[Illustration]
Princess Ozma was a very busy little ruler, for she looked carefully
after the comfort and welfare of her people and tried to make them
happy. If any quarrels arose she decided them justly; if any one needed
counsel or advice she was ready and willing to listen to them.
For a day or two after Dorothy and her companions had started on their
trip, Ozma was occupied with the affairs of her kingdom. Then she began
to think of some manner of occupation for Uncle Henry and Aunt Em that
would be light and easy and yet give the old people something to do.
She soon decided to make Uncle Henry the Keeper of the Jewels, for some
one really was needed to count and look after the bins and barrels of
emeralds, diamonds, rubies and other precious stones that were in the
Royal Storehouses. That would keep Uncle Henry busy enough, but it was
harder to find something for Aunt Em to do. The palace was full of
servants, so there was no detail of housework that Aunt Em could look
after.
While Ozma sat in her pretty room engaged in thought she happened to
glance at her Magic Picture.
This was one of the most important treasures in all the Land of Oz. It
was a large picture, set in a beautiful gold frame, and it hung in a
prominent place upon a wall of Ozma's private room.
Usually this picture seemed merely a country scene, but whenever Ozma
looked at it and wished to know what any of her friends or acquaintances
were doing, the magic of this wonderful picture was straightway
disclosed. For the country scene would gradually fade away and in its
place would appear the likeness of the person or persons Ozma might wish
to see, surrounded by the actual scenes in which they were then placed.
In this way the Princess could view any part of the world she wished,
and watch the actions of any one in whom she was interested.
Ozma had often seen Dorothy in her Kansas home by this means, and now,
having a little leisure, she expressed a desire to see her little friend
again. It was while the travelers were at Fuddlecumjig, and Ozma laughed
merrily as she watched in the picture her friends trying to match the
pieces of Grandmother Gnit.
"They seem happy and are doubtless having a good time," the girl Ruler
said to herself; and then she began to think of the many adventures she
herself had encountered with Dorothy.
The images of her friends now faded from the Magic Picture and the old
landscape slowly reappeared.
Ozma was thinking of the time when with Dorothy and her army she marched
to the Nome King's underground cavern, beyond the Land of Ev, and forced
the old monarch to liberate his captives, who belonged to the Royal
Family of Ev. That was the time when the Scarecrow nearly frightened the
Nome King into fits by throwing one of Billina's eggs at him, and
Dorothy had captured King Roquat's Magic Belt and brought it away with
her to the Land of Oz.
The pretty Princess smiled at the recollection of this adventure, and
then she wondered what had become of the Nome King since then. Merely
because she was curious and had nothing better to do, Ozma glanced at
the Magic Picture and wished to see in it the King of the Nomes.
Roquat the Red went every day into his tunnel to see how the work was
getting along and to hurry his workmen as much as possible. He was there
now, and Ozma saw him plainly in the Magic Picture.
She saw the underground tunnel, reaching far underneath the Deadly
Desert which separated the Land of Oz from the mountains beneath which
the Nome King had his extensive caverns. She saw that the tunnel was
being made in the direction of the Emerald City, and knew at once it was
being dug so that the army of Nomes could march through it and attack
her own beautiful and peaceful country.
"I suppose King Roquat is planning revenge against us," she said,
musingly, "and thinks he can surprise us and make us his captives and
slaves. How sad it is that any one can have such wicked thoughts! But I
must not blame King Roquat too severely, for he is a Nome, and his
nature is not so gentle as my own."
Then she dismissed from her mind further thought of the tunnel, for that
time, and began to wonder if Aunt Em would not be happy as Royal Mender
of the Stockings of the Ruler of Oz. Ozma wore few holes in her
stockings; still, they sometimes needed mending. Aunt Em ought to be
able to do that very nicely.
Next day the Princess watched the tunnel again in her Magic Picture, and
every day afterward she devoted a few minutes to inspecting the work. It
was not especially interesting, but she felt that it was her duty.
Slowly but surely the big arched hole crept through the rocks underneath
the deadly desert, and day by day it drew nearer and nearer to the
Emerald City.
_How_ BUNNYBURY WELCOMED THE STRANGERS