The Magic of Oz

CHAPTER 4. Conspirators

Kiki Aru didn't know much about Oz and didn't know much about the

beasts who lived there, but the old Nome's plan seemed to him to be quite

reasonable. He had a faint suspicion that Ruggedo meant to get the best of

him in some way, and he resolved to keep a close watch on his fellow-

conspirator. As long as he kept to himself the secret word of the

transformations, Ruggedo would not dare to harm him, and he promised

himself that as soon as they had conquered Oz, he would transform the old

Nome into a marble statue and keep him in that form forever.

Ruggedo, on his part, decided that he could, by careful watching and

listening, surprise the boy's secret, and when he had learned the magic

word he would transform Kiki Aru into a bundle of faggots and burn him

up and so be rid of him.

This is always the way with wicked people. They cannot be trusted

even by one another. Ruggedo thought he was fooling Kiki, and Kiki

thought he was fooling Ruggedo; so both were pleased.

It's a long way across the Desert," remarked the boy, "and the sands

are hot and send up poisonous vapors. Let us wait until evening and then

fly across in the night when it will be cooler."

The former Nome King agreed to this, and the two spent the rest of

that day in talking over their plans. When evening came they paid the inn-

keeper and walked out to a little grove of trees that stood near by.

Remain here for a few minutes and I'll soon be back," said Kiki, and

walking swiftly away, he left the Nome standing in the grove. Ruggedo

wondered where he had gone, but stood quietly in his place until, all of a

sudden, his form changed to that of a great eagle, and he uttered a piercing

cry of astonishment and flapped his wings in a sort of panic. At once his

eagle cry was answered from beyond the grove, and another eagle, even

larger and more powerful than the transformed Ruggedo, came sailing

through the trees and alighted beside him.

Now we are ready for the start," said the voice of Kiki, coming from