The Sorceress looked up from her work as the three maidens entered, and something in their appearance and manner led her to rise and bow to them in her most dignified manner. The three knelt an instant before the great Sorceress and then stood upright and waited for her to speak.
 
"Whoever you may be," said Glinda, "I bid you welcome."
 
"My name is Audah," said one.
 
"My name is Aurah," said another.
 
"My name is Aujah," said the third.
 
Glinda had never heard these names before, but looking closely at the three she asked:
 
"Are you witches or workers in magic?"
 
"Some of the secret arts we have gleaned from Nature," replied the brownhaired maiden modestly, "but we do not place our skill beside that of the Great Sorceress, Glinda the Good."
 
"I suppose you are aware it is unlawful to practice magic in the Land of Oz, without the permission of our Ruler, Princess Ozma?"
 
"No, we were not aware of that," was the reply. "We have heard of Ozma, who is the appointed Ruler of all this great fairyland, but her laws have not reached us, as yet."
 
Glinda studied the strange maidens thoughtfully; then she said to them:
 
"Princess Ozma is even now imprisoned in the Skeezer village, for the whole island with its Great Dome, was sunk to the bottom of the lake by the witchcraft of Coo-ee-oh, whom the Flathead Su-dic transformed into a silly swan. I am seeking some way to overcome Coo-ee-oh's magic and raise the isle to the surface again. Can you help me do this?"
 
The maidens exchanged glances, and the white-haired one replied:
 
"We do not know; but we will try to assist you."
 
"It seems," continued Glinda musingly, "that Coo-ee-oh derived most of her witchcraft from three Adepts at Magic, who at one time ruled the Flatheads. While the Adepts were being entertained by Coo-ee-oh at a banquet in her palace, she cruelly betrayed them and after transforming them into fishes cast them into the lake.
 
"If I could find these three fishes and return them to their natural shapes—they might know what magic Coo-ee-oh used to sink the island. I was about to go to the shore and call these fishes to me when you arrived. So, if you will join me, we will try to find them."
 
The maidens exchanged smiles now, and the golden-haired one, Audah, said to Glinda:
 
"It will not be necessary to go to the lake. We are the three fishes."
 
"Indeed!" cried Glinda. "Then you are the three Adepts at Magic, restored to your proper forms?"
 
"We are the three Adepts," admitted Aujah.
 
"Then," said Glinda, "my task is half accomplished. But who destroyed the transformation that made you fishes?"
 
"We have promised not to tell," answered Aurah; "but this young Skeezer was largely responsible for our release; he is brave and clever, and we owe him our gratitude."
 
Glinda looked at Ervic, who stood modestly behind the Adepts, hat in hand. "He shall be properly rewarded," she declared, "for in helping you he has helped us all, and perhaps saved his people from being imprisoned forever in the sunken isle."
 
The Sorceress now asked her guests to seat themselves and a long talk followed, in which the Wizard of Oz shared.
 
"We are quite certain," said Aurah, "that if we could get inside the Dome we could discover Coo-ee-oh's secrets, for in all her work, after we became fishes, she used the formulas and incantations and arts that she stole from us. She may have added to these things, but they were the foundation of all her work."
 
"What means do you suggest for our getting into the Dome?" inquired Glinda.
 
The three Adepts hesitated to reply, for they had not yet considered what could be done to reach the ins............