Oz itself is a huge oblong country divided into four parts, the North being the purple Gilliken country, the East the blue Munchkin country, the South the red lands of the Quadlings, and the West the pleasant yellow country of the Winkies. In the very center of Oz, as almost every boy and girl knows, is the wonderful Emerald City, and in its gorgeous green palace lives Ozma, the lovely little Fairy Princess, whom Kabumpo wanted Pompadore to marry. “Do you know,” mused the Prince, after they had traveled some time through the dim forest, “I believe that gold mirror has a lot to do with all this. I believe it was put in the cake to help me find the Proper Princess.” “Where would you find a more Proper Princess than Ozma?” puffed Kabumpo indignantly. “Ozma is the one—depend upon it!” “Just the same,” said Pompa firmly, “I’m going to try every Princess we meet!” “Do you expect to find ’em running wild in the woods?” snorted Kabumpo, who didn’t like to be contradicted. “You never can tell.” The Prince of Pumperdink settled back comfortably. Now that they were really started, he was finding traveling extremely interesting. “I should have done this long ago,” murmured the Prince to himself. “Every Prince should go on a journey of adventure.” “How long will it take us to reach the Emerald City?” he asked presently. “Two days, if nothing happens,” answered Kabumpo. “Say—what’s that?” He stopped short and spread his ears till they looked like sails. The underbrush at the right was crackling from the springs of some large animal, and next minute a hoarse voice roared: “I want to know The which and what, The where and how and why? A curious, luxurious Old Cottabus am I! I want to know the When and who, The whatfor and whyso, Sir! So please attend, there is no end To things I want to know, Sir!” “Aha!” exulted the voice triumphantly. “There you are!” And a great round head was thrust out, almost in Kabumpo’s face. “Oh! I’m going to enjoy this. Don’t move!” Kabumpo was too astonished to move, and the next instant the Cottabus had flounced out of the bushes and settled itself directly in front of the two travelers. It was large as a pony, but shaped like a great overfed cat. Its eyes bulged unpleasantly and the end of its tail ended in a large fan. [Illustration: The Cottabus was as large as a pony, but shaped like a great overfed cat] “Well,” grunted Kabumpo after the strange creature had regarded them for a full minute without blinking. “Well, what?” it asked, beginning to fan itself sulkily. “You act as if you had never seen a Cottabus before.” “We never have,” admitted Pompa, peering over Kabumpo’s head and secretly wishing he had brought along his jeweled sword.