"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.
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