But the Scarecrow shook his head. “A few minutes before I fell out they began to wake up and I’d just gone to the window to look for Glinda when Ruggedo gave a howl and ducked his head and here I fell.” The Scarecrow spread his hands eloquently and smiled at Peg. “Has Glinda been here?” asked Kabumpo jealously. “Yes,” said the Scarecrow. “She came this morning and she’s been trying all sorts of magic to reduce Ruggedo without harm to the palace.” “Great Grump! Do you hear that?” Kabumpo rolled his eyes anxiously toward the Prince. “If Glinda’s magic takes effect before ours then where’ll we be? Peg! Peg! Where’s the box of Mixed Magic?” “Would you mind telling me,” burst out the Scarecrow, who had been examining one after another in the party with a puzzled expression, “would you mind telling me how you happened to know about the palace disappearing; how you got across the sandy desert; how you expect to help us; how he (with a jerk at Wag) came to be too large; how she (with a jerk of his thumb at Peg) came to be alive; and—” “All in good time; all in good time!” trumpeted Kabumpo testily. “You sound like the Curious Cottabus! The principal thing to do now is to save Ozma. Will Ruggedo stay quiet a little longer?” “If he’s not disturbed,” said the Scarecrow, with a meaning glance at Wag. “Well, my hocks and woop soons!” cried the rabbit indignantly. “Isn’t anyone going to punish him? He shook and shook Peg and he meddled with magic and blew up into a giant. He’s run off with the palace. Doesn’t he deserve a pounding?” “Friend,” said the Scarecrow, “I admire your spirit but my excellent brains tell me that this is a case where an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. But have we the ounce of prevention?” “Here’s the Question Box,” announced Peg, who had run off at Kabumpo’s first call. “What shall we ask it first?” “How to save the lovely Princess of Oz,” spoke up Pompa, running his hand over his scorched locks. “Where’s my crown, Kabumpo?” Kabumpo fished the crown from his pocket and Pompa set it gravely upon his head as Peg asked the Question Box: “How shall we save the lovely Princess of Oz?” These maneuvers so astonished the Scarecrow that he lost his balance and fell flat on his nose. When he recovered Peg was clapping her wooden hands and Kabumpo was dancing on three legs. “You’re as good as married, my boy!” cried Kabumpo, thumping the Prince upon the back. “What is it? What’s happened?” gasped the Scarecrow. “Why, the Question Box says to pour three drops of Trick Tea on Ruggedo’s left foot and two on his right and he will then march back to the Emerald City, descend into his cave and, after the palace has settled firmly on its foundations, he will shrink down to his former size,” read Peg Amy, holding the Question Box close to her eyes, for the printing was very small.