"He's not slave ! " exclaimed Scraps scornfully " tell by his looks, he's mortal child like Dorothy and Betsy How did you find your way to Oz, boy ? " Peter was anxious to escape castle, but when Scraps assured him that no present hope thing, her all that had happened balloon bird carried him off from Philadelphia story progressed, Grumpy climbed chest and sat as close to Peter as possibly squeeze

"Tell him about us ! " urged the little bear, as Peter wound up his story with description of Kuma Party guiding hand Scraps shook her head impatiently, but when Peter added his voice to Grumpy's she introduced the pet former Queen and gave brief description of herself and her happy life capital When Peter heard how she kidnapped and forced all the castle work, he shook his head sympathetically

"We'll both run away," declared Peter, resolutely, "and more about Oz than , perhaps we'll reach the Emerald City ahead of Ruggedo "

"But first escape castle," the little bear reminded them sagely "How ? "

" there little more magic casket," sighed Scraps "All left emerald Let me see the emerald, Peter " Peter pulled out the sorcerer's stone and handed it over to Scraps and, as , felt the note that Kuma's hand had thrust into his pocket Opening it eagerly, Peter followed the Patchwork Girl light But reached the center table, the candle which burning lower and lower gave final sputter: and went out, leaving them in total darkness

"Botheration ! " cried Peter in exasperation "Now what shall ? "

"Go to sleep," yawned the little bear "whenever you don't know what , go to sleep That's my advice Here, lean on me

"Why don't you ? " suggested Scraps, feeling her way carefully back rocker "Mortal folk need rest, but as , I'll sit and plan our escape "

Grumpy's advice did seem sensible and, as Peter was very tired, he curled down beside little bear and soon did go to sleep, his head resting comfortably on Grumpy's soft shoulder hand he grasped Kurna's note, and in dreams imagined himself already the Emerald City, fighting to defend the little Queen of all Oz

CHAPTER 10

Escape from Patch at Last

WHEN Peter awakened next morning, he thought for still aboard ship But he soon realized up and down motion experiencing was merely the deep breathing little bear Without disturbing Grumpy, he straightened up and rubbed his eyes Scraps was over window turning Soob's emerald over and over in her cotton fingers Reminded letter he about to read candle went out, Peter felt around till Kuma's note Hurrying over Patchwork Girl, he spread it open and quickly read its contents

" ever need helping hand, send for mine," said the note "Write directions paper and toss air "

"Well, hurrah ! " exclaimed Peter, showing the note to Scraps "Kuma will lend us hand it " "Three cheers ! Four laughs ! Five grins-a bow ! Send quick, it now," cried the Patchwork Girl "In minute I'll have to cook, sweep, dust, scrub and make beds Why, an extra hand wonderful Send , Peter Send right way You're slave too, remember "

" thinking it might unlock the doors and escape," mused the little boy, wrinkling up his brows "Could you read the markings emerald ? "

"No," admitted Scraps, handing back the stone, "but keep it safely, Peter You never know when or where magic will work country and all the magic find Emerald City before Ruggedo "

"I wonder where now ? " worried Peter "Zamagoochie country Kuma's father came from, but I wonder where and whether Rug is still there or whether he has reached the Emerald City and turned Ozma to canary ? "

"Stop ! Stop ! " begged Scraps "Let's stop worrying and try send for Kuma's hand now, when all the Quilties are working fields, soon be captured, even escape castle We'll have to wait till night," sighed the Patchwork Girl, "though how I'm going to stand another day here I don't see ! "

"Never mind," said Peter sympathetically, "I'll help "

"I'll help, too ! " volunteered Grumpy, rolling over side and yawning tremendously "It won't be as bad as growling all the time 's how I helped Cross Patch ! "

"Sh-hh ! " warned Scraps, "Here ! Look out Scissor Bird, Peter, he's dreadfully careless bill " Thrusting Kuma's note into his pocket and assuming as defiant an attitude as he well could, Peter waited door to open, which it presently did In came Scrapper, the Scissor Bird shoulder and Piecer staggering under great pile of coats and other garments that sent in mended

"Good morning, Slave ! " Scrapper bowed stiffly to Peter and then to Scraps "Kindly prepare breakfast, at once ! "

"Oh scrapple ! " scolded the Patchwork Girl

"Not scrapple, eggs," said Piecer, setting down his pile of garments "And have finished with breakfast, please sort these "

"Why don't you sort them yourself," suggested Peter boldly, but Scissor Bird made dash direction he hastily sprang behind Scraps

"It's an outrage to expect Queen all the work," began Scraps, settling her spectacles severely "Ozma never does stroke of work Ozma-"

"Ozma ? " shrilled the Scissor Bird "Well, every time you're Ozma, look glass Come along, you lazy creature ! " Circling over the Patchwork Girl's head and making playful snips at her yarn, the Scissor Bird drove her ahead of him toward the castle kitchen Peter and Grumpy followed cautiously, conversing in indignant whispers

Peter had often been camping and, seeing how terribly unhandy Scraps was cooking utensils, he prepared the breakfast himself Then he set the table and carried the eggs, nicely fried, two Quilties, who sat at ease shabby dining room The Scissor Bird ate saucer of calico scraps and Grumpy loaf of bread and an apple After being assured Patchwork Girl herself would eat nothing, Peter fried himself an egg and sat down kitchen table to enjoy himself The scissor bird was too busy eating to bother them for moment and, availing himself opportunity, Peter began in low voice to Scraps

"Why did you wish for dozen eggs first saw Ruggedo ? " he asked curiously

"Because eggs are poison to gnomes," whis-pered Scraps " more afraid of eggs than of bombshells and even stay same room with one "

"Hm-m ! " mused Peter thoughtfully, "I'll remember that How ," he asked presently, "that Grumpy can talk ? "

"All the animals in Oz talk," explained Scraps in matter of fact voice "Just wait till you hear the Cowardly Lion Hungry Tiger ! "

"Do they live Emerald City ? " Peter's eyes grew round with interest Scraps nodded enthusiastically, then noticing Scissor Bird had finished, she sprang up and began to clear away the dishes But Grumpy kindly offered to wash them, so hurrying back sitting room, Scraps and Peter fell to sorting old clothes In one pile they put coats, in another dresses, in third, trousers, and in fourth, all the shirts needing new cuffs or collars Conversation was impossible, Scissor Bird was never quiet for moment and soon Peter's head began to ache from its continuous screeching Once when he dropped an old cloak, it snipped lock hair and when he struck out at it angrily, it nearly nipped piece off his ear

To Scrapper and Piecer, sitting doorway, this proved highly amusing and, glaring old Quilties, Peter resolved to send for Kuma's hand first opportunity Grumpy had finished the dishes and, with gingham apron tied round his waist, was energetically sweeping the floor

"Don't you care," he whispered comfortingly as he passed Peter "Today won't last forever ! " It seemed like forever to Peter and Scraps, but came bottom pile the Patchwork Girl made startling discovery Between faded vest and quilted dressing gown lay an old gray sack As Scraps held it up, she saw note sticking pocket The Scissor Bird happened moment swinging chandelier so, snatching out the note, Scraps read it quickly herself and

"The Sandman's Nap Sack Will put wearer to sleep at once, read Peter Then, as Scraps put her finger warningly to her lips, he tucked the Nap Sack beneath his coat

"We'll put 'em all to sleep," whispered Peter corner mouth "We'll send for Kuma's hand and get away from here ! " They soon had chance the Nap Sack, for Piecer and Scrapper, having some work to attend to garden, went out and locked the door in their usual manner

Immediately Scraps threw down pile of coats and stood up defiantly

"I refuse to work any longer," she shouted, stamping her foot emphatically

"Hah ! " snapped the Scissor Bird, falling off the chandelier and stopping directly in front of Scraps' nose "Every time you open your mouth you say something "

"Yes ! " answered Scraps saucily, "and every time you say something you open your mouth " furious creature rushed Patchwork Girl, Peter threw the Nap Sack over his head No sooner had he done so than its shrill voice grew lower and lower, until, with tired flop, it fell floor and lay snoring like zazagooch, the loudest snoring animal in Oz

"We won't wait till night We'll send the note now, Scraps," cried Peter triumphantly

"What's up ? What's up Don't leave me, begged the little bear, crowding close to Peter "I'm tired of being cross some place where pleasant without losing my position "

"All right ! All right ! " promised Peter "But you'll have to , Grumpy Now keep quiet while I write to Kuma " Pulling out the crumpled letter, Peter found pencil and scribbled bottom page: " prisoners palace of Patch Please your hand to unlock the doors and to escape " Signing his name hurriedly, Peter tossed the note air It disappeared almost at once and in high excitement the three sat down to await developments "I believe take that Nap Sack off and use it again," observed Peter after little silence

"He might wake up," objected Scraps

"But easily put him to sleep again " Tiptoeing over Scissor Bird, off the Nap Sack As crash outside and, hurrying window, they saw Kuma's right arm and hand smashing its way glass castle door

"Hurry ! Hurry ! " cried Scraps Tearing the work basket from her head she threw it into corner and flung the crown jewels of Patch after it "I abdicate ! " chuckled the Patchwork Girl, turning expectantly toward the door