The Magic of Oz

Lion and the Tiger had almost fallen asleep, too, when they were roused

by the screams of the monkeys, for the Glass Cat was pulling their tails

again. Annoyed by the uproar, the Hungry Tiger cried: "Stop that racket!"

and getting sight of the Glass Cat, he raised his big paw and struck at the

creature. The cat was quick enough to dodge the blow, but the claws of the

Hungry Tiger scraped the monkey's cage and bent two of the bars.

Then the Tiger lay down again to sleep, but the monkeys soon

discovered that the bending of the bars would allow them to squeeze

through. They did not leave the cage, however, but after whispering

together they let their tails stick out and all remained quiet. Presently the

Glass Cat stole near the cage again and gave a yank to one of the tails.

Instantly the monkeys leaped through the bars, one after another, and

although they were so small the entire dozen of them surrounded the Glass

Cat and clung to her claws and tail and ears and made her a prisoner. Then

they forced her out of the tent and down to the banks of the stream. The

monkeys had noticed that these banks were covered with thick, slimy mud

of a dark blue color, and when they had taken the Cat to the stream, they

smeared this mud all over the glass body of the cat, filling the creature's

ears and eyes with it, so that she could neither see nor hear. She was no

longer transparent and so thick was the mud upon her that no one could

see her pink brains or her ruby heart.

In this condition they led the pussy back to the tent and then got inside

their cage again.

By morning the mud had dried hard on the Glass Cat and it was a dull

blue color throughout. Dorothy and Trot were horrified, but the Wizard

shook his head and said it served the Glass Cat right for teasing the

monkeys.

Cap'n Bill, with his strong hands, soon bent the golden wires of the

monkeys' cage into the proper position and then he asked the Wizard if he

should wash the Glass Cat in the water of the brook.

Not just yet," answered the Wizard. "The Cat deserves to be punished,

so I think I'll leave that blue mud--which is as bad as paint--upon her body

until she gets to the Emerald City. The silly creature is so vain that she will