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Indeed!" said Cayke. "Then what about my dishpan?"

The Wizard looked puzzled at her tone of remonstrance, so she added, "Didn't

you people from the Emerald City promise that we would all stick together,

and that you would help me to get my dishpan if I would help you to get your

Ozma? And didn't I bring to you the little Pink Bear, which has told you

where Ozma is hidden?"

She's right," said Dorothy to the Wizard.

We must do as we agreed."

Well, first of all, let us go and rescue Ozma," proposed the Wizard. "Then our

beloved Ruler may be able to advise us how to conquer Ugu the Shoemaker."

So they turned to the left and marched for half a mile until they came to a

small but deep hole in the ground. At once, all rushed to the brim to peer into

the hole, but instead of finding there Princess Ozma of Oz, all that they saw

was Button-Bright, who was lying asleep on the bottom.

Their cries soon wakened the boy, who sat up and rubbed his eyes. When he

recognized his friends, he smiled sweetly, saying, "Found again!"

Where is Ozma?" inquired Dorothy anxiously.

I don't know," answered Button-Bright from the depths of the hole. "I got lost

yesterday, as you may remember, and in the night while I was wandering

around in the moonlight trying to find my way back to you, I suddenly fell into

this hole."

And wasn't Ozma in it then?"

There was no one in it but me, and I was sorry it wasn't entirely empty. The

sides are so steep I can't climb out, so there was nothing to be done but sleep

until someone found me. Thank you for coming. If you'll please let down a

rope, I'll empty this hole in a hurry."

How strange!" said Dorothy, greatly disappointed.

It's evident the Pink Bear didn't tell the truth."

He never makes a mistake," declared the Lavender Bear King in a tone that

showed his feelings were hurt. And then he turned the crank of the little Pink

Bear again and asked, "Is this the hole that Ozma of Oz is in?"

Yes," answered the Pink Bear.

The Lost Princess of Oz