Meanwhile Glinda sank down on golden garden benches and tried The Comfortable Camel stumbled broken-heartedly across the lawn and dropping on its knees begged the Sorceress in tearful voice to save Sir Hokus of Pokes The Camel Doubtful Dromedary discovered Knight last adventure and were deeply attached to him Soon all the palace pets came and stood in dejected row before Glinda-Betsy's mule, Hank, hee-hawing dismally Hungry Tiger threatening to eat everyone in sight if any harm came three little girls

" 'll ever see them again," groaned the Doubtful Dromedary, leaning up against tree

"Oh Doubty -how ? " wailed the Camel, tears streaming down its nose

"Please do be quiet," begged Glinda, "or I'll forget all the magic Let me see, now-how does one catch marauding giant who has run off with castle ? "

On her fingers Glinda counted up all the giants four countries of Oz No ! It an Oz giant; none large enough It giant from some strange country

crowd returned news that Ruggedo had disappeared Glinda felt more uneasy still But hiding her anxiety she bade the people return homes and continue their work and play as usual Then, promising to return that evening with plan to save the castle, and charging the Soldier Green Whiskers strict watch garden, Glinda stepped into her chariot and flew back South All that day, in her palace Quadling country, Glinda bent over her encyclopedia on giants, and far night the lights burned from her high turret-chamber, as she consulted book after book of magic

CHAPTER 9 Mixed Magic Makes Mischief

The Book of Records perfectly correct in stating that Ruggedo had something mind He had ! To understand the mysterious disappearance of Ozma's palace, go back old Ex-King Gnomes The whole night after he had found Glegg's box of Mixed Magic, Ruggedo had spent trying to open the box But pry and poke as it stubbornly refused up its secrets

"Better come to bed," advised Wag, twitching his nose nervously "Mixed Magic isn't safe, It might explode "

"Idiot ! " grumbled Ruggedo "I don't know who Glegg is or was, but I'm going to open this box takes me century "

"All right," quavered Wag, retiring backward and holding up his paw "All right, but remember I warned you ! Don't meddle with magic, that's my motto ! "

"I don't care harebell what your motto is," sneered the gnome, continuing to hammer gold lid

When he reached his room, Wag shut the door and sank dejectedly edge bed

"There's no manner of use trying to stop him," sighed the rabbit, "so I've got out of here before he gets me into trouble I'll go tomorrow ! " resolved Wag, pulling his long ear nervously good resolution, the little rabbit drooped off asleep

Very cautiously he opened the door little rockroom next morning Ruggedo was sound asleep floor, his head magic box, and Peg Amy, with her wooden arms and legs flung out in every direction, lay sprawled in corner

"Been shaking you again, the old scrabble-scratch ! " whispered the rabbit indignantly, "just 'cause he couldn't open that box Well, never mind, Peg, I'm leaving today and as surely as I've ears and whiskers you shall go too ! " Picking up the poor wooden doll Wag tucked her under his arm imagination, or did the little wooden face break into sunny smile ? It seemed so to Wag and, with real thrill of pleasure, he tip-toed back room and began tossing his treasures into bed sheets He seated Peg own small rocking chair and he nodded to her reassuringly

"We'll soon be out now, my dear," he chuckled, quite Peg alive She often did seem alive to Wag "Then we'll see what Ozma has Mixed Magic," continued the bunny, wiggling his ears indignantly And so occupied was he collecting his treasures that hear Ruggedo's call and next minute the angry gnome himself stood doorway

"What does this mean ? " he cried furiously, pointing tied up sheet Then he stamped his foot so hard that Peg Amy fell over sideways chair and all the ornaments room skipped alive

The rabbit whirled 'round in hurry

"It means I'm leaving you for good, you wicked little monster ! " shrilled Wag, his whiskers trembling with agitation ears sticking straight out behind "Leaving hear ? "

Then he snatched Peg Amy in one paw treasures other and tried to brush past Ruggedo But the gnome was too quick for him Springing room, he slammed the door and locked it Wag could hear him rolling up rocks for further security

"Thought you'd steal march on old Ruggedo; thought you'd tell Ozma all his plans and get nice little reward ! Well, think again ! " shouted the gnome keyhole

Wag had plenty , for Ruggedo never came near the rabbit's room all day At every sound poor Wag leaped air, for sure each blow could only mean the opening dreaded magic box To reassure himself he held long conversations wooden doll and Peg's calm cheerfulness steadied him lot

" dig my way out but it would take ! My ear tips ! How provoking ! " exclaimed Wag "But perhaps he'll relent by nightfall ! " Slowly the day dragged on but nothing came big rock room but thumps, grumbles and bangs

" fortunate that eat, Peg, dear," sighed the rabbit late afternoon, nibbling disconsolately on stale biscuit he had found under his bureau "Shall you care if I starve ? I probably shall, no one in Oz can die, but starving forever comfortable either " the wooden doll seemed to shake her head, as : "You won't starve, Wag dear; just be patient little longer " Not that she really said this, mind you, but Wag knew from her smile what she was thinking

hot and stuffy little rock chamber faint light that filtered down hole ceiling was far from cheerful At last night came, was worse Wag lit his only candle but already partly burned down and soon with dismal sputter it went out and left the two sitting dark Peg Amy stared cheerfully ahead but the rabbit, worn out by his long day of fright and worry, fell into heavy slumber

Meanwhile Ruggedo had worked magic box and he became more impatient All his poundings failed even dent gold lid and even jumping brought no result The little gnome had eaten nothing since morning and by nightfall stamping around the box in perfect fury His eyes snapped and twinkled like live coals wispy white hair fairly crackled with rage Hidden box were magic secrets doubtless enable him to capture the whole of Oz but, klumping kaloogas, how was he at 'em ? He finally gave the gold box such vindictive kick that he almost crushed his curly toes; then holding onto one foot, he hopped about other till he fell over exhausted

For several minutes he lay perfectly still; then jumping up he seized the box and flung it with all his gnome might against the rock wall

"Take that ! " screamed Ruggedo furiously bright flash; then the box righted itself slowly and sailed straight back into Ruggedo's hands and, more wonderful still, open' eyes almost popping head, the gnome sat down floor, the box lap

first tray were four golden flasks and was carefully labeled The first was marked, "Flying Fluid"; "Vanishing Cream" was second The third flask held "Glegg's Instantaneous Expanding Extract," and fourth was "Spike's Hair Strengthener "

Ruggedo rubbed his hands gleefully and lifted out the top tray next compartment was tiny copper kettle, lamp and package marked "Triple Trick Tea " So anxious was Ruggedo last compartment that he scarcely glanced at Glegg's tea set Quickly he peered bottom casket There were two boxes Taking up the first Ruggedo read, "Glegg's Question Box Shake three times after each question "

"Great Grampus ! " spluttered the gnome, " find ! " growing more excited hands shook so hardly read the label last box Finally it out: "Re-animating Rays, guaranteed to reawaken any person who has lost the power of life through sorcery, witchcraft or enchantment," said the label

Well, did anyone ever hear anything more magic than that ? Ruggedo glanced from one other little gold flasks and boxes There were he hardly knew which to use first "Flying Fluid and Vanishing Cream," mused the gnome Well, help after he had captured Oz, but it would take more powerful magic than Flying Fluid and Vanishing Cream to capture the fairy Kingdom Next he picked up the bottle labeled "Spike's Hair Strengthener " Anything that strengthened helpful, so, with one eye last bottle, Ruggedo absently rubbed hair strengthener head He stopped rubbing in hurry and put his finger mouth with howl of pain The he jumped up in alarm and ran to small mirror hanging wall Every hair head had become an iron spike result was so terrible frightened even the old gnome He flung the bottle angrily ground But stop ! butt his enemies sharp spikes ! Comforting himself cheerful thought, Ruggedo returned magic box

"Instantaneous Expanding Extract," muttered the gnome, turning the bottle over carefully "That ought me larger-and if I were larger-if I were larger ! " He snapped his fingers and began hopping up and down about to empty the bottle over his head when he suddenly reflected safer this powerful extract on someone else But on whom ?

Ruggedo glanced quickly around the cave and then remembered the wooden doll try little on Peg Amy how it worked Turning the key he stepped softly into Wag's room Without wakening the rabbit, Ruggedo dragged out the wooden doll Propping her up against the wall, the gnome uncorked the bottle of expanding fluid and dropped two drops on Peg Amy's head Peg was about ten inches high, but no sooner had the expanding fluid touched her than she shot up four feet and force that she lost her balance and came crashing down on top of Ruggedo, almost crushing him flat

"Get off, you great log of wood ! " screamed the gnome, struggling furiously But this Peg Amy was powerless and only after frightful struggle that Ruggedo managed to drag himself out He started to shake Peg but as she was now four times his size he soon gave that up