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!"

[Illustration]

Ozma of Oz

[Illustration]

CHAPTER 25

"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