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Scraps," said she, "you know that Ugu couldn't hurt you a bit, whatever he

did, nor could he hurt ME, 'cause I wear the Gnome King's Magic Belt. S'pose

just we two go on together and leave the others here to wait for us."

No, no!" said the Wizard positively. "That won't do at all. Ozma is more

powerful than either of you, yet she could not defeat the wicked Ugu, who has

shut her up in a dungeon. We must go to the Shoemaker in one mighty band,

for only in union is there strength."

That is excellent advice," said the Lavender Bear approvingly.

But what can we do when we get to Ugu?" inquired the Cookie Cook

anxiously.

Do not expect a prompt answer to that important question," replied the

Wizard, "for we must first plan our line of conduct. Ugu knows, of course,

that we are after him, for he has seen our approach in the Magic Picture, and

he has read of all we have done up to the present moment in the Great Book

of Records. Therefore we cannot expect to take him by surprise."

Don't you suppose Ugu would listen to reason?" asked Betsy. "If we

explained to him how wicked he has been, don't you think he'd let poor Ozma

go?"

And give me back my dishpan?" added the Cookie Cook eagerly.

Yes, yes, won't he say he's sorry and get on his knees and beg our pardon?"

cried Scraps, turning a flip-flop to show her scorn of the suggestion. "When

Ugu the Shoemaker does that, please knock at the front door and let me

know."

The Wizard sighed and rubbed his bald head with a puzzled air. "I'm quite

sure Ugu will not be polite to us," said he, "so we must conquer this cruel

magician by force, much as we dislike to be rude to anyone. But none of you

has yet suggested a way to do that. Couldn't the Little Pink Bear tell us how?"

he asked, turning to the Bear King.

No, for that is something that is GOING to happen," replied the Lavender

Bear. "He can only tell us what already HAS happened."

Again, they were grave and thoughtful. But after a time, Betsy said in a

hesitating voice, "Hank is a great fighter. Perhaps HE could conquer the

magician."

The Lost Princess of Oz