ass Cat is very pretty and if she
were not so conceited over her pink brains no one would object to her as
a companion."

The Wizard had been eating silently until now, when he looked up and
remarked:

"That Powder of Life which is made by the Crooked Magician is really a
wonderful thing. But Dr. Pipt does not know its true value and he uses
it in the most foolish ways."

"I must see about that," said Ozma, gravely. Then she smiled again and
continued in a lighter tone: "It was Dr. Pipt's famous Powder of Life
that enabled me to become the Ruler of Oz."

"I've never heard that story," said the Shaggy Man, looking at Ozma
questioningly.

"Well, when I was a baby girl I was stolen by an old Witch named Mombi
and transformed into a boy," began the girl Ruler. "I did not know who I
was and when I grew big enough to work, the Witch made me wait upon her
and carry wood for the fire and hoe in the garden. One day she came back
from a journey bringing some of the Powder of Life, which Dr. Pipt had
given her. I had made a pumpkin-headed man and set it up in her path to
frighten her, for I was fond of fun and hated the Witch. But she knew
what the figure was and to test her Powder of Life she sprinkled some of
it on the man I had made. It came to life and is now our dear friend
Jack Pumpkinhead. That night I ran away with Jack to escape punishment,
and I took old Mombi's Powder of Life with me. During our journey we
came upon a wooden Sawhorse standing by the road and I used the magic
powder to bring it to life. The Sawhorse has been with me ever since.
When I got to the Emerald City the good Sorceress, Glinda, knew who I
was and restored me to my proper person, when I became the rightful
Ruler of this land. So you see had not old Mombi brought home the Powder
of Life I might never have run away from her and become Ozma of Oz, nor
would we have had Jack Pumpkinhead and the Sawhorse to comfort and amuse
us."

That story interested the Shaggy Man very much, as well as the others,
who had often heard it before. The dinner being now concluded, they all
went to Ozma's drawing-room, where they passed a pleasant evening before
it came time to retire.

[Illustration: GLINDA]

[Illustration]

OJO IS FORGIVEN

CHAP. 18

[Illustration]

The next morning the Soldier with the Green Whiskers went to the prison
and took Ojo away to the royal palace, where he was summoned to appear
before the girl Ruler for judgme