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4. How The Nome King Planned Revenge

The reason most people are bad is because they do not try to be good.

Now, the Nome King had never tried to be good, so he was very bad

indeed. Having decided to conquer the Land of Oz and to destroy the

Emerald City and enslave all its people, King Roquat the Red kept

planning ways to do this dreadful thing, and the more he planned the

more he believed he would be able to accomplish it.

About the time Dorothy went to Ozma the Nome King called his Chief

Steward to him and said:

Kaliko, I think I shall make you the General of my armies."

I think you won't," replied Kaliko, positively.

Why not?" inquired the King, reaching for his scepter with the big

sapphire.

Because I'm your Chief Steward and know nothing of warfare," said

Kaliko, preparing to dodge if anything were thrown at him. "I manage all

the affairs of your kingdom better than you could yourself, and you'll

never find another Steward as good as I am. But there are a hundred

Nomes better fitted to command your army, and your Generals get

thrown away so often that I have no desire to be one of them."

Ah, there is some truth in your remarks, Kaliko," remarked the King,

deciding not to throw the scepter. "Summon my army to assemble in the

Great Cavern."

Kaliko bowed and retired, and in a few minutes returned to say that the

army was assembled. So the King went out upon a balcony that

overlooked the Great Cavern, where fifty thousand Nomes, all armed with

swords and pikes, stood marshaled in military array.

When they were not required as soldiers all these Nomes were metal

workers and miners, and they had hammered so much at the forges and

dug so hard with pick and shovel that they had acquired great muscular

strength. They were strangely formed creatures, rather round and not

very tall. Their toes were curly and their ears broad and flat.

The Emerald City of Oz