Oz 11: The Lost Princess of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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. from_that day, he stopped making shoes and began to study magic . finally, he aspired to_become the greatest magician in Oz, and for days and weeks and months he thought on a plan to render all the other sorcerers and wizards, as_well as_those with fairy powers, helpless to oppose him .

from_the books of_his ancestors, he learned the following facts:

(1) that Ozma of Oz was_the fairy ruler of_the emerald city and_the land of Oz and_that she_could_not_be destroyed by any magic ever devised . also, by_means of her magic picture she would_be_able to discover anyone who approached her royal palace with_the idea of conquering it .

(2) that Glinda the good was_the most powerful sorceress in Oz, among her other magical possessions being the great book of Records, which told her all that happened anywhere in_the_world . this book of Records was very dangerous to Ugu's plans, and Glinda was in_the service of Ozma and would use her arts of sorcery to protect the girl ruler .

(3) that_the wizard of Oz, who lived in Ozma's palace, had_been taught much powerful magic by Glinda and had a bag of magic tools with_which he_might_be able to conquer the shoemaker .

(4) that there existed in Oz-- in_the Yip country--a jeweled dishpan made of gold, which dishpan would grow large enough for a man to sit inside it . then, when he grasped both the golden handles, the dishpan would transport him in an instant to any place he_wished to_go within_the borders of_the land of Oz .

no one now living except Ugu knew of_the powers of_the magic Dishpan, so after long study, the shoemaker decided that if he_could manage to secure the dishpan, he_could by its means rob Ozma and Glinda and_the wizard of Oz of all their magic, thus becoming himself the most powerful person in all the land . his first act was to_go away from_the city of Herku and build for himself the wicker castle in_the hills . here he carried his books and instruments of magic, and here for a full year he diligently practiced all the magical arts learned from_his ancestors . at_the end of_that_time, he_could do a good_many wonderful things .

then, when all his preparations were made, he set out for_the Yip country, and climbing the steep mountain at night he entered the house of Cayke the Cookie Cook and stole her diamond- studded gold dishpan while all the Yips were asleep, Taking his prize outside, he set the pan upon_the ground and uttered the required magic word . instantly, the dishpan grew as large as a big washtub, and Ugu seated himself in_it and grasped the two handles . then he_wished himself in_the great drawing room of Glinda the good .

he_was there in a flash . first he_took the great book of Records and put it in_the dishpan . then he went to Glinda's laboratory and took all her rare chemical compounds and her instruments of sorcery, placing these also in_the dishpan, which he caused to grow large enough to hold them . next he seated himself amongst the treasures he had stolen and wished himself in_the room in Ozma's palace which the wizard occupied and where he kept his bag of magic tools . this bag Ugu added to_his plunder and then wished himself in_the apartments of Ozma .

here he first took the magic picture from_the wall and then seized all the other magical things which Ozma possessed .Having placed these in_the dishpan, he_was about to climb in himself when he looked up and saw Ozma standing beside him . her fairy instinct had warned her that danger was threatening her, so the beautiful girl ruler rose from her couch and leaving her bedchamber at once confronted the thief .

Ugu had to_think quickly, for he realized that if he permitted Ozma to rouse the inmates of her palace, all his plans and_his present successes were likely to_come to naught . so he threw a scarf over the girl's head so she_could_not scream, and pushed her into_the dishpan and tied her fast so she_could_not move . then he climbed in beside her and wished himself in_his own wicker castle . the magic Dishpan was there in an instant, with all its contents, and Ugu rubbed his hands together in triumphant joy as he realized that he now possessed all the important magic in_the land of Oz and could force all the inhabitants of_that fairyland to_do as he willed .

so quickly had his journey been accomplished that before daylight the robber magician had locked Ozma in a room, making her a prisoner, and had unpacked and arranged all his stolen goods . the next_day he placed the book of Records on_his table and hung the magic picture on_his wall and put away in_his cupboards and drawers all the elixirs and magic compounds he had stolen . the magical instruments he polished and arranged, and this_was fascinating work and made him very happy .

by turns the imprisoned ruler wept and scolded the shoemaker, haughtily threatening him with dire punishment for_the wicked deeds he had done .Ugu became somewhat afraid of_his fairy prisoner, in_spite of_the fact that he believed he had robbed her of all her powers; so he performed an enchantment that quickly disposed of her and placed her out of_his sight and hearing . after_that, being occupied with other things, he soon forgot her .

but now, when he looked into_the magic picture and read the great book of Records, the shoemaker learned that his wickedness was not to_go unchallenged . two important expeditions had set out to_find him and force him to_give up his stolen property . one was_the party headed by_the wizard and Dorothy, while the other consisted of Cayke and_the Frogman .Others were also searching, but not in_the right places . these two groups, however, were headed straight for_the wicker castle, and so Ugu began to_plan how best to meet them and to defeat their efforts to conquer him .

chapter 20

more SURPRISES

all that first day after_the Union of_the two parties, our friends marched steadily toward the wicker castle of Ugu the shoemaker . when night came, they camped in a little grove and passed a pleasant evening together, although some_of_them were worried because button- bright was still lost .

" perhaps," said Toto as_the animals lay grouped together for_the night, " this shoemaker who stole my growl and who stole Ozma has also stolen button- bright ."

" how do_you_know that_the shoemaker stole your growl ? " demanded the woozy .

" he has stolen about everything else of value in Oz, hasn't he ? " replied the dog .

" he has stolen everything he_wants, perhaps," agreed the lion, " but what could anyone want with your growl ? "

" well," said the dog, wagging his tail slowly, " my recollection is that_it_was a wonderful growl, soft and low and-- and--"

" and ragged at_the edges," said the sawhorse .

" so," continued Toto, " if_that magician hadn't any growl of_his own, he_might_have wanted mine and stolen it ."

" and if he has, he_will soon wish he hadn't," remarked the mule ." also, if he has stolen button- bright, he_will_be sorry ."

"Don't you like button- bright, then ? " asked the lion in surprise .

" it isn't a question of liking him," replied the mule ." it's a question of watching him and looking after him . any boy who causes his friends so_much worry isn't worth having around .I never get lost ."

" if you_did," said Toto, " no one would worry a bit . i_think button- bright is a very lucky boy because he always gets found ."

" see here," said the lion, " this chatter is keeping us all awake, and tomorrow is likely to_be a busy day . go to sleep and forget your quarrels ."

" friend lion," retorted the dog, " if I hadn't lost my growl, you_would hear it now . I_have as_much right to_talk as_you_have to sleep ."

the lion sighed .

" if only you had lost your voice when_you lost your growl," said he, " you_would_be a more agreeable companion ."

but they quieted down after_that, and soon the entire camp was wrapped in slumber . next morning they made an early start, but had hardly proceeded on their way an hour when, on climbing a slight elevation, they beheld in_the distance a low mountain on top of_which stood Ugu's wicker castle . it_was a good- sized building and rather pretty because the sides, roofs and domes were all of wicker, closely woven as_it_is in fine baskets .

"I wonder if_it_is strong ? " said Dorothy musingly as she eyed the queer castle .

"I suppose it_is, since a magician built it," answered the wizard ." with magic to protect it, even a paper castle might_be as strong as_if made of stone . this Ugu must_be a man of ideas, because he_does things in a different way from other people ."

" yes . no one else would steal our dear Ozma," sighed tiny trot .

"I wonder if Ozma is_there ? " said Betsy, indicating the castle with a nod of her head .

" where else could she be ? " asked Scraps .

" suppose we ask_the pink bear," suggested Dorothy .

that seemed a good idea, so they halted the procession, and_the bear king held the little pink bear on_his lap and turned the crank in its side and asked, " where is Ozma of Oz ? "

and_the little pink bear answered, " she_is in a hole in_the ground a half mile away at your left ."

" good gracious ! " cried Dorothy .

" then she_is_not in Ugu's castle at all ."

" it_is lucky we asked that question," said the wizard, " for if_we_can find Ozma and rescue her, there_will_be no need for_us to fight that wicked and dangerous magician ."

" indeed ! " said Cayke ." then what about_my dishpan ? "

the wizard looked puzzled at her tone of remonstrance, so she added, "Didn't you people from_the emerald city promise that we_would all stick together, and_that you_would help me to_get my dishpan if i_would help_you to_get your Ozma ? and didn't I bring to_you the little pink bear, which_has told you where Ozma is hidden ? "

" she's right," said Dorothy to_the wizard .

" we_must do as_we agreed ."

" well, first of all, let_us go and rescue Ozma," proposed the wizard ." then our beloved ruler may_be_able to advise us how to conquer Ugu the shoemaker ." so they turned to_the left and marched for half a mile until they came to a small but deep hole in_the ground . at once, all rushed to_the brim to peer into_the hole, but instead of finding there princess Ozma of Oz, all that_they saw was button- bright, who was lying asleep on_the bottom .

their cries soon wakened the boy, who sat up and rubbed his eyes . when he recognized his friends, he smiled sweetly, saying, " found again ! "

" where is Ozma ? " inquired Dorothy anxiously .

"I don't know," answered button- bright from_the depths of_the hole ."I got lost yesterday, as_you_may remember, and in_the night while i_was wandering around in_the moonlight trying to_find my way back to_you, I suddenly fell into_this hole ."

" and wasn't Ozma in_it then ? "

" there_was no one in_it but me, and i_was sorry it wasn't entirely empty . the sides are so steep I_can't climb out, so there_was nothing to_be_done but sleep until someone found me . thank_you_for coming . if_you'll please let down a rope, I'll empty this hole in a hurry ."

" how strange ! " said Dorothy, greatly disappointed .

" it's evident the pink bear didn't tell the truth ."

" he never makes a mistake," declared the lavender bear king in a tone that showed his feelings were hurt . and then he turned the crank of_the little pink bear again and asked, " is_this the hole that Ozma of Oz is in ? "

" yes," answered the pink bear .

" that settles it," said the king positively ." your Ozma is in_this hole in_the ground ."

"Don't be silly," returned Dorothy impatiently ." even your beady eyes can_see there_is no one in_the hole but button- bright ."

" perhaps button- bright is Ozma," suggested the king .

" and perhaps he isn't !

Ozma is a girl, and button- bright is a boy ."

" your pink bear must_be out of order," said the wizard, " for, this_time at_least, his machinery has caused him to_make an untrue statement ."

the bear king was so angry at_this remark that he turned away, holding the pink bear in_his paws, and refused to discuss the matter in any further way .

" at any rate," said the Frogman, " the pink bear has led us to your boy friend and so enabled you to rescue him ."

Scraps was leaning so_far over the hole trying to_find Ozma in_it that suddenly she lost her balance and pitched in head foremost . she fell upon button- bright and tumbled him over, but he_was not hurt by her soft, stuffed body and only laughed at_the mishap . the wizard buckled some straps together and let one end of_them down into_the hole, and soon both Scraps and_the boy had climbed up and were standing safely beside the others . they looked once more for Ozma, but the hole was now absolutely vacant . it_was a round hole, so from_the top they_could plainly see every part of it . before_they left the place, Dorothy went to_the bear king and said, "I'm sorry we couldn't believe what the little pink bear said, ' cause we don't want to_make you feel bad by doubting him . there_must_be a mistake, somewhere, and we prob'ly don't understand just

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