r dishpan."

"Good gracious!" exclaimed Button-Bright, "we've forgot all about Ozma.
Let's find out where the magician hid her."

Back to the Magic Picture they trooped, but when they wished to see
Ozma, wherever she might be hidden, only a round black spot appeared in
the center of the canvas.

"I don't see how _that_ can be Ozma!" said Dorothy, much puzzled.

"It seems to be the best the Magic Picture can do, however," said the
Wizard, no less surprised. "If it's an enchantment, it looks as if the
magician had transformed Ozma into a chunk of pitch."

[Illustration]

The Little Pink Bear Speaks Truly

[Illustration]

CHAPTER 24

For several minutes they all stood staring at the black spot on the
canvas of the Magic Picture, wondering what it could mean.

"P'r'aps we'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 a
mistake 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 harm
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 by
your 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 arguing
with the stubborn Bear King, who seemed to have absolute faith in his
Pink Bear. The Wizard, who knew that magical things can usually be
depended upon, and that the little Pink Bear was able to answer
questions by some remarkable power of magic, thought it wise to
apologize to the Lavender Bear for the unbelief of his friends, at the
same time urging the King to consent to question the Pink Bear once
more. Cayke and the Frogman also pleaded with the big Bear, who
finally agreed, although rather ungraciously, to put the little Bear's
wisdom to the test once more. So he sat the little one on his knee and
turned the crank and the Wizard himself asked the questions in a very
respectful tone of voice.

[Illustration]

"Where is Ozma?" was his first query.

"Here, in this room," answered the little Pink Bear.

They all looked