o that
occupied by Ozma of Oz, and Billina perched upon the foot of the bed and
tucked her head under her wing and slept as soundly in that position as
did Dorothy upon her soft cushions.

But before daybreak every one was awake and stirring, and soon the
adventurers were eating a hasty breakfast in the great dining-room of
the palace. Ozma sat at the head of a long table, on a raised platform,
with Dorothy on her right hand and the Scarecrow on her left. The
Scarecrow did not eat, of course; but Ozma placed him near her so that
she might ask his advice about the journey while she ate.

Lower down the table were the twenty-seven warriors of Oz, and at the
end of the room the Lion and the Tiger were eating out of a kettle that
had been placed upon the floor, while Billina fluttered around to pick
up any scraps that might be scattered.

It did not take long to finish the meal, and then the Lion and the Tiger
were harnessed to the chariot and the party was ready to start for the
Nome King's Palace.

First rode Ozma, with Dorothy beside her in the golden chariot and
holding Billina fast in her arms. Then came the Scarecrow on the
Sawhorse, with the Tin Woodman and Tiktok marching side by side just
behind him. After these tramped the Army, looking brave and handsome in
their splendid uniforms. The generals commanded the colonels and the
colonels commanded the majors and the majors commanded the captains and
the captains commanded the private, who marched with an air of proud
importance because it required so many officers to give him his orders.

And so the magnificent procession left the palace and started along the
road just as day was breaking, and by the time the sun came out they had
made good progress toward the valley that led to the Nome King's
domain.

The Giant with the Hammer

[Illustration]

The road led for a time through a pretty farm country, and then past a
picnic grove that was very inviting. But the procession continued to
steadily advance until Billina cried in an abrupt and commanding manner:

"Wait--wait!"

Ozma stopped her chariot so suddenly that the Scarecrow's Sawhorse
nearly ran into it, and the ranks of the army tumbled over one another
before they could come to a halt. Immediately the yellow hen struggled
from Dorothy's arms and flew into a clump of bushes by the roadside.

"What's the matter?" called the Tin Woodman, anxiously.

"Why, Billina wants to lay her egg, that's al