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loves everybody else； and unless you two； Billina and Eureka； make up
and be friends； I'll take my Magic Belt and wish you both home again；
IMMEJITLY。 So； there！〃
They were both much frightened at the threat； and promised meekly to
be good。 But it was never noticed that they became very warm friends；
for all of that。
And now the Tin Woodman arrived； his body most beautifully
nickle…plated； so that it shone splendidly in the brilliant light of
the room。 The Tin Woodman loved Dorothy most tenderly； and welcomed
with joy the return of the little old Wizard。
〃Sir；〃 said he to the latter； 〃I never can thank you enough for the
excellent heart you once gave me。 It has made me many friends；
I assure you； and it beats as kindly and lovingly today as it every did。〃
〃I'm glad to hear that；〃 said the Wizard。 〃I was afraid it would get
moldy in that tin body of yours。〃
〃Not at all；〃 returned Nick Chopper。 〃It keeps finely； being preserved
in my air…tight chest。〃
Zeb was a little shy when first introduced to these queer people； but
they were so friendly and sincere that he soon grew to admire them
very much； even finding some good qualities in the yellow hen。 But he
became nervous again when the next visitor was announced。
〃This；〃 said Princess Ozma； 〃is my friend Mr。 H。 M。 Woggle…Bug； T。 E。；
who assisted me one time when I was in great distress； and is now the
Dean of the Royal College of Athletic Science。〃
〃Ah；〃 said the Wizard； 〃I'm pleased to meet so distinguished a personage。〃
〃H。 M。；〃 said the Woggle…Bug； pompously； 〃means Highly Magnified； and
T。 E。 means Thoroughly Educated。 I am； in reality； a very big bug；
and doubtless the most intelligent being in all this broad domain。〃
〃How well you disguise it；〃 said the Wizard。 〃But I don't doubt your
word in the least。〃
〃Nobody doubts it； sir；〃 replied the Woggle…Bug； and drawing a book
from its pocket the strange insect turned its back on the company and
sat down in a corner to read。
Nobody minded this rudeness； which might have seemed more impolite in
one less thoroughly educated； so they straightway forgot him and
joined in a merry conversation that kept them well amused until
bed…time arrived。
16。 Jim； The Cab…Horse
Jim the Cab…horse found himself in possession of a large room with a
green marble floor and carved marble wainscoting； which was so stately
in its appearance that it would have awed anyone else。 Jim accepted
it as a mere detail； and at his command the attendants gave his coat a
good rubbing； combed his mane and tail； and washed his hoofs and
fetlocks。 Then they told him dinner would be served directly and he
replied that they could not serve it too quickly to suit his
convenience。 First they brought him a steaming bowl of soup； which
the horse eyed in dismay。
〃Take that stuff away！〃 he commanded。 〃Do you take me for a salamander？〃
They obeyed at once； and next served a fine large turbot on a silver
platter； with drawn gravy poured over it。
〃Fish！〃 cried Jim； with a sniff。 〃Do you take me for a tom…cat？ Away
with it！〃
The servants were a little discouraged； but soon they brought in a
great tray containing two dozen nicely roasted quail on toast。
〃Well； well！〃 said the horse； now thoroughly provoked。 〃Do you take
me for a weasel？ How stupid and ignorant you are； in the Land of Oz；
and what dreadful things you feed upon！ Is there nothing that is
decent to eat in this palace？〃
The trembling servants sent for the Royal Steward； who came in haste
and said：
〃What would your Highness like for dinner？〃
〃Highness！〃 repeated Jim； who was unused to such titles。
〃You are at least six feet high； and that is higher than any other
animal in this country；〃 said the Steward。
〃Well； my Highness would like some oats；〃 declared the horse。
〃Oats？ We have no whole oats；〃 the Steward replied； with much deference。
〃But there is any quantity of oatmeal； which we often cook for breakfast。
Oatmeal is a breakfast dish；〃 added the Steward； humbly。
〃I'll make it a dinner dish；〃 said Jim。 〃Fetch it on； but don't cook
it； as you value your life。〃
You see； the respect shown the worn…out old cab…horse made him a
little arrogant； and he forgot he was a guest； never having been
treated otherwise than as a servant since the day he was born； until
his arrival in the Land of Oz。 But the royal attendants did not heed
the animal's ill temper。 They soon mixed a tub of oatmeal with a
little water； and Jim ate it with much relish。
Then the servants heaped a lot of rugs upon the floor and the old
horse slept on the softest bed he had ever known in his life。
In the morning； as soon as it was daylight； he resolved to take a walk
and try to find some grass for breakfast； so he ambled calmly through
the handsome arch of the doorway； turned the corner of the palace；
wherein all seemed asleep； and came face to face with the Sawhorse。
Jim stopped abruptly； being startled and amazed。 The Sawhorse stopped
at the same time and stared at the other with its queer protruding
eyes； which were mere knots in the log that formed its body。 The legs
of the Sawhorse were four sticks driving into holes bored in the log；
its tail was a small branch that had been left by accident and its
mouth a place chopped in one end of the body which projected a little
and served as a head。 The ends of the wooden legs were shod with
plates of solid gold； and the saddle of the Princess Ozma； which was of
red leather set with sparkling diamonds； was strapped to the clumsy body。
Jim's eyes stuck out as much as those of the Sawhorse； and he stared
at the creature with his ears erect and his long head drawn back until
it rested against his arched neck。
In this comical position the two horses circled slowly around each
other for a while； each being unable to realize what the singular thing
might be which it now beheld for the first time。 Then Jim exclaimed：
〃For goodness sake； what sort of a being are you？〃
〃I'm a Sawhorse；〃 replied the other。
〃Oh； I believe I've heard of you；〃 said the cab…horse； 〃but you are
unlike anything that I expected to see。〃
〃I do not doubt it；〃 the Sawhorse observed； with a tone of pride。 〃I
am considered quite unusual。〃
〃You are； indeed。 But a rickety wooden thing like you has no right to
be alive。〃
〃I couldn't help it；〃 returned the other； rather crestfallen。 〃Ozma
sprinkled me with a magic powder； and I just had to live。 I know I'm
not much account； but I'm the only horse in all the Land of Oz； so
they treat me with great respect。〃
〃You； a horse！〃
〃Oh； not a real one； of course。 There are no real horses here at all。
But I'm a splendid imitation of one。〃
Jim gave an indignant neigh。
〃Look at me！〃 he cried。 〃Behold a real horse！〃
The wooden animal gave a start； and then examined the oth