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squeal in a tiny； shrill voice。
The people watched it intently； for they had never seen a pig before；
big or little。 The Wizard reached out； caught the wee creature in his
hand； and holding its head between one thumb and finger and its tail
between the other thumb and finger he pulled it apart； each of the two
parts becoming a whole and separate piglet in an instant。
He placed one upon the floor； so that it could run around； and pulled
apart the other； making three piglets in all； and then one of these
was pulled apart； making four piglets。 The Wizard continued this
surprising performance until nine tiny piglets were running about at
his feet； all squealing and grunting in a very comical way。
〃Now；〃 said the Wizard of Oz； 〃having created something from nothing；
I will make something nothing again。〃
With this he caught up two of the piglets and pushed them together；
so that the two were one。 Then he caught up another piglet and
pushed it into the first； where it disappeared。 And so； one by one；
the nine tiny piglets were pushed together until but a single one of
the creatures remained。 This the Wizard placed underneath his hat and
made a mystic sign above it。 When he removed his hat the last piglet
had disappeared entirely。
The little man gave a bow to the silent throng that had watched him；
and then the Prince said； in his cold； calm voice：
〃You are indeed a wonderful Wizard； and your powers are greater than
those of my Sorcerer。〃
〃He will not be a wonderful Wizard long；〃 remarked Gwig。
〃Why not？〃 enquired the Wizard。
〃Because I am going to stop your breath；〃 was the reply。 〃I perceive
that you are curiously constructed； and that if you cannot breathe you
cannot keep alive。〃
The little man looked troubled。
〃How long will it take you to stop my breath？〃 he asked。
〃About five minutes。 I'm going to begin now。 Watch me carefully。〃
He began making queer signs and passes toward the Wizard； but the
little man did not watch him long。 Instead； he drew a leathern case
from his pocket and took from it several sharp knives； which he joined
together； one after another； until they made a long sword。 By the
time he had attached a handle to this sword he was having much trouble
to breathe； as the charm of the Sorcerer was beginning to take effect。
So the Wizard lost no more time； but leaping forward he raised the
sharp sword； whirled it once or twice around his head； and then gave a
mighty stroke that cut the body of the Sorcerer exactly in two。
Dorothy screamed and expected to see a terrible sight； but as the two
halves of the Sorcerer fell apart on the floor she saw that he had no
bones or blood inside of him at all； and that the place where he was
cut looked much like a sliced turnip or potato。
〃Why； he's vegetable！〃 cried the Wizard； astonished。
〃Of course；〃 said the Prince。 〃We are all vegetable； in this country。
Are you not vegetable； also？〃
〃No；〃 answered the Wizard。 〃People on top of the earth are all meat。
Will your Sorcerer die？〃
〃Certainly； sir。 He is really dead now； and will wither very quickly。
So we must plant him at once； that other Sorcerers may grow upon his
bush；〃 continued the Prince。
〃What do you mean by that？〃 asked the little Wizard； greatly puzzled。
〃If you will accompany me to our public gardens；〃 replied the Prince；
〃I will explain to you much better than I can here the mysteries of
our Vegetable Kingdom。〃
4。 The Vegetable Kingdom
After the Wizard had wiped the dampness from his sword and taken it
apart and put the pieces into their leathern case again； the man with
the star ordered some of his people to carry the two halves of the
Sorcerer to the public gardens。
Jim pricked up his ears when he heard they were going to the gardens；
and wanted to join the party； thinking he might find something proper
to eat； so Zeb put down the top of the buggy and invited the Wizard to
ride with them。 The seat was amply wide enough for the little man and
the two children； and when Jim started to leave the hall the kitten
jumped upon his back and sat there quite contentedly。
So the procession moved through the streets； the bearers of the
Sorcerer first； the Prince next； then Jim drawing the buggy with the
strangers inside of it； and last the crowd of vegetable people who had
no hearts and could neither smile nor frown。
The glass city had several fine streets； for a good many people lived
there； but when the procession had passed through these it came upon a
broad plain covered with gardens and watered by many pretty brooks
that flowed through it。 There were paths through these gardens； and
over some of the brooks were ornamental glass bridges。
Dorothy and Zeb now got out of the buggy and walked beside the Prince；
so that they might see and examine the flowers and plants better。
〃Who built these lovely bridges？〃 asked the little girl。
〃No one built them；〃 answered the man with the star。 〃They grow。〃
〃That's queer；〃 said she。 〃Did the glass houses in your city grow； too？〃
〃Of course；〃 he replied。 〃But it took a good many years for them to
grow as large and fine as they are now。 That is why we are so angry
when a Rain of Stones comes to break our towers and crack our roofs。〃
〃Can't you mend them？〃 she enquired。
〃No； but they will grow together again； in time； and we must wait
until they do。〃
They first passed through many beautiful gardens of flowers； which
grew nearest the city； but Dorothy could hardly tell what kind of
flowers they were； because the colors were constantly changing under
the shifting lights of the six suns。 A flower would be pink one
second； white the next； then blue or yellow； and it was the same way
when they came to the plants； which had broad leaves and grew close to
the ground。
When they passed over a field of grass Jim immediately stretched down
his head and began to nibble。
〃A nice country this is；〃 he grumbled； 〃where a respectable horse has
to eat pink grass！〃
〃It's violet；〃 said the Wizard； who was in the buggy。
〃Now it's blue；〃 complained the horse。 〃As a matter of fact； I'm
eating rainbow grass。〃
〃How does it taste？〃 asked the Wizard。
〃Not bad at all；〃 said Jim。 〃If they give me plenty of it I'll not
complain about its color。〃
By this time the party had reached a freshly plowed field； and the
Prince said to Dorothy：
〃This is our planting…ground。〃
Several Mangaboos came forward with glass spades and dug a hole in the
ground。 Then they put the two halves of the Sorcerer into it and
covered him up。 After that other people brought water from a brook
and sprinkled the earth。
〃He will sprout very soon；〃 said the Prince； 〃and grow into a large bush；
from which we shall in time be able to pick several very good sorcerers。〃
〃Do all your people grow on bushes？〃 asked t