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asked Dorothy, who had been greatly

interested in the story.

"Quelala being the first owner of the Golden Cap," replied

the Monkey, "he was the first to lay his wishes upon us. As his

bride could not bear the sight of us, he called us all to him in

the forest after he had married her and ordered us always to keep

where she could never again set eyes on a Winged Monkey, which we

were glad to do, for we were all afraid of her.

"This was all we ever had to do until the Golden Cap fell into

the hands of the Wicked Witch of the West, who made us enslave the

Winkies, and afterward drive Oz himself out of the Land of the

West. Now the Golden Cap is yours, and three times you have the

right to lay your wishes upon us."

As the Monkey King finished his story Dorothy looked down

and saw the green, shining walls of the Emerald City before them.

She wondered at the rapid flight of the Monkeys, but was glad the

journey was over. The strange creatures set the travelers down

carefully before the gate of the City, the King bowed low to

Dorothy, and then flew swiftly away, followed by all his band.

"That was a good ride," said the little girl.

"Yes, and a quick way out of our troubles," replied the Lion.

"How lucky it was you brought away that wonderful Cap!"

15. The Discovery of Oz, the Terrible

The four travelers walked up to the great gate of Emerald City

and rang the bell. After ringing several times, it was opened by

the same Guardian of the Gates they had met before.

"What! are you back again?" he asked, in surprise.

"Do you not see us?" answered the Scarecrow.

"But I thought you had gone to visit the Wicked Witch of the West."

"We did visit her," said the Scarecrow.

"And she let you go again?" asked the man, in wonder.

"She could not help it, for she is melted," explained the Scarecrow.

"Melted! Well, that is good news, indeed," said the man.

"Who melted her?"

"It was Dorothy," said the Lion gravely.

"Good gracious!" exclaimed the man, and he bowed very low indeed

before her.

Then he led them into his little room and locked the spectacles

from the great box on all their eyes, just as he had done before.

Afterward they passed on through the gate into the Emerald City.

When the people heard from the Guardian of the Gates that Dorothy

had melted the Wicked Witch of the West, they all gathered around

the travelers and followed them in a great crowd to the Palace of Oz.

The soldier with the green whiskers was still on guard before

the door, but he let them in at once, and they were again met by

the beautiful green girl, who showed each of them to their old

rooms at once, so they might rest until the Great Oz was ready to

receive them.

The soldier had the news carried straight to Oz that Dorothy

and the other travelers had come back again, after destroying the

Wicked Witch; but Oz made no reply. They thought the Great Wizard

would send for them at once, but he did not. They had no word

from him the next day, nor the next, nor the next. The waiting

was tiresome and wearing, and at last they grew vexed that Oz

should treat them in so poor a fashion, after sending them to

undergo hardships and slavery. So the Scarecrow at last asked the

green girl to take another message to Oz, saying if he did not

let them in to see him at once they would call the Winged Monkeys

to help them, and find out whether he kept his promises or not.

When the Wizard was given this message he was so frightened that he

sent word for them to come to the Throne Room at four minutes after

nine o'clock the next morning. He had once met the Winged Monkeys

in the Land of the West, and he did not wish to meet them again.

The four travelers passed a sleepless night, each thinking of the

gift Oz had promised to bestow on him. Dorothy fell asleep only once,

and then she dreamed she was in Kansas, where Aunt Em was telling her

how glad she was to have her little girl at home again.

Promptly at nine o'clock the next morning the green-whiskered

soldier came to them, and four minutes later they all went into

the Throne Room of the Great Oz.

Of course each one of them expected to see the Wizard in the shape

he had taken before, and all were greatly surprised when they looked

about and saw no one at all in the room. They kept close to the door

and closer to one another, for the stillness of the empty room was more

dreadful than any of the forms they had seen Oz take.

Presently they heard a solemn Voice, that seemed to come from

somewhere near the top of the great dome, and it said:

"I am Oz, the Great and Terrible. Why do you seek me?"