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〃At home； Your Majesty；〃 was the reply。
〃Fetch him here；〃 commanded the King。
Several of the bears waddled over to one of the trees
and pulled from its hollow a tiny pink bear； smaller
than any of the others。 A big white bear carried the
pink one in his arms and set it down beside the King；
arranging the joints of its legs so that it would stand
upright。
This Pink Bear seemed lifeless until the King turned
a crank which protruded from its side； when the little
creature turned its head stiffly from side to side and
said in a small shrill voice：
〃Hurrah for the King of Bear Center！〃
〃Very good；〃 said the big Lavender Bear； 〃he seems to
be working very well today。 Tell me； my Pink Pinkerton；
what has become of this lady's jeweled dishpan？〃
〃U…u…u；〃 said the Pink Bear； and then stopped short。
The King turned the crank again。
〃U…g…u the Shoemaker has it；〃 said the Pink Bear。
〃Who is Ugu the Shoemaker？〃 demanded the King； again
turning the crank。
〃A magician who lives on a mountain in a wickerwork
castle；〃 was the reply。
〃Where is this mountain？〃 was the next question。
〃Nineteen miles and three furlongs from Bear Center
to the northeast。〃
〃And is the dishpan still at the castle of Ugu the
Shoemaker？〃 asked the King。
〃It is。〃
The King turned to Cayke。
〃You may rely on this information；〃 said he。 〃The
Pink Bear can tell us anything we wish to know； and his
words are always words of truth。〃
〃Is he alive？〃 asked the Frogman； much interested in
the Pink Bear。
〃Something animates him when you turn his crank；〃
replied the King。 〃I do not know if it is life； or what
it is； or how it happens that the Little Pink Bear can
answer correctly every question put to him。 We
discovered his talent a long time ago and whenever we
wish to know anything which is not very often we
ask the Pink Bear。 There is no doubt whatever； madam；
that Ugu the Magician has your dishpan； and if you dare
go to him you may be able to recover it。 But of that I
am not certain。〃
〃Can't the Pink Bear tell？〃 asked Cayke anxiously。
〃No； for that is in the future。 He can tell anything
that has happened； but nothing that is going
to happen。 Don't ask me why； for I don't know。〃
〃Well；〃 said the Cookie Cook； after a little thought；
〃I mean to go to this magician； anyhow； and tell him I
want my dishpan。 I wish I knew what Ugu the Shoemaker
is like。〃
〃Then I'll show him to you；〃 promised the King。 〃But
do not be frightened； it won't be Ugu； remember； but
only his image。〃
With this he waved his metal wand again and in the
circle suddenly appeared a thin little man； very old
and skinny； who was seated on a wicker stool before a
wicker table。 On the table lay a Great Book with gold
clasps。 The Book was open and the man was reading in
it。 He wore great spectacles； which were fastened
before his eyes by means of a ribbon that passed around
his head and was tied in a bow at the back。 His hair
was very thin and white； his skin； which clung fast to
his bones； was brown and seared with furrows； he had a
big； fat nose and little eyes set close together。
On no account was Ugu the Shoemaker a pleasant person
to gaze at。 As his image appeared before them； all were
silent and intent until Corporal Waddle； the Brown
Bear； became nervous and Pulled the trigger of his gun。
Instantly the cork flew out of the tin barrel with a
loud 〃pop！〃 that made them all jump。 And； at this
sound； the image of the magician vanished。
〃So！ that's the thief； is it？〃 said Cayke； in an
angry voice。 〃I should think he'd be ashamed of himself
for stealing a poor woman's diamond dishpan！ But I mean
to face him in his wicker castle and force him to
return my property。〃
〃To me；〃 said the Bear King； reflectively； 〃he looked
like a dangerous person。 I hope he won't be so unkind
as to argue the matter with you。〃
The Frogman was much disturbed by the vision of Ugu
the Shoemaker； and Cayke's determination to go to the
magician filled her companion with misgivings。 But he
would not break his pledged word to assist the Cookie
Cook and after breathing a deep sigh of resignation he
asked the King：
〃Will Your Majesty lend us this Pink Bear who answers
questions； that we may take him with us on our journey？
He would be very useful to us and we will promise to
bring him safely hack to you。〃
The King did not reply at once； he seemed to be
thinking。
〃Please let us take the Pink Bear；〃 begged Cayke。
〃I'm sure he would be a great help to us。〃
〃The Pink Bear；〃 said the King； 〃is the best bit of
magic I possess； and there is not another like him in
the world。 I do not care to let him out of my sight；
nor do I wish to disappoint you； so I believe I will
make the journey in your company and carry my Pink Bear
with me。 He can walk； when you wind the other side of
him； but so slowly and awkwardly that he would delay
you。 But if I go along I can carry him in my arms； so I
will join your party。 Whenever you are ready to start；
let me know。
〃But Your Majesty！〃 exclaimed Corporal Waddle in
protest； 〃I hope you do not intend to let these
prisoners escape without punishment。〃
〃Of what crime do you accuse them？〃 inquired the
King。
〃Why； they trespassed on your domain； for one thing；〃
said the Brown Bear。
〃We didn't know it was private property； Your
Majesty；〃 said the Cookie Cook。
〃And they asked if any of us had stolen the dishpan！〃
continued Corporal Waddle indignantly。 〃That is the
same thing as calling us thieves and robbers； and
bandits and brigands； is it not？〃
〃Every person has the right to ask questions；〃 said
the Frogman。
〃But the Corporal is quite correct；〃 declared the
Lavender Bear。 〃I condemn you both to death； the
execution to take place ten years from this hour。〃
〃But we belong in the Land of Oz； where no one ever
dies；〃 Cayke reminded him。
〃Very true； said the King。 〃I condemn you to death
merely as a matter of form。 It sounds quite terrible；
and in ten years we shall have forgotten all about it。
Are you ready to start for the wicker castle of Ugu the
Shoemaker？〃
〃Quite ready； Your Majesty。〃