The Magic of Oz

We wanted to borrow a dozen monkeys, to use on Ozma's birthday,"

explained the Wizard. "We were going to make them small, and train them

to do tricks, and put them inside Ozma's birthday cake."

Well," said the Forest King, "you would have to get the consent of

Rango the Gray Ape, to do that. He commands all the tribes of monkeys."

I'm afraid it's too late, now," said Dorothy, regretfully. "It was a

splendid plan, but we've got troubles of our own, and I don't like being a

lamb at all."

You're nice and fuzzy," said the Cowardly Lion.

That's nothing," declared Dorothy. "I've never been 'specially proud

of myself, but I'd rather be the way I was born than anything else in the

whole world."

The Glass Cat, although it had some disagreeable ways and manners,

nevertheless realized that Trot and Cap'n Bill were its friends and so was

quite disturbed at the fix it had gotten them into by leading them to the Isle

of the Magic Flower. The ruby heart of the Glass Cat was cold and hard,

but still it was a heart, and to have a heart of any sort is to have some

consideration for others. But the queer transparent creature didn't want

Trot and Cap'n Bill to know it was sorry for them, and therefore it moved

very slowly until it had crossed the river and was out of sight among the

trees of the forest. Then it headed straight toward the Emerald City, and

trotted so fast that it was like a crystal streak crossing the valleys and

plains. Being glass, the cat was tireless, and with no reason to delay its

journey, it reached Ozma's palace in wonderfully quick time.

Where's the Wizard?" it asked the Pink Kitten, which was curled up

in the sunshine on the lowest step of the palace entrance.

Don't bother me," lazily answered the Pink Kitten, whose name was

Eureka.

I must find the Wizard at once!" said the Glass Cat.

Then find him," advised Eureka, and went to sleep again.

The Glass Cat darted up the stairway and came upon Toto, Dorothy's

little black dog.

Where's the Wizard?" asked the Cat.