"Those doors open by magic word, and only Coo-ee-oh knows the word be uttered," said Lady Aurex

"Dear me ! " exclaimed Dorothy, "that dreadful Queen's witchcraft upsets all my plans to escape I guess I'll give it up, Ozma, and let you save us "

Ozma smiled, but her smile was not so cheerful as usual The Princess of Oz found herself confronted with serious problem, and although she had no thought of despairing she realized Skeezers and their island, as Dorothy and herself, were in grave trouble unless find means to save them lost Land of Oz for all future time

" dilemma," said she, musingly, "nothing is gained by haste Careful thought may aid us, and so may the course of events The unexpected is always likely to happen, and cheerful patience is better than reckless action "

"All right," returned Dorothy; "take your time, Ozma; there's no hurry How about some breakfast, Lady Aurex ? "

Their hostess led them back house, where she ordered her trembling servants and serve breakfast All the Skeezers were frightened and anxious over the transformation Queen into swan Coo-ee-oh was feared and hated, but they had depended on her magic to conquer the Flatheads and she raise their island surface lake again

Before breakfast was over several leading Skeezers came to Aurex to ask her advice and to question Princess Ozma, of whom they knew nothing except that she claimed fairy Ruler of all the land, including the Lake Skeezers

"If what you told Queen Coo-ee-oh truth," they said to her, " our lawful mistress, and depend on you us out difficulties "

" try to " Ozma graciously assured them, "but remember powers of fairies are granted them to bring comfort and happiness to all who appeal contrary, such magic as Coo-ee- oh knew and practiced is unlawful witchcraft and her arts are such as no fairy would condescend to use However, sometimes necessary to consider evil to accomplish good, and perhaps by studying Coo- ee-oh's tools and charms of witchcraft I to save us promise to accept me Ruler and to obey my commands ? "

They promised willingly

"Then," continued Ozma, " go to Coo-ee-oh's palace and take possession of it Perhaps what of use meantime tell all the Skeezers to fear nothing, but have patience Let them return homes and perform their daily tasks as usual Coo-ee-oh's loss may not prove misfortune, but rather blessing "

This speech cheered the Skeezers amazingly Really, they had no one now to depend upon but Ozma, and dangerous position their hearts were lightened transformation and absence cruel Queen

They got out their brass band and grand procession escorted Ozma and Dorothy palace, where all of Coo-ee-oh's former servants were eager to wait upon them Ozma invited Lady Aurex to stay palace also, for she knew all Skeezers and their island and had also been favorite former Queen, so her advice and information valuable

Ozma was somewhat disappointed in what she found palace One room of Coo-ee-oh's private suite was entirely devoted practice of witchcraft, and here were countless queer instruments and jars of ointments and bottles of potions labeled with queer names, and strange machines that Ozma guess the use of, and pickled toads and snails and lizards, and shelf of books that were written in blood, but in language which the Ruler of Oz know

" ," said Ozma to Dorothy, who accompanied her in her search, "how Coo-ee-oh knew the use magic tools she stole three Adept Witches Moreover, from all reports these Adepts practiced only good witchcraft, such as helpful people, while Coo-ee-oh performed only evil "

"Perhaps she turned the good things to evil uses ? " suggested Dorothy

"Yes, and knowledge she gained Coo-ee-oh doubtless invented many evil things quite unknown good Adepts, now fishes," added Ozma " unfortunate Queen kept her secrets so closely guarded, for no one but herself could use any strange things gathered room "

"Couldn't we capture the Diamond Swan and make her tell the secrets ? " asked Dorothy

"No; even were we able to capture her, Coo-ee-oh now has forgotten all the magic she ever knew But until we ourselves escape dome capture the Swan, and were we to escape no use for Coo-ee-oh's magic "

"That's fact," admitted Dorothy "But -- say, Ozma, here's good idea ! Couldn't we capture the three fishes -- the gold and silver and bronze ones, and couldn't you transform 'em back own shapes, and then couldn't the three Adepts get us out of here ? "

" very practical, Dorothy dear It as hard to capture the three fishes, from among all the other fishes lake, capture the Swan "

"But , it more help ," persisted the little girl

" true," answered Ozma, smiling at her friend's eagerness "You find way to catch the fish, and I'll promise are caught to restore them proper forms "

" 't ," replied Dorothy, "but I'm going "

She left the palace and went to place where look through clear pane glass dome surrounding water Immediately she became interested queer sights that met her view

The Lake Skeezers was inhabited by fishes of many kinds and many sizes The water was so transparent girl for long distance fishes came so close glass dome that sometimes they actually touched it white sands bottom lake were star-fish, lobsters, crabs and many shell fish of strange shapes and with shells of gorgeous hues The water foliage was of brilliant colors and to Dorothy it resembled splendid garden

But the fishes were the most interesting of all Some were big and lazy, floating slowly along or lying at rest with just their fins waving Many with big round eyes looked full girl as she watched them and Dorothy wondered if hear her glass if she spoke In Oz, where all the animals and birds can talk, many fishes are able also, but usually more stupid than birds and animals because slowly and haven't much about

Lake Skeezers the fish of smaller size were more active big ones and darted quickly in and out swaying weeds, as had important business and were in hurry smaller varieties that Dorothy hoped to spy the gold and silver and bronze fishes She had an idea the three would keep together, being companions now were in their natural forms, but such multitude of fishes constantly passed, the scene shifting every moment, that she was not sure notice them even appeared in view Her eyes couldn't look in all directions fishes she sought other side dome, or far away lake

"P'raps, because they were afraid of Coo-ee-oh, they've hid themselves somewhere, and don't know their enemy transformed," she reflected

She watched the fishes , until she became hungry and went back palace for lunch But she was not discouraged

"Anything new, Ozma ? " she asked

"No, dear Did you discover the three fishes ? "

"Not yet But there isn't anything better , Ozma, so I guess I'll go back and watch again "

Chapter Thirteen

The Alarm Bell

Glinda, the Good, in her palace Quadling Country, had many things to occupy her mind, for did she look weaving and embroidery of her bevy of maids, and assist all those who came to her to implore her help -- beasts and birds as people -- but she was close student arts of sorcery and spent much time in her Magical Laboratory, where she strove remedy for every evil and to perfect her skill in magic

Nevertheless, she forget to look Great Book of Records if any mention visit of Ozma and Dorothy Enchanted Mountain Flatheads Magic Isle Skeezers The Records told her that Ozma had arrived mountain, that she had escaped, with her companion, and gone island Skeezers, Queen Coo-ee-oh had submerged the island so entirely under water Then came the statement Flatheads had come lake to poison the fishes their Supreme Dictator had transformed Queen Coo- ee-oh into swan

No other details were given Great Book and so Glinda know that since Coo-ee-oh had forgotten her magic Skeezers knew how to raise the island surface again So Glinda was not worried about Ozma and Dorothy until one morning, while she sat with her maids, there came sudden clang great alarm bell so unusual that every maid gave start and even the Sorceress for moment think what the alarm meant

Then she remembered the ring she had given Dorothy when she left the palace to start on her venture In giving the ring Glinda had warned the little girl not to use its magic powers unless she and Ozma were in real danger, but then she was it on her finger once right and once left and Glinda's alarm bell would ring

So the Sorceress now knew that danger threatened her beloved Ruler and Princess Dorothy, and she hurried to her magic room to seek information what sort of danger The answer to her question was not very satisfactory, for only: "Ozma and Dorothy are prisoners great Dome Isle Skeezers, Dome is under the water lake "

"Hasn't Ozma the power to raise the island surface ? " inquired Glinda

"No," reply, Record refused more except that Queen Coo-ee-oh, who alone could command the island to rise, transformed Flathead Su-dic into Diamond Swan

Then Glinda consulted the past records Skeezers Great Book After diligent search she discovered that Coo-ee-oh was powerful sorceress who had gained most of her power by treacherously transforming the Adepts of Magic, who were visiting her, into three fishes -- gold, silver and bronze -- after which she had them cast lake

Glinda reflected earnestly on and decided that someone must go to Ozma's assistance While no great need of haste, because Ozma and Dorothy could live in submerged dome , evident get out until someone was able to raise the island