"What a queer man," remarked the Munchkin boy,when the party had resumed its journey.

"And so nice and polite," added Scraps, bobbingher Lead. "I think he is the handsomest man I'veseen since I came to life."

"Handsome is as handsome does," quoted theShaggy Man; "but we must admit that no livingscarecrow is handsomer. The chief merit of myfriend is that he is a great thinker, and in Oz itis considered good policy to follow his advice."

"I didn't notice any brains in his head,"observed the Glass Cat.

"You can't see 'em work, but they're there, allright," declared the Shaggy Man. "I hadn't muchconfidence in his brains myself, when first I cameto Oz, for a humbug Wizard gave them to him; but Iwas soon convinced that the Scarecrow is reallywise; and, unless his brains make him so, suchwisdom is unaccountable."

"Is the Wizard of Oz a humbug?" asked Ojo.

"Not now. He was once, but he has reformedand now assists Glinda the Good, who is theRoyal Sorceress of Oz and the only one licensedto practice magic or sorcery. Glinda has taughtour old Wizard a good many clever things, sohe is no longer a humbug."

They walked a little while in silence andthen Ojo said:

"If Ozma forbids the Crooked Magician torestore Unc Nunkie to life, what shall I do?"

The Shaggy Man shook his head.

"In that case you can't do anything," he said."But don't be discouraged yet. We will go toPrincess Dorothy and tell her your troubles, andthen we will let her talk to Ozma. Dorothy has thekindest little heart in the world, and she hasbeen through so many troubles herself that she issure to sympathize with you."

"Is Dorothy the little girl who came here fromKansas?" asked the boy.

"Yes. In Kansas she was Dorothy Gale. I used toknow her there, and she brought me to the Land ofOz. But now Ozma has made her a Princess, andDorothy's Aunt Em and Uncle Henry are here, too."Here the Shaggy Man uttered a long sigh, and thenhe continued: "It's a queer country, this Land ofOz; but I like it, nevertheless."

"What is queer about it?" asked Scraps.

"You, for instance," said he.

"Did you see no girls as beautiful as I am inyour own country?" she inquired.

"None with the same gorgeous, variegatedbeauty," he confessed. "In America a girl stuffedwith cotton wouldn't be alive, nor would anyonethink of making a girl out of a patchwork quilt."

"What a queer country America must be!" sheexclaimed in great surprise. "The Scarecrow, whomyou say is wise, told me I am the most beautifulcreature he has ever seen."

"I know; and perhaps you are-from a scarecrowpoint of view," replied the Shaggy Man; but why hesmiled as he said it Scraps could not imagine.

As they drew nearer to the Emerald City thetravelers were filled with admiration for thesplendid scenery they beheld. Handsome housesstood on both sides of the road and each had agreen lawn before it as well as a pretty flowergarden.

"In another hour," said the Shaggy Man, "weshall come in sight of the walls of the RoyalCity."

He was walking ahead, with Scraps, and behindthem came the Woozy and the Glass Cat. Ojo hadlagged behind, for in spite of the warnings hehad received the boy's eyes were fastened on theclover that bordered the road of yellow bricks andhe was eager to discover if such a thing as asix-leaved clover really existed.

Suddenly he stopped short and bent over toexamine the ground more closely. Yes; here at lastwas a clover with six spreading leaves. He countedthem carefully, to make sure. In an instant hisheart leaped with joy, for this was one of theimportant things he had come for--one of thethings that would restore dear Unc Nunkie to life.

He glanced ahead and saw that none of hiscompanions was looking back. Neither were anyother people about, for it was midway betweentwo houses. The temptation was too strong tobe resisted.

"I might search for weeks and weeks, andnever find another six-leaved clover," he toldhimself, and quickly plucking the stem from theplant he placed the prized clover in his basket,covering it with the other things he carriedthere. Then, trying to look as if nothing hadhappened, he hurried forward and overtook hiscomrades.

The Emerald City, which is the most splendid aswell as the most beautiful city in any fairyland,is surrounded by a high, thick wall of greenmarble, polished smooth and set with glisteningemeralds. There are four gates, one facing theMunchkin Country, one facing the Country of theWinkies, one facing the Country of the Quadlingsand one facing the Country of the Gillikins. TheEmerald City lies directly in the center of thesefour important countries of Oz. The gates had barsof pure gold, and on either side of each gatewaywere built high towers, from which floated gaybanners. Other towers were set at distances alongthe walls, which were broad enough for four peopleto walk abreast upon.

This enclosure, all green and gold andglittering with precious gems, was indeed awonderful sight to greet our travelers, who firstobserved it from the top of a little hill; butbeyond the wall was the vast city it surrounded,and hundreds of jeweled spires, domes andminarets, flaunting flags and banners, rearedtheir crests far above the towers of the gateways.In the center of the city our friends could seethe tops of many magnificent trees, some nearly astall as the spires of the buildings, and theShaggy Man told them that these trees were in theroyal gardens of Princess Ozma.

They stood a long time on the hilltop, feastingtheir eyes on the splendor of the Emerald City.

"Whee!" exclaimed Scraps, clasping her paddedhands in ecstacy, "that'll do for me to live in,all right. No more of the Munchkin Country forthese patches--and no more of the CrookedMagician!"

"Why, you belong to Dr. Pipt," replied Ojo,looking at her in amazement. "You were made for aservant, Scraps, so you are personal property andnot your own mistress."

"Bother Dr. Pipt! If he wants me, let himcome here and get me. I'll not go back to hisden of my own accord; that's certain. Only oneplace in the Land of Oz is fit to live in, andthat's the Emerald City. It's lovely! It's almostas beautiful as I am, Ojo."

"In this country," remarked the Shaggy Man,"people live wherever our Ruler tells them to. Itwouldn't do to have everyone live in the EmeraldCity, you know, for some must plow the land andraise grains and fruits and vegetables, whileothers chop wood in the forests, or fish in therivers, or herd the sheep and the cattle."

"Poor things!" said Scraps.

"I'm not sure they are not happier than the citypeople," replied the Shaggy Man. "There's afreedom and independence in country life that noteven the Emerald City can give one. I know thatlots of the city people would like to get back tothe land. The Scarecrow lives in the country, andso do the Tin Woodman and Jack Pumpkinhead; yetall three would be welcome to live in Ozma'spalace if they cared to. Too much splendor becomestiresome, you know. But, if we're to reach theEmerald City before sundown, we must hurry, for itis yet a long way off."

The entrancing sight of the city had put newenergy into them all and they hurried forwardwith lighter steps than before. There was muchto interest them along the roadway, for thehouses were now set more closely together andthey met a good many people who were comingor going from one place or another. All theseseemed happy-faced, pleasant people, whonodded graciously to the strangers as theyPassed, and exchanged words of greeting.

At last they reached the great gateway, justas the sun was setting and adding its red glowto the glitter of the emeralds on the green wallsand spires. Somewhere inside the city a bandcould be heard playing sweet music; a soft,subdued hum, as of many voices, reached theirears; from the neighboring yards came the lowmooing of cows waiting to be milked.

They were almost at the gate when the goldenbars slid back and a tall soldier stepped out andfaced them. Ojo thought he had never seen sotall a man before. The soldier wore a handsomegreen and gold uniform, with a tall hat in whichwas a waving plume, and he had a belt thicklyencrusted with jewels. But the most peculiarthing about him was his long green beard,which fell far below his waist and perhapsmade him seem taller than he really was.

"Halt!" said the Soldier with the GreenWhiskers, not in a stern voice but rather in afriendly tone.

They halted before he spoke and stood looking athim.

"Good evening, Colonel," said the ShaggyMan. "What's the news since I left? Anythingimportant?"

"Billina has hatched out thirteen new chickens,"replied the Soldier with the Green Whiskers, "andthey're the cutest little fluffy yellow balls youever saw. The Yellow Hen is mighty proud of thosechildren, I can tell you."

"She has a right to be," agreed the ShaggyMan. "Let me see; that's about seven thousandchicks she has hatched out; isn't it, General?"

"That, at least," was the reply. "You will haveto visit Billina and congratulate her."

"It will give me pleasure to do that," said theShaggy Man. "But you will observe that I havebrought some strangers home with me. I amgoing to take them to see Dorothy."

"One moment, please," said the soldier, barringtheir way as they started to enter the gate. "I amon duty, and I have orders to execute. Is anyonein your party named Ojo the Unlucky?"

"Why, that's me!" cried Ojo, astonished athearing his name on the lips of a stranger.

The Soldier with the Green Whiskers nodded. "Ithought so," said he, "and I am sorry to announcethat it is my painful duty to arrest you."

"Arrest me!" exclaimed the boy. "What for?"

"I haven't looked to see," answered the soldier.Then he drew a paper from his breast pocket andglanced at it. "Oh, yes; you are to be arrestedfor willfully breaking one of the Laws of Oz."

"Breaking a law!" said Scraps. "Nonsense,Soldier; you're joking."

"Not this time," returned the soldier, with asigh. "My dear child what are you, a rummage saleor a guess-me quick?--in me you be hold the BodyGuard of our gracious Ruler, Princess Ozma, aswell as the Royal Army of Oz and the Police Forceof the Emerald City."

"And only one man!" exclaimed the Patchwork Girl.

"Only one, and plenty enough. In my officialpositions I've had nothing to do for a good manyyears--so long that I began to fear I wasabsolutely useless--until today. An hour ago I wascalled to the presence of her Highness, Ozma ofOz, and told to arrest a boy named Ojo theUnlucky, who was journeying from the MunchkinCountry to the Emerald City and would arrive in ashort time. This command so astonished me that Inearly fainted, for it is the first time anyonehas merited arrest since I can remember. You arerightly named Ojo the Unlucky. my poor boy, sinceyou have broken a Law of Oz.

"But you are wrong," said Scraps. "Ozma iswrong--you are all wrong--for Ojo has broken noLaw."

"Then he will soon be free again," replied theSoldier with the Green Whiskers. "Anyone accusedof crime is given a fair trial by our Ruler andhas every chance to prove his innocence. But justnow Ozma's orders must be obeyed."

With this he took from his pocket a pair ofhandcuffs made of gold and set with rubies anddiamonds, and these he snapped over Ojo's wrists.