"And I shall think of some," said the Scarecrow leaning his head back against the wall. But though Benny and Trot searched up and down the narrow corridor not a loose rock, stone or even a pebble could they find. The walls, ceiling and floor were of smooth sparkling sapphire. It shed a weird blue light over the three travelers and soon they began to feel as blue as they looked. After searching in vain for rocks, they began to thump upon the door of Cave City, but with no results and had about decided they were prisoners forever in the narrow enclosure, when the Scarecrow gave a loud shout. "I have thought of some rocks," he announced excitedly. "There are three of us here. Well then, we have but to rock with laughter and the doors will fly open." Benny looked doubtful and Trot did not feel much like laughing, but as the Scarecrow insisted, they ranged themselves before the door of Cave City. Benny and Trot had to support the Scarecrow between them for he was still too wet and soggy to stand alone. "Now you laugh 'He!', I'll laugh 'Ho!' and Trot must laugh 'Hah!'", directed the Scarecrow solemnly. So at his signal Benny burst into a loud "He!" Trot into a shrill "Hah!" and the Scarecrow into a husky "Ho!" At the same time they rocked all together and fixed their eyes expectantly upon the door. Much to Trot's surprise, it instantly swung inward, and an old mer-man on crutches stood in the opening. "Well! Well!" he began querulously, "Why don't you come in? Come in! Come in, I'm mighty sorry to see you." "Sorry?" gasped Trot, as Benny stepped forward, drawing the others along with him. "Why?" "You'll know that soon enough," mumbled the old mer-man swinging along ahead of them on his crutches. "This way please, and mind you don't tread on my tail." CHAPTER 6 The Wicked Soothsayer After leaving Trot and her companions to the mercies of Quiberon, Akbad flew quickly to the King's garden, intending to rid himself of the golden wings and say nothing at all about his curious adventure. But before he had come to the enchanted tree, the King and half of the courtiers came rushing out of the sapphire palace. "My son? Where is my son?" panted Cheeriobed, seizing Akbad by the arm, not even noticing the great wings that drooped from the Soothsayer's shoulders. "The Prince! Where is the Prince?" demanded Toddledy in the same breath. "Miserable Mesmerizer can you think of nothing?" Akbad, worn and weary from his long flight, fairly blinked with astonishment, for naturally he knew nothing of Philador's disappearance, but he realized that he would be severely punished for stealing the golden pear. He felt that Quiberon had probably devoured the little Prince, but resolved for the present to save himself. "Have no fear for the Prince of the Ozure Isles," he began boldly. "I, Akbad the Soothsayer, have saved him." "How? Where?" The King plucked him frantically by the arm.