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〃I will not have him questioned；〃 declared the King；
in a surly voice。 〃I do not intend to allow my little
Pink Bear to be again insulted by your foolish doubts。
He never makes a mistake。〃
〃Didn't he say Ozma was in that hole in the ground？〃
asked Betsy。
〃He did； and I am certain she was there；〃 replied the
Lavender Bear。
Scraps laughed jeeringly and the others saw there was
no use arguing with the stubborn Bear King； who seemed
to have absolute faith in his Pink Bear。 The Wizard；
who knew that magical things can usually be depended
upon； and that the little Pink Bear was able to answer
questions by some remarkable power of magic； thought it
wise to apologize to the Lavender Bear for the unbelief
of his friends； at the same time urging the King to
consent to question the Pink Bear once more。 Cayke and
the Frogman also pleaded with the big Bear； who finally
agreed； although rather ungraciously； to put the little
Bear's wisdom to the test once more。 So he sat the
little one on his knee and turned the crank and the
Wizard himself asked the questions in a very
respectful tone of voice。
〃Where is Ozma？〃 was his first query。
〃Here； in this room；〃 answered the little Pink Bear。
They all looked around the room； but of course did
not see her。
〃In what part of this room is she？〃 was the Wizard's
next question。
〃In Button…Bright's pocket；〃 said the little Pink
Bear。
This reply amazed them all； you may be sure； and
although the three girls smiled and Scraps yelled：
〃Hoo…ray！〃 in derision； the Wizard seemed to consider
the matter with grave thoughtfulness。
〃In which one of Button…Bright's pockets is Ozma？〃 he
presently inquired。
〃In the lefthand jacket…pocket；〃 said the little Pink
Bear。
〃The pink one has gone crazy！〃 exclaimed Button…
Bright； staring hard at the little bear on the big
bear's knee。
〃I am not so sure of that；〃 declared the Wizard。 〃If
Ozma proves to be really in your pocket； then the
little Pink Bear spoke truly when he said Ozma was in
that hole in the ground。 For at that time you were also
in the hole； and after we had pulled you out of it the
little Pink Bear said Ozma was not in the hole。〃
〃He never makes a mistake；〃 asserted the Bear King；
stoutly。
〃Empty that pocket； Button…Bright； and let's see
what's in it；〃 requested Dorothy。
So Button…Bright laid the contents of his left
jacket…pocket on the table。 These proved to be a peg…
top； a bunch of string； a small rubber ball and a
golden peach…pit。
〃What's this？〃 asked the Wizard； picking up the
peach…pit and examining it closely。
〃Oh；〃 said the boy； 〃I saved that to show to the
girls； and then forgot all about it。 It came out of a
lonesome peach that I found in the orchard back yonder；
and which I ate while I was lost。 It looks like gold；
and I never saw a peach…pit like it before。〃
〃Nor I；〃 said the Wizard； 〃and that makes it seem
suspicious。〃
All heads were bent over the golden peach…pit。 The
Wizard turned it over several times and then took out
his pocket…knife and pried the pit open。
As the two halves fell apart a pink； cloud…like haze
came pouring from the golden peach…pit； almost filling
the big room； and from the haze a form took shape and
settled beside them。 Then； as the haze faded away； a
sweet voice said： 〃Thank you； my friends！〃 and there
before them stood their lovely girl Ruler； Ozma of Oz。
With a cry of delight Dorothy rushed forward and
embraced her。 Scraps turned gleeful flip flops all
around the room。 Button…Bright gave a low whistle of
astonishment。 The Frogman took off his tall hat and
bowed low before the beautiful girl who had been freed
from her enchantment in so startling a manner。
For a time no sound was heard beyond the low murmur
of delight that came from the amazed group； but
presently the growl of the big Lavender Bear grew
louder and he said in a tone of triumph：
〃He never makes a mistake！〃
Chapter Twenty…Five
Ozma of Oz
〃It's funny；〃 said Toto； standing before his friend the
Lion and wagging his tail； 〃but I've found my growl at
last！ I am positive； now； that it was the cruel
magician who stole it。〃
〃Let's hear your growl；〃 requested the Lion。
〃Gr…r…r…r…r…r！〃 said Toto。
〃That is fine；〃 declared the big beast。 〃It isn't as
loud or as deep as the growl of the big Lavender Bear；
but it is a very respectable growl for a small dog。
Where did you find it； Toto？〃
〃I was smelling in the corner； yonder；〃 said Toto；
〃when suddenly a mouse ran out and I growled！〃
The others were all busy congratulating Ozma； who was
very happy at being released from the confinement of
the golden peach…pit； where the magician had placed her
with the notion that she never could be found or
liberated。
〃And only to think；〃 cried Dorothy； 〃that Button…
Bright has been carrying you in his pocket all this
time； and we never knew it！〃
〃The little Pink Bear told you；〃 said the Bear King；
〃but you wouldn't believe him。〃
〃Never mind； my dears；〃 said Ozma graciously； 〃all is
well that ends well； and you couldn't be expected to
know I was inside the peach…pit。 Indeed； I feared I
would remain a captive much longer than I did； for Ugu
is a bold and clever magician and he had hidden me very
securely。〃
〃You were in a fine peach；〃 said Button…Bright； 〃the
best I ever ate。〃
〃The magician was foolish to make the peach so
tempting；〃 remarked the Wizard； 〃but Ozma would lend
beauty to any transformation。〃
〃How did you manage to conquer Ugu the Shoemaker？〃
inquired the girl Ruler of Oz。
Dorothy started to tell the story and Trot helped
her； and Button…Bright wanted to relate it in his own
way； and the Wizard tried to make it clear to Ozma； and
Betsy had to remind them of important things they left
out； and all together there was such a chatter that it
was a wonder that Ozma understood any of it。 But she
listened patiently； with a smile on her lovely face at
their eagerness； and presently had gleaned all the
details of their adventures。
Ozma thanked the Frogman very earnestly for his
assistance and she advised Cayke the Cookie Cook to dry
her weeping eyes； for she promised to take her to the
Emerald City and see that her cherished dishpan was
restored to her。 Then the beautiful Ruler took a chain
of emeralds from around her own neck and placed it
around the neck of the little Pink Bear。
〃Your wise answers to the questions of my friends；〃
said she； 〃helped them to rescue me。 Therefore I am
deeply grateful to you and to your noble King。〃
The bead eyes of the little Pink Bear stared
unresponsive to this praise until the Big Lavender Bear
turned the crank in its side； when it said in its
squeaky voice：
〃I thank Your Majesty。〃
〃For my part；〃 returned the Bear King； 〃I realize
that you were well worth saving； Miss Ozma； and so I am
much pleased that we could be of service to you。 By
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 wh