a　few　days　longer；　and　it　is　best　for　me　to　rule　until　I　can　dispose
  of　you　strangers；　who　have　come　to　our　land　uninvited　and　must　be
  attended　to　at　once。〃
  〃What　are　you　going　to　do　with　us？〃　asked　Zeb。
  〃That　is　a　matter　I　have　not　quite　decided　upon；〃　was　the　reply。　　〃I
  think　I　shall　keep　this　Wizard　until　a　new　Sorcerer　is　ready　to　pick；
  for　he　seems　quite　skillful　and　may　be　of　use　to　us。　　But　the　rest　of
  you　must　be　destroyed　in　some　way；　and　you　cannot　be　planted；
  because　I　do　not　wish　horses　and　cats　and　meat　people　growing　all　over
  our　country。〃
  〃You　needn't　worry；〃　said　Dorothy。　　〃We　wouldn't　grow　under　ground；
  I'm　sure。〃
  〃But　why　destroy　my　friends？〃　asked　the　little　Wizard。　　〃Why　not　let
  them　live？〃
  〃They　do　not　belong　here；〃　returned　the　Prince。　　〃They　have　no　right
  to　be　inside　the　earth　at　all。〃
  〃We　didn't　ask　to　come　down　here；　we　fell；〃　said　Dorothy。
  〃That　is　no　excuse；〃　declared　the　Prince；　coldly。
  The　children　looked　at　each　other　in　perplexity；　and　the　Wizard
  sighed。　　Eureka　rubbed　her　paw　on　her　face　and　said　in　her　soft；
  purring　voice：
  〃He　won't　need　to　destroy　ME；　for　if　I　don't　get　something　to　eat
  pretty　soon　I　shall　starve　to　death；　and　so　save　him　the　trouble。〃
  〃If　he　planted　you；　he　might　grow　some　cat…tails；〃　suggested　the　Wizard。
  〃Oh；　Eureka！　perhaps　we　can　find　you　some　milk…weeds　to　eat；〃
  said　the　boy。
  〃Phoo！〃　snarled　the　kitten；　〃I　wouldn't　touch　the　nasty　things！〃
  〃You　don't　need　milk；　Eureka；〃　remarked　Dorothy；　〃you　are　big　enough
  now　to　eat　any　kind　of　food。〃
  〃If　I　can　get　it；〃　added　Eureka。
  〃I'm　hungry　myself；〃　said　Zeb。　　〃But　I　noticed　some　strawberries
  growing　in　one　of　the　gardens；　and　some　melons　in　another　place。
  These　people　don't　eat　such　things；　so　perhaps　on　our　way　back　they
  will　let　us　get　them。〃
  〃Never　mind　your　hunger；〃　interrupted　the　Prince。　　〃I　shall　order　you
  destroyed　in　a　few　minutes；　so　you　will　have　no　need　to　ruin　our　pretty
  melon　vines　and　berry　bushes。　　Follow　me；　please；　to　meet　your　doom。〃
  5。　　Dorothy　Picks　the　Princess
  The　words　of　the　cold　and　moist　vegetable　Prince　were　not　very
  comforting；　and　as　he　spoke　them　he　turned　away　and　left　the
  enclosure。　　The　children；　feeling　sad　and　despondent；　were　about　to
  follow　him　when　the　Wizard　touched　Dorothy　softly　on　her　shoulder。
  〃Wait！〃　he　whispered。
  〃What　for？〃　asked　the　girl。
  〃Suppose　we　pick　the　Royal　Princess；〃　said　the　Wizard。　　〃I'm　quite
  sure　she's　ripe；　and　as　soon　as　she　comes　to　life　she　will　be　the
  Ruler；　and　may　treat　us　better　than　that　heartless　Prince　intends　to。〃
  〃All　right！〃　exclaimed　Dorothy；　eagerly。　　〃Let's　pick　her　while　we
  have　the　chance；　before　the　man　with　the　star　comes　back。〃
  So　together　they　leaned　over　the　great　bush　and　each　of　them　seized
  one　hand　of　the　lovely　Princess。
  〃Pull！〃　cried　Dorothy；　and　as　they　did　so　the　royal　lady　leaned　toward
  them　and　the　stems　snapped　and　separated　from　her　feet。　　She　was　not
  at　all　heavy；　so　the　Wizard　and　Dorothy　managed　to　lift　her　gently　to
  the　ground。
  The　beautiful　creature　passed　her　hands　over　her　eyes　an　instant；
  tucked　in　a　stray　lock　of　hair　that　had　become　disarranged；　and　after
  a　look　around　the　garden　made　those　present　a　gracious　bow　and　said；
  in　a　sweet　but　even　toned　voice：
  〃I　thank　you　very　much。〃
  〃We　salute　your　Royal　Highness！〃　cried　the　Wizard；　kneeling　and
  kissing　her　hand。
  Just　then　the　voice　of　the　Prince　was　heard　calling　upon　them　to
  hasten；　and　a　moment　later　he　returned　to　the　enclosure；　followed　by　a
  number　of　his　people。
  Instantly　the　Princess　turned　and　faced　him；　and　when　he　saw　that　she
  was　picked　the　Prince　stood　still　and　began　to　tremble。
  〃Sir；〃　said　the　Royal　Lady；　with　much　dignity；　〃you　have　wronged　me
  greatly；　and　would　have　wronged　me　still　more　had　not　these　strangers
  come　to　my　rescue。　　I　have　been　ready　for　picking　all　the　past　week；
  but　because　you　were　selfish　and　desired　to　continue　your　unlawful
  rule；　you　left　me　to　stand　silent　upon　my　bush。〃
  〃I　did　not　know　that　you　were　ripe；〃　answered　the　Prince；　in　a　low　voice。
  〃Give　me　the　Star　of　Royalty！〃　she　commanded。
  Slowly　he　took　the　shining　star　from　his　own　brow　and　placed　it　upon
  that　of　the　Princess。　　Then　all　the　people　bowed　low　to　her；　and　the
  Prince　turned　and　walked　away　alone。　　What　became　of　him　afterward　our
  friends　never　knew。
  The　people　of　Mangaboo　now　formed　themselves　into　a　procession　and
  marched　toward　the　glass　city　to　escort　their　new　ruler　to　her　palace
  and　to　perform　those　ceremonies　proper　to　the　occasion。　　But　while　the
  people　in　the　procession　walked　upon　the　ground　the　Princess　walked　in
  the　air　just　above　their　heads；　to　show　that　she　was　a　superior　being
  and　more　exalted　than　her　subjects。
  No　one　now　seemed　to　pay　any　attention　to　the　strangers；　so　Dorothy
  and　Zeb　and　the　Wizard　let　the　train　pass　on　and　then　wandered　by
  themselves　into　the　vegetable　gardens。　　They　did　not　bother　to　cross
  the　bridges　over　the　brooks；　but　when　they　came　to　a　stream　they
  stepped　high　and　walked　in　the　air　to　the　other　side。　　This　was　a　very
  interesting　experience　to　them；　and　Dorothy　said：
  〃I　wonder　why　it　is　that　we　can　walk　so　easily　in　the　air。〃
  〃Perhaps；〃　answered　the　Wizard；　〃it　is　because　we　are　close　to　the
  center　of　the　earth；　where　the　attraction　of　gravitation　is　very　slight。
  But　I've　noticed　that　many　queer　things　happen　in　fairy　countries。〃
  〃Is　this　a　fairy　country？〃　asked　the　boy。
  〃Of　course　it　is；〃　returned　Dorothy　promptly。　　〃Only　a　fairy　country
  could　have　veg'table　people；　and　only　in　a　fairy　country　could　Eureka
  and　Jim　talk　as　we　do。〃
  〃That's　true；〃　said　Zeb；　thoughtfully。
  In　the　vegetable　gardens　they　found　the　strawberries　and　melons；　and
  several　other　unknown　but　delicious　fruits；　of　which　they　ate
  heartily。　　But　the　kitten　bothered　them　constantly　by　demanding　milk
  or　meat；　and　called　the　Wizard　names　because　he　could　not　bring　her　a
  dish　of　milk　by　means　of　his　magical　arts。
  As　they　sat　upon　the　grass　watching　Jim；　who　was　still　busily　eating；
  Eureka　said：
  〃I　don't　believe　you　are　a　Wizard　at　all！〃
  〃No；〃　answered　the　little　man；　〃you　are　quite　right。　　In　the　strict
  sense　of　the　word　I　am　not　a　Wizard；　but　only　a　humbug。〃
  〃The　Wizard　of　Oz　has　always　been　a　humbug；〃　agreed　Dorothy。　　〃I've
  known　him　for　a　long　time。〃
  〃If　that　is　so；〃　said　the　boy；　〃how　could　he　do　that　wonderful　trick
  with　the　nine　tiny　piglets？〃
  〃Don't　know；〃　said　Dorothy；　〃but　it　must　have　been　humbug。〃
  〃Very　true；〃　declared　the　Wizard；　nodding　at　her。　　〃It　was　necessary
  to　deceive　that　ugly　Sorcerer　and　the　Prince；　as　well　as　their　stupid
  people；　but　I　don't　mind　telling　you；　who　are　my　friends；　that　the
  thing　was　only　a　trick。〃
  〃But　I　saw　the　little　pigs　with　my　own　eyes！〃　exclaimed　Zeb。
  〃So　did　I；〃　purred　the　kitten。
  〃To　be　sure；〃　answered　the　Wizard。　　〃You　saw　them　because　they　were
  there。　　They　are　in　my　inside　pocket　now。　　But　the　pulling　of　them
  apart　and　pushing　them　together　again　was　only　a　sleight…of…hand　trick。〃
  〃Let's　see　the　pigs；〃　said　Eureka；　eagerly。
  The　little　man　felt　carefully　in　his　pocket　and　pulled　out　the　tiny
  piglets；　setting　them　upon　the　grass　one　by　one；　where　they　ran　around
  and　nibbled　the　tender　blades。
  〃They're　hungry；　too；〃　he　said。
  〃Oh；　what　cunning　things！〃　cried　Dorothy；　catching　up　one　and　petting　it。
  〃Be　careful！〃　said　the　piglet；　with　a　squeal；　〃you're　squeezing　me！〃
  〃Dear　me！〃　murmured　the　Wizard；　looking　at　his　pets　in　astonishment。
  〃They　can　actually　talk！〃
  〃May　I　eat　one　of　them？〃　asked　the　kitten；　in　a　pleading　voice。　　〃I'm
  awfully　hungry。〃
  〃Why；　Eureka；〃　said　Dorothy；　reproachfully；　〃what　a　cruel　question！
  It　would　be　dreadful　to　eat　these　dear　little　things。〃
  〃I　should　say　so！〃　grunted　another　of　the　piglets；　looking　uneasily　at
  the　kitten；　〃cats　are　cruel　things。〃
  〃I'm　not　cruel；〃　replied　the　kitten；　yawning。　　〃I'm　just　hungry。〃
  〃You　cannot　eat　my　piglets；　even　if　you　are　starving；〃　　declared　the
  little　man；　in　a　stern　voice。　　〃They　are　the　only　things　I　have　to
  prove　I'm　a　wizard。〃
  〃How　did　they　happen　to　be　so　little？〃　asked　Dorothy。　　〃I　never　saw
  such　small　pigs　before。〃
  〃They　are　from　the　Island　of　Teenty…Weent；〃　said　the　Wizard；　〃where
  everything　is　small　because　it's　a　small　island。　　A　sailor　brought
  them　to　Los　Angeles　and　I　gave　him　nine　tickets　to　the　circus　for　them。〃
  〃But　what　am　I　going　to　eat？〃　wailed　the　kitten；　sitting　in　front　of
  Dorothy　and　looking　pleadingly　into　her　face。　　〃There　are　no　cows　here
  to　give　milk；　or　any　mice；　or　even　grasshoppers。　　And　if　I　can't　eat
  the　piglets　you　may　as　well　plant　me　at　once　and　raise　catsup。〃
  〃I　have　an　idea；〃　said　the　Wizard；　〃that　there　are　fishes　in　these
  br