"That's so," put in Snip, who had rather enjoyed his wild ride elephant's back

"Well, well, I daresay old fashioned," sighed the tailor, settling his specs resignedly, "and and Dorothy can stand this mad mode of travel, I'll try not to mind it either "

"Fall on me ," invited the dummy generously Humpy's expression as this suggestion was so comical that Tora laughed of himself

"But how are we going to cross the mountain ? " put in Snip dismally "It's too steep for Kabumpo to climb and I don't see 'round ? "

Dorothy shook her head "I don't even remember mountain being here," observed the little girl with troubled frown They had joined the Elegant Elephant and, standing in dejected row, they surveyed the great mass of tumbled rocks-rocks so steep and jagged that even Snip shuddered thought of clambering over their perilous peaks

" you don't expect me to carry you over," sniffed Kabumpo "Only bird could cross this bird ! Great Gollywockers ! Look ! "

But Dorothy others had already seen for themselves An old woman and goose were walking calmly mountain just it exist at all-an old woman and goose ! The former was dressed simple costume of Gilliken farmer's wife In one hand she carried large basket and other she held her stick and long rope attached goose's neck

"It's Mombi ! " cried Dorothy, clutching Snip in terror, for disguise, no mistaking that wicked old face

"And Pajuka ! " gasped Snip, scarcely daring to breathe Tora's ears were fluttering like leaves in gale, and even Kabumpo trembled slightly

"She got her magic powers back," whispered Snip hoarsely, "or how could she walk through mountain ? Oh Dorothy, what shall now ? "

As it happened, they had time nothing, for just then Pajuka looked up and saw the little button boy

"Snip ! " screamed the goose joyfully Spreading both wings, he flew forward so fast that Mombi had to run up' " she had done ," panted the goose, paying no attention to Mombi's jerks rope He began to caress Snip with both wing and bill

Snip forgot his fright for moment, delight at seeing his old friend again and, dropping knees, hugged Pajuka for dear life Dorothy involuntarily drew back witch, who was mumbling long rigamarole about being on her way Emerald City with fine goose for Ozma of Oz Humpy, stepping from behind the Elegant Elephant, folded his arms and gazed down benevolently little scene 'Reminds me happy endings picture game, observed the dummy indulgently tired tailor "I'm bird, and I don't care who knows it,"

"Hush ! " warned the tailor, looking nervously at Mombi But first sound of Humpy's voice, Pajuka had given great bounce and, extricating himself from Snip's embrace, came hurtling air

"Master ! " shrieked the goose and flapped his wings so violently flimsy dummy fell backward over Kabumpo's trunk With surly flounce the Elegant Elephant shook him off

"Monster ! " hissed Pajuka, with wild peck elephant's trunk "How dare you insult his Majesty ? " Bowing and weeping alternately he cried shrilly, "The King ! At last found the King ! "

the tailor had got Humpy feet, and hard who most astonished astonished little group Mombi dropped her basket with crash and came over to stare green clad figure Kabumpo, thinking late speeches, began to back uncomfortably away

"But it can't be the King," began Dorothy, catching hold of Snip " Humpy my own self in California and however could he have gotten there ? "

"Girl," said the goose sternly, "don't you suppose my own Master ? "

"And I've seen him before too," murmured the old tailor, half closing his eyes "Let me think ! Let me think ! "

"Did you ever see the King yourself ? " asked Snip, turning excitedly to Dorothy The little girl had to acknowledge that she , for Mombi had hidden the old monarch away before Dorothy had come to Oz

"You don't mind my being King, Dorothy ? " The dummy turned to her coaxingly "I'd love the star in just one picture Let me be King and you shall be Queen "

"Star ! Picture ! Queen ! " choked Pajuka, gazing from one other in bewilderment "What does this mean ? Woman, woman what done King ? "

He turned accusingly to Mombi, but Mombi, brushing him roughly aside, had run Humpy and was examining him carefully from all sides Catching sight of white tape protruding collar robe, the old witch jerked him sideways and after one triumphant look number tape, began to jump up and down like child on pogo stick

"The King ! " shrilled Mombi, throwing up her stick " King of Oz himself ! And the restore him to himself and throne " She looked sharply at Dorothy, whom she had already recognized, daring her to contradict this statement

"But I don't see how dummy king," objected Dorothy, still trying to puzzle out the mystery

"That's because only little girl," explained Pajuka gently "I suppose you don't see how goose prime minister either, or how that wicked old woman would dare her King to stuffed man trusted councillor to goose, or throw an innocent little boy down well," hissed Pajuka, with an angry glare at Mombi

"A meddlesome little vagabond," mumbled Mombi, holding her ground stubbornly She was not going frightened out of her reward by anyone now, and stared defiantly little company

"But how did you get well and all these people ? " puffed Pajuka, looking curiously from Tora to Kabumpo and then letting his eyes rest fondly King

Mombi scarcely listened as Snip told fall into Blankenburg, his escape tailor and their meeting with Dorothy, Kabumpo dummy She was hurriedly turning over plan Humpy away friends While Pajuka, turn, told how he had tried to fly down the well, how he caught and tied up old witch and forced to accompany her until now, Mombi dropped the rope that was tied neck and made sly move toward the King

"Your Majesty," whispered Mombi craftily, "may few words ? "

"Certainly Certainly ! " puffed the dummy King, stepping along pompously at her side Tora, Snip and Dorothy were so interested in Pajuka's story that notice Mombi's move, but Kabumpo, who keeping an astonished eye and ear whole proceeding, stepped noiselessly two Here, reasoned Kabumpo anxiously, was an opportunity up rude speeches and restore himself to favor impossible person who was turning out the King

No sooner had Mombi put few trees between herself others than she grasped Humpy by his hand and began running like the wind

"We'll hide," grunted the old witch, paying no attention dummy's expostulations, "and 've stopped looking we'll go on Emerald City restore your Majesty throne But first," panted Mombi, stopping moment to catch her breath, promise back my magic powers and half Kingdom of Oz promise ? You'd better," she added threateningly, giving Humpy vicious shake

"But I'm going Emerald City with Dorothy," objected the King in dismay "Let me go, you old ragbag "

"Yes, how dare you shake his Majesty ! " thundered an imperious voice and, whirling 'round in fright, Mombi saw the Elegant Elephant looming up between two trees He had followed them without sound and now, snatching Humpy clutches old witch, placed him carefully upon his back

With cry of rage, Mombi tried away, but Kabumpo was too quick for her Seizing the witch trunk and shaking her to and fro like rattle, he ran trumpeting back others They had just discovered Humpy's absence and Pajuka with hoarse shriek came flying toward the Elegant Elephant

"She was trying to steal the King ! " panted Kabumpo indignantly "Shall I throw her over the mountain or step on her ? "

"Step on her," commanded the dummy, extending two fingers right hand as he had seen kings movies do time and time again Mombi gave terrible screech and Dorothy and Snip looked uneasily at one another

"The King has spoken," honked Pajuka, settling down gravely beside the dummy, "therefore let the sentence be carried out "

Dorothy closed her eyes and clung to Snip, but just then, the calm voice tailor intervened

"Your Highness," began Tora gravely, " woman in Oz restore you to your proper self, this step wise one ? "'

The tailor's ears fluttered anxiously as he waited King's decision For an instant Humpy looked doubtfully at Mombi, then with sigh lowered his fingers "Perhaps it rash step," he admitted regretfully

"Well, some steps taken," honked Pajuka angrily "Are we up treachery forever ? "

"No, just until she restores the King," answered Tora mildly

"Then step on her," promised Kabumpo, giving Mombi another shake

"That's right," said Dorothy, the dreadful business delayed "Mombi must first restore the King "

"I'll not without reward," screamed the witch defiantly "Do I get reward or not ? "

The others were silent but Humpy, again extending his fingers, announced grandly, "You shall be rewarded deserve ! " He winked at Pajuka as this, but Mombi apparently was satisfied and stopped squirming

"Well, 't here," she muttered sulkily "The transformation near the Emerald City enchantment cannot he broken until we reach the green country "

"Then let's go on Emerald City," proposed Dorothy eagerly Once there, reflected the little girl, Ozma herself could settle the whole troublesome business Somehow Dorothy imagine Oz without the little fairy as its Queen, and while she was glad indeed found the lost King, get used idea of Humpy throne and administering affairs in Oz

Humpy, himself, was enjoying it all tremendously He remembered nothing past, true, but the present was sufficiently interesting and exciting up for everything

"On Emerald City ! " he commanded, pompously waving his arms

"I hear and I obey, your Majesty," wheezed Kabumpo, and hardly giving the two children old tailor time to climb aboard, off, still holding Mombi fast trunk

"But what mountain ? " asked Snip, as it loomed up suddenly ahead