" sensible," approved the Shaggy Man "I quite agree "

The others, too, seemed the Wizard's plan the best, and Glinda herself commended it, so on they marched toward the line of palm trees that hid the Skeezers' lake from view

Pretty soon they came palms These were set closely together, the branches, which came quite ground, being so tightly interlaced that even the Glass Cat could scarcely find place to squeeze through The path which the Flatheads used was some distance away

"Here's job Tin Woodman," said the Scarecrow

So the Tin Woodman, who was always glad of use, set to work sharp, gleaming axe, which he always carried, and in surprisingly short time had chopped away enough branches to permit them all easily trees

Now the clear waters beautiful lake were before them and by looking closely see the outlines Great Dome sunken island, far from shore and directly center lake

every eye was at first fixed dome, where Ozma and Dorothy Skeezers were still fast prisoners But soon their attention was caught by more brilliant sight, for here Diamond Swan swimming just before them, its long neck arched proudly, the amethyst eyes gleaming and all the diamond-sprinkled feathers glistening splendidly under the rays sun

"That," said Glinda, " transformation of Queen Coo-ce-oh, the haughty and wicked witch who betrayed the three Adepts at Magic and treated her people like slaves "

"She's wonderfully beautiful now," remarked the Frogman

"It doesn't seem like much of punishment," said Trot "The Flathead Su-dic made her toad "

" Coo-ee-oh is punished," said Glinda, "for she has lost all her magic power and her grand palace and can no longer misrule the poor Skeezers "

" call to her, and hear what she has ," proposed the Wizard

So Glinda beckoned the Diamond Swan, which swam gracefully to position near them Before anyone could speak Coo-ee-oh called in rasping voice -- voice of swan is always harsh and unpleasant -- and said with much pride:

"Admire me, Strangers ! Admire the lovely Coo-ee-oh, the handsomest creature in all Oz Admire me ! "

"Handsome is as handsome does," replied the Scarecrow "Are your deeds lovely, Coo-ce-oh ? "

"Deeds ? What deeds can swan do but swim around and give pleasure to all beholders ? " said the sparkling bird

" forgotten your former life ? forgotten your magic and witchcraft ? " inquired the Wizard

"Magic -- witchcraft ? Pshaw, who cares for such silly things ? " retorted Coo-ee-oh "As past life, it seems like an unpleasant dream I wouldn't go back if Don't you admire my beauty, Strangers ? "

"Tell us, Coo-ee-oh," said Glinda earnestly, " recall enough of your witchcraft to enable us to raise the sunken island surface lake Tell us that and I'll string of pearls to wear around your neck and add to your beauty "

"Nothing can add to my beauty, for I'm the most beautiful creature anywhere whole world "

"But how can we raise the island ? "

"I don't know and I don't care If ever I've forgotten, and I'm glad of it," response "Just watch me circle around me glitter !

"It's no use," said Button Bright; "the old Swan is in love with herself of anything else "

"That's fact," agreed Betsy with sigh; "but we've got Ozma and Dorothy out lake, somehow or other "

"And own way," added the Scarecrow

"But how ? " asked Uncle Henry in grave voice, for bear dear niece Dorothy being out there under water; "how shall we ? "

"Leave that to Glinda," advised the Wizard, realizing helpless himself

" were just an ordinary sunken island," said the powerful sorceress, "there several ways bring it surface again But Magic Isle, and by some curious art of witchcraft, unknown to any but Queen Coo-ce-oh, it obeys certain commands of magic and will not respond to despair least, but require some deep study to solve this difficult problem Swan could only remember the witchcraft that she invented and knew as woman, force her me the secret, but all her former knowledge is now forgotten "

"It seems ," said the Wizard after brief silence had followed Glinda's speech, " three fishes lake that used Adepts at Magic and from whom Coo-ee-oh stole much of her knowledge find those fishes and return them former shapes, doubtless tell us what to bring the sunken island surface "

" thought fishes," replied Glinda, "but among fishes lake contains how are we to single them out ? "

understand, , that had Glinda been at home in her castle, where the Great Book of Records was, she known that Ervic the Skeezer already had taken the gold and silver and bronze fishes lake But that act recorded Book after Glinda had set out journey, so all unknown to her

" boat yonder shore," said Ojo the Munchkin boy, pointing to place around the edge lake " get that boat and row all over the lake, calling magic fishes, them "

" go boat," said the Wizard

They walked around the lake to where the boat was stranded beach, but found it empty mere shell of blackened steel, with collapsible roof that, when in position, made the submarine watertight, but at present the roof rested in slots on either side magic craft There were no oars or sails, no machinery to boat go, and although Glinda promptly realized meant operated by witchcraft, she was not acquainted sort of magic

"However," said she, "the boat is merely boat, and I believe make it obey command of sorcery, as it did the command of witchcraft After little thought matter, the boat will take us wherever "

"Not all of us," returned the Wizard, " won't hold But, most noble Sorceress, provided the boat go, of what use will it be ? "

"Can't we use it to catch the three fishes ? " asked Button Bright

" necessary to use the boat purpose," replied Glinda "Wherever lake the enchanted fishes , answer to my call What trying to discover is how the boat came shore, while the island it belongs is under water yonder Did Coo-ee-oh come here boat to meet the Flatheads island was sunk, or afterward ? "

No one could answer that question, ; but while they pondered the matter three young men advanced line of trees, and rather timidly bowed strangers

"Who , and where did you come from ? " inquired the Wizard

" Skeezers," answered , " home is Magic Isle Lake We ran away when we saw you coming, and hid behind the trees, but Strangers and friendly we decided to meet you, for in great trouble and need assistance "

" belong island, why here ? " demanded Glinda

So they told her all the story: How the Queen had defied the Flatheads and submerged the whole island her enemies get or destroy it; how, Flatheads came shore, Coo-ee-oh had commanded them, together with their friend Ervic, with her submarine to conquer the Su-dic, and how the boat had shot out basement sunken isle, obeying magic word, and risen surface, where it opened and floated water

Then followed the account of how the Su-dic had transformed Coo-ee-oh into swan, after which she had forgotten all the witchcraft she ever knew The young men told how, night were asleep, their comrade Ervic had mysteriously disappeared, while the boat in some strange manner had floated shore and stranded beach

That was all they knew They had searched in vain for three days for Ervic As their island was under water and get back , the three Skeezers had no place , and so had waited patiently beside their boat for something to happen

Being questioned by Glinda Wizard, they told all they knew about Ozma and Dorothy and declared the two girls were still village under the Great Dome They were quite safe and well cared for by Lady Aurex, now Queen who opposed them was way

had gleaned all the information Skeezers, the Wizard said to Glinda:

" find this boat obey your sorcery, it return island, submerge itself, and enter the door basement it came But I going sunken island would enable our friends to escape only Join them as prisoners "

"Not so, friend Wizard," replied Glinda " boat would obey my commands to enter the basement door, it would also obey my commands out again, and bring Ozma and Dorothy back with me "

"And leave all people still imprisoned ? " asked Skeezers reproachfully

"By making several trips boat, Glinda could fetch all your people shore," replied the Wizard

"But what could then ? " inquired another Skeezer " no homes and no place , and mercy enemies, the Flatheads "