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sapphires and diamonds set around the rim of it。
In the afternoon they all went to a great field outside the city gates
where the games were to be held。 There was a beautiful canopy for
Ozma and her guests to sit under and watch the people run races and
jump and wrestle。 You may be sure the folks of Oz did their best with
such a distinguished company watching them； and finally Zeb offered to
wrestle with a little Munchkin who seemed to be the champion。 In
appearance he was twice as old as Zeb； for he had long pointed
whiskers and wore a peaked hat with little bells all around the brim
of it； which tinkled gaily as he moved。 But although the Munchkin was
hardly tall enough to come to Zeb's shoulder he was so strong and
clever that he laid the boy three times on his back with apparent ease。
Zeb was greatly astonished at his defeat； and when the pretty Princess
joined her people in laughing at him he proposed a boxing…match with
the Munchkin； to which the little Ozite readily agreed。 But the first
time that Zeb managed to give him a sharp box on the ears the Munchkin
sat down upon the ground and cried until the tears ran down his
whiskers； because he had been hurt。 This made Zeb laugh； in turn； and
the boy felt comforted to find that Ozma laughed as merrily at her
weeping subject as she had at him。
Just then the Scarecrow proposed a race between the Sawhorse and the
Cab…horse； and although all the others were delighted at the
suggestion the Sawhorse drew back； saying：
〃Such a race would not be fair。〃
〃Of course not；〃 added Jim； with a touch of scorn； 〃those little
wooden legs of yours are not half as long as my own。〃
〃It isn't that；〃 said the Sawhorse； modestly； 〃but I never tire； and
you do。〃
〃Bah！〃 cried Jim； looking with great disdain at the other； 〃do you
imagine for an instant that such a shabby imitation of a horse as you
are can run as fast as I？〃
〃I don't know； I'm sure；〃 replied the Sawhorse。
〃That is what we are trying to find out；〃 remarked the Scarecrow。
〃The object of a race is to see who can win itor at least that is
what my excellent brains think。〃
〃Once； when I was young；〃 said Jim； 〃I was a race horse； and defeated
all who dared run against me。 I was born in Kentucky； you know； where
all the best and most aristocratic horses come from。〃
〃But you're old； now； Jim；〃 suggested Zeb。
〃Old！ Why； I feel like a colt today；〃 replied Jim。 〃I only wish
there was a real horse here for me to race with。 I'd show the people
a fine sight； I can tell you。〃
〃Then why not race with the Sawhorse？〃 enquired the Scarecrow。
〃He's afraid；〃 said Jim。
〃Oh； no；〃 answered the Sawhorse。 〃I merely said it wasn't fair。 But
if my friend the Real Horse is willing to undertake the race I am
quite ready。〃
So they unharnessed Jim and took the saddle off the Sawhorse； and the
two queerly matched animals were stood side by side for the start。
〃When I say 'Go！'〃 Zeb called to them； 〃you must dig out and race
until you reach those three trees you see over yonder。 Then circle
'round them and come back again。 The first one that passes the place
where the Princess sits shall be named the winner。 Are you ready？〃
〃I suppose I ought to give the wooden dummy a good start of me；〃
growled Jim。
〃Never mind that；〃 said the Sawhorse。 〃I'll do the best I can。〃
〃Go！〃 cried Zeb； and at the word the two horses leaped forward and the
race was begun。
Jim's big hoofs pounded away at a great rate； and although he did not
look very graceful he ran in a way to do credit to his Kentucky
breeding。 But the Sawhorse was swifter than the wind。 Its wooden
legs moved so fast that their twinkling could scarcely be seen； and
although so much smaller than the cab…horse it covered the ground much
faster。 Before they had reached the trees the Sawhorse was far ahead；
and the wooden animal returned to the starting place as was being
lustily cheered by the Ozites before Jim came panting up to the canopy
where the Princess and her friends were seated。
I am sorry to record the fact that Jim was not only ashamed of his
defeat but for a moment lost control of his temper。 As he looked at
the comical face of the Sawhorse he imagined that the creature was
laughing at him； so in a fit of unreasonable anger he turned around
and made a vicious kick that sent his rival tumbling head over heels
upon the ground； and broke off one of its legs and its left ear。
An instant later the Tiger crouched and launched its huge body through
the air swift and resistless as a ball from a cannon。 The beast
struck Jim full on his shoulder and sent the astonished cab…horse
rolling over and over； amid shouts of delight from the spectators； who
had been horrified by the ungracious act he had been guilty of。
When Jim came to himself and sat upon his haunches he found the
Cowardly Lion crouched on one side of him and the Hungry Tiger on the
other； and their eyes were glowing like balls of fire。
〃I beg your pardon； I'm sure；〃 said Jim； meekly。 〃I was wrong to kick
the Sawhorse； and I am sorry I became angry at him。 He has won the
race； and won it fairly； but what can a horse of flesh do against a
tireless beast of wood？〃
Hearing this apology the Tiger and the Lion stopped lashing their
tails and retreated with dignified steps to the side of the Princess。
〃No one must injure one of our friends in our presence；〃 growled the
Lion； and Zeb ran to Jim and whispered that unless he controlled his
temper in the future he would probably be torn to pieces。
Then the Tin Woodman cut a straight and strong limb from a tree with
his gleaming axe and made a new leg and a new ear for the Sawhorse；
and when they had been securely fastened in place Princess Ozma took
the coronet from her own head and placed it upon that of the winner
of the race。 Said she：
〃My friend； I reward you for your swiftness by proclaiming you Prince
of Horses； whether of wood or of flesh； and hereafter all other
horsesin the Land of Oz； at leastmust be considered imitations；
and you the real Champion of your race。〃
There was more applause at this； and then Ozma had the jewelled saddle
replaced upon the Sawhorse and herself rode the victor back to the
city at the head of the grand procession。
〃I ought to be a fairy；〃 grumbled Jim； as he slowly drew the buggy
home； 〃for to be just an ordinary horse in a fairy country is to be of
no account whatever。 It's no place for us； Zeb。〃
〃It's lucky we got here； though；〃 said the boy； and Jim thought of the
dark cave； and agreed with him。
18。 The Trial of Eureka the Kitten
Several days of festivity and merry…making followed； for such old
friends did not often meet and there was much to be told and talked
over between them； and many amusements to be enjoyed in this
delightful country。
Ozma was happy to have Dorothy beside her；