find it necessary to visit your city. Will you kindly tell us by
what name your city is called?"

They looked at one another uncertainly, each expecting some other to
answer. Finally a short one whose heart-shaped body was very broad
replied:

"We have no occasion to call our city anything. It is where we live,
that is all."

"But by what name do others call your city?" asked the Wizard.

"We know of no others, except yourselves," said the man. And then he
inquired: "Were you born with those queer forms you have, or has some
cruel magician transformed you to them from your natural shapes?"

[Illustration]

"These are our natural shapes," declared the Wizard, "and we consider
them very good shapes, too."

The group of inhabitants was constantly being enlarged by others who
joined it. All were evidently startled and uneasy at the arrival of
strangers.

"Have you a King?" asked Dorothy, who knew it was better to speak with
someone in authority. But the man shook his diamond-like head.

"What is a King?" he asked.

"Isn't there anyone who rules over you?" inquired the Wizard.

"No," was the reply, "each of us rules himself; or, at least, tries to
do so. It is not an easy thing to do, as you probably know."

The Wizard reflected.

"If you have disputes among you," said he, after a little thought, "who
settles them?"

"The High Coco-Lorum," they answered in a chorus.

"And who is he?"

"The judge who enforces the laws," said the man who had first spoken.

"Then he is the principal person here?" continued the Wizard.

"Well, I would not say that," returned the man in a puzzled way. "The
High Coco-Lorum is a public servant. However, he represents the laws,
which we must all obey."

"I think," said the Wizard, "we ought to see your High Coco-Lorum and
talk with him. Our mission here requires us to consult one high in
authority, and the High Coco-Lorum ought to be high, whatever else he
is."

The inhabitants seemed to consider this proposition reasonable, for they
nodded their diamond-shaped heads in approval. So the broad one who had
been their spokesman said: "Follow me," and, turning, led the way along
one of the streets.

The entire party followed him, the natives falling in behind. The
dwellings they passed were quite nicely planned and seemed comfortable
and convenient. After leading them a few blocks their conductor stopped
before a house which was neither better nor worse than the others. The