A curious thing about Ugu the Shoemaker was that he didn't suspect, in
the least, that he was wicked. He wanted to be powerful and great and he
hoped to make himself master of all the Land of Oz, that he might compel
everyone in that fairy country to obey him. His ambition blinded him to
the rights of others and he imagined anyone else would act just as he
did if anyone else happened to be as clever as himself.
When he inhabited his little shoemaking shop in the City of Herku he had
been discontented, for a shoemaker is not looked upon with high respect
and Ugu knew that his ancestors had been famous magicians for many
centuries past and therefore his family was above the ordinary. Even his
father practiced magic, when Ugu was a boy; but his father had wandered
away from Herku and had never come back again. So, when Ugu grew up, he
was forced to make shoes for a living, knowing nothing of the magic of
his forefathers. But one day, in searching through the attic of his
house, he discovered all the books of magical recipes and many magical
instruments which had formerly been in use in his family. From that day
he stopped making shoes and began to study magic. Finally he aspired to
become the greatest magician in Oz, and for days and weeks and months he
thought on a plan to render all the other sorcerers and wizards, as well
as those with fairy powers, helpless to oppose him.
From the books of his ancestors he learned the following facts:
(1) That Ozma of Oz was the fairy ruler of the Emerald City and the Land
of Oz, and that she could not be destroyed by any magic ever devised.
Also, by means of her Magic Picture she would be able to discover
anyone who approached her royal palace with the idea of conquering it.
(2) That Glinda the Good was the most powerful Sorceress in Oz, among
her other magical possessions being the Great Book of Records, which
told her all that happened anywhere in the world. This Book of Records
was very dangerous to Ugu's plans and Glinda was in the service of Ozma
and would use her arts of sorcery to protect the girl Ruler.
(3) That the Wizard of Oz, who lived in Ozma's palace, had been taught
much powerful magic by Glinda and had a bag of magic tools with which he
might be able to conquer the Shoemaker.
(4) That there existed in Oz--in the Yip Country--a jeweled dishpan made
of gold, which dishpan possessed marvelous powers of magic. At a magic
word, which Ugu learned from the book, the dishpan would grow large
enough for a man to sit inside it. Then, when he grasped both the golden
handles, the dishpan would transport him in an instant to any place he
wished to go within the borders of the Land of Oz.
No one now living, except Ugu, knew of the powers of this Magic Dishpan;
so, after long study, the shoemaker decided that if he could manage to
secure the dishpan he could, by its means, rob Ozma and Glinda and the
Wizard of Oz of all their magic, thus becoming himself the most powerful
person in all the land.
His first act was to go away from the City of Herku and build for
himself the Wicker Castle in the hills. Here he carried his books and
instruments of magic and here for a full year he diligently practiced
all the magical arts learned from his ancestors. At the end of that time
he could do a good many wonderful things.
Then, when all his preparations were made, he set out for the Yip
Country and climbing the steep mountain at night he entered the house of
Cayke the Cookie Cook and stole her diamond-studded gold dishpan while
all the Yips were asleep. Taking his prize outside, he set the pan upon
the ground and uttered the required magic word. Instantly the dishpan
grew as large as a big washtub and Ugu seated himself in it and grasped
the two handles. Then he wished himself in the great drawing-room of
Glinda the Good.
He was there in a flash. First he took the Great Book of Records and put
it in the dishpan. Then he went to Glinda's laboratory and took all her
rare chemical compounds and her instruments of sorcery, placing these
also in the dishpan, which he caused to grow large enough to hold them.
Next he seated himself amongst the treasures he had stolen and wished
himself in the room in Ozma's palace which the Wizard occupied and where
he kept his bag of magic tools. This bag Ugu added to his plunder and
then wished himself in the apartments of Ozma.
Here he first took the Magic Picture from the wall and then seized all
the other magical things which Ozma possessed. Having placed these in
the dishpan he was about to climb in himself when he looked up and saw
Ozma standing beside him. Her fairy instinct had warned her that danger
was threatening her, so the beautiful girl Ruler rose from her couch and
leaving her bedchamber at once confronted the thief.
Ugu had to think quickly, for he realized that if he permitted Ozma to
rouse the inmates of her palace all his plans and his present successes
were likely to come to naught. So he threw a scarf over the girl's head,
so she could not scream, and pushed her into the dishpan and tied her
fast, so she could not move. Then he climbed in beside her and wished
himself in his own wicker castle. The Magic Dishpan was there in an
instant, with all its contents, and Ugu rubbed his hands together in
triumphant joy as he realized that he now possessed all the important
magic in the Land of Oz and could force all the inhabitants of that
fairyland to do as he willed.
So quickly had his journey been accomplished that before daylight the
robber magician had locked Ozma in a room, making her a prisoner, and
had unpacked and arranged all his stolen goods. The next day he placed
the Book of Records on his table and hung the Magic Picture on his wall
and put away in his cupboards and drawers all the elixirs and magic
compounds he had stolen. The magical instruments he polished and
arranged, and this was fascinating work and made him very happy. The
only thing that bothered him was Ozma. By turns the imprisoned Ruler
wept and scolded the Shoemaker, haughtily threatening him with dire
punishment for the wicked deeds he had done. Ugu became somewhat afraid
of his fairy prisoner, in spite of the fact that he believed he had
robbed her of all her powers; so he performed an enchantment that
quickly disposed of her and placed her out of his sight and hearing.
After that, being occupied with other things, he soon forgot her.
[Illustration]
But now, when he looked into the Magic Picture and read the Great Book
of Records, the Shoemaker learned that his wickedness was not to go
unchallenged. Two important expeditions had set out to find him and
force him to give up his stolen property. One was the party headed by
the Wizard and Dorothy, while the other consisted of Cayke and the
Frogman. Others were also searching, but not in the right places. These
two groups, however, were headed straight for the wicker castle and so
Ugu began to plan how best to meet them and to defeat their efforts to
conquer him.
[Illustration]
More Surprises
[Illustration]