"Right or wrong," said the Patchwork Girl, " different distinguished Now in my case, I'm just like all other Patchwork Girls because I'm the But tell me, where did you come from ? "

"The Yip Country," said he

" Land of Oz ? "

" ," replied the Frogman

"And that your Ruler, Ozma of Oz, stolen ? "

" not aware that I had Ruler, so I couldn't know that she was stolen "

"Well, All the people of Oz," explained Scraps, "are ruled by Ozma, whether they know it or not And she stolen Aren't you angry ? Aren't you indignant ? Your Ruler, whom you didn't know you had, has positively been stolen ! "

" queer," remarked the Frogman thoughtfully "Stealing is thing practically unknown in Oz, yet this Ozma taken, and friend has also had her dishpan stolen With her traveled all the way Yip Country to recover it "

"I don't see any connection between Royal Ruler of Oz and dishpan ! " declared Scraps

"They've both been stolen, haven't they ? "

"True But why can't your friend wash her dishes in another dishpan ? " asked Scraps

"Why can't you use another Royal Ruler ? I suppose you prefer the one lost, and my friend wants her own dishpan, made of gold and studded with diamonds and has magic powers "

"Magic, eh ? " exclaimed Scraps " link that connects the two steals, anyhow, seems that all the magic Land of Oz was stolen same time, whether Emerald City of in Glinda's castle or Yip Country Seems mighty strange and mysterious, doesn't it ? "

"It used to seem that way ," admitted the Frogman, "but now discovered who took our dishpan Ugu the Shoemaker "

"Ugu ? Good gracious ! That's the same magician has stolen Ozma now way castle Shoemaker "

"So are we," said the Frogman

"Then follow me, quick ! And let me introduce you to Dorothy other girls and Wizard of Oz and all the rest of us "

She sprang up and seized his coatsleeve, dragging him off the hilltop and down the other side whence he had come And foot hill, the Frogman was astonished the three girls Wizard and Button-Bright, who were surrounded by wooden Sawhorse, lean Mule, square Woozy, and Cowardly Lion little black dog ran up and smelled Frogman, but couldn't growl at him

"I've discovered another party that robbed," shouted Scraps as she joined them " their leader, 're all going to Ugu's castle to fight the wicked Shoemaker ! "

They regarded the Frogman with much curiosity and interest, and finding all eyes fixed upon him, the newcomer arranged his necktie and smoothed his beautiful vest and swung his gold-headed cane like regular dandy The big spectacles over his eyes quite altered his froglike countenance and gave him learned and impressive look Used as she was to seeing strange creatures Land of Oz, Dorothy was amazed at discovering the Frogman So were all her companions Toto wanted to growl at him, but couldn't, and he didn't dare bark The Sawhorse snorted rather contemptuously, but the Lion whispered wooden steed, "Bear strange creature, my friend, and remember no more extraordinary than Indeed, more natural for frog big than for Sawhorse alive "

On being questioned, the Frogman told them the whole story loss of Cayke's highly prized dishpan and their adventures in search of it When Lavender Bear King and Little Pink Bear tell anything , his hearers became eager such interesting animals " best," said the Wizard, "to unite our two parties and share our fortunes together, for all bound same errand, and as one band more easily defy this shoemaker magician than if separate be allies "

" ask my friends ," replied the Frogman, and he climbed over the hill Cayke toy bears The Patchwork Girl accompanied him, and came Cookie Cook Lavender Bear Pink Bear, hard which lot most surprised

"Mercy me ! " cried Cayke, addressing the Patchwork Girl "However did you come alive ? "

Scraps stared bears

"Mercy me ! " she echoed, " stuffed, as , with cotton, and you appear living That makes me feel ashamed, for prided myself on being the only live cotton-stuffed person in Oz "

"Perhaps ," returned the Lavender Bear, "for stuffed with extra-quality curled hair, and so Little Pink Bear "

" relieved my mind of great anxiety," declared the Patchwork Girl, now speaking more cheerfully "The Scarecrow is stuffed with straw and you with hair, so still the Original and Only Cotton-Stuffed ! "

" too polite to criticize cotton as compared with curled hair," said the King, "especially seem satisfied with it "

Then the Frogman told interview party Emerald City and added Wizard of Oz had invited the bears and Cayke and himself to travel in company castle of Ugu the Shoemaker Cayke was much pleased, but the Bear King looked solemn He set the Little Pink Bear lap and turned the crank in its side and asked, " safe to associate with those people Emerald City ? "

Pink Bear at once replied, "Safe and safe ; Perhaps no others safe "

"That 'perhaps' need not worry us," said the King, "so join the others and offer them our protection "

Even the Lavender Bear was astonished, however, when on climbing over the hill other side the group of queer animals people Emerald City The bears and Cayke were received very cordially, although Button-Bright was cross wouldn't let him play Little Pink Bear The three girls greatly admired the toy bears, and especially the pink one, which they longed to hold

" ," explained the Lavender King in denying them this privilege, "he's very valuable bear, because his magic is correct guide on all occasions, and especially if one is in difficulties It Pink Bear who told us that Ugu the Shoemaker had stolen the Cookie Cook's dishpan "

" King's magic is just as wonderful," added Cayke, "because it showed us the Magician himself "

"What did he look like ? " inquired Dorothy

" dreadful ! "

" sitting at table and examining an immense Book which had three golden clasps," remarked the King

"Why, Glinda's Great Book of Records ! " exclaimed Dorothy " , it proves that Ugu the Shoemaker stole Ozma, and with her all the magic Emerald City "

"And my dishpan," said Cayke

Wizard added, "It also proves that following our adventures Book of Records, and therefore knows that seeking him determined him and reach Ozma at all hazards "

" ," added the Woozy, but everybody frowned at him

The Wizard's statement was so true faces around him were very serious until the Patchwork Girl broke into peal of laughter "Wouldn't it be rich joke if prisoners of us, too ? " she said

"No one but crazy Patchwork Girl would consider that joke," grumbled Button-Bright

And then the Lavender Bear King asked, "Would you like this magical shoemaker ? "

"Wouldn't he know it ? " Dorothy inquired

"No, not "

Then the King waved his metal wand and before them appeared room wicker castle of Ugu wall room hung Ozma's Magic Picture, and seated before it Magician see the Picture as , because it faced them, and Picture hillside where they sitting, all their forms being reproduced in miniature And curiously enough, scene Picture scene they were now beholding, so they knew Magician was moment watching them Picture, and also that himself room in become visible people hillside Therefore were watching him while watching them

In proof , Ugu sprang seat and turned scowling face in their direction; but now he the travelers who were seeking him, although still see him His actions were so distinct, indeed, seemed actually before them " only ghost," said the Bear King "It isn't real at all except shows us Ugu just as he looks and tells us truly just what doing "

"I don't see anything lost growl, though," said Toto to himself

Then the vision faded away, and see nothing but the grass and trees and bushes around them

CHAPTER 18

THE CONFERENCE