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or going from one place or another。 All these
seemed happy…faced； pleasant people； who
nodded graciously to the strangers as they
Passed； and exchanged words of greeting。
At last they reached the great gateway； just
as the sun was setting and adding its red glow
to the glitter of the emeralds on the green walls
and spires。 Somewhere inside the city a band
could be heard playing sweet music； a soft；
subdued hum； as of many voices； reached their
ears； from the neighboring yards came the low
mooing of cows waiting to be milked。
They were almost at the gate when the golden
bars slid back and a tall soldier stepped out and
faced them。 Ojo thought he had never seen so
tall a man before。 The soldier wore a handsome
green and gold uniform； with a tall hat in which
was a waving plume； and he had a belt thickly
encrusted with jewels。 But the most peculiar
thing about him was his long green beard；
which fell far below his waist and perhaps
made him seem taller than he really was。
〃Halt！〃 said the Soldier with the Green
Whiskers； not in a stern voice but rather in a
friendly tone。
They halted before he spoke and stood looking at
him。
〃Good evening； Colonel；〃 said the Shaggy
Man。 〃What's the news since I left？ Anything
important？〃
〃Billina has hatched out thirteen new chickens；〃
replied the Soldier with the Green Whiskers； 〃and
they're the cutest little fluffy yellow balls you
ever saw。 The Yellow Hen is mighty proud of those
children； I can tell you。〃
〃She has a right to be；〃 agreed the Shaggy
Man。 〃Let me see； that's about seven thousand
chicks she has hatched out； isn't it； General？〃
〃That； at least；〃 was the reply。 〃You will have
to visit Billina and congratulate her。〃
〃It will give me pleasure to do that；〃 said the
Shaggy Man。 〃But you will observe that I have
brought some strangers home with me。 I am
going to take them to see Dorothy。〃
〃One moment； please；〃 said the soldier； barring
their way as they started to enter the gate。 〃I am
on duty； and I have orders to execute。 Is anyone
in your party named Ojo the Unlucky？〃
〃Why； that's me！〃 cried Ojo； astonished at
hearing his name on the lips of a stranger。
The Soldier with the Green Whiskers nodded。 〃I
thought so；〃 said he； 〃and I am sorry to announce
that it is my painful duty to arrest you。〃
〃Arrest me！〃 exclaimed the boy。 〃What for？〃
〃I haven't looked to see；〃 answered the soldier。
Then he drew a paper from his breast pocket and
glanced at it。 〃Oh； yes； you are to be arrested
for willfully breaking one of the Laws of Oz。〃
〃Breaking a law！〃 said Scraps。 〃Nonsense；
Soldier； you're joking。〃
〃Not this time；〃 returned the soldier； with a
sigh。 〃My dear child what are you； a rummage sale
or a guess…me quick？in me you be hold the Body
Guard of our gracious Ruler； Princess Ozma； as
well as the Royal Army of Oz and the Police Force
of the Emerald City。〃
〃And only one man！〃 exclaimed the Patchwork Girl。
〃Only one； and plenty enough。 In my official
positions I've had nothing to do for a good many
yearsso long that I began to fear I was
absolutely uselessuntil today。 An hour ago I was
called to the presence of her Highness； Ozma of
Oz； and told to arrest a boy named Ojo the
Unlucky； who was journeying from the Munchkin
Country to the Emerald City and would arrive in a
short time。 This command so astonished me that I
nearly fainted； for it is the first time anyone
has merited arrest since I can remember。 You are
rightly named Ojo the Unlucky。 my poor boy； since
you have broken a Law of Oz。
〃But you are wrong；〃 said Scraps。 〃Ozma is
wrongyou are all wrongfor Ojo has broken no
Law。〃
〃Then he will soon be free again；〃 replied the
Soldier with the Green Whiskers。 〃Anyone accused
of crime is given a fair trial by our Ruler and
has every chance to prove his innocence。 But just
now Ozma's orders must be obeyed。〃
With this he took from his pocket a pair of
handcuffs made of gold and set with rubies and
diamonds； and these he snapped over Ojo's wrists。
Chapter Fifteen
Ozma's Prisoner
The boy was so bewildered by this calamity that he
made no resistance at all。 He knew very well he
was guilty； but it surprised him that Ozma also
knew it。 He wondered how she had found out so soon
that he had picked the six…leaved clover。 He
handed his basket to Scraps and said：
〃Keep that； until I get out of prison。 If I
never get out； take it to the Crooked Magician； to
whom it belongs。〃
The Shaggy Man had been gazing earnestly in the
boy's face； uncertain whether to defend him or
not； but something he read in Ojo's expression
made him draw back and refuse to interfere to save
him。 The Shaggy Man was greatly surprised and
grieved； but he knew that Ozma never made mistakes
and so Ojo must really have broken the Law of Oz。
The Soldier with the Green Whiskers now led them
all through the gate and into a little room built
in the wall。 Here sat a jolly little man； richly
dressed in green and having around his neck a
heavy gold chain to which a number of great golden
keys were attached。 This was the Guardian of the
Gate and at the moment they entered his room he
was playing a tune upon a mouth…organ。
〃Listen！〃 he said； holding up his hand for
silence。 〃I've just composed a tune called 'The
Speckled Alligator。' It's in patch…time； which is
much superior to rag…time； and I've composed it in
honor of the Patchwork Girl； who has just
arrived。〃
〃How did you know I had arrived？〃 asked Scraps；
much interested。
〃It's my business to know who's coming； for I'm
the Guardian of the Gate。 Keep quiet while I play
you 'The Speckled Alligator。'〃
It wasn't a very bad tune； nor a very good one；
but all listened respectfully while he shut his
eyes and swayed his head from side to side and
blew the notes from the little instrument。 When it
was all over the Soldier with the Green Whiskers
said：
〃Guardian； I have here a prisoner。〃
〃Good gracious！ A prisoner？〃 cried the little
man； jumping up from his chair。 〃Which one？ Not
the Shaggy Man？〃
〃No； this boy。〃
〃Ah； I hope his fault is as small as himself；〃
said the Guardian of the Gate。 〃But what can he
have done； and what made him do it？〃
〃Can't say；〃 replied the soldier。 〃All I know
is that he has broken the Law。〃
〃But no one ever does that！〃
〃Then he must be innocent； and soon will be
released。 I hope you are right； Guardian。 Just now
I am ordered to take him to prison。 Get me a
prisoner's robe from your Official Wardrobe。〃
The Guardian unlocked a closet and took
from it a white robe； which the soldier threw
over Ojo。 It covered him from head to foot； but
had two holes just in front of his eyes； so he
could see where to go。 In this attire the boy
presented a very quaint appearance。
As the Guardian unlocked a gate leading
from his room into the streets of the Emerald
City； the Shaggy Man said to Scraps：
〃I think I shall take you directly to Dorothy；
as the Scarecrow advised； and the Glass Cat
and the Woozy may come with us。 Ojo must
go to prison with the Soldier with the Green
Whiskers； but he will he well treated and you
need not worry about him。〃
〃What will they do with him？〃 asked Scraps。
〃That I cannot tell。 Since I came to the Land of
Oz no one has ever been arrested or imprisoned
until Ojo broke the Law。〃
〃Seems to me that girl Ruler of yours is making
a big fuss over nothing；〃 remarked Scraps； tossing
her yarn hair out of her eyes with a jerk of her
patched head。 〃I don't know what Ojo has done； but
it couldn't be anything very； bad； for you and I
were with him all the time。〃
The Shaggy Man made no reply to this speech and
presently the Patchwork Girl forgot all about Ojo
in her admiration of the wonderful city she had
entered。
They soon separated from the Munchkin boy； who
was