Озма из страны Оз

           "AndnowyoumustallcomebacktoOzma,andobeyHERorders.AndifyoutrytorunawayagainIwillhaveherreduceallthetwenty-sixofficerstoprivates,andmaketheprivateyourgeneral."

           ThisterriblethreatsofrightenedthemthattheyatoncereturnedtowhereOzmawasstandingbesidetheCowardlyLion.

           ThenOzmacriedoutinaloudvoice:

           "IdemandthattheNomeKingappeartous!"

           Therewasnoreply,exceptthattheshiftingNomesuponthemountainlaughedinderision.

           "YoumustnotcommandtheNomeKing,"saidTiktok,"foryoudonotrulehim,asyoudoyourownpeo-ple."

           SoOzmacalledagain,saying:

           "IrequesttheNomeKingtoappeartous."

           Onlythemockinglaughterrepliedtoher,andtheshadowyNomescontinuedtoflithereandthereupontherockycliff.

           "Tryen-treat-y,"saidTiktoktoOzma."Ifhewillnotcomeatyourre-quest,thentheNomeKingmaylist-entoyourplead-ing."

           Ozmalookedaroundherproudly.

           "DoyouwishyourrulertopleadwiththiswickedNomeKing?"sheasked."ShallOzmaofOzhumbleherselftoacreaturewholivesinanundergroundkingdom?"

           "No!"theyallshouted,withbigvoices;andtheScarecrowadded:

           "Ifhewillnotcome,wewilldighimoutofhishole,likeafox,andconquerhisstubbornness.Butoursweetlittlerulermustalwaysmaintainherdignity,justasImaintainmine."

           "I’mnotafraidtopleadwithhim,"saidDorothy."I’monlyalittlegirlfromKansas,andwe’vegotmoredignityathomethanweknowwhattodowith.I’LLcalltheNomeKing.