Pompa, holding his silk handkerchief before his face, had come up beside her both looked anxiously first signs country that held Ruggedo giant who had run off with Ozma's palace

"Oh, Mr Land," called Peg suddenly

"Yes, Princess," answered the Country, without slackening its speed

" thought about feeding us ? " asked the Wooden Doll gently "I don't see any fruit trees or vegetables or chickens and settlers must eat, We some seeds to plant and some building materials, oughtn't we, 're going you into an up-to-Oz Country ? "

"Pshaw ! " said the Runaway Country, stopping with jolt, "I never thought Can't you eat grass and fish ? There's fine fish in my lakes "

"Well, I don't eat at all," explained Peg pleasantly, "but Pompa is Prince and Prince has meat and vegetables and puddings on Sunday-"

"And lettuce and carrots and cabbages, or I won't work ! " cried Wag, thumping hind feet and winking at Kabumpo "I'll not dig single mountain ! "

"And I've got my ton of hay day, too ! " trumpeted the Elegant Elephant, "or I'll not lug single log Pretty poor sort of Country , expecting us to live on grass we were donkeys and goats "

The Runaway Country rolled its lakes helplessly from one other " settlers always managed living off the land," it murmured in troubled voice

"Not us ! " rumbled Kabumpo "Not enough pie in pioneer to suit this party ! "

"Has your Highness anything to suggest ? " asked the Country, looking anxiously at Peg

"Well," said the Wooden Doll slowly, "suppose we stop first country we come to and stock up get few chickens and seeds and saws and hammers and things "

"You'd run away," said the Runaway Country suspiciously "Not but what I trust you, Princess," he added hastily, "but them " He scowled darkly at Kabumpo and Wag "I'll not let them out sight "

"How our little floating island loves us, chuckled Wag, nudging the Elegant Elephant

"They won't run away, said Peg softly "And if easily catch them again "

"That's so; I'll stop wherever you say," sighed the Country, starting on again

" you going ? " whispered Pompa, catching Peg's arm

"I don't know," said Peg honestly, "but perhaps make it stop something will turn up We're almost across the desert now 's big help "

"You're wonderful ! " cried Pompa, eyeing Peg gratefully "How can I ever ? "

"Better get your sword ready," said Peg practically, "for run into that giant any minute now " Even Kabumpo and Wag had stopped making jokes and were straining their eyes toward Ev

"Let's all stand together ! " gasped Wag breathlessly Before Peg or Pompa had time , or Kabumpo to reply, the Runaway Country stepped off the desert and swept over the border and Kingdom of Ev, making straight for tall purple mountain

"Do anything that looks like giant, or palace ? " asked Peg, leaning forward

"Oh, help ! " screamed Wag just then, while Kabumpo gave an ear-splitting trumpet Peg grasped Pompa and Pompa clutched Peg and no wonder ! Directly in front were the legs and feet most terrible and tremendous giant they had ever imagined sitting mountain itself and only part of him was visible, head and shoulders were lost clouds

"What's the matter ? What's the matter ? " rumbled the Runaway Country, tilting forward slightly so it One look was enough With frightened jump, that sent the four travelers hurtling air, it began running backwards and in moment was out of sight

Peg first to recover her senses Being wood, bumps didn't bother her She rose stiffly and gazed around her Pompa's feet were waving feebly from small clump of bushes Kabumpo stood swaying near by, while Wag lay over side with closed eyes

"Oh, you poor dears ! " murmured Peg, and running over bushes she pulled out the Prince of Pumperdink and settled him back against tree much shaken by his high dive island, but pulled himself together and patted Peg's wooden hand kindly Kabumpo had gotten his bearings and came wobbling over

"You've got black eye, ," wheezed the Elegant Elephant bitterly

"Not so very black," said Peg cheerfully " hurt, Kabumpo ? "

The Elegant Elephant felt himself all over trunk "Well, I'm not used to being flung about like bean bag," irritably Then he lowered his voice hastily, as he caught another glimpse dreadful giant feet "I'll go help Wag," he whispered, backing away quickly

It took to rouse the giant rabbit, but finally he opened his eyes "I shought I thaw giant," he muttered thickly "Hush ! " warned Kabumpo "He's over there " He waved his trunk direction mountain and began dragging Wag firmly away

"C'mon over here," in loud whisper to Peg and Pompa Leaning heavily on Peg Amy the Prince came Then cry of distress "My sword ! " he gasped, staring around bit wildly

"I'll find it," said Peg obligingly "You sit still and rest "

"Where's the Magic Box ? " coughed Kabumpo, with an uneasy glance giant's direction

Now were actually in Ev, the Elegant Elephant began to doubt the wisdom plan for killing the monster

"Gone ! " wailed Pompa, feeling pocket "I dropped it when I fell off the Land What shall , Kabumpo ? "

"Don't be Gooch," gulped the Elegant Elephant, but it without spirit

"It's probably around here somewhere " Moving quietly, Kabumpo began to poke about trunk

Just then Peg Amy came flying toward them, her ragged dress fluttering breeze

"Look ! " whispered the Wooden Doll, dropping on her knees before them

In her hands was Glegg's Box of Mixed Magic and open !

CHAPTER 18

Prince Pompadore Proposes

WHILE Peg and Pompa Elegant Elephant eyed the box, Wag, twitching his nose and mumbling very fast under his breath, backed rapidly away not going to run the risk of any more explosions So anxious big rabbit good distance between himself and Glegg's Mixed Magic, that he never realized that backing toward the giant till sharp thump back head brought him up short

Trembling in every hair, Wag looked over his shoulder Stars ! He had run terrible, five-toed foot giant himself At first Wag was too terrified to move But suddenly the hair back neck bristled erect He peered giant's foot more attentively His eyes snapped and, seizing stout stick that lay near by, he brought it down with all his might giant's toes

"It's Ruggedo ! " screamed Wag, hopping up and down with rage "And I'll pound his curly toes off I don't care if giant ! I'll pound his curly toes off ! "

The stick whistled air and whacked the giant's toes again

Now known all along giant was Ruggedo, but great surprise rescuers Ruggedo was bad enough to deal with as gnome-but giant Ruggedo ! Horrors !

"Stop him ! Stop him ! " cried Peg Amy, throwing up her hands and scattering the contents box of magic in every direction

" you trying ? " roared Kabumpo, plunging forward "Get us all trampled on ? "

muffled cry came down clouds and, as Kabumpo dragged Wag back ear, something flashed air and bounced Elegant Elephant's head "It's the Scarecrow ! " chattered Wag, wriggling from beneath Kabumpo's trunk Kabumpo opened his eyes and peered down limp bundle at his feet As he looked the bundle began to pull itself together It sat up awkwardly and began clutching itself into shape

"Where'd you come from ? " gasped the Elegant Elephant Without speaking, the Scarecrow waved his hand upward and rose unsteadily feet Then, catching sight of Peg Amy and Pompadore, the Straw Man bowed politely Meanwhile Wag, seeing that Kabumpo's attention was diverted, began to sidle back toward Ruggedo

"Stop ! " cried the Scarecrow, running after him " crazy ? Don't Ozma's palace is head ? Every time he moves everyone palace tumbles about you who stirred him up and made him spill me window ? "

"I'll wake him up some more, the wicked old scrabble-scratch," muttered Wag, but Kabumpo jerked him back roughly

"Great Grump ! " choked the Elegant Elephant, shaking Wag exasperation "Here we've come all to save Princess Ozma and now to upset everything "

"That's the way ," said the Scarecrow, rolling his eyes wildly

"Please stop it, Wag," begged Peg Amy, throwing her wooden arms around the big rabbit's neck, and as Pompa added his voice to Peg's, Wag finally threw down his stick

"Who beautiful girl ? " asked the Scarecrow of Kabumpo The Elegant Elephant looked Straw Man sharply, that not poking fun Wooden Doll Finding quite serious, proudly, "That's Peg Amy, the best little body in Oz She's under my protection," he added grandly

Just then Pompa and Peg came over and Wag, who had often seen the Scarecrow Emerald City, introduced them all

"Did I understand you you had come to rescue Ozma ? " asked the Scarecrow, keep his eyes off the Elegant Elephant

"Did I understand you Ozma's palace was on Ruggedo's head ? " shuddered Kabumpo, glancing fearfully direction mountain

The Scarecrow nodded vigorously and told in few words terrible journey to Ev and their present perilous position How the palace had gotten on Ruggedo's head, he admitted was puzzle to him Kabumpo and Pompadore listened with amazement, especially part where they had threatened Ruggedo with eggs

"And he's kept still for two days just on account of eggs ? " gasped the Elegant Elephant incredulously

"Well, no," admitted the Scarecrow, wrinkling up his forehead "A little man came flying air the first morning and bumped palace and instantly everyone except Scraps and me fell asleep Ruggedo was put to sleep, too; hear him snoring "

"Why, it must the Sand Man," breathed Peg Amy " heard he lived near here "

Are they asleep now ? " asked Pompa, clutching the Scarecrow's arm How romantic-thought the Prince of Pumperdink-to rescue and waken sleeping Princess ! But the Scarecrow shook his head "A before I fell out they began to wake up and I'd just gone window to look for Glinda when Ruggedo gave howl and ducked his head and here I fell " The Scarecrow spread his hands eloquently and smiled at Peg

"Has Glinda been here ? " asked Kabumpo jealously

"Yes," said the Scarecrow "She came and she's been trying all sorts of magic to reduce Ruggedo without harm palace "

"Great Grump ! hear that ? " Kabumpo rolled his eyes anxiously toward the Prince "If Glinda's magic takes effect before ours then where'll we be ! Peg ! Where's the box of Mixed Magic ? "