"No, I've shrunk ! It must the boiling," mused the medicine man in depressed voice "My eyes look queer and there's queer rattle in my chest Hear it ? " He shook himself from side to side, and Philador was forced to confess that "Never mind, though," piped the little fellow at last "I'm out bottle 's something ! " Throwing out his chest he put both hands pockets and beamed little boy

Philador gave frightened scream and pointing at his shirt front bade him look mirror No wonder Philador had screamed ! medicine man threw out his chest, both sides shirt front flew open like the doors in small closet, disclosing three shelves shelves stood row of boxes and bottles and little Prince continued to stare, the old gentleman took out first one and then another Clicking his heels together he sprang gleefully air

"It's all my remedies ! " he explained excitedly "My laugh lozenges, soothing syrup, cross drops and everything ! How handy medicine chest and always right with me ! "

"Doesn't it hurt ? " asked Philador doubtfully " breathe all right and don't it feel hollow ? " The medicine man took three long breaths, put back all the bottles and boxes and slamming the doors chest shook his head delightedly

"It feels fine ! " gaily "But look here, isn't this Mombi's hut and hadn't we better run before she comes back ? " Philador so interested he had forgotten his own troubles for , but now he rapidly told the medicine man the mischief Mombi had done own royal family and threat of Quiberon to destroy the Ozure Isles Then he explained how Mombi herself conquered by Tattypoo and later put out by order of Ozma of Oz

The medicine man listened with interest and concern and little Prince told flight blue gull good witch's hut and strange disappearance of Tattypoo message magic slate he ruffled up his wonderful hair and declared himself ready at once Emerald City

"Two heads are better than one," he asserted stoutly "You released me odious bottle and never rest until repaid you

" , Sir ! " Straightening his crown, Philador smiled gratefully at his strange new friend

"Oh, call me Herby," chuckled the medicine man, winking his cough drops eyes merrily, "and I'll call you Phil for short How will that be ? "

"All right, Herby," laughed the little Prince, deciding it quite jolly this gay little Gilliken accompany him capital Herby heartily approved plan for taking some of Tattypoo's magic along and after short search they took the good witch's thinking cap from peg door and rope they found curled up kitchen table The rope was marked "jumping rope," and would come in mighty handily on journey of adventures Pouring several saucers of milk cat with two tails, Philador put the jumping rope basket, the basket arm and declared himself ready to start Herby had the witch's thinking cap slung round his neck and almost instantly it proved its magic powers Neither Herby nor the little Prince knew direction the Emerald City lay, and stood looking uncertainly forest the medicine man bethought himself cap Putting it head he asked it them the way capital The medicine man's little brown face looked so comical under the cap ruffles, Philador help laughing but Herby, closing his eyes began to walk straight ahead

CHAPTER 9

King Uplanders

DEEPER and deeper the two travelers penetrated grim forest Except twitter of birds, occasional creaking of branch, as some animal made its way underbrush, no sound Almost holding his breath, Philador trotted old Medicine Man, peering nervously right and left and half expecting bear or walapus to spring out of some hollow tree But as time passed and no wild beasts of any nature did appear, he began to breathe easier and to look around with real interest and delight The huge gnarled trees were tinged with purple Wild grape and wistaria vines climbed in riotous profusion up the trunks and out over the limbs, lacing them together and forming fairy-like arbors and leafy lanes The floor forest was thickly strewn with violets fragrance of lavender was everywhere Herby, being native Gilliken, was accustomed grandeur forest and pattered along in business-like manner, giving no attention purple pansies, clustered around the great trees, nor the lordly flags, edging each forest stream

"I've heard Emerald City is but day's journey from Mombi's hut," over his shoulder, "and thinking cap to guide us we'll be there for dinner Then Ozma can magically transport us Ozure Isles and save your father's Kingdom I trust the Wizard of Oz will an audience," he added hopefully "I'd like to show him my medicine chest and tell him my story "

"But I wonder what did become of Tattypoo ? " mused Philador, stopping to admire some especially lovely pansies " suppose ever find out ? "

" ! ! With Ozma's famous picture Wizard's magic discover everything " Waving his arms happily, Herby quickened his steps As for Philador, the more he thought capital of Oz, the more impatient he became to reach his journey's end Herby had taken off the thinking cap, and was marching along briskly, the boxes and bottles medicine chest rattling and tinkling wispy white hair snapping morning breeze The trees were farther apart now, and presently they stepped forest altogether But only themselves brink of rushing torrent

"Now what ? " muttered the medicine man gloomily, and while Philador gazed anxiously up and down the bank, he hurriedly opened the chest

" you doing ? " asked the boy curiously, as Herby poured several pills from small bottle into his palm

"Keeping myself from getting cross," puffed the medicine man, quickly swallowing the pills "Have some ? "

"But cross this river ! " chuckled the little Prince laughing of himself

"Well, I don't see how , Phil " Mournfully the little man returned the pill bottle chest and slammed the doors "That's making me cross, and I never allow myself cross," he finished placidly

"Surely some way over " Sitting down on log, Philador stared thoughtfully ground Both had forgotten the thinking cap which would doubtless have solved the problem in second As , they wasted nearly ten minutes wondering what and would probably sitting there yet, sudden rattle witch's basket attracted their attention Peeping in whether squirrel had gotten sandwiches, Phil was surprised the jumping rope knocking its handles sharply together

"Hurrah ! " shouted the medicine man "Tattypoo is helping us rope Phil, what happens " Rather uncertainly Philador picked up the rope Nothing happened at first, then Phil began to revolve it as he had seen the little girls Ozure Isles do second skip he flew lightly over the raging river Herby shouted and waved other side so he gaily skipped back

"It's good thing those pills," cried Herby, shaking his finger at Phil, "otherwise I very cross skipped across the river and left me " At Philador's suggestion they each took an end rope, then both skipping together jumped the river at one bound

"I'm glad we brought this, aren't you ? " Beaming with satisfaction and pleasure, Philador rolled up the marvelous jumping rope and put it back basket The medicine man, again bethinking himself witch's cap and they were still going right direction, put it gravely head

"The way lies over those mountains," he observed after short pause quick walk through some fields brought them foot first mountain and, undaunted by its height and cragginess, they began to ascend, pulling themselves upward help of small saplings and bushes The mountain side was covered with heather so as purple witch's forest Half way up, small plateau and, weary from their stiff climb, the two adventurers stopped to rest

"Whew ! " puffed the little Prince, taking off his crown and looking ruefully at long rent blue cloak " not many more mountains like ! "

"There aren't ! " The answer was so loud and emphatic Philador jumped nearly foot, and Herby, after one astonished glance speaker, threw open his chest and began rummaging wildly among its contents

"What's he doing ? " asked the stranger, as Herby clapped dozen lozenges into his mouth

"Taking his medicine It's just habit he has," answered the little Prince, eyeing the newcomer apologetically

" taking laugh lozenge, know," announced the medicine man, slamming his chest

"A laugh lozenge ! " roared the huge mountaineer, leaning over better look little man "Why, what for ? "

" from laughing at you," explained Herby calmly

" one ! two, dozen before I die ! " Rocking backward and forward, the great stranger howled and so heartily that Philador began to pound him back, but Herby, waiting his chance, popped six lozenges into his mouth Instantly he stopped laughing "That's funny ! " he mused uneasily "I still feel like laughing at you, but 't "

"Same here ! " Slapping his medicine chest, Herby strutted up and down "You've heard of cough drops one from coughing Well laugh lozenges keep you from laughing wrong time Have another ? " he invited generously

"No thanks ! " The big man shook his head in puzzled manner and turned little Prince

"How happen climbing my mountain ? " he inquired politely

"Because it wouldn't climb itself," answered Philador boldly His answer tickled the mountaineer so tremendously he burst into loud roar

"Ho ! Ho ! So it can't ! " he shouted, "and you've saved my laugh, boy ! afraid cured for life "

"Those laugh lozenges will only keep you from laughing at me," explained Herby hastily

"Oh ! " wheezed the stranger with relieved chuckle, "that's all right then stand not laughing at you, but laugh It's I really do well," and it he began to laugh so merrily that Philador and Herby help from joining in Every time Philador tried to stop, another look mountaineer would set him off again fellow was six feet tall and dressed in purple kilts like Highlander Then, his toes curled up almost knees, his nose curled up, so did his eyebrows corners mouth, while his hair grew straight on end and waved to and fro Indeed, more comical and curious countenance the little Prince had never gazed upon life