"All in ; all in ! " trumpeted Kabumpo testily "You sound like the Curious Cottabus ! The principal thing now is to save Ozma Will Ruggedo stay quiet little longer ? "

"If he's not disturbed," said the Scarecrow, with meaning glance at Wag

"Well, my hocks and woop soons ! " cried the rabbit indignantly "Isn't anyone going to punish him ? He shook and shook Peg and he meddled with magic and blew up into giant He's run off palace Doesn't he deserve pounding ? "

"Friend," said the Scarecrow, "I admire your spirit but my excellent brains tell me case where an ounce of prevention is worth pound of cure But have we the ounce of prevention ? "

"Here's the Question Box," announced Peg, who had run off at Kabumpo's first call "What shall we ask it first ? "

"How to save the lovely Princess of Oz," spoke up Pompa, running his hand over his scorched locks "Where's my crown, Kabumpo ? "

Kabumpo fished the crown pocket and Pompa set it gravely upon his head as Peg asked the Question Box:

"How shall we save the lovely Princess of Oz ? "

These maneuvers so astonished the Scarecrow that his balance and fell flat nose When he recovered Peg was clapping her wooden hands and Kabumpo was dancing on three legs

"You're as good as married, my boy ! " cried Kabumpo, thumping the Prince back

" it ? What's happened ? " gasped the Scarecrow

"Why, the Question Box says to pour three drops of Trick Tea on Ruggedo's left foot and two right and then march back Emerald City, descend into his cave and, palace has settled firmly on its foundations, shrink down former size," read Peg Amy, holding the Question Box close to her eyes, printing was

"Hurrah ! " cried the Scarecrow, throwing up his hat "Peggy, put the kettle on and we'll all have some tea But where'd you get all this magic stuff ? " he asked immediately after

"Out of box of Mixed Magic," puffed Kabumpo, his little eyes twinkling with anticipation as he watched Peg First she filled the tiny kettle at nearby brook; then she lit the little lamp and dropped Trick Tea kettle Bright pink clouds arose kettle, Peg had set it over the flame, and while they waited to boil Pompa put another question

"Has Pumperdink disappeared ? " asked the Prince, in trembling voice

"N-o," spelled the Question Box slowly, and Kabumpo settled back with great sigh of relief

" you everything all right followed my advice," said the Elegant Elephant "Stand up now and try to forget your black eye the Prince of Pumperdink and the Elegant Elephant of Oz "

"But why all the ceremony asked the Scarecrow, looking mystified

Kabumpo only chuckled to himself and, Trick Tea was now ready, Peg took the little kettle and began to tip-toe toward Ruggedo

" it's red hot," grumbled Wag resent-fully "He's getting off easy, the old scrabble-scratch ! Getting off ! Say, look here ! " He gestured violently to Kabumpo) "If Ruggedo returns Emerald City palace head, where does Pompa come in ? " He pointed trembling paw Prince, his nose twitching so fast it made the Scarecrow blink

"Stop ! " trumpeted the Elegant Elephant, plunging after Peg Amy He reached her just

"I'm no better than Pumper," grunted Kabumpo, mopping his brow tail robe "Suppose, after all our hardship, I had allowed Ozma palace away without giving Pompa chance to ask her--"

"But we ought to save her as quick ," ventured Peg "Couldn't we hurry back Emerald City again ? "

"It too late," wheezed Kabumpo "Let-me-see ! "

"Hello ! " cried the Scarecrow "Here comes Glinda " As he spoke the swan chariot good Sorceress floated down beside the little party

"Bother ! " groaned Kabumpo, as Glinda stepped out

"Some strangers," called the Scarecrow, gleefully running toward Glinda, "some strangers with box of Mixed Magic trying to help "

"If few words with Ozma," put Elegant Elephant hastily, "everything all right "

Glinda looked at Kabumpo gravely "It's unlawful to practice magic know that," said the Sorceress sternly

"But it's not our magic, your Highness," explained Peg Amy, setting down the little kettle " it, and we're only trying to help Ozma "

"Well, case," Glinda help smiling Wooden Doll's quaint appearance, " to assist you, as all magic has proved useless "

"Aren't you the Prince of Pumperdink ? " she asked, nodding toward Pompa The Prince bowed most princely fashion and assured her that and, after few hasty explanations, Glinda promised to bring Ozma down in her chariot

"Tell her, "trumpeted Kabumpo impressively, chariot rose air, "tell her that young Prince waits below ! "

While Pompa was still looking after Glinda's chariot, Peg Amy came him and extended both her wooden hands

" you much happiness, Pompa dear," said the Wooden Doll in low voice

Pompa pressed Peg's hands gratefully " hadn't been I'd never have succeeded everything you wish for now, Peg Why, where going ? " "Good-bye ! " called Peg Amy, trying her voice as cheerful as her painted face, and before anyone could stop her she began to run toward little grove of trees

"Come back ! " cried the Prince, starting after her

"Come back ! " trumpeted Kabumpo in alarm

"I'll get her ! " coughed Wag, hopping forward jealously "I've known her the longest "

Pompa and Kabumpo both started to run, too, but just minute down swooped the chariot and out jumped Ozma, the lovely little Ruler of Oz

"At last ! " gasped Kabumpo, pushing Pompa forward

If Ozma was startled by their singular appearance, she was too polite so, and she returned Pompa's deep bow with still deeper curtsey

"Glinda tells me come long, long way just to help me," said Ozma anxiously " so ? "

"Princess ! " cried Pompa, falling knee " worried palace and your Courtiers and your friends Two drops Triple Trick Tea" (he waved small kettle) "upon Ruggedo's right foot and three left will set everything right ! "

"But where did you get it-and why ? " Ozma looked doubtfully Scarecrow

"Might try it," advised the Scarecrow

" explain everything later," puffed the Elegant Elephant "Trust old Kabumpo, your Highness, and everything will turn out happily "

"I believe ," smiled Ozma " try the Trick Tea, Glinda ? "

Glinda took the kettle and poured it exactly as directed First Ruggedo gave gusty sigh that blew the clouds about in every direction

"Look out ! " warned Glinda

Next instant they all fluttered down like pack of cards, for Ruggedo had taken step-a giant step that shook the earth it block of jelly-and had picked themselves up Ruggedo was out of sight, tramping like giant in dream, back toward the Emerald City

"You wait here ! " cried Glinda to Ozma "And I'll follow him ! " She sprang into her chariot

"How he'll go back ? " asked the little Ruler of Oz, staring with straining eyes for glimpse giant

"Because the Question Box said so," chuckled Kabumpo triumphantly

"Good magic ! " approved the Scarecrow "But where charming Peg ? I'll run find her "

No sooner had the Scarecrow disappeared than Pompa, swallowing very hard, again approached Ozma But Ozma, still looking after Glinda's vanishing chariot, was hardly aware Prince of Pumperdink

Poor Pompa dropped knee (which had large hole ) and began mumbling indistinct sentences Then, as Kabumpo frowned with disgust, the Prince burst out desperately, "Princess, marry me ? "

"Marry you ? " gasped the little Ruler of Oz "Good gracious, no ! "

CHAPTER 19

Ozma Takes Things in Hand

PRINCE POMPADORE jumped up quickly

" you she wouldn't ! " he choked, looking reproachfully at Kabumpo "I'm not half good enough "

"He doesn't always look so scratched up and shabby," wheezed Kabumpo breathlessly "We've been scorched and pinched and kidnapped We've been through every kind of hardship to save your Highness-and now ! " The Elegant Elephant slouched against tree, the picture of discouragement forgotten the jewels that were won the Princess for Pompa threat of running off with her should ,she refuse him

"Why, you don't even know me," cried Ozma, dismayed by even the thought of marrying; for though the little Ruler of Oz has lived almost thousand years no older than and would no more think of marrying than Dorothy or Betsy Bobbin or Trot Ruling the Kingdom of Oz takes almost all of Ozma's time and in any left she wants to play and enjoy herself like sensible little girl For Ozma is only little girl fairy after all

"I'm not going to marry anybody ! " she declared stoutly Then, because she really was touched by Pompa's woebegone appearance, she asked more kindly, "Why did to marry me especially ? "

"Because the properest Princess in Oz," groaned the Prince, leaning disconsolately against Kabumpo "Because don't Pumperdink will disappear and my poor old father and my mother and everyone

"Not of us," gulped the Elegant Elephant

"But where is Pumperdink, and who said it would disappear ? " asked Ozma in amazement

"And how did you happen this Trick Tea and come to rescue me ? "

"The Prince always rescues the Princess he intends to marry," said Kabumpo wearily " think you'd know that "

"Well, I'm very grateful, and I'll do anything except marry you," exclaimed Ozma, who was beginning interested strange pair

" ," said Kabumpo stiffly, for deeply offended " , but going Come along, Pompa "

"Don't be Gooch ! " Pompa who spoke "I'm going her everything ! "

And Pompa, being as told you most charming Prince , made Ozma comfortable throne of green boughs and, throwing himself at her feet, poured out the whole story adventures, beginning birthday party mysterious scroll meeting with Peg Amy and Wag and ended up ride Runaway Country

Kabumpo stood by, swaying sulkily disappointed Princess of Oz that she had no proper appreciation Pompa's importance "I'm going Peg," finally "She's got more sense than any of you," he wheezed under his breath as he swept grandly out of sight

Ozma put both hands to her head as Pompa finished his recital and really enough to puzzle any fairy Scrolls, live Wooden Dolls, giant rabbit, mysterious magician threatening disappearances and Ruggedo's wicked use box of Mixed Magic

"Goodness ! " cried the little Ruler of Oz " the Scarecrow would come back He's so clever I'm sure ; but first you had better bring me the magic box "

Pompa rose slowly and, picking up all the little flasks and boxes that had spilled out when Wag pounded Ruggedo, he put them back casket and handed it to Ozma She examined the contents as curiously others had done The Expanding Extract was missing, for Ruggedo had poured the whole bottle over his head The Question Box seemed to Ozma the most wonderful of all of Glegg's magic

"Why, all is to ask this box questions," she cried in excitement "Has my palace reached the Emerald City ? " she asked breathlessly

"Shake it three times," said Pompa, as Ozma looked in vain for her answer