mber.

Next morning they made an early start but had hardly proceeded on their
way an hour when, on climbing a slight elevation, they beheld in the
distance a low mountain, on top of which stood Ugu's wicker castle. It
was a good-sized building and rather pretty because the sides, roofs and
domes were all of wicker closely woven, as it is in fine baskets.

"I wonder if it is strong?" said Dorothy musingly, as she eyed the queer
castle.

"I suppose it is, since a magician built it," answered the Wizard.
"With magic to protect it, even a paper castle might be as strong as if
made of stone. This Ugu must be a man of ideas, because he does things
in a different way from other people."

"Yes; no one else would steal our dear Ozma," sighed tiny Trot.

"I wonder if Ozma is there?" said Betsy, indicating the castle with a
nod of her head.

"Where else could she be?" asked Scraps.

"S'pose we ask the Pink Bear," suggested Dorothy.

That seemed a good idea, so they halted the procession and the Bear King
held the little Pink Bear on his lap and turned the crank in its side
and asked:

"Where is Ozma of Oz?"

And the little Pink Bear answered:

"She is in a hole in the ground, a half mile away, at your left."

"Good gracious!" cried Dorothy. "Then she is not in Ugu's castle at
all."

"It is lucky we asked that question," said the Wizard; "for, if we can
find Ozma and rescue her, there will be no need for us to fight that
wicked and dangerous magician."

"Indeed!" said Cayke. "Then what about my dishpan?"

The Wizard looked puzzled at her tone of remonstrance, so she added:

"Didn't you people from the Emerald City promise that we would all stick
together, and that you would help me to get my dishpan if I would help
you to get your Ozma? And didn't I bring to you the little Pink Bear,
which has told you where Ozma is hidden?"

"She's right," said Dorothy to the Wizard. "We must do as we agreed."

"Well, first of all, let us go and rescue Ozma," proposed the Wizard.
"Then our beloved Ruler may be able to advise us how to conquer Ugu the
Shoemaker."

So they turned to the left and marched for half a mile until they came
to a small but deep hole in the ground. At once all rushed to the brim
to peer into the hole, but instead of finding there Princess Ozma of Oz,
all that they saw was Button-Bright, who was lying asleep on the bottom.

Their cries soon wakened the boy, who sat up and rubbed his eyes. When
he r