the mist expanded into a ball, growing denser in appearance. next it became milky in hue, then opalescent, finally glowing as with an inner light. slowly a scene appeared in the metal-bound ball of shimmering opal mist. while king umb and queen ra watched, the throne room of the royal palace in the emerald city grew distinct in the milky depths of the captive ball. princess ozma stood by her throne with glinda the good at her side. the lips of the little ruler were moving, forming words, although the mimic monarchs could distinguish no sound. ozma was addressing her subjects. then the girl ruler smiled and raised her wand. in an instant both ozma and glinda had vanished. the ball of glowing mist disappeared. with a clatter queen ra threw the metal circlet to the stone floor of the cave and triumphantly faced the owl-headed bear.