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them--except when they are burned on the bottom--we do not long for any
better ones."
Cayke might have agreed to this argument had she not been so anxious to
find her precious dishpan, but now she exclaimed impatiently, "You are
cowards, all of you! If none of you are willing to explore with me the great
world beyond this small hill, I will surely go alone."
"
That is a wise resolve," declared the Yips, much relieved. "It is your dishpan
that is lost, not ours. And if you are willing to risk your life and liberty to
regain it, no one can deny you the privilege."
While they were thus conversing, the Frogman joined them and looked down
at the plain with his big eyes and seemed unusually thoughtful. In fact, the
Frogman was thinking that he'd like to see more of the world. Here in the Yip
Country he had become the most important creature of them all, and his
importance was getting to be a little tame. It would be nice to have other
people defer to him and ask his advice, and there seemed no reason so far as
he could see why his fame should not spread throughout all Oz. He knew
nothing of the rest of the world, but it was reasonable to believe that there
were more people beyond the mountain where he now lived than there were
Yips, and if he went among them he could surprise them with his display of
wisdom and make them bow down to him as the Yips did. In other words, the
Frogman was ambitious to become still greater than he was, which was
impossible if he always remained upon this mountain. He wanted others to
see his gorgeous clothes and listen to his solemn sayings, and here was an
excuse for him to get away from the Yip Country. So he said to Cayke the
Cookie Cook, "I will go with you, my good woman," which greatly pleased
Cayke because she felt the Frogman could be of much assistance to her in her
search.
But now, since the mighty Frogman had decided to undertake the journey,
several of the Yips who were young and daring at once made up their minds to
go along, so the next morning after breakfast the Frogman and Cayke the
Cookie Cook and nine of the Yips started to slide down the side of the
mountain. The bramble bushes and cactus plants were very prickly and
uncomfortable to the touch, so the Frogman quickly commanded the Yips to
go first and break a path, so that when he followed them he would not tear his
splendid clothes. Cayke, too, was wearing her best dress and was likewise
afraid of the thorns and prickers, so she kept behind the Frogman.
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