"The Good Witch North," mused Cheeriobed, as Philador sank down at his feet and rested his head affectionately against his father's knee

"Let me go to her," begged the little Prince eagerly "Surely she will help me find my mother and destroy Quiberon before he destroys us

Cheeriobed shook his head quickly and decidedly "No ! No ! too dangerous Besides, no way to cross the lake think of something else " Taking off his crown Cheeriobed gazed sadly off distance , word brought blue gulls capture of Mombi, the wicked witch North, by Tattypoo, who now ruled in her stead Great the rejoicing Ozure Isles and hopefully Cheeriobed had waited for Tattypoo to restore his Queen and deliver him cruel clutches of Quiberon But time had passed and nothing had happened Much of Mombi's mischief remedied Good Witch North, but many of Mombi's misdeeds known to her or anyone else Land of Oz, so not knowing of Cheeriobed's misfortunes, Tattypoo had done nothing to help him But the good King always felt that some day Tattypoo would find out about Quiberon and come rescue As he continued to gaze unseeingly straight ahead, as Akbad continued to mutter and Toddledy to groan, the little Prince grew more and more miserable and unhappy Finally he slipped unnoticed throne room and, running down shores lake, cast himself gloomily sapphire rocks Surely sad to live loveliest islands in Oz and never safe or happy

"If just find way to cross the lake," muttered Philador, feeling pockets for some crumbs to throw the gulls, "then find the Good Witch North " The gulls were his constant and never failing friends and, as one and then another settled down rocks beside him, them of Quiberon's demand for mortal maiden threat to destroy the Kingdom In Oz, all know, the birds and beasts can speak blue gulls listened sympathetically little Prince but talked among themselves of Quiberon's cruelty

"Come back, Princeling, moon is high," whispered little blue lady gull, others had flown away "Come back moon is high thought of way to ! " Comforted of himself, but resolved nothing at all King, Philador crept quietly back castle

CHAPTER 2

The Golden Pear

THE great silver bells sapphire tower had tolled ten night time, and still Cheeriobed councillors had thought of no plan to appease Quiberon In gloomy knots the Ozure Islanders gathered to discuss the almost certain destruction that threatened their Kingdom castle Toddledy King pored over ancient books and maps trying to devise some way out difficulties, but as Quiberon would allow no one to leave the islands how were they to search for mortal maiden ?

"And even if find one," sighed Cheeriobed wearily, " never turn her over to monster like that We magically constructed destroyed without pain, but mortal hurt and no one shall ever suffer to save me or my Kingdom "

"Then perish, I suppose " Pushing his specs high up forehead, Toddledy looked resignedly King "It quite restful destroyed," observed the poor Prime Moneyster, trying to look cheerful side of things But Umtillio rose with protesting screech and striking both fiddles at once sobbed dolefully

"Oh no, no, no ! go, go, go, far away ! Cheerio Oh, Oh ! You don't know, know, know, what you say ! de- destroyed with life half enjoyed is too bad, Can't , see, see, it , be, be, much too sad ? "

"Well, we still have two days," mumbled the King unhappily "Maybe something will turn up

"Nothing will ever turn up here but Your Majesty's nose," sniffed Akbad, who listening conversation with growing impatience " stay here and be destroyed like, but I, I, Akbad, the Soothsayer, shall think of something better ! "

Folding his robes haughtily about him, Akbad swept throne room own high tower he flung the sapphire casements wide and leaning both elbows sill, stared moodily out night

"Surely better mortal destroyed than whole Kingdom," reflected Akbad "The King's soft hearted old Joffywax The way to solve problem is beginning and go on conclusion Quiberon desires mortal maiden and mortal maiden he Now where am I mortal maiden ? " Striding bookcase he pulled out history of Oz which opened almost instantly picture of three little girls sitting in hammock

"Dorothy, Betsy and Trot," muttered the Soothsayer reading the names under the picture "These little girls, though native Americans, now live Emerald City of Oz loved and honored entire populace " Akbad paused thoughtfully after reading this sentence, then tearing out the page stuffed the picture into his sleeve "One quite enough," he remarked, with little shrug shoulders, "and all that now is to reach the Emerald City " Standing before huge map of Oz that covered one side wall, Akbad traced finger line between Sapphire City capital Not great distance, , but old Soothsayer who had never been away Ozure Isles entire life, it seemed long and perilous journey Sinking into an easy chair he began tugging at his whiskers and pulling his long nose and soon perfectly splendid plan popped into his turbaned head

"The pear ! " puffed Akbad delightedly " pick the golden pear and save myself entire Kingdom " Jerking out his magic descriptionary, booklet all soothsayers carry in their pockets, Akbad turned proper page though almost by heart what it would say golden pear " gardens King grows an emerald tree, bearing always one golden fruit This fruit shall be plucked Prince realm in times of extreme danger or peril immediately transport him wheresoever he desires

" transports Prince surely carry soothsayer," decided Akbad " King is too stupid to bid Philador to pick the pear I myself shall pluck it bough and save the people from destruction "

The King, as it happened, was very moment thinking golden fruit "If nothing turns up tomorrow," yawned His Majesty, blowing out the tall candle beside his bed, " command Philador to pick the magic pear lived and mind being destroyed, but too young to suffer destruction " Comforted thought little Prince, , would escape so hard fate, Cheeriobed sank down among his silk cushions and was soon fast asleep His slumbers so calm nor his dreams so untroubled had he seen the two figures that presently stepped out castle One passed Eastern Gateway gardens, the other Western Doorway and, after looking all around that not observed, hastened down beach

moonlight the radiant capital of Cheeriobed floated like City of dreams in silver mist Looking over his shoulder at its sparkling turrets and spires, Philador wondered if ever have the courage to leave so lovely spot Then catching glimpse horrid head of Quiberon, rising suddenly above the waters of Orizon, the little Prince shuddered and gathering his cloak about him hurried down rocks He wondered blue gull had kept her promise and looked anxiously up and down the deserted strand no one in sight and dejectedly about to return castle when low whistle from nearby cave came floating him

Running down and cave, Philador stopped short in perfect astonishment Crouched rocks and regarding him with bright interested eyes was giant blue gull twice as large as Philador himself On its head, the feathers grew into circlet that rested like crown upon its brow

"You wish to leave the Ozure Isle ? " asked the gull quietly "Climb upon my back, then; kind and gentle to my subjects, therefore I the grand Mogull, King of all the land and sea birds, will carry you wheresoever you wish

For moment Philador was too startled to move Then as deep roar throat of Quiberon came reverberating grotto, he sprang gull's back and clasping his arms around its neck whispered hoarsely, "Carry me Good Witch North ! "

With scarcely flutter, the great gull rose, mounting higher and higher, till the Ozure Isles were no more than sparkling dots waters Lake Akbad, standing under the magic tree King's garden, saw great shadow cross the moon Brushing his hand uneasily across his eyes he looked again, but the shadow had gone Concluding but dark cloud, the Soothsayer drew deep breath and, leaning forward, broke the golden pear sacred bough Now Akbad hardly knew what to expect, but the thing that did happen exceeded his wildest imaginings The pear hands grew larger and larger, bursting finally golden splutter and glare almost blinded Stars ! pair of wings !