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〃He went fishing about two months ago and hasn't come
back yet；〃 explained Button…Bright。
〃Then I can't see that he will be of much use to us
in this trouble；〃 sighed little Trot。 〃But p'raps Ozma；
who is a fairy； can get away from the thieves without
any help from anybody。〃
〃She might be able to；〃 admitted Dorothy；
reflectively； 〃but if she had the power to do that； it
isn't likely she'd have let herself be stolen。 So the
thieves must have been even more powerful in magic than
our Ozma。〃
There was no denying this argument and； although they
talked the matter over all the rest of that day； they
were unable to decide how Ozma had been stolen against
her will or who had committed the dreadful deed。
Toward evening the Wizard came back； riding slowly
upon the Sawhorse because he felt discouraged and
perplexed。 Glinda came； later； in her aerial chariot
drawn by twenty milk…white swans； and she also seemed
worried and unhappy。 More of Ozma's friends joined them
and that evening they all had a long talk together。
〃I think；〃 said Dorothy； 〃we ought to start out right
away in search of our dear Ozma。 It seems cruel for us
to live comf'tably in her Palace while she is a
pris'ner in the power of some wicked enemy。〃
〃Yes；〃 agreed Glinda the Sorceress； 〃someone ought to
search for her。 I cannot go myself； because I must work
hard in order to create some new instruments of sorcery
by means of which I may rescue our fair Ruler。 But if
you can find her； in the meantime； and let me know who
has stolen her； it will enable me to rescue her much
more quickly。〃
〃Then we'll start to…morrow morning；〃 decided
Dorothy。 〃Betsy and Trot and I won't waste another
minute。〃
〃I'm not sure you girls will make good detectives；〃
remarked the Wizard； 〃but I'll go with you； to protect
you from harm and to give you my advice。 All my
wizardry； alas； is stolen； so I am now really no more a
wizard than any of you； but I will try to protect you
if any enemies you may meet。〃
〃What harm could happen to us in Oz？〃 inquired Trot。
〃What harm happened to Ozma？〃 returned the Wizard。
〃If there is an Evil Power abroad in our fairyland；
which is able to steal not only Ozma and her Magic
Picture； but Glinda's Book of Records and all her
magic； and my black bag containing all my tricks of
wizardry； then that Evil Power may yet cause us
considerable injury。 Ozma is a fairy； and so is Glinda；
so no power can kill or destroy them； but you girls are
all mortals； and so are Button…Bright and I； so we must
watch out for ourselves。〃
〃Nothing can kill me；〃 said Ojo； the Munchkin boy。
〃That is true；〃 replied the Sorceress； 〃and I think
it may be well to divide the searchers into several
parties； that they may cover all the land of Oz more
quickly。 So I will send Ojo and Unc Nunkie and Dr。 Pipt
into the Munchkin Country； which they are well
acquainted with； and I will send the Scarecrow and the
Tin Woodman into the Quadling Country； for they are
fearless and brave and never tire； and to the Gillikin
Country； where many dangers lurk； I will send the
Shaggy Man and his brother； with Tik…Tok and Jack
Pumpkinhead。 Dorothy may make up her own party and
travel into the Winkie Country。 All of you must
inquire everywhere for Ozma and try to discover where
she is hidden。〃
They thought this a very wise plan and adopted it
without question。 In Ozma's absence Glinda the Good was
the most important person in Oz and all were glad to
serve under her direction。
Chapter Six
The Search Party
Next morning； as soon as the sun was up； Glinda flew
back to her castle； stopping on the way to instruct the
Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman； who were at that time
staying at the college of Professor H。 M。 Wogglebug； T。
E。； and taking a course of his Patent Educational
Pills。 On hearing of Ozma's loss they started at once
for the Quadling Country to search for her。
As soon as Glinda had left the Emerald City； Tik…Tok
and the Shaggy Man and Jack Pumpkinhead； who had been
present at the conference； began their journey into the
Gillikin Country； and an hour later Ojo and Unc Nunkie
joined Dr。 Pipt and together they traveled toward the
Munchkin Country。 When all these searchers were gone；
Dorothy and the Wizard completed their own
preparations。
The Wizard hitched the Sawhorse to the Red Wagon；
which would seat four very comfortably。 He wanted
Dorothy； Betsy； Trot and the Patchwork Girl to ride in
the wagon； but Scraps came up to them mounted upon the
Woozy； and the Woozy said he would like to join the
party。 Now this Woozy was a most peculiar animal；
having a square head； square body； square legs and
square tail。 His skin was very tough and hard；
resembling leather； and while his movements were
somewhat clumsy the beast could travel with remarkable
swiftness。 His square eyes were mild and gentle in
expression and he was not especially foolish。 The Woozy
and the Patchwork Girl were great friends and so the
Wizard agreed to let the Woozy go with them。
Another great beast now appeared and asked to go
along。 This was none other than the famous Cowardly
Lion； one of the most interesting creatures in all Oz。
No lion that roamed the jungles or plains could compare
in size or intelligence with this Cowardly Lion； who
like all animals living in Oz could talk； and who
talked with more shrewdness and wisdom than many of the
people did。 He said he was cowardly because he always
trembled when he faced danger； but he had faced danger
many times and never refused to fight when it was
necessary。 This Lion was a great favorite with Ozma and
always guarded her throne on state occasions。 He was
also an old companion and friend of the Princess
Dorothy； so the girl was delighted to have him join the
party。
〃I'm so nervous over our dear Ozma；〃 said the
Cowardly Lion in his deep； rumbling voice； 〃that it
would make me unhappy to remain behind while you are
trying to find her。 But do not get into any danger； I
beg of you； for danger frightens me terribly。〃
〃We'll not get into danger if we can poss'bly help
it；〃 promised Dorothy； 〃but we shall do anything to
find Ozma； danger or no danger。〃
The addition of the Woozy and the Cowardly Lion to
the party gave Betsy Bobbin an idea and she ran to the
marble stables at the rear of the palace and brought
out her mule； Hank by name。 Perhaps no mule you ever
saw was so lean and bony and altogether plain looking
as this Hank； but Betsy loved him dearly because he was
faithful and steady and not nearly so stupid as most
mules are considered to be。 Betsy had a saddle for Hank
and declared she would ride on his back； an arrangement
approved by the Wizard because it left only four of the
party to ride on the seats of the Red Wagon Dorothy and
Button…Bright and Trot and himself。
An old sailor…man； who had one wooden leg； came to
see them off and suggested that they put a supply of
food and blankets in the Red Wagon； in as much as they
were uncertain how long they would be gone。 This
sailor…man was called Cap'n Bill。 He was a former
friend and comrade of Trot and had encountered many
adventures in company with the little girl。 I think he
was sorry he could not go with her on this trip； but
Glinda the Sorceress had asked Cap'n Bill to remain in
the Emerald City and take charge of the royal palace
while everyone else was away； and the one…legged sailor
had agreed to do so。
They loaded the back end of the Red Wagon with
everything they thought they might need； and then they
formed a procession and marched from the palace through
the Emerald City to the great gates of the wall that
surrounded this beautiful capital of the Land of Oz。
Crowds of citizens lined the streets to see them pass
and to cheer them and wish them success； for all were
grieved over Ozma's loss and anxious that she be found
again。
First came the Cowardly Lion； then the Patchwork Girl
riding upon the Woozy； then Betsy Bobbin on her mule
Hank； and finally the Sawhorse drawing the Red Wagon；
in which were seated the