"Why, it all fits together!" exclaimed the little Prince, jumping up excitedly. "Quiberon demands a mortal maiden or threatens to destroy our Kingdom in three days. Somehow or other someone or other flew off to the Emerald City for you, though I cannot imagine my father allowing such a thing and there are no bird-men on the Ozure Isles."
"What is your name, child?" asked High Boy, waving his hoof reprovingly at Phil. "Let the young lady finish her story, Princeling." So Philador sat down, and Trot, after telling her name and explaining the strange coming to life of Benny, went on with their further adventures, their meeting with Orpah and their final escape by explosion to the mainland.
"Orpah told us all about Mombi's wickedness," finished Trot, in an anxious voice, "and we were on our way to the Emerald City to ask Ozma to help your father when we bumped into you."
"And I shall carry you there," promised High Boy with a little snort of pleasure. "A girl named Trot can ride me any day. A fine, horsey sounding, name! Do you care for riding, my dear?" Trot nodded enthusiastically and smiled up at this most comical beast. Then Philador, stepping out into the center of the ring, told everything that had happened to him since the blue gull left him at the good witch's hut. Trot and the Scarecrow were both astonished and alarmed to learn of Tattypoo's disappearance, and as interested in the medicine man as Philador had been in Benny. Benny himself listened gravely to the whole recital and at the conclusion began rubbing his chin in deep perplexity.
"If Mombi stole Philador's mother when he was two years old," he muttered in a puzzled voice, "and Mombi has not been witch of the North for twenty years, how is it that Philador is not grown up?" They all laughed heartily at the stone man's question.
"Because we stay one age as long as we wish, in Oz," answered the little Prince gaily. "I like being ten, so I've been ten for ever so long."
"So have I," declared Trot. "Nobody grows up here unless they want to, Benny. Isn't that fine?"
"Fine, but funny," acknowledged the stone man, looking from one to the other.
"Everything in Oz is fine but funny," admitted the Scarecrow, turning an exuberant somersault. "Look at High Boy and look at me!"
"You'd make a fine lunch," observed High Boy, lifting his nose hungrily.