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forever in the sunken isle。〃
The Sorceress now asked her guests to seat themselves
and a long talk followed； in which the Wizard of Oz
shared。
〃We are quite certain；〃 said Aurah； 〃that if we could
get inside the Dome we could discover Coo…ee…oh's
secrets； for in all her work； after we became fishes；
she used the formulas and incantations and arts that
she stole from us。 She may have added to these things；
but they were the foundation of all her work。〃
〃What means do you suggest for our getting into the
Dome？〃 inquired Glinda。
The three Adepts hesitated to reply； for they had not
yet considered what could be done to reach the inside
of the Great Dome。 While they were in deep thought； and
Glinda and the Wizard were quietly awaiting their
suggestions； into the tent rushed Trot and Betsy；
dragging between them the Patchwork Girl。
〃Oh； Glinda；〃 cried Trot； 〃Scraps has thought of a
way to rescue Ozma and Dorothy and all of the
Skeezers。〃
The three Adepts could not avoid laughing merrily；
for not only were they amused by the queer form of the
Patchwork Girl； but Trot's enthusiastic speech struck
them as really funny。 If the Great Sorceress and the
famous Wizard and the three talented Adepts at Magic
were unable as yet to solve the important problem of
the sunken isle； there was little chance for a patched
girl stuffed with cotton to succeed。
But Glinda； smiling indulgently at the earnest faces
turned toward her； patted the children's heads and
said：
〃Scraps is very clever。 Tell us what she has thought
of； my dear。〃
〃Well；〃 said Trot； 〃Scraps says that if you could dry
up all the water in the lake the island would be on dry
land； an' everyone could come and go whenever they
liked。〃
Glinda smiled again； but the Wizard said to the
girls：
〃If we should dry up the lake； what would become of
all the beautiful fishes that now live in the water？〃
〃Dear me！ That's so；〃 admitted Betsy； crestfallen； 〃we
never thought of that； did we Trot？〃
〃Couldn't you transform 'em into polliwogs？〃 asked
Scraps； turning a somersault and then standing on one
leg。 〃You could give them a little； teeny pond to swim
in； and they'd be just as happy as they are as fishes。〃
〃No indeed！〃 replied the Wizard； severely。 〃It is
wicked to transform any living creatures without their
consent； and the lake is the home of the fishes and
belongs to them。〃
〃All right；〃 said Scraps； making a face at him； 〃I
don't care。〃
〃It's too bad；〃 sighed Trot； 〃for I thought we'd
struck a splendid idea。〃
〃So you did；〃 declared Glinda； her face now grave and
thoughtful。 〃There is something in the Patchwork Girl's
idea that may be of real value to us。〃
〃I think so； too；〃 agreed the golden…haired Adept。
〃The top of the Great Dome is only a few feet below the
surface of the water。 If we could reduce the level of
the lake until the Dome sticks a little above the
water； we could remove some of the glass and let
ourselves down into the village by means of ropes。〃
〃And there would be plenty of water left for the
fishes to swim in；〃 added the white…haired maiden。
〃If we succeed in raising the island we could fill up
the lake again；〃 suggested the brown…haired Adept。
〃I believe；〃 said the Wizard； rubbing his hands
together in delight； 〃that the Patchwork Girl has shown
us the way to success。〃
The girls were looking curiously at the three
beautiful Adepts； wondering who they were； so Glinda
introduced them to Trot and Betsy and Scraps； and then
sent the children away while she considered how to
carry the new idea into effect。
Not much could be done that night； so the Wizard
prepared another tent for the Adepts； and in the
evening Glinda held a reception and invited all her
followers to meet the new arrivals。 The Adepts were
greatly astonished at the extraordinary personages
presented to them； and marveled that Jack Pumpkinhead
and the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman and Tik…Tok could
really live and think and talk just like other people。
They were especially pleased with the lively Patchwork
Girl and loved to watch her antics。
It was quite a pleasant party； for Glinda served some
dainty refreshments to those who could eat； and the
Scarecrow recited some poems； and the Cowardly Lion
sang a song in his deep bass voice。 The only thing
that marred their joy was the thought that their
beloved Ozma and dear little Dorothy were yet confined
in the Great Dome of the Sunken island。
Chapter Twenty…Two
The Sunken Island
As soon as they had breakfasted the next morning；
Glinda and the Wizard and the three Adepts went down to
the shore of the lake and formed a line with their
faces toward the submerged island。 All the others came
to watch them； but stood at a respectful distance in
the background。
At the right of the Sorceress stood Audah and Aurah；
while at the left stood the Wizard and Aujah。 Together
they stretched their arms over the water's edge and in
unison the five chanted a rhythmic incantation。
This chant they repeated again and again； swaying
their arms gently from side to side； and in a few
minutes the watchers behind them noticed that the lake
had begun to recede from the shore。 Before long the
highest point of the dome appeared above the water。
Gradually the water fell； making the dome appear to
rise。 When it was three or four feet above the surface
Glinda gave the signal to stop； for their work had been
accomplished。
The blackened submarine was now entirely out of
water； but Uncle Henry and Cap'n Bill managed to push
it into the lake。 Glinda； the Wizard； Ervic and the
Adepts got into the boat； taking with them a coil of
strong rope； and at the command of the Sorceress the
craft cleaved its way through the water toward the part
of the Dome which was now visible。
〃There's still plenty of water for the fish to swim
in；〃 observed the Wizard as they rode along。 〃They
might like more but I'm sure they can get along until
we have raised the island and can fill up the lake
again。〃
The boat touched gently on the sloping glass of the
Dome； and the Wizard took some tools from his black bag
and quickly removed one large pane of glass； thus
making a hole large enough for their bodies to pass
through。 Stout frames of steel supported the glass of
the Dome； and around one of these frames the Wizard
tied the end of a rope。
〃I'll go down first；〃 said he； 〃for while I'm not as
spry as Cap'n Bill I'm sure I can manage it easily。 Are
you sure the rope is long enough to reach the bottom？〃
〃Quite sure；〃 replied the Sorceress。
So the Wizard let down the rope and climbing through
the opening lowered himself down； hand over hand；
clinging to the rope with his legs and feet。 Below in
the streets of the village were gathered all the
Skeezers； men； women a