18. The Magic of the Wizard

           Hefirstsetupasmallsilvertripodandplacedagoldbasinatthetopofit.Intothisbasinheputtwopowders—apinkoneandasky-blueone—andpouredoverthemayellowliquidfromacrystalvial.Thenhemumbledsomemagicwords,andthepowdersbegantosizzleandburnandsendoutacloudofvioletsmokethatfloatedacrosstheriverandcompletelyenvelopedbothTrotandCap’nBill,aswellasthetoadstoolsonwhichtheysat,andeventheMagicPlantinthegoldflower-pot.Then,afterthesmokehaddisappearedintoair,theWizardcalledouttotheprisoners:

           "Areyoufree?"

           BothTrotandCap’nBilltriedtomovetheirfeetandfailed.

           "No!"theyshoutedinanswer.

           TheWizardrubbedhisbaldheadthoughtfullyandthentooksomeothermagictoolsfromthebag.

           FirstheplacedalittleblackballinasilverpistolandshotittowardtheMagicIsle.TheballexplodedjustovertheheadofTrotandscatteredathousandsparksoverthelittlegirl.

           "Oh!"saidtheWizard,"Iguessthatwillsetherfree."

           ButTrot’sfeetwerestillrootedinthegroundoftheMagicIsle,andthedisappointedWizardhadtotrysomethingelse.

           Foralmostanhourheworkedhard,usingalmosteverymagictoolinhisblackbag,andstillCap’nBillandTrotwerenotrescued.

           "Dearme!"exclaimedDorothy,"I’m’fraidwe’llhavetogotoGlinda,afterall."

           ThatmadethelittleWizardblush,foritshamedhimtothinkthathismagicwasnotequaltothatoftheMagicIsle.

           "Iwon’tgiveupyet,Dorothy,"hesaid,"forIknowalotofwizardrythatIhaven’tyettried.