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〃Give the Wizard time to think。〃
〃He has plenty of time；〃 said Scraps。 〃What he needs
is the Scarecrow's brains。〃
After all； it was little Dorothy who came to their
rescue； and her ability to save them was almost as much
a surprise to the girl as it was to her friends。
Dorothy had been secretly testing the powers of her
Magic Belt； which she had once captured from the Nome
King； and experimenting with it in various ways； ever
since she had started on this eventful journey。 At
different times she had stolen away from the others of
her party and in solitude had tried to find out what
the Magic Belt could do and what it could not do。 There
were a lot of things it could not do； she discovered；
but she learned some things about the Belt which even
her girl friends did not suspect she knew。
For one thing； she had remembered that when the Nome
King owned it the Magic Belt used to perform
transformations； and by thinking hard she had finally
recalled the way in which such transformations had been
accomplished。 Better than this； however； was the
discovery that the Magic Belt would grant its wearer
one wish a day。 All she need do was close her right eye
and wiggle her left toe and then draw a long breath and
make her wish。 Yesterday she had wished in secret for a
box of caramels； and instantly found the box beside
her。 Today she had saved her daily wish； in case she
might need it in an emergency； and the time had now
come when she must use the wish to enable her to escape
with her friends from the prison in which Ugu had
caught them。
So； without telling anyone what she intended to do
for she had only used the wish once and could not be
certain how powerful the Magic Belt might be Dorothy
closed her right eye and wiggled her left big toe and
drew a long breath and wished with all her might。 The
next moment the room began to revolve again； as slowly
as before； and by degrees they all slid to the side
wall and down the wall to the floor all but Scraps；
who was so astonished that she still clung to the
chandelier。 When the big hall was in its proper
position again and the others stood firmly upon the
floor of it； they looked far up to the dome and saw the
Patchwork Girl swinging from the chandelier。
〃Good gracious！〃 cried Dorothy。 〃How ever will you
get down？〃
〃Won't the room keep turning？〃 asked Scraps。
〃I hope not。 I believe it has stopped for good；〃 said
Princess Dorothy。
〃Then stand from under； so you won't get hurt！〃
shouted the Patchwork Girl； and as soon as they had
obeyed this request she let go the chandelier and came
tumbling down heels over head and twisting and turning
in a very exciting manner。 Plump！ she fell on the tiled
floor and they ran to her and rolled her and patted her
into shape again。
Chapter Twenty…Three
The Defiance of Ugu the Shoemaker
The delay caused by Scraps had prevented anyone from
running to the shelves to secure the magic instruments
so badly needed。 Even Cayke neglected to get her
diamond…studded dishpan because she was watching the
Patchwork Girl。 And now the magician had opened his
trap door and appeared in his golden cage again；
frowning angrily because his prisoners had been able to
turn their upside…down prison right…side…up。
〃Which of you has dared defy my magic？〃 he shouted in
a terrible voice。
〃It was I；〃 answered Dorothy calmly。
〃Then I shall destroy you； for you are only an Earth
girl and no fairy；〃 he said； and began to mumble some
magic words。
Dorothy now realized that Ugu must be treated as an
enemy； so she advanced toward the corner in which he
sat； saying as she went：
〃I am not afraid of you； Mr。 Shoemaker； and I think
you'll be sorry； pretty soon； that you're such a bad
man。 You can't destroy me and I won't destroy you； but
I'm going to punish you for your wickedness。〃
Ugu laughed a laugh that was not nice to hear； and
then he waved his hand。 Dorothy was halfway across the
room when suddenly a wall of glass rose before her and
stopped her progress。 Through the glass she could see
the magician sneering at her because she was a weak
little girl； and this provoked her。 Although the glass
wall obliged her to halt she instantly pressed both
hands to her Magic Belt and cried in a loud voice：
〃Ugu the Shoemaker； by the magic virtues of the Magic
Belt； I command you to become a dove！〃
The magician instantly realized he was being
enchanted； for he could feel his form changing。 He
struggled desperately against the enchantment； mumbling
magic words and making magic passes with his hands。 And
in one way he succeeded in defeating Dorothy's purpose；
for while his form soon changed to that of a gray dove；
the dove was of an enormous size bigger even than
Ugu had been as a man and this feat he had been able
to accomplish before his powers of magic wholly
deserted him。
And the dove was not gentle； as doves usually are；
for Ugu was terribly enraged at the little girl's
success。 His books had told him nothing of the Nome
King's Magic Belt； the Country of the Nomes being
outside the Land of Oz。 He knew； however； that he was
likely to be conquered unless he made a fierce fight；
so he spread his wings and rose in the air and flew
directly toward Dorothy。 The Wall of Glass had
disappeared the instant Ugu became transformed。
Dorothy had meant to command the Belt to transform
the magician into a Dove of Peace； but in her
excitement she forgot to say more than 〃dove；〃 and now
Ugu was not a Dove of Peace by any means； but rather a
spiteful Dove of War。 His size made his sharp beak and
claws very dangerous； but Dorothy was not afraid when
he came darting toward her with his talons outstretched
and his sword…like beak open。 She knew the Magic Belt
would protect its wearer from harm。
But the Frogman did not know that fact and became
alarmed at the little girl's seeming danger。 So he gave
a sudden leap and leaped full upon the back of the
great dove。
Then began a desperate struggle。 The dove was as
strong as Ugu had been； and in size it was considerably
bigger than the Frogman。 But the Frogman had eaten the
zosozo and it had made him fully as strong as Ugu the
Dove。 At the first leap he bore the dove to the floor；
but the giant bird got