Even a hawk has to fly high in order to cross the Deadly Desert,from which poisonous fumes are constantly rising. Kiki Aru felt sickand faint by the time he reached good land again, for he could notquite escape the effects of the poisons. But the fresh air soonrestored him and he alighted in a broad table-land which is calledHiland. Just beyond it is a valley known as Loland, and these twocountries are ruled by the Gingerbread Man, John Dough, with Chick theCherub as his Prime Minister. The hawk merely stopped here longenough to rest, and then he flew north and passed over a fine countrycalled Merryland, which is ruled by a lovely Wax Doll. Then,following the curve of the Desert, he turned north and settled on atree-top in the Kingdom of Noland.

Kiki was tired by this time, and the sun was now setting, so hedecided to remain here till morning. From his tree-top he could see ahouse near by, which looked very comfortable. A man was milking a cowin the yard and a pleasant-faced woman came to the door and calledhim to supper.

That made Kiki wonder what sort of food hawks ate. He felt hungry,but didn't know what to eat or where to get it. Also he thought a bedwould be more comfortable than a tree-top for sleeping, so he hoppedto the ground and said: "I want to become Kiki Aru again--Pyrzqxgl!"

Instantly he had resumed his natural shape, and going to the house,he knocked upon the door and asked for some supper.

"Who are you?" asked the man of the house.

"A stranger from the Land of Oz," replied Kiki Aru.

"Then you are welcome," said the man.

Kiki was given a good supper and a good bed, and he behaved verywell, although he refused to answer all the questions the good peopleof Noland asked him. Having escaped from his home and found a way tosee the world, the young man was no longer unhappy, and so he was nolonger cross and disagreeable. The people thought him a veryrespectable person and gave him breakfast next morning, after which hestarted on his way feeling quite contented.

Having walked for an hour or two through the pretty country that isruled by King Bud, Kiki Aru decided he could travel faster and seemore as a bird, so he transformed himself into a white dove andvisited the great city of Nole and saw the King's palace and gardensand many other places of interest. Then he flew westward into theKingdom of Ix, and after a day in Queen Zixi's country went onwestward into the Land of Ev. Every place he visited he thought wasmuch more pleasant than the saucer-country of the Hyups, and hedecided that when he reached the finest country of all he would settlethere and enjoy his future life to the utmost.

In the land of Ev he resumed his own shape again, for the cities andvillages were close together and he could easily go on foot from oneto another of them.

Toward evening he came to a good Inn and asked the inn-keeper if hecould have food and lodging.

"You can if you have the money to pay," said the man, "otherwise youmust go elsewhere."

This surprised Kiki, for in the Land of Oz they do not use money atall, everyone being allowed to take what he wishes without price. Hehad no money, therefore, and so he turned away to seek hospitalityelsewhere. Looking through an open window into one of the rooms ofthe Inn, as he passed along, he saw an old man counting on a table abig heap of gold pieces, which Kiki thought to be money. One of thesewould buy him supper and a bed, he reflected, so he transformedhimself into a magpie and, flying through the open window, caught upone of the gold pieces in his beak and flew out again before the oldman could interfere. Indeed, the old man who was robbed was quitehelpless, for he dared not leave his pile of gold to chase the magpie,and before he could place the gold in a sack in his pocket the robberbird was out of sight and to seek it would be folly.

Kiki Aru flew to a group of trees and, dropping the gold piece tothe ground, resumed his proper shape, and then picked up the money andput it in his pocket.

"You'll be sorry for this!" exclaimed a small voice just over his head.

Kiki looked up and saw that a sparrow, perched upon a branch, waswatching him.

"Sorry for what?" he demanded.

"Oh, I saw the whole thing," asserted the sparrow. "I saw you lookin the window at the gold, and then make yourself into a magpie androb the poor man, and then I saw you fly here and make the bird intoyour former shape. That's magic, and magic is wicked and unlawful;and you stole money, and that's a still greater crime. You'll besorry, some day."

"I don't care," replied Kiki Aru, scowling.

"Aren't you afraid to be wicked?" asked the sparrow.

"No, I didn't know I was being wicked," said Kiki, "but if I was,I'm glad of it. I hate good people. I've always wanted to be wicked,but I didn't know how."

"Haw, haw, haw!" laughed someone behind him, in a big voice; "that'sthe proper spirit, my lad! I'm glad I've met you; shake hands."

The sparrow gave a frightened squeak and flew away.