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〃I have an idea；〃 said the Wizard； 〃that there are fishes in these
brooks。 Do you like fish？〃
〃Fish！〃 cried the kitten。 〃Do I like fish？ Why； they're better than
pigletsor even milk！〃
〃Then I'll try to catch you some；〃 said he。
〃But won't they be veg'table； like everything else here？〃 asked the kitten。
〃I think not。 Fishes are not animals； and they are as cold and moist
as the vegetables themselves。 There is no reason； that I can see； why
they may not exist in the waters of this strange country。〃
Then the Wizard bent a pin for a hook and took a long piece of string
from his pocket for a fish…line。 The only bait he could find was a
bright red blossom from a flower； but he knew fishes are easy to fool
if anything bright attracts their attention； so he decided to try the
blossom。 Having thrown the end of his line in the water of a nearby
brook he soon felt a sharp tug that told him a fish had bitten and was
caught on the bent pin； so the little man drew in the string and； sure
enough； the fish came with it and was landed safely on the shore；
where it began to flop around in great excitement。
The fish was fat and round； and its scales glistened like beautifully
cut jewels set close together； but there was no time to examine it
closely； for Eureka made a jump and caught it between her claws； and
in a few moments it had entirely disappeared。
〃Oh； Eureka！〃 cried Dorothy； 〃did you eat the bones？〃
〃If it had any bones； I ate them；〃 replied the kitten； composedly； as
it washed its face after the meal。 〃But I don't think that fish had
any bones； because I didn't feel them scratch my throat。〃
〃You were very greedy；〃 said the girl。
〃I was very hungry；〃 replied the kitten。
The little pigs had stood huddled in a group； watching this scene with
frightened eyes。
〃Cats are dreadful creatures！〃 said one of them。
〃I'm glad we are not fishes！〃 said another。
〃Don't worry；〃 Dorothy murmured； soothingly； 〃I'll not let the
kitten hurt you。〃
Then she happened to remember that in a corner of her suit…case were
one or two crackers that were left over from her luncheon on the
train； and she went to the buggy and brought them。 Eureka stuck up
her nose at such food； but the tiny piglets squealed delightedly at
the sight of the crackers and ate them up in a jiffy。
〃Now let us go back to the city；〃 suggested the Wizard。 〃That is； if
Jim has had enough of the pink grass。〃
The cab…horse； who was browsing near； lifted his head with a sigh。
〃I've tried to eat a lot while I had the chance；〃 said he； 〃for it's
likely to be a long while between meals in this strange country。 But
I'm ready to go； now； at any time you wish。〃
So； after the Wizard had put the piglets back into his inside pocket；
where they cuddled up and went to sleep； the three climbed into the
buggy and Jim started back to the town。
〃Where shall we stay？〃 asked the girl。
〃I think I shall take possession of the House of the Sorcerer；〃
replied the Wizard； 〃for the Prince said in the presence of his people
that he would keep me until they picked another Sorcerer； and the new
Princess won't know but that we belong there。〃
They agreed to this plan； and when they reached the great square Jim
drew the buggy into the big door of the domed hall。
〃It doesn't look very homelike；〃 said Dorothy； gazing around at the
bare room。 〃But it's a place to stay； anyhow。〃
〃What are those holes up there？〃 enquired the boy； pointing to some
openings that appeared near the top of the dome。
〃They look like doorways；〃 said Dorothy； 〃only there are no stairs to
get to them。〃
〃You forget that stairs are unnecessary；〃 observed the Wizard。 〃Let
us walk up； and see where the doors lead to。〃
With this he began walking in the air toward the high openings； and
Dorothy and Zeb followed him。 It was the same sort of climb one
experiences when walking up a hill； and they were nearly out of breath
when they came to the row of openings； which they perceived to be
doorways leading into halls in the upper part of the house。 Following
these halls they discovered many small rooms opening from them； and
some were furnished with glass benches； tables and chairs。 But there
were no beds at all。
〃I wonder if these people never sleep；〃 said the girl。
〃Why； there seems to be no night at all in this country；〃 Zeb replied。
〃Those colored suns are exactly in the same place they were when we
came； and if there is no sunset there can be no night。〃
〃Very true；〃 agreed the Wizard。 〃But it is a long time since I have
had any sleep； and I'm tired。 So I think I shall lie down upon one of
these hard glass benches and take a nap。〃
〃I will； too；〃 said Dorothy； and chose a little room at the end
of the hall。
Zeb walked down again to unharness Jim； who； when he found himself
free； rolled over a few times and then settled down to sleep； with
Eureka nestling comfortably beside his big； boney body。 Then the boy
returned to one of the upper rooms； and in spite of the hardness of
the glass bench was soon deep in slumberland。
6。 The Mangaboos Prove Dangerous
When the Wizard awoke the six colored suns were shining down upon the
Land of the Mangaboos just as they had done ever since his arrival。
The little man； having had a good sleep； felt rested and refreshed；
and looking through the glass partition of the room he saw Zeb sitting
up on his bench and yawning。 So the Wizard went in to him。
〃Zeb；〃 said he； 〃my balloon is of no further use in this strange
country； so I may as well leave it on the square where it fell。 But
in the basket…car are some things I would like to keep with me。 I
wish you would go and fetch my satchel； two lanterns； and a can of
kerosene oil that is under the seat。 There is nothing else that I
care about。〃
So the boy went willingly upon the errand； and by the time he had
returned Dorothy was awake。 Then the three held a counsel to decide
what they should do next； but could think of no way to better
their condition。
〃I don't like these veg'table people；〃 said the little girl。 〃They're
cold and flabby； like cabbages； in spite of their prettiness。〃
〃I agree with you。 It is because there is no warm blood in them；〃
remarked the Wizard。
〃And they have no hearts； so they can't love anyonenot even
themselves；〃 declared the boy。
〃The Princess is lovely to look at；〃 continued Dorothy； thoughtfully；
〃but I don't care much for her； after all。 If there was any other
place to go； I'd like to go there。〃
〃But IS there any other place？〃 asked the Wizard。
〃I don't know；〃 she answered。
Just then they heard the big voice of Jim the cab…horse calling to them；
and going to the doorway leading to the dome they found the Princess
and a throng of her people had entered the House of the Sorcerer。
So they went down to greet th