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all right。 No more of the Munchkin Country for
these patchesand no more of the Crooked
Magician！〃
〃Why； you belong to Dr。 Pipt；〃 replied Ojo；
looking at her in amazement。 〃You were made for a
servant； Scraps； so you are personal property and
not your own mistress。〃
〃Bother Dr。 Pipt！ If he wants me； let him
come here and get me。 I'll not go back to his
den of my own accord； that's certain。 Only one
place in the Land of Oz is fit to live in； and
that's the Emerald City。 It's lovely！ It's almost
as beautiful as I am； Ojo。〃
〃In this country；〃 remarked the Shaggy Man；
〃people live wherever our Ruler tells them to。 It
wouldn't do to have everyone live in the Emerald
City； you know； for some must plow the land and
raise grains and fruits and vegetables； while
others chop wood in the forests； or fish in the
rivers； or herd the sheep and the cattle。〃
〃Poor things！〃 said Scraps。
〃I'm not sure they are not happier than the city
people；〃 replied the Shaggy Man。 〃There's a
freedom and independence in country life that not
even the Emerald City can give one。 I know that
lots of the city people would like to get back to
the land。 The Scarecrow lives in the country； and
so do the Tin Woodman and Jack Pumpkinhead； yet
all three would be welcome to live in Ozma's
palace if they cared to。 Too much splendor becomes
tiresome； you know。 But； if we're to reach the
Emerald City before sundown； we must hurry； for it
is yet a long way off。〃
The entrancing sight of the city had put new
energy into them all and they hurried forward
with lighter steps than before。 There was much
to interest them along the roadway； for the
houses were now set more closely together and
they met a good many people who were coming
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