"Well," finally remarked the little Brown Bear, " go house and make ourselves at home sure my friend Jinjur, who happens away from home just now When she returns, she greatly surprised "

"Would she care if I ate ripe cream- puffs ? " asked the Green Monkey

"No, indeed; Jinjur is very generous Help yourself to all ," said the Scarecrow Bear

So Woot gathered lot cream-puffs that were golden yellow and filled with sweet, creamy substance, and ate until his hunger was satisfied Then he entered the house friends and sat in rocking-chair -- just as accustomed when boy The Canary perched herself mantel and daintily plumed her feathers; the Tin Owl sat back of another chair; the Scarecrow squatted hairy haunches middle room

"I believe I remember the girl Jinjur," remarked the Canary, in her sweet voice " , except to direct us way to Glinda's castle, for she understand magic But she's good girl, honest and sensible, and I'll her "

"All our troubles," said the Owl with deep sigh, "arose from my foolish resolve to seek Nimmie Amee and make her Empress Winkies, and while to reproach no one, say Woot the Wanderer who put the notion into my head "

"Well, part, ," responded the Canary "Your journey resulted in saving me Giantess, and had you not traveled Yoop Valley, still be Mrs Yoop's prisoner much nicer free, even though I still bear the enchanted form of Canary-Bird "

" ever our proper forms back again ? " asked the Green Monkey earnestly

Polychrome make reply at once important question, but after period of thoughtfulness she said:

" taught an antidote for every magic charm, yet Mrs Yoop insists that no power can alter her transformations I my own fairy magic cannot , although thought that we Sky Fairies have more power than is accorded to Earth Fairies The yookoohoo magic is admitted very strange in its workings and different magic usually practiced, but perhaps Glinda or Ozma may understand it better than I lies our only hope Unless , remain forever "

"A Canary-Bird on Rainbow wouldn't be so bad," asserted the Tin Owl, winking and blinking round tin eyes, "so manage your Rainbow again have little to worry about "

"That's nonsense, Friend Chopper," exclaimed Woot " just how Polychrome feels beautiful girl is much superior to little yellow bird, and boy -- such as -- far better than Green Monkey Neither of us happy again unless we recover our rightful forms "

" the same way," announced the stuffed Bear "What suppose my friend the Patchwork Girl would think of me, if she saw me wearing this beastly shape ? "

"She'd laugh till she cried," admitted the Tin Owl " part, I'll have up the notion of marrying Nimmie Amee, but I'll try not to let that make me unhappy 's my duty, I'd like my duty, but if magic prevents my getting married I'll flutter along all and be just as contented "

Their serious misfortunes made them all silent for time, and as their thoughts were busy in dwelling evils fate had burdened them, none noticed that Jinjur had suddenly appeared doorway and was looking at them in astonishment The next moment her astonishment changed to anger, for there, in her best rocking-chair, sat Green Monkey great shiny Owl perched upon another chair and Brown Bear squatted upon her parlor rug Jinjur notice the Canary, but she caught up broomstick and dashed room, shouting as she came:

"Get out of here, you wild creatures ! How dare you enter my house ? "

With blow of her broom she knocked the Brown Bear over, Tin Owl tried to fly out of her reach and made great clatter tin wings The Green Monkey was so startled sudden attack that he sprang fireplace -- where fortunately no fire -- and tried to escape by climbing up the chimney But the opening too small, and so was forced to drop down again Then he crouched trembling fireplace, his pretty green hair all blackened with soot and covered with ashes position Woot watched what would happen next

"Stop, Jinjur -- stop ! " cried the Brown Bear, broom again threatened him "Don't me ? I'm your old friend the Scarecrow ? "

"You're trying to deceive me, you naughty beast ! plainly that bear, and mighty poor specimen of bear, too," retorted the girl

"That's because I'm not properly stuffed," he assured her "When Mrs Yoop transformed me, she didn't realize more stuffing "

" Mrs Yoop ? " inquired Jinjur, pausing broom still upraised

"A Giantess Gillikin Country "

"Oh; I begin to understand And Mrs Yoop transformed you ? really the famous Scarecrow of Oz "

" , Jinjur Just now I'm as me -- miserable little Brown Bear with poor quality of stuffing That Tin Owl is none our dear Tin Woodman -- Nick Chopper, the Emperor Winkies -- while this Green Monkey is nice little boy we recently became acquainted with, Woot the Wanderer "

"And I," said the Canary, flying close to Jinjur, "am Polychrome, the Daughter Rainbow, form of bird "

"Goodness me ! " cried Jinjur, amazed; "that Giantess powerful Sorceress, and as wicked as powerful "

"She's yookoohoo," said Polychrome "Fortunately, we managed to escape from her castle, and now way to Glinda the Good if she possesses the power to restore us to our former shapes "

"Then beg your pardons; all of forgive me," said Jinjur, putting away the broom " you lot of wild, unmannerly animals, as was quite natural very welcome to my home and I'm sorry I haven't the power to out of your troubles Please use my house and all that , it were your own "

declaration of peace, the Bear got upon his feet Owl resumed his perch chair Monkey crept fireplace Jinjur looked at Woot critically, and scowled

"For Green Monkey," said she, "you're the blackest creature I ever saw And you'll get my nice clean room all dirty with soot and ashes Whatever possessed you to jump up the chimney ? "

"I -- scared," explained Woot, somewhat ashamed

"Well, renovating, 's happen , right away Come with me ! " she commanded

" you going ? " asked Woot

" good scrubbing," said Jinjur

Now, neither boys nor monkeys relish being scrubbed, so Woot shrank away energetic girl, trembling fearfully But Jinjur grabbed him by his paw and dragged him out back yard, where, whines and struggles, she plunged him into tub of cold water and began to scrub him with stiff brush and cake of yellow soap

the hardest trial that Woot had endured since he became monkey, but no protest had any influence with Jinjur, who lathered and scrubbed him in business-like manner and afterward dried him with coarse towel

The Bear Owl gravely watched this operation and nodded approval when Woot's silky green fur shone clear and bright afternoon sun The Canary seemed much amused and laughed silvery ripple of laughter as she said:

" done, my good Jinjur; I admire your energy and judgment But I had no idea monkey could look so comical monkey did while being bathed "

"I'm not monkey ! " declared Woot, resentfully; "I'm just boy in monkey's shape, that's all "

" explain the difference," said Jinjur, "I'll agree not to wash you again -- , unless you foolishly get fireplace All persons are usually judged shapes they appear eyes of others Look at me, Woot; what am I ? "

Woot looked at her

"You're as pretty girl as I've ever seen," he replied

Jinjur frowned , she tried hard to frown

"Come out garden with me," she said, "and I'll most delicious caramels you ever ate They're new variety, that no one can grow but me, and heliotrope flavor "

Chapter Twelve

Ozma and Dorothy

In her magnificent palace Emerald City, the beautiful girl Ruler of all the wonderful Land of Oz sat in her dainty boudoir with her friend Princess Dorothy beside her Ozma was studying roll of manuscript which she had taken Royal Library, while Dorothy worked at her embroidery and at times stooped to pat shaggy little black dog that lay at her feet The little dog's name was Toto, and Dorothy's faithful companion

To judge Ozma of Oz standards world, think her very young -- perhaps fourteen or fifteen -- yet for years she had ruled the Land of Oz and had never seemed bit older Dorothy appeared much younger than Ozma She little girl when first she came Land of Oz, and she was little girl still, and would never day older while she lived wonderful fairyland