Now that they were actually in Ev, the Elegant Elephant began to doubt the wisdom of his plan for killing the monster. “Gone!” wailed Pompa, feeling in his pocket. “I dropped it when I fell off the Land. What shall we do, Kabumpo?” “Don’t be a Gooch,” gulped the Elegant Elephant, but he said it without spirit. “It’s probably around here somewhere.” Moving quietly, Kabumpo began to poke about with his trunk. Just then Peg Amy came flying toward them, her ragged dress fluttering in the breeze. “Look!” whispered the Wooden Doll, dropping on her knees before them. In her hands was Glegg’s Box of Mixed Magic and _it was open_! [Illustration: (unlabelled)] [Illustration: (unlabelled)] Chapter 18 Prince Pompadore Proposes While Peg and Pompa and the Elegant Elephant eyed the box, Wag, twitching his nose and mumbling very fast under his breath, backed rapidly away. He was not going to run the risk of any more explosions. So anxious was the big rabbit to put a good distance between himself and Glegg’s Mixed Magic, that he never realized that he was backing toward the giant till a sharp thump on the back of the head brought him up short. Trembling in every hair, Wag looked over his shoulder. _Stars!_ He had run into the terrible, five-toed foot of the giant himself. At first Wag was too terrified to move. But suddenly the hair on the back of his neck bristled erect. He peered at the giant’s foot more attentively. His eyes snapped and, seizing a stout stick that lay near by, he brought it down with all his might on the giant’s toes. “It’s Ruggedo!” screamed Wag, hopping up and down with rage. “And I’ll pound his curly toes off. I don’t care if he is a giant! I’ll pound his curly toes off!” The stick whistled through the air and whacked the giant’s toes again. Now of course we have known all along that the giant was Ruggedo, but it was a great surprise for the rescuers. Ruggedo was bad enough to deal with as a gnome—but a giant Ruggedo! _Horrors!_ “Stop him! Stop him!” cried Peg Amy, throwing up her hands and scattering the contents of the box of magic in every direction. “What are you trying to do?” roared Kabumpo, plunging forward. “Get us all trampled on?” A muffled cry came down from the clouds and, as Kabumpo dragged Wag back by the ear, something flashed through the air and bounced upon the Elegant Elephant’s head. “It’s the Scarecrow!” chattered Wag, wriggling from beneath Kabumpo’s trunk. Kabumpo opened his eyes and peered down at the limp bundle at his feet. As he looked the bundle began to pull itself together. It sat up awkwardly and began clutching itself into shape.