Oz 11: The Lost Princess of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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world . I_may add that I possess much more wisdom than any Winkie-- man or woman-- in_this land . wherever I go, people fall on their knees before me and render homage to_the great Frogman ! no one else knows so_much as I; no one else is so grand, so magnificent ! "

" if_you_know so_much," she retorted, " why don't you_know where your dishpan is instead of chasing around the country after it ? "

" presently," he answered, " I_am going where it_is, but just now I_am traveling and have_had no breakfast . therefore I honor you by asking you for something to eat ."

"Oho ! the great Frogman is hungry as any tramp, is he ? then pick up these sticks and help me to build the fire," said the woman contemptuously .

" me ! the great Frogman pick up sticks ? " he exclaimed in horror ." in_the Yip country where I_am more honored and powerful than any king could_be, people weep with joy when I ask them to feed me ."

" then that's the place to_go for your breakfast," declared the woman .

" I_fear you_do_not realize my importance," urged the Frogman ."Exceeding wisdom renders me superior to menial duties ."

" it's a great wonder to_me," remarked the woman, carrying her sticks to_the house, " that your wisdom doesn't inform you that you'll get no breakfast here ." and she went in and slammed the door behind her .

the Frogman felt he had_been insulted, so he_gave a loud croak of indignation and turned away . after going a short distance, he_came upon a faint path which led across a meadow in_the direction of a grove of pretty trees, and thinking this circle of evergreens must surround a house where perhaps he_would_be kindly received, he decided to_follow the path . and by and by he_came to_the trees, which were set close together, and pushing aside some branches he_found no house inside the circle, but instead a very beautiful pond of clear water .

now the Frogman, although he_was so big and well educated and now aped the ways and customs of human beings, was still a frog . as he gazed at_this solitary, deserted pond, his love for water returned to him with irresistible force ." if I_cannot get a breakfast, I_may at_least have a fine swim," said he, and pushing his way between_the trees, he reached the bank . there he_took off his fine clothing, laying his shiny purple hat and_his gold- headed cane beside it .a moment later, he sprang with one leap into_the water and dived to_the very bottom of_the pond .

the water was deliciously cool and grateful to_his thick, rough skin, and_the Frogman swam around the pond several_times before he stopped to rest . then he floated upon_the surface and examined the pond with_the bottom and sides were all lined with glossy tiles of a light pink color; just one place in_the bottom where the water bubbled up from a hidden spring had_been left free . on_the banks, the green grass grew to_the edge of_the pink tiling . and now, as_the Frogman examined the place, he_found that on one side of_the pool, just above the water line, had_been set a golden plate on_which some words were deeply engraved . he swam toward this plate, and on reaching it read the following inscription:

this_is

the truth pond

$$ whoever bathes in_this

water must always afterward tell

the truth .&&

this statement startled the Frogman . it even worried him, so_that he leaped upon_the bank and hurriedly began to dress himself ."A great misfortune has befallen me," he_told himself, " for hereafter I_cannot tell people I_am wise, since it_is_not the truth . the truth is_that my boasted wisdom is all a sham, assumed by me to deceive people and make them defer to_me . in truth, no living creature can know much more than his fellows, for_one may know one_thing, and another know another thing, so_that wisdom is evenly scattered throughout_the world . but--ah me ! -- what a terrible fate will now be mine . even Cayke the Cookie Cook will soon discover that my knowledge is no greater than her own, for having bathed in_the enchanted water of_the truth pond, I_can no longer deceive her or tell a lie ."

more humbled than he had_been for many years, the Frogman went back to_the grove where he had left Cayke and found the woman now awake and washing her face in a tiny brook ." where has your honor been ? " she asked .

" to a farmhouse to ask for something to eat," said he, " but the woman refused me ."

" how dreadful ! " she exclaimed ." but never mind, there_are other houses where the people will_be_glad to feed the wisest creature in all the world ."

" do_you_mean yourself ? " he asked .

" no, I mean you ."

the Frogman felt strongly impelled to_tell the truth, but struggled hard against it . his reason told him there_was no use in letting Cayke know he_was not wise, for then she_would lose much respect for him, but each_time he opened his mouth to_speak, he realized he_was about to_tell the truth and shut it again as quickly as possible . he tried to_talk about something else, but the words necessary to undeceive the woman would force themselves to_his lips in_spite of all his struggles . finally, knowing that he_must either remain dumb or let the truth prevail, he_gave a low groan of despair and said, "Cayke, I_am not the wisest creature in all the world; I_am not wise at all ."

"Oh, you_must_be ! " she protested ." you told me so yourself, only last evening ."

" then last evening I failed to_tell you the truth," he admitted, looking very shamefaced for a frog ." I_am sorry i_told you this lie, my good Cayke, but if_you_must know the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, I_am not really as wise as_you_are ."

the Cookie Cook was greatly shocked to hear this, for_it shattered one of her most pleasing illusions . she looked at_the gorgeously dressed Frogman in amazement ." what has caused you to_change your mind so suddenly ? " she inquired .

" I_have bathed in_the truth pond," he_said, " and whoever bathes in_that water is ever afterward obliged to_tell the truth ."

" you were foolish to do_that," declared the woman .

" it_is often very embarrassing to_tell the truth .I'm glad I didn't bathe in_that dreadful water ! "

the Frogman looked at his companion thoughtfully ."Cayke," said he, " i_want you to_go to_the truth pond and take a bath in its water . for if_we_are to travel together and encounter unknown adventures, it would_not_be fair that I alone must always tell you the truth, while you_could tell me whatever you pleased . if_we both dip in_the enchanted water, there_will_be no chance in_the_future of_our deceiving one another ."

" no," she asserted, shaking her head positively, "I won't do_it, your honor . for if i_told you the truth, I'm sure you wouldn't like me . no truth pond for_me .

I'll be just as I_am, an honest woman who_can say what she wants to without hurting anyone's feelings ."

with_this decision the Frogman was forced to_be content, although he_was sorry the Cookie Cook would_not listen to_his advice .

chapter 14

the unhappy FERRYMAN

leaving the grove where they had slept, the Frogman and_the Cookie Cook turned to_the east to seek another house, and after a short walk came to one where the people received them very politely . the children stared rather hard at_the big, pompous Frogman, but the woman of_the house, when Cayke asked for something to eat, at once brought them food and said they were welcome to_it ." few people in need of help pass this_way," she remarked, " for_the Winkies are all prosperous and love to stay in their own homes . but perhaps you_are_not aWinkie," she added .

" no," said Cayke, " I_am aYip, and my home is on a high mountain at_the southeast of your country ."

" and_the Frogman, is he also aYip ? "

" I_do_not know what he_is, other_than a very remarkable and highly educated creature," replied the Cookie Cook ." but he has lived many years among_the Yips, who_have found him so wise and intelligent that_they always go to him for advice ."

" may I ask why you_have left your home and where you_are going ? " said the Winkie woman .

then Cayke told her of_the diamond- studded gold dishpan and how it had_been mysteriously stolen from her house, after which she had discovered that she_could no longer cook good cookies . so she had resolved to search until she found her dishpan again, because aCookie cook who_cannot cook good cookies is_not of much use . the Frogman, who had wanted to_see more of_the world, had accompanied her to assist in_the search . when_the woman had listened to_this story, she asked, " then you_have no idea as_yet who has stolen your dishpan ? "

"I only know it must_have been some mischievous fairy, or a magician, or some such powerful person, because none other could_have climbed the steep mountain to_the Yip country . and who else could_have carried away my beautiful magic dishpan without being seen ? "

the woman thought about_this during the time that Cayke and_the Frogman ate their breakfast . when_they had finished, she said, " where are_you going next ? "

" we_have_not decided," answered the Cookie cook .

" our plan," explained the Frogman in_his important way, " is to travel from place to_place until we learn where the thief is located and then to force him to return the dishpan to its proper owner ."

" the plan is all right," agreed the woman, " but it may take you a long_time before_you succeed, your method being sort of haphazard and indefinite . however, I advise you to travel toward the east ."

" why ? " asked the Frogman .

" because if_you went west, you_would soon come to_the desert, and also because in_this part of_the Winkie country no one steals, so your time here would_be wasted . but toward the east, beyond the river, live many strange people whose honesty i_would_not vouch for . moreover, if_you journey far enough east and cross the river for a second time, you_will come to_the emerald city, where there_is much magic and sorcery . the emerald city is ruled by a dear little girl called Ozma, who also rules the emperor of_the Winkies and all the land of Oz . so, as Ozma is a fairy, she may_be_able to_tell you just who has taken your precious dishpan . provided, of_course, you_do_not find it before_you reach her ."

." this seems_to_be to_be excellent advice," said the Frogman, and Cayke agreed with_him .

." the most sensible thing for_you to_do," continued the woman, " would_be to return to your home and use another dishpan, learn to cook cookies as other people cook cookies, without the aid of magic . but if_you_cannot be happy without the magic dishpan you_have lost, you_are likely to learn more about_it in_the emerald city than at any_other place in Oz ."

they thanked the good woman, and on leaving her house faced the east and continued in_that direction all the way . toward evening they came to_the west branch of_the Winkie river and there, on_the riverbank, found aferryman who lived all alone in a little yellow house . this ferryman was aWinkie with a very_small head and a very large body . he_was sitting in_his doorway as_the travelers approached him and did_not even turn his head to look at them .

" good evening," said the Frogman .

the ferryman made no reply .

" we_would like some supper and_the privilege of sleeping in your house until morning," continued the Frogman ." at daybreak, we_would like some breakfast, and then we_would like to_have_you row us across the river ."

the ferryman neither moved nor spoke . he sat in_his doorway and looked straight ahead ." i_think he_must_be deaf and dumb," Cayke whispered to her companion . then she stood directly in front of_the ferryman, and putting her mouth close to_his ear, she yelled as loudly as she_could, " good evening ! "

the ferryman scowled .

" why do_you yell at me, woman ? " he asked .

" can_you hear what I_say ? " asked in her ordinary tone of voice .

" of_course," replied the man .

" then why didn't you answer the Frogman ? " " because," said the ferryman, "I don't understand the frog language ."

" he speaks the same words that I_do and in_the same way," declared Cayke .

" perhaps," replied the ferryman, " but to_me his voice sounded like a frog's croak . I_know that in_the land of Oz animals can speak our language, and so can the birds and bugs and fishes; but in my ears, they sound merely like growls and chirps and croaks ."

" why is_that ? " asked the Cookie Cook in surprise .

" once, many years_ago, I cut the tail off a fox which had taunted me, and I stole some birds' eggs from a nest to_make an omelet with, and also I pulled a fish from_the river and left it lying on_the bank to gasp for lack of water until it died .I don't know why I_did those wicked things, but I_did them . so the emperor of_the Winkies-- who is_the tin woodman and has a very tender tin heart-- punished me by denying me any communication with beasts, birds or fishes . I_cannot understand them when_they speak to_me, although I_know that other people can do_so, nor

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