ple are fairies, and you can't fight against magic unless
you also have magic," answered the Nome.

"Tell us your plan!" shouted the huge Tiger, and the other beasts
echoed his words, crying: "Tell us your plan."

"My plan is simple," replied Ruggedo. "By our magic we will transform
all you animals into men and women--like the Oz people--and we will
transform all the Oz people into beasts. You can then live in the fine
houses of the Land of Oz, and eat the fine food of the Oz people, and
wear their fine clothes, and sing and dance and be happy. And the Oz
people, having become beasts, will have to live here in the forest and
hunt and fight for food, and often go hungry, as you now do, and have
no place to sleep but a bed of leaves or a hole in the ground. Having
become men and women, you beasts will have all the comforts you desire,
and having become beasts, the Oz people will be very miserable. That
is our plan, and if you agree to it, we will all march at once into the
Land of Oz and quickly conquer our enemies."

When the stranger ceased speaking, a great silence fell on the
assemblage, for the beasts were thinking of what he had said. Finally
one of the walruses asked:

"Can you really transform beasts into men, and men into beasts?"

"He can--he can!" cried Loo the Unicorn, prancing up and down in an
excited manner. "He transformed ME, only last evening, and he can
transform us all."

Gugu the King now stepped forward.

"You have heard the stranger speak," said he, "and now you must answer
him. It is for you to decide. Shall we agree to this plan, or not?"

"Yes!" shouted some of the animals.

"No!" shouted others.

And some were yet silent.

Gugu looked around the great circle.

"Take more time to think," he suggested. "Your answer is very
important. Up to this time we have had no trouble with the Oz people,
but we are proud and free, and never will become slaves. Think
carefully, and when you are ready to answer, I will hear you."

12. Kiki Uses His Magic

Then arose a great confusion of sounds as all the animals began talking
to their fellows. The monkeys chattered and the bears growled and the
voices of the jaguars and lions rumbled, and the wolves yelped and the
elephants had to trumpet loudly to make their voices heard. Such a
hubbub had never been known in the forest before, and each beast argued
with his neighbor until it seemed the noise would never cease.

Ruggedo