The Magic of Oz

transformations. Of course, there was no such tool, and although Ruggedo

searched in all the boy's pockets, he found nothing magical whatever. So

he went back to his bed and began to doubt that Kiki could perform

transformations.

Next morning he said:

Which way do you travel to-day?"

I think I shall visit the Rose Kingdom," answered the boy.

That is a long journey," declared the Nome.

I shall transform myself into a bird," said Kiki, "and so fly to the

Rose Kingdom in an hour."

Then transform me, also, into a bird, and I will go with you,"

suggested Ruggedo. "But, in that case, let us fly together to the Land of Oz,

and see what it looks like."

Kiki thought this over. Pleasant as were the countries he had visited,

he heard everywhere that the Land of Oz was more beautiful and

delightful. The Land of Oz was his own country, too, and if there was any

possibility of his becoming its King, he must know something about it.

While Kiki the Hyup thought, Ruggedo the Nome was also thinking.

This boy possessed a marvelous power, and although very simple in some

ways, he was determined not to part with his secret. However, if Ruggedo

could get him to transport the wily old Nome to Oz, which he could reach

in no other way, he might then induce the boy to follow his advice and

enter into the plot for revenge, which he had already planned in his wicked

heart.

There are wizards and magicians in Oz," remarked Kiki, after a time.

They might discover us, in spite of our transformations."

Not if we are careful," Ruggedo assured him. "Ozma has a Magic

Picture, in which she can see whatever she wishes to see; but Ozma will

know nothing of our going to Oz, and so she will not command her Magic

Picture to show where we are or what we are doing. Glinda the Good has a

Great Book called the Book of Records, in which is magically written

everything that people do in the Land of Oz, just the instant they do it."

Then," said Kiki, "there is no use our attempting to conquer the