"It's the sauce box," cried Peter with a gasp of relief. Closing the lid, he smiled cheerfully at the Iffin. "I'd like to smash its lid," grunted Snif vindictively. "I nearly choked on that geranium." "Don't do that," advised Jack, leaning down to straighten his knee joints. "Take it along. What frightened us may easily frighten others." "That's so," laughed Peter, helping Jack to mount Snif's back. "Well, we surely have enough magic now. A dinner bell, a forbidden flagon, a magic sack and a sauce box." "Don't forget Belfaygor's beard," said Snif slyly, as Peter climbed up behind Jack. "I wish I could forget it," sighed the baron, seating himself next to Peter. "Oh, well," Peter reminded him cheerfully, "it won't be very long now, Belfaygor!" "No, not if he keeps cutting it," said Jack calmly. "I mean it won't be long before we reach the Emerald City," laughed Peter, as the Iffin raised his mighty wings and swooped out the wide open castle doors. "Here we go!" CHAPTER 14 High Times in Swing City "As soon as we see Mogodore, I'll open the pirate's sack, no fooling!" declared Peter, looking down at the whirling red landscape. Like tiny toys under a Christmas tree, the villages and towns spread out below, and some country people dancing about a May pole looked no larger than dolls. "Swallowing's too good for him," objected Belfaygor, stroking the sword he had taken from the castle hall. "Let me have one good swing at him--one good thrust, before you open that sack!" "If we trust to a thrust, we may all be undone, 'Tis better to sack him than whack him, my son!" Called Snif, looking over his shoulder to wink at Peter. "Much better," approved Jack Pumpkinhead. "Let us open the sack, break the forbidden flagon and throw the sauce box at his head." "Yes, and bring a dire disaster on our own," said Peter, remembering the warning on the magic flask. "We'll give the flagon to Ozma and let the Wizard of Oz decide what is to be done with it." "Well, I hope he can do something with my beard," groaned Belfaygor, looking ruefully at the blisters on his thumbs. "I cannot keep on cutting it forever. Besides it will frighten the Princess." "He'll fix it," promised Peter confidently. "The Wizard of Oz can fix anything. Oh boy, I can hardly wait to see them all again. Is Scraps as funny as ever and has Kuma Party visited the Emerald City since I left?"