3. The Arrival of the Wizard

           Thedoorwayoftheglasspalacewasquitebigenoughforthehorseandbuggytoenter,soZebdrovestraightthroughitandthechildrenfoundthemselvesinaloftyhallthatwasverybeautiful.Thepeopleatoncefollowedandformedacirclearoundthesidesofthespaciousroom,leavingthehorseandbuggyandthemanwiththestartooccupythecenterofthehall.

           "Cometous,oh,Gwig!"calledtheman,inaloudvoice.

           Instantlyacloudofsmokeappearedandrolledoverthefloor;thenitslowlyspreadandascendedintothedome,disclosingastrangepersonageseateduponaglassthronejustbeforeJim’snose.Hewasformedjustasweretheotherinhabitantsofthislandandhisclothingonlydifferedfromtheirsinbeingbrightyellow.Buthehadnohairatall,andalloverhisbaldheadandfaceanduponthebacksofhishandsgrewsharpthornslikethosefoundonthebranchesofrose-bushes.TherewasevenathornuponthetipofhisnoseandhelookedsofunnythatDorothylaughedwhenshesawhim.

           TheSorcerer,hearingthelaugh,lookedtowardthelittlegirlwithcold,crueleyes,andhisglancemadehergrowsoberinaninstant.

           "WhyhaveyoudaredtointrudeyourunwelcomepersonsintothesecludedLandoftheMangaboos?"heasked,sternly.

           "’Causewecouldn’thelpit,"saidDorothy.

           "WhydidyouwickedlyandviciouslysendtheRainofStonestocrackandbreakourhouses?"hecontinued.

           "Wedidn’t,"declaredthegirl.

           "Proveit!"criedtheSorcerer.

           "Wedon’thavetoproveit,"answeredDorothy,indignantly."Ifyouhadanysenseatallyou’dknownitwastheearthquake.