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remarked； 〃for the Winkies are all prosperous and love
to stay in their own homes。 But perhaps you are not a
Winkie；〃 she added。
〃No；〃 said Cayke； 〃I am a Yip； and my home is on a
high mountain at the southeast of your country。
〃And the Frogman is he； also； a Yip？〃
〃I do not know what he is； other than a very
remarkable and highly educated creature；〃 replied the
Cookie Cook。 〃But he has lived many years among the
Yips； who have found him so wise and intelligent that
they always go to him for advice。〃
〃May I ask why you have left your home； and where you
are going？〃 said the Winkie woman。
Then Cayke told her of the diamond…studded gold
dishpan and how it had been mysteriously stolen from
her house； after which she had discovered that she
could no longer cook good cookies。 So she had resolved
to search until she found her dishpan again； because a
Cookie Cook who cannot cook good cookies is not of much
use。 The Frogman； who wanted to see more of the world；
had accompanied her to assist in the search。 When the
woman had listened to this story she asked。
〃Then you have no idea； as yet； who has stolen your
dishpan？〃
〃I only know it must have been some mischievous
fairy； or a magician； or some such powerful person；
because none other could have climbed the steep
mountain to the Yip Country。 And who else could have
carried away my beautiful； magic dishpan without being
seen？〃
The woman thought about this during the time that
Cayke and the Frogman ate their breakfast。 When they
had finished she said：
〃Where are you going next？〃
〃We have not decided；〃 answered the Cookie Cook。
〃Our plan；〃 explained the Frogman； in his important
way； 〃is to travel from place to place until we learn
where the thief is located； and then to force him to
return the dishpan to its proper owner。〃
〃The plan is all right；〃 agreed the woman； 〃but it
may take you a long time before you succeed； your
method being sort of haphazard and indefinite。 However；
I advise you to travel toward the east。〃
〃Why？〃 asked the Frogman。
〃Because if you went west you would soon come to the
desert； and also because in this part of the Winkie
Country no one steals； so your time here would be
wasted。 But toward the east； beyond the river； live
many strange people whose honesty I would not vouch
for。 Moreover； if you journey far enough east and cross
the river for a second time； you will come to the
Emerald City； where there is much magic and sorcery。
The Emerald City is ruled by a dear little girl called
Ozma； who also rules the Emperor of the Winkies and all
the Land of Oz。 So； as Ozma is a fairy； she may be able
to tell you just who has taken your precious dishpan。
Provided； of course； you do not find it before you
reach her。〃
〃This seems to me to be excellent advice；〃 said the
Frogman； and Cayke agreed with him。
〃The most sensible thing for you to do；〃 continued
the woman； 〃would be to return to your home and use
another dishpan； learning to cook cookies as other
people cook cookies； without the aid of magic。 But； if
you cannot be happy without the magic dishpan you have
lost； you are likely to learn more about it in the
Emerald City than at any other place in Oz。〃
They thanked the good woman and on leaving her house
faced the east and continued in that direction all the
way。 Toward evening they came to the west branch of the
Winkie River and there； on the river bank； found a
ferryman who lived all alone in a little yellow house。
This ferryman was a Winkie with a very small head and
a very large body。 He was sitting in his doorway as the
travelers approached him and did not even turn his head
to look at them。
〃Good evening；〃 said the Frogman。
The ferryman made no reply。
〃We would like some supper and the privilege of
sleeping in your house until morning；〃 continued the
Frogman。 〃At daybreak we would like some breakfast and
then we would like to have you row us across the
river。〃
The ferryman neither moved nor spoke。 He sat in his
doorway and looked straight ahead。
〃I think he must be deaf and dumb；〃 Cayke whispered
to her companion。 Then she stood directly in front of
the ferryman and putting her mouth close to his ear she
yelled as loudly as she could：
〃Good evening！〃
The ferryman scowled。
〃Why do you yell at me； woman？〃 he asked。
〃Can you hear what I say？〃 she asked in her ordinary
tone of voice。
〃Of course；〃 replied the man。
〃Then why didn't you answer the Frogman？〃
〃Because；〃 said the ferryman； 〃I don't understand the
frog language。
〃He speaks the same words that I do and in the same
way；〃 declared Cayke。
〃Perhaps；〃 replied the ferryman； 〃but to me his voice
sounded like a frog's croak。 I know that in the Land of
Oz animals can speak our language； and so can the
birds and bugs and fishes； but in my ears they sound
merely like growls and chirps and croaks。〃
〃Why is that？〃 asked the Cookie Cook in surprise。
〃Once； many years ago； I cut the tail off a fox which
had taunted me； and I stole some birds eggs from a nest
to make an omelet with； and also I pulled a fish from
the river and left it lying on the bank to gasp for
lack of water until it died。 I don't know why I did
those wicked things； but I did them。 So the Emperor of
the Winkies who is the Tin Woodman and has a very
tender tin heart punished me by denying me any
communication with beasts； birds or fishes。 I cannot
understand them when they speak to me； although I know
that other people can do so； nor can the creatures
understand a word I say to them。 Every time I meet one
of them I am reminded of my former cruelty； and it
makes me very unhappy。〃
〃Really；〃 said Cayke； 〃I'm sorry for you； although
the Tin Woodman is not to blame for punishing you。〃
〃What is he mumbling about？〃 asked the Frogman。
〃He is talking to me； but you don't understand him；〃
she replied。 And then she told him of the ferryman's
punishment and afterward explained to the ferryman that
they wanted to stay all night with him and be fed。
He gave them some fruit and bread； which was the only
sort of food he had； and he allowed Cayke to sleep in a
room of his cottage。 But