15. Billina Frightens the Nome King

           NowwhenDorothyhadenteredthepalacetomakeherguessesandtheScarecrowwasleftwiththeNomeKing,thetwosatinmoodysilenceforseveralminutes.Thenthemonarchexclaimed,inatoneofsatisfaction:

           "Verygood!"

           "Whoisverygood?"askedtheScarecrow.

           "Themachineman.Hewon’tneedtobewoundupanymore,forhehasnowbecomeaveryneatornament.Veryneat,indeed."

           "HowaboutDorothy?"theScarecrowenquired.

           "Oh,shewillbegintoguess,prettysoon,"saidtheKing,cheerfully."Andthenshewilljoinmycollection,anditwillbeyourturn."

           ThegoodScarecrowwasmuchdistressedbythethoughtthathislittlefriendwasabouttosufferthefateofOzmaandtherestoftheirparty;butwhilehesatingloomyreverieashrillvoicesuddenlycried:

           "Kut,kut,kut--ka-daw-kutt!Kut,kut,kut--ka-daw-kutt!"

           TheNomeKingnearlyjumpedoffhisseat,hewassostartled.

           "Goodgracious!What’sthat?"heyelled.

           "Why,it’sBillina,"saidtheScarecrow.

           "Whatdoyoumeanbymakinganoiselikethat?"shoutedtheKing,angrily,astheyellowhencamefromunderthethroneandstruttedproudlyabouttheroom.

           "I’vegotarighttocackle,Iguess,"repliedBillina."I’vejustlaidmyegg."

           "What!Laidanegg!Inmythroneroom!Howdareyoudosuchathing?"askedtheKing,inavoiceoffury.

           "IlayeggswhereverIhappentobe,"saidthehen,rufflingherfeathersandthenshakingthemintoplace.

           "But--thunder-ation!Don’tyouknowthateggsarepoison?"roaredtheKing,whilehisrock-coloredeyesstuckoutingreatterror.

           "Poison!well,Ideclare,"saidBillina,indignantly.