"Oh, Mr Wizard ! How did you manage ? " asked Dorothy

"It's trick Glinda the Sorceress taught me, and much better magic than I used to practice in Omaha, or when I first came to Oz," he answered " good Glinda found to live Emerald City always, she promised to help me, because she said the Wizard of Oz ought really clever Wizard, and not humbug So much together and learning so fast that I expect to accomplish some really wonderful things "

"You've done it now ! " declared Dorothy "These tents are just wonderful ! "

"But come the men's tent," said the Wizard So they went second tent, which had shaggy edges because made Shaggy Man's handkerchief, and found that completely furnished also It contained four neat beds for Uncle Henry, Omby Amby, the Shaggy Man Wizard Also soft rug for Toto to lie upon

"The third tent," explained the Wizard, "is our dining room and kitchen "

They visited that next, and found table and dishes dining tent, with plenty things necessary to use in cooking The Wizard carried out big kettle and set it swinging on crossbar tent While doing this Omby Amby Shaggy Man brought supply of twigs forest and then they built fire underneath the kettle

"Now, Dorothy," said the Wizard, smiling, "I expect you to cook our supper "

"But nothing kettle," she cried

" sure ? " inquired the Wizard

"I didn't see anything put in, and I'm almost sure empty brought it out," she replied

"Nevertheless," said the little man, winking slyly at Uncle Henry, " do well to watch our supper, my dear, doesn't boil over "

Then the men took some pails and went forest to search for spring of water, and while they were gone Aunt Em said to Dorothy:

"I believe the Wizard is fooling us the kettle myself, and when he hung it over the fire there wasn't thing but air "

"Don't worry," remarked Billina, confidently, as she nestled grass fire "You'll find something kettle when it's taken off--and it won't be poor, innocent chickens, either "

"Your hen has very bad manners, Dorothy," said Aunt Em, looking somewhat disdainfully at Billina "It seems too bad she ever learned how "

There another unpleasant quarrel between Aunt Em and Billina the men returned just then with their pails filled with clear, sparkling water The Wizard told Dorothy that she was good cook and he believed their supper was ready

So Uncle Henry lifted the kettle fire and poured its contents into big platter which the Wizard held for him The platter was fairly heaped with fine stew, smoking hot, with many kinds of vegetables and dumplings and rich, delicious gravy

The Wizard triumphantly placed the platter table dining tent and then they all sat down in camp chairs feast

There were dishes table, all carefully covered, and time came to remove these covers they found bread and butter, cakes, cheese, pickles and fruits--including luscious strawberries of Oz

No one ventured to ask question how these things came there They contented themselves by eating heartily the good things provided, and Toto and Billina had their full share, meal was over, Aunt Em whispered to Dorothy:

" magic food, my dear, and reason perhaps it won't be very nourishing; but I'm willing it tasted as good as anything I ever et " Then she added, in louder voice: "Who's going dishes ? "

"No one, madam," answered the Wizard "The dishes have 'done' themselves "

"La sakes ! " ejaculated the good lady, holding up her hands in amazement For, sure enough, when she looked dishes they had moment before left table, she found them all washed and dried and piled up into neat stacks

15 How Dorothy Happened Lost

beautiful evening, so they drew their camp chairs in circle before tents and began stories to amuse themselves and pass away the time went to bed

Pretty soon zebra was seen coming forest, and he trotted straight up and said politely:

"Good evening, people "

The zebra was sleek little animal and had slender head, stubby mane and paint-brush tail--very like donkey's His neatly shaped white body was covered with regular bars of dark brown, hoofs were delicate of deer

"Good evening, friend Zebra," said Omby Amby, in reply creature's greeting "Can anything ? "

"Yes," answered the zebra " like you to settle dispute that has long been bother , whether more water or land "

"Who disputing with ? " asked the Wizard

"With soft-shell crab," said the zebra "He lives in pool where I go to drink every day, and very impertinent crab, I assure you told him land is much greater in extent water, but be convinced Even this very evening, when him an insignificant creature who lived in small pool, he asserted water was greater and more important land So, seeing your camp, I decided to to settle the dispute for once and all, that not be further annoyed ignorant crab "

had listened explanation Dorothy inquired:

"Where soft-shell crab ? "

"Not far away," replied the zebra " agree to judge run and get him "

"Run along, then," said the little girl

So the animal pranced forest and soon came trotting back When he drew near they found soft-shell crab clinging fast stiff hair zebra's head, where it held on by one claw

"Now then, Mr Crab," said the zebra, "here are the people you about; know more than , who lives in pool, and more than , who lives in forest For they travelers all over the world, and know every part of it "

" more world than Oz," declared the crab, in stubborn voice

" true," said Dorothy; "but I used to live in Kansas, United States, and I've been to California and to Australia and so has Uncle Henry "

" part," added the Shaggy Man, "I've been to Mexico and Boston and foreign countries "

"And I," said the Wizard, " to Europe and Ireland "

"So ," continued the zebra, addressing the crab, "here are people of real consequence, what talking about "

"Then they know there's more water than land," asserted the crab, in shrill, petulant voice

"They know wrong such an absurd statement, and probably think lobster instead of crab," retorted the animal

taunt the crab reached out its other claw and seized the zebra's ear, creature gave cry of pain and began prancing up and down, trying to shake off the crab, which clung fast

"Stop pinching ! " cried the zebra "You promised not to pinch if carry you here ! "

"And you promised to treat me respectfully," said the crab, letting go the ear

"Well, haven't I ? " demanded the zebra

"No; you called me lobster," said the crab

"Ladies and gentlemen," continued the zebra, "please pardon my poor friend, because ignorant and stupid, and understand Also the pinch claw is very annoying So pray tell him world contains more land than water, and when he has heard your judgment carry him back and dump him into his pool, where more modest "

"But tell him that," said Dorothy, gravely, "because it true "

"What ! " exclaimed the zebra, in astonishment; "do I hear you aright ? "

"The soft-shell crab is correct," declared the Wizard " considerably more water than land "

"Impossible ! " protested the zebra "Why, run for days land, and find but little water "

"Did you ever see an ocean ? " asked Dorothy

"Never," admitted the zebra " no such thing as an ocean Land of Oz "

"Well, several oceans ," said Dorothy, "and people sail in ships upon these oceans for weeks and weeks, and never see bit of land at all joggerfys will tell you that all the oceans put together are bigger than all the land put together "

the crab began laughing in queer chuckles that reminded Dorothy way Billina sometimes cackled

"NOW give up, Mr Zebra ? " it cried, jeeringly; "now give up ? "

The zebra seemed much humbled

" read geographys,"

" take Wizard's School Pills," suggested Billina, "and make you learned and wise without studying "

The crab began laughing again, which so provoked the zebra that he tried to shake the little creature off This resulted in more ear-pinching, and finally Dorothy told them that if behave go back forest

"I'm sorry I asked you to decide this question," said the zebra, crossly " as neither of us could prove we were right we quite enjoyed the dispute; but now never drink pool again without the soft-shell crab laughing at me So find another drinking place "

"Do ! Do, you ignoramus ! " shouted the crab, as loudly as his little voice would carry "Rile some other pool with your clumsy hoofs, and let your betters alone ! "