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Then followed the account of how the Su…dic had
transformed Coo…ee…oh into a swan； after which she had
forgotten all the witchcraft she ever knew。 The young
men told how； in the night when they were asleep； their
comrade Ervic had mysteriously disappeared； while the
boat in some strange manner had floated to the shore
and stranded upon the beach。
That was all they knew。 They had searched in vain for
three days for Ervic。 As their island was under water
and they could not get back to it； the three Skeezers
had no place to go； and so had waited patiently beside
their boat for something to happen。
Being questioned by Glinda and the Wizard； they told
all they knew about Ozma and Dorothy and declared the
two girls were still in the village under the Great
Dome。 They were quite safe and would be well cared for
by Lady Aurex； now that the Queen who opposed them was
out of the way。
When they had gleaned all the information they could
from these Skeezers； the Wizard said to Glinda：
〃If you find you can make this boat obey your
sorcery； you could have it return to the island；
submerge itself； and enter the door in the basement
from which it came。 But I cannot see that our going to
the sunken island would enable our friends to escape。
We would only Join them as prisoners。〃
〃Not so； friend Wizard；〃 replied Glinda。 〃If the boat
would obey my commands to enter the basement door； it
would also obey my commands to come out again； and I
could bring Ozma and Dorothy back with me。〃
〃And leave all of our people still imprisoned？〃 asked
one of the Skeezers reproachfully。
〃By making several trips in the boat； Glinda could
fetch all your people to the shore；〃 replied the
Wizard。
〃But what could they do then？〃 inquired another
Skeezer。 〃They would have no homes and no place to go；
and would be at the mercy of their enemies； the
Flatheads。〃
〃That is true；〃 said Glinda the Good。 〃And as these
people are Ozma's subjects； I think she would refuse to
escape with Dorothy and leave the others behind； or to
abandon the island which is the lawful home of the
Skeezers。 I believe the best plan will be to summon the
three fishes and learn from them how to raise the
island。〃
The little Wizard seemed to think that this was
rather a forlorn hope。
〃How will you summon them；〃 he asked the lovely
Sorceress； 〃and how can they hear you？〃
〃That is something we must consider carefully；〃
responded stately Glinda； with a serene smile。 〃I
think I can find a way。〃
All of Ozma's counsellors applauded this sentiment；
for they knew well the powers of the Sorceress。
〃Very well；〃 agreed the Wizard。 〃Summon them； most
noble Glinda。〃
Chapter Eighteen
The Cleverness of Ervic
We must now return to Ervic the Skeezer； who； when he
had set down the copper kettle containing the three
fishes at the gate of the lonely cottage； had asked；
〃What next？〃
The goldfish stuck its head above the water in the
kettle and said in its small but distinct voice：
〃You are to lift the latch； open the door； and walk
boldly into the cottage。 Do not be afraid of anything
you see； for however you seem to be threatened with
dangers； nothing can harm you。 The cottage is the home
of a powerful Yookoohoo； named Reera the Red； who
assumes all sorts of forms； sometimes changing her form
several times in a day； according to her fancy。 What
her real form may be we do not know。 This strange
creature cannot be bribed with treasure； or coaxed
through friendship； or won by pity。 She has never
assisted anyone； or done wrong to anyone； that we know
of。 All her wonderful powers are used for her own
selfish amusement。 She will order you out of the house
but you must refuse to go。 Remain and watch Reera
closely and try to see what she uses to accomplish her
transformations。 If you can discover the secret
whisper it to us and we will then tell you what to do
next。〃
〃That sounds easy；〃 returned Ervic； who had listened
carefully。 〃But are you sure she will not hurt me； or
try to transform me？〃
〃She may change your form；〃 replied the goldfish；
〃but do not worry if that happens； for we can break
that enchantment easily。 You may be sure that nothing
will harm you； so you must not be frightened at
anything you see or hear。〃
Now Ervic was as brave as any ordinary young man； and
he knew the fishes who spoke to him were truthful and
to be relied upon； nevertheless he experienced a
strange sinking of the heart as he picked up the kettle
and approached the door of the cottage。 His hand
trembled as he raised the latch； but he was resolved to
obey his instructions。 He pushed the door open； took
three strides into the middle of the one room the
cottage contained； and then stood still and looked
around him。
The sights that met his gaze were enough to frighten
anyone who had not been properly warned。 On the floor
just before Ervic lay a great crocodile； its red eyes
gleaming wickedly and its wide open mouth displaying
rows of sharp teeth。 Horned toads hopped about； each
of the four upper corners of the room was festooned
with a thick cobweb； in the center of which sat a
spider as big around as a washbasin； and armed with
pincher…like claws； a red…and…green lizard was
stretched at full length on the window…sill and black
rats darted in and out of the holes they had gnawed in
the floor of the cottage。
But the most startling thing was a huge gray ape
which sat upon a bench and knitted。 It wore a lace cap；
such as old ladies wear； and a little apron of lace；
but no other clothing。 Its eyes were bright and looked
as if coals were burning in them。 The ape moved as
naturally as an ordinary person might； and on Ervic's
entrance stopped knitting and raised its head to look
at him。
〃Get out！〃 cried a sharp voice； seeming to come from
the ape's mouth。
Ervic saw another bench； empty； just beyond him； so
he stepped over the crocodile； sat down upon the bench
and carefully placed the kettle beside him。
〃Get out！〃 again cried the voice。
Ervic shook his head。
〃No；〃 said he； 〃I'm going to stay。〃
The spiders left their four corners； dropped to the
floor and made a rush toward the young Skeezer；
circling around his legs with their pinchers extended。
Ervic paid no attention to them。 An enormous black rat
ran up Ervic's body； passed around his shoulders and
uttered piercing squeals in his ears； but he did not
wince。 The green…and…red lizard； coming from the
window…sill； approached Ervic and began spitting a
flaming fluid at him； but Ervic merely stared at the
creature and its flame did not touch him。
The crocodile raised its tail and； swinging around；
swept Ervic off the bench with a powerful blow。 But the
Skeezer managed to save the kettle from upsetting and
he got up； shook off the horned toads that were
crawling over him and resumed his seat on the bench。
All the creatures； after this first attack； remained
motionless； as if awaiting orders。 The old gray ape
knitted on； not looking toward Ervic now； and the young
Skeezer stolidly kept his seat。 He expected something
else to happen； but nothing did。 A full hour passed and
Ervic was growing nervous。
〃What do you want？〃 the ape asked at last。
〃Nothing；〃 said Ervic。
〃You may have that！〃 retorted the ape； and at this
all the strange creatures in the room broke into a
chorus of cackling laughter。
Another long wait。
〃Do you know who I am？〃 questioned the ape。
〃You must be Reera the Red the Yookoohoo；〃 Ervic
answered。
〃Knowing so much； you must also know that I do not
like strangers。 Your presence here in my home annoys
me。 Do you not fear my anger？〃
〃No；〃 said the young man。
〃Do you intend to obey me； and leave this house？〃
〃No；〃 replied Ervic； just as quietly as the Yookoohoo
had spoken。
The ape knitted for a long time before resuming the
conversation。
〃Curiosity；〃 it said； 〃has led to many a man's
undoing。 I suppose in some way you have learned that I
do tricks of magic； and so through curiosity you have
come here。 You may have been told that I do not injure
anyone； so you are bold enough to disobey my commands
to go away。 You imagine that you may witness some of
the rites of witchcraft； and that they may amuse you。
Have I spoken truly？〃
〃Well；〃 remarked Ervic； who had been pondering on the
strange circumstances of his coming here； 〃you are
right in some ways； but not in others。 I am told that
you work magic only for your own amusement。 That seems
to me very selfish。 Few people understand magic。 I'm
told that you are the only real Yookoohoo in all Oz。
Why don't you amuse others as well as yourself？〃
〃What right have you to question my actions？〃
〃None at all。〃
〃And you s