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readily decide that the kitten is wrongfully accused and should be set
at liberty。〃
When the Tin Woodman sat down no one applauded him； for his arguments
had not been very convincing and few believed that he had proved
Eureka's innocence。 As for the Jury； the members whispered to each
other for a few minutes and then they appointed the Hungry Tiger their
spokesman。 The huge beast slowly arose and said：
〃Kittens have no consciences； so they eat whatever pleases them。 The
jury believes the white kitten known as Eureka is guilty of having
eaten the piglet owned by Princess Ozma； and recommends that she be
put to death in punishment of the crime。〃
The judgment of the jury was received with great applause； although
Dorothy was sobbing miserably at the fate of her pet。 The Princess
was just about to order Eureka's head chopped off with the Tin
Woodman's axe when that brilliant personage once more arose and
addressed her。
〃Your Highness；〃 said he； 〃see how easy it is for a jury to be mistaken。
The kitten could not have eaten your pigletfor here it is！〃
He took off his funnel hat and from beneath it produced a tiny white
piglet； which he held aloft that all might see it clearly。
Ozma was delighted and exclaimed； eagerly：
〃Give me my pet； Nick Chopper！〃
And all the people cheered and clapped their hands； rejoicing that the
prisoner had escaped death and been proved to be innocent。
As the Princess held the white piglet in her arms and stroked its soft
hair she said： 〃Let Eureka out of the cage； for she is no longer a
prisoner； but our good friend。 Where did you find my missing pet；
Nick Chopper？〃
〃In a room of the palace；〃 he answered。
〃Justice；〃 remarked the Scarecrow； with a sigh； 〃is a dangerous thing
to meddle with。 If you hadn't happened to find the piglet； Eureka
would surely have been executed。〃
〃But justice prevailed at the last；〃 said Ozma； 〃for here is my pet；
and Eureka is once more free。〃
〃I refuse to be free；〃 cried the kitten； in a sharp voice； 〃unless the
Wizard can do his trick with eight piglets。 If he can produce but
seven； then this is not the piglet that was lost； but another one。〃
〃Hush； Eureka！〃 warned the Wizard。
〃Don't be foolish；〃 advised the Tin Woodman； 〃or you may be sorry for it。〃
〃The piglet that belonged to the Princess wore an emerald collar；〃
said Eureka； loudly enough for all to hear。
〃So it did！〃 exclaimed Ozma。 〃This cannot be the one the Wizard gave me。〃
〃Of course not； he had nine of them； altogether；〃 declared Eureka；
〃and I must say it was very stingy of him not to let me eat just a
few。 But now that this foolish trial is ended； I will tell you what
really became of your pet piglet。〃
At this everyone in the Throne Room suddenly became quiet； and the
kitten continued； in a calm； mocking tone of voice：
〃I will confess that I intended to eat the little pig for my
breakfast； so I crept into the room where it was kept while the
Princess was dressing and hid myself under a chair。 When Ozma went
away she closed the door and left her pet on the table。 At once I
jumped up and told the piglet not to make a fuss； for he would be
inside of me in half a second； but no one can teach one of these
creatures to be reasonable。 Instead of keeping still； so I could eat
him comfortably； he trembled so with fear that he fell off the table
into a big vase that was standing on the floor。 The vase had a very
small neck； and spread out at the top like a bowl。 At first the
piglet stuck in the neck of the vase and I thought I should get him；
after all； but he wriggled himself through and fell down into the deep
bottom partand I suppose he's there yet。〃
All were astonished at this confession； and Ozma at once sent an
officer to her room to fetch the vase。 When he returned the Princess
looked down the narrow neck of the big ornament and discovered her
lost piglet； just as Eureka had said she would。
There was no way to get the creature out without breaking the vase； so
the Tin Woodman smashed it with his axe and set the little prisoner free。
Then the crowd cheered lustily and Dorothy hugged the kitten in her
arms and told her how delighted she was to know that she was innocent。
〃But why didn't you tell us at first？〃 she asked。
〃It would have spoiled the fun；〃 replied the kitten； yawning。
Ozma gave the Wizard back the piglet he had so kindly allowed Nick
Chopper to substitute for the lost one； and then she carried her own
into the apartments of the palace where she lived。 And now； the trial
being over； the good citizens of the Emerald City scattered to their
homes； well content with the day's amusement。
20。 Zeb Returns to the Ranch
Eureka was much surprised to find herself in disgrace； but she was； in
spite of the fact that she had not eaten the piglet。 For the folks of
Oz knew the kitten had tried to commit the crime； and that only an
accident had prevented her from doing so； therefore even the Hungry
Tiger preferred not to associate with her。 Eureka was forbidden to
wander around the palace and was made to stay in confinement in
Dorothy's room； so she began to beg her mistress to send her to some
other place where she could enjoy herself better。
Dorothy was herself anxious to get home； so she promised Eureka they
would not stay in the Land of Oz much longer。
The next evening after the trial the little girl begged Ozma to allow
her to look in the enchanted picture； and the Princess readily
consented。 She took the child to her room and said： 〃Make your wish；
dear； and the picture will show the scene you desire to behold。〃
Then Dorothy found； with the aid of the enchanted picture； that Uncle
Henry had returned to the farm in Kansas； and she also saw that both
he and Aunt Em were dressed in mourning； because they thought their
little niece had been killed by the earthquake。
〃Really；〃 said the girl； anxiously； 〃I must get back as soon as
poss'ble to my own folks。〃
Zeb also wanted to see his home； and although he did not find anyone
morning for him； the sight of Hugson's Ranch in the picture made him
long to get back there。
〃This is a fine country； and I like all the people that live in it；〃
he told Dorothy。 〃But the fact is； Jim and I don't seem to fit into a
fairyland； and the old horse has been begging me to go home again ever
since he lost the race。 So； if you can find a way to fix it； we'll be
much obliged to you。〃
〃Ozma can do it； easily；〃 replied Dorothy。 〃Tomorrow morning I'll go
to Kansas and you can go to Californy。〃
That last evening was so delightful that the boy will never forget it
as long as he lives。 They were all together （except Eureka） in the
pretty rooms of the Princess； and the Wizard did some new tricks； and
the Scarecrow told stories； and the Tin Woodman sang a love song in a
sonorous； metallic voice； and eve