"So we see," murmured the Scarecrow.
"Very curious, indeed," commented the Tin Woodman, while Dorothy and Jam gazed about them in wonder, and Percy, Spots, and the children's mounts peered suspiciously at the dwellers of Bookville.
"On your left," continued the Guide Book, "you will see the dwellings of our famous Detective Books who solve any crimes committed in our fair city. We shall not pass through the Murder Book section, for you would be taking your lives in your hands to venture there."
"Then let's keep as far away from there as possible," said Dorothy with a shudder, "for I don't really want to be murdered."
"We had a lurid case last week," said their Guide Book, "when someone murdered the English Language, one of our more scholarly text books."
"Very punny," said Percy to no one in particular.
"Lots of people do that every day," said the Scarecrow.
"If that's what happens in the outside world," said their guide, "I'm glad that I live in Bookville. Imagine - murders every day!"
The group passed a playground, where a lot of little books were playing, chasing each other gaily swinging on the swings, and sliding down the sliding boards.
"Those must be the Children's Books," said Dorothy.
"Exactly, exactly," replied the Guide Book. "We provide fine, safe places for our children to play."
The bookcases along the street were becoming larger and more ornate and were set in large yards with flowers and shrubs growing profusely in formal gardens.
Dorothy commented on one particularly beautiful garden where an abundance of colorful flowers were blooming, and the Guide Book informed her that it was the home of the Flower Books.
"We have quite a rivalry between the various members of the Horticultural Book family," he added, "for each tries to outdo the rest with the splendor of the flowers in his garden. Of course, the Orchid Book is the aristocrat of the family, while the Wild Flower Guide is a shy, retiring little thing who seldom appears in public."
"Very interesting, indeed," said the Tin Woodman, who loved flowers. "I had no idea that such a place existed in my kingdom."
At these words, the Guide Book drew himself up to his full height and stated positively, "You, sir, are only a visitor in our city. Please refrain from slighting the Book of Royalty with such remarks."
And with this, he turned and hurried on, letting the group follow him in silence for a time.
Before long they came to a very large, beautifully decorated bookcase, with a crest upon it.
"This is the royal palace, home of the Book of Royalty," said their guide, his voice low and filled with respect. "You will soon be in the presence of our high and exalted ruler," and he bowed low in the direction of the regal abode.
"Humph!" Growled the Cowardly Lion, "who ever heard of being ruled by a book?"
"I've heard of raising babies by a book," said Dorothy.
"That's different," said the Hungry Tiger, "and please don't talk about babies. It makes me hungry."
Just then some curious little beings hurried to meet them. They were similar to the books, but instead of having books for heads, they had only single printed pages.
"We are the Palace Pages," they said, bowing low.
"Please come forward and be presented to the most high Book of Royalty, ruler of our fair city of Bookville."
Then six little Pages lifted long golden trumpets to their lips and blew a fanfare, which announced the appearance of the Book of Royalty.
The king of Bookville stepped from his bookshelf palace and advanced to his throne which was on a raised dais in the courtyard. He was a handsome richly bound volume, of royal purple color, with letters of pure gold gleaming upon his cover. He was followed by a retinue of beautiful editions, bound in the most expensive manner.
"His royal highness, the Book of Royalty, and his court," murmured the Guide Book, as he prostrated himself before the throne. The Tin Woodman and his friends stood there, frankly staring at the King of the city of books, but ignoring the fact that he was the ruler. After all, why should the Emperor of the Winkies bow before one of the minor rulers in his own country?
"Oh, your gracious royal highness, wise and august leader of your people, here before you are the insignificant travelers who demanded entrance through our portals," intoned the Guide Book.
"Insignificant!" Gasped Dorothy.
"How can you say that about your Emperor and his Emperor!" Said the Book of Royalty in a severe voice. "I am the sole ruler here. All others are wicked imposters."
Upon hearing this, the members of his royal court chanted, "Imposters! Imposters! There is no other ruler but our Book of Royalty," and they all bowed low before the throne.
"See, miserable misshapen creatures," bellowed the monarch, opening and shutting his cover in his rage "I, and only I, am King; and you all shall be my slaves."
"You can't do this to us," exclaimed the Tin Woodman.
"I'm tired of having people make a slave of me,"
said Jam resentfully.
"Shall we tear them to bits?" Growled the Cowardly Lion, while the Hungry Tiger lashed his tail to and fro, and Spots had brightly colored swords and muskets spinning madly on his back.
"Wait," cried the Scarecrow to his friends, "let us have no violence, if we can avoid it. I am sure the Book of Royalty is just and fair," he continued in a conciliatory and flattering tone, "and would not harm us if we prove that we are a peaceful group of travelers who intend to do him and his subjects no harm."
This statement made the King of the Books very thoughtful. Finally he said in a crafty voice, "I am indeed just, and I shall see that you have a fair trial and a chance to prove your innocent intentions."
"Our ruler is just, and wise, and good," chanted his followers.
"I don't trust him," whispered Dorothy to Jam.
"Neither do I," he replied. "I think this is some kind of trick."
"Silence," roared the Book of Royalty in a mighty voice, looking in their direction. Jam and Dorothy stopped whispering at once, and made themselves as small as possible, creeping behind the Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger for protection.
"What do you propose to do with us?" Inquired the Scarecrow politely, although he too was suspicious of the book, not liking his manner.
"You shall have a trial," said the Book of Royalty with a sneer. "A trial by jury," and he turned to the Pages. "Bring on the Judge and Jury," he cried.
The Pages bowed low and scampered away on their errand. Soon they returned, followed by a group of black-robed, white-wigged volumes who walked pompously up to the dais and bowed to the king.
"Who are they?" Asked Percy.
"These," said the Book of Royalty, "are the Law Books, who will try your case."
"Who will be our lawyer?" Asked the Tin Woodman.
The king laughed long and loud. "Lawyer? For you? Why should you have a lawyer? You are only the defendants. No one has a lawyer in this trial except the prosecution, and that's us."
"But we insist on a jury," said the Scarecrow emphatically. "You promised that, you know."
"Ah, yes, a jury you shall have. Unfortunately, it will not be a jury of your peers, for we have no citizens of such a low rank as you. All of our books have titles."
"Title or no, I'd rather be a Leopard with spots that change," said the big cat, his crescent spots changing to green apples and then to pink elephants "than to be one of these stupid books, with no original thoughts in their silly printed heads."
"You think we aren't original?" Said the incensed ruler. "Just wait, my changeable friend, and you shall sing a different song," and he scowled fiercely at Spots, who snarled and growled in return.
Percy drew Spots to one side and said to him "Take it easy, kiddo, or you may not live to tell about this adventure. I think they mean business and they outnumber us one hundred to one."
Spots reluctantly agreed that he would be quiet for his own sake, and for the safety of his comrades.
The king was ready to announce the beginning of the trial, when there was an interruption. A figure whirled up the street to the palace and began laughing wildly. It was a book with a motley cover, and a fool's cap was at an angle on his head. He had bells on his toes, and as he danced around the throne, he cried "Fiddle de dee, fiddle de die Never was fruitcake as nutty as I!
To stay out of school I made it a rule So I turned out to be, as you'll notice, a Fool,!"
The Book of Royalty scowled at the newcomer and said, "I thought I told you to stay in your own shelf when I had important business to attend to.
Be gone!"
The colorful book ignored the command of the ruler and continued dancing around the courtyard.
"Who's that?" Asked Dorothy in astonishment.
"That," said the Guide Book hastily, glancing at the Book of Royalty to see if he would be punished for volunteering the information, "Is the Court Jester, the Rhyming Dictionary, who is, as you can plainly see, quite mad."
The Jester had by this time noticed Jam, Dorothy and their friends; so he bowed before them and said: "It's plain as day they came to pay Our bookish burg a visit; But if they're smart, they'll soon depart And that's no fooling, is it?"
"I wonder why he said that?" Asked the Tin Woodman.
"I don't know," replied the straw man, "But he may not be such a fool after all."
"There may be a lot of truth in his queer poetry,"
said Nick Chopper. "I, for one, wish we'd never come here at all."
"A Man of Tin who's tall and thin. A Scarecrow bright and brainy. A lass, a lad and let me add Some other miscellany; Three kinds of cat-a king-size rat. So long a list may weary us.
Thus, let me say, be on your way Before our fun turns serious!"
"Silence!" Screamed the monarch. "Fool or no fool I'll have your addled head chopped off and put on the shelf forever."
The Rhyming Dictionary sensed that he had gone too far, so he quickly withdrew himself from the scene to escape punishment.
"I'm afraid we're in for it, kiddos," whispered Percy.
"I don't like. The look of things at all," said Jam.
"Do you think that we can get away from here?"
"We'll think of some way to escape," said Dorothy optimistically. "I've been in peculiar situations in Oz before, and I've always managed to escape somehow."
The Law Books had now arranged themselves before the throne, and one small black tome pounded with a gavel and cried "Oyez, oyez, oyez, the trial is about to begin.
Please rise when the judge enters. "He pounded on a table with the gavel, and all the books rose as a large, solemn looking black volume slowly walked into the room and climbed upon a high seat near the King.
The volume adjusted his spectacles, cleared his throat, and said in a deep voice, "The trial of the State vs. The Intruders will now begin."
Chapter 14
Trial by Jury
YOUR honor," said the Scarecrow to the judge "may I plead the case for myself and for my friends?"
"I object," shrilled one of the Law Books, jumping to his feet.
"Objection sustained," intoned the judge, completely ignoring the Scarecrow. "Proceed with the prosecution."
"But, your honor, the king promised us a trial by jury," cried Dorothy. "Where's the jury?"
"Call the jury," said the judge, "and do not interrupt again, little girl, or you shall regret it," he admonished Dorothy.
Twelve volumes were quickly called forward.
"Have you any opinion already formed concerning the innocence or guilt of the accused?" The judge asked them.
"We think they are guilty, guilty, guilty," chanted the prospective jurors.
"Excellent," said the judge. "The jury has now been selected. Proceed with the prosecution at once."
"That's not fair," cried Jam angrily. "Why bother with a trial if the jurors think we're guilty before they hear from us?"
"Silence, foolish boy!" Shouted the judge, pounding loudly with his gavel. "The jurors must think you are guilty, for you will have no opportunity to speak for yourselves. It's against the law!"
"I fear we are lost," said the Tin Woodman sadly.
"Quiet," cried the bailiff. "Silence in the court."
"Prosecutor, proceed," commanded the judge.
"Your honor, wise Book of Judgment," said the prosecutor, "these creatures have forced their way into our fair village, insisting that the crude tin being is the ruler of us all, when we know full well that the Book of Royalty," and he bowed low in the direction of the throne, "is our rightful monarch."
"Horrors," cried the judge at these words.
"Treason, treason, treason," shrieked the jurors.
"Destroy the intruders," howled the onlookers.
"Order in the court," roared the bailiff, pounding the table with his gavel until the uproar had quieted.
"The jury has now heard the case for the prosecution," said the judge, peering over the top of his glasses. "What is your verdict?"
"We find the prisoners guilty, guilty, guilty," cried the members of the jury in one voice. "They must be punished, punished, punished."
"I object," spoke up the Tin Woodman angrily.
"You have no right to try me or my friends on any grounds. I shall protest to Ozma, and you shall all be severely reprimanded."
"Who is Ozma?" Asked the judge.
"She is the ruler of the Land of Oz," declared the Scarecrow, "and all of us must obey her, including you."
"Treason, treason, treason," chanted the jurors.
"We have no ruler but the Book of Royalty."
"Ozma," sneered the King. "I am monarch here and no one else shall be obeyed. Proceed with the trial," he commanded the judge.
"You have been found guilty by the jury, and so must be punished," said the judge in a stern voice.
"I hereby decree that you shall be pressed and bound into books."
"What!" Exclaimed Dorothy.
"Books!" Cried Jam. "What do you mean?"
At this moment the court jester appeared upon the scene again, and laughing wildly, he danced and pranced and sang" Those who intrude get treatment rude As you will soon be finding; in covers pressed, they're stiffly dressed In hard, unbending binding."
The Cowardly Lion gave a mighty roar and tried to spring forward, but he was quickly restrained by a whole set of books that leaped upon him and bound him with ropes. Another set captured the Hungry Tiger, even though he put up a terrific battle, and Spots and Percy were overpowered by still more volumes. A set in lovely matched scarlet bindings surrounded Jam, Dorothy, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Woodman, snatching the latter's axe from his hands and rendering him helpless.
"Sentence the prisoners," ordered the king to the judge.
"Scarecrow, step forward and face the judge,"
ordered the bailiff.
The straw man was thrust before the judge by the guards who had captured him.
"You would not make an interesting book," began the judge, "so you shall be unstuffed, your stuffing destroyed, and your clothing used to increase the rag content of the paper from which new books are made."
"Tin Woodman, step forward and face the judge,"
came the order again.
"Because you have tried to claim that you are our ruler, your body shall be melted down and used to make machinery for our printing presses," the judge decreed.
Jam and Dorothy were condemned to transformation into Children's Books, while the four animals were told that they would all be placed in the Animal Book.
"Off to prison with them," cried the Book of Royalty when sentence had been passed.
"You'd best take care. You'd best beware. This Ozma may exist And she may bring Her army, King: Take my advice - desist!"
This was too much for the Book of Royalty, who was getting tired of having such sentiments expressed by the Rhyming Dictionary, so he ordered the guards to arrest the Court Jester and take him to prison, also. The fool, however, was too
quick for them and escaped by fleeing headlong down the road with the guards hot on his trail.
When this commotion had ceased, the prisoners were marched away, surrounded by guards, to await execution of the sentences passed upon them. They were downhearted, for none of them could think of any way to escape the books.
"Rag content, indeed," muttered the Scarecrow to himself. "A personal friend of Ozma, and I'm to be used to make paper. What an end, after all the things I have been through."
"And my beautiful tin body is to be made into printing presses," sighed the Tin Woodman, a tear escaping from his eye and rolling down his tin cheek.
Dorothy, when she saw the tear drop, seized the oil can the tin man always carried with him and oiled his face so that his weeping would not rust his jaws.
"Why bother?" He said to her. "It doesn't matter now whether I rust or not."
"Don't be so downhearted," said Dorothy sympathetically. "We've been in dangerous situations before, and something always happens to save the day."
"I don't care about saving the day," said Percy.
"I just want to save myself."
"Animal Book indeed," snorted Spots, his pattern changing from red dots to big, black exclamation marks.
"Well, we aren't books yet, so maybe we'll be able to escape before the calamity occurs," said Jam hopefully.
While they talked, they were being escorted down one of the streets by the set of books who were guarding them. Presently they came to a huge grey bookcase that obviously was the prison.
"Halt!" Cried the captain of the guards, flashing a sword through the air. "You will be confined in this prison until the time for your execution tomorrow."
The bookcase had a door on the front, which was fastened by a curious lock. The captain produced a big, brass key, unlocked the huge door, and swung it open with difficulty.
"How will we stay in a bookshelf?" Asked Dorothy.
"We aren't books, you know," the Scarecrow said to the captain of the guards.
"Not yet," the captain said, "But since most of you are to become books, you'd better get used to living in shelves."
"I guess we'll just have to lie all huddled up on a shelf apiece," said Jam thoughtfully. "I hope we fit."
The Hidden Valley of Oz Page 7