www.freeclassicebooks.com

That must have pleased the Chief, for he got up and danced around the

room three times. Then he seated himself again, adjusted his false head,

and said:

We have no quarrel with Ozma of Oz."

But you Whimsies love to fight, and here is a splendid chance to do so,"

urged Guph.

Wait till I sing a song," said the Chief. Then he lay back in his chair and

sang a foolish song that did not seem to the General to mean anything,

although he listened carefully. When he had finished, the Chief Whimsie

looked at him through the holes in his chin and asked:

What reward will you give us if we help you?"

The General was prepared for this question, for he had been thinking the

matter over on his journey. People often do a good deed without hope of

reward, but for an evil deed they always demand payment.

When we get our Magic Belt," he made reply, "our King, Roquat the Red,

will use its power to give every Whimsie a natural head as big and fine as

the false head he now wears. Then you will no longer be ashamed

because your big strong bodies have such teenty-weenty heads."

Oh! Will you do that?" asked the Chief, eagerly.

We surely will," promised the General.

I'll talk to my people," said the Chief.

So he called a meeting of all the Whimsies and told them of the offer

made by the Nomes. The creatures were delighted with the bargain, and

at once agreed to fight for the Nome King and help him to conquer Oz.

One Whimsie alone seemed to have a glimmer of sense, for he asked:

Suppose we fail to capture the Magic Belt? What will happen then, and

what good will all our fighting do?"

But they threw him into the river for asking foolish questions, and

laughed when the water ruined his pasteboard head before he could

swim out again.

The Emerald City of Oz