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whatever。 The expression of their faces was pleasant
enough； although they now showed surprise at the
appearance of strangers so unlike themselves； and our
friends thought they seemed quite harmless。
〃I beg your pardon；〃 said the Wizard； speaking for
his party； 〃for intruding upon you uninvited； but we
are traveling on important business and find it
necessary to visit your city。 Will you kindly tell us
by what name your city is called？〃
They looked at one another uncertainly； each
expecting some other to answer。 Finally a short one
whose heart…shaped body was very broad replied：
〃We have no occasion to call our city anything。 It is
where we live； that is all。〃
〃But by what name do others call your city？〃 asked
the Wizard。
〃We know of no others； except yourselves；〃 said the
man。 And then he inquired： 〃Were you born with those
queer forms you have； or has some cruel magician
transformed you to them from your natural shapes？〃
〃These are our natural shapes；〃 declared the Wizard；
〃and we consider them very good shapes； too。〃
The group of inhabitants was constantly being
enlarged by others who joined it。 All were evidently
startled and uneasy at the arrival of strangers。
〃Have you a King？〃 asked Dorothy； who knew it was
better to speak with someone in authority。 But the man
shook his diamond…like head。
〃What is a King？〃 he asked。
〃Isn't there anyone who rules over you？〃 inquired the
Wizard。
〃No；〃 was the reply； 〃each of us rules himself； or；
at least； tries to do so。 It is not an easy thing to
do； as you probably know。〃
The Wizard reflected。
〃If you have disputes among you；〃 said he； after a
little thought； 〃who settles them？〃
〃The High Coco…Lorum；〃 they answered in a chorus。
〃And who is he？〃
〃The judge who enforces the laws；〃 said the man who
had first spoken。
〃Then he is the principal person here？〃 continued the
Wizard。
〃Well； I would not say that；〃 returned the man in a
puzzled way。 〃The High Cocolorum is a public servant。
However； he represents the laws； which we must all
obey。〃
〃I think；〃 said the Wizard； 〃we ought to see your
High Coco…Lorum and talk with him。 Our mission here
requires us to consult one high in authority； and the
High Coco…Lorum ought to be high； whatever else he is。〃
The inhabitants seemed to consider this proposition
reasonable； for they nodded their diamond…shaped heads
in approval。 So the broad one who had been their
spokesman said： 〃Follow me；〃 and； turning； led the way
along one of the streets。
The entire party followed him； the natives falling in
behind。 The dwellings they passed were quite nicely
planned and seemed comfortable and convenient。 After
leading them a few blocks their conductor stopped
before a house which was neither better nor worse than
the others。 The doorway was shaped to admit the
strangely formed bodies of these people； being narrow
at the top； broad in the middle and tapering at the
bottom。 The windows were made in much the same way；
giving the house a most peculiar appearance。 When their
guide opened the gate a music…box concealed in the
gate…post began to play； and the sound attracted the
attention of the High Coco…Lorum； who appeared at an
open window and inquired：
〃What has happened now？〃
But in the same moment his eyes fell upon the
strangers and he hastened to open the door and admit
them all but the animals； which were left outside
with the throng of natives that had now gathered。 For a
small city there seemed to be a large number of
inhabitants； but they did not try to enter the house
and contented themselves with staring curiously at the
strange animals。 Toto followed Dorothy。
Our friends entered a large room at the front of the
house； where the High Coco…Lorum asked them to be
seated。
〃I hope your mission here is a peaceful one；〃 he
said； looking a little worried； 〃for the Thists are not
very good fighters and object to being conquered。〃
〃Are your people called Thists？〃 asked Dorothy。
〃Yes。 I thought you knew that。 And we call our city
Thi。〃
〃Oh！〃
〃We are Thists because we eat thistles； you know；〃
continued the High Coco…Lorum。
〃Do you really eat those prickly things？〃 inquired
Button…Bright wonderingly。
〃Why not？〃 replied the other。 〃The sharp points of
the thistles cannot hurt us； because all our insides
are gold…lined。〃
〃Gold…lined！〃
〃To be sure。 Our throats and stomachs are lined with
solid gold； and we find the thistles nourishing and
good to eat。 As a matter of fact； there is nothing else
in our country that is fit for food。 All around the
City of Thi grow countless thistles； and all we need do
is to go and gather them。 If we wanted anything else to
eat we would have to plant it； and grow it； and harvest
it； and that would be a lot of trouble and make us
work； which is an occupation we detest。〃
〃But； tell me； please；〃 said the Wizard； 〃how does it
happen that your city jumps around so； from one part of
the country to another？〃
〃The city doesn't jump； it doesn't move at all；〃
declared the High Coco…Lorum。 〃However； I will admit
that the land that surrounds it has a trick of turning
this way or that； and so； if one is standing upon the
plain and facing north； he is likely to find himself
suddenly facing west or east or south。 But once
you reach the thistle fields you are on solid ground。〃
〃Ah； I begin to understand；〃 said the Wizard； nodding
his head。 〃But I have another question to ask： How does
it happen that the Thists have no King to rule over
them？〃
〃Hush！〃 whispered the High Coco…Lorum； looking
uneasily around to make sure they were not overheard。
〃In reality； I am the King； but the people don't know
it。 They think they rule themselves； but the fact is I
have everything my own way。 No one else knows anything
about our laws； and so I make the laws to suit myself。
If any oppose me； or question my acts； I tell them it's
the law； and that settles it。 If I called myself King；
however； and wore a crown and lived in royal state； the
people would not like me； and might do me harm。 As the
High Coco…Lorum of Thi； I'm considered a very agreeable
person。〃
〃It seems a very clever arrangement；〃 said the
Wizard。 〃And now； as you are the principal person in
Thi； I beg you to tell us if the Royal Ozma is a
captive in your city。〃
〃No；〃 answered the diamond…headed man； 〃we have no
captives。 No strangers but yourselves are here； and we
have never before heard of the Royal Ozma。〃
〃She rules all of Oz；〃 said Dorothy； 〃and so she
rules your city and you； because you are in the Winkie
Country； which is a part of the Land of Oz。〃
〃It may be；〃 returned the High Coco…Lorum； 〃for we do
not study geography and have never inquired whether we
live in the Land of Oz or not。 And any Ruler who rules
us from a distance； and unknown to us； is welcome to
the job。 But what has happened to your Royal Ozma？〃
〃Someone has stolen her；〃 said the Wizard。 〃Do you
happen to have any talented magician among your people
one who is especially clever； you know？〃
〃No； none especially clever。 We do some magic； of
course； but it is all of the ordinary kind。 I do not
think any of us has yet aspired to stealing Rulers；
either by magic or otherwise。〃
〃Then we've come a long way for nothing！〃 exclaimed
Trot regretfully。
〃But we are going farther than this；〃 asserted the
Patchwork Girl； bending her stuffed body backward until
her yarn hair touched the floor and then walking around
on her hands with her feet in the air。
The High Coco…Lorum watched Scraps admiringly。
〃You may go farther on； of course；〃 said he； 〃but I
advise you not to。 The Herkus live back of us； beyond
the thistles and the twisting lands； and they are not
very nice people to meet； I assure you。〃
〃Are they giants？〃 asked Betsy。
〃They are worse than that；〃 was the reply。 〃They have
giants for their slaves and they are so much