult for the wheels of the chariot to pass over, and presently a deep gulf appeared at their feet which was too wide for them to leap. So Osma took a small square of green cloth from her pocket and threw it upon the ground. At once it became the magic carpet and unrolled itself far enough for all the cavalcade to walk upon. The chariot now advanced and the green carpet unrolled before it, crossing the gulf on a level with its banks so that all passed over in safety. That's easy enough, said the Scarecrow. I wonder what will happen next. He was not long in making the discovery, for the sides of the mountain came closer together until finally there was but a narrow path between them, along which Osma and her party were forced to pass in single file. They now heard a low and deep thump thump thump, which echoed throughout the valley and seemed to grow louder as they advanced, then turning a corner of rock they saw before them a huge form which towered above the path for more than a hundred feet. The form was that of a gigantic man built out of plates of cast iron, and it stood with one foot on either side of the narrow road and swung over its right shoulder an immense iron mallet with which it constantly pounded the earth. These resounding blows explained the thumping sounds they had heard, for the mallet was much bigger than a barrel, and where it struck the path between the rocky sides of the mountain it filled all the space through which our travellers would be obliged to pass. Of course they at once halted a safe distance away from the terrible iron mallet. The magic carpet would do them no good in this case, for it was only meant to protect them from any dangers upon the ground beneath their feet and not from dangers that appeared in the air above them. Wow! said the cowardly lion with a shutter. It makes me dreadfully nervous to see that big hammer pounding so near my head. One blow would crush me into a doormat. The iron giant is a fine fellow, said TikTok, and works as steadily as a clock. He was made for the gnome king by Smith and Tinker, who made me, and his duty is to keep folks from finding the underground palace. Is he not a great work of art? Can he think and speak as you do? Asked Osma, regarding the giant with wondering eyes. No, replied the machine. He is only made to pound the road and has no thinking or speaking attachment, but he pounds very well, I think. Too well, observed the scarecrow, he is keeping us from going farther. Is there no way to stop his machinery? Only then gnome king who has the key can do that, answered TikTok. Then, said Dorothy anxiously, what shall we do? Excuse me for a few minutes, said the scarecrow, and I will think it over. He retired then to a position in the rear, where he turned his painted face to the rocks and began to think. Meantime, the giant continued to raise his iron mallet high in the air and to strike the path terrific blows that echoed through the mountains like the roar of a cannon. Each time the mallet lifted, however, there was a moment when the path beneath the monster was free, and perhaps the scarecrow had noticed this, for when he came back to the others, he said, the matter is a very simple one after all. We have but to run under the hammer, one at a time, when it is lifted and passed to the other side before it falls again. It will require quick work if we escape the blow, said the tin woodman, with a shake of his head, but it really seems the only thing to be done. Who will make the first attempt? They looked at one another hesitatingly for a moment. Then the cowardly lion, who was trembling like a leaf in the wind, said to them, I suppose the head of the procession must go first, and that's me, but I'm terribly afraid of the big hammer. What will become of me? asked Osma. You might rush under the hammer yourself, but the chariot would surely be crushed. We must leave the chariot, said the scarecrow, but you two girls can ride upon the backs of the lion and the tiger. So this was decided upon, and Osma, as soon as the lion was unfastened from the chariot, at once mounted the beasts back and said she was ready. Cling fast to his main advice, Dorothy, I used to ride him myself, and that's the way I held on. So Osma clung fast to the mane, and the lion crouched in the path and eyed the swinging mallet carefully until he knew just the instant it would begin to rise in the air. Then before anyone thought he was ready, he made a sudden leap straight between the iron giant's legs, and before the mallet struck the ground again, the lion and Osma were safe on the other side. The tiger went next. Dorothy sat upon his back and locked her arms around his striped neck, for he had no mane to cling to. He made the leap straight and true as an arrow from a bow, and ere Dorothy realized it she was out of danger and standing by Osma's side. Now came the scarecrow on the saw-horse, and while they made the dash in safety they were within a hair's breadth of being caught by the descending hammer. Tick-tock walked up to the very edge of the spot the hammer struck, and as it was raised for the next blow he calmly stepped forward and escaped its descent. That was an idea for the tin woodman to follow, and he also crossed in safety while the great hammer was in the air, but when it came to the twenty-six officers and the private their knees were so weak that they could not walk a step. In battle we are wonderfully courageous, said one of the generals, and our foes find us terrible to face, but war is one thing and this is another. When it comes to being pounded upon the head by an iron hammer and smashed into pancakes we naturally object. Make a run for it urged the scarecrow. Our knees shake so that we cannot run, answered a captain. If we should try it we would all certainly be pounded to a jelly. Well, well, sighed the cowardly lion. I see, friend tiger, that we must place ourselves in great danger to rescue this bold army. Come with me and we will do the best we can. So Osma and Dorothy, having already dismounted from their backs, the lion and the tiger leaped back again under the awful hammer and returned with two generals clinging to their necks. They repeated this daring passage twelve times when all the officers had been carried beneath the giant's legs and landed safely on the further side. By that time the beasts were very tired and panted so hard that their tongues hung out of their great mouths. But what is to become of the private, asked Osma? Oh, leave him there to guard the chariot, said the lion. I'm tired out and won't pass under that mallet again. The officers at once protested that they must have the private with them, else there would be no one for them to command. But neither the lion or the tiger would go after him, and so the scarecrow sent the saw-horse. Either the wooden horse was careless or it failed to properly time the descent of the hammer, for the mighty weapon caught it squarely upon its head and thumped it against the ground so powerfully that the private flew off its back high into the air and landed upon one of the giant's cast iron arms. Here he clung desperately while the arm rose and fell with each one of the rapid strokes. The scarecrow dashed in to rescue his saw-horse and had his left foot smashed by the hammer before he could pull the creature out of danger. They then found that the saw-horse had been badly dazed by the blow, for while the hard wooden knot of which his head was formed could not be crushed by the hammer, both his ears were broken off and he would be unable to hear a sound until some new ones were made for him. Also his left knee was cracked and had to be bound up with a string. Belina having fluttered under the hammer it now remained only to rescue the private, who was riding upon the iron giant's arm high in the air. The scarecrow lay flat upon the ground and called to the man to jump down upon his body, which was soft because it was stuffed with straw. This the private managed to do, waiting until a time when he was nearest the ground and then letting himself drop upon the scarecrow. He accomplished the feat without breaking any bones and the scarecrow declared he was not injured in the least. Therefore the tin woodman, having by this time fitted new ears to the saw-horse, the entire party proceeded upon its way, leaving the giant to pound the path behind them. End of chapter 10 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Osma of Oz by L. Frank Baum Chapter 11 The Gnome King By and by, when they drew near to the mountain that blocked their path, and which was the furthest edge of the kingdom of Ev, the way grew dark and gloomy for the reason that the high peaks on either side shut out the sunshine. And it was very silent, too, as there were no birds to sing or squirrels to chatter, the trees being left far behind them and only the bear rocks remaining. Osma and Dorothy were a little awed by the silence, and all the others were quiet and grave except the saw-horse, which, as it trotted along with the scarecrow upon his back, hummed a queer song of which this was the chorus. Would a wooden horse and a woodland go, aye, aye, aye, sigh, he would, although, had he not had a wooden head, he'd mount the mountaintop instead. But no one paid any attention to this because they were now close to the gnome king's dominions, and his splendid underground palace could not be very far away. Suddenly they heard a shout of jeering laughter and stopped short. They would have to stop in a minute anyway for the huge mountain barred their further progress, and the path ran close up to a wall of rock and ended. Who was that laughing? asked Osma. There was no reply, but in the gloom they could see strange forms flit across the face of the rock. Whatever the creations might be, they seemed very like the rock itself, for they were the color of rocks and their shapes were as rough and rugged as if they had been broken away from the side of the mountain. They kept close to the steep cliff facing our friends, and glided up and down, and this way and that, with a lack of regularity that was quite confusing. And they seemed not to need places to rest their feet, but clung to the surface of the rock as a fly does to a window pane, and were never still for a moment. Do not mind them, said TikTok, as Dorothy shrank back. They are only the gnomes. And what are the gnomes? asked the girl, half frightened. They are rock fairies and serve the gnome king, replied the machine, but they will do us no harm. You must call for the king, because without him you can never find the entrance to the palace. You call, said Dorothy to Osma. Just then the gnomes laughed again and the sound was so weird and disheartening that the twenty-six officers commanded the private to write about face, and they all started to run as fast as they could. The tin woodman at once pursued his army and cried, Halt, and when they had stopped their flight he asked, Where are you going? I find I forgotten the brush for my whiskers, said a general, trembling with fear, so we are going back after it. That is impossible, replied the tin woodman, for the giant with the hammer would kill you all if you tried to pass him. Oh, I'd forgotten the giant, said the general, turning pale. You seem to forget a good many things, remarked the tin woodman. I hope you won't forget that you are brave men. Never cried the general, slapping his gold embroidered chest. Never cried all the other officers indignantly slapping their chests. For my part, said the private meekly, I must obey my officers, so when I am told to run, I run, and when I am told to fight, I fight. That is right, agreed the tin woodman, and now you must all come back to Osma and obey her orders, and if you try to run away again I will have her reduce all the twenty-six officers to privates, and make the private your general. This terrible threat so frightened them that they at once returned to where Osma was standing beside the cowardly lion. Then Osma cried out in a loud voice, I demand that the gnome king appear to us. There was no reply except that the shifting gnomes upon the mountain laughed in derision. You must not command the gnome king, said TikTok, for you do not rule him as you do your own people. So Osma called again, saying, I request the gnome king to appear to us. Only the mocking laughter replied to her, and the shadowy gnomes continued to flit here and there upon the rocky cliff. Try and treat thee, said TikTok to Osma, if he will not come at your request then the gnome king may listen to your pleading. Osma looked around her proudly. Do you wish your ruler to plead with the wicked gnome king, she asked? Shall Osma of Oz humble herself to a creature who lives in an underground kingdom? No, they all shouted, with big voices, and the scarecrow added, if he will not come we will dig him out of his hole like a fox, and conquer his stubbornness. But our sweet little ruler must always maintain her dignity, just as I maintain mine. I'm not afraid to plead with him, said Dorothy. I'm only a little girl from Kansas, and we've got more dignity at home than we know what to do with. I'll call the gnome king. Do, said the hungry tiger, and if he makes hash of you, I'll willingly eat you for breakfast tomorrow morning. So Dorothy stepped forward and said, Please, Mr. Gnome King, come here and see us. The gnome started to laugh again, but a low growl came from the mountain, and in a flash they had all vanished from sight and were silent. Then a door in the rock opened and a voice cried, Enter! Isn't it a trick? asked the tin woodman. Never mind, replied Osma. We came here to rescue the poor queen of Ev and her ten children, and we must run some risks to do so. The gnome king is honest and good-natured, said TikTok. You can trust him to do what is right. So Osma led the way, hand-in-hand with Dorothy, and they passed through the arched doorway of rock and entered a long passage which was lighted by jewels set in the walls and having lamps behind them. There was no one to escort them or to show them the way, but all the party pressed through the passage until they came to a round-domed cavern that was grandly furnished. In the center of this room was a throne carved out of a solid boulder of rock, rude and rugged in shape but glistening with great rubies and diamonds and emeralds on every part of its surface, and upon this throne sat the gnome king. This important monarch of the underground world was a little fat man clothed in grey-brown garments that were the exact color of the rock throne in which he was seated. His bushy hair and flowing beard were also colored like the rocks, and so is his face. He wore no crown of any sort and his only ornament was a broad, jeweled-studded belt that encircled his fat little body. As for his features, they seemed kindly and good-humored, and his eyes were turned merrily upon his visitors as Osma and Dorothy stood before them with their followers ranged in close order behind them. Why, he looks just like Santa Claus, only he isn't the same color, whispered Dorothy to her friend, but the gnome king heard the speech and it made him laugh aloud. He had a red face and a round little belly that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly, quote the monarch in a pleasant voice, and they could all see that he really did shake like jelly when he laughed. Both Osma and Dorothy were much relieved to find the gnome king so jolly, and a minute later he waved his right hand and the girls each found a cushioned stool at her side. Sit down, my deers, said the king, and tell me why you have come all this way to see me and what I can do to make you happy. While they seated themselves, the gnome king picked up a pipe and, taking a glowing red coal out of his pocket, he placed it in the bowl of the pipe and began puffing out clouds of smoke that curled in rings above his head. Dorothy thought this made the little monarch look more like Santa Claus than ever, but Osma now began speaking and everyone listened intently to her words. Your Majesty said she, I am the ruler of the land of Oz, and I have come here to ask you to release the good queen of Ev and her ten children, whom you have enchanted and hold as your prisoners. Oh, no, you are mistaken about that, replied the king. They are not my prisoners, but my slaves, whom I purchased from the king of Ev. But that was wrong, said Osma. According to the laws of Ev, the king can do no wrong, answered the monarch, eyeing a ring of smoke he had just blown from his mouth, so that he had a perfect right to sell his family to me in exchange for a long life. You cheated him, though, declared Dorothy, for the king of Ev did not have a long life. He jumped into the sea and was drowned. That was not my fault, said the gnome king, crossing his legs and smiling contentedly. I gave him the long life all right, but he destroyed it. Then how could it be a long life, asked Dorothy? Easily enough was the reply. Now suppose, my dear, that I gave you a pretty doll in exchange for a lock of your hair, and that after you had received the doll you smashed it into pieces and destroyed it. Could you say that I had not given you a pretty doll? No, answered Dorothy. And could you in fairness ask me to return to you the lock of hair, just because you had smashed the doll? No, said Dorothy again. Of course not, the gnome king returned. Nor will I give up the queen and her children, because the king of Ev destroyed his long life by jumping into the sea. They belong to me, and I shall keep them. But you are treating them cruelly, said Osma, who was much distressed by the king's refusal. In what way, he asked, by making them your slaves, said she. Cruelty, remarked the monarch, puffing out wreaths of smoke and watching them float into the air, is a thing I can't abide. So, as slaves must work hard, and the queen of Ev and her children were delicate and tender, I transformed them all into articles of ornament and bric-a-brac, and scattered them around the various rooms of my palace. Instead of being obliged to labor, they merely decorate my apartments, and I really think I have treated them with great kindness. But what a dreadful fate is theirs, exclaimed Osma earnestly, and the kingdom of Ev is in great need of its royal family to govern it. If you will liberate them and restore them to their proper forms, I will give you ten ornaments to replace each one you lose. The gnome king looked grave. Suppose I refuse, he asked. Then said Osma firmly, I am here with my friends and my army to conquer your kingdom and oblige you to obey my wishes. The gnome king laughed until he choked, and he choked until he coughed, and he coughed until his face turned from grayish-brown to bright red, and then he wiped his eyes with a rock-colored handkerchief and grew grave again. You are as brave as you are pretty, he said to Osma, but you have little idea of the extent of the task you have undertaken. Come with me for a moment. He arose and took Osma's hand, leading her to a little door at one side of the room. This he opened, and they stepped out upon a balcony from whence they obtained a wonderful view of the underground world. A vast cave extended for miles and miles under the mountain, and in every direction were furnaces and gorges glowing brightly, and gnomes hammering upon precious metals or polishing gleaming jewels. All around the walls of the cave were thousands of doors of silver and gold built into the solid rock, and these extended in rows far away into the distance, as far as Osma's eyes could follow them. While the little maid from Oz gazed wonderingly upon this scene, the gnome king uttered a shrill whistle, and once all the silver and gold doors flew open and solid ranks of gnome soldiers marched out from every one. So great were their numbers, that they quickly filled the immense underground cavern and forced the busy workmen to abandon their tasks. Although this tremendous army consisted of rock-colored gnomes all squat and fat, they were clothed in glittering armor of polished steel inlaid with beautiful gems. Each wore a brilliant electric light, and they bore sharp spears and swords and battle axes of solid bronze. It was evident they were perfectly trained, for they stood in straight rows rank after rank with their weapons held erect and true, as if awaiting but the word of command to level them upon their foes. This, said the gnome king, is but a small part of my army. No ruler upon earth has ever dared to fight me and no ruler ever will, for I am too powerful to oppose. He whistled again and at once the martial array filed through the silver and gold doorways and disappeared, after which the workmen again resumed their labors at the furnaces. Then, sad and discouraged, Asma of Oz turned to her friends and the gnome king calmly receded himself on his rock throne. It would be foolish for us to fight, the girl said to the tin woodman, for our brave twenty-seven would be quickly destroyed. I'm sure I do not know how to act in this emergency. Asked the king where his kitchen is, suggested the tiger, I'm hungry as a bear. I might pounce upon the king and tear him to pieces, remarked the cowardly lion. Try it, said the monarch, lighting his pipe with another hot coal which he took from his pocket. The lion crouched low and tried to spring upon the gnome king, but he hopped only a little way into the air and came down again in the same place, not being able to approach the throne by even an inch. It seems to me, said the scarecrow thoughtfully, that our best plan is to weedle his majesty into giving up his slaves, since he is too great a magician to oppose. This is the most sensible thing any of you have suggested, it is folly to threaten me, but I'm so kind-hearted that I cannot stand coaxing or weedling. If you really wish to accomplish anything by your journey, my dear Asma, you must coax me. Very well, said Asma more cheerfully, let us be friends and talk this over in a friendly manner. To be sure, agreed the king, his eyes twinkling merrily. I am very anxious, she continued, to liberate the queen of Ev and her children who are now ornaments and bric-a-brac in your majesty's palace and to restore them to their people. Tell me, sir, how this may be accomplished. The king remained thoughtful for a moment after which he asked, are you willing to take a few chances and risks yourself in order to set free the people of Ev? Yes, indeed, answered Asma eagerly. Then, said the gnome king, I will make you this offer. You shall go alone and unattended into my palace and examine carefully all that the rooms contain. Then you shall have permission to touch eleven different objects, pronouncing at the same time the word Ev. And if any one of them, or more than one, proves to be the transformation of the queen of Ev or any of her ten children, then they will instantly be restored to their true forms and may leave my palace and my kingdom in your company without any objection whatever. It is possible for you in this way to free the entire eleven, but if you do not guess all the objects correctly and some of the slaves remain transformed, then each one of your friends and followers may, in turn, enter the palace and have the same privileges I grant you. Oh, thank you, thank you for this kind offer, said Asma eagerly. I make but one condition added the gnome king his eyes twinkling. What is it she inquired? If none of the eleven objects you touch proves to be the transformation of any of the royal family of Ev, then instead of freeing them, you will yourself become enchanted and transformed into an article of Brickabrack or an ornament. This is only fair and just, and is the risk you declared you were willing to take. End of Chapter 11 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Asma of Oz by L. Frank Baum Chapter 12 The Eleven Guesses Hearing this condition imposed by the gnome king, Asma became silent and thoughtful and all her friends looked at her uneasily. If you guess wrong, you will be enslaved yourself. But I shall have eleven guesses answered, Asma. Surely I ought to guess one object in eleven correctly, and if I do I shall rescue one of the royal family and be safe myself. Then the rest of you may attempt it, and soon we shall free all those who are enslaved. What if we fail, inquired this scarecrow? I'd look nice as a piece of fabric, wouldn't I? We must not fail, cried Asma courageously. Having come all this distance to free these poor people, it would be weak and cowardly in us to abandon the adventure. Therefore I will accept the gnome king's offer and go at once into the royal palace. Come along then, my dear, said the king, climbing down from his throne with some difficulty because he was so fat. I'll show you how I approached a wall of the cave and waved his hand. Instantly an opening appeared through which Asma, after a smiling farewell to her friends, boldly passed. She found herself in a splendid hall that was more beautiful and grand than anything she had ever beheld. The ceilings were composed of great arches that rose far above her head, and all the walls and floors were of polished marble exquisitely made of glass. Thick velvet carpets were on the floor, and heavy silken draperies covered the arches leading to the various rooms of the palace. The furniture was made of rare old woods, richly carved and covered with delicate satins, and the entire palace was lighted by a mysterious rosy glow that seemed to come from no particular place, but flooded each apartment with its soft and pleasing radiance. There was one room to another, greatly delighted by all she saw. The lovely palace had no other occupant, for the gnome king had left her at the entrance, which closed behind her, and in all the magnificent rooms there appeared to be no other person. Upon the mantles and on many shelves and brackets and tables were clustered ornaments of every description seemingly made out of all sorts of metals, glass, china, stones, and marbles. There were vases and figures of men and animals, and graven platters and bowls and mosaics of precious gems and many other things. Pictures too were on the walls, and the underground palace was quite a museum of rare and curious and costly objects. After her first tasty examination of the rooms, Osma began to wonder which of all the numerous ornaments they contained were the transformations of the royal family of Ev. There was nothing to guide her, for everything seemed without a spark of life. So she must guess blindly, and for the first time the girl came to realize how dangerous was her task, and how likely she was to lose her own freedom in striving to free others from the bondage of the gnome king. No wonder the cunning monarch laughed good-naturedly with his visitors, when he knew how easily they might be entrapped. But Osma, having undertaken the venture, would not abandon it. She looked at a silver candelabra that had ten branches and thought, this may be the queen of Ev and her ten children. So she touched it and uttered aloud the word Ev, as the gnome king had instructed her to do when she guessed. But the candelabra remained as it was before. Then she wandered into another room and touched a china lamb, thinking it might be one of the children she sought. But again she was unsuccessful. Three guesses, four guesses, five, six, seven, eight, nine, and ten she made, and still not one of them was right. The girl shivered a little and grew pale even under the rosy light. For now but one guest remained, and her own fate depended upon the result. She resolved not to be hasty and strolled through all the rooms once more, gazing earnestly upon the various ornaments and trying to decide which she would touch. Finally in despair she decided to leave it entirely to chance. She faced the doorway of a room, shut her eyes tightly, and then thrusting aside the heavy draperies, she advanced blindly, with her right arm outstretched before her. Slowly softly she crept forward until her hand came in contact with an object upon a small round table. She did not know what it was, but in a low voice she pronounced the word of. The rooms were quite empty of life after that. The gnome king had gained a new ornament. For upon the edge of the table rested a pretty grasshopper that seemed to have been formed from a single emerald. It was all that remained of cause. In the throne room just beyond the palace the gnome king suddenly looked up and smiled. Next, he said in his pleasant voice, Dorothy the scarecrow and the tin woodman, who had been sitting in anxious silence each gave a start of smay and stared into one another's eyes. Has she failed? So it seems, answered the little monarch cheerfully, but that is no reason one of you should not succeed. The next may have twelve guesses instead of eleven, for there are now twelve persons transformed into ornaments. Well, well, which of you goes next? I'll go, said Dorothy. Not so replied the tin woodman. As commander of Osma's army it is my privilege to follow her and attempt her rescue. Away you go then, said the scarecrow, but be thoughtful, old friend. I will promise the tin woodman and then he followed the gnome king to the entrance to the palace and the rock closed behind him. End of Chapter 12 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Osma of Oz by Elfrank Baum Chapter 13 The Gnome King Laughs In a moment the king returned to his throne and relighted his pipe and the rest of the little band of adventurers settled themselves for another long wait. They were greatly disheartened by the failure of their girl ruler and the knowledge that she was now an ornament in the gnome king's palace a dreadful creepy place in spite of all its magnificence. Without their little leader they did not know what to do next and each one down to the trembling private of the army began to fear he would soon be more ornamental than useful. Suddenly the gnome king began laughing ha ha ha he he he ho ho ho What's happened asked the scarecrow why your friend the tin woodman has become the funniest thing you can imagine replied the king wiping the tears of merriment from his eyes no one would ever believe he could make such an amusing ornament. Next. They gazed at each other with sinking hearts one of the generals began to weep dullfully. What are you crying for asked the scarecrow indignant at such a display of weakness. He owed me six weeks back pay said the general and I hate to lose him. Then you shall go and find him me cried the general greatly alarmed certainly it is your duty to follow your commander march I won't said the general I'd like to of course but I just simply won't the scarecrow looked inquiringly at the gnome king nevermind said the jolly monarch if he doesn't care to enter the palace and make his guesses I'll throw him into one of my fiery furnaces I'll go of course I'm going yelled the general as quick as scat where is the entrance where is it let me go at once so the gnome king escorted him into the palace and again returned to await the results what the general did no one can tell but it was not long before the king called for the next victim and a colonel was forced to try his fortune. Thus one after another all of the 26 officers filed into the palace and made their guesses and became ornaments meantime the king ordered refreshments to be served to those waiting and at his command a rudely shaped gnome entered bearing a tray this gnome was not unlike the others that Dorothy had seen but he wore a heavy gold chain around his neck to show that he was the chief steward of the gnome king and he assumed an heir of much importance and even told his majesty not to eat too much cake late at night or he would be ill Dorothy however was hungry and she was not afraid of being ill so she ate several cakes and found them good and also she drank a cup of excellent coffee made of a richly flavored clay browned in the furnaces and then ground fine and found it most refreshing and not at all muddy of all the party which had started upon this adventure the little Kansas girl was now left alone with the scarecrow, tiktok and the private for counselors and companions of course the cowardly lion and the hungry tiger were still there but they having also eaten some of the cakes had gone to sleep at one side of the cave while upon the other side stood the saw-horse motionless and silent as became a mere thing of wood quietly walked around and picked up the crumbs of cake which had been scattered and now as it was long after bedtime she tried to find some dark place in which to go to sleep presently the hen espied a hollow underneath the king's rocky throne and crept into it unnoticed she could still hear the chattering of those around her but it was almost dark underneath the throne so that soon she had fallen fast to sleep next called the king and the private whose turn it was to enter the fatal palace shook hands with Dorothy and the scarecrow and bade them a sorrowful goodbye and passed through the rocky portal they waited a long time for the private was in no hurry to become an ornament and made his guesses very slowly the gnome king who seemed to know by some magical power all that took place in his beautiful rooms of his palace grew impatient finally and declared he would sit up no longer I love ornaments said he but I can wait until tomorrow to get more of them so as soon as that stupid private is transformed we will all go to bed and leave the job to be finished in the morning is it so very late asked Dorothy why it is after midnight said the king and that strikes me as being late enough there is neither night nor day in my kingdom because it is under the earth's surface where the sun does not shine but we have to sleep just the same as the upstairs people do and for my part I'm going to bed in a few minutes indeed it was not long after this that the private made his last guess of course he guessed wrongly and of course he at once became an ornament so the king was greatly pleased and slapped his hands to summon his chief steward show these guests to some of the sleeping apartments he commanded and be quick about it too for I'm dreadfully sleepy myself you've no business to sit up so late replied the steward gruffly you'll be as cross as a griffin tomorrow morning his majesty made no answer to this remark and the chief steward led Dorothy through another doorway into a long hall which several plain but comfortable sleeping rooms opened the little girl was given the first room and the scarecrow and tiktok the next although they never slept and the lion and the tiger the third the saw-horse hobbled after the steward into a fourth room to stand stiffly in the center of it until morning each night was rather a bore to the scarecrow, tiktok, and the saw-horse but they had learned from experience to pass the time patiently and quietly since all their friends who were made of flesh had to sleep and did not like to be disturbed when the chief steward had left them alone the scarecrow remarked sadly I am in great sorrow over the loss of my old comrade the tin woodman we have had many dangerous adventures together and escaped them all and now it grieves me to know he has become an ornament and is lost to me forever he was always an ornament to society said tiktok true but now the gnome king laughs at him and calls him the funniest ornament in all the palace it will hurt my poor friends pride to be laughed at continued the scarecrow sadly we will make rather absurd ornaments ourselves to Marrow observe the machine in his monotonous voice just then Dorothy ran into their room in a state of great anxiety crying where is Belina have you seen Belina is she here no answered the scarecrow then what has become of her asked the girl why I thought she was with you said the scarecrow yet I do not remember seeing the yellow hen since she picked up the crumbs of cake we must have left her in the room where the king's throne is decided Dorothy and at once she turned and ran down the hall to the door through which they had entered but it was fast closed and locked on the other side and the heavy slab of rock proved to be so thick that no sound could pass through it so Dorothy was forced to return to her chamber the cowardly lion stuck his head into her room to try to console the girl for the loss of her feathered friend the yellow hen is well able to take care of herself said he so don't worry about her but try to get all the sleep you can it has been a long and weary day and you need rest I'll probably get lots of rest tomorrow when I become an ornament said Dorothy sleepily but she lay down upon her couch nevertheless and in spite of all her worries was soon in the land of dreams end of chapter 13 this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Osma of Oz by L. Frank Baum chapter 14 Dorothy tries to be brave meantime the chief steward had returned to the throne room where he said to the king you are a fool to waste so much time upon these people what? cried his majesty in so enraged a voice that it awoke Belina who was asleep under his throne how dare you call me a fool because I like to speak the truth said the steward why didn't you enchant them all at once instead of allowing them to go one by one into the palace and guess which ornaments are the queen of Ev and her children why you stupid rascal it is more fun this way returned the king and it serves to keep me amused for a long time but suppose some of them happened to guess a right persisted the steward then you would lose your old ornaments and these new ones too there is no chance of their guessing a right replied the monarch with a laugh how could they know that the queen of Ev and her family are all ornaments of a royal purple color but there are no other purple ornaments in the palace said the steward there are many other colors however and the purple ones are scattered throughout the rooms in different shapes and sizes take my word for it steward they will never think of choosing the purple ornaments Bellino squatting under the throne had listened carefully to all this talk and now chuckled softly to herself as she heard the king disclose his secret still you are acting foolishly by running the chance continued the steward roughly and it is still more foolish of you to transform all those people from Oz into green ornaments I did that because they came from the emerald city replied the king and I had no green ornaments in my collection until now I think they will look quite pretty mixed with the others don't you the steward gave an angry grunt have your own way since you are the king he growled but if you come to grief through your carelessness remember that I told you so if I wore the magic belt which enables you to work all your transformations which enables you so much other power I am sure I would make a much wiser and better king than you are oh cease your tiresome chatter commanded the king getting angry again because you are my chief steward you have an idea you can scold me as much as you please but the very next time you become impudent I will send you to work in the furnaces and get another gnome to fill your place now follow me to my chamber for I am going to bed see that I am wakened early tomorrow morning I want to enjoy the fun of transforming the rest of these people into ornaments what color will you make the Kansas girl asked the steward gray I think said his majesty and the scarecrow and the machine man oh they shall be of solid gold because they are so ugly in real life then the voices died away and Belina knew that the king and his steward left the room she fixed up some of her tail feathers that were not straight and then tucked her head under her wing again and went to sleep in the morning Dorothy and the lion and tiger were given their breakfast in their rooms and afterward joined the king in his throne room the tiger complained bitterly that he was half starved and begged to go into the palace and become an ornament so that he would no longer suffer the pangs of hunger haven't you had your breakfast asked the gnome king oh I had just a bite replied the beast but what good is a bite to a hungry tiger he ate 17 bowls of porridge a platter full of fried sausages 11 loaves of bread and 21 mince pies said the steward what more do you want demanded the king a fat baby I want a fat baby a clumsy tender fat baby but of course if I had one my conscience would not allow me to eat it so I'll have to be an ornament and forget my hunger impossible exclaimed the king I'll have no clumsy beasts enter my palace to overturn and break all my pretty knickknacks when the rest of your friends are transformed you can return to the upper world and go about your business as for that we have no business when our friends are gone said the lion so we do not care much what becomes of us Dorothy begged to be allowed to go first into the palace but tiktok firmly maintained that the slaves should face danger before the mistress the scarecrow agreed with him in that so the gnome king opened the door for the machine man who tramped into the palace to meet his fate then his majesty returned to his throne and puffed his pipe so contentedly that a small cloud of smoke formed above his head by and by he said I'm sorry there are so few of you left very soon now my fun will be over and then for amusement I shall have nothing to do but admire my new ornaments it seems to me said Dorothy that you are not so honest as you pretend to be how's that asked the king why you made us think it would be easy to guess what ornaments the people of were changed into it is easy to clear the monarch if one is a good guesser but it appears that the members of your party are all poor guessers what is tiktok doing now asked the girl uneasily nothing replied the king with a frown he is standing perfectly still in the middle of a room oh I expect he's run down said Dorothy I forgot to wind him up this morning how many guesses has he made all that he is allowed except one answered the king suppose you go in and wind him up and then you can stay there and make your own guesses alright said Dorothy it is my turn next to clear the scarecrow why you don't want to go away and leave me all alone do you ask the girl besides if I go now I can wind up tiktok so that he can make his last guess very well then said the scarecrow with a sigh run along little Dorothy and may good luck go with you so Dorothy trying to be brave in spite of her fears passed through the doorway into the gorgeous rooms of the palace the stillness of the place awed her at first and the child drew short breaths and pressed her hand to her heart and looked all around with wondering eyes yes it was a beautiful place but enchantments lurked in every nook and corner and she had not yet grown accustomed to the wizardries of these very countries so different from the quiet and sensible common places of her own native land slowly she passed through several rooms until she came upon tiktok standing motionless it really seemed then that she had found a friend in this mysterious palace so she hastened to wind up the machine man's action and speech and thoughts thank you Dorothy were his first words I have now one more guest to make oh be very careful tiktok won't you cried the girl yes but the gnome king has us in his power and he has set a trap for us I fear we are all lost he answered I fear so too said Dorothy sadly if Smith and Tinker had given me a guessing clockwork attachment continued tiktok I might have defied the gnome king but my thoughts are plain and simple and are not of much use in this case do the best you can said Dorothy encouragingly and if you fail I will watch and see what shape you are changed into so tiktok touched a yellow glass vase that had daisies painted on one side and she spoke at the same time the word ev in a flash the machine man had disappeared and although the girl looked quickly in every direction she could not tell which of the many ornaments the room contained had a moment before been her faithful friend and servant so all she could do was to accept the hopeless tasks at her and make her guesses and abide by the result for I haven't heard any of them scream or cry out not even the poor officers dear me I wonder if Uncle Henry or Aunt M will ever know I have become an ornament in the gnome king's palace and must stand forever and ever in one place and look pretty except when I moved to be dusted it isn't the way I thought I'd turn out at all but I suppose it can't be helped she walked through all the rooms once more and with care all the objects they contained but there were so many they bewildered her and she decided after all as Osma had done that it could be only guesswork at the best and that the chances were much against her guessing a right timidly she touched an alabaster bowl and said ev that's one failure anyhow she thought but how am I to know which thing is enchanted and which is not next she touched the image of a purple kitten that stood on the corner of a mantle and as she pronounced the word ev the kitten disappeared and a pretty fair haired boy stood beside her at the same time a bell rang somewhere in the distance and as Dorothy started back partly in surprise and partly in joy the little one exclaimed where am I and who are you and what has happened to me well I declare said Dorothy I've really done it done what asked the boy saved myself from being an ornament replied the girl with a laugh and saved you from being forever a purple kitten a purple kitten he repeated there is no such thing I know she answered but there was a minute ago don't you remember standing on a corner of the mantle of course not I am a prince of ev ring the little one announced proudly but my father the king sold my mother and all her children to the cruel ruler of the gnomes and after that I remember nothing at all a purple kitten can't be expected to remember ev ring said Dorothy and I'm going to try to save some of your brothers and sisters and perhaps your mother as well so come with me she sees the child's hand and eagerly hurried here and there trying to decide which object to choose next the third guest was another failure and so was the fourth and the fifth little ev ring could not imagine what she was doing but he trotted along beside her very willingly for he liked the new companion he had found Dorothy's further quest proved unsuccessful but after her first disappointment was over the little girl was filled with joy and thankfulness to think that after all she had been able to save one member of the royal family of ev and could restore the little prince to his sorrowing country now she might return to the terrible gnome king in safety carrying with her the prize she had won in the person of the fair haired boy so she retraced her steps until she found the entrance to the palace and as she approached the massive doors of rock opened of their own accord allowing both Dorothy and ev ring to pass the portals and enter the throne room end of chapter 14 this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Osmov Oz by L. Frank Baum Chapter 15 Belina Frightens the Gnome King now when Dorothy had entered the palace to make her guesses and the scarecrow was left with the gnome king the two sat in moody silence for several minutes then the monarch exclaimed in a tone of satisfaction very good who is very good asked the scarecrow the machine man he won't need to be wound up anymore for he has now become a very neat ornament very neat indeed how about Dorothy the scarecrow inquired oh she will begin to guess pretty soon said the king cheerfully and then she will join my collection and it will be your turn the good scarecrow was much distressed by the thought that his little friend was about to suffer the fate of Osmo and the rest of their party but while he sat in gloomy reverie a shrill voice suddenly cried the gnome king nearly jumped off his seat he was so startled good gracious what's that he yelled why it's Belina said the scarecrow what do you mean by making a noise like that shouted the king angrily as the yellow hen came from under the throne and strutted proudly about the room I've got a right to cackle I guess replied Belina I've just laid my egg what laid an egg in my throne room how dare you do such a thing asked the king in a voice of fury I lay eggs wherever I happen to be said the hen ruffling her feathers and then shaking them into place but thunderation don't you know that eggs are poison roared the king while his rock colored eyes stuck out in great terror poison will I declare said Belina indignantly I'll have you know all my eggs are warranted strictly fresh and up to date poison indeed you don't understand retorted the little monarch nervously eggs belong only to the outside world to the world on the earth's surface where you came from here in my underground kingdom they are rank poison as I said and we gnomes can't bear them around well you'll have to bear this one around declared Belina for I've laid it where asked the king under your throne said the king jumped three feet into the air so anxious was he to get away from the throne take it away take it away at once he shouted I can't said Belina I haven't any hands I'll take the eggs at the scarecrow I'm making a collection of Belina's eggs there's one in my pocket now that she laid yesterday hearing this the monarch hastened to put a good distance between himself and the scarecrow who was about to reach under the throne for the egg when the hen suddenly cried stop what's wrong asked the scarecrow don't take the egg unless the king will allow me to enter the palace and guess as the others have done said Belina return the king you're only a hen how could you guess my enchantments I can try I suppose said Belina and if I fail you will have another ornament a pretty ornament you'd make wouldn't you growl the king but you shall have your way it will properly punish you for daring to lay an egg in my presence after the scarecrow is enchanted you shall follow him into the palace but how will you touch the objects with my claws said the hen and I can speak the word ev as plainly as anyone also I must have the right to guess the enchantments of my friends and to release them if I succeed very well said the king you have my promise then said Belina to the scarecrow you may get the egg he knelt down and reached underneath the throne and found the egg which he placed in another pocket of his jacket fearing that if both eggs were in one pocket they would knock together and get broken just then a bell above the throne rang briskly and the king gave another nervous jump said he with a rueful face the girl has actually done it done what asked the scarecrow she has made one guest that is right and broken one of my neatest enchantments by rickety it's too bad I never thought she would do it do I understand that she will now return to us in safety inquired the scarecrow joyfully wrinkling his painted face into a broad smile of course said the king fretfully pacing up and down I always keep my promises no matter how foolish they are but I shall make an ornament of the yellow hen to replace the one I have just lost perhaps you will and perhaps you won't murmured Belina calmly I may surprise you by guessing right guessing right snap the king how should you guess right where your betters have failed you stupid fell Belina did not care to answer this question and a moment later the doors flew open and Dorothy entered leading the little prince evering by the hand the scarecrow welcomed the girl with a close embrace and he would have embraced evering too in his delight but the little prince was shy and shrank away from the painted scarecrow because he did not yet know his many excellent qualities but there was little time for the friends to talk because the scarecrow must now enter the palace Dorothy's success had greatly encouraged him and they both hoped he would manage to make at least one correct guess however he proved as unfortunate as the others accept Dorothy and although he took a good deal of time to select his objects not one did the poor scarecrow guess a right so he became a solid gold card receiver and the beautiful but terrible palace awaited its next visitor it's all over remarked the king with a sigh of satisfaction and it has been a very amusing performance except for the one good guess the Kansas girl made I am richer by a great many pretty ornaments it is my turn now said Malina briskly oh I forgotten you said the king but you needn't go if you don't wish to I will be generous and let you off no you won't reply the hen I insist upon having my guesses as you promised ahead you absurd feathered fool grumbled the king and he caused the opening that led to the palace to appear once more don't go Malina said Dorothy earnestly it isn't easy to guess those ornaments and only luck saved me from being one myself stay with me and we'll go back to the land of Ev together I'm sure this little prince will give us a home indeed I will said Evering with much dignity don't worry my dear Malina with a cluck that was meant for a laugh I may not be human but I'm no fool if I am a chicken oh Malina said Dorothy you haven't been a chicken for a long time not since you you've been grown up perhaps that's true answered Malina thoughtfully but if a Kansas farmer sold me to someone what would he call me a hen or a chicken you are not a Kansas farmer Malina replied the girl never mind that Dorothy I'm going I won't say goodbye because I'm coming back keep up your courage for I'll see you a little later then Malina gave several loud cluck clucks that seemed to make the fat little king more nervous than ever and marched through the entrance into the enchanted palace I hope I've seen the last of that bird declared the monarch seating himself again in his throne and mopping the perspiration from his forehead with his rock-colored handkerchief hens are bothersome enough at their best but when they can talk they're simply dreadful Malina's my friend said Dorothy quietly she may not always be exactly polite but she means well I'm sure End of Chapter 15 This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org The yellow hen, stepping high and with an air of vast importance walked slowly over the rich velvet carpets of the splendid palace examining everything she met with her sharp little eyes Malina had a right to feel important for she alone shared the known king's secret and knew how to tell the objects that were transformations from those that had never been alive she was very sure that her guesses would be correct but before she began to make them she was curious to behold all the magnificence of this underground palace which was perhaps one of the most splendid and beautiful palaces in any fairy land as she went through the rooms she counted the purple ornaments and although some were small and hidden in queer places Malina spied them all and found the entire ten scattered about the various rooms the green ornaments she did not bother to count for she thought she could find them all when the time came finally having made a survey of the entire palace and enjoyed its splendor the yellow hen returned to one of the rooms where she had noticed a large purple footstool she placed a claw upon this and said once the footstool vanished and a lovely lady tall and slender and most beautifully robed stood before her the lady's eyes were round with astonishment for a moment for she could not remember her transformation nor imagine what had restored her to life good morning ma'am said Malina in her sharp voice you're looking quite well considering your age who speaks demanded the Queen of Ev why my name's Bill by rights answered the hen who was now perched upon the back of a chair although Dorothy has put scallops on it and made it Malina but the name doesn't matter I've saved you from the gnome king and you are a slave no longer then I thank you for the gracious favor said the Queen with a graceful curtsy but my children tell me I beg of you where are my children and she clasped her hands anxious and treaty don't worry advise Malina pecking at a tiny bug that was crawling over the chair back just at present they are out of mischief and perfectly safe for they can't even wiggle what mean you oh kindly stranger asked the Queen striving to repress her anxiety they're enchanted said Malina just as you have been all that is except the little fellow Dorothy picked out are that they have been good boys and girls for some time because they couldn't help it oh my poor darlings cried the Queen with a sob of anguish not at all returned the hen don't let their condition make you unhappy ma'am because I'll soon have them crowding round to bother and worry you as naturally as ever come with me if you please and I'll show you how pretty they look she flew down from her perch and walked into the next room with the Queen following as she passed a low table a small green grasshopper caught her eye and instantly Malina pounced upon it and snapped it up in her sharp bill for grasshoppers are a favorite food with hens and they usually must be caught quickly before they can hop away it might easily have been the end of Osma of Oz had she been a real grasshopper instead of an emerald one but Malina found the grasshopper hard and lifeless and suspecting it was not good to eat she quickly dropped it instead of letting it slide down her throat I might have known better she muttered to herself for where there is no grass there can be no live grasshoppers this is probably one of the King's transformations a moment later she approached one of the purple ornaments and while the Queen watched her curiously the hen broke the gnome King's enchantment and a sweet-faced girl whose golden hair fell in a cloud over her shoulders stood before them Ivana cried the Queen my own Ivana and she clasped the girl to her bosom and covered her face with kisses that's all right said Malina contentedly am I a good guesser Mr. gnome King well I guess then she disenchanted another girl whom the Queen addressed as Evros and afterwards a boy named Evardo who was older and his brother Evring indeed the yellow hen kept the good Queen exclaiming and embracing for some time until five princesses and four princes all looking very much alike except for the difference in size stood in a row beside their happy mother the princesses were named Ivana, Evros, Avela, Everyn and Avedna while the princes were Evrob, Everington Evardo and Everland of these Evardo was the eldest and would inherit his father's throne and be crowned King of Ev when he returned to his country he was a grave and quiet youth and would doubtless rule his people wisely and with justice Malina having restored all of the royal family of Ev to their proper forms now began to select the green ornaments which were the transformations of the people of Oz she had little trouble in finding these and before long all the 26 officers as well as the private were gathered around the yellow hen joyfully congratulating her upon their release the 37 people who were now alive in the rooms of the palace knew very well that they owed their freedom to the cleverness of the yellow hen and they were earnest in thanking her for saving them from the magic of the known king now said Malina I must find Osma she is sure to be here somewhere but of course she is green being from Oz so look around you stupid soldiers and help me in my search for a while however they could discover nothing more that was green but the queen who had kissed all her nine children once more and could now find time to take an interest in what was going on said to the hen may have my gentle friend is it the grasshopper whom you seek of course it's the grasshopper and Malina I declare I'm nearly as stupid as these brave soldiers wait here for me and I'll go back and get it so she went into the room where she had seen the grasshopper and presently Osma of Oz as lovely and dainty as ever entered and approached the queen of Ev greeting her as one high born princess greets another but where are my friends the scarecrow and the tin woodman asked the girl ruler who had been exchanged I'll hunt them up replied Malina the scarecrow is solid gold and so is tiktok but I don't exactly know what the tin woodman is because the gnome king said he had been transformed into something funny Osma eagerly assisted the hen in her quest and soon the scarecrow and the machine man being ornaments of shining gold were discovered and restored to their accustomed forms but searches they might in no place could they find a funny ornament that might be the transformation of the tin woodman only one thing can be done said Osma at last and that is to return to the gnome king and oblige him to tell us what has become of our friend perhaps he won't suggested Malina he must return Osma firmly the king has not treated us honestly for under the mask of fairness and good nature he entrapped us all and we would have been forever enchanted had not our wise and clever friend the yellow hen found a way to save us the king is a villain declared the scarecrow his laugh is worse than another man's frown said the private with a shutter I thought he was honest but I was mistaken remarked tiktok my thoughts are usually correct but it is Smith and Tinker's fault if they sometimes go wrong or do not work properly Smith and Tinker made a very good job of you said Osma kindly I do not think they should be blamed if you are not quite perfect thank you replied tiktok then said Malina in her brisk little voice let us all go back to the gnome king and see what he has to say for himself so they started for the entrance Osma going first with the queen and her train of little princes and princesses following then came tiktok and the scarecrow with Malina perched upon his straw stuffed shoulder the twenty-seven officers and the private brought up the rear as they reached the hall the doors flew open before them but then they all stopped and stared into the domed cavern with faces of astonishment and dismay for the room was filled with the male clad warriors of the gnome king rank after rank standing in orderly array the electric lights upon their brows gleamed brightly their battle axes were poised as if to strike down their foes yet they remained motionless as statues awaiting the word of command and in the center of this terrible army sat the little king upon his throne of rock but he neither smiled nor laughed instead his face was distorted with rage and most dreadful to behold End of Chapter 16 This is a Libra box recording All Libra box recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit Libra box.org Osma of Oz by L. Frank Baum Chapter 17 The scarecrow wins the fight After Balina had entered the palace Dorothy and Evering sat down to await the success or failure of her mission and the gnome king occupied his throne and smoked his long pipe for a while in a cheerful and contented mood Then the bell above the throne which sounded whenever an enchantment was broken began to ring and the king gave a start of annoyance and exclaimed Rockety Ricketts When the bell rang a second time the king shouted angrily smudge and blazes and at a third ring he screamed in a fury Hippocaloric which must be a dreadful word because we don't know what it means After that the bell went on ringing time after time but the king was now so violently enraged that he could not utter a word but hopped out of his throne and all around the room in a mad frenzy so that he reminded Dorothy of a jumping jack The girl was, for her part filled with joy at every peel of the bell for it announced the fact that Balina had transformed one more ornament into a living person Dorothy was also amazed at Balina's success for she could not imagine how the yellow hen was able to guess correctly from all the bewildering number of articles clustered in the rooms of the palace But after she had counted ten and the bell continued to ring she knew that not only the royal family of Ev but Osma and her followers also were being restored to their natural forms and she was so delighted that the antics of the angry king only made her laugh merrily Perhaps the little monarch could not be more furious than he was before but the girl's laughter nearly drove him frantic and he roared at her like a savage beast Then as he found that all his enchantments were likely to be dispelled and his victims every one set free he suddenly ran to the little door that opened upon the balcony and gave the shrill whistle that summoned his warriors At once the army filed out of the gold and silver doors in great numbers and marched up a winding stairs and into the throne room led by a stern featured gnome who was their captain When they had nearly filled the throne room they formed ranks in the big underground cavern below and then stood still until they were told what to do next Dorothy had pressed back to one side of the cavern when the warriors entered and now she stood holding little Prince Evering's hand while the great lion crouched upon one side and the enormous tiger crouched on the other side Seized that girl shouted the king to his captain and a group of warriors sprang forward to obey but both the lion and tiger snarled so fiercely and bared their strong sharp teeth so threateningly that the men drew back in alarm Don't mind them cried the gnome king They cannot leap beyond the places where they now stand But they can bite those who attempt to touch the girl said the captain I'll fix that, answered the king I'll enchant them again so that they can't open their jaws He stepped out of the throne to do this but just then the saw-horse ran up behind him and gave the fat monarch a powerful kick with both his wooden hind legs Ow! Murder! Treason! yelled the king who had been hurled against several of his warriors and was considerably bruised Who did that? I did, growled the saw-horse viciously You let Dorothy alone or I'll kick you again We'll see about that, replied the king and at once he waved his hand toward the saw-horse and muttered a magical word Aha! he continued Now let us see you move, you wooden mule But in spite of the magic the saw-horse moved and he moved so quickly toward the king that the fat little man could not get out of his way Thump, bang! came the wooden heels right against his round body and the king flew into the air and fell upon the head of his captain who let him drop flat upon the ground Well, well! said the king sitting up and looking surprised Why didn't my magic belt work, I wonder The creature is made of wood, replied the captain Your magic will not work on wood, you know Ah! I'd forgotten that, said the king getting up and limping to his throne Very well, let the girl alone She can't escape us anyway The warriors, who had been rather confused by these incidents, now formed their ranks again and the saw-horse pranced across the room to Dorothy and took a position beside the hungry tiger At that moment the doors that led to the palace flew open and the people of Ev and the people of Oz were disclosed to view They paused, astonished at sight of the warriors and the angry gnome king seated in their midst Surrender, cried the king in a loud voice You are my prisoners Go long, answered Melina from the scarecrow's shoulder You promised me that if I guessed correctly my friends and I might depart in safety and you always keep your promises I said you might leave the palace in safety retorted the king And so you may, but you cannot leave my dominions You are my prisoners and I will hurl you all into my underground dungeons where the volcanic fires glow and the molten lava flows in every direction and the air is hotter than blue blazes That will be the end of me, all right said the scarecrow sorrowfully One small blaze, blue or green is enough to reduce me to an ash heap Do you surrender, demanded the king? Melina whispered something in the scarecrow's ear that made him smile and put his hands in his jacket pockets No, returned Osma, boldly answering the king Then she said to her army forward my brave soldiers and fight for your ruler and yourselves until death Pardon me, most royal Osma replied one of her generals I think that I and my brother officers all suffer from heart disease and the slightest excitement might kill us If we fight, we may get excited Would it not be well for us to avoid this grave danger? Soldiers should not have heart disease, said Osma Private soldiers are not, I believe afflicted that way, declared another general twirling his mustache thoughtfully If your royal highness desires we will order our private to attack yonder warriors Do so, replied Osma Forward march, cried all the generals with one voice Forward march, yelled the colonels Forward march, shouted the majors Forward march, commanded the captains and at that the private leveled his spear and dashed furiously upon the foe The captain of the gnomes was so surprised by the sudden onslaught that he forgot to command his warriors to fight so that the ten men in the first row who stood in front of the private spear fell over like so many toy soldiers The spear could not go through their steel armor however so the warriors scrambled to their feet again and by that time the private had knocked over another row of them Then the captain brought down his battle axe with such a strong blow that the private spear was shattered and knocked from his grasp and he was helpless to fight any longer The gnome king had left his throne and pressed through his warriors to the front ranks so he could see what was going on but as he faced Osma and her friends the scarecrow as if aroused to action by the valor of the private drew one of Balina's eggs from his right jacket pocket and hurled it straight at the little monarch's head It struck him squarely in his left eye where the eggs smashed and scattered as eggs will and covered his face and hair and beard with its sticky contents Help! Help! screamed the king clawing with his fingers at the egg in a struggle to remove it An egg! An egg! Run for your lives! shouted the captain of the gnomes in a voice of horror and how they did run The warriors fairly tumbled over one another in their efforts to escape the fatal poison of that awful egg and those who could not rush down the winding stair fell off the balcony into the great cavern beneath knocking over those who stood below them Even while the king was still yelling for help his throne room became emptied of every one of his warriors and before the monarch had managed to clear the egg away from his left eye the scarecrow threw the second egg against his right eye where it smashed and blinded him entirely The king was unable to flee because he could not see which way to run so he stood still and howled and shouted and screamed in abject fear While this was going on Belina flew over to Dorothy and perching herself upon the lion's back the hen whispered eagerly to the girl Get his belt, get the known king's jeweled belt it unbuckles in the back Quick, Dorothy, quick! End of Chapter 17 This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Osma of Oz by L. Frank Baum Chapter 18 The Fate of the Tin Woodman Dorothy obeyed She ran at once behind the known king who was still trying to free his eyes from the egg and in a twinkling she had unbuckled his splendid jeweled belt There he did away with her to her place beside the tiger and lion where, because she did not know what else to do with it she fastened it around her own slim waist Just then the chief steward rushed in with a sponge and a bowl of water and began mopping away the broken eggs from his master's face In a few minutes and while all the parties stood looking on the king regained use of his eyes and the first thing he did was to glare wickedly upon the scarecrow and exclaim I'll make you suffer for this, you haystuff dummy Don't you know eggs are poison to gnomes? Really? said the scarecrow They don't seem to agree with you Although I wonder why They were strictly fresh and above, suspicion said Belina You ought to be glad to get them I'll transform you all into scorpions, cried the king angrily and began waving his arms and muttering magic words But none of the people became scorpions so the king stopped and looked at them in surprise What's wrong? he asked Why, you are not wearing your magic belt? replied the chief steward after looking the king over carefully Where is it? What have you done with it? The gnome king clasped his hand to his waist and his rock-colored face turned white as chalk It's gone, he cried helplessly, it's gone and I am ruined Dorothy now stepped forward and said Royal Osma and you, queen of Ev, I welcome you and your people back to the land of the living Belina has saved you from your troubles and now we will leave this dreadful place and return to Ev as soon as possible While the child spoke they could all see that she wore the magic belt and a great cheer went up from all her friends which was led by the voices of the scarecrow and the private but the gnome king did not join them he crapped back onto his throne like a whipped dog and lay there bitterly bemoaning his defeat But we have not yet found my faithful follower the tin woodman said Osma to Dorothy and without him I do not wish to go away Nor I replied Dorothy quickly wasn't he in the palace? Let's be there said Belina but I had no clue to guide me in guessing the tin woodman so I must have missed him We will go back into the rooms said Dorothy this magic belt I am sure will help us to find our dear old friend So she re-entered the palace the doors of which still stood open and everyone followed her except the gnome king the queen of Ev and Prince Evring The mother had taken the little prince in her lap as fondling and kissing him lovingly for he was her youngest born but the others went with Dorothy and when she came to the middle of the first room the girl waved her hand as she had seen the king do and commanded the tin woodman whatever form he might then have to resume his proper shape no result followed this attempt so Dorothy went into another room and repeated it and so through all the rooms of the palace yet the tin woodman did not appear to them nor could they imagine which among the thousands of ornaments was their transformed friend sadly they returned to the throne room where the king seeing that they had met with failure jeered at Dorothy saying you do not know how to use my belt so it is of no use to you give it back to me and I will let you go free you and all the people who came with you as for the royal family of Ev they are my slaves and shall remain here I shall keep the belt said Dorothy but how can you escape without my consent asked the king easily enough answered the girl all we need to do is to walk out the way we came in oh that's all is it sneered the king well where is the passage through which you enter this room they all looked around but could not discover the place for it had long since been closed Dorothy however would not be dismayed she waved her hand toward the seemingly solid wall at the cavern and said I command the passage to open instantly the order was obeyed the opening appeared and the passage lay plainly before them the king was amazed and all the others overjoyed why then if the belt obeys you were we unable to discover the tin woodman asked Osma I can't imagine said Dorothy see here girl proposed the king eagerly give me the belt and I will tell you what shape the tin woodman was changed into and then you can easily find him Dorothy hesitated but Belina cried out don't you do it if the gnome king gets the belt again he will make every one of us prisoners for we will be in his power only by keeping the belt Dorothy will you ever be able to leave this place in safety I think that is true said the scarecrow but I have another idea due to my excellent brains let Dorothy transform the king into a goose egg unless he agrees to go into the palace and bring out to us the ornament which is our friend Nick Chopper the tin woodman a goose egg echoed the horrified king how dreadful well a goose egg you will be unless you go and fetch us the ornament we want declared Belina with a joyful chuckle you can see for yourself that Dorothy is able to use the magic belt alright out of the scarecrow the gnome king thought it over and finally consented for he did not want to be a goose egg so he went into the palace to get the ornament which was the transformation of the tin woodman and they all awaited his return with considerable impatience for they were anxious to leave this underground cavern and see the sunshine once more but when the gnome king came back he brought nothing with him except a puzzled and anxious expression upon his face he's gone he said the tin woodman is nowhere in the palace are you sure asked Osma sternly I'm very sure answered the king trembling for I know just what I transformed him into and exactly where he stood but he is not there and please don't change me into a goose egg because I've done the best I could they were all silent for a time and then Dorothy said there is no use punishing the gnome king anymore and I'm afraid we'll have to go away without our friend if he is not here we cannot rescue him agreed the scarecrow sadly poor Nick I wonder what has become of him and he owed me six weeks back pay said one of the generals wiping the tears from his eyes with his gold laced coat sleeve very sorrowfully they determined to return to the upper world without their former companion and so Osma gave the order to begin the march through the passage the army went first and then the royal family of Ev and afterward came Dorothy, Osma, Belina, the scarecrow, and Tiktok they left the gnome king scowling at them from his throne and had no thought of danger until Osma chanced to look back and saw a large number of the warriors following them in full chase with their swords and spears and axes raised to strike down the fugitives as soon as they drew near enough evidently the gnome king had made this last attempt to prevent their escaping him but it did him no good for when Dorothy saw the danger they were in she stopped and waved her hand and whispered a command to the magic belt instantly the foremost warriors became eggs which rolled upon the floor of the cavern in such numbers that those behind could not advance without stepping upon them but when they saw the eggs all desire to advance departed from the warriors and they turned and fled madly into the cavern and refused to go back again our friends had no farther trouble in reaching the end of the passage and soon were standing in the outer air upon the gloomy path between the two high mountains but the way to Ev lay plainly before them and they fervently hoped that they had seen the last of the gnome king and of his dreadful palace the cavalcade was led by Osma mounted on the cowardly lion and the queen of Ev who rode upon the back of the tiger the children of the queen walked behind her hand in hand Dorothy rode the saw horse while the scarecrow walked and commanded the army in the absence of the tin woodman presently the way began to lighten and more of the sunshine to come in between the two mountains and before long they heard the thump thump thump of the giant's hammer upon the road how may we pass the monstrous man of iron asked the queen anxious for the safety of her children but Dorothy solved the problem by a word to the magic belt the giant paused with his hammer held motionless in the air thus allowing the entire party to pass between his cast iron legs in safety End of Chapter 18 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Osma of Oz by L. Frank Baum Chapter 19 The King of Ev If there were any shifting rock-colored gnomes on the mountainside now they were silent and respectful for our adventurers were not annoyed as before by their impudent laughter really the gnomes had nothing to laugh at since the defeat of their king on the other side they found Osma's golden chariot standing as they had left it soon the lion and the tiger were harnessed to the beautiful chariot in which was enough room for Osma and the queen and six of the royal children Little Evering preferred to ride with Dorothy upon the saw-horse which had a long back the prince had recovered from his shyness and had become very fond of the girl who had rescued him so they were fast friends and chatted pleasantly together as they rode along Bolina was also perched upon the head of the wooden steed which seemed not to mind the added weight in the least and the boy was full of wonder that a hen could talk and say such sensible things when they came to the gulf Osma's magic carpet carried them all over in safety and now they began to pass the trees in which the birds were singing and the breeze that was wafted to them from the farms of Ev was spicy with flowers and new-mown hay and the sunshine fell full upon them to warm them and drive away from their bodies the chill and dampness of the underground kingdom of the gnomes I would be quite content said the scarecrow to Tik Tok where only the tin would man with us but it breaks my heart to leave him behind he was a fine fellow replied Tik Tok although his material was not very durable oh tin is an excellent material the scarecrow hastened to say and if anything ever happened to poor Nick Chopper he was always easily soldered besides he did not have to be wound up and was not liable to get out of order I sometimes wish said Tik Tok that I was stuffed with straw as you are it is hard to be made of copper I have no reason to complain of my lot replied the scarecrow a little fresh straw now and then makes me as good as new but I can never be the polished gentleman that my poor departed friend the tin would man was you may be sure the royal children of Ev and their queen mother were delighted at seeing again their beloved country and when the towers of the palace of Ev came into view they could not forbear cheering at the site little Evering riding in front of Dorothy was so overjoyed that he took a curious tin whistle from his pocket and blew a shrill blast that made the saw-horse leap and prance in sudden alarm what is that asked Belina who had been obliged to flutter her wings in order to keep her seat upon the head of the frightened saw-horse that's my whistle said Prince Evering holding it out upon his hand it was in the shape of a little fat pig made of tin and painted green the whistle was in the tail of the pig where did you get it asked the yellow hen closely examining the toy with her bright eyes why I picked it up in the Nome King's palace while Dorothy was making her guesses and I put it in my pocket answered the little Prince Belina laughed or at least she made the peculiar cackle that served her for a laugh no wonder I couldn't find the tin woodman she said and no wonder the magic belt didn't make him appear or the King couldn't find him either what do you mean questioned Dorothy why the Prince had him in his pocket cried Belina cackling again I did not protested little Evering I only took the whistle well then watch me return the hen and reaching out a claw she touched the whistle and said Ev swish good afternoon said the tin woodman taking off his funnel cap and bowing to Dorothy and the Prince I think I must have been asleep for the first time since I was made of tin for I do not remember our leaving the Nome King you have been enchanted answered the girl throwing an arm around her old friend and hugging him tight in her joy but it's all right now I want my whistle said the little Prince beginning to cry hush caution Belina the whistle is lost but you may have another when you get home the scarecrow had fairly thrown himself upon the bosom of his old comrade so surprised and delighted was he to see him again and tiktok squeezed the tin woodman's hands so earnestly that he dented some of his fingers then they had to make way for Osma to welcome the tin man and the army caught sight of him and set up a cheer and everybody was delighted and happy for the tin woodman was a great favorite with all who knew him and his sudden recovery after they had thought he was lost to them forever was indeed a pleasant surprise before long the cavalcade arrived at the royal palace where a great crowd of people had gathered to welcome their queen and her ten children there was much shouting and cheering and the people threw flowers in their path and every face wore a happy smile they found the princess languideer in her mirrored chamber where she was admiring one of her handsomest heads one with rich chestnut hair dreamy walnut eyes and a shapely hickory nut nose she was very glad to be relieved of her duties to the people of Ev and the queen graciously permitted her to retain her rooms and her cabinet of heads as long as she lived then the queen took her eldest son out upon a balcony that overlooked the crowd of subjects gathered below and said to them here is your future ruler King of Ardo 15th he is 15 years of age has 15 silver buckles on his jacket and is the 15th of Ardo to rule the land of Ev the people shouted their approval 15 times and even the wheelers some of whom were present loudly promised to obey the new king so the queen placed a big crown of gold set with rubies upon Ardo's head and threw an ermine robe over his shoulders and proclaimed him king and he bowed gratefully to all his subjects and then went away to see if he could find any cake in the royal pantry Osma of Oz and her people as well as Dorothy, Tiktok and Belina were splendidly entertained by the queen mother who owed all her happiness to their kind offices and that evening the yellow hen was publicly presented with a beautiful necklace of pearls and sapphires as a token of esteem from the new king End of Chapter 19