12. The Eleven Guesses

           HearingthisconditionimposedbytheNomeKing,Ozmabecamesilentandthoughtful,andallherfriendslookedatheruneasily.

           "Don’tyoudoit!"exclaimedDorothy."Ifyouguesswrong,youwillbeenslavedyourself."

           "ButIshallhaveelevenguesses,"answeredOzma."SurelyIoughttoguessoneobjectinelevencorrectly;and,ifIdo,Ishallrescueoneoftheroyalfamilyandbesafemyself.Thentherestofyoumayattemptit,andsoonweshallfreeallthosewhoareenslaved."

           "Whatifwefail?"enquiredtheScarecrow."I’dlookniceasapieceofbric-a-brac,wouldn’tI?"

           "Wemustnotfail!"criedOzma,courageously."Havingcomeallthisdistancetofreethesepoorpeople,itwouldbeweakandcowardlyinustoabandontheadventure.ThereforeIwillaccepttheNomeKing’soffer,andgoatonceintotheroyalpalace."

           "Comealong,then,mydear,"saidtheKing,climbingdownfromhisthronewithsomedifficulty,becausehewassofat;"I’llshowyoutheway."

           Heapproachedawallofthecaveandwavedhishand.Instantlyanopeningappeared,throughwhichOzma,afterasmilingfarewelltoherfriends,boldlypassed.

           Shefoundherselfinasplendidhallthatwasmorebeautifulandgrandthananythingshehadeverbeheld.Theceilingswerecomposedofgreatarchesthatrosefaraboveherhead,andallthewallsandfloorswereofpolishedmarbleexquisitelytintedinmanycolors.Thickvelvetcarpetswereonthefloorandheavysilkendraperiescoveredthearchesleadingtothevariousroomsofthepalace.