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workers and usually keep to themselves and allow no one
from outside to visit them。 I have learned that the
Flatheads number about one hundred people men； women
and children while the Skeezers number just one
hundred and one。〃
〃What did they quarrel about； and why do they wish to
fight one another？〃 was Ozma's next question。
〃I cannot tell your Majesty that；〃 said Glinda。
〃But see here！〃 cried Dorothy； 〃it's against the law
for anyone but Glinda and the Wizard to work magic in
the Land of Oz； so if these two strange people are
magic…makers they are breaking the law and ought to be
punished！〃 Ozma smiled upon her little friend。
〃Those who do not know me or my laws；〃 she said；
〃cannot be expected to obey my laws。 If we know nothing
of the Skeezers or the Flatheads； it is likely that
they know nothing of us。〃
〃But they ought to know； Ozma； and we ought to know。
Who's going to tell them； and how are we going to make
them behave？〃
〃That；〃 returned Ozma； 〃is what I am now considering。
What would you advise； Glinda？〃
The Sorceress took a little time to consider this
question； before she made reply。 Then she said： 〃Had
you not learned of the existence of the Flatheads and
the Skeezers； through my Book of Records； you would
never have worried about them or their quarrels。 So； if
you pay no attention to these peoples； you may never
hear of them again。〃
〃But that wouldn't be right；〃 declared Ozma。 〃I am
Ruler of all the Land of Oz； which includes the
Gillikin Country； the Quadling Country； the Winkie
Country and the Munchkin Country； as well as the
Emerald City； and being the Princess of this fairyland
it is my duty to make all my people wherever they
may be happy and content and to settle their
disputes and keep them from quarreling。 So； while the
Skeezers and Flatheads may not know me or that I am
their lawful Ruler； I now know that they inhabit my
kingdom and are my subjects； so I would not be doing my
duty if I kept away from them and allowed them to
fight。〃
〃That's a fact； Ozma；〃 commented Dorothy。
〃You've got to go up to the Gillikin Country and make
these people behave themselves and make up their
quarrels。 But how are you going to do it？〃
〃That is what is puzzling me also； your Majesty；〃
said the Sorceress。 〃It may be dangerous for you to go
into those strange countries； where the people are
possibly fierce and warlike。〃
〃I am not afraid；〃 said Ozma； with a smile。
〃'Tisn't a question of being 'fraid；〃 argued Dorothy。
〃Of course we know you're a fairy； and can't be killed
or hurt； and we know you've a lot of magic of your own
to help you。 But； Ozma dear； in spite of all this
you've been in trouble before； on account of wicked
enemies； and it isn't right for the Ruler of all Oz to
put herself in danger。〃
〃Perhaps I shall be in no danger at all；〃 returned
Ozma； with a little laugh。 〃You mustn't imagine danger；
Dorothy； for one should only imagine nice things； and
we do not know that the Skeezers and Flatheads are
wicked people or my enemies。 Perhaps they would be good
and listen to reason。〃
〃Dorothy is right； your Majesty；〃 asserted the
Sorceress。 〃It is true we know nothing of these faraway
subjects； except that they intend to fight one another；
and have a certain amount of magic power at their
command。 Such folks do not like to submit to
interference and they are more likely to resent your
coming among them than to receive you kindly and
graciously； as is your due。〃
〃If you had an army to take with you；〃 added Dorothy；
〃it wouldn't be so bad； but there isn't such a thing as
an army in all Oz。〃
〃I have one soldier；〃 said Ozma。
〃Yes； the soldier with the green whiskers； but he's
dreadful 'fraid of his gun and never loads it。 I'm sure
he'd run rather than fight。 And one soldier； even if he
were brave； couldn't do much against two hundred and
one Flatheads and Skeezers。〃
〃What then； my friends； would you suggest？〃 inquired
Ozma。
〃I advise you to send the Wizard of Oz to them； and
let him inform them that it is against the laws of Oz
to fight； and that you command them to settle their
differences and become friends；〃 proposed Glinda。 〃Let
the Wizard tell them they will be punished if they
refuse to obey the commands of the Princess of all the
Land of Oz。〃
Ozma shook her head； to indicate that the advice was
not to her satisfaction。
〃If they refuse； what then？〃 she asked。 〃I should be
obliged to carry out my threat and punish them； and
that would be an unpleasant and difficult thing to do。
I am sure it would be better for me to go peacefully；
without an army and armed only with my authority as
Ruler； and plead with them to obey me。 Then； if they
prove obstinate I could resort to other means to win
their obedience。〃
〃It's a ticklish thing； anyhow you look at it；〃
sighed Dorothy。 〃I'm sorry now that I noticed the
Record in the Great Book。〃
〃But can't you realize； my dear； that I must do my
duty； now that I am aware of this trouble？〃 asked Ozma。
〃I am fully determined to go at once to the Magic Isle
of the Skeezers and to the enchanted mountain of the
Flatheads； and prevent war and strife between their
inhabitants。 The only question to decide is whether it
is better for me to go alone； or to assemble a party of
my friends and loyal supporters to accompany me。〃
〃If you go I want to go； too；〃 declared Dorothy。
〃Whatever happens it's going to be fun 'cause all
excitement is fun and I wouldn't miss it for the
world！〃
Neither Ozma nor Glinda paid any attention to this
statement； for they were gravely considering the
serious aspect of this proposed adventure。
〃There are plenty of friends who would like to go
with you；〃 said the Sorceress； 〃but none of them would
afford your Majesty any protection in case you were in
danger。 You are yourself the most powerful fairy in Oz；
although both I and the Wizard have more varied arts of
magic at our command。 However； you have one art that no
other in all the world can equal the art of winning
hearts and making people love to bow to your gracious
presence。 For that reason I believe you can accomplish
more good alone than with a large number of subjects in
your train。〃
〃I believe that also；〃 agreed the Princess。 〃I shall
be quite able to take care of myself； you know； but
might not be able to protect others so well。 I do not
look for opposition； however。 I shall speak to these
people in kindly words and settle their dispute
whatever it may be in a just manner。〃
〃Aren't you going to take me？〃 pleaded Dorothy。
〃You'll need some companion； Ozma。〃
The Princess smiled upon her little friend。
〃I see no reason why you should not accompany me；〃
was her reply。 〃Two girls are not very warlike and they
will not suspect us of being on any errand but a kindly
and peaceful one。 But； in order to prevent war and
strife between these angry peoples； we must go to them
at once。 Let us return immediately to the Emerald City
and prepare to start on our journey early tomorrow
morning。〃
Glinda was not quite satisfied with this plan； but
could not think of any better way to meet the problem。
She knew that Ozma； with all her gentleness and sweet
disposition； was accustomed to abide by any decision
she had made and could not easily be turned from her
purpose。 Moreover she could see no great danger to the
fairy Ruler of Oz in the undertaking； even though the
unknown people she was to visit proved obstinate。 But
Dorothy was not a fairy； she was a little girl who had
come from Kansas to live in the Land of Oz。 Dorothy
might encounter dangers that to Ozma would be as
nothing but to an 〃Earth child〃 would be very serious。
The very fact that Dorothy lived in Oz； and had been
made a Princess by her friend Ozma； prevented her from
being killed or suffering any great bodily pain as long
as she lived in that fairyland。 She could not grow big；
either； and would always remain the same little girl
who had come to Oz； unless in some way she left that
fairyland or was spirited away from it。 But Dorothy was
a mortal； nevertheless； and might possibly be
destroyed； or hidden where none of her friends could
ever find her。 She could； for instance be cut into
pieces； and the pieces； while still alive and free from
pain； could be widely scattered； or she might be buried
deep underground or 〃destroyed〃 in other ways by evil
magicians； were she not properly protected。 These facts
Glinda was considering while she paced with stately
tread her marble hall。
Finally the good Sorceress paused and drew a ring
from her finger； handing it to Dorothy。
〃Wear this ring constantly until your return；〃 she
said to the girl。 〃If serious danger threatens you；
turn the ring around on your finger once to the right