suffering to others. When he had wandered far from home and was
hungry, he would say: "I want to become a cow--Pyrzqxgl!"
In an instant he would be a cow, and then he would eat grass and
satisfy his hunger. All beasts and birds can talk in the Land of Oz,
so when the cow was no longer hungry, it would say: "I want to be Bini
Aru again: Pyrzqxgl!" and the magic word, properly
pronounced, would instantly restore him to his proper form.

Now, of course, I would not dare to write down this magic word so
plainly if I thought my readers would pronounce it properly and so be
able to transform themselves and others, but it is a fact that no one
in all the world except Bini Aru, had ever (up to the time this story
begins) been able to pronounce "Pyrzqxgl!" the right way, so
I think it is safe to give it to you. It might be well, however, in
reading this story aloud, to be careful not to pronounce Pyrzqxgl
the proper way, and thus avoid all danger of the secret being able to
work mischief.

Bini Aru, having discovered the secret of instant transformation,
which required no tools or powders or other chemicals or herbs and
always worked perfectly, was reluctant to have such a wonderful
discovery entirely unknown or lost to all human knowledge. He decided
not to use it again, since Ozma had forbidden him to do so, but he
reflected that Ozma was a girl and some time might change her mind
and allow her subjects to practice magic, in which case Bini Aru could
again transform himself and others at will,--unless, of course, he
forgot how to pronounce Pyrzqxgl in the meantime.

After giving the matter careful thought, he decided to write the
word, and how it should be pronounced, in some secret place, so that