Dedicated to

    "The uplifters" of Los Angeles,
           California,
         in grateful
             appreciation
                of the pleasure
             I have
                  derived from association with them,
           and in recognition
               of their sincere endeavor
              to uplift humanity through kindness,
         consideration and good-fellowship.

    They are big men
         --all of them--
           and all
               with the generous hearts
                   of little children.

    L.
        Frank Baum

    "TWIXT YOU AND
        ME

    The Army of Children
          which besieged the Postoffice,
           conquered the Postmen and
              delivered to
                   me its imperious Commands,
         insisted that Trot
               and Cap'n Bill
              be admitted
                   to the Land of Oz,
           where Trot
            could enjoy the society
                   of Dorothy,
         Betsy Bobbin and Ozma,
           while the one-legged sailor-man
            might become a comrade
                   of the Tin Woodman,
         the Shaggy Man,
           Tik-Tok and
               all the
             other quaint people
             who inhabit this wonderful fairyland.

    It was no easy task
          to obey this order
               and land Trot
             and Cap'n Bill safely
               in Oz,
           as you
            will discover
                   by reading this book.

    Indeed,
           it required the best efforts
               of our dear old friend,
         the Scarecrow,
           to save them
               from a dreadful fate
             on the journey;
        but the story
              leaves them happily located
                   in Ozma's splendid palace
                       and Dorothy
            has promised me
             that Button-Bright
                   and the three girls
                are sure to encounter,
           in the near future,
         some marvelous adventures
               in the Land of Oz,
           which I hope
              to be permitted
                  to relate to you
                       in the next Oz Book.

    Meantime,
           I am deeply grateful
               to my little readers
             for their continued enthusiasm
               over the Oz stories,
         as evinced
               in the many letters
             they send me,
           all of
              which are lovingly cherished.

    It takes more
           and more Oz Books
               every year
          to satisfy the demands
               of old
             and new readers,
           and there have been
              formed many
         "Oz Reading Societies,"
            where the Oz Books
             owned by different members
            are read aloud.

    All this
        is very gratifying to me
            and encourages me
                  to write more stories.

    When the children
          have had enough of them,
           I hope
             they will let me know,
         and then
            I'll try
                  to write something different.

    L.
        Frank Baum "Royal Historian
               of Oz."

    "OZCOT"
        at HOLLYWOOD in CALIFORNIA,
           1915.

 
  Chapter One
  The Great Whirlpool

    "Seems to me,"
          said Cap'n Bill,
               as he
                sat beside Trot
                       under the big acacia tree,
             looking out
                   over the blue ocean,
               "seems to me,
             Trot,
               as how the more
                 we know,
             the more
                 we find
                   we don't know."

    "I can't quite make
         that out,
           Cap'n Bill,"
              answered the little girl
                   in a serious voice,
         after a moment's thought,
           during which her eyes
               followed those
                   of the old sailor-man
                 across the glassy surface
                       of the sea.

    "Seems to me
         that all
           we learn
            is jus' so much gained."

    "I know;
        it looks
             that way at first sight,"
          said the sailor,
               nodding his head;
            "but those as
                knows the least
                  have a habit of thinkin'
                 they know all
                    there is to know,
               while them as
                knows the most admits
              what a turr'ble big
                    world this is.

    It's the knowing ones
         that realize one lifetime
            ain't long enough
                   to git more'n a
                       few dips o'
                           the oars of knowledge."

    Trot didn't answer.

    She was
           a very little girl,
         with big,
         solemn eyes and an earnest,
           simple manner.

    Cap'n Bill
        had been her faithful companion
               for years
            and had