Cayke was grievously disappointed She began to cry, wiping her eyes on her apron The King turned throng of toy bears surrounding him and asked, "Has any of you ever seen this golden dishpan before ? "

"No," they answered in chorus

The King seemed to reflect Presently he inquired, "Where Little Pink Bear ? "

"At home, Your Majesty," reply

"Fetch him here," commanded the King

Several bears waddled over to trees and pulled from its hollow tiny pink bear, smaller than any others big, white bear carried the pink one arms and set it down beside the King, arranging the joints legs so would stand upright

This Pink Bear seemed lifeless until the King turned crank which protruded from its side, little creature turned its head stiffly from side to side and said in small, shrill voice, "Hurrah King of Bear Center ! "

" ," said the big Lavender Bear "He working today Tell me, my Pink Pinkerton, what has become lady's jeweled dishpan ? "

"U-u-u," said the Pink Bear, and then stopped short

The King turned the crank again

"U-g-u the Shoemaker has it," said the Pink Bear

" Ugu the Shoemaker ? " demanded the King, again turning the crank

"A magician who lives on mountain in wickerwork castle," reply

"Where mountain ? " next question

"Nineteen miles and three furlongs from Bear Center northeast "

"And dishpan still castle of Ugu the Shoemaker ? " asked the King

" "

The King turned to Cayke

" rely on ," said he "The Pink Bear can tell us anything , words are always words of truth "

"Is he alive ? " asked the Frogman, much interested Pink Bear

"Something animates him turn his crank," replied the King " know life or what or how it happens Little Pink Bear can answer correctly every question put to him We discovered his talent , and whenever anything-- not very often--we Pink Bear whatever, madam, that Ugu the Magician has your dishpan, and dare to him, to recover it But not certain "

"Can't the Pink Bear tell ? " asked Cayke anxiously

"No, is tell anything that HAS happened, but nothing going to happen Don't ask me why, for I don't know "

"Well," said the Cookie Cook after little thought, "I mean magician, anyhow, and tell him my dishpan what Ugu the Shoemaker is like "

"Then I'll show him ," promised the King "But be frightened It won't be Ugu, remember, but only his image " , he waved his metal wand, and circle suddenly appeared thin little man, very old and skinny, who was seated on wicker stool before wicker table table lay Great Book with gold clasps The Book was open, man was reading He wore great spectacles which were fastened before his eyes of ribbon that passed around his head and was tied in bow neck His hair was very thin and white; his skin, which clung fast bones, was brown and seared with furrows; he had big, fat nose and little eyes set close together

On no account was Ugu the Shoemaker pleasant person to gaze at As his image appeared , all were silent and intent until Corporal Waddle, the Brown Bear, became nervous and pulled the trigger gun Instantly, the cork flew tin barrel with loud "pop ! " that made them all jump And sound, the image magician vanished " 'S the thief, ? " said Cayke in an angry voice " think he'd be ashamed of himself for stealing poor woman's diamond dishpan ! But I mean him wicker castle and force him to return my property "

" ," said the Bear King reflectively, "he looked like dangerous person he won't be so unkind argue the matter "

The Frogman was much disturbed vision of Ugu the Shoemaker, and Cayke's determination magician filled her companion with misgivings But break his pledged word to assist the Cookie Cook, and after breathing deep sigh of resignation, he asked the King, "Will Your Majesty lend us this Pink Bear who answers questions that take him journey ? very useful , and promise to bring him safely back "

The King reply at once thinking

"PLEASE Pink Bear," begged Cayke "I'm sure great help "

"The Pink Bear," said the King, " best bit of magic I possess, and not another like him care to let him out sight, nor do to disappoint you; so I believe journey in your company and carry my Pink Bear with me walk wind the other side of him, but so slowly and awkwardly that delay you But if I go along, carry him in my arms, so join your party Whenever ready to start, let me know "

"But Your Majesty ! " exclaimed Corporal Waddle in protest, " intend to let these prisoners escape without punishment "

"Of what crime accuse them ? " inquired the King

"Why, they trespassed domain, ," said the Brown Bear

"We didn't know private property, Your Majesty," said the Cookie Cook " asked if any of us had stolen the dishpan ! " continued Corporal Waddle indignantly " same thing as calling us thieves and robbers and bandits and brigands, not ? "

"Every person right to ask questions," said the Frogman

"But the Corporal is quite correct," declared the Lavender Bear "I condemn you both to death, the execution place ten years hour "

"But we belong Land of Oz, where no one ever dies," Cayke reminded him

"Very true," said the King "I condemn you to death merely as matter of form It sounds quite terrible, and in ten years forgotten all ready to start wicker castle of Ugu the Shoemaker ? "

"Quite ready, Your Majesty "

"But rule in your place while gone ? " asked big Yellow Bear

"I myself will rule while gone," reply

"A King isn't required to stay at home forever, and if he takes notion to travel, whose business but his own ? All I ask you bears behave yourselves while away If any of you is naughty, I'll to some girl or boy in America to play with "

This dreadful threat made all the toy bears look solemn They assured the King in chorus of growls that good Then the big Lavender Bear picked up the little Pink Bear, and after tucking it carefully under one arm, , "Goodbye till I come back ! " and waddled along the path that led forest The Frogman and Cayke the Cookie Cook also said goodbye bears and then followed King, much regret little Brown Bear, who pulled the trigger gun and popped the cork as parting salute

CHAPTER 17

THE MEETING

While the Frogman party were advancing west, Dorothy and her party were advancing east, and so it happened that following night they all camped at little hill that was only few miles wicker castle of Ugu the Shoemaker But the two parties see one another that night, camped on one side hill while the other camped opposite side But the next morning, the Frogman thought climb the hill on top of it, and same time Scraps, the Patchwork Girl, also decided to climb the hill wicker castle was visible from its top So she stuck her head over an edge just Frogman's head appeared over another edge, and both, being surprised, kept still while they took good look at one another

Scraps recovered from her astonishment first, and bounding upward, she turned somersault and landed sitting down and facing the big Frogman, who slowly advanced and sat opposite her "Well met, Stranger ! " cried the Patchwork Girl with whoop of laughter " quite the funniest individual in all my travels "

" suppose any funnier than you ? " asked the Frogman, gazing at her in wonder

"I'm not funny to myself, ," returned Scraps " I were And perhaps so used to your own absurd shape that laugh whenever your reflection in pool or in mirror "