Looking very ruffled, Pajuka retired other side fire, where he and Snip conversed in low tones, while Mombi cleared away the supper and began her endless experiments old black frying pan

" think in some ways, being goose rather nice," observed Snip, looking inquisitively at Pajuka "Having wings for instance, and never needing undressed or have your hair cut "

"Well," agreed Pajuka slowly, "feathers are more convenient than clothes and while the life of goose is very simple, all unpleasant I've enjoyed flying lot, and I never need to worry about rubbers or carrying an umbrella But after all," Pajuka sighed and gazed sadly fire, "after all, my boy, nothing like being yourself "

Snip considered this for little while in silence, trying to fancy himself in Pajuka's place "Well, what miss the most ? " he inquired suddenly Pajuka had one eye shut and was preparing to close the other, but at Snip's words both flew wide open

"My pockets," gasped Pajuka, with great groan " man without his pockets ? No place his hands or his bills ! " Clapping his wing side, Pajuka looked tragically at Snip, and Snip patting his own bulging pockets-pockets full of cake crumbs, marbles, pencil stubs and string-nodded sympathetically "And that," continued the goose in grieved voice, "I waken at such ridiculous hours Hah, hoh ! myself falling asleep " Pajuka paused here for simply tremendous yawn "Right after supper, Hoh hum ! " finished the goose apologetically Then, tucking his head under his wing and drawing up one leg, he fell fast asleep before Snip could ask him another question

Pajuka was so close fire little button boy was afraid singe his feathers So, picking him up carefully, he set him back against gnarled old tree and, curling up on pile of leaves beside him, lay watching old Mombi The wind fortunately was blowing away , or he certainly choked awful mixtures black frying pan If he known positively that her magic powers were gone, taken heels at once, monsters that Mombi was trying to conjure up frying pan, devoured him in minute

"Magicum squadgicum squidgicum squdge

I order snooch out smudge ! "

Mombi frowned darkly as she hissed this, but only dense smoke rose frying pan, and after listening nervously to ten separate incantations and finding that nothing at all happened, Snip curled down leaves and was soon as fast asleep as Pajuka-asleep -and dreaming he, himself, was goose being chased up pink mountain by giant with blue ax

Mombi continued her experiments frying pan long after Snip and Pajuka were asleep, but finally she gave up in disgust and then she, too, lay down for nap, which lasted until dawn

CHAPTER 5

The Rolling Hoopers

SNIP was awakened by tickling feeling nose and, opening his eyes, saw Pajuka standing over him with big bunch of grapes bill "Hello ! " yawned Snip, sitting up and rubbing his eyes sleepily " morning ? "

Pajuka dropped the grapes into his lap "Half past it Been up since five, had fly and swim and brought you these for breakfast," clucked the goose, who seemed in fine humor "Mombi's eaten all the rest chicken herself, the old Scundermutch ! "

The sun filtered down cheerily treetops and fresh little breeze had set all the forest leaves to dancing Snip, himself, felt curiously light hearted and gay Perhaps it long sleep he had had open, or the friendly presence of Pajuka, or the thought strange adventures that lay ahead Anyway, he jumped up with will and even the scowl old Mombi gave him failed to dampen his spirits She had already prepared and eaten her breakfast and was beating out the fire with her shoe Following Pajuka to small sparkling brook, Snip splashed his face and hands vigorously, ate his grapes and large sugar bun thoughtful Pajuka had plucked from nearby bun bush Mombi had her basket packed and, shaking her stick crossly, announced time to start

" are we going ? " asked Snip, taking the basket and falling into step beside her

"My way ! " snapped Mombi fiercely

"Well, that's witch way, isn t it,,, observed Pajuka, flopping along few feet overhead and winking down slyly at Snip, as he plodded down the road

"Hold your bill," snapped Mombi, hobbling along so fast little button boy had to skip pace with her " you last night we were going Emerald City "

"But you were banished from there forever," put in Snip, who knew his Oz history by heart

" disguise myself," shrilled Mombi triumphantly "I'll pretend I'm market woman selling fat goose and while I'm arguing cook, Pajuka shall fly palace and steal some of Ozma's magic "

"How ? " honked Pajuka sulkily "Ozma has never done me any harm The thing is the King Once we've come little wood where you transformed him you'll remember where Why, maybe we'll find him before then "

"Yes, but what good will it do if I don't remember my magic," sniffed Mombi "Unless goose rest of your life, you'd better make up your mind what As ," the old witch whirled angrihy upon Snip, "any more supposing and I'll turn you to six pence and spend you first village "

Snip merely whistled and turned up his nose , for perfectly well Mombi carry out her threat Besides Snip had plan own The little button boy had decided that they reached the famous capitol of Oz slip away from Mombi and tell Princess Ozma the whole story Then she herself could use her magic to help Pajuka find the King So he stepped jauntily along, paying no attention to Mombi's mutterings, looking curiously right and left and thinking Kinda Jolly when he returned to Kimbaloo

The forest, like all the northern lands of Oz, was slightly tinged with purple, the national color Gillikens Pansies and tall purple flags grew around the bases giant trees and here and there clusters of violets nodded their pretty little heads breeze Purple birds darted leaves overhead air was sweet from hidden beds of lavendar, nothing pleasanter first part day's journey But toward noon they reached portion forest so dark and impenetrable had single file, and even then had great difficulty in forcing their way trees and dense underbrush

Growls and roars added still further discomforts, until Snip, feeling pocket trusty pen knife, began to wish himself safely back button wood Pajuka half ran and waddled after him, giving every great flop of terror as particularly fierce roar came echoing forest Mombi, alone, seemed perfectly unconcerned and hobbled ahead whacking branches and bushes way with her crooked stick

" lunch time," she called back hoarsely over her shoulder

"Howja guess ? " panted Pajuka, keeping as close to Snip as , for terribly frightened

"Don't you hear the lions ? " asked the old witch maliciously

"Merciful feathers ! " gasped the goose "Have I come all lion's lunch ? "

"Here comes one now," shuddered Snip, flattening himself against tree But not lion that came hurtling brush weenix, wild, bear-like beast with walrus head One look at its tusks set Snip's heart beating like drum Pajuka flung air, flapping his wings and hissing furiously, but the weenix came straight on and Snip, though determined to die pen knife in hand, trembled so violently scarcely stand up Even Mombi looked frightend Grabbing the basket from Snip, she fumbled among its packages and pans and just weenix, with outspread paws, leaped upon her, the old witch snatched out the pepper box and shook the entire contents upon its nose purple pepper, fortunately, even stronger than red

"Kawoosh ! " spluttered the weenix falling backwards "Kawoosh-Kawush ! Kawoo ! " With tears streaming down its tusks and trembling whiskers, it dashed shadows, where it could still be heard sneezing broken heartedly It evidently told its family and friends all dangerous travellers, for not another weenix as showed whisker

"Humph ! " snorted Mombi, settling her hat, which had gone terribly askew " forgotten my magic, but I still know few tricks, eh Pajuka ? "

"Oh, my feathers," panted the goose, leaning up against tree, "that was worse than roasting "

"How did you ever think of pepper ? " asked Snip, help admiring Mombi's quickness But Mombi merely gave grunt, thrust the basket back into his hands and began limping along faster than ever Snip was tired and hungry, but the thought of being left alone forest was worse than being company of witch that he stumbled and ran after her, comforting himself thought fine sights he Emerald City

Pajuka was tired too, but he hopped and flopped after Skip and another hour brought them edge forest The countryside, stretching pleasantly ahead, was shaded with purple, so they knew they were still land Gillikens The old witch ordered halt, while she considered the road

Mombi pegged her map down grass and began studying it carefully Snip sat down under tree and began fanning himself hat, while Pajuka flew off stream, poor goose was parched by his flight forest and never felt quite happy out of water

"How far Emerald City ? " asked Snip, after watching Mombi for time in silence