Scarecrow　　was　quite　serious。　Seeing　that　he　was
  interested　in　Scraps　they　forbore　to　say　anything
  against　her。　The　little　band　of　friends　Ozma　had
  gathered　around　her　was　so　quaintly　assorted　that
  much　care　must　be　exercised　to　avoid　hurting　their
  feelings　or　making　any　one　of　them　unhappy。　It　was
  this　considerate　kindness　that　held　them　close
  friends　and　enabled　them　to　enjoy　one　another's
  society。
  Another　thing　they　avoided　was　conversing
  on　unpleasant　subjects；　and　for　that　reason　Ojo
  and　his　troubles　were　not　mentioned　during　the
  dinner。　The　Shaggy　Man；　however；　related　his
  adventures　with　the　monstrous　plants　which
  had　seized　and　enfolded　the　travelers；　and　told
  how　he　had　robbed　Chiss；　the　giant　porcupine；
  of　the　quills　which　it　was　accustomed　to　throw
  at　people。　Both　Dorothy　and　Ozma　were　pleased
  with　this　exploit　and　thought　it　served　Chiss
  right。
  Then　they　talked　of　the　Woozy；　which　was　the
  most　remarkable　animal　any　of　them　had　ever　before
  seenexcept；　perhaps；　the　live　Sawhorse。　Ozma　had
  never　known　that　her　dominions　contained　such　a
  thing　as　a　Woozy；　there　being　but　one　in　existence
  and　this　being　confined　in　his　forest　for　many
  years。　Dorothy　said　she　believed　the　Woozy　was　a
  good　beast；　honest　and　faithful；　hut　she　added
  that　she　did　not　care　much　for　the　Glass　Cat。
  〃Still；〃　said　the　Shaggy　Man；　〃the　Glass　Cat
  is　very　pretty　and　if　she　were　not　so　conceited
  over　her　pink　brains　no　one　would　object　to　her
  as　a　companion。
  The　Wizard　had　been　eating　silently　until
  now；　when　he　looked　up　and　remarked：
  〃That　Powder　of　Life　which　is　made　by　the
  Crooked　Magician　is　really　a　wonderful　thing。
  But　Dr。　Pipt　does　not　know　its　true　value　and
  he　uses　it　in　the　most　foolish　ways。〃
  〃I　must　see　about　that；〃　said　Ozma；　gravely。
  Then　she　smiled　again　and　continued　in　a
  lighter　tone：　〃It　was　Dr。　Pipt's　famous　Powder
  of　Life　that　enabled　me　to　become　the　Ruler
  of　Oz。〃
  〃I've　never　heard　that　story；〃　said　the　Shaggy
  Man；　looking　at　Ozma　questioningly。
  〃Well；　when　I　was　a　baby　girl　I　was　stolen　by　an
  old　Witch　named　Mombi　and　transformed　into　a　boy；〃
  began　the　girl　Ruler。　〃I　did　not　know　who　I　was
  and　when　I　grew　big　enough　to　work；　the　Witch　made
  me　wait　upon　her　and　carry　wood　for　the　fire　and
  hoe　in　the　garden。　One　day　she　came　back　from　a
  journey　bringing　some　of　the　Powder　of　Life；　which
  Dr。　Pipt　had　given　her。　I　had　made　a　pumpkin…
  headed　man　and　set　it　up　in　her　path　to　frighten
  her；　for　I　was　fond　of　fun　and　hated　the　Witch。
  But　she　knew　what　the　figure　was　and　to　test　her
  Powder　of　Life　she　sprinkled　some　of　it　on　the　man
  I　had　made。　It　came　to　life　and　is　now　our　dear
  friend　Jack　Pumpkinhead。　That　night　I　ran　away
  with　Jack　to　escape　punishment；　and　I　took　old
  Mombi's　Powder　of　Life　with　me。　During　our　journey
  we　came　upon　a　wooden　Sawhorse　standing　by　the
  road　and　I　used　the　magic　powder　to　bring　it　to
  life。　The　Sawhorse　has　been　with　me　ever　since。
  When　I　got　to　the　Emerald　City　the　good　Sorceress；
  Glinda；　knew　who　I　was　and　restored　me　to　my
  proper　person；　when　I　became　the　rightful　Ruler　of
  this　land。　So　you　see　had　not　old　Mombi　brought
  home　the　Powder　of　Life　I　might　never　have　run
  away　from　her　and　become　Ozma　of　Oz；　nor　would　we
  have　had　Jack　Pumpkinhead　and　the　Sawhorse　to
  comfort　and　amuse　us。〃
  That　story　interested　the　Shaggy　Man　very　much；
  as　well　as　the　others；　who　had　often　heard　it
  before。　The　dinner　being　now　concluded；　they　all
  went　to　Ozma's　drawing…room；　where　they　passed　a
  pleasant　evening　before　it　came　time　to　retire。
  Chapter　Eighteen
  Ojo　is　Forgiven
  The　next　morning　the　Soldier　with　the　Green
  Whiskers　went　to　the　prison　and　took　Ojo　away　to
  the　royal　palace；　where　he　was　summoned　to　appear
  before　the　girl　Ruler　for　judgment。　Again　the
  soldier　put　upon　the　boy　the　jeweled　handcuffs　and
  white　prisoner's　robe　with　the　peaked　top　and
  holes　for　the　eyes。　Ojo　was　so　ashamed；　both　of
  his　disgrace　and　the　fault　he　had　committed；　that
  he　was　glad　to　be　covered　up　in　this　way；　so　that
  people　could　not　see　him　or　know　who　he　was。　He
  followed　the　Soldier　with　the　Green　Whiskers　very
  willingly；　anxious　that　his　fate　might　be　decided
  as　soon　as　possible。
  The　inhabitants　of　the　Emerald　City　were　polite
  people　and　never　jeered　at　the　unfortunate；　but　it
  was　so　long　since　they　bad　seen　a　prisoner　that
  they　cast　many　curious　looks　toward　the　boy　and
  many　of　them　hurried　away　to　the　royal　palace　to
  be　present　during　the　trial。
  When　Ojo　was　escorted　into　the　great　Throne
  Room　of　the　palace　he　found　hundreds　of　people
  assembled　there。　In　the　magnificent　emerald
  throne；　which　sparkled　with　countless　jewels；　sat
  Ozma　of　Oz　in　her　Robe　of　State；　which　was
  embroidered　with　emeralds　and　pearls。　On　her
  right；　but　a　little　lower；　was　Dorothy；　and　on　her
  left　the　Scarecrow。　Still　lower；　but　nearly　in
  front　of　Ozma；　sat　the　wonderful　Wizard　of　Oz　and
  on　a　small　table　beside　him　was　the　golden　vase
  from　Dorothy's　room；　into　which　Scraps　had　dropped
  the　stolen　clover。
  At　Ozma's　feet　crouched　two　enormous　beasts；
  each　the　largest　and　most　powerful　of　its　kind。
  Although　these　beasts　were　quite　free；　no　one
  present　was　alarmed　by　them；　for　the　Cowardly　Lion
  and　the　Hungry　Tiger　were　well　known　and　respected
  in　the　Emerald　City　and　they　always　guarded　the
  Ruler　when　she　held　high　court　in　the　Throne　Room。
  There　was　still　another　beast　present；　but　this
  one　Dorothy　held　in　her　arms；　for　it　was　her
  constant　companion；　the　little　dog　Toto。　Toto　knew
  the　Cowardly　Lion　and　the　Hungry　Tiger　and　often
  played　and　romped　with　them；　for　they　were　good
  friends。
  Seated　on　ivory　chairs　before　Ozma；　with　a　clear
  space　between　them　and　the　throne；　were　many　of
  the　nobility　of　the　Emerald　City；　lords　and　ladies
  in　beautiful　costumes；　and　officials　of　the
  kingdom　in　the　royal　uniforms　of　Oz。　Behind　these
  courtiers　were　others　of　less　importance；　filling
  the　great　hall　to　the　very　doors。
  At　the　same　moment　that　the　Soldier　with　the
  Green　Whiskers　arrived　with　Ojo；　the　Shaggy　Man
  entered　from　a　side　door；　escorting　the　Patchwork
  Girl；　the　Woozy　and　the　Glass　Cat。　All　these　came
  to　the　vacant　space　before　the　throne　and　stood
  facing　the　Ruler。
  〃Hullo；　Ojo；〃　said　Scraps；　〃how　are　you？〃
  〃All　right；〃　he　replied；　but　the　scene　awed　the
  boy　and　his　voice　trembled　a　little　with　fear。
  Nothing　could　awe　the　Patchwork　Girl；　and　although
  the　Woozy　was　somewhat　uneasy　in　these　splendid
  surroundings　the　Glass　Cat　was　delighted　with　the
  sumptuousness　of　the　court　and　the　impressiveness
  of　the　occasionpretty　big　words　but　quite
  expressive。
  At　a　sign　from　Ozma　the　soldier　removed　Ojo's
  white　robe　and　the　boy　stood　face　to　face　with　the
  girl　who　was　to　decide　his　punishment。　He　saw　at　a
  glance　how　lovely　and　sweet　she　was；　and　his　heart
  gave　a　bound　of　joy；　for　he　hoped　she　would　be
  merciful。
  Ozma　sat　looking　at　the　prisoner　a　long　time。
  Then　she　said　gently：
  〃One　of　the　Laws　of　Oz　forbids　anyone　to
  pick　a　six…leaved　clover。　You　are　accused　of
  having　broken　this　Law；　even　after　you　had
  been　warned　not　to　do　so。
  Ojo　hung　his　head　and　while　he　hesitated　how　to
  reply　the　Patchwork　Girl　stepped　forward　and　spoke
  for　him。
  〃All　this　fuss　is　about　nothing　at　all；〃　she
  said；　facing　Ozma　unabashed。　〃You　can't　prove　he
  picked　the　six…leaved　clover；　so　you've　no　right
  to　accuse　him　of　it。　Search　him；　if　you　like；　but
  you　won't　find　the　clover；　look　in　his　basket　and
  you'll　find　it's　not　there。　He　hasn't　got　it；　so　I
  demand　that　you　set　this　poor　Munchkin　boy　free。〃
  The　people　of　Oz　listened　to　this　defiance　in
  amazement　and　wondered　at　the　queer　Patchwork　Girl
  who　dared　talk　so　boldly　to　their　Ruler。　But　Ozma
  sat　silent　and　motionless　and　it　was　the　little
  Wizard　who　answered　Scraps。
  〃So　the　clover　hasn't　been　picked；　eh？〃　he　said。
  〃I　think　it　has。　I　think　the　boy　hid　it　in　his
  basket；　and　then　gave　the　basket　to　you。　I　also
  think　you　dropped　the