"That's fair enough," agreed Percy Vere, smiling little flower fairy:

"You believe in us, and we'll believe in you, And say so I'll believe that six and one are are ? "

"Two," said Dorothy, "only they're eight You mustn't mind Percy's forgetting , poet," she explained hastily

"Let me out ! Let me out ! What's all this noise ? "

Dorothy Forgetful Poet exchanged frightened glances and Toto crept back tree-trunk with ear showing, voice certainly had come from bag Prince's shoulder

"Not dream, but night mare ! " choked the Forgetful Poet, Prince of Ragbad calmly took his father's head knitting bag and held it up toward them

"Don't be alarmed," purred Fumbo drowsy voice, two clung to one another in panic

"I'm not alarmed, I'm-I'm petrified ! " gasped Percy, looking over his shoulder whether the path was clear desire to run

"It has crown on, whispered Dorothy nervously "It King I once knew Princess who had dozens of heads and took them off Maybe he's like that "

"You're speaking Princess Languidere, I presume," drawled Fumbo Being great reader, Fumbo was well acquainted with all the celebrities in Oz "No, my dear, not like that; as it happens head and it blew off, plainly see This young man my son and carrying my head back to my body And now tell me your story," commanded the King, smiling graciously His glance rested curiously on Dorothy " known already," continued the King "Grampa, Princess Dorothy of Oz, and even prettier than her pictures, permit me so

" you she was Princess," crowed the weather cock triumphantly " fortune , girl ? "

"The Dorothy who lives Emerald City ? " gasped Tatters, almost dropping his father's head "The Dorothy who discovered Oz ? "

Dorothy nodded modestly and Grampa, covered with confusion memory sharp speech, tried to hide behind Tatters

"Never mind," laughed Dorothy, seeing Grampa's embarrassment "I really don't look like Princess now we've had such hard journey, falling down mountain and all, we're kinda rumpled "

"We've been through week of wash-days," groaned Percy Vere, straightening his jacket and looking ruefully at his red hands "I'm sorry I didn't realize you were Prince " He turned contritely to Tatters "Mistakes all around,

"Well, we've had hard time, too," admitted the Prince of Ragbad, making another frantic attempt to smooth his hair

"Ask her if she has fortune ? " insisted Bill, settling heavily Prince's shoulder

"Hush ! " said Tatters, giving Bill poke

"Oh, goody ! goody ! We're all going friends " Urtha spread out her flowery skirts and danced happily around the little group "Oh, forget-me-nots and daisies ! Oh, dahlias and pinks ! "

"And you're the whole bouquet, Miss May ! " cried Percy Vere, but immediately interrupted by Fumbo

"Stop ! " cried the King's head " keep these stories straight You said you were looking for Princess What Princess ? "

"Company, sit down ! " ordered the old soldier gruffly He had commanded the expedition and was not going bossed around stage game Tatters and Urtha promptly obeyed, the Prince carefully holding his father's head lap Dorothy and Percy Vere, after their long run, were glad enough to rest So down they all sat in big circle under the green tree, Bill and Toto center, staring at one another curiously

"Now, then, Mr er-Mr-" Grampa nodded condescendingly Forgetful Poet

"Vere," put in Percy politely

"Now then, Mr Vere, your story," said the old soldier, taking big pinch of snuff So, with many interruptions from King Fumbo who seemed all about Perhaps City-and many lapses into verse, the Forgetful Poet told of Abrog's prophecy monster, strange disappearance little Princess and Abrog himself, tumble down Maybe Mountain and and Dorothy's adventures since then Runa-way and Monday Mountain

"Humph," grunted the old soldier, when he had finished, "I wouldn't trust prophet as far as swing chimney smoke That prophet has run off with her bet your last shoe button and, since searching for Princess ourselves, look Princess of Perhaps City What say, my boy ? " Grampa glanced questioningly at Tatters

"I'll to help Princess Dorothy and this-this poet, but- " Already Tatters had made up his mind to return with Urtha to Ragbad, regardless of fortunes and Princesses

"No buts ," roared the King's head indignantly "She'll be splendid match , my son, and Peer Haps, from all reports, is one of~the merriest monarchs in Oz Why, I dote on him already ! "

"Can't all this wait till the Princess ? " protested Percy Vere nervously "No use rushing matters, " All this talk of marrying rather upset him Tatters looked gratefully Forgetful Poet and decided to forgive him rude verse

" it can wait," agreed the Prince heartily "The first thing is to rescue the Princess "

"No, the first thing , is us who ," laughed Dorothy, restrain her curiosity no longer "Why, we don't even know your names or how you happened part of Oz "

"We followed the directions bottle," explained Bill importantly "We fell, swum, exploded, sailed and flew ! "

"You tell them," begged Tatters, looking appealingly old soldier, for he that Bill was going to mix things dreadfully

"Yes, you tell us," commanded Fumbo He yet heard the story journey from Ragbad himself, and was even more curious than Dorothy So Grampa took the center circle Now, next to fighting, the old soldier loved and, next to fighting, talking best thing His recital experiences little army three days was so thrilling that Dorothy and Percy simply held their breath and Toto's ears waved with excitement Dorothy was particularly interested in Bill strange manner he shocked to life Being United States herself, it seemed real homelike to meet fellow countryman, even if only weather cock As for Percy Vere-who had lived all his life on Maybe Mountain-nothing could exceed his astonishment as Grampa proceeded from one adventure next

" mind if I close my eyes," Percy muttered weakly, as Grampa reached the point story where they had discovered Urtha growing wizard's garden " mind if I close my eyes ? believe anything with my eyes shut "

"Not close your mouth also," snapped Grampa and went right on story, never even stopping for breath until he had reached their last tumble rainbow

"Professor Wogglebug to write whole new history," breathed Dorothy, as Grampa settled back place, "and Ozma will never allow the bandit to stay blue forest nor Gorba to practice magic hidden garden Oh, my ! believe find the Princess after all so brave and interesting " Dorothy smiled at Grampa and Tatters Forgetful Poet, opening his eyes, stared dreamily little flower fairy

"If I had my arms, I'd embrace you all," exclaimed Fumbo feelingly, "and hugs all around I get back to my body You're credit country, and Bill here perch highest tower in Ragbad and little Miss Posies-"

"But the Princess ! " exclaimed Bill anxiously, " fortune ! 't go back without them ! "

"Too late to hunt to-day," chuckled Grampa and indeed, while they talking, the sun had dropped down behind the daisy splashed hill, leaving the world hathed in pleasant dusk

"We're all tired, so we'll have supper and make camp here," decided Grampa sensibly "Then tomorrow we'll start prophet with gun, musket, sword and bootleather ! "

"That's the talk ! " cried Percy Vere, jumping help Tatters gather wood for fire good company, the last bear steaks from Isa Poso berries gathered by little Urtha tasted better than feast, and nothing exceeded the jollity evening 'round Grampa's camp fire

Forgetful Poet's verse old soldier's jokes, they were simply convulsed and finally, had talked over their adventures to heart's content, Dorothy, Tatters, the Forgetful Poet and Urtha settled down to quiet game of scrum Soon the only sound heard click checkers on Grampa's game leg loud snores of Fumbo's head, which hung from branch tulip tree pink knitting bag of Maribella, the little sky shepherdess

CHAPTER 18

The Mischievous Play Fellows

BRIGHT and early next morning Grampa lined up his little army and, after short council, they determined their march Emerald City and learn from Ozma's magic picture just where Abrog lost Princess of Perhaps City were found Although breakfast light affair of water and berries, they were all in excellent spirits and, with Grampa's drum beating out lively march, they stepped merrily down the shady Winkie Lane Grampa Forgetful Poet led off, Dorothy Prince of Ragbad followed, the Prince carrying his father's head red umbrella Urtha danced in and out to suit her own sweet fancy, Bill flew ahead and Toto trotted contentedly behind

"Here I go name of Bill ! " crowed the weather cock exultantly " name of B-hill ! "

Grampa winked at Percy Vere and Percy Vere winked back "Isn't he ridiculish ? " whis-pered the Forgetful Poet merrily "But then, we're all ridiculish in spots " His eyes rested moment on Grampa's game leg "Yes," continued Percy Vere, with droll nod, "everything, come of it, is simply sinoobious Why do we call ourselves an army, pray, when just call ourselves footy ? Have we not feet as arms ? Why do we say Good-day' on rainy morning and-"