For several minutes they all stood staring at the black spot on thecanvas of the Magic Picture, wondering what it could mean. "P'r'apswe'd better ask the little Pink Bear about Ozma," suggested Trot.

"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 anyharm to 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 kneeand turned the crank, and the Wizard himself asked the questions in avery respectful 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. "Inwhat part of the 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 Wizardturned to consider the matter with grave thoughtfulness. "In whichone of Button-Bright's pockets is Ozma?" he presently inquired.

"In the left-hand jacket pocket," said the little Pink Bear.

"The pink one has gone crazy!" exclaimed Button-Bright, staringhard at the little bear on the big bear's knee.

"I am not so sure of that," declared the Wizard. "If Ozma proves tobe really in your pocket, then the little Pink Bear spoke truly whenhe said Ozma was in that hole in the ground. For at that time youwere also in the hole, and after we had pulled you out of it, thelittle Pink Bear said 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 smallrubber ball and a golden peach pit. "What's this?" asked the Wizard,picking up the peach pit and examining it closely.

"Oh," said the boy, "I saved that to show to the girls, and thenforgot all about it. It came out of a lonesome peach that I found inthe orchard back yonder, and which I ate while I was lost. It lookslike gold, 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 itover several times and then took out his pocket knife and pried thepit open. As the two halves fell apart, a pink, cloud-like haze camepouring from the golden peach pit, almost filling the big room, andfrom the haze a form took shape and settled beside them. Then, as thehaze faded away, a sweet voice said, "Thank you, my friends!" andthere before them stood their lovely girl Ruler, Ozma of Oz.

With a cry of delight, Dorothy rushed forward and embraced her.Scraps turned gleeful flipflops all around the room. Button-Brightgave a low whistle of astonishment. The Frogman took off his tall hatand bowed low before the beautiful girl who had been freed from herenchantment in so startling a manner. For a time, no sound was heardbeyond the low murmur of delight that came from the amazed group, butpresently the growl of the big Lavender Bear grew louder, and he saidin a tone of triumph, "He never makes a mistake!"