The Magic of Oz

I am," replied the Tiger, answering the question himself. "I am always

hungry for fat babies."

Can't you find any fat babies in Oz to eat?" inquired Loo, the

Unicorn.

There are plenty of them, of course," said the Tiger, "but

unfortunately I have such a tender conscience that it won't allow me to eat

babies. So I'm always hungry for 'em and never can eat 'em, because my

conscience won't let me."

Now of all the surprised beasts in that clearing, not one was so much

surprised at the sudden appearance of these four strangers as Ruggedo the

Nome. He was frightened, too, for he recognized them as his most

powerful enemies; but he also realized that they could not know he was

the former King of the Nomes, because of the beast's form he wore, which

disguised him so effectually. So he took courage and resolved that the

Wizard and Dorothy should not defeat his plans.

It was hard to tell, just yet, what the vast assemblage of beasts thought

of the new arrivals. Some glared angrily at them, but more of them seemed

to be curious and wondering. All were interested, however, and they kept

very quiet and listened carefully to all that was said.

Kiki Aru, who had remained unnoticed in the shadow of the rock, was

at first more alarmed by the coming of the strangers than even Ruggedo

was, and the boy told himself that unless he acted quickly and without

waiting to ask the advice of the old Nome, their conspiracy was likely to

be discovered and all their plans to conquer and rule Oz be defeated. Kiki

didn't like the way Ruggedo acted either, for the former King of the

Nomes wanted to do everything his own way, and made the boy, who

alone possessed the power of transformations, obey his orders as if he

were a slave.

Another thing that disturbed Kiki Aru was the fact that a real Wizard

had arrived, who was said to possess many magical powers, and this

Wizard carried his tools in a black bag, and was the friend of the Oz

people, and so would probably try to prevent war between the beasts of the

forest and the people of Oz.