You are impudent to think I would defer to you--or to anyone else." "Let us not speak of this now, please," answered Ozma.

"Your island is in danger, for a powerful foe is preparing to destroy it." "Pah! The Flatheads.

I do not fear them." "Their Supreme Dictator is a Sorcerer." "My magic is greater than his.

Let the Flatheads come! They will never return to their barren mountain-top.

I will see to that." Ozma did not like this attitude, for it meant that the Skeezers were eager to fight the Flatheads, and Ozma's object in coming here was to prevent fighting and induce the two quarrelsome neighbors to make peace.