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That settles it," said the King positively. "Your Ozma is in this hole in the

ground."

Don't be silly," returned Dorothy impatiently. "Even your beady eyes can see

there is no one in the hole but Button-Bright."

Perhaps Button-Bright is Ozma," suggested the King.

And perhaps he isn't! Ozma is a girl, and Button-Bright is a boy."

Your Pink Bear must be out of order," said the Wizard, "for, this time at least,

his machinery has caused him to make an untrue statement."

The Bear King was so angry at this remark that he turned away, holding the

Pink Bear in his paws, and refused to discuss the matter in any further way.

At any rate," said the Frogman, "the Pink Bear has led us to your boy friend

and so enabled you to rescue him."

Scraps was leaning so far over the hole trying to find Ozma in it that suddenly

she lost her balance and pitched in head foremost. She fell upon Button-

Bright and tumbled him over, but he was not hurt by her soft, stuffed body

and only laughed at the mishap. The Wizard buckled some straps together

and let one end of them down into the hole, and soon both Scraps and the boy

had climbed up and were standing safely beside the others. They looked once

more for Ozma, but the hole was now absolutely vacant. It was a round hole,

so from the top they could plainly see every part of it. Before they left the

place, Dorothy went to the Bear King and said, "I'm sorry we couldn't believe

what the little Pink Bear said, 'cause we don't want to make you feel bad by

doubting him. There must be a mistake, somewhere, and we prob'ly don't

understand just what the little Pink Bear said. Will you let me ask him one

The Lost Princess of Oz