The morning after the birthday fete, as the Wizard and Dorothy were
walking in the grounds of the palace, Ozma came out and joined them,
saying:
“I want to hear more of your adventures in the Forest of Gugu, and how
you were able to get those dear little monkeys to use in Dorothy’s
Surprise Cake.”
So they sat down on a marble bench near to the fountain of the Water of
Oblivion, and between them Dorothy and the Wizard related their
adventures.
“I was dreadfully fussy while I was a woolly lamb,” said Dorothy, “for
it didn’t feel good, a bit. And I wasn’t quite sure, you know, that I’d
ever get to be a girl again.”
“You might have been a woolly lamb yet, if I hadn’t happened to have
discovered that Magic Transformation Word,” declared the Wizard.
“But what became of the walnut and the hickory-nut into which you
transformed those dreadful beast magicians?” inquired Ozma.
“Why, I’d almost forgotten them,” was the reply; “but I believe they are
still here in my pocket.”
Then he searched in his pockets and brought out the two nuts and showed
them to her.
Ozma regarded them thoughtfully.
“It isn’t right to leave any living creatures in such helpless forms,”
said she. “I think, Wizard, you ought to transform them into their
natural shapes again.”
“But I don’t know what their natural shapes are,” he objected, “for of
course the forms of mixed animals which they had assumed were not
natural to them. And you must not forget, Ozma, that their natures were
cruel and mischievous, so if I bring them back to life they might cause
us a great deal of trouble.”
“Nevertheless,” said the Ruler of Oz, “we must free them from their
present enchantments. When you restore them to their natural forms we
will discover who they really are, and surely we need not fear any two
people, even though they prove to be magicians and our enemies.”
“I am not so sure of that,” protested the Wizard, with a shake of his
bald head. “The one bit of magic I robbed them of—which was the word of
transformation—is so simple, yet so powerful, that neither Glinda nor I
can equal it. It isn’t all in the word, you know, it’s the way the word
is pronounced. So if the two strange magicians have other magic of the
same sort, they might prove very dangerous to us, if we liberated them.”
“I’ve an idea!” exclaimed Dorothy. “I’m no wizard, and no fairy, but if
you do as I say, we needn’t fear these people at all.”
“What is your thought, my dear?” asked Ozma.
“Well,” replied the girl, “here is this fountain of the Water of
Oblivion, and that’s what put the notion into my head. When the Wizard
speaks that ter’ble word that will change ’em back to their real forms,
he can make ’em dreadful thirsty, too, and we’ll put a cup right here by
the fountain, so it’ll be handy. Then they’ll drink the water and forget
all the magic they ever knew—and everything else, too.”
“That’s not a bad idea,” said the Wizard, looking at Dorothy
approvingly.
“It’s a very _good_ idea,” declared Ozma. “Run for a cup, Dorothy.”
So Dorothy ran to get a cup, and while she was gone the Wizard said:
“I don’t know whether the real forms of these magicians are those of men
or beasts. If they’re beasts, they would not drink from a cup but might
attack us at once and drink afterward. So it might be safer for us to
have the Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger here to protect us if
necessary.”
Ozma drew out a silver whistle which was attached to a slender gold
chain and blew upon the whistle two shrill blasts. The sound, though not
harsh, was very penetrating, and as soon as it reached the ears of the
Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger, the two huge beasts quickly came
bounding toward them. Ozma explained to them what the Wizard was about
to do, and told them to keep quiet unless danger threatened. So the two
powerful guardians of the Ruler of Oz crouched beside the fountain and
waited.
[Illustration]
Dorothy returned and set the cup on the edge of the fountain. Then the
Wizard placed the hickory-nut beside the fountain and said in a solemn
voice:
“I want you to resume your natural form, and to be very
thirsty—Pyrzqxgl!”
In an instant there appeared, in the place of the hickory-nut, the form
of Kiki Aru, the Hyup boy. He seemed bewildered, at first, as if trying
to remember what had happened to him and why he was in this strange
place. But he was facing the fountain, and the bubbling water reminded
him that he was thirsty. Without noticing Ozma, the Wizard and Dorothy,
who were behind him, he picked up the cup, filled it with the Water of
Oblivion, and drank it to the last drop.
He was now no longer thirsty, but he felt more bewildered than ever, for
now he could remember nothing at all—not even his name or where he came
from. He looked around the beautiful garden with a pleased expression,
and then, turning, he beheld Ozma and the Wizard and Dorothy regarding
him curiously and the two great beasts crouching behind them.
Kiki Aru did not know who they were, but he thought Ozma very lovely and
Dorothy very pleasant. So he smiled at them—the same innocent, happy
smile that a baby might have indulged in, and that pleased Dorothy, who
seized his hand and led him to a seat beside her on the bench.
“Why, I thought you were a dreadful magician,” she exclaimed, “and
you’re only a boy!”
“What is a magician?” he asked, “and what is a boy?”
“Don’t you know?” inquired the girl.
Kiki shook his head. Then he laughed.
“I do not seem to know anything,” he replied.
[Illustration]
“It’s very curious,” remarked the Wizard. “He wears the dress of the
Munchkins, so he must have lived at one time in the Munchkin Country. Of
course the boy can tell us nothing of his history or his family, for he
has forgotten all that he ever knew.”
“He seems a nice boy, now that all the wickedness has gone from him,”
said Ozma. “So we will keep him here with us and teach him our ways—to
be true and considerate of others.”
“Why, in that case, it’s lucky for him he drank the Water of Oblivion,”
said Dorothy.
“It is indeed,” agreed the Wizard. “But the remarkable thing, to me, is
how such a young boy ever learned the secret of the Magic Word of
Transformation. Perhaps his companion, who is at present this walnut,
was the real magician, although I seem to remember that it was this boy
in the beast’s form who whispered the Magic Word into the hollow tree,
where I overheard it.”
“Well, we will soon know who the other is,” suggested Ozma. “He may
prove to be another Munchkin boy.”
The Wizard placed the walnut near the fountain and said, as slowly and
solemnly as before:
“I want you to resume your natural form, and to be very
thirsty—Pyrzqxgl!”
Then the walnut disappeared and Ruggedo the Nome stood in its place. He
also was facing the fountain, and he reached for the cup, filled it, and
was about to drink when Dorothy exclaimed:
“Why, it’s the old Nome King!”
Ruggedo swung around and faced them, the cup still in his hand.
[Illustration]
“Yes,” he said in an angry voice, “it’s the old Nome King, and I’m going
to conquer all Oz and be revenged on you for kicking me out of my
throne.” He looked around a moment, and then continued: “There isn’t an
egg in sight, and I’m stronger than all of you people put together! I
don’t know how I came here, but I’m going to fight the fight of my
life—and I’ll win!”
His long white hair and beard waved in the breeze; his eyes flashed hate
and vengeance, and so astonished and shocked were they by the sudden
appearance of this old enemy of the Oz people that they could only stare
at him in silence and shrink away from his wild glare.
Ruggedo laughed. He drank the water, threw the cup on the ground and
said fiercely:
“And now—and now—and—”
His voice grew gentle. He rubbed his forehead with a puzzled air and
stroked his long beard.
“What was I going to say?” he asked, pleadingly.
“Don’t you remember?” said the Wizard.
“No; I’ve forgotten.”
“Who _are_ you?” asked Dorothy.
He tried to think. “I—I’m sure I don’t know,” he stammered.
“Don’t you know who _we_ are, either?” questioned the girl.
“I haven’t the slightest idea,” said the Nome.
“Tell us who this Munchkin boy is,” suggested Ozma.
Ruggedo looked at the boy and shook his head.
“He’s a stranger to me. You are all strangers. I—I’m a stranger to
myself,” he said.
Then he patted the Lion’s head and murmured, “Good doggie!” and the Lion
growled indignantly.
[Illustration]
“What shall we do with him?” asked the Wizard, perplexed.
“Once before the wicked old Nome came here to conquer us, and then, as
now, he drank of the Water of Oblivion and became harmless. But we sent
him back to the Nome Kingdom, where he soon learned the old evil ways
again.”
“For that reason,” said Ozma, “we must find a place for him in the Land
of Oz, and keep him here. For here he can learn no evil and will always
be as innocent of guile as our own people.”
And so the wandering ex-King of the Nomes found a new home, a peaceful
and happy home, where he was quite content and passed his days in
innocent enjoyment.
[Illustration: THE END]
_The Oz Books_
BY
L. FRANK BAUM
“Royal Historian of Oz”
_The Wizard of Oz_
[Originally published as _The Wonderful Wizard of Oz_]
It is in this book that Oz is “discovered.” A little Kansas girl—Dorothy
Gale—is carried in her house to Oz when a cyclone whisks it through the
sky. As the house lands in the Munchkin Country (one of the four great
countries of Oz) it destroys a wicked witch and sends Dorothy off on her
first adventure in Oz. She finds the Scarecrow, meets the Tin Woodman
and the Cowardly Lion, melts a second wicked witch with a pail of water
and finds her way home. Since this book appeared a half-century ago, we
have learned many marvelous things about the Land of Oz.
_The Land of Oz_
[Originally published as _The Marvelous Land of Oz_]
This sequel to _The Wizard of Oz_ deals entirely with the early history
of Oz. No one from the United States or any other part of the “great
outside world” appears in it. It takes its readers on a series of
incredible adventures with Tip, a small boy who runs away from old
Mombi, the witch, taking with him Jack Pumpkinhead and the wooden
Saw-Horse. The Scarecrow is King of the Emerald City until he, Tip,
Jack, and the Tin Woodman are forced to flee the royal palace when it is
invaded by General Jinjur and her army of rebelling girls. _The Land of
Oz_ ends with an amazing surprise, and from that moment on Ozma is
princess of all Oz.
_Ozma of Oz_
Few of the Oz books are as crowded with exciting Oz happenings as this
one. Not only does it bring Dorothy back to Oz on her second visit, but
it introduces Dorothy to Ozma, relates Ozma’s first important adventure,
and introduces for the first time such famous Oz characters as Tik-Tok,
the mechanical man, Billina the hen, the Hungry Tiger, and—_the Nome
King_! Most of the adventures in this book take place outside Oz, in the
Land of Ev and the Nome Kingdom. Scarcely a page fails to quiver with
excitement, magic and adventure.
_Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz_
Of course, everyone always predicted it would happen! And in this book
it does—the Wizard comes back to Oz to stay. Best of all, he comes with
Dorothy, who is having adventure number three that leads her to Oz, this
time via a California earthquake. In this book we meet Dorothy’s pink
kitten, Eureka, whose manners need adjusting badly, and two good friends
who we are sorry did not remain in Oz—Jim the cabhorse, and Zeb,
Dorothy’s young cousin, who works on a ranch as a hired boy.
_The Road to Oz_
We like to think of this volume as “The Party Book of Oz.” Almost
everyone loves a party, and when Ozma has a birthday party with notables
from every part of fairyland attending—well! It is just like attending
Ozma’s party in person. You meet the famous of Oz, and lots of others,
such as Queen Zixi of Ix, John Dough, Chick the Cherub, the Queen of
Merryland, Para Bruin the rubber bear and—best of all—Santa Claus
himself! Of course there are lots of adventures on that famous road to
Oz before the party, during which Dorothy, on her way to Oz for the
fourth time, meets such heart-warming characters as the Shaggy Man,
Button-Bright, and lovely Polychrome, daughter of the rainbow.
_The Emerald City of Oz_
Here is a “double” story of Oz. While Dorothy, her Aunt Em and Uncle
Henry experience the events that lead to their going to Oz to make their
home in the Emerald City, the wicked Nome King is plotting to conquer Oz
and enslave its people. Later we go with Dorothy and her friends in the
Red Wagon on a grand tour of Oz that is simply packed with excitement
and events. While this transpires, we learn also of the Nome King’s
elaborate preparations to conquer Oz. As Dorothy and her friends return
to the Emerald City, the Nome King and his hordes of warriors are about
to invade it. How Oz is saved is an ending that will amaze and delight
you.
_The Patchwork Girl of Oz_
Here, the Patchwork Girl is brought to life by Dr. Pipt’s magic Powder
of Life. From that moment on the action never slows down in this
exciting book. It tells of Ojo’s quest for the strange ingredients
necessary to brew a magic liquid that will release his Unk Nunkie from a
spell—the spell cast by the Liquid of Petrefaction, which has turned him
into a marble statue. In addition to the Patchwork Girl, Ojo and Unk
Nunkie, this book introduces those famous Oz creatures, the Woozy, and
Bungle the glass cat. Oz certainly has become a merrier, happier land
since the Patchwork Girl came to life, and this is the book that tells
how Scraps came to be made, how she was brought to life, and all about
her early adventures.
_Tik-Tok of Oz_
For the second time a little girl from the United States comes to Oz.
Betsy Bobbin is shipwrecked in the Nonestic Ocean with her friend Hank
the mule. The two drift to shore in the Rose Kingdom on a fragment of
wreckage. Betsy meets the Shaggy Man and accompanies him to the Nome
Kingdom, where Shaggy hopes to release his brother, a prisoner of the
Nome King. On their way to the Nome Kingdom, one fascinating adventure
follows another. They meet Queen Ann Soforth of Oogaboo and her army,
and lovely Polychrome, who had lost her rainbow again; they rescue
Tik-Tok from a well; and are dropped through a Hollow Tube to the other
side of the world where they meet Quox, the dragon. You’ll find it one
of the most exciting of all the Oz books.
_The Scarecrow of Oz_
This is the Oz book which L. Frank Baum considered his best. It starts
quietly enough with Trot and Cap’n Bill rowing along a shore of the
Pacific Ocean to visit one of the many caves near their home on the
California coast. Suddenly, a mighty whirlpool engulfs them. The old
sailorman and the little girl are miraculously saved and regain
consciousness to find themselves in a sea cavern. (To this day, Trot
asserts she felt mermaid arms about her during those terrible moments
under water.) From here on, one perilous adventure crowds in upon
another. In Jinxland they meet the Scarecrow who takes charge of things
once Cap’n Bill is transformed into a tiny grasshopper with a wooden
leg. An exciting royal reception greets the adventurers upon their
return to the Emerald City.
_Rinkitink in Oz_
Prince Inga of Pingaree is the boy hero of this fine story of
peril-filled adventure in the islands of the Nonestic Ocean. King
Rinkitink provides comic relief, and by the time you reach the final
page you will love this fat, jolly little king. Bilbil the goat, with
his surly disposition, provides a fine contrast to Rinkitink’s merriment
and Prince Inga’s bravery and courage in the face of danger. Some may
say that the three magic pearls are the real heroes of this story, but
the pearls would have been of little use to King Kitticut and Queen
Garee if Prince Inga hadn’t used them wisely and courageously.
_The Lost Princess of Oz_
Talk about _Button-Bright_ getting lost—_Ozma_ is almost as bad! This is
actually the second time Ozma has been lost. As you know, once she was
“lost” for many years. But in this book she is lost for only a short
time. As soon as it is discovered that the ruler of Oz is lost—and with
her all the important magical instruments in Oz—search parties, one for
each of the four countries of Oz, set out to find her. We follow the
adventures of the party headed by Dorothy and the Wizard, who explore
unknown parts of the Winkie Country in search of Ozma. How Ozma is
found, and where she has been, will surprise you. Frogman, a new
character, is introduced in this book.
_The Tin Woodman of Oz_
Woot the Wanderer causes this chapter of Oz history to transpire. When
Woot wanders into the splendid tin castle of Nick Chopper, the Tin
Woodman and Emperor of the Winkies, he meets the Scarecrow, who is
visiting his old friend. The Tin Woodman tells Woot the story of how he
had once been a flesh-and-blood woodman in love with a maiden named
Nimmie Aimee. Woot suggests that since the Tin Woodman now has a kind
and loving heart, it is his duty to find Nimmie Aimee and make her
Empress of the Winkies. The Scarecrow agrees, so the three set off to
search for the girl. No less surprising than the adventures encountered
on the journey is Nimmie Aimee’s reception of her former suitor.
_The Magic of Oz_
Old Ruggedo, the former Nome King, comes to Oz for the second time, and
makes more trouble than he did on his first visit. Ruggedo never gives
up the idea of conquering Oz, and this time he has the advantage of
being in the country without Ozma’s knowledge. Also, he has the magic
and somewhat grudging help of Kiki Aru, the Munchkin boy who is
illegally practicing the art. If you like magic, then this is a book for
you. There’s magic on every page, and everyone in the story eventually
is transformed into something else, or bewitched in one way or another.
Even the wild animals in the great Forest of Gugu do not escape.
_Glinda of Oz_
This is the last Oz book written by L. Frank Baum. It is one of the best
in the series, with Dorothy, Ozma, and Glinda in an adventure that takes
them to an amazing crystal-domed city on an enchanted island. This
island is situated in a lake in the Gillikin Country. Ozma and Glinda
are confronted by powerful magic and determined enemies. For a time
Dorothy and Ozma are prisoners in the crystal-domed city which is able
to submerge below the surface of the lake. Few of the Oz books equal
this one in suspense and mystery—a story that is truly “out of this
world.”
[Illustration]
[Illustration: Back Cover]
Transcriber’s Notes
--Copyright notice provided as in the original—this e-text is public
domain in the country of publication.
--Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings and
dialect unchanged.
--In the text versions, delimited italics text in _underscores_ (the
HTML version reproduces the font form of the printed book.)