19. The King of Ev

           Iftherewereanyshifting,rock-coloredNomesonthemountainsidenow,theyweresilentandrespectful,forouradventurerswerenotannoyed,asbefore,bytheirimpudentlaughter.ReallytheNomeshadnothingtolaughat,sincethedefeatoftheirKing.

           OntheothersidetheyfoundOzma’sgoldenchariot,standingastheyhadleftit.SoontheLionandtheTigerwereharnessedtothebeautifulchariot,inwhichwasenoughroomforOzmaandtheQueenandsixoftheroyalchildren.

           LittleEvringpreferredtoridewithDorothyupontheSawhorse,whichhadalongback.ThePrincehadrecoveredfromhisshynessandhadbecomeveryfondofthegirlwhohadrescuedhim,sotheywerefastfriendsandchattedpleasantlytogetherastheyrodealong.Billinawasalsoperchedupontheheadofthewoodensteed,whichseemednottomindtheaddedweightintheleast,andtheboywasfullofwonderthatahencouldtalk,andsaysuchsensiblethings.

           Whentheycametothegulf,Ozma’smagiccarpetcarriedthemalloverinsafety;andnowtheybegantopassthetrees,inwhichbirdsweresinging;andthebreezethatwaswaftedtothemfromthefarmsofEvwasspicywithflowersandnew-mownhay;andthesunshinefellfulluponthem,towarmthemanddriveawayfromtheirbodiesthechillanddampnessoftheundergroundkingdomoftheNomes.

           "Iwouldbequitecontent,"saidtheScarecrowtoTiktok,"wereonlytheTinWoodmanwithus.Butitbreaksmyhearttoleavehimbehind."

           "Hewasafinefel-low,"repliedTiktok,"al-thoughhisma-ter-i-alwasnotve-rydu-ra-ble.