"No," replied the beaver King, "my magic is mostly water magic and that would be less than useless on the fiery sands of the Deadly Desert. But that isn't the main reason that keeps me from visiting Oz."
"What is it, then?" asked Shaggy.
"I have not been invited," replied the beaver King simply.
"I am sure that if Ozma knew about that, she would fix it," said the Shaggy Man kindly.
"Do you think so?" asked the beaver. "Do you really think Ozma would invite me? I hoped you would say that for it gives me courage to put forth a suggestion I have in mind."
"What is that?" asked Shaggy.
"If you, the famous Shaggy Man of Oz, were to invite me to visit Oz, then everything would be quite proper, wouldn't it?"
"I suppose it would," admitted the Shaggy Man smiling. "But how do you propose to get to Oz since we can't cross the Desert?"
"Then you really invite me to accompany you? That is wonderful! As for the Deadly Desert—I have a plan which might work."