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〃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。〃
〃But can't you realize； my dear； that I must do my
duty； now that I am aware of this trouble？〃 asked Ozma。
〃I am fully determined to go at once to the Magic Isle
of the Skeezers and to the enchanted mountain of the
Flatheads； and prevent war and strife between their
inhabitants。 The only question to decide is whether it
is better for me to go alone； or to assemble a party of
my friends and loyal supporters to accompany me。〃
〃If you go I want to go； too；〃 declared Dorothy。
〃Whatever happens it's going to be fun 'cause all
excitement is fun and I wouldn't miss it for the
world！〃
Neither Ozma nor Glinda paid any attention to this
statement； for they were gravely considering the
serious aspect of this proposed adventure。
〃There are plenty of friends who would like to go
with you；〃 said the Sorceress； 〃but none of them would
afford your Majesty any protection in case you were in
danger。 You are yourself the most powerful fairy in Oz；
although both I and the Wizard have more varied arts of
magic at our command。 However； you have one art that no
other in all the world can equal the art of winning
hearts and making people love to bow to your gracious
presence。 For that reason I believe you can accomplish
more good alone than with a large number of subjects in
your train。〃
〃I believe that also；〃 agreed the Princess。 〃I shall
be quite able to take care of myself； you know； but
might not be able to protect others so well。 I do not
look for opposition； however。 I shall speak to these
people in kindly words and settle their dispute
whatever it may be in a just manner。〃
〃Aren't you going to take me？〃 pleaded Dorothy。
〃You'll need some companion； Ozma。〃
The Princess smiled upon her little friend。
〃I see no reason why you should not accompany me；〃
was her reply。 〃Two girls are not very warlike and they
will not suspect us of being on any errand but a kindly
and peaceful one。 But； in order to prevent war and
strife between these angry peoples； we must go to them
at once。 Let us return immediately to the Emerald City
and prepare to start on our journey early tomorrow
morning。〃
Glinda was not quite satisfied with this plan； but
could not think of any better way to meet the problem。
She knew that Ozma； with all her gentleness and sweet
disposition； was accustomed to abide by any decision
she had made and could not easily be turned from her
purpose。 Moreover she could see no great danger to the
fairy Ruler of Oz in the undertaking； even though the
unknown people she was to visit proved obstinate。 But
Dorothy was not a fairy； she was a little girl who had
come from Kansas to live in the Land of Oz。 Dorothy
might encounter dangers that to Ozma would be as
nothing but to an 〃Earth child〃 would be very serious。
The very fact that Dorothy lived in Oz； and had been
made a Princess by her friend Ozma； prevented her from
being killed or suffering any great bodily pain as long
as she lived in that fairyland。 She could not grow big；
either； and would always remain the same little girl
who had come to Oz； unless in some way she left that
fairyland or was spirited away from it。 But Dorothy was
a mortal； nevertheless； and might possibly be
destroyed； or hidden where none of her friends could
ever find her。 She could； for instance be cut into
pieces； and the pieces； while still alive and free from
pain； could be widely scattered； or she might be buried
deep underground or 〃destroyed〃 in other ways by evil
magicians； were she not properly protected。 These facts
Glinda was considering while she paced with stately
tread her marble hall。
Finally the good Sorceress paused and drew a ring
from her finger； handing it to Dorothy。
〃Wear this ring constantly until your return；〃 she
said to the girl。 〃If serious danger threatens you；
turn the ring around on your finger once to the right
and another turn to the left。 That will ring the alarm
bell in my palace and I will at once come to your
rescue。 But do not use the ring unless you are actually
in danger of destruction。 While you remain with
Princess Ozma I believe she will be able to protect you
from all lesser ills。〃
〃Thank you； Glinda；〃 responded Dorothy gratefully； as
she placed the ring on her finger。 〃I'm going to wear
my Magic Belt which I took from the Nome King； too； so
I guess I'll be safe from anything the Skeezers and
Flatheads try to do to me。〃
Ozma had many arrangements to make before she could
leave her throne and her palace in the Emerald City；
even for a trip of a few days； so she bade goodbye to
Glinda and with Dorothy climbed into the Red Wagon。 A
word to the wooden Sawhorse started that astonishing
creature on the return journey； and so swiftly did he
run that Dorothy was unable to talk or do anything but
hold tight to her seat all the way back to the Emerald
City。
Chapter Two
Ozma and Dorothy
Residing in Ozma's palace at this time was a live
Scarecrow； a most remarkable and intelligent creature
who had once ruled the Land of Oz for a brief period
and was much loved and respected by all the people。
Once a Munchkin farmer had stuffed an old suit of
clothes with straw and put stuffed boots on the feet
and used a pair of stuffed cotton gloves for hands。 The
head of the Scarecrow was a stuffed sack fastened to
the body； with eyes； nose； mouth and ears painted on
the sack。 When a hat had been put on the head； the
thing was a good imitation of a man。 The farmer placed
the Scarecrow on a pole in his cornfield and it came to
life in a curious manner。 Dorothy； who was passing by
the field； was hailed by the live Scarecrow and lifted
him off his pole。 He then went with her to the Emerald
City； where the Wizard of Oz gave him some excellent
brains； and the Scarecrow soon became an important
personage。
Ozma considered the Scarecrow one of her best friends
and most loyal subjects； so the morning after her visit
to Glinda she asked him to take her place as Ruler of
the Land of Oz while she was absent on a journey； and
the Scarecrow at once consented without asking any
questions。
Ozma had warned Dorothy to keep their journey a
secret and say nothing to anyone about the Skeezers and
Flatheads until their return； and Dorothy promised to
obey。 She longed to tell her girl friends； tiny Trot
and Betsy Bobbin； of the adventure they were
undertaking； but refrained from saying a word on the
subject although both these girls lived with her in
Ozma's palace。
Indeed； only Glinda the Sorceress knew they were
going； until after they had gone； and even the
Sorceress didn't know what their errand might be。
Princess Ozma took the Sawhorse and the Red Wagon；
although she was not sure there was a wag