that nothing there
could be seen very distinctly and it seemed to the Yips very
venturesome, if not dangerous, to go so far from home into an unknown
land.

However, Cayke wanted her dishpan very badly, so she turned to her
friends and asked:

"Who will go with me?"

No one answered this question, but after a period of silence one of the
Yips said:

"We know what is here, on the top of this flat hill, and it seems to us
a very pleasant place; but what is down below we do not know. The
chances are it is not so pleasant, so we had best stay where we are."

"It may be a far better country than this is," suggested the Cookie
Cook.

"Maybe, maybe," responded another Yip, "but why take chances?
Contentment with one's lot is true wisdom. Perhaps, in some other
country, there are better cookies than you cook; but as we have always
eaten your cookies, and liked them--except when they are burned on the
bottom--we do not long for any better ones."

Cayke might have agreed to this argument had she not been so anxious to
find her precious dishpan, but now she exclaimed impatiently:

"You are cowards--all of you! If none of you are willing to explore with
me the great world beyond this small hill, I will surely go alone."

"That is a wise resolve," declared the Yips, much relieved. "It is your
dishpan that is lost, not ours; and, if you are willing to risk your
life and liberty to regain it, no one can deny you the privilege."

While they were thus conversing the Frogman joined them and looked down
at the plain with his big eyes and seemed unusually thoughtful. In fact,
the Frogman was thinking that he'd like to see more of the world. Here
in the Yip Country he had become the most important creature of them all
and his importance was getting to be a little tame. It would be nice to
have other people defer to him and ask his advice and there seemed no
reason, so far as he could see, why his fame should not spread
throughout all Oz.

He knew nothing of the rest of the world, but it was reasonable to
believe that there were more people beyond the mountain where he now
lived than there were Yips, and if he went among them he could surprise
them with his display of wisdom and make them bow down to him as the
Yips did. In other words, the Frogman was ambitious to become still
greater than he was, which was impossible if he always remained upon
this mountain. He wanted others to see his gorgeous clothes and listen
to his sole