section of territory, which no one ever visits, you would
come to still another branch of the Winkie River, after
crossing which you would find another well-settled part of
the Winkie Country extending westward quite to the Deadly
Desert that surrounds all the Land of Oz and separates that
favored fairyland from the more common outside world. The
Winkies who live in this west section have many tin mines,
from which metal they make a great deal of rich jewelry and
other articles, all of which are highly esteemed in the Land
of Oz because tin is so bright and pretty and there is not
so much of it as there is of gold and silver.

Not all the Winkies are miners, however, for some till
the fields and grow grains for food, and it was at one of
these far-west Winkie farms that the Frogman and Cayke the
Cookie Cook first arrived after they had descended from the
mountain of the Yips. “Goodness me!” cried Nellary the
Winkie wife when she saw the strange couple approaching
her house. “I have seen many queer creatures in the Land
of Oz, but none more queer than this giant frog who dresses
like a man and walks on his hind legs. Come here, Wiljon,”
she called to her husband, who was eating his breakfast,
“and take a look at this astonishing freak.”

Wiljon the Winkie came to the door and looked out. He
was still standing in the doorway when the Frogman approached
and said with a haughty croak, “Tell me, my good man, have
you seen a diamond-studded gold dishpan?”

“No, nor have I seen a copper-plated lobster,” replied
Wiljon in an equally haughty tone.

The Frogman stared at him and said, “Do not be insolent,
fellow!”

“No,” added Cayke the Cookie Cook hastily, “you must be
very polite to the great Frogman, for he is the wisest
creature in all the world.”

“Who says that?” inquired Wiljon.

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