Изумрудный город страны Оз

           HeintendedtoletthemconquerOz,sincetheyinsistedongoingfirst;buthewouldafterwardtreacherouslydestroythem,aswellasKingRoquat,andkeepalltheslavesandtreasureofOzma’skingdomforhimself.

           AfterallhisdangerousallieshadmarchedintothetunneltheNomeKingandGeneralGuphstartedtofollowthem,attheheadoffiftythousandNomes,allfullyarmed.

           "Guph,"saidtheKing,"thosecreaturesaheadofusmeanmischief.Theyintendtogeteverythingforthemselvesandleaveusnothing."

           "Iknow,"repliedtheGeneral;"buttheyarenotascleverastheythinktheyare.WhenyougettheMagicBeltyoumustatoncewishtheWhimsiesandGrowleywogsandPhanfasmsallbackintotheirowncountries--andtheBeltwillsurelytakethemthere."

           "Good!"criedtheKing."Anexcellentplan,Guph.I’lldoit.WhiletheyareconqueringOzI’llgettheMagicBelt,andthenonlytheNomeswillremaintoravagethecountry."

           Soyouseetherewasonlyonethingthatallwereagreedupon--thatOzshouldbedestroyed.

           On,on,onthevastranksofinvadersmarched,fillingthetunnelfromsidetoside.Withasteadytramp,tramp,theyadvanced,everysteptakingthemnearertothebeautifulEmeraldCity.

           "NothingcansavetheLandofOz!"thoughttheFirstandForemost,scowlinguntilhisbearfacewasasblackasthetunnel.

           "TheEmeraldCityisasgoodasdestroyedalready!"mutteredtheGrandGallipoot,shakinghiswarclubfiercely.

           "InafewhoursOzwillbeadesert!"saidtheChiefoftheWhimsies,withanevillaugh