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unsuccessful。
Glinda's art could have opened any ordinary door； you
may be sure； but you must realize that this marble door
of the island had been commanded not to open save in
obedience to one magic word； and therefore all other
magic words could have no effect upon it。 The magic
word that guarded the door had probably been invented
by Coo…ee…oh； who had now forgotten it。 The only way；
then； to gain entrance to the sunken island was to
break the charm that held the door fast shut。 If this
could be done no magic would be required to open it。
The next day the Sorceress and the Wizard again
entered the boat and made it submerge and go to the
marble door； which they tried in various ways to open；
but without success。
〃We shall have to abandon this attempt； I think；〃
said Glinda。 〃The easiest way to raise the island would
be for us to gain admittance to the Dome and then
descend to the basement and see in what manner
Coo…ee…oh made the entire island sink or rise at her
command。 It naturally occurred to me that the easiest
way to gain admittance would be by having the boat take
us into the basement through the marble door from which
Coo…ee…oh launched it。 But there must be other ways to
get inside the Dome and join Ozma and Dorothy； and such
ways we must find by study and the proper use of our
powers of magic。〃
〃It won't be easy；〃 declared the Wizard； 〃for we must
not forget that Ozma herself understands considerable
magic； and has doubtless tried to raise the island or
find other means of escape from it and failed。〃
〃That is true；〃 returned Glinda； 〃but Ozma's magic is
fairy magic； while you are a Wizard and I am a
Sorceress。 In this way the three of us have a great
variety of magic to work with； and if we should all
fail it will be because the island is raised and
lowered by a magic power none of us is acquainted with。
My idea therefore is to seek by such magic as we
possess to accomplish our object in another way。〃
They made the circle of the Dome again in their boat；
and once more saw Ozma and Dorothy through their
windows and exchanged signals with the two imprisoned
girls。
Ozma realized that her friends were doing all in
their power to rescue her and smiled an encouragement
to their efforts。 Dorothy seemed a little anxious but
was trying to be as brave as her companion。
After the boat had returned to the camp and Glinda
was seated in her tent； working out various ways by
which Ozma and Dorothy could be rescued； the Wizard
stood on the shore dreamily eying the outlines of the
Great Dome which showed beneath the clear water； when
he raised his eyes and saw a group of strange people
approaching from around the lake。 Three were young
women of stately presence； very beautifully dressed；
who moved with remarkable grace。 They were followed at
a little distance by a good…looking young Skeezer。
The Wizard saw at a glance that these people might be
very important； so he advanced to meet them。 The three
maidens received him graciously and the one with the
golden hair said：
〃I believe you are the famous Wizard of Oz； of whom I
have often heard。 We are seeking Glinda； the Sorceress；
and perhaps you can lead us to her。〃
〃I can； and will； right gladly；〃 answered the Wizard。
〃Follow me； please。〃
The little Wizard was puzzled as to the identity of
the three lovely visitors but he gave no sign that
might embarrass them。
He understood they did not wish to be questioned； and
so he made no remarks as he led the way to Glinda's
tent。
With a courtly bow the Wizard ushered the three
visitors into the gracious presence of Glinda； the
Good。
Chapter Twenty…One
The Three Adepts
The Sorceress looked up from her work as the three
maidens entered； and something in their appearance and
manner led her to rise and bow to them in her most
dignified manner。 The three knelt an instant before the
great Sorceress and then stood upright and waited for
her to speak。
〃Whoever you may be；〃 said Glinda； 〃I bid you
welcome。〃
〃My name is Audah；〃 said one。
〃My name is Aurah；〃 said another。
〃My name is Aujah；〃 said the third。
Glinda had never heard these names before； but
looking closely at the three she asked：
〃Are you witches or workers in magic？〃
〃Some of the secret arts we have gleaned from
Nature；〃 replied the brownhaired maiden modestly； 〃but
we do not place our skill beside that of the Great
Sorceress； Glinda the Good。〃
〃I suppose you are aware it is unlawful to practice
magic in the Land of Oz； without the permission of our
Ruler； Princess Ozma？〃
〃No； we were not aware of that；〃 was the reply。 〃We
have heard of Ozma； who is the appointed Ruler of all
this great fairyland； but her laws have not reached us；
as yet。〃
Glinda studied the strange maidens thoughtfully； then
she said to them：
〃Princess Ozma is even now imprisoned in the Skeezer
village。 for the whole island with its Great Dome； was
sunk to the bottom of the lake by the witchcraft of
Coo…ee…oh； whom the Flathead Su…dic transformed into a
silly swan。 I am seeking some way to overcome
Coo…ee…oh's magic and raise the isle to the surface
again。 Can you help me do this？〃
The maidens exchanged glances； and the white…haired
one replied
〃We do not know； but we will try to assist you。〃
〃It seems；〃 continued Glinda musingly； 〃that
Coo…ee…oh derived most of her witchcraft from three
Adepts at Magic； who at one time ruled the Flatheads。
While the Adepts were being entertained by Coo…ee…oh at
a banquet in her palace； she cruelly betrayed them and
after transforming them into fishes cast them into the
lake。
〃If I could find these three fishes and return them
to their natural shapes they might know what magic
Coo…ee…oh used to sink the island。 I was about to go to
the shore and call these fishes to me when you arrived。
So； if you will join me； we will try to find them。〃
The maidens exchanged smiles now； and the golden…
haired one； Audah； said to Glinda：
〃It will not be necessary to go to the lake。 We are
the three fishes。〃
〃Indeed！〃 cried Glinda。 〃Then you are the three
Adepts at Magic； restored to your proper forms？〃
〃We are the three Adepts；〃 admitted Aujah。
〃Then；〃 said Glinda； 〃my task is half accomplished。
But who destroyed the transformation that made you
fishes？〃
〃We have promised not to tell；〃 answered Aurah； 〃but
this young Skeezer was largely responsible for our
release； he is brave and clever； and we owe him our
gratitude。〃
Glinda looked at Ervic； who stood modestly behind the
Adepts； hat in hand。 〃He shall be properly rewarded；〃
she declared； 〃for in helping you he has helped us all；
and perhaps saved his people from being imprisoned
forever in the sunken isle。〃
The Sorceress now asked her guests to seat