Of all the magical things which surrounded Glinda in her castle, none more marvelous than her Great Book of Records pages Record Book were constantly being inscribed, day by day and hour by hour, all the important events that happened anywhere known world, were inscribed book at exactly the moment the events happened Every adventure Land of Oz and big outside world, and even in places that you and never heard of, were recorded accurately Great Book, which never made mistake and stated only the exact truth reason, nothing concealed from Glinda the Good, who had only to look pages Great Book of Records everything that had taken place That was one reason she was such great Sorceress, records made her wiser than living person

This wonderful book was placed upon big gold table that stood middle of Glinda's drawing room The legs table, which were incrusted with precious gems, were firmly fastened tiled floor, book itself was chained table and locked with six stout golden padlocks, the keys Glinda carried on chain that was secured around her own neck The pages Great Book were larger in size than those of an American newspaper, and although they were exceedingly thin, there were made an enormous, bulky volume With its gold cover and gold clasps, the book was so heavy that three men could scarcely have lifted it Yet when Glinda entered her drawing room after breakfast, the good Sorceress was amazed to discover that her Great Book of Records had mysteriously disappeared

Advancing table, she found the chains cut with some sharp instrument, and this must done while all castle slept Glinda was shocked and grieved Who done this wicked, bold thing ? And wish to deprive her of her Great Book of Records ?

The Sorceress was thoughtful for time, considering the consequences of her loss Then she went to her Room of Magic charm tell her who had stolen the Record Book But when she unlocked her cupboard and threw open the doors, all of her magical instruments and rare chemical compounds removed shelves The Sorceress has now both angry and alarmed She sat down in chair and tried how this extraordinary robbery taken place evident thief was some person of very great power, or the theft accomplished without her knowledge But who, in all the Land of Oz, was powerful and skillful enough to awful thing ? And who, having the power, could also have an object in defying the wisest and most talented Sorceress the world has ever known ?

Glinda thought over the perplexing matter for full hour, end time she was still puzzled how to explain it But although her instruments and chemicals were gone, her KNOWLEDGE of magic stolen, by any means, since no thief, however skillful, can rob one of knowledge, is why knowledge best and safest treasure to acquire Glinda believed that when she had time to gather more magical herbs and elixirs and to manufacture more magical instruments, she to discover who the robber was and what had become of her precious Book of Records

"Whoever this," she said to her maidens, "is very foolish person, for sure found out and will then be severely punished "

She now made list things she needed and dispatched messengers to every part of Oz with instructions to obtain them and bring them to her And one of her messengers met the little Wizard of Oz, who was seated back famous live Sawhorse and was clinging to its neck with both his arms, Sawhorse was speeding to Glinda's castle velocity wind, bearing the news that Royal Ozma, Ruler of all the great Land of Oz, had suddenly disappeared and no one Emerald City knew what had become of her

"Also," said the Wizard as he stood astonished Sorceress, "Ozma's Magic Picture is gone, so consult it to discover where So for assistance we realized our loss look Great Book of Records "

"Alas," returned the Sorceress sorrowfully, " , Great Book of Records has also disappeared ! "

CHAPTER 3

OF CAYKE THE COOKIE COOK

One more important theft was reported Land of Oz that eventful morning, but it took place from either the Emerald City or the castle of Glinda the Good that none persons mentioned learned robbery until long afterward

far southwestern corner Winkie Country is broad tableland reached only by climbing steep hill, whichever side one approaches it hillside surrounding this tableland are no paths at all, but quantities of bramble bushes with sharp prickers on them, which prevent any Oz people who live down below from climbing up on top But on top live the Yips, and although the space they occupy great in extent, the wee country is all their own The Yips had never-- time this story begins--left their broad tableland down Land of Oz, nor had the Oz people ever climbed country Yips

Living all alone , the Yips had queer ways and notions own and resemble people Land of Oz Their houses were scattered all over the flat surface; not like city, grouped together, but set wherever their owners' fancy dictated, with fields here, trees there, and odd little paths connecting the houses one with another here, morning when Ozma so strangely disappeared Emerald City, that Cayke the Cookie Cook discovered that her diamond-studded gold dishpan stolen, and she raised such hue and cry over her loss and wailed and shrieked so loudly that Yips gathered around her house to inquire the matter

serious thing in any part Land of Oz to accuse one of stealing, so Yips heard Cayke the Cookie Cook declare that her jeweled dishpan stolen, they were both humiliated and disturbed and forced Cayke Frogman what suppose ever before heard Frogman, for like all other dwellers tableland, he had never been away , nor had anyone come up there him The Frogman was in truth descended common frogs of Oz, and when first born he lived in pool Winkie Country and was much like frog Being of an adventurous nature, however, he soon hopped out pool and began to travel, when big bird came along and seized him in its beak and started to fly away to its nest When high air, the frog wriggled so frantically that he got loose and fell down, down, down into small hidden pool tableland Yips Now that pool, it seems, was unknown Yips because surrounded by thick bushes and was not near to any dwelling, and it proved an enchanted pool, frog grew very fast and very big, feeding magic skosh found nowhere else on earth except one pool skosh made the frog very big when he stood hind legs as tall as any Yip country, but it made him unusually intelligent, he soon knew more Yips did and was able to reason and to argue indeed

No one could expect frog talents to remain in hidden pool, so he finally got out of it and mingled people tableland, who were amazed at his appearance and greatly impressed by his learning They had never seen frog before, frog had never seen Yip before, but as there were plenty of Yips and frog, the frog became the most important hop any more, but stood upright hind legs and dressed himself in fine clothes and sat in chairs and did all the things that people do, so he soon came called the Frogman, and only name he has ever had After had passed, the people came to regard the Frogman as their adviser in all matters that puzzled them They brought all their difficulties to him, and when know anything, he pretended it, which seemed to answer just Indeed, the Yips thought the Frogman was much wiser than he really was, and he allowed them so, being very proud position of authority

another pool tableland not enchanted but contained good, clear water and was located close dwellings Here the people built the Frogman house own, close edge pool take bath or swim whenever He usually swam pool early morning before anyone else was up, and during the day he dressed himself beautiful clothes and sat house and received the visits of all the Yips who came to him to ask his advice The Frogman's usual costume consisted of knee-breeches made of yellow satin plush, with trimmings of gold braid and jeweled knee-buckles; white satin vest with silver buttons were set solitaire rubies; swallow-tailed coat of bright yellow; green stockings and red leather shoes turned up toes and having diamond buckles He wore, when he walked out, purple silk hat and carried gold-headed cane Over his eyes he wore great spectacles with gold rims, not because his eyes were bad, but because the spectacles made him look wise, and so distinguished and gorgeous was his appearance that all the Yips were very proud of him

no King or Queen Yip Country, so the simple inhabitants naturally came to look Frogman as their leader as their counselor in all times of emergency heart the big frog knew no wiser Yips, but for frog as person was quite remarkable, Frogman was shrewd enough to people believe far more wise than he really was They never suspected humbug, but listened words with great respect and did just what he advised them