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the wisest creature in the world？〃 asked Wiljon。
〃I do not know who the Scarecrow is；〃 answered Cayke
the Cookie Cook。
〃Well； he lives at the Emerald City； and he is
supposed to have the finest brains in all Oz。 The
Wizard gave them to him； you know。〃
〃Mine grew in my head；〃 said the Frogman pompously；
〃so I think they must be better than any wizard brains。
I am so wise that sometimes my wisdom makes my head
ache。 I know so much that often I have to forget part
of it； since no one creature； however great； is able to
contain so much knowledge。〃
〃It must be dreadful to be stuffed full of wisdom；〃
remarked Wiljon reflectively； and eyeing the Frogman
with a doubtful look。 〃It is my good fortune to know
very little。〃
〃I hope； however； you know where my jeweled dishpan
is；〃 said the Cookie Cook anxiously。
〃I do not know even that；〃 returned the Winkie。 〃We
have trouble enough in keeping track of our own
dishpans； without meddling with the dishpans of
strangers。〃
Finding him so ignorant； the Frogman proposed that
they walk on and seek Cayke's dishpan elsewhere。
Wiljon the Winkie did not seem greatly impressed by the
great Frogman； which seemed to that personage as
strange as it was disappointing； but others in this
unknown land might prove more respectful。
〃I'd like to meet that Wizard of Oz；〃 remarked Cayke；
as they walked along a path。 〃If he could give a
Scarecrow brains he might be able to find my dishpan。〃
〃Poof！〃 grunted the Frogman scornfully； 〃I am greater
than any wizard。 Depend on me。 If your dishpan is
anywhere in the world I am sure to find it。〃
〃If you do not； my heart will be broken；〃 declared
the Cookie Cook in a sorrowful voice。
For a while the Frogman walked on in silence。 Then he
asked： 〃Why do you attach so much importance to a
dishpan？〃
〃It is the greatest treasure I posess；〃 replied the
woman。 〃It belonged to my mother and to all my
grandmothers； since the beginning of time。 It is； I
believe； the very oldest thing in all the Yip Country
or was while it was there and；〃 she added；
dropping her voice to an awed whisper； 〃it has magic
powers！〃
〃In what way？〃 inquired the Frogman； seeming to be
surprised at this statement。
〃Whoever has owned that dishpan has been a good cook；
for one thing。 No one else is able to make such good
cookies as I have cooked； as you and all the Yips know。
Yet； the very morning after my dishpan was stolen。 I
tried to make a batch of cookies and they burned up in
the oven！ I made another batch that proved too tough to
eat； and I was so ashamed of them that I buried them in
the ground。 Even the third batch of cookies； which I
brought with me in my basket； were pretty poor stuff
and no better than any woman could make who does not
own my diamond…studded gold dishpan。 In fact； my good
Frogman； Cayke the Cookie Cook will never be able to
cook good cookies again until her magic dishpan is
restored to her。〃
〃In that case；〃 said the Frogman with a sigh； 〃I
suppose we must manage to find it。〃
Chapter Five
Ozma's Friends Are Perplexed
〃Really；〃 said Dorothy； looking solemn； this is very
s'prising。 We can't find even a shadow of Ozma anywhere
in the Em'rald City； and； wherever she's gone； she's
taken her Magic Picture with her。〃
She was standing in the courtyard of the palace with
Betsy and Trot； while Scraps； the Patchwork Girl；
Danced around the group； her hair flying in the wind。
〃P'raps；〃 said Scraps； still dancing； 〃someone has
stolen Ozma。〃
〃Oh； they'd never dare do that！〃 exclaimed tiny Trot。
〃And stolen the Magic Picture； too； so the thing
can't tell where she is；〃 added the Patchwork Girl。
〃That's nonsense；〃 said Dorothy。 〃Why； ev'ryone loves
Ozma。 There isn't a person in the Land of Oz who would
steal a single thing she owns。〃
〃Huh！〃 replied the Patchwork Girl。 〃You don't know
ev'ry person in the Land of Oz。〃
〃Why don't I？〃
〃It's a big country；〃 said Scraps。 〃There are cracks
and corners in it that even Ozma doesn't know of。〃
〃The Patchwork Girl's just daffy；〃 declared Betsy。
〃No； she's right about that；〃 replied Dorothy
thoughtfully。 〃There are lots of queer people in this
fairyland who never come near Ozma or the Em'rald City。
I've seen some of 'em myself； girls； but I haven't seen
all； of course； and there might be some wicked persons
left in Oz； yet； though I think the wicked witches have
all been destroyed。〃
Just then the Wooden Sawhorse dashed into the
courtyard with the Wizard of Oz on his back。
〃Have you found Ozma？〃 cried the Wizard when the
Sawhorse stopped beside them。
〃Not yet；〃 said Dorothy。 〃Doesn't Glinda know where
she is？〃
〃No。 Glinda's Book of Records and all her magic
instruments are gone。 Someone must have stolen them。〃
〃Goodness me！〃 exclaimed Dorothy； in alarm。 〃This is
the biggest steal I ever heard of。 Who do you think did
it； Wizard？〃
〃I've no idea；〃 he answered。 〃But I have come to get
my own bag of magic tools and carry them to Glinda。 She
is so much more powerful than I that she may be able to
discover the truth by means of my magic； quicker and
better than I could myself。〃
〃Hurry； then；〃 said Dorothy； 〃for we're all getting
terr'bly worried。〃
The Wizard rushed away to his rooms but presently
came back with a long； sad face。
〃It's gone！〃 he said。
〃What's gone？〃 asked Scraps。
〃My black bag of magic tools。 Someone must have
stolen it！〃
They looked at one another in amazement。
〃This thing is getting desperate；〃 continued the
Wizard。 〃All the magic that belongs to Ozma； or to
Glinda； or to me； has been stolen。〃
〃Do you suppose Ozma could have taken them； herself；
for some purpose？〃 asked Betsy。
〃No； indeed；〃 declared the Wizard。 〃I suspect some
enemy has stolen Ozma and； for fear we would follow and
recapture her； has taken all our magic away from us。〃
〃How dreadful！〃 cried Dorothy。 〃The idea of anyone
wanting to injure our dear Ozma！ Can't we do anything
to find her； Wizard？〃
〃I'll ask Glinda。 I must go straight back to her and
tell her that my magic tools have also disappeared。