WhenGeneralGuphreturnedtothecavernoftheNomeKinghisMajestyasked: “Well,whatluck?WilltheWhimsiesjoinus?” “Theywill,”answeredtheGeneral.“Theywillfightforuswithalltheirstrengthandcunning.” “Good!”exclaimedtheKing.“Whatrewarddidyoupromisethem?” “YourMajestyistousetheMagicBelttogiveeachWhimsiealarge,finehead,inplaceofthesmalloneheisnowobligedtowear.” “Iagreetothat,”saidtheKing.“Thisisgoodnews,Guph,anditmakesmefeelmorecertainoftheconquestofOz.” “ButIhaveothernewsforyou,”announcedtheGeneral. “ThenIwillhearit,”saidtheKing,withinterest. “TheGrowleywogswilljoinus.” “No!”criedtheastonishedKing. “Yes,indeed,”saidtheGeneral.“Ihavetheirpromise.” “Butwhatrewarddotheydemand?”inquiredtheKing,suspiciously,forheknewhowgreedytheGrowleywogswere. “TheyaretotakeafewoftheOzpeoplefortheirslaves,”repliedGuph. HedidnotthinkitnecessarytotellRoquatthattheGrowleywogsdemandedtwentythousandslaves. ItwouldbetimeenoughforthatwhenOzwasconquered. “Averyreasonablerequest,I’msure,”remarkedtheKing.“Imustcongratulateyou,Guph,uponthewonderfulsuccessofyourjourney.” “Butthatisnotall,”saidtheGeneral,proudly. TheKingseemedastonished.“Speakout,sir!”hecommanded. “IhaveseentheFirstandForemostPhanfasmoftheMountainofPhantastico,andhewillbringhispeopletoassistus.” “What!”criedtheKing.“ThePhanfasms!Youdon’tmeanit,Guph!” “Itistrue,”declaredtheGeneral,proudly. TheKingbecamethoughtful,andhisbrowswrinkled. “I’mafraid,Guph,”hesaidratheranxiously,“thattheFirstandForemostmayproveasdangeroustousastotheOzpeople. IfheandhisterriblebandcomedownfromthemountaintheymaytakethenotiontoconquertheNomes!” “Pah!Thatisafoolishidea,”retortedGuph,irritably,butheknewinhisheartthattheKingwasright. “TheFirstandForemostisaparticularfriendofmine,andwilldousnoharm. Why,whenIwasthere,heeveninvitedmeintohishouse.” TheGeneralneglectedtotelltheKinghowhehadbeenjerkedintothehutoftheFirstandForemostbymeansofthebrasshoop.SoRoquattheRedlookedathisGeneraladmiringlyandsaid: “YouareawonderfulNome,Guph.I’msorryIdidnotmakeyoumyGeneralbefore.ButwhatrewarddidtheFirstandForemostdemand?” “Nothingatall,”answeredGuph.“EventheMagicBeltitselfcouldnotaddtohispowersofsorcery. AllthePhanfasmswishistodestroytheOzpeople,whoaregoodandhappy. Thispleasurewillamplyrepaythemforassistingus.” “Whenwilltheycome?”askedRoquat,halffearfully. “Whenthetunneliscompleted,”saidtheGeneral. “Wearenearlyhalfwayunderthedesertnow,”announcedtheKing;“andthatisfastwork,becausethetunnelhastobedrilledthroughsolidrock. ButafterwehavepassedthedesertitwillnottakeuslongtoextendthetunneltothewallsoftheEmeraldCity.” “Well,wheneveryouareready,weshallbejoinedbytheWhimsies,theGrowleywogsandthePhanfasms,”saidGuph;“sotheconquestofOzisassuredwithoutadoubt.” Again,theKingseemedthoughtful. “I’malmostsorrywedidnotundertaketheconquestalone,”saidhe. “Allofthesealliesaredangerouspeople,andtheymaydemandmorethanyouhavepromisedthem. ItmighthavebeenbettertohaveconqueredOzwithoutanyoutsideassistance.” “Wecouldnotdoit,”saidtheGeneral,positively. “Youknowverywell.YouhavehadoneexperiencewiththeOzpeople,andtheydefeatedyou.” “Thatwasbecausetheyrolledeggsatus,”repliedtheKing,withashudder.“MyNomescannotstandeggs,anymorethanIcanmyself.Theyarepoisontoallwholiveunderground.” “Thatistrueenough,”agreedGuph. “ButwemighthavetakentheOzpeoplebysurprise,andconqueredthembeforetheyhadachancetogetanyeggs. OurformerdefeatwasduetothefactthatthegirlDorothyhadaYellowHenwithher. Idonotknowwhateverbecameofthathen,butIbelievetherearenohensatallintheLandofOz,andsotherecouldbenoeggsthere.” “Onthecontrary,”saidGuph,“therearenowhundredsofchickensinOz,andtheylayheapsofthosedangerouseggs. Imetagoshawkonmywayhome,andthebirdinformedmethathehadlatelybeentoOztocaptureanddevoursomeoftheyoungchickens. Buttheyareprotectedbymagic,sothehawkdidnotgetasingleoneofthem.” “Thatisaverybadreport,”saidtheKing,nervously.“Verybad,indeed.MyNomesarewillingtofight,buttheysimplycan’tfacehen’seggs—andIdon’tblamethem.” “Theywon’tneedtofacethem,”repliedGuph. “I’mafraidofeggsmyself,anddon’tproposetotakeanychancesofbeingpoisonedbythem. MyplanistosendtheWhimsiesthroughthetunnelfirst,andthentheGrowleywogsandthePhanfasms. BythetimeweNomesgettheretheeggswillallbeusedup,andwemaythenpursueandcapturetheinhabitantsatourleisure.” “Perhapsyouareright,”returnedtheKing,withadismalsigh. “ButIwantitdistinctlyunderstoodthatIclaimOzmaandDorothyasmyownprisoners. Theyarerathernicegirls,andIdonotintendtoletanyofthosedreadfulcreatureshurtthem,ormakethemtheirslaves. WhenIhavecapturedthemIwillbringthemhereandtransformthemintochinaornamentstostandonmymantle. Theywilllookverypretty—DorothyononeendofthemantleandOzmaontheother—andIshalltakegreatcaretoseetheyarenotbrokenwhenthemaidsdustthem.” “Verywell,yourMajesty.DowhatyouwillwiththegirlsforallIcare. Nowthatourplansarearranged,andwehavethethreemostpowerfulbandsofevilspiritsintheworldtoassistus,letusmakehastetogetthetunnelfinishedassoonaspossible.” “Itwillbereadyinthreedays,”promisedtheKing,andhurriedawaytoinspecttheworkandseethattheNomeskeptbusy. 
