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Skeezers and the Flatheads。〃
〃I wish you would；〃 answered Ozma seriously。 〃You
see； Glinda； if these are Oz people they are my
subjects and I cannot allow any wars or troubles in the
Land I rule； if I can possibly help it。〃
〃Very well； your Majesty；〃 said the Sorceress； 〃I
will try to get some information to guide you。 Please
excuse me for a time； while I retire to my Room of
Magic and Sorcery。〃
〃May I go with you？〃 asked Dorothy； eagerly。
〃No； Princess；〃 was the reply。 〃It would spoil the
charm to have anyone present。〃
So Glinda locked herself in her own Room of Magic and
Dorothy and Ozma waited patiently for her to come out
again。
In about an hour Glinda appeared； looking grave and
thoughtful。
〃Your Majesty；〃 she said to Ozma； 〃the Skeezers live
on a Magic Isle in a great lake。 For that reason
because the Skeezers deal in magic I can learn
little about them。〃
〃Why； I didn't know there was a lake in that part of
Oz；〃 exclaimed Ozma。 〃The map shows a river running
through the Skeezer Country； but no lake。〃
〃That is because the person who made the map never
had visited that part of the country；〃 explained the
Sorceress。 〃The lake surely is there； and in the lake
is an island a Magic Isle and on that island live
the people called the Skeezers。〃
〃What are they like？〃 inquired the Ruler of Oz。
〃My magic cannot tell me that；〃 confessed Glinda；
〃for the magic of the Skeezers prevents anyone outside
of their domain knowing anything about them。〃
〃The Flatheads must know； if they're going to fight
the Skeezers；〃 suggested Dorothy
〃Perhaps so；〃 Glinda replied； 〃but I can get little
information concerning the Flatheads； either。 They are
people who inhabit a mountain just south of the Lake of
the Skeezers。 The mountain has steep sides and a broad；
hollow top； like a basin； and in this basin the
Flatheads have their dwellings。 They also are magic…
workers and usually keep to themselves and allow no one
from outside to visit them。 I have learned that the
Flatheads number about one hundred people men； women
and children while the Skeezers number just one
hundred and one。〃
〃What did they quarrel about； and why do they wish to
fight one another？〃 was Ozma's next question。
〃I cannot tell your Majesty that；〃 said Glinda。
〃But see here！〃 cried Dorothy； 〃it's against the law
for anyone but Glinda and the Wizard to work magic in
the Land of Oz； so if these two strange people are
magic…makers they are breaking the law and ought to be
punished！〃 Ozma smiled upon her little friend。
〃Those who do not know me or my laws；〃 she said；
〃cannot be expected to obey my laws。 If we know nothing
of the Skeezers or the Flatheads； it is likely that
they know nothing of us。〃
〃But they ought to know； Ozma； and we ought to know。
Who's going to tell them； and how are we going to make
them behave？〃
〃That；〃 returned Ozma； 〃is what I am now considering。
What would you advise； Glinda？〃
The Sorceress took a little time to consider this
question； before she made reply。 Then she said： 〃Had
you not learned of the existence of the Flatheads and
the Skeezers； through my Book of Records； you would
never have worried about them or their quarrels。 So； if
you pay no attention to these peoples； you may never
hear of them again。〃
〃But that wouldn't be right；〃 declared Ozma。 〃I am
Ruler of all the Land of Oz； which includes the
Gillikin Country； the Quadling Country； the Winkie
Country and the Munchkin Country； as well as the
Emerald City； and being the Princess of this fairyland
it is my duty to make all my people wherever they
may be happy and content and to settle their
disputes and keep them from quarreling。 So； while the
Skeezers and Flatheads may not know me or that I am
their lawful Ruler； I now know that they inhabit my
kingdom and are my subjects； so I would not be doing my
duty if I kept away from them and allowed them to
fight。〃
〃That's a fact； Ozma；〃 commented Dorothy。
〃You've got to go up to the Gillikin Country and make
these people behave themselves and make up their
quarrels。 But how are you going to do it？〃
〃That is what is puzzling me also； your Majesty；〃
said the Sorceress。 〃It may be dangerous for you to go
into those strange countries； where the people are
possibly fierce and warlike。〃
〃I am not afraid；〃 said Ozma； with a smile。
〃'Tisn't a question of being 'fraid；〃 argued Dorothy。
〃Of course we know you're a fairy； and can't be killed
or hurt； and we know you've a lot of magic of your own
to help you。 But； Ozma dear； in spite of all this
you've been in trouble before； on account of wicked
enemies； and it isn't right for the Ruler of all Oz to
put herself in danger。〃
〃Perhaps I shall be in no danger at all；〃 returned
Ozma； with a little laugh。 〃You mustn't imagine danger；
Dorothy； for one should only imagine nice things； and
we do not know that the Skeezers and Flatheads are
wicked people or my enemies。 Perhaps they would be good
and listen to reason。〃
〃Dorothy is right； your Majesty；〃 asserted the
Sorceress。 〃It is true we know nothing of these faraway
subjects； except that they intend to fight one another；
and have a certain amount of magic power at their
command。 Such folks do not like to submit to
interference and they are more likely to resent your
coming among them than to receive you kindly and
graciously； as is your due。〃
〃If you had an army to take with you；〃 added Dorothy；
〃it wouldn't be so bad； but there isn't such a thing as
an army in all Oz。〃
〃I have one soldier；〃 said Ozma。
〃Yes； the soldier with the green whiskers； but he's
dreadful 'fraid of his gun and never loads it。 I'm sure
he'd run rather than fight。 And one soldier； even if he
were brave； couldn't do much against two hundred and
one Flatheads and Skeezers。〃
〃What then； my friends； would you suggest？〃 inquired
Ozma。
〃I advise you to send the Wizard of Oz to them； and
let him inform them that it is against the laws of Oz
to fight； and that you command them to settle their
differences and become friends；〃 proposed Glinda。 〃Let
the Wizard tell them they will be punished if they
refuse to obey the commands of the Princess of all the
Land of Oz。〃
Ozma shook her head； to indicate that the advice was
not to her satisfaction。
〃If they refuse； what then？〃 she asked。 〃I should be
obliged to carry out my threat and punish them； and
that would be an unpleasant and difficult thing to do。
I am sure it would be better for me to go peacefully；
without an army and armed only with my authority as
Ruler； and plead with them to obey me。 Then； if they
prove obstinate I could resort to other means to win
their obedience。〃
〃It's a ticklish thing； anyhow you look at it；〃
sighed Dorothy。 〃I'm sorry now that I noticed the
Record in the Great Book。〃