按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
And my hearing is now perfect。 Isn't it wonderful
what a little paint will do； if it's properly
applied？〃
〃It really is wonderful；〃 she agreed； as they
all took their seats； 〃but the Sawhorse must
have his legs twinkle to have carried you so far
in one day。 I didn't expect you back before
tomorrow； at the earliest。〃
〃Well；〃 said the Scarecrow； 〃I met a charming
girl on the road and wanted to see more of her； so
I hurried back。〃
Ozma laughed。
〃I know；〃 she returned； 〃it's the Patchwork
Girl。 She is certainly bewildering； if not strictly
beautiful。〃
〃Have you seen her； then？〃 the straw man eagerly
asked。
〃Only in my Magic Picture； which shows me all
scenes of interest in the Land of Oz。〃
〃I fear the picture didn't do her justice；〃 said
the Scarecrow。
〃It seemed to me that nothing could be more
gorgeous；〃 declared Ozma。 〃Whoever made that
patchwork quilt； from which Scraps was formed；
must have selected the gayest and brightest bits
of cloth that ever were woven。
〃I am glad you like her；〃 said the Scarecrow
in a satisfied tone。 Although the straw man did
not eat； not being made so he could； he often
dined with Ozma and her companions； merely
for the pleasure of talking with them。 He sat at
the table and had a napkin and plate； but the
servants knew better than to offer him food。
After a little while he asked： 〃Where is the
Patchwork Girl now？〃
〃In my room；〃 replied Dorothy。 〃I've taken a
fancy to her； she's so queer and…and…uncommon。〃
〃She's half crazy； I think；〃 added the Shaggy
Man。
〃But she is so beautiful！〃 exclaimed the
Scarecrow； as if that fact disarmed all criticism。
They all laughed at his enthusiasm； but the
Scarecrow was quite serious。 Seeing that he was
interested in Scraps they forbore to say anything
against her。 The little band of friends Ozma had
gathered around her was so quaintly assorted that
much care must be exercised to avoid hurting their
feelings or making any one of them unhappy。 It was
this considerate kindness that held them close
friends and enabled them to enjoy one another's
society。
Another thing they avoided was conversing
on unpleasant subjects； and for that reason Ojo
and his troubles were not mentioned during the
dinner。 The Shaggy Man； however； related his
adventures with the monstrous plants which
had seized and enfolded the travelers； and told
how he had robbed Chiss； the giant porcupine；
of the quills which it was accustomed to throw
at people。 Both Dorothy and Ozma were pleased
with this exploit and thought it served Chiss
right。
Then they talked of the Woozy； which was the
most remarkable animal any of them had ever before
seenexcept； perhaps； the live Sawhorse。 Ozma had
never known that her dominions contained such a
thing as a Woozy； there being but one in existence
and this being confined in his forest for many
years。 Dorothy said she believed the Woozy was a
good beast； honest and faithful； hut she added
that she did not care much for the Glass Cat。
〃Still；〃 said the Shaggy Man； 〃the Glass Cat
is very pretty and if she were not so conceited
over her pink brains no one would object to her
as a companion。
The Wizard had been eating silently until
now； when he looked up and remarked：
〃That Powder of Life which is made by the
Crooked Magician is really a wonderful thing。
But Dr。 Pipt does not know its true value and
he uses it in the most foolish ways。〃
〃I must see about that；〃 said Ozma； gravely。
Then she smiled again and continued in a
lighter tone： 〃It was Dr。 Pipt's famous Powder
of Life that enabled me to become the Ruler
of Oz。〃
〃I've never heard that story；〃 said the Shaggy
Man； looking at Ozma questioningly。
〃Well； when I was a baby girl I was stolen by an
old Witch named Mombi and transformed into a boy；〃
began the girl Ruler。 〃I did not know who I was
and when I grew big enough to work； the Witch made
me wait upon her and carry wood for the fire and
hoe in the garden。 One day she came back from a
journey bringing some of the Powder of Life； which
Dr。 Pipt had given her。 I had made a pumpkin…
headed man and set it up in her path to frighten
her； for I was fond of fun and hated the Witch。
But she knew what the figure was and to test her
Powder of Life she sprinkled some of it on the man
I had made。 It came to life and is now our dear
friend Jack Pumpkinhead。 That night I ran away
with Jack to escape punishment； and I took old
Mombi's Powder of Life with me。 During our journey
we came upon a wooden Sawhorse standing by the
road and I used the magic powder to bring it to
life。 The Sawhorse has been with me ever since。
When I got to the Emerald City the good Sorceress；
Glinda； knew who I was and restored me to my
proper person； when I became the rightful Ruler of
this land。 So you see had not old Mombi brought
home the Powder of Life I might never have run
away from her and become Ozma of Oz； nor would we
have had Jack Pumpkinhead and the Sawhorse to
comfort and amuse us。〃
That story interested the Shaggy Man very much；
as well as the others； who had often heard it
before。 The dinner being now concluded； they all
went to Ozma's drawing…room； where they passed a
pleasant evening before it came time to retire。
Chapter Eighteen
Ojo is Forgiven
The next morning the Soldier with the Green
Whiskers went to the prison and took Ojo away to
the royal palace； where he was summoned to appear
before the girl Ruler for judgment。 Again the
soldier put upon the boy the jeweled handcuffs and
white prisoner's robe with the peaked top and
holes for the eyes。 Ojo was so ashamed； both of
his disgrace and the fault he had committed； that
he was glad to be covered up in this way； so that
people could not see him or know who he was。 He
followed the Soldier with the Green Whiskers very
willingly； anxious that his fate might be decided
as soon as possible。
The inhabitants of the Emerald City were polite
people and never jeered at the unfortunate； but it
was so long since they bad seen a prisoner that
they cast many curious looks toward the boy and
many of them hurried away to the royal palace to
be present during the trial。
When Ojo was escorted into the great Throne
Room of the palace he found hundreds of people
assembled there。 In the magnificent emerald
throne； which sparkled with countless jewels； sat
Ozma of Oz in her Robe of State； which was
embroidered with emeralds and pearls。 On her
right； but a little lower； was Dorothy； and on her
left the Scarecrow。 Still lower； but nearly in
front of Ozma； sat the wonderful Wizard of Oz and
on a small table beside him was the golden vase
from Dorothy's room； into which Scraps had dropped
the stolen clover。
At Ozma's feet crouched two enormous beasts；
each the largest and most powerful of its kind。
Although these beasts were quite free； no one
present was alarmed by them； for the Cowardly Lion
and the Hungry Tiger were well known and respected
in the Emerald City and they always guarded the
Ruler when she held high court in the