That is why I have called you together in council." "The easiest way," remarked the Shaggy Man, "is to raise the sunken island of the Skeezers to the top of the water again." "Tell me how ?" said Glinda.
"I don't know how, your Highness, for I have never raised a sunken island." "We might all get under it and lift," suggested Professor Wogglebug.
"How can we get under it when it rests on the bottom of the lake ?" asked the Sorceress.
"Couldn't we throw a rope around it and pull it ashore ?" inquired Jack Pumpkinhead.
"Why not pump the water out of the lake ?" suggested the Patchwork Girl with a laugh.
"Do be sensible!" pleaded Glinda.

"This is a serious matter, and we must give it serious thought." "How big is the lake and how big is the island ?" was the Frogman's question.
"None of us can tell, for we have not been there." "In that case," said the Scarecrow, "it appears to me we ought to go to the Skeezer country and examine it carefully." "Quite right," agreed the Tin Woodman.
"We-will-have-to-go-there-any-how," remarked Tik-Tok in his jerky machine voice.
"The question is which of us shall go, and how many of us ?" said the Wizard.
"I shall go of course," declared the Scarecrow.
"And I," said Scraps.
"It is my duty to Ozma to go," asserted the Tin Woodman.
"I could not stay away, knowing our loved Princess is in danger," said the Wizard.
"We all feel like that," Uncle Henry said.
Finally one and all present decided to go to the Skeezer country, with Glinda and the little Wizard to lead them.

Magic must meet magic in order to conquer it, so these two skillful magic-workers were necessary to insure the success of the expedition.
They were all ready to start at a moment's notice, for none had any affairs of importance to attend to.

Jack was wearing a newly made Pumpkin-head and the Scarecrow had recently been stuffed with fresh straw.

Tik-Tok's machinery was in good running order and the Tin Woodman always was well oiled.
"It is quite a long journey," said Glinda, "and while I might travel quickly to the Skeezer country by means of my stork chariot the rest of you will be obliged to walk.