"But who ? "asked Cayke anxiously " the thief ? "

"The one who took the dishpan, ," replied the Frogman, and hearing this all the Yips nodded their heads gravely and said to one another, " absolutely true ! "

"But my dishpan ! " cried Cayke

"No one can blame you wish," remarked the Frogman

"Then tell me where find it," she urged

The look the Frogman gave her was very wise look, and he rose chair and strutted up and down the room hands under his coattails in very pompous and imposing manner the first time so difficult matter brought to him, and time It would never do to let them suspect his ignorance, and so he thought very, very hard how best to answer the woman without betraying himself "I beg to inform you," said he, "that nothing Yip Country has ever been stolen before "

" that already," answered Cayke the Cookie Cook impatiently

"Therefore," continued the Frogman, "this theft becomes matter ""Therefore," continued the Frogman, "this theft becomes matter "

"Well, where is my dishpan ? " demanded the woman

" lost, but it found Unfortunately, no policemen or detectives to unravel the mystery, so employ other means to regain the lost article Cayke must first write Proclamation and tack it door of her house, Proclamation must read that whoever stole the jeweled dishpan must return it at once "

"But suppose no one returns it," suggested Cayke

"Then," said the Frogman, "that very fact proof that no one has stolen it "

Cayke was not satisfied, but the other Yips seemed to approve the plan highly They all advised her Frogman had told her to, so she posted the sign on her door and waited patiently for someone to return the dishpan--which no one ever did Again she went, accompanied by group of her neighbors, Frogman, who had given the matter considerable thought Said he to Cayke, " now convinced that no Yip has taken your dishpan, and since gone Yip Country, I suspect that some stranger came world down below us darkness of night when all of us were asleep and took away your treasure There no other explanation disappearance So to recover that golden, diamond-studded dishpan, go lower world after it "

indeed startling proposition Cayke and her friends went edge flat tableland and looked down the steep hillside plains below bottom hill that nothing there seen very distinctly, and it seemed Yips very venturesome, dangerous, from home into an unknown land However, Cayke wanted her dishpan very badly, so she turned to her friends and asked, " go with me ? "

No one answered the question, but after period of silence Yips said, " here top flat hill, and it seems very pleasant place, but down below know The chances are so pleasant, so we had best stay where "

"It far better country than ," suggested the Cookie Cook

"Maybe, maybe," responded another Yip, "but why take chances ? Contentment with one's lot is true wisdom

Perhaps in some other country better cookies than you cook, but as always eaten your cookies and liked them--except are burned bottom-- long for any better ones "

Cayke agreed argument had she not been so anxious her precious dishpan, but now she exclaimed impatiently, " cowards, all of you ! If none of willing to explore with me the great world beyond this small hill, surely go alone "

" wise resolve," declared the Yips, much relieved " your dishpan lost, not ours And willing to risk your life and liberty to regain it, no one can deny you the privilege "

While they were thus conversing, the Frogman joined them and looked down plain big eyes and seemed unusually thoughtful , the Frogman was thinking that he'd like more world Here Yip Country he had become the most important creature all, importance was getting little tame It nice other people defer to him and ask his advice, and there seemed no reason as he why his fame spread throughout all Oz nothing rest world, but reasonable that there were more people beyond the mountain where he now lived than there were Yips, and if he went among them surprise them display of wisdom and make them bow down to him Yips did In other words, the Frogman was ambitious still greater than , impossible if he always remained mountain others his gorgeous clothes and listen solemn sayings, and here was an excuse for him away Yip Country So to Cayke the Cookie Cook, " go , my good woman," which greatly pleased Cayke because she felt the Frogman of much assistance to her in her search

But now, mighty Frogman had decided to undertake the journey, several Yips who were young and daring at once made up their minds along, so the next morning after breakfast the Frogman and Cayke the Cookie Cook and nine Yips started to slide down the side mountain The bramble bushes and cactus plants were very prickly and uncomfortable touch, so the Frogman quickly commanded the Yips first and break path, when he followed them tear his splendid clothes Cayke, too, was wearing her best dress and was likewise afraid thorns and prickers, so she kept behind the Frogman

They made rather slow progress and night overtook them were halfway down the mountainside, so they found cave they sought shelter until morning Cayke had brought along basket full of her famous cookies, so they all had plenty to eat second day the Yips began to wish they embarked adventure They grumbled at having to cut away the thorns to path Frogman Cookie Cook, for their own clothing suffered many tears, while Cayke Frogman traveled safely and in comfort

" true that anyone came to our country to steal your diamond dishpan," said Yips to Cayke, "it must bird, for no person form of man, woman or child climbed through these bushes and back again "

"And, allowing he done so," said another Yip, "the diamond-studded gold dishpan have repaid him troubles tribulations "

" part," remarked third Yip, " rather go back home and dig and polish some more diamonds and mine some more gold and make you another dishpan than be scratched from head to heel dreadful bushes Even now, mother saw me, not know her son "

Cayke paid no heed mutterings, nor did the Frogman Although their journey was slow, being made easy Yips, so they had nothing to complain of and no desire back Quite near bottom great hill they came upon great gulf, the sides were as smooth as glass The gulf extended long distance--as far as see in either direction--and although not very wide, far too wide Yips to leap across it And should they fall , likely never get out again "Here our journey ends," said the Yips " go back again "

Cayke the Cookie Cook began to weep

" never find my pretty dishpan again, and my heart broken ! " she sobbed

The Frogman went edge gulf and eye carefully measured the distance other side "Being frog," said he, " leap, as all frogs do, and being so big and strong, leap across this gulf with ease But the rest of you, not being frogs, must return the way you came "

" with pleasure," cried the Yips, and at once they turned and began to climb up the steep mountain, feeling they had had quite enough unsatisfactory adventure Cayke the Cookie Cook go , however She sat on rock and wept and wailed and was very miserable

"Well," said the Frogman to her, " now bid you goodbye If your diamond-decorated gold dishpan, promise safely returned "

"But I prefer it myself ! " she said "See here, Frogman, why can't you carry me across the gulf leap it ? big and strong, while small and thin "