“My friend, I reward you for your swiftness by proclaiming you Prince of Horses, whether of wood or of flesh; and hereafter all other horses—­in the Land of Oz, at least—­must be considered imitations, and you the real Champion of your race.”

There was more applause at this, and then Ozma had the jewelled saddle replaced upon the Sawhorse and herself rode the victor back to the city at the head of the grand procession.

“I ought to be a fairy,” grumbled Jim, as he slowly drew the buggy home; “for to be just an ordinary horse in a fairy country is to be of no account whatever.  It’s no place for us, Zeb.”

“It’s lucky we got here, though,” said the boy; and Jim thought of the dark cave, and agreed with him.

18.  The Trial of Eureka the Kitten

Several days of festivity and merry-making followed, for such old friends did not often meet and there was much to be told and talked over between them, and many amusements to be enjoyed in this delightful country.

Ozma was happy to have Dorothy beside her, for girls of her own age with whom it was proper for the Princess to associate were very few, and often the youthful Ruler of Oz was lonely for lack of companionship.

It was the third morning after Dorothy’s arrival, and she was sitting with Ozma and their friends in a reception room, talking over old times, when the Princess said to her maid: 

“Please go to my boudoir, Jellia, and get the white piglet I left on the dressing-table.  I want to play with it.”

Jellia at once departed on the errand, and she was gone so long that they had almost forgotten her mission when the green robed maiden returned with a troubled face.

“The piglet is not there, your Highness,” said she.

“Not there!” exclaimed Ozma.  “Are you sure?”

“I have hunted in every part of the room,” the maid replied.

“Was not the door closed?” asked the Princess.

“Yes, your Highness; I am sure it was; for when I opened it Dorothy’s white kitten crept out and ran up the stairs.”

Hearing this, Dorothy and the Wizard exchanged startled glances, for they remembered how often Eureka had longed to eat a piglet.  The little girl jumped up at once.

“Come, Ozma,” she said, anxiously; “let us go ourselves to search for the piglet.”

So the two went to the dressing-room of the Princess and searched carefully in every corner and among the vases and baskets and ornaments that stood about the pretty boudoir.  But not a trace could they find of the tiny creature they sought.

Dorothy was nearly weeping, by this time, while Ozma was angry and indignant.  When they returned to the others the Princess said: 

“There is little doubt that my pretty piglet has been eaten by that horrid kitten, and if that is true the offender must be punished.”

“I don’t b’lieve Eureka would do such a dreadful thing!” cried Dorothy, much distressed.  “Go and get my kitten, please, Jellia, and we’ll hear what she has to say about it.”