The Magic of Oz

sudden appearance of this old enemy of the Oz people that they could only

stare at him in silence and shrink away from his wild glare.

Ruggedo laughed. He drank the water, threw the cup on the ground

and said fiercely:

And now--and now--and--"

His voice grew gentle. He rubbed his forehead with a puzzled air and

stroked his long beard.

What was I going to say?" he asked, pleadingly.

Don't you remember?" said the Wizard.

No; I've forgotten."

Who ARE you?" asked Dorothy.

He tried to think. "I--I'm sure I don't know," he stammered.

Don't you know who WE are, either?" questioned the girl.

I haven't the slightest idea," said the Nome.

Tell us who this Munchkin boy is," suggested Ozma.

Ruggedo looked at the boy and shook his head.

He's a stranger to me. You are all strangers. I--I'm a stranger to

myself," he said.

Then he patted the Lion's head and murmured, "Good doggie!" and the

Lion growled indignantly.

What shall we do with him?" asked the Wizard, perplexed.

Once before the wicked old Nome came here to conquer us, and then,

as now, he drank of the Water of Oblivion and became harmless. But we

sent him back to the Nome Kingdom, where he soon learned the old evil

ways again.

For that reason," said Ozma, "we must find a place for him in the

Land of Oz, and keep him here. For here he can learn no evil and will

always be as innocent of guile as our own people."

And so the wandering ex-King of the Nomes found a new home, a

peaceful and happy home, where he was quite content and passed his days

in innocent enjoyment.