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〃Can you hear what I say？〃 she asked in her ordinary
tone of voice。
〃Of course；〃 replied the man。
〃Then why didn't you answer the Frogman？〃
〃Because；〃 said the ferryman； 〃I don't understand the
frog language。
〃He speaks the same words that I do and in the same
way；〃 declared Cayke。
〃Perhaps；〃 replied the ferryman； 〃but to me his voice
sounded like a frog's croak。 I know that in the Land of
Oz animals can speak our language； and so can the
birds and bugs and fishes； but in my ears they sound
merely like growls and chirps and croaks。〃
〃Why is that？〃 asked the Cookie Cook in surprise。
〃Once； many years ago； I cut the tail off a fox which
had taunted me； and I stole some birds eggs from a nest
to make an omelet with； and also I pulled a fish from
the river and left it lying on the bank to gasp for
lack of water until it died。 I don't know why I did
those wicked things； but I did them。 So the Emperor of
the Winkies who is the Tin Woodman and has a very
tender tin heart punished me by denying me any
communication with beasts； birds or fishes。 I cannot
understand them when they speak to me； although I know
that other people can do so； nor can the creatures
understand a word I say to them。 Every time I meet one
of them I am reminded of my former cruelty； and it
makes me very unhappy。〃
〃Really；〃 said Cayke； 〃I'm sorry for you； although
the Tin Woodman is not to blame for punishing you。〃
〃What is he mumbling about？〃 asked the Frogman。
〃He is talking to me； but you don't understand him；〃
she replied。 And then she told him of the ferryman's
punishment and afterward explained to the ferryman that
they wanted to stay all night with him and be fed。
He gave them some fruit and bread； which was the only
sort of food he had； and he allowed Cayke to sleep in a
room of his cottage。 But the Frogman he refused to
admit to his house； saying that the frog's presence
made him miserable and unhappy。 At no time would he
look directly at the Frogman； or even toward him；
fearing he would shed tears if he did so； so the big
frog slept on the river bank； where he could hear
little frogs croaking in the river all the night
through。 But that did not keep him awake； it merely
soothed him to slumber； for he realized how much
superior he was to them。
Just as the sun was rising on a new day the ferryman
rowed the two travelers across the river keeping his
back to the Frogman all the way and then Cayke
thanked him and bade him good…bye and the ferryman
rowed home again。
On this side the river there were no paths at all； so
it was evident they had reached a part of the country
little frequented by travelers。 There was a marsh at
the south of them； sandhills at the north and a growth
of scrubby underbrush leading toward a forest at the
east。 So the east was really the least difficult way to
go and that direction was the one they had determined
to follow。
Now the Frogman； although he wore green patent…
leather shoes with ruby buttons； had very large and
flat feet； and when he tramped through the scrub his
weight crushed down the underbrush and made a path for
Cayke to follow him。 Therefore they soon reached the
forest； where the tall trees were set far apart but
were so leafy that they shaded all the spaces between
them with their branches。
〃There are no bushes here；〃 said Cayke； much pleased；
〃so we can now travel faster and with more comfort。〃
Chapter Fifteen
The Big Lavender Bear
It was a pleasant place to wander in and the two
travelers were proceeding at a brisk pace when suddenly
a voice shouted：
〃Halt！〃
They looked around in surprise； seeing at first no
one at all。 Then from behind a tree there stepped a
brown fuzzy bear； whose head came about as high as
Cayke's waist and Cayke was a small woman。 The bear
was chubby as well as fuzzy； his body was even puffy；
while his legs and arms seemed jointed at the knees and
elbows and fastened to his body by pins or rivets。 His
ears were round in shape and stuck out in a comical
way； while his round black eyes were bright and
sparkling as heads。 Over his shoulder the little brown
bear bore a gun with a tin barrel。 The barrel had a
cork in the end of it and a string was attached to the
cork and to the handle of the gun。
Both the Frogman and Cayke gazed hard at this curious
bear； standing silent for some time。 But finally the
Frogman recovered from his surprise and remarked：
〃It seems to me that you are stuffed with sawdust and
ought not to be alive。〃
〃That's all you know about it；〃 answered the little
Brown Bear in a squeaky voice。 〃I am stuffed with a
very good quality of curled hair and my skin is the
best plush that was ever made。 As for my being alive；
that is my own affair and cannot concern you at all
except that it gives me the privilege to say you are my
prisoners。〃
〃Prisoners！ Why do you speak such nonsense？〃 asked
the Frogman angrily。 〃Do you think we are afraid of a
toy bear with a toy gun？〃
〃You ought to be；〃 was the confident reply； 〃for I am
merely the sentry guarding the way to Bear Center；
which is a city containing hundreds of my race； who are
ruled by a very powerful sorcerer known as the Lavender
Bear。 He ought to be a purple color； you know； seeing
he is a King； but he's only light lavender； which is；
of course； second cousin to royal purple。 So； unless
you come with me peaceably； as my prisoners； I shall
fire my gun and bring a hundred bears of all sizes
and colors to capture you。〃
〃Why do you wish to capture us？〃 inquired the
Frogman； who had listened to this speech with much
astonishment。
〃I don't wish to； as a matter of fact；〃 replied the
little Brown Bear； 〃but it is my duty to； because you
are now trespassing on the domain of His Majesty the
King of Bear Center。 Also I will admit that things are
rather quiet in our city； just now； and the excitement
of your capture； followed by your trial and execution；
should afford us much entertainment。〃
〃We defy you！〃 said the Frogman。
〃Oh； no； don't do that；〃 pleaded Cayke； speaking to
her companion。 〃He says his King is a sorcerer； so
perhaps it is he or one of his bears who ventured to
steal my jeweled dishpan。 Let us go to the City of the
Bears and discover if my dishpan is there。〃
〃I must now register one more charge against you；〃
remarked the little Brown Bear； with evident
satisfaction。 〃You have just accused us of stealing；
and that is such a dreadful thing to say that I am
quite sure our noble King will command you to be
executed。〃
〃But how could you execute us？〃 inquired the Cookie
Cook。
〃I've no idea。 But our King is a wonderful inventor
and there is no doubt he can find a proper way to
destroy you。 So； tell me； are you going to struggle； or
will you go peaceably to meet your doom？〃
It was all so ridiculous that Cayke laughed aloud and
even the Frogman's wide mouth curled in a smile。
Neither was a bit afraid to go to the Bear City and it
seemed to both that there was a possibility they might
discover the missing dishpan。 So the Frogman said：
〃Lead the way； little Bear； and we will follow
without a struggle。〃
〃That's very sensible of you； very sensible； indeed！〃
declared the Brown Bear。 〃So forward march！〃 and
with the command he turned around and began to waddle
along a path that led between the trees。
Cayke and the Frogman； as they followed their
conductor； could scarce forbear laughing at his stiff；
awkward manner of walking and； although he moved his
stuffy legs fast； his steps were so short that they had
to go slowly in order not to run into him。 But after a
time they reached a large； circular space in the center
of the forest； which was clear of any stumps or
underbrush。 The ground was covered by a soft gray moss；
pleasant to tread upon。 All the trees surrounding this
space seemed to be hollow and had round holes in their
trunks； set a little way above the ground； but
otherwise there was nothin