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the goldfish； and a moment later a bronzefish lifted
its head beside the others。 The three fish； all in a
row； looked earnestly with their round； bright eyes
into the astonished eyes of Ervic the Skeezer。
〃We are the three Adepts whom Queen Coo…ee…oh
betrayed and wickedly transformed；〃 said the goldfish；
its voice low and soft but distinctly heard in the
stillness of the night。
〃I know of our Queen's treacherous deed；〃 replied
Ervic； 〃and I am sorry for your misfortune。 Have you
been in the lake ever since？〃
〃Yes；〃 was the reply。
〃I I hope you are well and comfortable；〃
stammered Ervic； not knowing what else to say。
〃We knew that some day Ooo…ee…oh would meet with the
fate she so richly deserves；〃 declared the bronzefish。
〃We have waited and watched for this time。 Now if you
will promise to help us and will be faithful and true；
you can aid us in regaining our natural forms； and save
yourself and all your people from the dangers that now
threaten you。〃
〃Well；〃 said Ervic； 〃you can depend on my doing the
best I can。 But I'm no witch； nor magician； you must
know。〃
〃All we ask is that you obey our instructions；〃
returned the silverfish。 〃We know that you are honest
and that you served Coo…ee…oh only because you were
obliged to in order to escape her anger。 Do as we
command and all will be well。〃
〃I promise！〃 exclaimed the young man。 〃Tell me what I
am to do first。〃
〃You will find in the bottom of your boat the silver
cord which dropped from Coo…ee…oh's hand when she was
transformed；〃 said the goldfish。 〃Tie one end of that
cord to the bow of your boat and drop the other end to
us in the water。 Together we will pull your boat to the
shore。〃
Ervic much doubted that the three small fishes could
move so heavy a boat； but he did as he was told and the
fishes all seized their end of the silver cord in their
mouths and headed toward the nearest shore； which was
the very place where the Flatheads had stood when they
conquered Queen Coo…ee…oh。
At first the boat did not move at all； although the
fishes pulled with all their strength。 But presently
the strain began to tell。 Very slowly the boat crept
toward the shore； gaining more speed at every moment。 A
couple of yards away from the sandy beach the fishes
dropped the cord from their mouths and swam to one
side； while the iron boat； being now under way；
continued to move until its prow grated upon the sands。
Ervic leaned over the side and said to the fishes：
〃What next？〃
〃You will find upon the sand；〃 said the silverfish；
〃a copper kettle； which the Su…dic forgot when he went
away。 Cleanse it thoroughly in the water of the lake；
for it has had poison in it。 When it is cleaned； fill
it with fresh water and hold it over the side of the
boat； so that we three may swim into the kettle。 We
will then instruct you further。〃
〃Do you wish me to catch you； then？〃 asked Ervic in
surprise。
〃Yes；〃 was the reply。
So Ervic jumped out of the boat and found the copper
kettle。 Carrying it a little way down the beach； he
washed it well； scrubbing away every drop of the poison
it had contained with sand from the shore
Then he went back to the boat。
Ervic's comrades were still sound asleep and knew
nothing of the three fishes or what strange happenings
were taking place about them。 Ervic dipped the kettle
in the lake； holding fast to the handle until it was
under water。 The gold and silver and bronze fishes
promptly swam into the kettle。 The young Skeezer then
lifted it； poured out a little of the water so it would
not spill over the edge； and said to the fishes： 〃What
next？〃
〃Carry the kettle to the shore。 Take one hundred
steps to the east； along the edge of the lake； and then
you will see a path leading through the meadows； up
hill and down dale。 Follow the path until you come to a
cottage which is painted a purple color with white
trimmings。 When you stop at the gate of this cottage we
will tell you what to do next。 Be careful； above all；
not to stumble and spill the water from the kettle； or
you would destroy us and all you have done would be in
vain。〃
The goldfish issued these commands and Ervic promised
to be careful and started to obey。 He left his sleeping
comrades in the boat； stepping cautiously over their
bodies； and on reaching the shore took exactly one
hundred steps to the east。 Then he looked for the path
and the moonlight was so bright that he easily
discovered it； although it was hidden from view by tall
weeds until one came full upon it。 This path was very
narrow and did not seem to be much used； but it was
quite distinct and Ervic had no difficulty in following
it。 He walked through a broad meadow； covered with tall
grass and weeds； up a hill and down into a valley and
then up another hill and down again。
It seemed to Ervic that he had walked miles and
miles。 Indeed the moon sank low and day was beginning
to dawn when finally he discovered by the roadside a
pretty little cottage； painted purple with white
trimmings。 It was a lonely place no other buildings
were anywhere about and the ground was not tilled at
all。 No farmer lived here； that was certain。 Who would
care to dwell in such an isolated place？
But Ervic did not bother his head long with such
questions。 He went up to the gate that led to the
cottage； set the copper kettle carefully down and
bending over it asked：
〃What next？〃
Chapter Seventeen
Under the Great Dome
When Glinda the Good and her followers of the Rescue
Expedition came in sight of the Enchanted Mountain of
the Flatheads； it was away to the left of them； for the
route they had taken through the Great Forest was some
distance from that followed by Ozma and Dorothy。
They halted awhile to decide whether they should call
upon the Supreme Dictator first； or go on to the Lake
of the Skeezers。
〃If we go to the mountain；〃 said the Wizard； 〃we may
get into trouble with that wicked Su…dic； and then we
would be delayed in rescuing Ozma and Dorothy。 So I
think our best plan will be to go to the Skeezer
Country； raise the sunken island and save our friends
and the imprisoned Skeezers。 Afterward we can visit the
mountain and punish the cruel magician of the
Flatheads。〃
〃That is sensible；〃 approved the Shaggy Man。 〃I quite
agree with you。〃
The others； too； seemed to think the Wizard's plan
the best； and Glinda herself commended it； so on they
marched toward the line of palm trees that hid the
Skeezers' lake from view。
Pretty soon they came to the palms。 These were set
closely together； the branches； which came quite to the
ground； being so tightly interlaced that even the Glass
Cat could scarcely find a place to squeeze through。 The
path which the Flatheads used was some distance away。
〃Here's a job for the Tin Woodman；〃