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look wise, and so distinguished and gorgeous was his appearance that all the

Yips were very proud of him.

There was no King or Queen in the Yip Country, so the simple inhabitants

naturally came to look upon the Frogman as their leader as well as their

counselor in all times of emergency. In his heart the big frog knew he was no

wiser than the Yips, but for a frog to know as much as a person was quite

remarkable, and the Frogman was shrewd enough to make the people believe

he was far more wise than he really was. They never suspected he was a

humbug, but listened to his words with great respect and did just what he

advised them to do.

Now when Cayke the Cookie Cook raised such an outcry over the theft of her

diamond-studded dishpan, the first thought of the people was to take her to

the Frogman and inform him of the loss, thinking that of course he would tell

her where to find it. He listened to the story with his big eyes wide open

behind his spectacles, and said in his deep, croaking voice, "If the dishpan is

stolen, somebody must have taken it."

But who?" asked Cayke anxiously. "Who is the thief?"

The one who took the dishpan, of course," replied the Frogman, and hearing

this all the Yips nodded their heads gravely and said to one another, "It is

absolutely true!"

But I want my dishpan!" cried Cayke.

No one can blame you for that wish," remarked the Frogman.

Then tell me where I may find it," she urged.

The look the Frogman gave her was a very wise look, and he rose from his

chair and strutted up and down the room with his hands under his coattails

in a very pompous and imposing manner. This was the first time so difficult a

matter had been brought to him, and he wanted time to think. It would never

do to let them suspect his ignorance, and so he thought very, very hard how

best to answer the woman without betraying himself. "I beg to inform you,"

said he, "that nothing in the Yip Country has ever been stolen before."

We know that already," answered Cayke the Cookie Cook impatiently.

Therefore," continued the Frogman, "this theft becomes a very important

matter."

The Lost Princess of Oz