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dancing-no happiness of any kind. Even the flowers had drooped in the
absence of their little Mistress.
"Why didn't you appeal to Ozma?" demanded Pompa at this point in the
story.
"Because in another scroll Glegg warned us that the day we told Ozma,
Peg Amy would cease to even be a tree," explained Uncle Tozzyfog hoarsely.
"Then how did she become a doll? Tell me that, Uncle Fozzytog," gulped
Wag, raising one paw.
"She'll have to tell you that herself," confessed Peg's uncle, "for that's all
of the story I know."
So here Peg took up the story herself. The morning after her
transformation into a tree Glegg had appeared and asked her again to marry
him. "I was a little yellow tree, in the Winkie Country, not far from the
Emerald City," explained Peg, "and every day for two months Glegg appeared
and gave me the power of speech long enough to answer his question. And
each time he asked me to marry him but I always said 'No!' " The Princess
shook her yellow curls briskly.
"One afternoon there came a one-legged sailor man and a little girl."
Even Kabumpo shuddered as Peg Amy told how Cap'n Bill had cut down the
little tree, pared off all the branches and carved from the trunk a small
wooden doll for Trot.
"It didn't hurt," Princess Peg hastened to explain as she caught Pompa's
sorrowful expression, "and being a doll was a lot better than being a tree. I
could not move or speak but I knew what was going on and life in Ozma's
palace was cheerful and interesting. Only, of course, I longed to tell Ozma or
Trot of my enchantment. I missed dear Uncle Tozzyfog and all the people of
Sun Top Mountain. Then, as you all know, I was stolen by the old gnome and
after Ruggedo carried me underground I forgot all about being a Princess and
remembered nothing of this." Peg glanced lovingly around the room. "I only
felt that I had been alive before. So you!" Peg jumped up and flung one arm
around Wag, "and you," she flung the other around Pompa, "saved me by
calling me a Princess and really believing I was one. And you!" Peg hastened
over to Kabumpo, who was rolling his eyes sadly. "You are the darlingest old
elephant in Oz! See, I still have the necklace and bracelet!" And sure enough
on Peg's round arm and white neck gleamed the jewels the Elegant Elephant
had generously given when he thought her only a funny Wooden Doll.
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"Oh!" groaned Kabumpo. "Why didn't I let you look in the mirror
before? No wonder you kept remembering things."
"But why did Glegg send the threatening scroll to Pumperdink three
years after he'd enchanted Peg?" asked Wag, scratching his head.
"Because!" shrilled a piercing voice, and in through the window
bounded a perfectly dreadful old man. It was Glegg himself!
"Because!" screeched the wicked magician, advancing toward the little
party with crooked finger, "when that meddling old sailor touched Peg with
his knife I lost all power over her; because my Question Box told me that
Pompadore of Pumperdink could bring about her disenchantment and he
has. I made it interesting for you, didn't I? There isn't another magician in Oz
can put scrolls up in cakes and roasts like I can nor mix magic like mine. Ha!
Ha!" Glegg threw back his head and rocked with enjoyment. "You have had all
the trouble and I shall have all the reward!"
Everyone was so stunned by this terrible interruption that no one made
a move as Glegg sprang toward Peg Amy. But before he had reached the
Princess there was a queer sulphurous explosion and the magician
disappeared in a cloud of green smoke. They rubbed their eyes and as the
smoke cleared they saw Trot, the little girl who had played with Peg Amy
when she was a Wooden Doll.
"Ozma," explained Trot breathlessly, for she had come on a fast wish.
After following the adventures of Pompa and Peg in the Magic Mirror,
and as the magician had tried to snatch the Princess, Ozma had transported
him by means of her Magic Belt to the Emerald City, and sent Trot to bring
her best wishes the whole party.
"I'm sorry I didn't make you a prettier dress when you were my doll,"
said Trot, seizing Peg Amy's hand impulsively, "but you see I didn't know you
were a Princess."
"But you guessed my name," said Peg softly.
There were so many explanations to be made and so many things to
wonder over and exclaim about, that it seemed as if they could never stop
talking.
Uncle Tozzyfog rang all the bells in the castle tower and stepping out on
a balcony told the people of Sun Top Mountain of the return of Princess Peg
Amy. Then the servants were summoned and such a feast as only an Oz cook
can prepare was started in the castle kitchen. The Courtiers came hurrying
back, for during Peg's absence Uncle Tozzyfog had lived alone in the castle.
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Yes, the Courtiers came back and the people of Sun Top Mountain poured
into the castle in throngs and nearly overwhelmed the rescuers by the
enthusiasm of their thanks.
Kabumpo had never been so admired and complimented in his whole
elegant life. As for Wag, his speech grew more mixed up every minute. At last,
when the Courtiers and Uncle Tozzyfog had run off to dress for the grand
banquet, and after Trot had been magically recalled by Ozma to the Emerald
City, the four who had gone through so many adventures together were left
alone.
"Well, how about Pumperdink, my boy?" chuckled Kabumpo, with a
wave of his trunk. "Are we going to let the old Kingdom disappear or not?"
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