The Magic of Oz

was Bini Aru's own secret. By its means, it was the simplest thing in the

world to transform anyone into beast, bird or fish, or anything else, and

back again, once you know how to pronounce the mystical word:

Pyrzqxgl."

Bini Aru had used this secret many times, but not to cause evil or

suffering to others. When he had wandered far from home and was hungry,

he would say: "I want to become a cow--Pyrzqxgl!" In an instant he would

be a cow, and then he would eat grass and satisfy his hunger. All beasts

and birds can talk in the Land of Oz, so when the cow was no longer

hungry, it would say: "I want to be Bini Aru again: Pyrzqxgl!" and the

magic word, properly pronounced, would instantly restore him to his

proper form.

Now, of course, I would not dare to write down this magic word so

plainly if I thought my readers would pronounce it properly and so be able

to transform themselves and others, but it is a fact that no one in all the

world except Bini Aru, had ever (up to the time this story begins) been

able to pronounce "Pyrzqxgl!" the right way, so I think it is safe to give it

to you. It might be well, however, in reading this story aloud, to be careful

not to pronounce Pyrzqxgl the proper way, and thus avoid all danger of the

secret being able to work mischief.

Bini Aru, having discovered the secret of instant transformation, which

required no tools or powders or other chemicals or herbs and always

worked perfectly, was reluctant to have such a wonderful discovery

entirely unknown or lost to all human knowledge. He decided not to use it

again, since Ozma had forbidden him to do so, but he reflected that Ozma

was a girl and some time might change her mind and allow her subjects to

practice magic, in which case Bini Aru could again transform himself and

others at will,--unless, of course, he forgot how to pronounce Pyrzqxgl in

the meantime.

After giving the matter careful thought, he decided to write the word,

and how it should be pronounced, in some secret place, so that he could

find it after many years, but where no one else could ever find it.

That was a clever idea, but what bothered the old Sorcerer was to find