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Button-Bright, who were surrounded by a wooden Sawhorse, a lean Mule, a

square Woozy, and a Cowardly Lion. A little black dog ran up and smelled at

the Frogman, but couldn't growl at him.

I've discovered another party that has been robbed," shouted Scraps as she

joined them. "This is their leader, and they're all going to Ugu's castle to fight

the wicked Shoemaker!"

They regarded the Frogman with much curiosity and interest, and finding all

eyes fixed upon him, the newcomer arranged his necktie and smoothed his

beautiful vest and swung his gold-headed cane like a regular dandy. The big

spectacles over his eyes quite altered his froglike countenance and gave him a

learned and impressive look. Used as she was to seeing strange creatures in

the Land of Oz, Dorothy was amazed at discovering the Frogman. So were all

her companions. Toto wanted to growl at him, but couldn't, and he didn't dare

bark. The Sawhorse snorted rather contemptuously, but the Lion whispered

to the wooden steed, "Bear with this strange creature, my friend, and

remember he is no more extraordinary than you are. Indeed, it is more

natural for a frog to be big than for a Sawhorse to be alive."

On being questioned, the Frogman told them the whole story of the loss of

Cayke's highly prized dishpan and their adventures in search of it. When he

came to tell of the Lavender Bear King and of the Little Pink Bear who could

tell anything you wanted to know, his hearers became eager to see such

interesting animals.

It will be best," said the Wizard, "to unite our two parties and share our

fortunes together, for we are all bound on the same errand, and as one band

we may more easily defy this shoemaker magician than if separate. Let us be

allies."

I will ask my friends about that," replied the Frogman, and he climbed over

the hill to find Cayke and the toy bears. The Patchwork Girl accompanied

him, and when they came upon the Cookie Cook and the Lavender Bear and

the Pink Bear, it was hard to tell which of the lot was the most surprised.

Mercy me!" cried Cayke, addressing the Patchwork Girl. "However did you

come alive?"

Scraps stared at the bears.

The Lost Princess of Oz