The Little Pink Bear Speaks Truly
CHAPTER 24
For several minutes they all stood staring at the black spot on thecanvas of the Magic Picture, wondering what it could mean.
"P'r'aps we'd better ask the little Pink Bear about Ozma," suggestedTrot.
"Pshaw!" said Button-Bright, "_he_ don't know anything."
"He never makes a mistake," declared the King.
"He did once, surely," said Betsy. "But perhaps he wouldn't make amistake again."
"He won't have the chance," grumbled the Bear King.
"We might hear what he has to say," said Dorothy. "It won't do any harmto ask the Pink Bear where Ozma is."
"I will not have him questioned," declared the King, in a surly voice."I do not intend to allow my little Pink Bear to be again insulted byyour foolish doubts. He never makes a mistake."
"Didn't he say Ozma was in that hole in the ground?" asked Betsy.
"He did; and I am certain she was there," replied the Lavender Bear.
Scraps laughed jeeringly and the others saw there was no use arguingwith the stubborn Bear King, who seemed to have absolute faith in hisPink Bear. The Wizard, who knew that magical things can usually bedepended upon, and that the little Pink Bear was able to answerquestions by some remarkable power of magic, thought it wise toapologize to the Lavender Bear for the unbelief of his friends, at thesame time urging the King to consent to question the Pink Bear oncemore. Cayke and the Frogman also pleaded with the big Bear, whofinally agreed, although rather ungraciously, to put the little Bear'swisdom to the test once more. So he sat the little one on his knee andturned the crank and the Wizard himself asked the questions in a veryrespectful tone of voice.
"Where is Ozma?" was his first query.
"Here, in this room," answered the little Pink Bear.
They all looked around the room, but of course did not see her.
"In what part of this room is she?" was the Wizard's next question.
"In Button-Bright's pocket," said the little Pink Bear.
This reply amazed them all, you may be sure, and although the threegirls smiled and Scraps yelled: "Hoo-ray!" in derision, the Wizardseemed to consider the matter with grave thoughtfulness.
"In which one of Button-Bright's pockets is Ozma?" he presentlyinquired.
"In the lefthand jacket-pocket," said the little Pink Bear.
"The pink one has gone crazy!" exclaimed Button-Bright, staring hard atthe little bear on the big bear's knee.
"I am not so sure of that," declared the Wizard. "If Ozma proves to bereally in your pocket, then the little Pink Bear spoke truly when hesaid Ozma was in that hole in the ground. For at that time you were alsoin the hole, and after we had pulled you out of it the little Pink Bearsaid Ozma was not in the hole."
"He never makes a mistake," asserted the Bear King, stoutly.
"Empty that pocket, Button-Bright, and let's see what's in it,"requested Dorothy.
So Button-Bright laid the contents of his left jacket-pocket on thetable. These proved to be a peg-top, a bunch of string, a small rubberball and a golden peach-pit.
"What's this?" asked the Wizard, picking up the peach-pit and examiningit closely.
"Oh," said the boy, "I saved that to show to the girls, and then forgotall about it. It came out of a lonesome peach that I found in theorchard back yonder, and which I ate while I was lost. It looks likegold, and I never saw a peach-pit like it before."
"Nor I," said the Wizard, "and that makes it seem suspicious."
All heads were bent over the golden peach-pit. The Wizard turned it overseveral times and then took out his pocket-knife and pried the pitopen.
As the two halves fell apart a pink, cloud-like haze came pouring fromthe golden peach-pit, almost filling the big room, and from the haze aform took shape and settled beside them. Then, as the haze faded away, asweet voice said: "Thank you, my friends!" and there before them stoodtheir lovely girl Ruler, Ozma of Oz.
With a cry of delight Dorothy rushed forward and embraced her. Scrapsturned gleeful flip-flops all around the room. Button-Bright gave a lowwhistle of astonishment. The Frogman took off his tall hat and bowed lowbefore the beautiful girl who had been freed from her enchantment in sostartling a manner.
For a time no sound was heard beyond the low murmur of delight that camefrom the amazed group, but presently the growl of the big Lavender Beargrew louder and he said in a tone of triumph:
"He never makes a mistake!"
The Lost Princess of Oz Page 25
