All our friends getting farther up the hill and nearer wicker castle Now, continuing their advance, they expected something else to oppose their way, but astonishment nothing happened, and presently they arrived wicker gates, which stood wide open, and boldly entered the domain of Ugu the Shoemaker

CHAPTER 22

No sooner were the Wizard of Oz followers well castle entrance big gates swung to with clang and heavy bars dropped across them They looked at one another uneasily, but no one cared incident were indeed prisoners wicker castle, evident find way to escape, but their first duty was to attend errand they had come and seek the Royal Ozma, whom they believed prisoner magician, and rescue her

They found they had entered square courtyard, an entrance led main building castle No person had appeared to greet them , although gaudy peacock perched wall cackled with laughter and said in its sharp, shrill voice, "Poor fools ! Poor fools ! "

" the peacock is mistaken," remarked the Frogman, but no one else paid any attention bird They were little awed stillness and loneliness place entered the doors castle, which stood invitingly open, these also closed behind them and huge bolts shot into place The animals had all accompanied the party castle because they felt it dangerous to separate They were forced zigzag passage, turning , until finally they entered great central hall, circular in form and with high dome was suspended an enormous chandelier

The Wizard went first, and Dorothy, Betsy and Trot followed him, Toto keeping heels little mistress Then came the Lion, the Woozy Sawhorse, then Cayke the Cookie Cook and Button-Bright, then the Lavender Bear carrying the Pink Bear, and finally the Frogman Patchwork Girl, with Hank the Mule tagging behind So it Wizard who caught the first glimpse big, domed hall, but the others quickly followed and gathered in wondering group just entrance

Upon raised platform at one side was heavy table lay Glinda's Great Book of Records, but the platform was firmly fastened floor table was fastened platform Book was chained fast table, just as it when kept in Glinda's palace wall over the table hung Ozma's Magic Picture On row of shelves opposite side hall stood all the chemicals and essences of magic and all the magical instruments that stolen from Glinda and Ozma Wizard, with glass doors covering the shelves no one could get at them

And in far corner sat Ugu the Shoemaker, his feet lazily extended, his skinny hands clasped behind his head leaning back at his ease and calmly smoking long pipe Around the magician was sort of cage, seemingly made of golden bars set wide apart, and at his feet, also cage, reposed the long-sought diamond-studded dishpan of Cayke the Cookie Cook Princess Ozma of Oz was nowhere seen

"Well, well," said Ugu invaders had stood in silence for moment, staring "This visit is an unexpected pleasure, I assure you you were coming, and why here welcome, for use any of you to my advantage, but insisted on coming, afternoon call as brief as possible It won't take long to transact your business with me ask me for Ozma, and my reply that find her-- "

"Sir," answered the Wizard in tone of rebuke, " very wicked and cruel person I suppose you imagine, because stolen this poor woman's dishpan and all the best magic in Oz, that more powerful than and to triumph over us "

"Yes," said Ugu the Shoemaker, slowly filling his pipe with fresh tobacco from silver bowl that stood beside him, " exactly what I imagine no good to demand from me the girl who was formerly the Ruler of Oz, because tell you where hidden her, and 't guess in thousand years Neither will I restore any magic captured not so foolish But bear this in mind: I mean the Ruler of Oz myself, hereafter, so I advise you careful how you address your future Monarch "

"Ozma is still Ruler of Oz, wherever hidden her," declared the Wizard "And bear this in mind, miserable Shoemaker: we intend her and to rescue her , but our first duty and pleasure to conquer you and then punish you for your misdeeds "

" , go ahead and conquer," said Ugu "I'd really like how "

Now although the little Wizard had spoken so boldly, he had moment no idea how conquer the magician He had that morning given the Frogman, at his request, dose of zosozo bottle, Frogman had promised to fight good fight necessary, but the Wizard knew that strength alone avail against magical arts The toy Bear King seemed some pretty good magic, however, Wizard depended to an extent But something right away, Wizard didn't know what

While he considered this perplexing question others stood looking at him as their leader, queer thing happened The floor great circular hall they were standing suddenly began to tip Instead of being flat and level, it became slant, slant grew steeper and steeper until party could manage to stand upon it Presently they all slid down wall, now under them, and then it became evident whole vast room was slowly turning upside down ! Only Ugu the Shoemaker, kept in place bars golden cage, remained former position, wicked magician seemed to enjoy the surprise victims immensely

First they all slid down wall back , but room continued over, they next slid down the wall and found themselves bottom great dome, bumping against the big chandelier which, like everything else, was now upside down The turning movement now stopped, room became stationary Looking far up, they saw Ugu suspended cage very top, which had once been the floor

"Ah," said he, grinning down at them, "the way to conquer is to act, and he who acts promptly is sure to win This makes prison, escape Please amuse yourselves in you like, but beg you to excuse me, as business in another part castle "

Saying this, he opened trap door floor cage ( now over his head) and climbed through it and disappeared from their view The diamond dishpan still remained cage, but the bars kept it from falling down on their heads

"Well, I declare," said the Patchwork Girl, seizing bars chandelier and swinging , " peg one Shoemaker, for he has trapped us very cleverly "

"Get off my foot, please," said the Lion Sawhorse

"And oblige me, Mr Mule," remarked the Woozy, "by taking your tail out left eye "

"It's rather crowded down here," explained Dorothy, "because the dome is rounding and all slid middle of it But keep as quiet as possible until think what's best "

"Dear, dear ! "wailed Cayke, " I had my darling dishpan," and she held her arms longingly toward it

" I had the magic on those shelves up there," sighed the Wizard

"Don't you s'pose get ? " asked Trot anxiously

"We'd have to fly," laughed the Patchwork Girl

But the Wizard took the suggestion seriously, and so did the Frogman They talked it over and soon planned an attempt to reach the shelves where the magical instruments were First the Frogman lay against the rounding dome and braced his foot stem chandelier; then the Wizard climbed over him and lay dome feet Frogman's shoulders; the Cookie Cook came next; then Button-Bright climbed woman's shoulders; then Dorothy climbed up and Betsy and Trot, and finally the Patchwork Girl, and all their lengths made long line that reached far up the dome, but not far enough for Scraps to touch the shelves

"Wait minute Perhaps reach the magic," called the Bear King, and began scrambling up the bodies others But when Cookie Cook, his soft paws tickled her side she squirmed and upset the whole line Down they came, tumbling in heap against the animals, and although no one was much hurt, bad mix-up, Frogman, who was bottom, almost lost his temper before get feet again

Cayke positively refused what she called "the pyramid act" again, and Wizard was now convinced reach the magic tools manner, the attempt was abandoned "But SOMETHING ," said the Wizard, and then he turned Lavender Bear and asked, "Cannot Your Majesty's magic to escape from here ? "