"Halt ! " commanded Grampa, trying to push against the current sword "Stop ! Halt ! " great roaring was in their ears green light had changed to red hot glow Now Tatters sat up Then he, too, began to kick wildly about in an effort to stop himself And no wonder ! They were being carried straight toward roaring red island of fire !

"The fortune ! The fortune ! " screeched Bill, more excited than ever

"Fortune ! " groaned Grampa, reaching out to catch Urtha, who was floating rapidly past "Misfortune ! Halt ! Stop ! Everybody back ! "

"Better stop backing and look bottle," gulped the Prince of Ragbad "Better see if there's any cure for- ! " He waved desperately ahead And Grampa, with little choke of fright, pulled out the wizard's medicine "Burns, scalds and heat strokes," faltered Grampa "Well, we'd better cure for 'all three " teaspoonful was prescribed in and with trembling hands the old soldier measured out the doses Bill swallow, so the old soldier dashed the medicine over his head

" you're fairy," puffed Grampa, throwing dose face surprised little flower girl, "but if anything should happen I'd never forgive myself " Tatters came next and the water was so hot that Grampa himself began to groan with discomfort So he hastily swallowed his three spoonfuls, corked the bottle and prepared worst But immediately everything grew better The waves of heat island seemed only pleasant breezes now steaming water even feel hot had time to wonder at all this, they were washed up burning sands of Fire Island itself

" the fortune ? " asked Bill, hopping out of Tatters' arms "You said land--or gold, and golden land "

Grampa was too dazed to answer Finding himself completely fire proof was strange enough, but actually walking on an island of fire seemed unbelievable

"Wonder what Pudge would say ," mused Grampa, as Tatters rushed over side Urtha was already dancing about glowing sands as happily as she had danced wizard's garden

"Here come the firemen ! " cried Prince Tatters, and rather anxiously the old soldier turned to meet the islanders The People of Fire Island were as interesting and unusual as their island, being entirely of red and blue flames, and so light upon their feet they fairly flashed about over the glowing rocks

"Shall I fall on their heads ? " inquired Bill " fight ? "

"No," answered Grampa, squinting bit glare, "I believe they're friendly " old soldier was right, for Fire Islanders came nearer they waved their arms gaily and seemed delighted unusual appearance visitors little ahead others strode tall man, who entirely of glowing, red hot iron Except face, any village blacksmith face was so round and jolly that Tatters immediately took heart

"Prince Forge John the First ! " called two small flame pages, Fire Monarch reached the party beach Prince Forge John bowed, Grampa saluted, Bill crowed and Ur-tha-breaking off flowery spray from her skirts-held it out prettily ruler of Fire Island

"What charming little fairy ! " cried Prince Forge John hot crackling voice "And you," he turned pleased eyes upon Grampa and Tatters, "how brave you look, and it," with wave weather cock, "how beautiful -all of splendid iron ! "

"Thanks," crowed Bill "I'm useful, too tell me where the head, the Princess fortune, I'll tell you the wind blows Head ? Fortune ? Princess ? " finished Bill, he were repeating lesson

Prince Forge John looked so confused speech that Grampa stepped forward and hastily explained all that had happened since King Fumbo had lost his head, ending up wizard's garden, the discovery of Urtha and their fortunate use of Gorba's medicine

"H-m ! " mused Prince Forge John, rubbing his iron chin "So you're seeking the head lad's father lad himself seeks fortune and Princess ? Well, seen the King's head, but the Prince may stay here , marry Fire Maidens and make fortune fire works There's many fortune been snatched fire How would you like that, my boy ? "

"Yes, do stay and marry me," cried little flame maidens, running impulsively Prince " so odd and you look so interesting ! "

Tatters looked terribly embarrassed, for fearful maiden would scorch his nose "I- find my father's head first," stuttered the Prince, backing away uneasily, "and if your Majesty could tell us of way back to Oz-" Tatters bowed again and looked appealingly at Grampa

"Well, go up in smoke," suggested Prince Forge John slowly " , myself, wizard's medicine will wear off presently and then you'll all burn up

"Oh," groaned the old soldier, snatching out his handkerchief, "why such terrible thoughts ? "

"Would it hurt ? " breathed Urtha, who hated anyone unhappy

" no fire escape ? " choked Tatters, with bulging eyes

Prince Forge John shook his head "I'd like to ," he murmured gravely, "but so strangely made I don't see how Better just stay on here Burning's not so bad and you'd burn " Several Fire Islanders nodded Prince said this, but Grampa and Tatters could find no consolation prospect

"And marching North seemed so easy ! " wailed poor Tatters, leaning heavily red um-brella

"Never mind," sighed the old soldier, "I'll think of something else Let's jump back water," he proposed brightly

"But medicine wears off boiling just as bad as burning," objected Tatters, with little shudder

"That's so," admitted Grampa "It seems, my boy, that every cup of soup has one fly ! "

"There's fly nose," screeched Bill, hopping up and down And so -a saucy little fire fly There were fire flies everywhere darting here and there fire flowers and over the fields of waving fire weeds

"Better stay," repeated Prince Forge John hospitably "Anyway show you bit island "

Grampa nodded, for know what else , and so he others followed sadly Prince cortege There were no houses on Fire Island, but each flame family had its own open fire place Between stretched meadows of clear blue flame and many beautiful gardens, where, from flowing beds of red hot coals, lovely fire flowers arose The stems were of green flame, the tops of yellow, blue and red The Prince picked bouquet strange posies for Urtha and, to Grampa's surprise, the fire flowers neither burned the little flower girl nor went out in her hands

dreadful thought of burning up that hung over them, the old soldier and Tatters enjoyed their trip across the island But as they got little pleasure Even Prince Forge John's fire works, where all the hearth fires and kitchen fires are manufactured Fourth of July roman candles and sparklers are made, aroused no enthusiasm reached the other side island, the Prince offered each member party box of fire crackers for refreshments and this made Grampa smile worry

"No use setting ourselves off before our time ! " chuckled the old soldier, handing them back with bow The Prince looked little hurt, but he rest company ate up their fire crackers with relish and after Prince Forge John had finished his sixteenth box he had sudden idea

"I've thought of way to save you," cried Prince Forge John, fairly crackling with pleasure " just go to Blazes ! "

"What ? " shouted Grampa, who, being army, thought insulted

"Yes," repeated Forge John calmly " go to Blazes See that dark house across the waters there ? Well, you'll find him other side "

Grampa shaded his eyes and, looking across the green, sulphurous waters surrounding Fire Island, made out great tower of Darkness quite easy , for place was lighted ruddy glow island

"Fetch the boat," ordered the Prince briskly, and while Grampa and Tatters were still gazing in stupefaction tower, several fire men began shoving an iron boat down the beach Unceremoniously Forge John took them arms and helped them in the truth, growing sleepy and anxious rid singular visitors

"The flower fairy may stay," he yawned graciously, but Urtha had no such intention Gently disengaging herself from group fire maidens, she ran boat and sprang lightly in beside Tatters

"What ? Where are we going ? Hold on here ! " blustered the old soldier But Prince Forge John merely waved his firm arms two fire men began to row away as fast as

"Good-bye," called the Prince, with another yawn "I'm sorry you wouldn't stay and burn "

"We're going to blazes, to blazes, to blazes ! " crowed Bill, who had flown up bow boat

"That's right," crackled the flame man nearest to Tatters "He'll soon up

"But who-- Blazes ? " asked the Prince of Ragbad, stretching out both his hands imploringly

"The keeper volcano," answered the second rower, looking at Tatters intently

"Lightning, thunder, hot winds and earthquakes ! " crowed the weather cock wildly

Grampa flopped hopelessly bottom boat

CHAPTER 11

Volcano

Grampa had recovered enough to sit up the boat was scraping black rocks foot dark tower

"Cinders ! Soot ! " called the rowers loudly In answer hail door opened cautiously keepers dark tower peered out

"What's wanted ? " asked the first hoarsely, while the second swung his dark lantern toward the party boat

"Take these men to Blazes and tell him to send 'em up ! " directed the flame men together and, almost pushing Grampa little company boat, they jumped in and started to row back island The dark tower was wet and clammy and made of moss that soaked up the rays of light from Fire Island as sponge soaks up water The keepers tower themselves looked burnt out and cindery and far from agreeable

"You go ! " said Soot, after contemptuous glance newcomers "I've got the light out "