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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？〃
They looked again in every part of the room； and then； seeing
no one； Dorothy asked； 〃Where are you？〃
〃I am everywhere；〃 answered the Voice； 〃but to the eyes of
common mortals I am invisible。 I will now seat myself upon my
throne； that you may converse with me。〃 Indeed； the Voice seemed
just then to come straight from the throne itself； so they walked
toward it and stood in a row while Dorothy said：
〃We have come to claim our promise； O Oz。〃
〃What promise？〃 asked Oz。
〃You promised to send me back to Kansas when the Wicked Witch
was destroyed；〃 said the girl。
〃And you promised to give me brains；〃 said the Scarecrow。
〃And you promised to give me a heart；〃 said the Tin Woodman。
〃And you promised to give me courage；〃 said the Cowardly Lion。
〃Is the Wicked Witch really destroyed？〃 asked the Voice；
and Dorothy thought it trembled a little。
〃Yes；〃 she answered； 〃I melted her with a bucket of water。〃
〃Dear me；〃 said the Voice； 〃how sudden！ Well； come to me
tomorrow； for I must have time to think it over。〃
〃You've had plenty of time already；〃 said the Tin Woodman angrily。
〃We shan't wait a day longer；〃 said the Scarecrow。
〃You must keep your promises to us！〃 exclaimed Dorothy。
The Lion thought it might be as well to frighten the Wizard；
so he gave a large； loud roar； which was so fierce and dreadful
that Toto jumped away from him in alarm and tipped over the screen
that stood in a corner。 As it fell with a crash they looked
that way； and the next moment all of them were filled with wonder。
For they saw； standing in just the spot the screen had hidden；
a little old man； with a bald head and a wrinkled face； who seemed
to be as much surprised as they were。 The Tin Woodman； raising
his axe； rushed toward the little man and cried out； 〃Who are you？〃
〃I am Oz； the Great and Terrible；〃 said the little man； in a
trembling voice。 〃But don't strike meplease don'tand I'll
do anything you want me to。〃
Our friends looked at him in surprise and dismay。
〃I thought Oz was a great Head；〃 said Dorothy。
〃And I thought Oz was a lovely Lady；〃 said the Scarecrow。
〃And I thought Oz was a terrible Beast；〃 said the Tin Woodman。
〃And I thought Oz was a Ball of Fire；〃 exclaimed the Lion。
〃No； you are all wrong；〃 said the little man meekly。 〃I have
been making believe。〃
〃Making believe！〃 cried Dorothy。 〃Are you not a Great Wizard？〃
〃Hush； my dear；〃 he said。 〃Don't speak so loud； or you will be
overheardand I should be ruined。 I'm supposed to be a Great Wizard。〃
〃And a