"We'll hide," grunted the old witch, paying no attention to the dummy's expostulations, "and when they've stopped looking for us we'll go on to the Emerald City and I will restore your Majesty to the throne. But first," panted Mombi, stopping a moment to catch her breath, "you must promise to give me back my magic powers and half of the Kingdom of Oz. Do you promise? You'd better," she added threateningly, giving Humpy a vicious shake. "But I'm going to the Emerald City with Dorothy," objected the King in dismay. "Let me go, you old ragbag." "Yes, how dare you shake his Majesty!" thundered an imperious voice and, whirling 'round in a fright, Mombi saw the Elegant Elephant looming up between two trees. He had followed them without a sound and now, snatching Humpy from the clutches of the old witch, placed him carefully upon his back. With a cry of rage, Mombi tried to get away, but Kabumpo was too quick for her. Seizing the witch in his trunk and shaking her to and fro like a rattle, he ran trumpeting back to the others. They had just discovered Humpy's absence and Pajuka with a hoarse shriek came flying toward the Elegant Elephant. "She was trying to steal the King!" panted Kabumpo indignantly. "Shall I throw her over the mountain or step on her?" "Step on her," commanded the dummy, extending two fingers of his right hand as he had seen kings in the movies do time and time again. Mombi gave a terrible screech and Dorothy and Snip looked uneasily at one another. "The King has spoken," honked Pajuka, settling down gravely beside the dummy, "therefore let the sentence be carried out." Dorothy closed her eyes and clung to Snip, but just then, the calm voice of the tailor intervened. "Your Highness," began Tora gravely, "as this woman is the only one in Oz who can restore you to your proper self, do you think this step a wise one?" The tailor's ears fluttered anxiously as he waited for the King's decision. For an instant Humpy looked doubtfully at Mombi, then with a sigh lowered his fingers. "Perhaps it would be a rash step," he admitted regretfully. "Well, some steps must be taken," honked Pajuka angrily. "Are we to put up with this treachery forever?" "No, just until she restores the King," answered Tora mildly. "Then I shall step on her," promised Kabumpo, giving Mombi another shake. "That's right," said Dorothy, glad to have the dreadful business delayed. "Mombi must first restore the King." "I'll not do it without a reward," screamed the witch defiantly. "Do I get a reward or not?" The others were silent but Humpy, again extending his fingers, announced grandly, "You shall be rewarded as you deserve!" He winked at Pajuka as he said this, but Mombi apparently was satisfied and stopped squirming. "Well, I can't do it here," she muttered sulkily. "The transformation was made near the Emerald City and the enchantment cannot be broken until we reach the green country."