"Well, escaped the big woman, ," remarked the Green Monkey, "but we still wear the awful forms the cruel yookoohoo How are we going rid shapes, and become ourselves again ? "

None could answer that question They sat around the cage, brooding over the problem, until the Monkey fell asleep Seeing this, the Canary tucked her head under her wing and also slept, Tin Owl Brown Bear disturb them until morning came and broad daylight

"I'm hungry," said Woot, when he wakened, knapsack of food left behind castle

"Then travel on until find something to eat," returned the Scarecrow Bear

" no use in your lugging my cage any farther," declared the Canary "Let me out, and throw the cage away Then fly and find my own breakfast of seeds Also search for water, and tell you where it "

So the Green Monkey unfastened the door golden cage Canary hopped out At first she flew high air and made great circles overhead, but after time she returned and perched beside them

" east direction we were following," announced the Canary, " fine forest, with brook running through it forest fruits or nuts growing, or berry bushes at its edge, so go that way "

They agreed and promptly set off, moving more deliberately The Tin Owl, which had guided their way during the night, now found the sunshine very trying big eyes, so he shut them tight and perched back little Brown Bear, which carried the Owl's weight with ease The Canary sometimes perched Green Monkey's shoulder and sometimes fluttered on ahead party, and manner they traveled in good spirits across that valley and next one east of it

This they found an immense hollow, shaped like saucer, and on its farther edge appeared the forest which Polychrome had seen sky

"Come of it," said the Tin Owl, waking up and blinking comically at his friends, "there's no object, now, traveling Munchkin Country My idea in going to marry Nimmie Amee, but however much the Munchkin girl loved Tin Woodman, reasonably expect her to marry Tin Owl "

" some truth , my friend," remarked the Brown Bear "And that I, who was considered the handsomest Scarecrow , am now condemned scrubby, no-account beast, whose only redeeming feature stuffed with straw ! "

"Consider my case, please," said Woot "The cruel Giantess Monkey of Boy, and most dreadful deed of all ! "

"Your color is rather pretty," said the Brown Bear, eyeing Woot critically " never seen pea-green monkey before, and it strikes me quite gorgeous "

"It isn't so bad bird," asserted the Canary, fluttering from one to another with free and graceful motion, "but I long to enjoy my own shape gam "

"As Polychrome, you were the loveliest maiden ever seen -- except, , Ozma," said the Tin Owl; "so the Giantess did well to transform you loveliest of all birds, were transformed at all But tell me, since fairy, fairy wisdom: to break these enchantments ? "

"Queer things happen Land of Oz," replied the Canary, again perching Green Monkey's shoulder and turning one bright eye thoughtfully toward her questioner " Mrs Yoop has declared that none of her transformations can ever be changed, even by herself, but I believe that get to Glinda the Good Sorceress, she might find way to restore us to our natural shapes Glinda, , most powerful Sorceress , and few things do if she tries "

" case," said the Little Brown Bear, " return southward and try to Glinda's castle It lies Quadling Country, , so good way from here "

"First, however, visit the forest and search for something to eat," pleaded Woot So they continued on edge forest, which consisted of many tall and beautiful trees They discovered no fruit trees, at first, so the Green Monkey pushed on forest depths others followed close behind him

They were traveling quietly along, under the shade trees, when suddenly an enormous jaguar leaped upon them from limb and with one blow paw sent the little Brown Bear tumbling over and over until stopped by tree-trunk Instantly they all took alarm The Tin Owl shrieked: "Hoot -- hoot ! " and flew straight branch of tall tree, although scarcely see where going The Canary swiftly darted to place beside the Owl, Green Monkey sprang up, caught limb, and soon scrambled to high perch of safety

The Jaguar crouched low and with hungry eyes regarded the little Brown Bear, which slowly got upon its feet and asked reproachfully:

"For goodness' sake, Beast, what were you trying ? "

"Trying my breakfast," answered the Jaguar with snarl, "and I believe I've succeeded You ought delicious meal -- unless you happen old and tough "

"I'm worse than that, considered as breakfast," said the Bear, "for I'm only skin stuffed with straw, and therefore not fit to eat "

"Indeed ! " cried the Jaguar, in disappointed voice; "then magic Bear, or enchanted, and seek my breakfast from among your companions "

he raised his lean head to look up Tin Owl Canary Monkey, and he lashed his tail ground and growled as fiercely as any jaguar could

"My friends are enchanted, also," said the little Brown Bear

"All ? " asked the Jaguar

"Yes The Owl is tin, so you couldn't possibly eat him The Canary is fairy -- Polychrome, the Daughter Rainbow -- and you never could catch her because easily fly out of your reach "

"There still remains the Green Monkey," remarked the Jaguar hungrily " neither made of tin nor stuffed with straw, nor can he fly I'm pretty good at climbing trees, myself, so I'll capture the Monkey and eat him breakfast "

Woot the Monkey, hearing this speech perch tree, became much frightened, for the nature of jaguars and realized climb trees and leap from limb to limb agility of cats So he at once began to scamper forest as fast as go, catching at branch long monkey arms and swinging his green body through space to grasp another branch in neighboring tree, and so on, while the Jaguar followed him from below, his eyes fixed steadfastly prey But presently Woot got his feet tangled Lace Apron, which still wearing, tripped him flight and made him fall ground, where the Jaguar placed one huge paw upon him and said grimly: I've got you, now ! " The fact Apron had tripped him made Woot remember its magic powers, and terror he cried out: "Open ! " without stopping to consider how this command might save him But, word, the earth opened exact spot where he lay under the Jaguar's paw, body sank downward, the earth closing over it again The last thing Woot the Monkey saw, as he glanced upward, Jaguar peering hole in astonishment

"He's gone ! " cried the beast, with long-drawn sigh of disappointment; "he's gone, and now no breakfast "

The clatter Tin Owl's wings sounded above him, little Brown Bear came trotting up and asked:

"Where monkey ? eaten him so quickly ? "

"No, indeed," answered the Jaguar "He disappeared earth before take one bite of him ! "

And now the Canary perched upon stump, little way forest beast, and said:

" our friend has escaped you; but, natural for hungry beast to wish his breakfast, try one "

" ," replied the Jaguar "You're rather small for full meal, but it's kind of you to sacrifice yourself to my appetite "

"Oh, I don't intend eaten, I assure you," said the Canary, "but as fairy something of magic, and though now transformed into bird's shape, conjure up breakfast satisfy you "

" work magic, why don't you break the enchantment under and return to your proper form ? " inquired the beast doubtingly

"I haven't the power to ," answered the Canary, " Yoop, the Giantess who transformed me, used peculiar form of yookoohoo magic unknown However, deprive me own fairy knowledge, so try you breakfast "

" magic breakfast would taste good, or relieve the pangs of hunger I now suffer ? " asked the Jaguar

" it would What would you like to eat ? "

" couple of fat rabbits," said the beast

"Rabbits ! No, indeed I'd not allow you to eat the dear little things," declared Polychrome the Canary

"Well, three or four squirrels, then," pleaded the Jaguar

" me so cruel ? " demanded the Canary, indignantly "The squirrels are my especial friends "

"How about plump owl ? " asked the beast "Not tin one, , but real meat owl "

"Neither beast nor bird shall ," said Polychrome in positive voice

" fish, then; there's river little way off," proposed the Jaguar

"No living thing shall be sacrificed to feed you," returned the Canary

"Then what expect me to eat ? " said the Jaguar in scornful tone

"How would mush-and-milk do ? " asked the Canary

The Jaguar snarled in derision and lashed his tail against the ground angrily

"Give him some scrambled eggs on toast, Poly," suggested the Bear Scarecrow "He ought to like that "