The Magic of Oz

great deal of trouble."

"Nevertheless," said the Ruler of Oz, "we must free them from their

present enchantments. When you restore them to their natural forms we

will discover who they really are, and surely we need not fear any two

people, even though they prove to be magicians and our enemies."

I am not so sure of that," protested the Wizard, with a shake of his

bald head. "The one bit of magic I robbed them of--which was the Word of

Transformation--is so simple, yet so powerful, that neither Glinda nor I

can equal it. It isn't all in the word, you know, it's the way the word is

pronounced. So if the two strange magicians have other magic of the same

sort, they might prove very dangerous to us, if we liberated them."

I've an idea!" exclaimed Dorothy. "I'm no wizard, and no fairy, but if

you do as I say, we needn't fear these people at all."

What is your thought, my dear?" asked Ozma.

Well," replied the girl, "here is this Fountain of the Water of Oblivion,

and that's what put the notion into my head. When the Wizard speaks that

ter'ble word that will change 'em back to their real forms, he can make 'em

dreadful thirsty, too, and we'll put a cup right here by the fountain, so it'll

be handy. Then they'll drink the water and forget all the magic they ever

knew--and everything else, too."

That's not a bad idea," said the Wizard, looking at Dorothy

approvingly.

It's a very GOOD idea," declared Ozma. "Run for a cup, Dorothy."

So Dorothy ran to get a cup, and while she was gone the Wizard said:

I don't know whether the real forms of these magicians are those of

men or beasts. If they're beasts, they would not drink from a cup but might

attack us at once and drink afterward. So it might be safer for us to have

the Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger here to protect us if necessary."

Ozma drew out a silver whistle which was attached to a slender gold

chain and blew upon the whistle two shrill blasts. The sound, though not

harsh, was very penetrating, and as soon as it reached the ears of the

Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger, the two huge beasts quickly came

bounding toward them. Ozma explained to them what the Wizard was

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