d gold clasps the book was so heavy that three men could
scarcely have lifted it. Yet this morning, when Glinda entered her
drawing-room after breakfast, with all her maidens trailing after her,
the good Sorceress was amazed to discover that her Great Book of Records
had mysteriously disappeared.

[Illustration]

Advancing to the table, she found the chains had been cut with some
sharp instrument, and this must have been done while all in the castle
slept. Glinda was shocked and grieved. Who could have done this
wicked, bold thing? And who could wish to deprive her of her Great Book
of Records?

The Sorceress was thoughtful for a time, considering the consequences of
her loss. Then she went to her Room of Magic to prepare a charm that
would tell her who had stolen the Record Book. But, when she unlocked
her cupboards and threw open the doors, all of her magical instruments
and rare chemical compounds had been removed from the shelves.

The Sorceress was now both angry and alarmed. She sat down in a chair
and tried to think how this extraordinary robbery could have taken
place. It was evident that the thief was some person of very great
power, or the theft could never have been accomplished without her
knowledge. But who, in all the Land of Oz, was powerful and skillful
enough to do this awful thing? And who, having the power, could also
have an object in defying the wisest and most talented Sorceress the
world has ever known?

[Illustration]

Glinda thought over the perplexing matter for a full hour, at the end of
which time she was still puzzled how to explain it. But although her
instruments and chemicals were gone her _knowledge_ of magic had not
been stolen, by any means, since no thief, however skillful, can rob one
of knowledge, and that is why knowledge is the best and safest
treasure to acquire. Glinda believed that when she had time to gather
more magical herbs and elixirs and to manufacture more magical
instruments she would be able to discover who the robber was, and what
had become of her precious Book of Records.

"Whoever has done this," she said to her maidens, "is a very foolish
person, for in time he is sure to be found out and will then be severely
punished."

She now made a list of the things she needed and dispatched messengers
to every part of Oz with instructions to obtain them and bring them to
her as soon as possible. And one of her messengers met the little Wizard
of Oz, who was mount