"Well, why don't you ? " asked Scraps, seating herself rocker again

"Sh-hh ! me to lose my position ? " breathed the little bear, looking around anxiously "I mustn't laugh Don't bear is supposed cross ? pretty cross your place country ! "

"Well, I don't intend to stay country," announced Scraps, rocking vigorously backward and forward " kidnapped and crowned Queen against my will and I intend to run away Princess Ozma may send any minute, too All she do is to look Magic Picture " quite true, for in Ozma's palace hangs an enchanted picture, showing country landscape little fairy ruler wishes to locate any of her subjects, she has but to command them to appear Magic Picture immediately shows where and what doing All , and bit about Ozma Emerald City, Scraps explained cross little bear and he listened most earnestly, wiggling his buttony nose with interest

"What's ? " asked Scraps presently

"Grumpy ! " answered the bear gruffly "What's yours ? "

"Scraps ! " said the Patchwork Girl, kicking her heels against the rocker

Now, delightful things about Oz all the animals and birds can talk; and as talk of any kind interested Scraps she began quite cheerful and like herself

"You mean Queen Scraps," corrected the little bear, eyeing the work-basket on her head with great respect

"Not if help it ! " cried the Patchwork Girl, springing out of her seat and rattling the crown jewels defiantly "The country is all right, but who ever heard of Queen doing all the work ? It's ridiculous "

"Queen Cross Patch liked to work," muttered Grumpy Then, sitting down thoughtlessly on pin-cushion, he arose with loud roar "Well, I don't," said Scraps, while Grumpy, growling furiously, pulled two needles fur "So Ozma looks Magic Picture soon, but whether she does or not run off first chance I get- "Back city of sun and song, Back city where I belong ! "

"It'll be let you," observed Grumpy thoughtfully, "and try to escape the Scissor Bird will cut off your head What would then ? "

"Have it sewed on again," declared Scraps stoutly, but she shivered little prospect and in slightly shaky voice inquired, "Don't any games or riddles ? No one's around now and have some fun "

Grumpy shook his head, then brightening up little he slid out chair "Cross Patch and I always cuffed bit after dinner," casually

"Cuffed ! " gasped Scraps "What for ? "

"For practice," explained Grumpy solemnly " no idea new cross words we learned that way It's simply astonishing what cross words think of when someone thumps you ear Come on-let's try it You'll need lot of cross words " Drawing back his fuzzy arm, Grumpy gave the Patchwork Girl cuff that sent her flying corner

"What pleasant pastime ! " puffed Scraps, picking herself up with flounce " call that fun ? " she demanded, shaking the dust scornfully out of her skirts

"Well, what then ? " mumbled the little bear sullenly "That's the only game Say, someone's door ! Listen ! "

Someone certainly was First, the bell rang long and clangingly Then came such series of thumps, kicks and slams that all the cross stitched mottoes fell sideways

"Oh ! " shrilled the Patchwork Girl, flinging up her arms joyously, " Ozma has sent someone to rescue me Come on Grumpy, we'll let them in

"How it's rescuers ? " shivered the little bear anxiously "They sound like robbers ! "

"Get out ! " cried Scraps, running over door

" 't get out," Grumpy reminded her patiently, "for we're locked in good and tight "

"That's so," sighed the Patchwork Girl, pressing her cotton nose window bars "They'll have to break down the door "

"Sounds as had," sputtered the little bear, as terrible crash sounded hallway "Here ! " Jumping head first chest Grumpy pulled down the lid

CHAPTER 4

Peter Flies with an Odd Bird

NOTHING at all ever happens here," exclaimed Peter, digging his hands deep into his pockets and staring discontentedly window

"There's balloon man corner, chuckled his grandfather, who was standing just behind Peter "Go buy yourself balloon " With another chuckle he dropped quarter into Peter's hand and went back evening paper

"I'm too old for balloons," said Peter with great disgust " think you'd know that, grandfather "

"Then buy me one," laughed the old gentle-man, winking provokingly no use arguing with person like that, so Peter, fully intending some marbles and double nut sundae, ran house

Peter's home was in Philadelphia, facing on large public square balloon man, his boisterous wares nearly tugging him off his feet, stood corner nearest Peter something mysterious man His face was dark and merry long pointed beard and slouch hat gave him the appearance of merchant from some far country, of himself Peter stopped

"A balloon, young gentleman ? " inquired the dealer, bowing politely little boy "What say to ? " Separating bright green one bunch, he held it out invitingly

" ? " asked Peter doubtfully He liked being called young gentleman, more he looked green balloon, the more it fascinated him The balloon man had already seen the quarter in Peter's hand and quickly stating that twenty-five cents price, he thrust the balloon upon Peter and pocketed his quarter, all so quickly the little boy fairly gasped Why, he even made up his mind , and yet here green balloon and the man quarter Uncertainly, Peter stood staring balloon man

"It's bird ! " whispered the merchant, leaning forward to touch the balloon lovingly tips fingers "Ah-h-h ! " balloon man said "Ah ! " crowd of Peter's friends turned the corner and not wishing them to catch him with anything so babyish as balloon, Peter started to run across the square And never had Peter run so easily Each step took him four or five paces ahead, and when himself bounding entirely over the fountain center square, he wisely decided to stop running So , but it made no difference His legs stopped moving, , but Peter himself shot upward, soaring lightly as feather over tree tops, house tops, huge buildings and church steeples Not until the tall figure of William Penn, Town Hall, faded merest dot, did Peter remember the balloon man's words

"Why, bird," murmured the startled boy, blinking comical creature above him The stem balloon he clung had turned to strong stiff leg, while the balloon itself had expanded into plump, green balloon bird It careened air without any motion of wings or body and for while, Peter, hanging to its leg, was too frightened to open his mouth The city had disappeared and, pushed up toward the clouds, Peter, regaining little courage, gave the bird's leg sharp pull "Stop ! " shouted Peter in as commanding voice as muster

"Stop yourself," retorted the balloon bird sharply, words came in tiny explosions like the pop pop of an air gun " I enjoy having my leg pulled ? " it chirped indignantly

"But where are we going ? " cried Peter anxiously

"Balloon Island ! " popped the bird, bending its head better view little boy "Hold tight, for let go, you'll probably puncture yourself on steeple "

Peter thinking this very thing himself " present to Queen Luna from Sandaroo," continued the bird calmly "She needed an airrend boy, so Sandaroo sent you

"The balloon man ? " gasped Peter, scarcely believing his ears

"He's not balloon man," replied the bird disdainfully "He's Lord High Bouncer of Balloona You were picked for airrend boy," he continued placidly, "because you look strong and stout and because the balloon boys island are always puncturing themselves or exploding Did you ever explode ? " asked the bird severely

"People don't explode," answered the little boy scornfully, "and I'm not going an errand boy for lot of balloonatics either," he shouted angrily "You'd better let me go or I'll tell my grandfather on you

"Let go to," said the bird carelessly "You're holding on , aren't you ? " only too true, and after one dizzy look downward, Peter tightened his clutch balloon bird's leg and wondered desperately what " tread lightly when we land island," warned the balloon bird, after short silence, during which they covered miles of air, "but I daresay all right after blown up

"Blown up," coughed Peter, "why, what ? "

"Well, you wouldn't do ," murmured the bird, rolling its eyes disapprovingly down little boy, "so the Queen has splendid plan She will cut tiny hole in your back and then blown up till float as easily do Oh, you'll enjoy floating," promised the balloon bird, diving through moist cloud bank

Peter doubted that enjoy floating, he doubted it , more he thought about being blown up hole that was cut back the more dreadfully uneasy he became His arms ached long swing air and, balloon bird plunged through particularly black cloud, Peter took long breath and let go