were all bunched out as if stuffed full of something.

"I didn't know you were here," said Kiki.

"I didn't come until after you did," said the queer
old man.

"Who are you?" asked Kiki.

"My name's Ruggedo. I used to be the Nome
King; but I got kicked out of my country, and now
I'm a wanderer."

"What made them kick you out?" inquired the
Hyup boy.

"Well, it's the fashion to kick kings nowadays. I
was a pretty good King — to myself — but those
dreadful Oz people wouldn't let me alone. So I had
to abdicate."

"What does that mean?"

"It means to be kicked out. But let's talk about
something pleasant. Who are you and where did
you come from?"

"I'm called Kiki Aru. I used to live on Mount
Munch in the Land of Oz, but now I'm a wanderer
like yourself."

The Nome King gave him a shrewd look.

"I heard that bird say that you transformed your-
self into a magpie and back again. Is that true?"

Kiki hesitated, but saw no reason to deny it. He

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