"How can I ? How can I ? " chattered the witch, wringing her hands "I've forgotten all my witchcraft suppose I'd be here as cook if I had my magic powers, you ridiculous old bird ! " Snip Pajuka's eyes grow round as buttons dismal news

"What ? " wailed the unhappy goose "Must I continue forever to lead this simple life ? Must I associate with ducks and farmers end days ? "

"You glad you're alive at all," mumbled Mombi uncomfortably These words had startling effect on Pajuka

"Ah ! " groaned the goose remorsefully "Here I've been thinking of myself when King who matters " And stretching his long neck he repeated the question that had so alarmed Snip first place "Woman ! " rasped Pajuka hoarsely, "Woman, what done King ? "

"Not so loud," begged Mombi, raising her stick and glancing uneasily over her shoulder, she half suspected someone were listening Then, seeing Pajuka was going to honk again, she added defiantly, "I don't remember what ! "

Now Snip, who loved King Kinda Jolly with all his heart, was stunned dreadful news Undecided whether to run for help or stay and listen, he finally decided to stay and crept close inner edge sill

Pajuka seemed stunned too "How frightful," choked the goose dolefully, "how careless of you to mislay the King How dare you forget ? "

"Well, there's no use quarreling ," grumbled Mombi "Who cares anyway ? Ozma is Queen now and nobody even remembers King of Oz ! "

"Of Oz ! " Snip, between relief at finding nothing had happened to King Kinda Jolly and shock old witch's words, lost his hold window bars and fell straight into Mombi's arms

"A spy ! " shrieked Mombi, beginning to shake him backward and forward "A spy ! "

"Now who's making racket," demanded Pajuka triumphantly "Keep that up and you'll have the whole castle about our ears Besides, if he's spy, where is his spy glass ? "

"Idiot ! " hissed Mombi, but she lowered her voice and stopped shaking Snip "Why, you're as simple look," she muttered contemptuously

"And you're as wicked," retorted the goose, staring sharply at Snip "Let that boy alone or I'll honk my head off " Snip's ears were buzzing shaking and he looked gratefully at Pajuka

" I'm going to let him carry his tales to Kinda Jolly ? No sir ! soup kettle ," puffed Mombi, rushing Snip toward the stove But at her first step, the white goose flung himself at her head an outcry that she stopped at once

"Let the boy alone," panted Pajuka Then, seeing useless to appeal to Mombi's goodness he began to appeal to her badness "The King will reward you generously, restore him throne," began Pajuka craftily "Nothing gained quarreling put our heads together and find the King of Oz "

Still holding Snip tightly wrist, Mombi sank upon crooked stool and, half closing her eyes, began bad old days before little Ozma was Queen-the bad old days when witches free to practice their arts and she herself was powerful witches land

"I'll ! " declared Mombi suddenly "But how shall him when I forget what ? "

"I'd know him anywhere," gulped Pajuka, two tears dropping off the end bill "Haven't I been hunting him all these years ? "

"Yes, but transformed," muttered Mombi uneasily " King himself how expect to recognize him ? "

"I'd know him in any shape," insisted the goose "But try-try to remember You turned Ozma to boy and me to goose What did King ? "

So interested had the two become , they had almost forgotten the presence of Snip But Snip was listening with all his might, his ears fairly tingling with curiosity The lad, like many another Gilliken boy, was perfectly familiar history of Oz For while they gathered buttons wood, King Kinda had read them many strange chapter big purple history books

Snip knew that Oz was great oblong Kingdom divided into four parts capital, splendid Emerald City, exact center The Northern Land Gilliken country and Kimbaloo was but many kingdoms interesting section The Eastern part of Oz belonged Winkies; the Southern country Quadling Country; while the Western lands belonged Munchkins Snip knew the names rulers of Oz the names Presidents-perhaps even better-for as only part of Oz history written down there The first ruler mentioned famous Wizard of Oz, who had flown marvelous country in balloon from Omaha It Wizard who had built the famous Emerald City, and who had given Ozma, the little girl ruler, keeping of an old witch This witch had already captured the King, Ozma's father, and very little was known royal gentleman

The Wizard had ruled Oz for years At last, desiring to return to America, he had made the Scarecrow Emperor This lively man of straw had held the throne until captured by an ambitious girl named Jinjur, and her army of girls But Jinjur was only ruler and was herself captured by Glinda, the good sorceress South, the scarecrow had gone for help Glinda, looking through her magic record books, had discovered that Ozma, who deposed Wizard, was still old witch's clutches So Glinda had compelled her to restore Ozma throne The witch had transformed the little Princess into boy named Tip, but was forced by Glinda to disenchant her and amid general rejoicing Ozma was proclaimed Queen of Oz and ruler , while the old witch deprived of her magic powers and banished Emerald City forever

The Wizard of Oz had later returned and become one of Ozma's most trusted counselors, regretting exceedingly his part in giving her witch As Snip listened, all facts went scurrying through his head, and while Professor Wogglebug history had neglected witch's name, looking dreadful old woman beside him, Snip realized with shudder that Mombi witch

It generally supposed King, Ozma's father, utterly destroyed by Mombi's magic, but if what Pajuka said were true, the King in some shape or other was still alive rightful ruler of Oz, while this faithful goose was his prime minister Snip longed to run to Kinda Jolly amazing news and to warn him against Mombi herself, but the old hag had him fast wrist, so nothing but listen Even becoming harder and harder, for Mombi and Pajuka had lowered their voices to whisper Just as Snip had determined to jerk away and make run , Mombi sprang to her feet

"We'll start at once ! " she cried determinedly, and jerking off her cook's cap and without releasing her hold on Snip, she snatched her peaked witch hat from low cupboard and set it jauntily side of her head Then, dragging Snip with her, she began hobbling kitchen, collecting pepper shakers, mustard boxes, spices, herbs and various other supplies shelves These she tossed quickly into basket with loaf of bread, cold chicken and some cheese

"C'mon ! " croaked the witch, motioning to Pajuka "C'mon before anyone misses us

"What boy ? " asked the goose doubtfully

"Let him carry the basket," snapped the witch

Thrusting the basket into Snip's hands, Mombi gave him such glare poor lad's heart dropped into his boots Then, grabbing him sleeve, she rushed him door leading kitchen garden high hedge surrounded the garden, so no one saw them go The garden ran down edge of gloomy forest forest plunged Mombi, Pajuka waddling and flying after her and poor Snip, casting many longing glances over his shoulder dear old castle of Kimbaloo where life so carefree and so merry

to set out on journey of adventures yourself, but dragged away against your will by wicked old witch is another pair of pickles entirely, and though Snip was as brave next fellow keep back his tears at parting from Kinda Jolly, Rosa Merry many gay comrades button wood

CHAPTER 3

King Kinda Jolly Is Sad

WHILE all happening King's kitchen, Kinda Jolly sat cheerfully throne, talking pretty little Queen

"Rosa, my dear," smiled Kinda, tugging at his silver whiskers, "guess what we're going for dinner "

Rosa Merry, who was sewing button King's suspenders, paused with her needle air

"What does it begin with ? " asked Rosa curiously The Queen simply doted on riddle

"With G," answered Kinda Jolly, leaning down to pat Trippsy, his pet foot stool, Trippsy only live footstool, , ever heard of He followed Kinda wherever he went, fortunate, King's legs were so short that no matter how low the chair or bench, his feet never touched the floor In some ways Trippsy was more useful pet than dog He never chased cats, nor got into fights, nor barked, except few shins, Kinda Jolly was awfully fond of him

" goat ? " giggled Rosa Merry, biting off her thread

"Goat ! " sputtered Kinda Jolly " say not ! Trippsy, old boy, she says we're going goat for dinner " Trippsy, who to market King-Kinda being one dear old fashioned fellows who do their own marketing-waved his tassel faintly to show that he appreciated the joke, while General Whiffenpuff, the King's body guard, and Hah Hoh, the Town Laugher burst into loud roars of merriment

"Guess again," invited Kinda Jolly, putting his finger tips together, and beaming pretty wife

"Grapes, glue, gum drops ? " ventured the Queen, puckering up her forehead "Gravy, ginger, griddle cakes , it's griddle cakes ! "

"Grapes and glue and griddle cakes Will frightful stomach aches ! Ginger, grapes and glue and gravy Oh, some kind doctor come and save ye ! "

That best that Hah Hoh could think of, but they all laughed so loud that seven little button boys stuck their heads window what all the fun was about

"Well, give it up ? " asked Kinda, after Rosa had made seven more merry guesses

"Yes," said the Queen, shaking her head till the curls flew out in every direction " it ? "

"A goose ! " puffed Kinda Jolly, settling back comfortably throne "The finest, fattest goose you ever saw in your life Cost me thousand gold buttons," he finished, smacking his lips and winking at General Whiffenpuff The General, who was fonder of eating than of anything else, began to pat his stomach absently and Trippsy, though far too well stuffed to require food, gave skip of satisfaction that nearly upset the King

"Roast goose and apple sauce," mused Kinda, regaining his balance "Yum-yum, Whiffen, old rascal, just step out pantry, how the dinner's progressing It's high time our goose was cooked, and I am hungry as hippogriff " They were still laughing at Hah Hoh's jokes, when Whiffenpuff returned, but one look General sobered them at once