"If it, go ? " asked the creature

" ," replied the Wizard "But that Glass Cat with nothing but pink brains can succeed when all the rest of us have failed "

"Don't you admire my pink brains ? " demanded the Cat

"They're pretty," admitted the Wizard, "but they're not regular brains, , and so we don't expect them to amount to much "

"But if your black bag--and find it inside of five minutes-- admit my pink brains are better than your common human brains ? "

"Well, I'll admit they're better HUNTERS," said the Wizard, reluctantly, "but 't We've searched everywhere, black bag isn't found "

"That shows ! " retorted the Glass Cat, scornfully "Watch my brains minute, them whirl around "

The Wizard watched, for anxious to regain his black bag, pink brains really did whirl around in remarkable manner

"Now, come with me," commanded the Glass Cat, and led the Wizard straight spot where it had covered the bag with leaves "According to my brains," said the creature, "your black bag here "

Then it scratched leaves and uncovered the bag, which the Wizard promptly seized with cry of delight Now that he had regained his Magic Tools, confident rescue Trot and Cap'n Bill

Rango the Gray Ape was getting impatient He now approached the Wizard and said:

"Well, what intend poor enchanted monkeys ? "

"I'll make bargain , Rango," replied the little man " let me take dozen of your monkeys Emerald City, and keep them until after Ozma's birthday, I'll break the enchantment six Giant Soldiers and return them natural forms "

But the Gray Ape shook his head

" 't ," he declared "The monkeys very lonesome and unhappy Emerald City and your people would tease them and throw stones at them, which would cause them to fight and bite "

"The people won't see them till Ozma's birthday dinner," promised the Wizard "I'll make them --about four inches high, and I'll keep them in pretty cage in my own room, where safe from harm I'll feed them the nicest kind of food, train them some clever tricks, and on Ozma's birthday I'll hide the twelve little monkeys inside cake When Ozma cuts the cake the monkeys will jump out on table and do their tricks The bring them back forest and make them big as ever, 'll have some exciting stories their friends What say, Rango ? "

" no ! " answered the Gray Ape "I won't have my monkeys enchanted and made tricks Oz people "

" ," said the Wizard calmly; "then I'll go Come, Dorothy," little girl, "let's start journey "

"Aren't you going to save those six monkeys giant soldiers ? " asked Rango, anxiously

"Why should I ? " returned the Wizard "If do me the favor I ask, expect me to favor you "

"Wait minute," said the Gray Ape "I've changed my mind treat the twelve monkeys nicely and bring them safely back forest, I'll let you take them "

" ," replied the Wizard, cheerfully "We'll go at once and save those giant soldiers "

So all the party left the clearing and proceeded place where the giants still stood trees Hundreds of monkeys, apes, baboons and orangoutangs had gathered round, and their wild chatter heard mile away But the Gray Ape soon hushed the babel of sounds, Wizard lost no time in breaking the enchantments First one and then another giant soldier disappeared and became an ordinary monkey again, six were shortly returned friends in their proper forms

This action made the Wizard very popular great army of monkeys, and Gray Ape announced Wizard wanted to borrow twelve monkeys Emerald City for couple of weeks, and asked for volunteers, nearly hundred offered , so great was their confidence little man who had saved their comrades

The Wizard selected dozen that seemed intelligent and good-tempered, and then he opened his black bag and took out queerly shaped dish that was silver outside and gold inside dish he poured powder and set fire It made thick smoke that quite enveloped the twelve monkeys, form Wizard, but smoke cleared away the dish changed to golden cage with silver bars, twelve monkeys had become about three inches high and were all seated comfortably inside the cage

The thousands of hairy animals who had witnessed this act of magic were much astonished and applauded the Wizard by barking aloud and shaking the limbs trees they sat Dorothy said: "That was fine trick, Wizard ! " Gray Ape remarked: " certainly the most wonderful magician in all the Land of Oz ! "

"Oh, no," modestly replied the little man "Glinda's magic is better than mine, but mine seems good enough to use on ordinary occasions And now, Rango, say good-bye, and I promise to return your monkeys as happy and safe now "

The Wizard rode back Hungry Tiger and carried the cage of monkeys very carefully, so as not to joggle them Dorothy rode back Cowardly Lion, Glass Cat trotted, as before, to show them the way

Gugu the King crouched upon log and watched them go, but as he bade them farewell, the enormous Leopard said:

" now that the friends of beasts and forest people may trust you Whenever the Wizard of Oz and Princess Dorothy enter the Forest of Gugu hearafter, as welcome and as safe as ever Emerald City "

17 Remarkable Journey

" ," explained the Glass Cat, "that Magic Isle where Trot and Cap'n Bill are stuck is also Gillikin Country--over east side of it, and it's no farther across-lots from here than from here Emerald City So we'll save time by cutting across the mountains "

" sure the way ? " asked Dorothy

" all the Land of Oz better than living creature knows it," asserted the Glass Cat

"Go ahead, then, and guide us," said the Wizard "We've left our poor friends helpless too long already, sooner we rescue them the happier they'll be "

" sure 'em out fix ? " the little girl inquired

"I've of it," the Wizard assured her "But 't tell what sort of magic use until I get place and discover just how enchanted "

"I've heard Magic Isle where the Wonderful Flower grows," remarked the Cowardly Lion " , when I used to live forests, the beasts told stories Isle and how the Magic Flower was placed there to entrap strangers--men or beasts "

" Flower really wonderful ? " questioned Dorothy

" heard most beautiful plant ," answered the Lion " never seen it myself, but friendly beasts have told me that stood shore river and looked across plant gold flower-pot and seen hundreds of flowers, of all sorts and sizes, blossom upon it in quick succession said that if one picks the flowers while in bloom remain perfect , but picked they soon disappear replaced by other flowers That, in my opinion, Magic Plant the most wonderful in existence "

"But these are only stories," said the girl "Has any of your friends ever picked flower wonderful plant ? "

"No," admitted the Cowardly Lion, "for if any living thing ventures Magic Isle, where the golden flower-pot stands, that man or beast takes root soil and cannot get away again "

"What happens , then ? " asked Dorothy

"They grow smaller, hour by hour and day by day, and finally disappear entirely "

"Then," said the girl anxiously, " hurry up, or Cap'n Bill an' Trot will get too small comf'table "

They were proceeding at rapid pace during this conversation, Hungry Tiger Cowardly Lion were obliged to move swiftly pace Glass Cat After leaving the Forest of Gugu they crossed mountain range, and then broad plain, after which they reached another forest, much smaller than that where Gugu ruled

"The Magic Isle is forest," said the Glass Cat, "but the river is other side forest no path trees, but keep going east, we the river, and then easy the Magic Isle "

" ever traveled before ? " inquired the Wizard

"Not exactly," admitted the Cat, "but reach the river go east forest "

"Lead on, then," said the Wizard

The Glass Cat started away, and at first easy trees; but before long the underbrush and vines became thick and tangled, and after pushing their way through these obstacles for time, our travelers came to place where even the Glass Cat push through

"We'd better go back and find path," suggested the Hungry Tiger

"I'm s'prised at you," said Dorothy, eyeing the Glass Cat severely

"I'm surprised, myself," replied the Cat "But it's long way around the forest to where the river enters it, and save time by going straight through "

"No one can blame you," said the Wizard, "and , instead of turning back, make path allow us "

He opened his black bag and after searching among his magic tools drew out small axe, made of some metal so highly polished glittered brightly even dark forest The Wizard laid the little axe ground and said in commanding voice:

"Chop, Little Axe, chop clean and true; path feet quickly hew Chop till this tangle of jungle is passed; Chop east, Little Axe--chop fast ! "