also managed to prevent her being discovered - even by so experienced a Sorceress as 
myself."
    "That is strange," interrupted the Woggle-Bug, pompously. "I have been informed that 
the Wonderful Wizard of Oz was nothing more than a humbug!"
    "Nonsense!" exclaimed the Scarecrow, much provoked by this speech. "Didn't he give me 
a wonderful set of brains?"
    "There's no humbug about my heart," announced the Tin Woodman, glaring indignantly at 
the Woggle-Bug.
    "Perhaps I was misinformed," stammered the Insect, shrinking back; "I never knew the 
Wizard personally."
    "Well, we did," retorted the Scarecrow, "and he was a very great Wizard, I assure 
you. It is true he was guilty of some slight impostures, but unless he was a great Wizard 
how - let me ask - could he have hidden this girl Ozma so securely that no one can find 
her?"
    "I - I give it up!" replied the Woggle-Bug, meekly.
    "That is the most sensible speech you've made," said the Tin Woodman.
    "I must really make another effort to discover where this girl is hidden," resumed 
the Sorceress, thoughtfully.
    "I have in my library a book in which is inscribed every action of the Wizard while 
he was in our land of Oz - or, at least, every action that could be observed by my spies. 
This book I will read carefully tonight, and try to single out the acts that may guide us 
in discovering the lost Ozma. In the meantime, pray amuse yourselves in my palace and 
command my servants as if they were your own. I will grant you another audience 
tomorrow." With this gracious speech Glinda dismissed the adventurers, and they wandered 
away through the beautiful gardens, where they passed several hours enjoying all the 
delightful things with which the Queen of the Southland had surrounded her royal palace.
    On the following morning they again appeared before Glinda, who said to them: "I have 
searched carefully through the records of the Wizard's actions, and among them I can find 
but three that appear to have been suspicious. He ate beans with a knife, made three 
secret visits to old Mombi, and limped slightly on his left foot."
    "Ah! that last is certainly suspicious!" exclaimed the Pumpkinhead.
    "Not necessarily," said the Scarecrow. "he may, have had corns. Now, it seems to me 
his eating beans with a knife is more suspicious."
    "Perhaps it is a polite custom in Omaha, from which great country the Wizard 
originally came," suggested the Tin Woodman.
    "It may be," admitted the Scarecrow.
    "But why," asked Glinda, "did he make three secret visits to old Mombi?"
    "Ah! Why, indeed!" echoed the Woggle-Bug, impressively.
    "We know that the Wizard taught the old woman many of his tricks of magic," continued 
Glinda; "and this he would not have done had she not assisted him in some way. So we may 
suspect with good reason that Mombi aided him to hide the girl Ozma, who was the real 
heir to the throne of the Emerald City, and a constant danger to the usurper. For, if the 
people knew that she lived, they would quickly make her their Queen and restore her to 
her rightful position."
    "An able argument!" cried the Scarecrow. "I have no doubt that Mombi was mixed up in 
this wicked business. But how does that knowledge help us?"
    "We must find Mombi," replied Glinda, "and force her to tell where the girl is 
hidden."
    "Mombi is now with Queen Jinjur, in the Emerald, City" said Tip. "It was she who 
threw so many obstacles in our pathway, and made Jinjur threaten to destroy my friends 
and give me back into the old witch's power."
    "Then," decided Glinda, "I will march with my army to the Emerald City, and take 
Mombi prisoner. After that we can, perhaps, force her to tell the truth about Ozma."
    "She is a terrible old woman!" remarked Tip, with a shudder at the thought of Mombi's 
black kettle; "and obstinate, too."
    "I am quite obstinate myself," returned the Sorceress, with a sweet smile. "so I do 
not fear Mombi in the least.
    Today I will make all necessary preparations, and we will march upon the Emerald City 
at daybreak tomorrow."
    
    
    The Tin-Woodman Plucks a Rose
    
    The Army of Glinda the Good looked very grand and imposing when it assembled at 
daybreak before the palace gates. The uniforms of the girl soldiers were pretty and of 
gay colors, and their silver-tipped spears were bright and glistening, the long shafts 
being inlaid with mother-of-pearl. All the officers wore sharp, gleaming swords, and 
shields edged with peacock- feathers; and it really seemed that no foe could by any 
possibility defeat such a brilliant army.
    The Sorceress rode in a beautiful palanquin which was like the body of a coach, 
having doors and windows with silken curtains; but instead of wheels, which a coach has, 
the palanquin rested upon two long, horizontal bars, which were borne upon the shoulders 
of twelve servants.
    The Scarecrow and his comrades decided to ride in the Gump, in order to keep up with 
the swift march of the army; so, as soon as Glinda had started and her soldiers had 
marched away to the inspiring strains of music played by the royal band, our friends 
climbed into the sofas and followed. The Gump flew along slowly at a point directly over 
the palanquin in which rode the Sorceress.
    "Be careful," said the Tin Woodman to the Scarecrow, who was leaning far over the 
side to look at the army below. "You might fall."
    "It wouldn't matter," remarked the educated Woggle-Bug. "he can't get broke so long 
as he is stuffed with money."
    "Didn't I ask you" began Tip, in a reproachful voice.
    "You did!" said the Woggle-Bug, promptly. "And I beg your pardon. I will really try 
to restrain myself."
    "You'd better," declared the boy. "That is, if you wish to travel in our company."
    "Ah! I couldn't bear to part with you now," murmured the Insect, feelingly; so Tip 
let the subject drop.
    The army moved steadily on, but night had fallen before they came to the walls of the 
Emerald City. By the dim light of the new moon, however, Glinda's forces silently 
surrounded the city and pitched their tents of scarlet silk upon the greensward. The tent 
of the Sorceress was larger than the others, and was composed of pure white silk, with 
scarlet banners flying above it. A tent was also pitched for the Scarecrow's party; and 
when these preparations had been made, with military precision and quickness, the army 
retired to rest.
    Great was the amazement of Queen Jinjur next morning when her soldiers came running 
to inform her of the vast army surrounding them. She at once climbed to a high tower of 
the royal palace and saw banners waving in every direction and the great white tent of 
Glinda standing directly before the gates.
    "We are surely lost!" cried Jinjur, in despair; "for how can our knitting- needles