submerged dome door opened and something black shot swiftly out water The door instantly closed behind it dark object cleaved its way water, without rising surface, directly toward the place where the Flatheads were standing

"What ? " Dorothy asked the Lady Aurex

" Queen's submarines," reply " all enclosed, and can move under water Coo-ee-oh has several boats which are kept in little rooms basement under our village island is submerged, the Queen uses these boats to reach the shore, and I believe she now intends to fight the Flatheads "

The Su-dic people knew nothing of Coo-ee-oh's submarines, so they watched with surprise under- water boat approached them When quite near the shore it rose surface top parted and fell back, disclosing boat full of armed Skeezers head Queen, standing up bow and holding in one hand coil of magic rope that gleamed like silver

The boat halted and Coo-ee-oh drew back her arm to throw the silver rope toward the Su-dic, who was now but few feet from her But the wily Flathead leader quickly realized his danger and Queen could throw the rope he caught up copper vessels and dashed its contents full in her face !

Chapter Eleven

The Conquest Skeezers

Queen Coo-ee-oh dropped the rope, tottered and fell headlong water, sinking beneath the surface, while the Skeezers submarine assist her and only stared ripples water where she had disappeared moment later there arose surface beautiful White Swan This Swan was of large size, very gracefully formed, and scattered all over its white feathers were tiny diamonds, so thickly placed that rays morning sun fell upon them the entire body Swan glistened like one brilliant diamond The head Diamond Swan had bill of polished gold and its eyes were two sparkling amethysts

"Hooray ! " cried the Su-dic, dancing up and down with wicked glee "My poor wife, Rora, is avenged at last her Golden Pig, Coo-ee-oh, and now you Diamond Swan Float lake forever, like, for your web feet can do no more magic and as powerless Pig wife !

"Villain ! Scoundrel ! " croaked the Diamond Swan " punished Oh, what fool to let you enchant me !

"A fool you were, and fool ! " laughed the Su-dic, dancing madly delight And then he carelessly tipped over the other copper vessel heel and its contents spilled sands and were lost last drop

The Su-dic stopped short and looked overturned vessel with rueful countenance

"That's too bad -- too bad ! " he exclaimed sorrowfully "I've lost all the poison I had to kill the fishes with, and 't make any more because only my wife knew the secret of it, and now foolish Pig and has forgotten all her magic "

" ," said the Diamond Swan scornfully, as she floated water and swam gracefully here and there I'm foiled Your punishment is just beginning, for although enchanted me and taken away my powers of sorcery still the three magic fishes to deal with, 'll destroy you , mark my words "

The Su-dic stared Swan moment Then he yelled men:

"Shoot her ! Shoot the saucy bird ! "

They let fly some arrows Diamond Swan, but she dove under the water missiles fell harmless When Coo-ce-oh rose surface she was far shore and she swiftly swam across the lake to where no arrows or spears could reach her

The Su-dic rubbed his chin and thought what next Near by floated the submarine Queen had come, but the Skeezers who were were puzzled what with themselves Perhaps they sorry their cruel mistress transformed into Diamond Swan, but the transformation had left them quite helpless The under-water boat was not operated by machinery, but by certain mystic words uttered by Coo-ee-oh They didn't know how to submerge it, or how to water-tight shield cover them again, or how to boat go back castle, or make it enter the little basement room where usually kept As matter of fact, they were now shut out village under the Great Dome and get back again So men called Supreme Dictator Flatheads, saying:

"Please make us prisoners and take us to your mountain, and feed and keep us, for nowhere "

Then the Su-dic laughed and answered:

"Not so 't be bothered by caring for lot of stupid Skeezers Stay where , or go wherever you please, keep away mountain " He turned men and added: " conquered Queen Coo-ee-oh and made her helpless swan The Skeezers are under water and may stay there So, having won the war, go home again and make merry and feast, having after many years proved the Flatheads greater and more powerful Skeezers "

So the Flatheads marched away and passed row of palms and went back mountain, where the Su-dic and few officers feasted and all the others were forced to wait on them

"I'm sorry we couldn't have roast pig," said the Su- dic, "but only pig is made of gold, 't eat her Also the Golden Pig happens my wife, and even were she not gold be too tough to eat "

Chapter Twelve

The Diamond Swan

Flatheads had gone away the Diamond Swan swam back boat and young Skeezers named Ervic said to her eagerly:

"How can we get back island, your Majesty ? "

"Am I not beautiful ? " asked Coo-ee-oh, arching her neck gracefully and spreading her diamond-sprinkled wings " my reflection water, and I'm sure no bird nor beast, nor human as magnificent as ! "

"How shall we get back island, your Majesty ? " pleaded Ervic

"When my fame spreads land, people will travel from all parts lake to look upon my loveliness," said Coo-ee-oh, shaking her feathers to diamonds glitter more brilliantly

"But, your Majesty, go home and know how there," Ervic persisted

"My eyes," remarked the Diamond Swan, "are wonderfully blue and bright and will charm all beholders "

"Tell us how to boat go -- how back island," begged Ervic others cried just as earnestly: "Tell us, Coo-ee-oh; tell us ! "

"I don't know," replied the Queen in careless tone

" magic-worker, sorceress, witch ! "

" , , when girl," she said, bending her head over the clear water to catch her reflection ; "but now I've forgotten all such foolish things as magic Swans are lovelier than girls, especially 're sprinkled with diamonds Don't so ? " And she gracefully swam away, without seeming to care whether they answered or not

Ervic companions were in despair They saw plainly that Coo-ee-oh or help them The former Queen had no further thought for her island, her people, or her wonderful magic; she was only intent on admiring her own beauty

"Truly," said Ervic, in gloomy voice, "the Flatheads have conquered us ! "

* * * * * * * *

events witnessed by Ozma and Dorothy and Lady Aurex, who had left the house and gone close glass dome, going on Skeezers had also crowded against the dome, wondering what would happen next Although their vision was to an extent blurred water necessity of looking upward at an angle, they had observed the main points drama enacted above They saw Queen Coo- ee-oh's submarine come surface and open; they saw the Queen standing erect to throw her magic rope; they saw her sudden transformation into Diamond Swan, and cry of amazement went up Skeezers inside the dome

"Good ! " exclaimed Dorothy "I hate that old Su-dic, but I'm glad Coo-ee-oh is punished "

" dreadful misfortune ! " cried Lady Aurex, pressing her hands upon her heart

"Yes," agreed Ozma, nodding her head thoughtfully; "Coo-ee-oh's misfortune will prove terrible blow to her people "

"What ? " asked Dorothy in surprise "Seems the Skeezers are in luck to lose their cruel Queen "

" were all right," responded Lady Aurex; "and island were above water it so serious But here we all are, bottom lake, and fast prisoners dome "

"Can't you raise the island ? " inquired Dorothy

"No Only Coo-ee-oh knew how to ," answer

" try," insisted Dorothy " made down, it made up The machinery is still here, I suppose

"Yes; but the machinery works by magic, and Coo-ee-oh would never share her secret power with of us "

Dorothy's face grew grave; but she was thinking

"Ozma knows lot of magic," she said

"But not that kind of magic," Ozma replied

"Can't you learn how, by looking machinery ? "

"I'm afraid not, my dear It isn't fairy magic at all; witchcraft "

"Well," said Dorothy, turning to Lady Aurex, "you say other sub-sub-sinking boats get in one , and shoot out top water, like Coo-ee-oh did, and so escape And then help to rescue all the Skeezers down here "

"No one knows how to work the under-water boats but the Queen," declared Lady Aurex

"Isn't there any door or window dome that open ? "

"No; and, if there were, the water would rush in to flood the dome, and get out "

"The Skeezers," said Ozma, " drown; they only get wet and soggy and condition very uncomfortable and unhappy But mortal girl, Dorothy, and if your Magic Belt protected you from death to lie forever bottom lake "