n gone
half a day, so there's no harm done."

Dorothy, however, when the boy rejoined the party, gave him a good
scolding.

"When we're doing such an important thing as searching for Ozma," said
she, "it's naughty for you to wander away and keep us from getting on.
S'pose she's a pris'ner--in a dungeon cell!--do you want to keep our
dear Ozma there any longer than we can help?"

"If she's in a dungeon cell, how are you going to get her out?" inquired
the boy.

"Never you mind; we'll leave that to the Wizard; he's sure to find a
way."

The Wizard said nothing, for he realized that without his magic tools he
could do no more than any other person. But there was no use reminding
his companions of that fact; it might discourage them.

"The important thing just now," he remarked, "is to find Ozma; and, as
our party is again happily reunited, I propose we move on."

As they came to the edge of the Great Orchard the sun was setting and
they knew it would soon be dark. So it was decided to camp under the
trees, as another broad plain was before them. The Wizard spread the
blankets on a bed of soft leaves and presently all of them except Scraps
and the Sawhorse were fast asleep. Toto snuggled close to his friend the
Lion, and the Woozy snored so loudly that the Patchwork Girl covered his
square head with her apron to deaden the sound.

[Illustration]

The Czarover of Herku

[Illustration]

CHAPTER 12

Trot wakened just as the sun rose and, slipping out of the blankets,
went to the edge of the Great Orchard and looked across the plain.
Something glittered in the far distance.

"That looks like another city," she said half aloud.

"And another city it is," declared Scraps, who had crept to Trot's side
unheard, for her stuffed feet made no sound. "The Sawhorse and I made a
journey in the dark, while you were all asleep, and we found over there
a bigger city than Thi. There's a wall around it, too, but it has gates
and plenty of pathways."

"Did you go in?" asked Trot.

"No, for the gates were locked and the wall was a real wall. So we came
back here again. It isn't far to the city. We can reach it in two hours
after you've had your breakfasts."

Trot went back and, finding the other girls now awake, told them what
Scraps had said. So they hurriedly ate some fruit--there were plenty of
plums and fijoas in this part of the orchard--and then they mounted the
animals and set out upon the journey to the s