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She MIGHT be able to," answered Dorothy reflectively, "but if she had the

power to do that, it isn't likely she'd have let herself be stolen. So the thieves

must have been even more powerful in magic than our Ozma."

There was no denying this argument, and although they talked the matter

over all the rest of that day, they were unable to decide how Ozma had been

stolen against her will or who had committed the dreadful deed. Toward

evening the Wizard came back, riding slowly upon the Sawhorse because he

felt discouraged and perplexed. Glinda came later in her aerial chariot drawn

by twenty milk-white swans, and she also seemed worried and unhappy.

More of Ozma's friends joined them, and that evening they all had a big talk

together. "I think," said Dorothy, "we ought to start out right away in search

of our dear Ozma. It seems cruel for us to live comf'tably in her palace while

she is a pris'ner in the power of some wicked enemy."

Yes," agreed Glinda the Sorceress, "someone ought to search for her. I cannot

go myself, because I must work hard in order to create some new instruments

of sorcery by means of which I may rescue our fair Ruler. But if you can find

her in the meantime and let me know who has stolen her, it will enable me to

rescue her much more quickly."

Then we'll start tomorrow morning," decided Dorothy. "Betsy and Trot and I

won't waste another minute."

I'm not sure you girls will make good detectives," remarked the Wizard, "but

I'll go with you to protect you from harm and to give you my advice. All my

wizardry, alas, is stolen, so I am now really no more a wizard than any of you,

but I will try to protect you from any enemies you may meet."

What harm could happen to us in Oz?" inquired Trot.

What harm happened to Ozma?" returned the Wizard.

If there is an Evil Power abroad in our fairyland, which is able to steal not

only Ozma and her Magic Picture, but Glinda's Book of Records and all her

magic, and my black bag containing all my tricks of wizardry, then that Evil

Power may yet cause us considerable injury. Ozma is a fairy, and so is Glinda,

so no power can kill or destroy them, but you girls are all mortals and so are

Button-Bright and I, so we must watch out for ourselves."

Nothing can kill me," said Ojo the Munchkin boy.

The Lost Princess of Oz