" they for ? " asked Phil curiously, as Herby swallowed several pills himself

"For yawns," explained the Medicine Man quickly "Where there's feast there's bound talking Now speeches always make me sleepy, so from yawning and offending Their Majesties, taken this slight precaution

" couple of precautions, too," laughed Philador " they won't keep us long Herby, for we halfway Emerald City by now

As Philador Medicine Man stepped doorway, they were met by tremendous Uplander who introduced himself as High Jinx Joe King's chief adviser and immediately conducted them dining hall where he seated them King and Queen

Herby quite right speeches Almost everyone table made speech, complimenting the little Prince bravery and wishing him success perilous journey But the Medicine Man's pills worked that neither he nor Philador yawned even once during the entire procedure As luncheon, it birthday party , number of goodies served What chicken and waffles, sweet potatoes and hot biscuits, not to mention the cream cake, custard pie and lavender ices, Philador decided never be hungry again

Queen Hyacinth had ordered lunch packed up travelers, and when Herby and Philador both declared eat another bite, Joe King himself went off to search high horse

"On High Boy reach the capital in no time," His Majesty assured them earnestly, "and have saved the Ozure Isles and saved your royal mother, come back and pay us real visit "

This Philador readily promised ; also out from Ozma what had become Good Witch North for, without ruler, the Gilliken Country was open to war and invasion by hostile tribes While they were waiting high horse to appear, Phil Medicine Man expressed desire to walk city Joe, giving each an umbrella, storm came up, as he put it, hurried off High Boy himself

Greatly encouraged happy change in their fortunes, Philador and Herby walked briskly along High Street, stopping to gaze in shop windows or to wave friendly children playing doorways They were careful close castle and were about back, when great gust of wind came tearing across the town, flattening them against the side of house They had just time to open their umbrellas storm broke suddenness and fury that neither see, hear nor call for help And help they most certainly needed

Philador had confused glimpse of an old Uplander putting down his umbrella and jumping , wind seized his own and whirled him aloft like kite Drenched and breathless, he soared over the city Fortunately the wind was light and buoyant umbrella strong and sturdy, when it did come down Philador landed gently enough The storm seemed left behind and scrambling feet, the little Prince looked anxiously upward very bottom of Joe King's mountain top was still hidden black storm clouds Though he looked and looked, not one glimpse castle nor city towers could he catch With discouraged sigh, he turned about just the Medicine Man sail down midst of huckleberry bush

"Well ! " spluttered Herby, putting down his umbrella and pulling himself out with great difficulty "What ? "

"Not much," confessed Philador ruefully "We've lost High Boy and we haven't time back and-"

"The Good Witch's thinking cap is gone too," mourned the Medicine Man, clapping his hand head "We'll have our own thinking hereafter " Herby opened his medicine chest and peered in, and presently crunching away at one remedies When Philador, who looking about, called that ready to start, the Medicine Man came almost cheerfully

"We still have the jumping rope," he reminded the little boy happily "And we still have the lunch basket and we're over the first mountain

Philador nodded soberly and wondered what Herby taking him so cheerful part, help thinking that their fall most unfortunate Without the thinking cap how were they which direction , and without High Boy's long legs to help them how were they ever to reach the Emerald City ? Ahead loomed still higher mountain Sighing deeply he trudged along the rocky little path, his head down lunch basket trailing listlessly hand

" 'd only stayed castle," he mused sorrowfully, "this never happened " Herby answer but quietly passed him small round box "Comfort pills Will cure any trouble that hasn't happened," announced the label Absently the little Prince took two and handed the box back As he popped the pills into his mouth, joyful snort and stamp behind them It King's horse, and with outspread arms Philador ran to meet him

"Why didn't you wait ? " whinnied High Boy, lowering himself down little boy's height and looking reproachfully into his eyes "I've been looking all over the mountain

"The storm came up and blew us away, explained Philador hastily

"Did you put your umbrellas down ? " asked High Boy, nodding amiably Medicine Man

"Why should we put them down ? " questioned Herby, puckering up his forehead, " raining ! "

" raining Wasn't I there too, but know that country, the storms come up thing is your umbrella down and jump Like this," explained High Boy, swinging his umbrella tail expertly under his telescope legs and standing calmly center of it "Then rain comes, you don't get wet or blown away Always put your umbrella down when storm comes up," he finished, jumping out umbrella and swinging it back into place

Philador was too surprised any remark, but Herby, delighted the King's famous steed, put his foot stirrup and pulled up saddle

" the way Emerald City ? " he asked breathlessly

"Two mountains and couple of countries South," answered High Boy carelessly "Up Princeling, four legs are better than two, especially are my kind " Philador could agree most heartily, and swinging himself up in front of Herby, the reins hanging loosely round High Boy's neck and begged him to start

"I always did the capital," confessed High Boy trotting smartly along the stony mountain path "I hear saw horse Emerald City, and whether as handsome and as useful as "

"He couldn't possibly be as nice," sighed Philador, putting both arms round High Boy's neck "You're even better than my sea horse "

"Hey ! Hey ! Well, what ? " With snort of surprise and pleasure, the King's horse set off second mountain at such pace wind whistled by like hurricane

"Hold on, boys," he neighed boisterously "I'm your friend for life ! "

"A~very~fast friend ! " stuttered Herby, clutching Philador belt and wincing he struck the saddle And so up the mountain pounded High Boy, his front legs short, his back legs long umbrella tail switching behind him

CHAPTER 11

The King of Cave City

THE same morning that Philador was having his amazing experiences Good Witch's hut and on Joe King's Mountain, Trot and her friends were having some curious adventures in Cave City

"Where are we going ? " asked Trot, following the old mer-man cautiously and once almost treading tail

" King," answered the mer-man sadly " call this city ? " sniffed the Scarecrow, looking scornfully down the dim damp corridors opening right and left muddy stream of water flowing center

"No, I don't call it city," wheezed their guide resting for crutches, "but you had better not let the cave men hear you criticizing their town go hard enough " Sighing to himself the old fellow went tapping along crutches "Wait till Silly sees you," he mumbled mournfully

"Who's Silly ? " inquired Benny, picking up boulder and hurling it center stream

"The King," replied the mer-man without turning 'round

"Humph ! " chuckled the Scarecrow, winking at Trot, "I've known many Kings who acted silly and who looked silly, but never met one who called himself that you call him Silly right face ? "

" side face," answered the mer-man solemnly "He only has half face," he added, stopping again "That's all anyone has here That's all you'll have presently," he predicted gloomily

"Half face ! " gasped Trot, putting one hand to her cheek and looking around uneasily "Why what ? "

" cave man ? " demanded the Scarecrow, running around and planting himself in front old mer-man " 're not, get us out of here My face funny, but I'm attached and it's attached and nobody half of Trot's face either ! "

"Nor mine ! " panted Benny, bringing his stone heels together with resounding click "Show us the way out of here or I'll tread tail "

" no way out," quavered their guide, sitting down on sapphire rock and waving his tall about sadly " here for years, Mombi stole the Queen Ozure Isles and sent Quiberon to plague the Islanders

"Mombi ! Why Mombi was put out two ," exclaimed Trot, dropping down on another rock " she stole this Queen before then ? And were those the Ozure Isles we flew over ? "