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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 clover into this vase； which
stood in Princess Dorothy's room； hoping to get
rid of it so it would not prove the boy guilty。
You're a stranger here； Miss Patches； and so you
don't know that nothing can be hidden from our
powerful Ruler's Magic Picturenor from the
watchful eyes of the humble Wizard of Oz。 Look；
all of you！〃 With these words he waved his hands
toward the vase on the table； which Scraps now
noticed for the first time。
From the mouth of the vase a plant sprouted；
slowly growing before their eyes until it became a
beautiful bush； and on the topmost branch appeared
the six…leaved clover which Ojo had unfortunately
picked。
The Patchwork Girl looked at the clover and
said： 〃Oh； so you've found it。 Very well； prove
he picked it； if you can。〃
Ozma turned to Ojo。
〃Did you pick the six…leaved clover？〃 she asked。
〃Yes；〃 he replied。 〃I knew it was against the
Law； but I wanted to save Unc Nunkie and I was
afraid if I asked your consent to pick it you
would refuse me。〃
〃What caused you to think that？〃 asked the
Ruler。
〃Why； it seemed to me a foolish law； unjust and
unreasonable。 Even now I can see no harm in
picking a six…leaved clover。 And II had not seen
the Emerald City； then； nor you； and I thought a
girl who would make such a silly Law would not be
likely to help anyone in trouble。〃
Ozma regarded him musingly； her chin resting
upon her hand； but she was not angry。 On the
contrary she smiled a little at her thoughts and
then grew sober again。
〃I suppose a good many laws seem foolish to
those people who do not understand them；〃 she
said； 〃but no law is ever made without some
purpose； and that purpose is usually to protect
all the peopl