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grew and after several trials； during which he was in
danger of falling； he finally managed to pick it。 Then
he got back to the ground and decided the fruit was
well worth his trouble。 It was delightfully fragrant
and when he bit into it he found it the most delicious
morsel he had ever tasted。
〃I really ought to divide it with Trot and Dorothy
and Betsy；〃 he said； 〃but p'rhaps there are plenty more
in some other part of the orchard。〃
In his heart he doubted this statement； for this was
a solitary peach tree； while all the other fruits grew
upon many trees set close to one another； but that one
luscious bite made him unable to resist eating the rest
of it and soon the peach was all gone except the pit。
Button…Bright was about to throw this peach…pit away
when he noticed that it was of pure gold。 gold。 Of
course this surprised him； but so many things in the
Land of Oz were surprising that he did not give much
thought to the golden peach…pit。 He put it in his
pocket； however； to show to the girls； and five minutes
afterward had forgotten all about it。
For now he realized that he was far separated from
his companions； and knowing that this would worry them
and delay their journey； he began to shout as loud as
he could。 His voice did not penetrate very far among
all those trees； and after shouting a dozen times and
getting no answer he sat down on the ground and said：
〃Well； I'm lost again。 It's too bad； but I don't see
how it can be helped。〃
As he leaned his back against a tree he looked up and
saw a Bluefinch fly down from the sky and alight upon a
branch just before him。 The bird looked and looked at
him。 First it looked with one bright eye and then
turned its head and looked at him with the other eye。
Then； fluttering its wings a little； it said：
〃Oho！ so you've eaten the enchanted peach； have you？〃
〃Was it enchanted？〃 asked Button…Bright。
〃Of course；〃 replied the Bluefinch。 〃Ugu the
Shoemaker did that。〃
〃But why？ And how was it enchanted？。 And what will
happen to one who eats it？〃 questioned the boy。
〃Ask Ugu the Shoemaker； he knows；〃 said the bird；
pruning its feathers with its bill。
〃And who is Ugu the Shoemaker？〃
〃The one who enchanted the peach； and placed it here
in the exact center of the Great Orchard so no
one would ever find it。 We birds didn't dare to eat it；
we are too wise for that。 But you are Button…Bright；
from the Emerald City； and you…you…YOU ate the
enchanted peach！ You must explain to Ugu the Shoemaker
why you did that。〃
And then； before the boy could ask any more
questions； the bird flew away and left him alone。
Button…Bright was not much worried to find that the
peach he had eaten was enchanted。 It certainly had
tasted very good and his stomach didn't ache a bit。 So
again he began to reflect upon the best way to rejoin
his friends。
〃Whichever direction I follow is likely to be the
wrong one；〃 he said to himself； 〃so I'd better stay
just where I am and let them find me if they can。〃
A White Rabbit came hopping through the orchard and
paused a little way off to look at him。
〃Don't be afraid；〃 said Button…Bright； 〃I won't hurt
you。〃
〃Oh； I'm not afraid for myself；〃 returned the White
Rabbit。 〃It's you I'm worried about。〃
〃Yes； I'm lost；〃 said the boy。
〃I fear you are； indeed；〃 answered the Rabbit。 〃Why
on earth did you eat the enchanted peach？〃
The boy looked at the excited little animal
thoughtfully。
〃There were two reasons；〃 he explained。 〃One reason
was that I like peaches； and the other reason was that
I didn't know it was enchanted。〃
〃That won't save you from Ugu the Shoemaker；〃
declared the White Rabbit and it scurried away before
the boy could ask any more questions。
〃Rabbits and birds；〃 he thought； 〃are timid creatures
and seem afraid of this shoemaker whoever he may be。
If there was another peach half as good as that other；
I'd eat it in spite of a dozen enchantments or a
hundred shoemakers！〃
Just then Scraps came dancing along and saw him
sitting at the foot of the tree。
〃Oh； here you are！〃 she said。 〃Up to your old tricks；
eh？ Don't you know it's impolite to get lost and keep
everybody waiting for you？ Come along； and I'll lead
you back to Dorothy and the others。〃
Button…Bright rose slowly to accompany her。
〃That wasn't much of a loss；〃 he said cheerfully。 〃I
haven't been gone half a day； so there's no harm done。〃
Dorothy； however； when the boy rejoined the party；
gave him a good scolding。
〃When we're doing such an important thing as
searching for Ozma；〃 said she； 〃it's naughty for you to
wander away； and keep us from getting on。 S'pose she's
a pris'ner in a dungeon cell！ do you want to keep
our dear Ozma there any longer than we can help？〃
〃If she's in a dungeon cell； how are you going to get
her out？〃 inquired the boy。
〃Never you mind； we'll leave that to the Wizard； he's
sure to find a way。〃
The Wizard said nothing； for he realized that without
his magic tools he could do no more than any other
person。 But there was no use reminding his companions
of that fact； it might discourage them。
〃The important thing just now；〃 he remarked； 〃is to
find Ozma； and； as our party is again happily reunited；
I propose we move on。〃
As they came to the edge of the Great Orchard the sun
was setting and they knew it would soon be dark。 So it
was decided to camp under the trees； as another broad
plain was before them。 The Wizard spread the blankets
on a bed of soft leaves and presently all of them
except Scraps and the Sawhorse were fast asleep。 Toto
snuggled close to his friend the Lion； and the Woozy
snored so loudly that the Patchwork Girl covered his
square head with her apron to deaden the sound。
Chapter Twelve
The Czarover of Herku
Trot wakened just as the sun rose and； slipping out of
the blankets； went to the edge of the Great Orchard and
looked across the plain。 Something glittered in the far
distance。
〃That looks like another city；〃 she said half aloud。
〃And another city it is；〃 declared Scraps； who had
crept to Trot's side unheard； for her stuffed feet made
no sound。 〃The