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of a big, wide chair with a string tied to one arm of it. This string led upward

to the roof of the dome.

Arranged before the platform, the prisoners were allowed to sit up, facing

the empty throne.

Good!" said the big Loon who had commanded the party. "Now to get King

Bal to judge these terrible creatures we have so bravely captured."

As he spoke he took hold of the string and began to pull as hard as he

could. One or two of the others helped him and pretty soon, as they drew in

the cord, the leaves above them parted and a Loon appeared at the other

end of the string. It didn't take long to draw him down to the throne, where

he seated himself and was tied in, so he wouldn't float upward again.

"Hello," said the King, blinking his purple eyes at his followers; "what's up

now!"

"Strangers, your Majesty--strangers and captives," replied the big Loon,

pompously.

Dear me! I see 'em. I see 'em very plainly," exclaimed the King, his purple

eyes bulging out as he looked at the three prisoners. "What curious animals!

Are they dangerous, do you think, my good Panta?"

"I'm 'fraid so, your Majesty. Of course, they may not be dangerous, but we

mustn't take chances. Enough accidents happen to us poor Loons as it is,

and my advice is to condemn and perforate 'em as quickly as possible."

Keep your advice to yourself," said the monarch, in a peeved tone. "Who's

King here, anyhow? You or Me?"

We made you our King because you have less common sense than the rest

of us," answered Panta Loon, indignantly. "I could have been King myself,

had I wanted to, but I didn't care for the hard work and responsibility."

As he said this, the big Loon strutted back and forth in the space between

the throne of King Bal and the prisoners, and the other Loons seemed much

impressed by his defiance. But suddenly there came a sharp report and

Panta Loon instantly disappeared, to the great astonishment of the

Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and Woot the Wanderer, who saw on the spot

where the big fellow had stood a little heap of flabby, wrinkled skin that

looked like a collapsed rubber balloon.

The Tin Woodman of Oz