to wear my old head a little longer than was strictly healthy. But after
this sad experience I resolved to raise pumpkins myself, so as never to
be caught again without one handy; and now I have this fine field that
you see before you. Some grow pretty big--too big to be used for
heads--so I dug out this one and use it for a house."

"Isn't it damp?" asked Dorothy.

"Not very. There isn't much left but the shell, you see, and it will
last a long time yet."

"I think you are brighter than you used to be, Jack," said the Tin
Woodman. "Your last head was a stupid one."

"The seeds in this one are better," was the reply.

"Are you going to Ozma's party?" asked Dorothy.

"Yes," said he; "I wouldn't miss it for anything. Ozma's my parent, you
know, because she built my body and carved my pumpkin head. I'll follow
you to the Emerald City to-morrow, where we shall meet again. I can't go
to-day, because I have to plant fresh pumpkin-seeds and water the young
vines. But give my love to Ozma, and tell her I'll be there in time for
the jubilation."

"We will," she promised; and then they all left him and resumed their
journey.

[Illustration]

The Royal Chariot Arrives

[Illustration]

The neat yellow houses of the Winkies were now to be seen standing here
and there along the roadway, giving the country a more cheerful and
civilized look. They were farm-houses, though, and set far apart; for in
the Land of Oz there were no towns or villages except the magnificent
Emerald City in its center.

Hedges of evergreen or of yellow roses bordered the broad highway and
the farms showed the care of their industrious inhabitants. The nearer
the travelers came to the great city the more prosperous the country
became, and they crossed many bridges over the sparkling streams and
rivulets that watered the lands.

As they walked leisurely along the shaggy man said to the Tin Woodman:

"What sort of a Magic Powder was it, that made your friend the
Pumpkinhead live?"

"It was called the Powder of Life," was the answer; "and it was invented
by a crooked Sorcerer who lived in the mountains of the North Country. A
Witch named Mombi got some of this powder from the crooked Sorcerer and
took it home with her. Ozma lived with the Witch then, for it was before
she became our Princess, while Mombi had transformed her into the shape
of a boy. Well, while Mombi was gone to the crooked Sorcerer's, the boy
made this pumpkin-headed m