f course," replied the Bluefinch. "Ugu the Shoemaker did that."

"But why? And how was it enchanted? And what will happen to one who eats
it?" questioned the boy.

"Ask Ugu the Shoemaker; he knows," said the bird, pruning its feathers
with its bill.

"And who is Ugu the Shoemaker?"

"The one who enchanted the peach, and placed it here--in the exact
center of the Great Orchard--so no one would ever find it. We birds
didn't dare to eat it; we are too wise for that. But you are
Button-Bright, from the Emerald City, and you--_you_--YOU ate the
enchanted peach! You must explain to Ugu the Shoemaker why you did
that."

And then, before the boy could ask any more questions, the bird flew
away and left him alone.

Button-Bright was not much worried to find that the peach he had eaten
was enchanted. It certainly had tasted very good and his stomach didn't
ache a bit. So again he began to reflect upon the best way to rejoin his
friends.

"Whichever direction I follow is likely to be the wrong one," he said to
himself, "so I'd better stay just where I am and let _them_ find
_me_--if they can."

A White Rabbit came hopping through the orchard and paused a little way
off to look at him.

"Don't be afraid," said Button-Bright; "I won't hurt you."

"Oh, I'm not afraid for myself," returned the White Rabbit. "It's you
I'm worried about."

"Yes; I'm lost," said the boy.

"I fear you are, indeed," answered the Rabbit. "Why on earth did you eat
the enchanted peach?"

The boy looked at the excited little animal thoughtfully.

"There were two reasons," he explained. "One reason was that I like
peaches, and the other reason was that I didn't know it was enchanted."

"That won't save you from Ugu the Shoemaker," declared the White Rabbit
and it scurried away before the boy could ask any more questions.

"Rabbits and birds," he thought, "are timid creatures and seem afraid of
this shoemaker--whoever he may be. If there was another peach half as
good as that other, I'd eat it in spite of a dozen enchantments or a
hundred shoemakers!"

Just then Scraps came dancing along and saw him sitting at the foot of
the tree.

"Oh, here you are!" she said. "Up to your old tricks, eh? Don't you know
it's impolite to get lost and keep everybody waiting for you? Come
along, and I'll lead you back to Dorothy and the others."

Button-Bright rose slowly to accompany her.

"That wasn't much of a loss," he said cheerfully. "I haven't bee