The Emerald City of Oz

by L. Frank Baum

  _How_ OZMA LOOKED INTO THE MAGIC PICTURE

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Princess Ozma was a very busy little ruler, for she looked carefullyafter the comfort and welfare of her people and tried to make themhappy. If any quarrels arose she decided them justly; if any one neededcounsel or advice she was ready and willing to listen to them.

  For a day or two after Dorothy and her companions had started on theirtrip, Ozma was occupied with the affairs of her kingdom. Then she beganto think of some manner of occupation for Uncle Henry and Aunt Em thatwould be light and easy and yet give the old people something to do.

  She soon decided to make Uncle Henry the Keeper of the Jewels, for someone really was needed to count and look after the bins and barrels ofemeralds, diamonds, rubies and other precious stones that were in theRoyal Storehouses. That would keep Uncle Henry busy enough, but it washarder to find something for Aunt Em to do. The palace was full ofservants, so there was no detail of housework that Aunt Em could lookafter.

  While Ozma sat in her pretty room engaged in thought she happened toglance at her Magic Picture.

  This was one of the most important treasures in all the Land of Oz. Itwas a large picture, set in a beautiful gold frame, and it hung in aprominent place upon a wall of Ozma's private room.

  Usually this picture seemed merely a country scene, but whenever Ozmalooked at it and wished to know what any of her friends or acquaintanceswere doing, the magic of this wonderful picture was straightwaydisclosed. For the country scene would gradually fade away and in itsplace would appear the likeness of the person or persons Ozma might wishto see, surrounded by the actual scenes in which they were then placed.In this way the Princess could view any part of the world she wished,and watch the actions of any one in whom she was interested.

  Ozma had often seen Dorothy in her Kansas home by this means, and now,having a little leisure, she expressed a desire to see her little friendagain. It was while the travelers were at Fuddlecumjig, and Ozma laughedmerrily as she watched in the picture her friends trying to match thepieces of Grandmother Gnit.

  "They seem happy and are doubtless having a good time," the girl Rulersaid to herself; and then she began to think of the many adventures sheherself had encountered with Dorothy.

  The images of her friends now faded from the Magic Picture and the oldlandscape slowly reappeared.

  Ozma was thinking of the time when with Dorothy and her army she marchedto the Nome King's underground cavern, beyond the Land of Ev, and forcedthe old monarch to liberate his captives, who belonged to the RoyalFamily of Ev. That was the time when the Scarecrow nearly frightened theNome King into fits by throwing one of Billina's eggs at him, andDorothy had captured King Roquat's Magic Belt and brought it away withher to the Land of Oz.

  The pretty Princess smiled at the recollection of this adventure, andthen she wondered what had become of the Nome King since then. Merelybecause she was curious and had nothing better to do, Ozma glanced atthe Magic Picture and wished to see in it the King of the Nomes.

  Roquat the Red went every day into his tunnel to see how the work wasgetting along and to hurry his workmen as much as possible. He was therenow, and Ozma saw him plainly in the Magic Picture.

  She saw the underground tunnel, reaching far underneath the DeadlyDesert which separated the Land of Oz from the mountains beneath whichthe Nome King had his extensive caverns. She saw that the tunnel wasbeing made in the direction of the Emerald City, and knew at once it wasbeing dug so that the army of Nomes could march through it and attackher own beautiful and peaceful country.

  "I suppose King Roquat is planning revenge against us," she said,musingly, "and thinks he can surprise us and make us his captives andslaves. How sad it is that any one can have such wicked thoughts! But Imust not blame King Roquat too severely, for he is a Nome, and hisnature is not so gentle as my own."

  Then she dismissed from her mind further thought of the tunnel, for thattime, and began to wonder if Aunt Em would not be happy as Royal Menderof the Stockings of the Ruler of Oz. Ozma wore few holes in herstockings; still, they sometimes needed mending. Aunt Em ought to beable to do that very nicely.

  Next day the Princess watched the tunnel again in her Magic Picture, andevery day afterward she devoted a few minutes to inspecting the work. Itwas not especially interesting, but she felt that it was her duty.

  Slowly but surely the big arched hole crept through the rocks underneaththe deadly desert, and day by day it drew nearer and nearer to theEmerald City.