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steed： 〃Bear with this strange creature； my friend； and
remember he is no more extraordinary than you are。
Indeed； it is more natural for a frog to be big than
for a Sawhorse to be alive。〃
On being questioned； the Frogman told them the whole
story of the loss of Cayke's highly prized dishpan and
their adventures in search of it。 When he came to tell
of the Lavender Bear King and of the Little Pink Bear
who could tell anything you wanted to know； his hearers
became eager to see such interesting animals。
〃It will be best；〃 said the Wizard； 〃to unite our two
parties and share our fortunes together； for we are all
bound on the same errand and as one band we may more
easily defy this shoemaker magician than if separate。
Let us be allies。〃
〃I will ask my friends about that；〃 replied the
Frogman； and climbed over the hill to find Cayke and
the toy bears。 The Patchwork Girl accompanied him and
when they came upon the Cookie Cook and the Lavender
Bear and the Pink Bear it was hard to tell which of the
lot was the most surprised。
〃Mercy me！〃 cried Cayke； addressing the Patchwork
Girl。 〃However did you come alive？〃
Scraps stared at the bears。
〃Mercy me！〃 she echoed； 〃you are stuffed； as I am；
with cotton； and yet you appear to be living。 That
makes me feel ashamed； for I have prided myself on
being the only live cotton…stuffed person in Oz。〃
〃Perhaps you are；〃 returned the Lavender Bear； 〃for I
am stuffed with extra…quality curled hair； and so is
the Little Pink Bear。〃
〃You have relieved my mind of a great anxiety；〃
declared the Patchwork Girl； now speaking more
cheerfully。 〃The Scarecrow is stuffed with straw； and
you with hair； so I am still the Original and Only
Cotton…Stuffed！〃
〃I hope I am too polite to criticize cotton； as
compared with curled hair；〃 said the King； 〃especially
as you seem satisfied with it。〃
Then the Frogman told of his interview with the party
from the Emerald City and added that the Wizard of Oz
had invited the bears and Cayke and himself to travel
in company with them to the castle of Ugu the
Shoemaker。 Cayke was much pleased； but the Bear King
looked solemn。 He set the Little Pink Bear on his lap
and turned the crank in its side and asked：
〃Is it safe for us to associate with those people
from the Emerald City？〃
And the Pink Bear at once replied： 〃Safe for you and
safe for me； Perhaps no others safe will be。〃
〃That 'perhaps' need not worry us；〃 said the King；
〃so let us join the others and offer them our
protection。〃
Even the Lavender Bear was astonished； however； when
on climbing over the hill he found on the other side
the group of queer animals and the people from the
Emerald City。 The bears and Cayke were received very
cordially； although Button…Bright was cross when they
wouldn't let him play with the Little Pink Bear。 The
three girls greatly admired the toy bears； and
especially the pink one； which they longed to hold。
〃You see；〃 explained the Lavender King； in denying
them this privilege； 〃he's a very valuable bear；
because his magic is a correct guide on all occasions；
and especially if one is in difficulties。 It was the
Pink Bear who told us that Ugu the Shoemaker had stolen
the Cookie Cook's dishpan。〃
〃And the King's magic is just as wonderful；〃 added
Cayke； 〃because it showed us the Magician himself。〃
〃What did he look like？〃 inquired Dorothy。
〃He was dreadful！〃
〃He was sitting at a table and examining an immense
Book which had three golden clasps；〃 remarked the King。
〃Why； that must have been Glinda's Great Book of
Records！〃 exclaimed Dorothy。 〃If it is； it proves that
Ugu the Shoemaker stole Ozma； and with her all the
magic in the Emerald City。〃
〃And my dishpan；〃 said Cayke。
And the Wizard added：
〃It also proves that he is following our adventures
in the Book of Records； and therefore knows that we are
seeking him and that we are determined to find him and
rescue Ozma at all hazards。〃
〃If we can；〃 added the Woozy； but everybody frowned
at him。
The Wizard's statement was so true that the faces
around him were very serious until the Patchwork Girl
broke into a peal of laughter。
〃Wouldn't it be a rich joke if he made prisoners of
us； too？〃 she said。
〃No one but a crazy Patchwork Girl would consider
that a joke；〃 grumbled Button…Bright。
And then the Lavender Bear King asked：
〃Would you like to see this magical shoemaker？〃
〃Wouldn't he know it？〃 Dorothy inquired。
〃No； I think not。〃
Then the King waved his metal wand and before them
appeared a room in the wicker castle of Ugu。 On the
wall of the room hung Ozma's Magic Picture； and seated
before it was the Magician。 They could see the Picture
as well as he could； because it faced them； and in the
Picture was the hillside where they were now sitting；
all their forms being reproduced in miniature。 And；
curiously enough； within the scene of the Picture was
the scene they were now beholding； so they knew that
the Magician was at this moment watching them in the
Picture； and also that he saw himself and the room he
was in become visible to the people on the hillside。
Therefore he knew very well that they were watching him
while he was watching them。
In proof of this； Ugu sprang from his seat and turned
a scowling face in their direction； but now he could
not see the travelers who were seeking him； although
they could still see him。 His actions were so distinct；
indeed； that it seemed he was actually before them。
〃It is only a ghost；〃 said the Bear King。 〃It isn't
real at all； except that it shows us Ugu just as he
looks and tells us truly just what he is doing。〃
〃I don't see anything of my lost growl； though；〃 said
Toto； as if to himself。
Then the vision faded away and they could see nothing
but the grass and trees and bushes around them。
Chapter Eighteen
The Conference
〃Now； then；〃 said the Wizard； 〃let us talk this matter
over and decide what to do when we get to Ugu's wicker
castle。 There can be no doubt that the Shoemaker is a
powerful Magician； and his powers have been increased a
hundredfold since he secured the Great Book of Records；