she also seemed worried and unhappy. More of Ozma's friends joined
them, and that evening they all had a big talk together. "I think,"
said Dorothy, "we ought to start out right away in search of our dear
Ozma. It seems cruel for us to live comf'tably in her palace while
she is a pris'ner in the power of some wicked enemy."

"Yes," agreed Glinda the Sorceress, "someone ought to search for her.
I cannot go myself, because I must work hard in order to create some
new instruments of sorcery by means of which I may rescue our fair
Ruler. But if you can find her in the meantime and let me know who
has stolen her, it will enable me to rescue her much more quickly."

"Then we'll start tomorrow morning," decided Dorothy. "Betsy and Trot
and I won't waste another minute."

"I'm not sure you girls will make good detectives," remarked the
Wizard, "but I'll go with you to protect you from harm and to give you
my advice. All my wizardry, alas, is stolen, so I am now really no
more a wizard than any of you, but I will try to protect you from any
enemies you may meet."

"What harm could happen to us in Oz?" inquired Trot.

"What harm happened to Ozma?" returned the Wizard.

"If there is an Evil Power abroad in our fairyland, which is able to
steal not only Ozma and her Magic Picture, but Glinda's Book of
Records and all her magic, and my black bag containing all my
tricks of wizardry, then that Evil Power may yet cause us considerable
injury. Ozma is a fairy, and so is Glinda, so no power can kill or