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been through every kind of hardship to save your Highness—and now!" The Elegant Elephant slouched against a tree, the picture of discouragement. He seemed to have forgotten the jewels that were to have won the Princess for Pompa and his threat of running off with her should she refuse him.

"Why, you don't even know me," cried Ozma, dismayed by even the thought of marrying; for though the little Ruler of Oz has lived almost a thousand years she is no older than you are and would no more think of marrying than Dorothy or Betsy Bobbin or Trot. Ruling the Kingdom of Oz takes almost all of Ozma's time and in any that is left she wants to play and enjoy herself like any other sensible little girl. For Ozma is only a little girl fairy after all.

"I'm not going to marry anybody!" she declared stoutly. Then, because she really was touched by Pompa's woebegone appearance, she asked more kindly, "Why did you want to marry me especially?"

"Because you are the properest Princess in Oz," groaned the Prince, leaning disconsolately against Kabumpo. "Because if we don't Pumperdink will disappear and my poor old father and my mother and everyone."

"Not to speak of us," gulped the Elegant Elephant.