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eyes, nor could he guess that he was standing in the midst of one of the

most splendid and luxurious cities ever built by magic power. All that he

saw was a barren waste of rock heaps, a hairy man with an owl's head

and another with a bear's head. The sorcery of the Phanfasms permitted

him to see no more.

Suddenly the First and Foremost swung his brass hoop and caught

Guph around the neck with it. The next instant, before the General

could think what had happened to him, he was dragged inside the rock

hut. Here, his eyes still blinded to realities, he perceived only a dim light,

by which the hut seemed as rough and rude inside as it was outside. Yet

he had a strange feeling that many bright eyes were fastened upon him

and that he stood in a vast and extensive hall.

The First and Foremost now laughed grimly and released his prisoner.

If you have anything to say that is interesting," he remarked, "speak out,

before I strangle you."

So Guph spoke out. He tried not to pay any attention to a strange

rustling sound that he heard, as of an unseen multitude drawing near to

listen to his words. His eyes could see only the fierce bear-man, and to

him he addressed his speech. First he told of his plan to conquer the

Land of Oz and plunder the country of its riches and enslave its people,

who, being fairies, could not be killed. After relating all this, and telling

of the tunnel the Nome King was building, he said he had come to ask

the First and Foremost to join the Nomes, with his band of terrible

warriors, and help them to defeat the Oz people.

The General spoke very earnestly and impressively, but when he had

finished the bear-man began to laugh as if much amused, and his

laughter seemed to be echoed by a chorus of merriment from an unseen

multitude. Then, for the first time, Guph began to feel a trifle worried.

Who else has promised to help you?" finally asked the First and

Foremost.

The Whimsies," replied the General.

Again the bear-headed Phanfasm laughed.

Any others?" he inquired.

The Emerald City of Oz