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I was not aware that I had a Ruler, so of course I couldn't know that she was

stolen."

Well, you have. All the people of Oz," explained Scraps, "are ruled by Ozma,

whether they know it or not. And she has been stolen. Aren't you angry?

Aren't you indignant? Your Ruler, whom you didn't know you had, has

positively been stolen!"

That is queer," remarked the Frogman thoughtfully. "Stealing is a thing

practically unknown in Oz, yet this Ozma has been taken, and a friend of

mine has also had her dishpan stolen. With her I have traveled all the way

from the Yip Country in order to recover it."

I don't see any connection between a Royal Ruler of Oz and a dishpan!"

declared Scraps.

They've both been stolen, haven't they?"

True. But why can't your friend wash her dishes in another dishpan?" asked

Scraps.

Why can't you use another Royal Ruler? I suppose you prefer the one who is

lost, and my friend wants her own dishpan, which is made of gold and

studded with diamonds and has magic powers."

Magic, eh?" exclaimed Scraps. "THERE is a link that connects the two steals,

anyhow, for it seems that all the magic in the Land of Oz was stolen at the

same time, whether it was in the Emerald City of in Glinda's castle or in the

Yip Country. Seems mighty strange and mysterious, doesn't it?"

It used to seem that way to me," admitted the Frogman, "but we have now

discovered who took our dishpan. It was Ugu the Shoemaker."

Ugu? Good gracious! That's the same magician we think has stolen Ozma.

We are now on our way to the castle of this Shoemaker."

So are we," said the Frogman.

Then follow me, quick! And let me introduce you to Dorothy and the other

girls and to the Wizard of Oz and all the rest of us."

She sprang up and seized his coatsleeve, dragging him off the hilltop and

down the other side from that whence he had come. And at the foot of the

hill, the Frogman was astonished to find the three girls and the Wizard and

The Lost Princess of Oz