L.Frank Baum. The marvelous land of Oz -
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the bottom. And in the cavity below were three silver pills, with a
carefully folded paper lying underneath them.
This paper the boy proceeded to unfold, taking care not to spill the
pills, and found several lines clearly written in red ink.
"Read it aloud," said the Scarecrow. so Tip read, as follows:
"DR. NIKIDIK'S CELEBRATED WISHING PILLS.
"Directions for Use: Swallow one pill;
count seventeen by twos; then make a Wish.
- The Wish will immediately be granted.
CAUTION: Keep in a Dry and Dark Place."
"Why, this is a very valuable discovery!" cried the Scarecrow.
"It is, indeed," replied Tip, gravely. "These pills may be of great
use to us. I wonder if old Mombi knew they were in the bottom of the
pepper-box. I remember hearing her say that she got the Powder of Life
from this same Nikidik."
"He must be a powerful Sorcerer!" exclaimed the Tin Woodman; "and
since the powder proved a success we ought to have confidence in the
pills."
"But how," asked the Scarecrow, "can anyone count seventeen by twos?
Seventeen is an odd number."
"That is true," replied Tip, greatly disappointed. "No one can
possibly count seventeen by twos."
"Then the pills are of no use to us," wailed the Pumpkinhead; "and
this fact overwhelms me with grief. For I had intended wishing that my
head would never spoil."
"Nonsense!" said the Scarecrow, sharply. "If we could use the pills
at all we would make far better wishes than that."
"I do not see how anything could be better," protested poor Jack. "If
you were liable to spoil at any time you could understand my anxiety."
"For my part," said the Tin Woodman, "I sympathize with you in every