Twice already the Wicked Witch had used the charm of the Cap. Once was when she had made the Winkies her slaves, and set herself to rule over their country. The Winged Monkeys had helped her do this. The second time was when she had fought against the Great Oz himself, and driven him out of the land of the West. The Winged Monkeys had also helped her in doing this. Only once more could she use this Golden Cap, for which reason she did not like to do so until all her other powers were exhausted. But now that her fierce wolves and her wild crows and her stinging bees were gone, and her slaves had been scared away by the Cowardly Lion, she saw there was only one way left to destroy Dorothy and her friends.
So the Wicked Witch took the Golden Cap from her cupboard and placed it upon her head.
Then she stood upon her left foot and said, slowly,
"Ep-pe, pep-pe, kak-ke!"
Next she stood upon her right foot and said,
"Hil-lo, hol-lo, hel-lo!"
After this she stood upon both feet and cried in a loud voice,
"Ziz-zy, zuz-zy, zik!"
Now the charm began
