Dorothy decided to accept Ozma's
invitation to return with her
to the Land of Oz. There was
no greater chance of her getting
home from Ev than from Oz, and
the little girl was anxious to
see once more the country where
she had encountered such wonderful
adventures. By this time Uncle
Henry would have reached Australia
in his ship, and had probably
given her up for lost; so he
couldn't worry any more than
he did if she stayed away from
him a while longer. So she would
go to Oz.
They bade good-bye to the people
of Ev, and the King promised
Ozma that he would ever be grateful
to her and render the Land of
Oz any service that might lie
within his power.
And then they approached the
edge of the dangerous desert,
and Ozma threw down the magic
carpet, which at once unrolled
far enough for all of them to
walk upon it without being crowded.
Tiktok, claiming to be Dorothy's
faithful follower because he
belonged to her, had been permitted
to join the party, and before
they started the girl wound up
his machinery as far as possible,
and the copper man stepped off
as briskly as any one of them.
Ozma also invited Billina to
visit the Land of Oz, and the
yellow hen was glad enough to
go where new sights and scenes
awaited her.
They began the trip across
the desert early in the morning,
and as they stopped only long
enough for Billina to lay her
daily egg, before sunset they
espied the green slopes and wooded
hills of the beautiful Land of
Oz. They entered it in the Munchkin
territory, and the King of the
Munchkins met them at the border
and welcomed Ozma with great
respect, being very pleased by
her safe return. For Ozma of
Oz ruled the King of the Munchkins,
the King of the Winkies, the
King of the Quadlings and the
King of the Gillikins just as
those kings ruled their own people;
and this supreme ruler of the
Land of Oz lived in a great town
of her own, called the Emerald
City, which was in the exact
center of the four kingdoms of
the Land of Oz.
The Munchkin king entertained
them at his palace that night,
and in the morning they set out
for the Emerald City, travelling
over a road of yellow brick that
led straight to the jewel-studded
gates. Everywhere the people
turned out to greet their beloved
Ozma, and to hail joyfully the
Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and
the Cowardly Lion, who were popular
favorites. Dorothy, too, remembered
some of the people, who had befriended
her on the occasion of her first
visit to Oz, and they were well
pleased to see the little Kansas
girl again, and showered her
with compliments and good wishes.
At one place, where they stopped
to refresh themselves, Ozma accepted
a bowl of milk from the hands
of a pretty dairy-maid. Then
she looked at the girl more closely,
and exclaimed:
"Why, it's
Jinjur--isn't it!"
"Yes, your Highness," was
the reply, as Jinjur dropped
a low
curtsy. And Dorothy looked wonderingly
at this lively appearing person,
who had once assembled an army
of women and driven the Scarecrow
from the throne of the Emerald
City, and even fought a battle
with the powerful army of Glinda
the Sorceress.
"I've married a man who owns
nine cows," said Jinjur to Ozma, "and
now I am happy and contented
and willing to lead a quiet life
and mind my own business."
"Where is your husband?" asked
Ozma.
"He is in the house, nursing
a black eye," replied Jinjur,
calmly. "The foolish man would
insist upon milking the red cow
when I wanted him to milk the
white one; but he will know better
next time, I am sure."
Then the party moved on again,
and after crossing a broad river
on a ferry and passing many fine
farm houses that were dome shaped
and painted a pretty green color,
they came in sight of a large
building that was covered with
flags and bunting.
"I don't remember that building," said
Dorothy. "What is it?"
"That is the College of Art
and Athletic Perfection," replied
Ozma. "I had it built quite recently,
and the Woggle-Bug is it's president.
It keeps him busy, and the young
men who attend the college are
no worse off than they were before.
You see, in this country are
a number of youths who do not
like to work, and the college
is an excellent place for them."
And now they came in sight
of the Emerald City, and the
people flocked out to greet their
lovely ruler. There were several
bands and many officers and officials
of the realm, and a crowd of
citizens in their holiday attire.
Thus the beautiful Ozma was
escorted by a brilliant procession
to her royal city, and so great
was the cheering that she was
obliged to constantly bow to
the right and left to acknowledge
the greetings of her subjects.
That evening there was a grand
reception in the royal palace,
attended by the most important
persons of Oz, and Jack Pumpkinhead,
who was a little overripe but
still active, read an address
congratulating Ozma of Oz upon
the success of her generous mission
to rescue the royal family of
a neighboring kingdom.
Then magnificent gold medals
set with precious stones were
presented to each of the twenty-six
officers; and the Tin Woodman
was given a new axe studded with
diamonds; and the Scarecrow received
a silver jar of complexion powder.
Dorothy was presented with a
pretty coronet and made a Princess
of Oz, and Tiktok received two
bracelets set with eight rows
of very clear and sparkling emeralds.
Afterward they sat down to
a splendid feast, and Ozma put
Dorothy at her right and Billina
at her left, where the hen sat
upon a golden roost and ate from
a jeweled platter. Then were
placed the Scarecrow, the Tin
Woodman and Tiktok, with baskets
of lovely flowers before them,
because they did not require
food. The twenty-six officers
were at the lower end of the
table, and the Lion and the Tiger
also had seats, and were served
on golden platters, that held
a half a bushel at one time.
The wealthiest and most important
citizens of the Emerald City
were proud to wait upon these
famous adventurers, and they
were assisted by a sprightly
little maid named Jellia Jamb,
whom the Scarecrow pinched upon
her rosy cheeks and seemed to
know very well.
During the feast Ozma grew
thoughtful, and suddenly she
asked:
"Where is the
private?"
"Oh, he is sweeping out the
barracks," replied one of the
generals, who was busy eating
a leg of a turkey. "But I have
ordered him a dish of bread and
molasses to eat when his work
is done."
"Let him be sent for," said
the girl ruler.
While they waited for this
command to be obeyed, she enquired:
"Have we any
other privates in the armies?"
"Oh, yes," replied the Tin
Woodman, "I believe there are
three, altogether."
The private now entered, saluting
his officers and the royal Ozma
very respectfully.
"What is your name, my man?" asked
the girl.
"Omby Amby," answered
the private.
"Then, Omby Amby," said she, "I
promote you to be Captain General
of all the armies of my kingdom,
and especially to be Commander
of my Body Guard at the royal
palace."
"It is very expensive to hold
so many offices," said the private,
hesitating. "I have no money
with which to buy uniforms."
"You shall be supplied from
the royal treasury," said Ozma.
Then the private was given
a seat at the table, where the
other officers welcomed him cordially,
and the feasting and merriment
were resumed.
Suddenly Jellia Jamb exclaimed:
"There is nothing
more to eat! The Hungry Tiger
has consumed
everything!"
"But that is not the worst
of it," declared the Tiger, mournfully. "Somewhere
or somehow, I've actually lost
my appetite!"
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