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and could force all the inhabitants of that fairyland
to do as he willed。
So quickly had his journey been accomplished that
before daylight the robber magician had locked Ozma in
a room； making her a prisoner； and had unpacked and
arranged all his stolen goods。 The next day he placed
the Book of Records on his table and hung the Magic
Picture on his wall and put away in his cupboards and
drawers all the elixirs and magic compounds he had
stolen。 The magical instruments he polished and
arranged； and this was fascinating work and made him
very happy。 The only thing that bothered him was Ozma。
By turns the imprisoned Ruler wept and scolded the
Shoemaker； haughtily threatening him with dire
punishment for the wicked deeds he had done。 Ugu became
somewhat afraid of his fairy prisoner； in spite of the
fact that he believed he had robbed her of all her
powers； so he performed an enchantment that quickly
disposed of her and placed her out of his sight and
hearing。 After that； being occupied with other things；
he soon forgot her。
But now； when he looked into the Magic Picture and
read the Great Book of Records； the Shoemaker learned
that his wickedness was not to go unchallenged。 Two
important expeditions had set out to find him and force
him to give up his stolen property。 One was the party
headed by the Wizard and Dorothy； while the other
consisted of Cayke and the Frogman。 Others were also
searching； but not in the right places。 These two
groups； however； were headed straight for the wicker
castle and so Ugu began to plan how best to meet them
and to defeat their efforts to conquer him。
Chapter Twenty
More Surprises
All that first day after the union of the two parties
our friends marched steadily toward the wicker castle
of Ugu the Shoemaker。 When night came they camped in a
little grove and passed a pleasant evening together；
although some of them were worried because Button…
Bright was still lost。
〃Perhaps；〃 said Toto； as the animals lay grouped
together for the night； 〃this Shoemaker who stole my
growl； and who stole Ozma； has also stolen Button
Bright。〃
〃How do you know that the Shoemaker stole your
growl？〃 demanded the Woozy。
〃He has stolen about everything else of value in Oz；
hasn't he？〃 replied the dog。
〃He has stolen everything he wants； perhaps；〃 agreed
the Lion； 〃but what could anyone want with your growl？〃
〃Well；〃 said the dog； wagging his tail slowly； 〃my
recollection is that it was a wonderful growl； soft and
low and and 〃
〃And ragged at the edges；〃 said the Sawhorse。
〃So；〃 continued Toto； 〃if that magician hadn't any
growl of his own； he might have wanted mine and stolen
it。〃
〃And； if he has； he will soon wish he hadn't；〃
remarked the Mule。 〃Also； if he has stolen Button…
Bright he will be sorry。〃
〃Don't you like Button…Bright； then？〃 asked the Lion
in surprise。
〃It isn't a question of liking him；〃 replied the
Mule。 〃It's a question of watching him and looking
after him。 Any boy who causes his friends so much worry
isn't worth having around。 I never get lost。〃
〃If you did；〃 said Toto； 〃no one would worry a bit。 I
think Button…Bright is a very lucky boy； because he
always gets found。〃
〃See here；〃 said the Lion； 〃this chatter is keeping
us all awake and tomorrow is likely to be a busy day。
Go to sleep and forget your quarrels。〃
〃Friend Lion；〃 retorted the dog； 〃if I hadn't lost my
growl you would hear it now。 I have as much right to
talk as you have to sleep。〃
The Lion sighed。
〃If only you had lost your voice； when you lost your
growl；〃 said he； 〃you would be a more agreeable
companion。〃
But they quieted down； after that； and soon the
entire camp was wrapped in slumber。
Next morning they made an early start but had hardly
proceeded on their way an hour when； on climbing a
slight elevation； they beheld in the distance a low
mountain； on top of which stood Ugu's wicker castle。 It
was a good…sized building and rather pretty because the
sides； roofs and domes were all of wicker closely
woven； as it is in fine baskets。
〃I wonder if it is strong？〃 said Dorothy musingly； as
she eyed the queer castle。
〃I suppose it is； since a magician built it；〃
answered the Wizard。 〃With magic to protect it； even a
paper castle might be as strong as if made of stone。
This Ugu must be a man of ideas； because he does things
in a different way from other people。〃
〃Yes； no one else would steal our dear Ozma；〃 sighed
tiny Trot。
〃I wonder if Ozma is there？〃 said Betsy； indicating
the castle with a nod of her head。
〃Where else could she be？〃 asked Scraps。
〃S'pose we ask the Pink Bear；〃 suggested Dorothy。
That seemed a good idea； so they halted the
procession and the Bear King held the little Pink Bear
on his lap and turned the crank in its side and asked：
〃Where is Ozma of Oz？〃
And the little Pink Bear answered：
〃She is in a hole in the ground； a half mile away； at
your left。〃
〃Good gracious！〃 cried Dorothy。 〃Then she is not in
Ugu's castle at all。〃
〃It is lucky we asked that question；〃 said the
Wizard； 〃for； if we can find Ozma and rescue
her； there will be no need for us to fight that
wicked and dangerous magician。〃
〃Indeed！〃 said Cayke。 〃Then what about my dishpan？〃
The Wizard looked puzzled at her tone of remonstrance；
so she added：
〃Didn't you people from the Emerald City promise that
we would all stick together； and that you would help me
to get my dishpan if I would help you to get your Ozma？
And didn't I bring to you the little Pink Bear； which
has told you where Ozma is hidden？〃
〃She's right；〃 said Dorothy to the Wizard。 〃We must
do as we agreed。〃
〃Well； first of all； let us go and rescue Ozma；〃
proposed the Wizard。 〃Then our beloved Ruler may be
able to advise us how to conquer Ugu the Shoemaker。〃
So they turned to the left and marched for half a
mile until they came to a small but deep hole in the
ground。 At once all rushed to the brim to peer into the
hole； but instead of finding there Princess Ozma of Oz；
all that they saw was Button…Bright； who was lying
asleep on the bottom。