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that many of the Yips gathered around her house to
inquire what was the matter。
It was a serious thing； in any part of the Land of
Oz； to accuse one of stealing； so when the Yips heard
Cayke the Cookie Cook declare that her jeweled dishpan
had been stolen they were both humiliated and disturbed
and forced Cayke to go with them to the Frogman to see
what could be done about it。
I do not suppose you have ever before heard of the
Frogman； for like all other dwellers on that tableland
he had never been away from it； nor had anyone come up
there to see him。 The Frogman was； in truth； descended
from the common frogs of Oz； and when he was first born
he lived in a pool in the Winkie Country and was much
like any other frog。 Being of an adventurous nature；
however； he soon hopped out of his pool and began to
travel； when a big bird came along and seized him in
its beak and started to fly away with him to its nest。
When high in the air the frog wriggled so frantically
that he got loose and fell down…down…down into a small
hidden pool on the tableland of the Yips。 Now this
pool； it seems； was unknown to the Yips because it was
surrounded by thick bushes and was not near to any
dwelling； and it proved to be an enchanted pool； for
the frog grew very fast and very big； feeding on the
magic skosh which is found nowhere else on earth except
in that one pool。 And the skosh not only made the frog
very big； so that when he stood on his hind legs he was
tall as any Yip in the country； but it made him
unusually intelligent； so that he soon knew more than
the Yips did and was able to reason and to argue very
well indeed。
No one could expect a frog with these talents to
remain in a hidden pool； so he finally got out of it
and mingled with the people of the tableland； who were
amazed at his appearance and greatly impressed by his
learning。 They had never seen a frog before and the
frog had never seen a Yip before； but as there were
plenty of Yips and only one frog； the frog became the
most important。 He did not hop any more； but stood
upright on his hind legs and dressed himself in fine
clothes and sat in chairs and did all the things that
people do； so he soon came to be called the Frogman；
and that is the only name he has ever had。
After some years had passed the people came to regard
the Frogman as their adviser in all matters that
puzzled them。 They brought all their difficulties to
him and when he did not know anything he pretended to
know it； which seemed to answer just as well。 Indeed；
the Yips thought the Frogman was much wiser than he
really was； and he allowed them to think so； being very
proud of his position of authority。
There was another pool on the tableland； which was
not enchanted but contained good clear water and was
located close to the dwellings。 Here the people built
the Frogman a house of his own； close to the edge of
the pool； so that he could take a bath or a swim
whenever he wished。 He usually swam in the pool in the
early morning； before anyone else was up； and during
the day he dressed himself in his beautiful clothes and
sat in his house and received the visits of all the
Yips who came to him to ask his advice。
The Frogman's usual costume consisted of knee…
breeches made of yellow satin plush； with trimmings of
gold braid and jeweled knee…buckles； a white satin vest
with silver buttons in which were set solitaire rubies；
a swallow…tailed coat of bright yellow； green stockings
and red leather shoes turned up at the toes and having
diamond buckles。 He wore； when he walked out； a purple
silk hat and carried a gold…headed cane。 Over his eyes
he wore great spectacles with gold rims； not because
his eyes were bad but because the spectacles made him
look wise； and so distinguished and gorgeous was his
appearance that all the Yips were very proud of him。
There was no King or Queen in the Yip Country； so the
simple inhabitants naturally came to look upon the
Frogman as their leader as well as their counselor in
all times of emergency。 In his heart the big frog knew
he was no wiser than the Yips； but for a frog to know
as much as a person was quite remarkable； and the
Frogman was shrewd enough to make the people believe he
was far more wise than he really was。 They never
suspected he was a humbug； but listened to his words
with great respect and did just what he advised them
to do。
Now； when Cayke the Cookie Cook raised such an outcry
over the theft of her diamond…studded dishpan； the
first thought of the people was to take her to the
Frogman and inform him of the loss； thinking that of
course he could tell her where to find it。
He listened to the story with his big eyes wide open
behind his spectacles； and said in his deep； croaking
voice：
〃If the dishpan is stolen； somebody must have taken
it。〃
〃But who？〃 asked Cayke； anxiously。 〃Who is the
thief？〃
〃The one who took the dishpan； of course； replied the
Frogman； and hearing this all the Yips nodded their
heads gravely and said to one another：
〃It is absolutely true！〃
〃But I want my dishpan！〃 cried Cayke。
〃No one can blame you for that wish；〃 remarked the
Frogman。
〃Then tell me where I may find it；〃 she urged。
The look the Frogman gave her was a very wise look
and he rose from his chair and strutted up and down the
room with his hands under his coat…tails； in a very
pompous and imposing manner。 This was the first time so
difficult a matter had been brought to him and he
wanted time to think。 It would never do to let them
suspect his ignorance and so he thought very； very hard
how best to answer the woman without betraying himself。
〃I beg to inform you；〃 said he； 〃that nothing in the
Yip Country has ever been stolen before。〃
〃We know that； already；〃 answered Cayke the Cookie
Cook； impatiently。
〃Therefore；〃 continued the Frogman； 〃this theft
becomes a very important matter。〃
〃Well； where is my dishpan？〃 demanded the woman。
〃It is lost； but it must be found。 Unfortunately； we
have no policemen or detectives to unravel the mystery；
so we must employ other means to regain the lost
article。 Cayke must first write a Proclamation and tack
it to the door of her house； and the Proclamation must
read that whoever stole the jeweled dishpan must return
it