"I suppose you asked it if I were the Proper Princess mentioned scroll," she said, bit shyly

The Prince shook his head "Knew without asking," said Pompa heavily

" you never asked it that ? " gasped Ozma in disbelief "Why, surprised at you " And before Pompa could object she shook the little box briskly " the Princess that Pompa must marry ? " she demanded anxiously

"The Princess of Sun Top Mountain," flashed the Question Box promptly Then, as an afterthought, it added, "Trust the mirror and golden door knob ! "

"Now, ! " cried Ozma, jumping up in delight "I wasn't the Proper Princess at all ! "

Pompa smiled faintly, but without enthusiasm The thought of hunting another Princess was almost " just take Peg Amy and Wag and go back to Pumperdink without marrying anybody," he choked bitterly

"Now, don't give up," advised Ozma kindly " very wrong of Glegg to cause you all this trouble I'm going his box of Mixed Magic and take away all his powers when him, but until , you'll have directions Oh mercy ! What's that ? "

They both ducked and turned around in hurry, as terrific thumping sounded behind them

"It's the Runaway Country again," cried Pompa, seizing Ozma's hands in distress, "and it's caught all the others "

The Scarecrow had climbed tree, and was waving wildly Country galloped nearer "Might come aboard," genially " fast Country-no arguing with it at all "

Ozma looked helplessly at Pompa, Prince had only time to grasp her more firmly Country scooped them neatly air Down they tumbled, beside Peg Amy and Wag Elegant Elephant

"What ? " demanded Ozma, she regained her breath

"Don't this lady Ruler of all Oz ? " cried Pompa warningly

"Peg's the Ruler of me," replied the Country calmly "I nearly lost her once, but now I've caught her and all the rest, and not going to stop until I've reached the Nonestic Ocean-giants or no giants "

Ozma somewhat prepared Runaway Country by Pompa's description, but she had never dreamed it would dare to run off with her While Peg Amy began to coax it to stop, she took out Glegg's little Question Box

"How shall I stop this Country ? " she whispered anxiously

"Spin around six times and cross your fingers," directed the Question Box

This Ozma proceeded , much agitation Scarecrow, who thought she had taken leave of her senses But next instant the Country came to jolting halt

"Peg, Princess Peg ! " shrieked the Island " bewitched, 't move step ! "

"Then everybody off," shouted the Scarecrow, jerking branch of tree he were conductor "End line everybody off ! " lost no time tumbling off the wild little Country

"It seems too bad to leave it," said Peg Amy regretfully, picking herself up

"It threw us off without any feeling or consideration when it saw Ruggedo," sniffed Kabumpo "Therefore it has no claims on us whatsoever "

"But couldn't something ? " asked Peg, approaching Ozma timidly "It's so tired of being plateau Couldn't you let it be an island, and find someone to settle ? I wouldn't mind going," she added generously

"You shall do nothing sort," cried Kabumpo angrily "You're going back to Pumperdink with Pompa and me "

"She's going with me," cried Wag "Aren't you, Peg ? "

"You very popular person, smiled Ozma "While Country has no right to run away, and while I never heard of one doing it before, I've no objections to its being an island It's running off with people I object to " She looked the Country sternly in its lake-eyes

"But 't move," screamed the Country, tears streaming down its hill, "and I've got somebody to settle me "

"Oh ! Here's Glinda," shouted the Scarecrow, tossing up his hat "Now know what's happened to Ruggedo "

Leaving the Country for moment, they all ran to welcome the good Sorceress of Oz Glinda's reports were most satisfactory Ruggedo had walked straight back Emerald City, stepped yawning cavern, and immediately the palace had settled firmly upon its old foundations Then had come muffled explosion, and when Glinda and Dorothy ran secret passage, which discovered meanwhile Soldier Green Whiskers, they saw Ruggedo, shrunken former size, sitting angrily sixth rock of history

" locked him up palace," finished Glinda, "and I strongly advise your Highness to punish him severely "

Ozma sighed "What would ? " she asked, appealing Scarecrow things had come up for her attention and advice last few hours little fairy ruler felt positively dizzy

"Let's all sit down in circle and think," proposed the Scarecrow cheerfully This they all did except Kabumpo, who stood off glumly by himself Peg was looking anxiously at Pompadore, Elegant Elephant had told her of Ozma's refusal, and wondering sadly what do to help, Scarecrow bounced up impulsively

" it," chuckled the Straw Man "Let's send Ruggedo off Runaway Country He deserves banished and, if Ozma makes the Country an Island, do no harm "

Here Ozma had to stop and explain to Glinda Country that wanted an Island, and after short consultation they decided to Scarecrow's advice

"Just I reach the Emerald City I'll put on my Magic Belt and wish him onto the Island," declared Ozma "And we'd better go right straight back," she added thoughtfully, " 's growing darker and Dorothy anxious to hear everything that's happened "

"Now you"-Ozma tapped Pompadore gently arm-" start at once for Sun Top Mountain I'm going to Question Box just where

Pompa sighed deeply, and when Ozma consulted the Question Box location of Sun Top Mountain, it stated Kingdom was very centre North Winkie Country "That's fine," said Ozma, clapping her hands "I'll have the Runaway Country carry you over the Deadly Desert, and as soon married the Princess bring her me Emerald City "

"What's all this ? " demanded Kabumpo, pricking up his ears

"The Question Box says marry the Princess of Sun Top Mountain," said Pompa, getting up wearily

"Well, Great Grump, why couldn't it have said so before ? " asked Kabumpo shrilly

"You never asked it," snapped Wag, twitching his nose " you Ozma wasn't the Princess mentioned scroll ! "

"Now don't quarrel," begged Peg Amy, jumping up hastily "There's still plenty to save Pumperdink Come along, Pompa "

"That's right," said Ozma, smiling approvingly at Peg "And when Pompa finds his Princess come and live with me Emerald City, for as Ruggedo was responsible for bringing you to life, care of you always "

Peg Amy dropped curtsey and promised , but she didn't feel very cheerful Then as Ozma was anxious back Emerald City, they all hurried to Runaway Country

" these travelers across the Deadly Desert," said Ozma, addressing the Runaway Country quite sternly, "and to set them down Winkie Country this restore your moving power again and little gnome for King Then run off Nonestic Ocean ever you wish "

" Peg," pouted the Country, "but 's the best do I suppose I'll have to stand it " After little more grumbling it agreed to Ozma's terms Wearily, Kabumpo, Wag, Peg and Pompa climbed aboard and then Ozma spun around six times opposite direction and immediately the Country found itself able to move again

"Good-bye ! " called Ozma, as she Scarecrow jumped into Glinda's chariot "Good-bye and good luck ! "

"Good-bye ! " called Peg, waving her old torn bonnet

"Good riddance," grumbled the Country gruffly and, turning sideways, began running toward the Deadly Desert

CHAPTER 20

The Proper Princess is Found !

mirror safe, and still got the gold door knob ? " asked Pompa, Country swung out onto the Deadly Desert "The Question Box said to trust them, "

"And by what right did Ozma take that box ? " wheezed Kabumpo irritably, as pocket whether the magic articles were still there "That's gratitude ! Glegg's box of Mixed Magic and rescue her, and off she goes with all our magic, leaving us tender mercies of Runaway Country ! "

"You find the box ! " shrilled Wag "Well, I like that ! "

"Oh, what difference does it make ? " groaned Pompa, stretching out ground They were all completely exhausted day's adventures and as cross as three sticks-all except Peg Amy, who never was cross

" marry this Princess and save my country, but I'm going away wedding is over and spend the rest life in travel," announced Pompa gloomily

"Don't blame you," rubbled the Elegant Elephant with sniff

"Ah, now ! " laughed Peg "That doesn't sound like you, Pompa Why, maybe this Princess so lovely you'll want to carry her straight back to Pumperdink "

" Princesses are great bore," said Wag with terrific yawn "I prefer plain folks like Peg Scarecrow "

"You're all hungry, that's what's the matter," chuckled the Wooden Doll " 've had some supper you'll be just as anxious the Princess of Sun Top Mountain were Ozma Here's the Winkie Country now, and there's star for good luck "

Peg waved toward the green fields with one hand and toward the clouds other dusk now and just one star twinkled cheerily sky

"I'll set you down, but I'm not going away, said the Runaway Country determinedly, "for little old gnome doesn't turn up I'm going to catch you all again "

"Ozma never forgets She'll keep her promise," said Peg "And do just as she told you for she has some powerful magic and can right back to where you came from "

"Can she ? " gulped the Country anxiously

" wait while, though," suggested Pompa darkly "After I've seen this new Princess Runaway Country thing "

"Well, 't expect her to marry you talk that way, said Peg warningly, Country came to stop in huge field of daisies

"I'll wait," it said hopefully, four travelers swung themselves down