"They cannot do that," she replied.

"Why not?"

"I dare not tell you why, but if the Flatheads come
to-morrow morning you will yourselves see the reason."

"I do not think they will attempt to harm the
island," Ozma declared. "I believe they will first
attempt to destroy the fishes, by poison or some other
means. If they succeed in that, the conquest of the
island will not be difficult."

"They have no boats," said Lady Aurex, "and Coo-ee-
oh, who has long expected this war, has been preparing
for it in many astonishing ways. I almost wish the
Flatheads would conquer us, for then we would be free
from our dreadful Queen; but I do not wish to see the
three transformed fishes destroyed, for in them lies
our only hope of future happiness."

"Ozma will take care of you, whatever happens,"
Dorothy assured her. But the Lady Aurex, not knowing
the extent of Ozma's power -- which was, in fact, not
so great as Dorothy imagined -- could not take much
comfort in this promise.

It was evident there would be exciting times on the
morrow, if the Flatheads really attacked the Skeezers
of the Magic Isle.