English
PrincessOzmawasaverybusylittleruler,forshelookedcarefullyafterthecomfortandwelfareofherpeopleandtriedtomakethemhappy.
Ifanyquarrelsaroseshedecidedthemjustly;ifanyoneneededcounseloradviceshewasreadyandwillingtolistentothem.
ForadayortwoafterDorothyandhercompanionshadstartedontheirtrip,Ozmawasoccupiedwiththeaffairsofherkingdom.
ThenshebegantothinkofsomemannerofoccupationforUncleHenryandAuntEmthatwouldbelightandeasyandyetgivetheoldpeoplesomethingtodo.
ShesoondecidedtomakeUncleHenrytheKeeperoftheJewels,forsomeonereallywasneededtocountandlookafterthebinsandbarrelsofemeralds,diamonds,rubiesandotherpreciousstonesthatwereintheRoyalStorehouses.
ThatwouldkeepUncleHenrybusyenough,butitwashardertofindsomethingforAuntEmtodo.
Thepalacewasfullofservants,sotherewasnodetailofhouseworkthatAuntEmcouldlookafter.
WhileOzmasatinherprettyroomengagedinthoughtshehappenedtoglanceatherMagicPicture.
ThiswasoneofthemostimportanttreasuresinalltheLandofOz.Itwasalargepicture,setinabeautifulgoldframe,andithunginaprominentplaceuponawallofOzma’sprivateroom.
Usuallythispictureseemedmerelyacountryscene,butwheneverOzmalookedatitandwishedtoknowwhatanyofherfriendsoracquaintancesweredoing,themagicofthiswonderfulpicturewasstraightwaydisclosed.
ForthecountryscenewouldgraduallyfadeawayandinitsplacewouldappearthelikenessofthepersonorpersonsOzmamightwishtosee,surroundedbytheactualscenesinwhichtheywerethenplaced.
InthiswaythePrincesscouldviewanypartoftheworldshewished,andwatchtheactionsofanyoneinwhomshewasinterested.
OzmahadoftenseenDorothyinherKansashomebythismeans,andnow,havingalittleleisure,sheexpressedadesiretoseeherlittlefriendagain.
ItwaswhilethetravelerswereatFuddlecumjig,andOzmalaughedmerrilyasshewatchedinthepictureherfriendstryingtomatchthepiecesofGrandmotherGnit.
“Theyseemhappyandaredoubtlesshavingagoodtime,”thegirlRulersaidtoherself;andthenshebegantothinkofthemanyadventuressheherselfhadencounteredwithDorothy.
TheimageofherfriendsnowfadedfromtheMagicPictureandtheoldlandscapeslowlyreappeared.
OzmawasthinkingofthetimewhenwithDorothyandherarmyshemarchedtotheNomeKing’sundergroundcavern,beyondtheLandofEv,andforcedtheoldmonarchtoliberatehiscaptives,whobelongedtotheRoyalFamilyofEv.
ThatwasthetimewhentheScarecrownearlyfrightenedtheNomeKingintofitsbythrowingoneofBillina’seggsathim,andDorothyhadcapturedKingRoquat’sMagicBeltandbroughtitawaywithhertotheLandofOz.
TheprettyPrincesssmiledattherecollectionofthisadventure,andthenshewonderedwhathadbecomeoftheNomeKingsincethen.
Merelybecauseshewascuriousandhadnothingbettertodo,OzmaglancedattheMagicPictureandwishedtoseeinittheKingoftheNomes.
RoquattheRedwenteverydayintohistunneltoseehowtheworkwasgettingalongandtohurryhisworkmenasmuchaspossible.Hewastherenow,andOzmasawhimplainlyintheMagicPicture.
Shesawtheundergroundtunnel,reachingfarunderneaththeDeadlyDesertwhichseparatedtheLandofOzfromthemountainsbeneathwhichtheNomeKinghadhisextensivecaverns.
ShesawthatthetunnelwasbeingmadeinthedirectionoftheEmeraldCity,andknewatonceitwasbeingdugsothatthearmyofNomescouldmarchthroughitandattackherownbeautifulandpeacefulcountry.
“IsupposeKingRoquatisplanningrevengeagainstus,”shesaid,musingly,“andthinkshecansurpriseusandmakeushiscaptivesandslaves.
Howsaditisthatanyonecanhavesuchwickedthoughts!
ButImustnotblameKingRoquattooseverely,forheisaNome,andhisnatureisnotsogentleasmyown.”
Thenshedismissedfromhermindfurtherthoughtofthetunnel,forthattime,andbegantowonderifAuntEmwouldnotbehappyasRoyalMenderoftheStockingsoftheRulerofOz.
Ozmaworefewholesinherstockings;still,theysometimesneededmending.
AuntEmoughttobeabletodothatverynicely.
Nextday,thePrincesswatchedthetunnelagaininherMagicPicture,andeverydayafterwardshedevotedafewminutestoinspectingthework.
Itwasnotespeciallyinteresting,butshefeltthatitwasherduty.
Slowlybutsurelythebig,archedholecreptthroughtherocksunderneaththedeadlydesert,anddaybydayitdrewnearerandnearertotheEmeraldCity.
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