"That's all ," answered the little Brown Bear in squeaky voice " stuffed with quality of curled hair, and my skin best plush that was ever made As being alive, my own affair and cannot concern you at all, except gives me the privilege my prisoners "

"Prisoners ! Why speak such nonsense ? " the Frogman angrily " afraid of toy bear with toy gun ? "

"You ," confident reply, "for merely the sentry guarding the way to Bear Center, city containing hundreds race, ruled by very powerful sorcerer known Lavender Bear He purple color, , seeing King, but he's only light lavender, , , second cousin to royal purple So unless you come with me peaceably as my prisoners, fire my gun and bring hundred bears of all sizes and colors to capture you "

"Why wish to capture us ? " inquired the Frogman, who had listened speech with much astonishment

"I don't wish to, as matter of fact," replied the little Brown Bear, "but my duty to, because now trespassing domain Majesty, the King of Bear Center Also, admit that things are rather quiet city just now, excitement of your capture, followed by your trial and execution, should afford us much entertainment "

"We defy you ! " said the Frogman

"Oh no, don't ," pleaded Cayke, speaking to her companion " his King is sorcerer, so perhaps he or one bears who ventured to steal my jeweled dishpan go City Bears and discover dishpan "

" now register one more charge against you," remarked the little Brown Bear with evident satisfaction " just accused us of stealing, is such dreadful thing that our noble King will command you executed "

"But how could you execute us ? " inquired the Cookie Cook

"I've no idea But our King is wonderful inventor, and find proper way to destroy you So tell me, going to struggle, or go peaceably to meet your doom ? "

all so ridiculous that Cayke laughed aloud, and even the Frogman's wide mouth curled in smile Neither was bit afraid Bear City, and it seemed to both that possibility discover the missing dishpan So the Frogman said, "Lead the way, little Bear, and follow without struggle "

"That's very sensible of you, very sensible indeed," declared the Brown Bear "So for-ward, MARCH ! " And command he turned around and began to waddle along path that led trees

Cayke Frogman, followed their conductor, could scarce forbear laughing at his stiff, awkward manner of walking, and although he moved his stuffy legs fast, his steps were so short had slowly not to run into him But after time they reached large, circular space center forest, clear of any stumps or underbrush The ground was covered by soft, gray moss, pleasant to tread upon All the trees surrounding this space seemed hollow and had round holes in their trunks, set little way above the ground, but otherwise nothing unusual place and nothing, opinion prisoners, to indicate settlement But the little Brown Bear said in proud and impressive voice (although it still squeaked), " wonderful city known to fame as Bear Center ! "

"But no houses, no bears living here at all ! " exclaimed Cayke

"Oh indeed ! " retorted their captor, and raising his gun he pulled the trigger The cork flew tin barrel with loud "pop ! " and at once from every hole in every tree within view clearing appeared the head of bear They were of many colors and of many sizes, but all were made same manner bear who had met and captured them

At first chorus of growls arose, and then sharp voice cried, "What has happened, Corporal Waddle ? "

"Captives, Your Majesty ! " answered the Brown Bear "Intruders upon our domain and slanderers good name "

"Ah, that's important," answered the voice

Then from out the hollow trees tumbled whole regiment of stuffed bears, some carrying tin swords, some popguns and others long spears with gay ribbons tied handles There were hundreds , altogether, quietly formed circle around the Frogman Cookie Cook, but kept at distance and left large space prisoners to stand in Presently, this circle parted, and center of it stalked huge toy bear of lovely lavender color He walked upon his hind legs, as did all the others, and head he wore tin crown set with diamonds and amethysts, while in one paw he carried short wand of some glittering metal that resembled silver but wasn't

"His Majesty the King ! " Corporal Waddle, and all the bears bowed low Some bowed so low lost their balance and toppled over, but they soon scrambled up again, Lavender King squatted haunches prisoners and gazed at them steadily bright, pink eyes

CHAPTER 16

THE LITTLE PINK BEAR

"One Person and one Freak," said the big Lavender Bear when he had carefully examined the strangers

" sorry to hear you call poor Cayke the Cookie Cook Freak," remonstrated the Frogman

" the Person," asserted the King "Unless mistaken, you the Freak "

The Frogman was silent, for truthfully deny it

"Why dared intrude in my forest ? " demanded demanded the Bear King

"We didn't know your forest," said Cayke, "and way far east, where the Emerald City is "

"Ah, it's long way from here Emerald City," remarked the King " away, indeed, that no bear among us has even been there But what errand requires you to travel such distance ? "

"Someone has stolen my diamond-studded gold dishpan," explained Cayke, "and as happy without it, decided to search the world over until it again The Frogman, very learned and wonderfully wise, with me his assistance Isn't it kind of him ? "

The King looked Frogman

"What makes you so wonderfully wise ? " he asked

"I'm not," candid reply "The Cookie Cook and some others Yip Country think because big frog and talk and act like man that very wise learned more than frog usually knows, true, but not yet so wise as at some future time "

The King nodded, and when so, something squeaked chest "Did Your Majesty speak ? " asked Cayke

"Not just then," answered the Lavender Bear, seeming somewhat embarrassed " so built, know, that when anything pushes against my chest, as my chin accidentally did just then, I make that silly noise city it isn't considered good manners to notice But I like your Frogman

honest and truthful, more than said of many others As for your late lamented dishpan, I'll show it " he waved three times the metal wand which he held paw, and instantly there appeared ground midway King and Cayke big, round pan made of beaten gold Around the top edge was row of small diamonds; around the center pan was another row of larger diamonds; and bottom was row of exceedingly large and brilliant diamonds , they all sparkled magnificently, pan was so big and broad took lot of diamonds around it three times

Cayke stared so hard that her eyes seemed about to pop out of her head "O-o-o-h ! " she exclaimed, drawing deep breath of delight

" your dishpan ? " inquired the King

" , ! " cried the Cookie Cook, and rushing forward, she fell on her knees and threw her arms around the precious pan But her arms came together without meeting any resistance at all Cayke tried to seize the edge, but found nothing to grasp The pan was surely there, she thought, for she it plainly; but not solid; feel it at all With moan of astonishment and despair, she raised her head to look Bear King, who was watching her actions curiously Then she turned pan again, only it had completely disappeared