"En-chant-ment," said the Copper Man "Some-" With click and whirr Tik Tok's machinery ran down, and as Scraps Scarecrow were too upset of winding him, he stood as silent and dumb rest

"What shall ? " cried the Scarecrow, seizing Scraps' arm "Jump window and go for help, or stay here and guard the palace ? " Scraps looked window "Stay here," shuddered the Patch Work Girl, drawing in her head quickly

"Then," said the Scarecrow, " arm ourselves and prepare to withstand any attack " He snatched up pair of fire tongs and Scraps grasped the poker Falling into step, the two marched top bottom palace

Everywhere the same sight met their gaze; rooms turned topsy turvy, and spread over floors and sofas and chairs the sleeping figures of Ozma's once lively Courtiers and servants The effect was so distressing that Scraps Scarecrow found themselves whispering and treading about on tip-toe After inspecting the whole palace they returned to Dorothy's room and placed themselves disconsolately doorway

"Anyway, Ruggedo is quiet," sighed the Scarecrow, " is something " Scraps started verse, but the silence ghostlike atmosphere sleeping palace had dashed even the spirits Patch Work Girl and she subsided with an indistinct mumble

Ruggedo was silent for reason Ruggedo was asleep, to--asleep sitting up as stiff as stone image, for even sleep he dreamed dreaded bombardment of eggs

All this had happened because the little man in gray had taken Ozma's palace for an air castle, and blame him ? Even the Sand Man expect regular palace set clouds plenty of dream castles, , and Sand Man's chief delights is to jump through them and admire their lovely furniture But sure-enough castles-the little fellow get over it Sitting cross-legged white cloud, which floated close to Ruggedo's head, he stared and stared

"Well, I never," chuckled the Sand Man, and turned somersault for very amazement Then, not knowing what else or think, he sensibly decided to hurry home and tell the whole affair wife His empty bag on tall treetop, and without one backward glance he bounded air and disappeared Really, quite lucky the little old gentleman spilled his bag of sand where , only safe giant is sleeping giant, and while Ozma and her friends lay dreaming worry

"Will they sleep forever ? " sighed Scraps, after she Scarecrow had sat silently for an hour

"Seems likely," said the Scarecrow gloomily "But even do," he plucked three straws chest, " stick to our post very end "

The Scarecrow regarded the sleeping figures little girls affectionately

" end of forever ? " gulped Scraps, putting her cotton finger in her mouth "How long ? "

"That," said the Scarecrow resignedly and settling himself comfortably, " what soon see

CHAPTER 16

Kabumpo Vanquishes the Twigs

D' you were alive before ? " asked Kabumpo, squinting down his long trunk at Peg Amy She had begged him off his plush robe and, spreading it grass, was beating it briskly branch of tree

"Yes," sighed the Wooden Doll, pausing with uplifted stick and regarding Kabumpo solemnly, " been alive before 'cause I keep remembering things

"What kind of things ? " asked the Elegant Elephant, rubbing himself lazily against tree

"Well, this for instance," said Peg, holding up corner purple plush robe "I once had dress of it I'm sure I had dress stuff "

" were little doll ? " asked Kabumpo curiously

"No," said Peg, giving the robe few little shakes, " And I remember this country, too, sun wind sky If I'd only been alive one day I wouldn't remember them, would I ? "

"Queer things happen in Oz," said Kabumpo comfortably "But why bother ? alive and very jolly traveling most Elegant Elephant in Oz and company of Prince Isn't that enough ? "

Peg Amy reply but kept on beating the plush robe with determined little thumps and staring off trees with very puzzled expression in her painted blue eyes They had traveled swiftly all morning fertile farmlands Winkies and had paused for lunch little grove Peg, not needing food, and Kabumpo, finding plenty of tender branches handy, had remained together while Wag Prince sought more nourishing fare

Many little Winkie farmer had stared in amazement as Peg and Pompa passed that morning but so fast did Kabumpo and Wag travel that Winkies were half sure of what they had seen nothing but cloud of dust to wonder over and exclaim about

" had pair of scissors, cut off the burned part of your robe and make it more tidy," said Peg, when she had finished beating the dust out of Kabumpo's gorgeous blanket

" pair in my pocket," said the Elegant Elephant "Here, let me get them," he added hastily "For suppose she should look Magic Mirror," he thought suddenly "It might tell her something terrible ! "

Even short time Kabumpo had grown fond of queer wooden Peg and careless as somehow want to hurt her feelings again Sure enough, pair of silver scissors in jewels he had tumbled into his pocket before leaving Pumper-dink So Peg carefully cut away all the scorched part of Kabumpo's robe and pinned under the rough edges with three beautiful pearl pins

"Now lift me up into that small tree and I'll drop it over you, ' she laughed gaily This Kabumpo did quite easily and after Peg Amy had smoothed and adjusted the robe, she crept out end branch and straightened the Elegant Elephant's pearl head dress and brushed all the dust forehead with handful of damp leaves

"You're good girl, Peg," said Kabumpo, sighing with contentment "I don't care whether you never were alive before or not, you've more sense than some people who've lived for centuries I'm going that gnome something on my own account Dared to shake you, did he ? Well, wait till I get through shaking him ! "

"It didn't hurt," said Peg reflectively, "but it ruined all my clothes Prince Pompadore minds having me look so shabby ? "

Kabumpo shifted about uneasily "Will this help ? " he asked sheepishly, pulling lovely pearl necklace pocket "Ozma doesn't need everything," he muttered to himself

"Oh ! How perfectly pomiferous ! " cried Peg "Lift me down so try it on " In trice Kabumpo swung her down tree and awkwardly Peg Amy clasped the chain about her wooden neck Then she flung both arms round Kabumpo's trunk "You're the biggest darling old elephant in Oz ! " cried Peg happily

Kabumpo blinked accustomed to being called elegant and magnificent but no one-not even Pompa-had ever called him an old darling before and he liked it immensely

While Peg ran to look at her reflection in small pool he resolved the Wooden Doll position at Court, for, of her stiff fingers, Peg was very deft and clever "And she purple plush dress too," said Kabumpo grandly

Just then Pompa and Wag returned in high good humor The Prince had tapped door of small farm house little Winkie lady most hospitable had she given the Prince all eat, but she had allowed Wag garden and pick two dozen of her best cabbages His size had greatly astonished her and she had insisted upon measuring him twice with her yellow tape measure but finally, without revealing the purpose journey, the two managed away As all were now refreshed and rested, they decided to start on again

"We ought to reach Ev by evening," puffed Wag, between hops

"But open the Magic Box," sighed Peg, holding on to Wag's ear, "for box there's Flying Fluid ! "

"We'd make remarkably nice lot of birds," chuckled Kabumpo, looking over his shoulder, now wouldn't we ? "

" ," laughed Pompa "What else was box, Peg ? "

hard while they were being jolted along, but Peg, being of wood, feel the bumps and Pompa, being Prince, pretended not to, so continued their conversation in jerky sentences

"There's Vanishing Cream, little tea kettle and some kind of rays and Question Box," said Peg, holding up her wooden hand "A Question Box that answers any question you ask it "

" ! " exclaimed Kabumpo, stopping short "Well, ask it whether Pumperdink has disappeared "

"And how to rescue Ozma, and who sent the scroll ! " cried Pompa "Oh, do let me try to open it, Peg ! "

So Peg handed over Glegg's Magic Box and pounded along the Prince tried to pry it open pearl pen knife "It would save us such lot of trouble," he murmured, holding it up and screwing his eye keyhole

"Better let it alone," advised Wag, wiggling his ears nervously "Suppose grow as big as Suppose explode or vanish ! "

"Vanish ! " coughed Kabumpo "Great Grump ! Put it away, Pompa Wait till we reach Ev and make that wicked little Ruggedo open it Who Glegg, anyway ? "

"A lawless magician, I guess," said Wag, "or he wouldn't have owned box of Mixed Magic Ozma doesn't allow anyone to practice magic, "

"Why, I'll bet he person who sent the scroll ! " exclaimed the Prince suddenly "Don't you remember, Kabumpo, signed J G ? "

"Not doubt ," rumbled Kabumpo "I'll throw him up tree when I catch him and Ruggedo, too ! "

"Oh, please don't," begged Peg Amy "Perhaps sorry

"Not half as sorry as ," wheezed Kabumpo, plowing ahead long grass like big ferryboat under full steam

Wag hopped close behind and Peg kept her eyes fixed upon Pompa's back scorched head, to Peg the most delightful Prince imaginable

"I'll brush off his cloak and cut his hair all evenly," thought Peg "Then, perhaps Ozma will say yes when he tells her his story and asks for her hand But I wonder become of me," Peg sighed ever so softly and looked down with distaste at her wooden hands and torn old dress Nothing very exciting could happen to shabby Wooden Doll

"Why, I haven't even any right alive," she reflected sadly "I'm only meant funny Well, never mind ! Perhaps help Pompa and maybe that's why brought to life "

This thought, gleam lovely pearls Kabumpo had given her, so cheered Peg that she began to hum queer, squeaky little song The country was growing rougher and more hilly The sunny farmlands lay far behind them now and as Peg finished her song they came edge of queer, dead-looking forest The trees were dry and without leaves and there were quantities of stiff bushes and short stunted little trees standing under the taller ones