"Goodness me! A prisoner at last.But what a small one, Soldier.""The size doesn't matter, Tollydiggle, my dear.The fact remains that he is a prisoner,"said the soldier."And, this being the prison, and you the jailer, it is my duty to place the prisoner in your charge.""True.Come in, then, and I'll give you a receipt for him."They entered the house and passed through a hall to a large circular room, where the woman pulled the robe off from Ojo and looked at him with kindly interest.The boy, on his part, was gazing around him in amazement, for never had he dreamed of such a magnificent apartment as this in which he stood.The roof of the dome was of colored glass, worked into beautiful designs.The walls were paneled with plates ofgold decorated with gems of great size and many colors, and upon the tiled floor were soft rags delightful to walk upon.The furniture was framed in gold and upholstered in satin brocade and it consisted of easy chairs, divans and stools in great variety.Also there were several tables with mirror tops and cabinets filled with rare and curious things.In one place a case filled with books stood against the wall, and elsewhere Ojo saw a cupboard containing all sorts of games.
"May I stay here a little while before I go to prison?" asked the boy, pleadingly.
"Why, this is your prison," replied Tollydiggle, "and in me behold your jailor.Take off those handcuffs, Soldier, for it is impossible for anyone to escape from this house.""I know that very well," replied the soldier and at once unlocked the handcuffs and released the prisoner.
The woman touched a button on the wall and lighted a big chandelier that hung suspended from the ceiling, for it was growing dark outside.Then she seated herself at a desk and asked:
"What name?"
"Ojo the Unlucky," answered the Soldier with the Green Whiskers.
"Unlucky? Ah, that accounts for it," said she.
"What crime?"
"Breaking a Law of Oz."
"All right.There's your receipt, Soldier; and now I'm responsible for the prisoner.I'm glad of it, for this is the first time I've ever had anything to do, in my official capacity," remarked the jailer, in a pleased tone.
"It's the same with me, Tollydiggle," laughed the soldier."But my task is finished and I must go and report to Ozma that I've done my duty like a faithful Police Force, a loyal Army and an honest Body-Guard--as I hope I am."Saying this, be nodded farewell to Tollydiggle and Ojo and went away.
"Now, then," said the woman briskly, "I must get you some supper, for you are doubtless hungry.
What would you prefer: planked whitefish, omelet with jelly or mutton-chops with gravy?"Ojo thought about it.Then he said: "I'll take the chops, if you please.""Very well; amuse yourself while I'm gone;I won't be long," and then she went out by a door and left the prisoner alone.
Ojo was much astonished, for not only was this unlike any prison he had ever heard of, but he was being treated more as a guest than a criminal.
There were many windows and they bad no locks.
There were three doors to the room and none were bolted.He cautiously opened one of the doors and found it led into a hallway.But he had no intention of trying to escape.If his jailor was willing to trust him in this way he would not betray her trust, and moreover a hot supper was being prepared for him and his prison was very pleasant and comfortable.So he took a book from the case and sat down in a big chair to look at the pictures.
This amused him until the woman came in with a large tray and spread a cloth on one of the tables.Then she arranged his supper, which proved the most varied and delicious meal Ojo had ever eaten in his life.
Tollydiggle sat near him while he ate, sewing on some fancy work she held in her lap.When he had finished she cleared the table and then read to him a story from one of the books.
"Is this really a prison?" he asked, when she had finished reading.
"Indeed it is," she replied."It is the only prison in the Land of Oz.""And am I a prisoner?"
"Bless the child! Of course."
"Then why is the prison so fine, and why are you so kind to me?" he earnestly asked.
Tollydiggle seemed surprised by the question, but she presently answered:
"We consider a prisoner unfortunate.He is unfortunate in two ways--because he has done something wrong and because he is deprived of his liberty.Therefore we should treat him kindly, because of his misfortune, for otherwise he would become hard and bitter and would not be sorry he had done wrong.Ozma thinks that one who has committed a fault did so because he was not strong and brave; therefore she puts him in prison to make him strong and brave.When that is accomplished he is no longer a prisoner, but a good and loyal citizen and everyone is glad that he is now strong enough to resist doing wrong.You see, it is kindness that makes one strong and brave; and so we are kind to our prisoners."Ojo thought this over very carefully."I had an idea," said he, "that prisoners were always treated harshly, to punish them.""That would be dreadful!" cried Tollydiggle.
"Isn't one punished enough in knowing he has done wrong? Don't you wish, Ojo, with all your heart, that you had not been disobedient and broken a Law of Oz?""I--I hate to be different from other people,"he admitted.
"Yes; one likes to be respected as highly as his neighbors are," said the woman."When you are tried and found guilty, you will be obliged to make amends, in some way.I don't know just what Ozma will do to you, because this is the first time one of us has broken a Law; but you may be sure she will be just and merciful.Here in the Emerald City people are too happy and contented ever to do wrong; but perhaps you came from some faraway corner of our land, and having no love for Ozma carelessly broke one of her Laws.""Yes," said Ojo, "I've lived all my life in the heart of a lonely forest, where I saw no one but dear Unc Nunkie.""I thought so," said Tollydiggle."But now we have talked enough, so let us play a game until bedtime."
