Ozmawasinherrosegardenpickingabouquetwhenthepartyarrived,andshegreetedallheroldandnewfriendsassmilinglyandsweetlyasever. Dorothy’seyeswerefulloftearsasshekissedthelovelyRulerofOz,andshewhisperedtoher: “Oh,Ozma,Ozma!I’mSOsorry!” “Sorryforwhat,Dorothy?”sheasked. “ForallyourtroubleabouttheNomeKing,”wasthereply. Ozmalaughedwithgenuineamusement. “Why,thathasnottroubledmeabit,dearPrincess,”shereplied.Then,lookingaroundatthesadfacesofherfriends,sheadded:“Haveyouallbeenworryingaboutthistunnel?” “Wehave!”theyexclaimedinachorus. “Well,perhapsitismoreseriousthanIimagined,”admittedthefairRuler;“butIhaven’tgiventhemattermuchthought.Afterdinnerwewillallmeettogetherandtalkitover.” Sotheywenttotheirroomsandpreparedfordinner,andDorothydressedherselfinherprettiestgownandputonhercoronet,forshethoughtthatthismightbethelasttimeshewouldeverappearasaPrincessofOz. TheScarecrow,theTinWoodmanandJackPumpkinheadallsatatthedinnertable,althoughnoneofthemwasmadesohecouldeat. Usuallytheyservedtoenliventhemealwiththeirmerrytalk,butto-nightallseemedstrangelysilentanduneasy. AssoonasthedinnerwasfinishedOzmaledthecompanytoherownprivateroominwhichhungtheMagicPicture.WhentheyhadseatedthemselvestheScarecrowwasthefirsttospeak. “IstheNomeKing’stunnelfinished,Ozma?”heasked. “Itwascompletedtoday,”shereplied.“Theyhavebuiltitrightundermypalacegrounds,anditendsinfrontoftheForbiddenFountain. Nothingbutacrustofearthremainstoseparateourenemiesfromus,andwhentheymarchhere,theywilleasilybreakthroughthiscrustandrushuponus.” “WhowillassisttheNomeKing?”inquiredtheScarecrow. “TheWhimsies,theGrowleywogsandthePhanfasms,”shereplied. “IwatchedtodayinmyMagicPicturethemessengerswhomtheNomeKingsenttoallthesepeopletosummonthemtoassembleinhisgreatcaverns.” “Letusseewhattheyaredoingnow,”suggestedtheTinWoodman. SoOzmawishedtoseetheNomeKing’scavern,andatoncethelandscapefadedfromtheMagicPictureandwasreplacedbythescenethenbeingenactedinthejeweledcavernofKingRoquat. AwildandstartlingsceneitwaswhichtheOzpeoplebeheld. BeforetheNomeKingstoodtheChiefoftheWhimsiesandtheGrandGallipootoftheGrowleywogs,surroundedbytheirmostskillfulgenerals. Veryfierceandpowerfultheylooked,sothateventheNomeKingandGeneralGuph,whostoodbesidehismaster,seemedabitfearfulinthepresenceoftheirallies. Nowastillmoreformidablecreatureenteredthecavern. ItwastheFirstandForemostofthePhanfasmsandheproudlysatdowninKingRoquat’sownthroneanddemandedtherighttoleadhisforcesthroughthetunnelinadvanceofalltheothers. TheFirstandForemostnowappearedtoalleyesinhishairyskinandthebear’shead. WhathisrealformwasevenRoquatdidnotknow. ThroughthearchesleadingintothevastseriesofcavernsthatlaybeyondthethroneroomofKingRoquatcouldbeseenranksuponranksoftheinvaders—thousandsofPhanfasms,GrowleywogsandWhimsiesstandinginserriedlines,whilebehindthemweremassedthethousandsuponthousandsofGeneralGuph’sownarmyofNomes. “Listen!”whisperedOzma.“Ithinkwecanhearwhattheyaresaying.” Sotheykeptstillandlistened. “Isallready?”demandedtheFirstandForemost,haughtily. “Thetunnelisfinallycompleted,”repliedGeneralGuph. “HowlongwillittakeustomarchtotheEmeraldCity?”askedtheGrandGallipootoftheGrowleywogs. “Ifwestartatmidnight,”repliedtheNomeKing,“weshallarriveattheEmeraldCitybydaybreak. Then,whilealltheOzpeoplearesleeping,wewillcapturethemandmakethemourslaves. AfterthatwewilldestroythecityitselfandmarchthroughtheLandofOz,burninganddevastatingaswego.” “Good!”criedtheFirstandForemost.“WhenwegetthroughwithOzitwillbeadesertwilderness.Ozmashallbemyslave.” “SheshallbeMYslave!”shoutedtheGrandGallipoot,angrily. “We’lldecidethatbyandby,”saidKingRoquathastily.“Don’tletusquarrelnow,friends.FirstletusconquerOz,andthenwewilldividethespoilsofwarinasatisfactorymanner.” TheFirstandForemostsmiledwickedly;butheonlysaid: “IandmyPhanfasmsgofirst,fornothingonearthcanopposeourpower.” Theyallagreedtothat,knowingthePhanfasmstobethemightiestofthecombinedforces. KingRoquatnowinvitedthemtoattendabanquethehadprepared,wheretheymightoccupythemselvesineatinganddrinkinguntilmidnightarrived. Astheyhadnowseenandheardalloftheplotagainstthemthattheycaredto,OzmaallowedherMagicPicturetofadeaway.Thensheturnedtoherfriendsandsaid: “OurenemieswillbeheresoonerthanIexpected.Whatdoyouadvisemetodo?” “Itisnowtoolatetoassembleourpeople,”saidtheTinWoodman,despondently. “IfyouhadallowedmetoarmanddrillmyWinkies,wemighthaveputupagoodfightanddestroyedmanyofourenemiesbeforewewereconquered.” “TheMunchkinsaregoodfighters,too,”saidOmbyAmby;“andsoaretheGillikins.” “ButIdonotwishtofight,”declaredOzma,firmly. “Noonehastherighttodestroyanylivingcreatures,howevereviltheymaybe,ortohurtthemormakethemunhappy. Iwillnotfight,eventosavemykingdom.” “TheNomeKingisnotsoparticular,”remarkedtheScarecrow. “Heintendstodestroyusallandruinourbeautifulcountry.” “BecausetheNomeKingintendstodoevilisnoexcuseformydoingthesame,”repliedOzma. “Self-preservationisthefirstlawofnature,”quotedtheShaggyMan. “True,”shesaid,readily.“Iwouldliketodiscoveraplantosaveourselveswithoutfighting.” Thatseemedahopelesstasktothem,butrealizingthatOzmawasdeterminednottofight,theytriedtothinkofsomemeansthatmightpromiseescape. “Couldn’twebribeourenemies,bygivingthemalotofemeraldsandgold?”askedJackPumpkinhead. “No,becausetheybelievetheyareabletotakeeverythingwehave,”repliedtheRuler. “Ihavethoughtofsomething,”saidDorothy. “Whatisit,dear?”askedOzma. “LetususetheMagicBelttowishallofusinKansas. Wewillputsomeemeraldsinourpockets,andcanselltheminTopekaforenoughtopayoffthemortgageonUncleHenry’sfarm. Thenwecanalllivetogetherandbehappy.” “Acleveridea!”exclaimedtheScarecrow. “Kansasisaverygoodcountry.I’vebeenthere,”saidtheShaggyMan. “Thatseemstomeanexcellentplan,”approvedtheTinWoodman. “NeverwillIdesertmypeopleandleavethemtosocruelafate. IwillusetheMagicBelttosendtherestofyoutoKansas,ifyouwish,butifmybelovedcountrymustbedestroyedandmypeopleenslavedIwillremainandsharetheirfate.” “Quiteright,”assertedtheScarecrow,sighing.“Iwillremainwithyou.” “AndsowillI,”declaredtheTinWoodmanandtheShaggyManandJackPumpkinhead,inturn. Tik-Tok,themachineman,alsosaidheintendedtostandbyOzma. “For,”saidhe,“IshouldbeofnouseatallinKan-sas.” “Formypart,”announcedDorothy,gravely,“iftheRulerofOzmustnotdesertherpeople,aPrincessofOzhasnorighttorunaway,either. I’mwillingtobecomeaslavewiththerestofyou;soallwecandowiththeMagicBeltistouseittosendUncleHenryandAuntEmbacktoKansas.” “I’vebeenaslaveallmylife,”AuntEmreplied,withconsiderablecheerfulness,“andsohasHenry.Iguesswewon’tgobacktoKansas,anyway.I’drathertakemychanceswiththerestofyou.” Ozmasmileduponthemallgratefully. “Thereisnoneedtodespairjustyet,”shesaid. “I’llgetupearlyto-morrowmorningandbeattheForbiddenFountainwhenthefiercewarriorsbreakthroughthecrustoftheearth. Iwillspeaktothempleasantlyandperhapstheywon’tbesoverybad,afterall.” “WhydotheycallittheForbiddenFountain?”askedDorothy,thoughtfully. “Don’tyouknow,dear?”returnedOzma,surprised. “No,”saidDorothy.“OfcourseI’veseenthefountaininthepalacegrounds,eversinceIfirstcametoOz;andI’vereadthesignwhichsays:‘AllPersonsareForbiddentoDrinkatthisFountain.’ ButIneverknewWHYtheywereforbidden. Thewaterseemsclearandsparklinganditbubblesupinagoldenbasinallthetime.” “Thatwater,”declaredOzma,gravely,“isthemostdangerousthinginalltheLandofOz.ItistheWaterofOblivion.” “Whatdoesthatmean?”askedDorothy. “WhoeverdrinksattheForbiddenFountainatonceforgetseverythinghehaseverknown,”Ozmaasserted. “Itwouldn’tbeabadwaytoforgetourtroubles,”suggestedUncleHenry. “Thatistrue;butyouwouldforgeteverythingelse,andbecomeasignorantasababy,”returnedOzma. “Doesitmakeonecrazy?”askedDorothy. “No;itonlymakesoneforget,”repliedthegirlRuler. “Itissaidthatonce—long,longago—awickedKingruledOz,andmadehimselfandallhispeopleverymiserableandunhappy. SoGlinda,theGoodSorceress,placedthisfountainhere,andtheKingdrankofitswaterandforgotallhiswickedness. Hismindbecameinnocentandvacant,andwhenhelearnedthethingsoflifeagaintheywereallgoodthings. ButthepeoplerememberedhowwickedtheirKinghadbeen,andwerestillafraidofhim. Therefore,hemadethemalldrinkoftheWaterofOblivionandforgeteverythingtheyhadknown,sothattheybecameassimpleandinnocentastheirKing. Afterthat,theyallgrewwisetogether,andtheirwisdomwasgood,sothatpeaceandhappinessreignedintheland. Butforfearsomeonemightdrinkofthewateragain,andinaninstantforgetallhehadlearned,theKingputthatsignuponthefountain,whereithasremainedformanycenturiesuptothisveryday.” TheyhadalllistenedintentlytoOzma’sstory,andwhenshefinishedspeakingtherewasalongperiodofsilencewhileallthoughtuponthecuriousmagicalpoweroftheWaterofOblivion. FinallytheScarecrow’spaintedfacetookonabroadsmilethatstretchedtheclothasfarasitwouldgo. “HowthankfulIam,”hesaid,“thatIhavesuchanexcellentassortmentofbrains!” “IgaveyouthebestbrainsIevermixed,”declaredtheWizard,withanairofpride. “Youdid,indeed!”agreedtheScarecrow,“andtheyworksosplendidlythattheyhavefoundawaytosaveOz—tosaveusall!” “I’mgladtohearthat,”saidtheWizard.“Weneverneededsavingmorethanwedojustnow.” “DoyoumeantosayyoucansaveusfromthoseawfulPhanfasms,andGrowleywogsandWhimsies?”askedDorothyeagerly. “I’msureofit,mydear,”assertedtheScarecrow,stillsmilinggenially. “Tellushow!”criedtheTinWoodman. “Notnow,”saidtheScarecrow.“Youmayallgotobed,andIadviseyoutoforgetyourworriesjustascompletelyasifyouhaddrunkoftheWaterofOblivionintheForbiddenFountain. I’mgoingtostayhereandtellmyplantoOzmaalone,butifyouwillallbeattheForbiddenFountainatdaybreak,you’llseehoweasilywewillsavethekingdomwhenourenemiesbreakthroughthecrustofearthandcomefromthetunnel.” SotheywentawayandlettheScarecrowandOzmaalone;butDorothycouldnotsleepawinkallnight. “HeisonlyaScarecrow,”shesaidtoherself,“andI’mnotsurethathismixedbrainsareascleverashethinkstheyare.” ButsheknewthatiftheScarecrow’splanfailedtheywerealllost;soshetriedtohavefaithinhim. 
