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Frogman. He is honest and truthful, which is more than can be said of many

others. As for your late lamented dishpan, I'll show it to you."

With this he waved three times the metal wand which he held in his paw, and

instantly there appeared upon the ground midway between the King and

Cayke a big, round pan made of beaten gold. Around the top edge was a row

of small diamonds; around the center of the pan was another row of larger

diamonds; and at the bottom was a row of exceedingly large and brilliant

diamonds. In fact, they all sparkled magnificently, and the pan was so big

and broad that it took a lot of diamonds to go around it three times.

Cayke stared so hard that her eyes seemed about to pop out of her head. "O-o-

o-h!" she exclaimed, drawing a deep breath of delight.

Is this your dishpan?" inquired the King.

It is, it is!" cried the Cookie Cook, and rushing forward, she fell on her knees

and threw her arms around the precious pan. But her arms came together

without meeting any resistance at all. Cayke tried to seize the edge, but found

nothing to grasp. The pan was surely there, she thought, for she could see it

plainly; but it was not solid; she could not feel it at all. With a moan of

astonishment and despair, she raised her head to look at the Bear King, who

was watching her actions curiously. Then she turned to the pan again, only

to find it had completely disappeared.

Poor creature!" murmured the King pityingly. "You must have thought, for

the moment, that you had actually recovered your dishpan. But what you

saw was merely the image of it, conjured up by means of my magic. It is a

pretty dishpan, indeed, though rather big and awkward to handle. I hope you

will some day find it."

Cayke was grievously disappointed. She began to cry, wiping her eyes on her

apron. The King turned to the throng of toy bears surrounding him and

asked, "Has any of you ever seen this golden dishpan before?"

No," they answered in a chorus.

The King seemed to reflect. Presently he inquired, "Where is the Little Pink

Bear?"

At home, Your Majesty," was the reply.

Fetch him here," commanded the King.

The Lost Princess of Oz