No wonder there had been confusion in the castle! Every time Ruggedo shook his aching head Ozma and her guests were tossed about like leaves in a storm. Mixed magic had made mischief indeed. [Illustration: (unlabelled)] Chapter 10 Peg and Wag To The Rescue For a long time after the terrific bang following Ruggedo’s final expansion, Wag and Peg Amy had been too stunned to even move. Crowded together in the little rock room, they lay perfectly breathless. “Umpthing sappened,” quavered the rabbit at last. “That sounds rather queer, but I think I know what you mean,” said Peg, sitting up cautiously. “Something has happened. Ruggedo’s been blown up, I guess.” “Mixed Magic!” groaned Wag gloomily. “I knew it would explode. Say, Peg, what makes this room so small?” “I don’t know,” sighed the doll in a puzzled voice, for neither Peg nor Wag realized how much they had grown. “But let’s go above ground and see what has become of Ruggedo.” One at a time and with great difficulty they got through the door. “Why, there are the stars!” cried Peg Amy, clasping her wooden hands rapturously. “Real stars!” The top of the cave had gone off with the old gnome King and the two stood looking up at the lovely skies of Oz. “It doesn’t seem so high as it used to,” said the rabbit, looking at the walls. “Why, I believe I could jump out if I took a good run and carry you, too. Come ashort, Peg!” “Aren’t you mixed, Wag dear? Don’t you mean come along?” asked Peg, smoothing down her torn dress. “Well, now that you mention it, my head does feel queer,” admitted the rabbit, twitching his nose, “bort of sackwards!” “Sort of backwards,” corrected Peg gently. “Well, never mind. I know what you mean. But do let’s try to find that awful box of magic. You know Ruggedo brought me to life, Wag, with something in that box!” “Only good thing he ever did,” said Wag, shaking his head. “But I think you were alive before,” he added solemnly. “You always seemed alive to me.” “I think so, too,” whispered Peg excitedly. “I can’t remember just how, or where, but Oh! Wag! I know I’ve been alive before. I remember dancing.” Peg took a few awkward steps and Wag looked on dubiously, too polite to criticize her efforts. He didn’t even laugh when Peg Amy fell down. Peg laughed herself, however, as merrily as possible. “It’s going to be such fun being alive,” she said, picking herself up gaily, “such fun, Wag dear. Why, there’s Glegg’s box!” She pounced upon the little shining gold casket. “Ruggedo didn’t take it after all!” “Is it shut?” asked Wag, clapping both paws to his ears. “Look out for explosions, say I.” “No, but I’ll soon close it,” said Peg and, shutting Glegg’s box, she slipped it into pocket of her dress. It was about half the size of this book you are reading and as Peg’s pockets were big and old fashioned, it fitted quite nicely.