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the only ones on the mountain who were glad the three
Adepts had been lost to them； and they at once became
Rulers of the Flatheads and stole their canned brains
from others to make themselves the more powerful。 Some
of the Adepts' magic tools had been left on the
mountain； and these Rora seized and by the use of them
she became a witch。
〃The result of Coo…ee…oh's treachery was to make both
the Skeezers and the Flatheads miserable instead of
happy。 Not only were the Su…dic and his wife cruel to
their people； but our Queen at once became proud and
arrogant and treated us very unkindly。 All the Skeezers
knew she had stolen her magic powers and so she hated
us and made us humble ourselves before her and obey her
slightest word。 If we disobeyed； or did not please her；
or if we talked about her when we were in our own homes
she would have us dragged to the whipping post in her
palace and lashed with knotted cords。 That is why we
fear her so greatly。〃
This story filled Ozma's heart with sorrow and
Dorothy's heart with indignation。
〃I now understand；〃 said Ozma； 〃why the fishes in the
lake have brought about war between the Skeezers and
the Flatheads。〃
〃Yes；〃 Lady Aurex answered； 〃now that you know the
story it is easy to understand。 The Su…dic and his wife
came to our lake hoping to catch the silver fish； or
gold fish； or bronze fish any one of them would do …
… and by destroying it deprive Coo…ee…oh of her magic。
Then they could easily conquer her。 Also they had
another reason for wanting to catch the fish they
feared that in some way the three Adepts might regain
their proper forms and then they would be sure to
return to the mountain and punish Rora and the Su…dic。
That was why Rora finally tried to poison all the
fishes in the lake； at the time Coo…ee…oh transformed
her into a Golden Pig。 Of course this attempt to
destroy the fishes frightened the Queen； for her safety
lies in keeping the three fishes alive。〃
〃I s'pose Coo…ee…oh will fight the Flatheads with all
her might；〃 observed Dorothy。
〃And with all her magic；〃 added Ozma； thoughtfully。
〃I do not see how the Flatheads can get to this
island to hurt us；〃 said Lady Aurex。
〃They have bows and arrows； and I guess they mean to
shoot the arrows at your big dome； and break all the
glass in it；〃 suggested Dorothy。
But Lady Aurex shook her head with a smile。
〃They cannot do that；〃 she replied。
〃Why not？〃
〃I dare not tell you why； but if the Flatheads come
to…morrow morning you will yourselves see the reason。〃
〃I do not think they will attempt to harm the
island；〃 Ozma declared。 〃I believe they will first
attempt to destroy the fishes； by poison or some other
means。 If they succeed in that； the conquest of the
island will not be difficult。〃
〃They have no boats；〃 said Lady Aurex； 〃and Coo…ee…
oh； who has long expected this war； has been preparing
for it in many astonishing ways。 I almost wish the
Flatheads would conquer us； for then we would be free
from our dreadful Queen； but I do not wish to see the
three transformed fishes destroyed； for in them lies
our only hope of future happiness。〃
〃Ozma will take care of you； whatever happens；〃
Dorothy assured her。 But the Lady Aurex； not knowing
the extent of Ozma's power which was； in fact； not
so great as Dorothy imagined could not take much
comfort in this promise。
It was evident there would be exciting times on the
morrow； if the Flatheads really attacked the Skeezers
of the Magic Isle。
Chapter Ten
Under Water
When night fell all the interior of the Great Dome；
streets and houses； became lighted with brilliant
incandescent lamps； which rendered it bright as day。
Dorothy thought the island must look beautiful by night
from the outer shore of the lake。 There was revelry and
feasting in the Queen's palace； and the music of the
royal band could be plainly heard in Lady Aurex's
house； where Ozma and Dorothy remained with their
hostess and keeper。 They were prisoners； but treated
with much consideration。
Lady Aurex gave them a nice supper and when they
wished to retire showed them to a pretty room with
comfortable beds and wished them a good night and
pleasant dreams。
〃What do you think of all this； Ozma？〃 Dorothy
anxiously inquired when they were alone。
〃I am glad we came；〃 was the reply； 〃for although
there may be mischief done to…morrow； it was necessary
I should know about these people； whose leaders are
wild and lawless and oppress their subjects with
injustice and cruelties。 My task； therefore； is to
liberate the Skeezers and the Flatheads and secure for
them freedom and happiness。 I have no doubt I can
accomplish this in time。〃
〃Just now； though； we're in a bad fix；〃 asserted
Dorothy。 〃If Queen Coo…ee…oh conquers to…morrow； she
won't be nice to us； and if the Su…dic conquers； he'll
be worse。〃
〃Do not worry； dear；〃 said Ozma； 〃I do not think we
are in danger； whatever happens； and the result of our
adventure is sure to be good。〃
Dorothy was not worrying； especially。 She had
confidence in her friend； the fairy Princess of Oz； and
she enjoyed the excitement of the events in which she
was taking part。 So she crept into bed and fell asleep
as easily as if she had been in her own cosy room in
Ozma's palace。
A sort of grating； grinding sound awakened her。 The
whole island seemed to tremble and sway； as it might do
in an earthquake。 Dorothy sat up in bed； rubbing her
eyes to get the sleep out of them； and then found it
was daybreak。
Ozma was hurriedly dressing herself。
〃What is it？〃 asked Dorothy； jumping out of bed。
〃I'm not sure；〃 answered Ozma 〃but it feels as if the
island is sinking。〃
As soon as possible they finished dressing； while the
creaking and swaying continued。 Then they rushed into
the living room of the house and found Lady Aurex；
fully dressed； awaiting them。
〃Do not be alarmed；〃 said their hostess。 〃Coo…ee…oh
has decided to submerge the island； that is all。 But it
proves the Flatheads are coming to attack us。〃
〃What do you mean by sub…sub…merging the island？〃
asked Dorothy。
〃Come here and see；〃 was the reply。
Lady Aurex led them to a window which faced the side
of the great dome which covered all the village； and
they could see that the island was indeed sinking； for
the water of the lake was already half way up the side
of the dome。 Through the glass could be seen swimming
fishes； and tall stalks of swaying seaweeds； for the
water was clear as crystal and through it they could
distinguish even the farther shore of the lake。
〃The Flatheads are not here yet；〃 said Lady Aurex。
〃They will come soon； but not until all of this dome is
under the surface of the water。〃
〃Won't the dome leak？〃 Dorothy inquired anxiously。
〃No； indeed。〃
〃Was the island ever sub…sub…sunk before？〃
〃Oh； yes； on several occasions。 But Coo…ee…oh doesn't
care to do that often； for it requires a lot of hard
work to operate the machinery。 The dome was built so
that the island could disappear。 I think；〃 she
continued； 〃that our Queen fears the Flatheads will
attack the island and try to break the glass of the
dome。〃
〃Well； if we're under water； they can't fight us； and
we can't fight them；〃 asserted Dorothy。
〃They could kill the fishes； however；〃 said Ozma
gravely
〃We have ways to fight； also； even though our island
is under water；〃 claimed Lady Aurex。 〃I cannot tell you
all our secrets； but this island is full of surprises。
Also our Queen's magic is astonishing。〃
〃Did she steal it all from the three Adepts in
Sorcery that are now fishes？〃
〃She stole the knowledge and the magic tools； but she
has used them as the three Adepts never would have
done。〃
By this time the top of the dome was