"Why don't you make few friends, and find something ? " inquired Cap'n Bill

" 't make friends because everyone I meet--bird, beast, or person--is disagreeable unable to bear your society longer, and then I'll go away and leave you," said the Lonesome Duck "And, as for doing anything, there's no use All I meet are doing something, so decided it's common and uninteresting and I prefer to remain lonesome "

"Don't to hunt for your food ? " asked Trot

"No In my diamond palace, little way up the river, food is magically supplied me; but I seldom eat, because so common "

" Magician Duck," remarked Cap'n Bill

"Why so ? "

"Well, ordinary ducks don't have diamond palaces an' magic food, like "

"True; 's another reason why I'm lonesome remember I'm the only Duck Land of Oz, and I'm not like duck outside world "

"Seems you LIKE bein' lonesome," observed Cap'n Bill

" 't say I like it, exactly," replied the Duck, "but since it my fate, I'm rather proud of it "

"How s'pose single, solitary Duck happened Land of Oz ? " asked Trot, wonderingly

"I used the reason, many , but I've quite forgotten it," declared the Duck "The reason for thing is never so important thing itself, so there's no use remembering anything but the fact that I'm lonesome "

"I guess you'd be happier tried something," asserted Trot " 't do anything , do things for others, and then you'd get lots of friends and stop being lonesome "

"Now you're getting disagreeable," said the Lonesome Duck, "and and leave you "

"Can't you any," pleaded the girl "If there's anything magic about you, get us out scrape "

"I haven't any magic strong enough you off the Magic Isle," replied the Lonesome Duck "What magic I possess is very simple, but it enough own needs "

" only sit down while, stand it better," said Trot, "but nothing to sit on "

"Then to stand it," said the Lonesome Duck

"P'raps you've enough magic to couple of stools," suggested Cap'n Bill

"A duck isn't supposed what stools are," reply

"But you're diff'rent from all other ducks "

" true " The strange creature seemed to reflect for moment, looking at them sharply from its round black eyes Then it said: "Sometimes, sun is hot, I grow toadstool to shelter me from its rays Perhaps sit on toadstools "

"Well, were strong enough, they'd do," answered Cap'n Bill

"Then, before I'll couple," said the Lonesome Duck, and began waddling about in small circle It went around the circle right three times, and then it went around left three times Then it hopped backward three times and forward three times

" you doing ? " asked Trot

"Don't interrupt an incantation," replied the Lonesome Duck, but now it began making succession of soft noises that sounded like quacks and seemed to mean nothing at all And it kept up these sounds that Trot finally exclaimed:

"Can't you hurry up and finish that 'cantation ? takes all summer couple of toadstools, you're not much of magician "

" you not to interrupt," said the Lonesome Duck, sternly " get TOO disagreeable, you'll drive me away before I finish this incantation "

Trot kept quiet, rebuke, Duck resumed the quacky muttering Cap'n Bill chuckled little to himself and remarked to Trot in whisper: "For bird that ain't got anything , this Lonesome Duck is makin' consider'ble fuss An' I ain't sure, after all, as toadstools worth sittin' on "

Even as he spoke, the sailor-man felt something touch him from behind and, turning his head, big toadstool in just the right place and of just the right size to sit upon one behind Trot, too, and with cry of pleasure the little girl sank back upon it and found it very comfortable seat--solid, yet almost like cushion Even Cap'n Bill's weight break his toadstool down, and when both were seated, they found Lonesome Duck had waddled away and was now water's edge

" , ever ! " cried Trot, sailor called out: "Much obliged ! "

But the Lonesome Duck paid no attention Without even looking in their direction again, the gaudy fowl entered the water and swam gracefully away

16 The Glass Cat Finds the Black Bag

six monkeys were transformed by Kiki Aru into six giant soldiers fifty feet tall, their heads came above the top trees, which part forest so high as in some other parts; and, although the trees were somewhat scattered, the bodies giant soldiers were so big quite filled the spaces they stood branches pressed them on every side

, Kiki was foolish to his soldiers so big, for now get forest Indeed, stir step, but were imprisoned trees Even had they been little clearing their way out of it, but they were little beyond the clearing At first, the other monkeys who enchanted were afraid soldiers, and hastily quitted the place; but soon finding great men stood stock still, although grunting indignantly at their transformation, the band of monkeys returned spot and looked at them curiously, not guessing were really monkeys and their own friends

The soldiers couldn't see them, their heads being above the trees; even raise their arms or draw their sharp swords, so closely were they held leafy branches So the monkeys, finding the giants helpless, began climbing up their bodies, and presently all the band were perched shoulders giants and peering into their faces

"I'm Ebu, your father," cried one soldier to monkey who had perched upon his left ear, "but some cruel person has enchanted me "

"I'm your Uncle Peeker," said another soldier to another monkey

So, all the monkeys knew the truth and were sorry for their friends and relations and angry person--whoever --who had transformed them great chattering tree-tops, noise attracted other monkeys, so clearing and all the trees around were full

Rango the Gray Ape, who Chief of all the monkey tribes forest, heard the uproar and came wrong people And Rango, being wiser and more experienced, at once knew strange magician who looked like mixed-up beast was responsible transformations He realized six giant soldiers were helpless prisoners, because size, and knew powerless to release them So, although he feared to meet the terrible magician, he hurried away Great Clearing Gugu the King what had happened and the Wizard of Oz and get him to save his six enchanted subjects

Rango darted Great Clearing just Wizard had restored all the enchanted ones around him proper shapes, Gray Ape was wicked magician-beast conquered

"But now, O mighty Wizard, come with me to where six people are transformed into six great giant men," , "for allowed to remain there, their happiness and their future lives ruined "

The Wizard reply at once, for thinking this good opportunity to win Rango's consent taking some monkeys Emerald City for Ozma's birthday cake

" great thing you ask of me, O Rango the Gray Ape," said he, " bigger the giants are the more powerful their enchantment, more difficult to restore them natural forms However, think it over "

Then the Wizard went to another part clearing and sat on log and appeared in deep thought

The Glass Cat greatly interested Gray Ape's story and was curious what the giant soldiers looked like Hearing that their heads extended above the tree-tops, the Glass Cat decided that climbed the tall avocado tree that stood side clearing, it able the giants' heads So, without mentioning her errand, the crystal creature went tree and, by sticking her sharp glass claws bark, easily climbed the tree to its very top and, looking over the forest, saw the six giant heads, although they were now long way off , indeed, remarkable sight, huge heads had immense soldier caps on them, with red and yellow plumes and looked very fierce and terrible, although the monkey hearts giants were moment filled with fear

Having satisfied her curiosity, the Glass Cat began to climb down tree more slowly Suddenly she discerned the Wizard's black bag hanging from limb tree She grasped the black bag in her glass teeth, and although rather heavy for so small an animal, managed it free and to carry it safely down ground Then she looked around Wizard and seeing him seated stump she hid the black bag among some leaves and then went over to where the Wizard sat

"I forgot you," said the Glass Cat, "that Trot and Cap'n Bill are in trouble, and here to hunt you up and get you and rescue them "

"Good gracious, Cat ! Why didn't you tell me before ? " exclaimed the Wizard

" reason that excitement here that I forgot Trot and Cap'n Bill "

"What's wrong ? " asked the Wizard

Then the Glass Cat explained how they had gone the Magic Flower for Ozma's birthday gift and trapped magic queer island The Wizard was really alarmed, but he shook his head and said sadly:

"I'm afraid 't help my dear friends, because I've lost my black bag "