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means of my Magic Wand I have been creating exact
images of your Emerald City and your Royal Palace； and
I must confess that they are more attractive than any
places I have ever seen not excepting Bear Center。〃
〃I would like to entertain you in my palace；〃
returned Ozma； sweetly； 〃and you are welcome to return
with me and to make me a long visit； if your bear
subjects can spare you from your own kingdom。〃
〃As for that；〃 answered the King； 〃my kingdom causes
me little worry； and I often find it somewhat tame and
uninteresting。 Therefore I am in no hurry to return to
it and will be glad to accept your kind invitation。
Corporal Waddle may be trusted to care for my bears
in my absence。〃
〃And you'll bring the little Pink Bear？〃 asked
Dorothy eagerly。
〃Of course； my dear； I would not willingly part with
him。〃
They remained in the wicker castle for three days；
carefully packing all the magical things that had been
stolen by Ugu and also taking whatever in the way of
magic the shoemaker had inherited from his ancestors。
〃For；〃 said Ozma； 〃I have forbidden any of my
subjects except Glinda the Good and the Wizard of Oz to
practice magical arts； because they cannot be trusted
to do good and not harm。 Therefore Ugu must never again
be permitted to work magic of any sort。〃
〃Well；〃 remarked Dorothy cheerfully； 〃a dove can't do
much in the way of magic； anyhow； and I'm going to keep
Ugu in the form of a dove until he reforms and becomes
a good and honest shoemaker。〃
When everything was packed and loaded on the backs of
the animals； they set out for the river； taking a more
direct route than that by which Cayke and the Frogman
had come。 In this way they avoided the Cities of Thi
and Herku and Bear Center and after a pleasant journey
reached the Winkie River and found a jolly ferryman
who had a fine big boat and was willing to carry the
entire party by water to a place quite near to the
Emerald City。
The river had many windings and many branches； and
the journey did not end in a day； but finally the boat
floated into a pretty lake which was but a short
distance from Ozma's home。 Here the jolly ferryman was
rewarded for his labors and then the entire party set
out in a grand procession to march to the Emerald City。
News that the Royal Ozma had been found spread
quickly throughout the neighborhood and both sides of
the road soon became lined with loyal subjects of the
beautiful and beloved Ruler。 Therefore Ozma's ears
heard little but cheers and her eyes beheld little else
than waving handkerchiefs and banners during all the
triumphal march from the lake to the city's gates。
And there she met a still greater concourse； for all
the inhabitants of the Emerald City turned out to
welcome her return and several bands played gay music
and all the houses were decorated with flags and
bunting and never before were the people so joyous and
happy as at this moment when they welcomed home their
girl Ruler。 For she had been lost and was now found
again； and surely that was cause for rejoicing。
Glinda was at the royal palace to meet the returning
party and the good Sorceress was indeed glad to have
her Great Book of Records returned to her； as well as
all the precious collection of magic instruments and
elixirs and chemicals that had been stolen from her
castle。 Cap'n Bill and the Wizard at once hung the
Magic Picture upon the wall of Ozma's boudoir and the
Wizard was so light…hearted that he did several tricks
with the tools in his black bag to amuse his companions
and prove that once again he was a powerful wizard。
For a whole week there was feasting and merriment and
all sorts of joyous festivities at the palace； in honor
of Ozma's safe return。 The Lavender Bear and the little
Pink Bear received much attention and were honored by
all； much to the Bear King's satisfaction。 The Frogman
speedily became a favorite at the Emerald City and the
Shaggy Man and Tik…Tok and Jack Pumpkinhead； who had
now returned from their search； were very polite to the
big frog and made him feel quite at home。 Even the
Cookie Cook； because she was a stranger and Ozma's
guest； was shown as much deference as if she had been a
queen。
〃All the same； Your Majesty；〃 said Cayke to Ozma； day
after day； with tiresome repetition； 〃I hope you will
soon find my jeweled dishpan； for never can I be quite
happy without it。〃
Chapter Twenty…Six
Dorothy Forgives
The gray dove which had once been Ugu the Shoemaker sat
on its tree in the far Quadling Country and moped；
chirping dismally and brooding over its misfortunes。
After a time the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman came
along and sat beneath the tree； paying no heed to the
mutterings of the gray dove。
The Tin Woodman took a small oilcan from his tin
pocket and carefully oiled his tin joints with it。
While he was thus engaged the Scarecrow remarked：
〃I feel much better； dear comrade； since we found
that heap of nice dean straw and you stuffed me anew
with it〃
〃And I feel much better now that my joints are
oiled；〃 returned the Tin Woodman； with a sigh of
pleasure。 〃You and I； friend Scarecrow； are much more
easily cared for than those clumsy meat people； who
spend half their time dressing in fine clothes and who
must live in splendid dwellings in order to be
contented and happy。 You and I do not eat； and so we
are spared the dreadful bother of getting three meals a
day。 Nor do we waste half our lives in sleep； a
condition that causes the meat people to lose al＇
consciousness and become as thoughtless and helpless as
logs of wood。〃
〃You speak truly；〃 responded the Scarecrow； tucking
some wisps of straw into his breast with his padded
fingers。 〃I often feel sorry for the meat people； many
of whom are my friends。 Even the beasts are happier
than they； for they require less to make them content。
And the birds are the luckiest creatures of all； for
they can fly swiftly where they will and find a home at
any place they care to perch； their food consists of
seeds and grains they gather from the fields and their
drink is a sip of water from some running brook。 If I
could not be a Scarecrow or a Tin Woodman my next
choice would be to live as a bird does。〃
The gray dove had listened carefully