Oz 04: Dorthy and the Wizard in Oz by L. Frank Baum
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take possession of_the house of_the sorcerer," replied the wizard; " for_the prince said in_the presence of_his people that he_would keep me until they picked another sorcerer, and_the new princess won't know but that we belong there ."

they agreed to_this plan, and when_they reached the great square Jim drew the buggy into_the big door of_the domed hall .

" it doesn't look very homelike," said Dorothy, gazing around at_the bare room ." but it's a place to stay, anyhow ."

" what_are those holes up there ? " enquired the boy, pointing to some openings that appeared near the top of_the dome .

" they look like doorways," said Dorothy; " only there_are no stairs to_get to_them ."

" you forget that stairs are unnecessary," observed the wizard ." let_us walk up, and_see where the doors lead to ."

with_this he began walking in_the air toward the high openings, and Dorothy and Zeb followed him . it was_the same sort of climb one experiences when walking up a hill, and_they were nearly out of breath when_they came to_the row of openings, which they perceived to_be doorways leading into halls in_the upper part of_the house .Following these halls they discovered many small rooms opening from_them, and some were furnished with glass benches, tables and chairs . but there were no beds at all .

"I wonder if these people never sleep," said the girl .

" why, there seems_to_be no night at all in_this country," Zeb replied ." those colored suns are exactly in_the same place they were when we came, and if_there_is no sunset there can_be no night ."

" very true," agreed the wizard ." but it_is a long_time since I_have_had any sleep, and I'm tired . so i_think I_shall lie down upon one_of_these hard glass benches and take a nap ."

" i_will, too," said Dorothy, and chose a little room at_the end of_the hall .

Zeb walked down again to unharness Jim, who, when he_found himself free, rolled over a few_times and then settled down to sleep, with eureka nestling comfortably beside his big, boney body . then the boy returned to one_of_the upper rooms, and in_spite of_the hardness of_the glass bench was soon deep in slumberland .

6 . the Mangaboos prove dangerous

when_the wizard awoke the six colored suns were shining down upon_the land of_the Mangaboos just as_they had done ever_since his arrival . the little man, having had a good sleep, felt rested and refreshed, and looking through_the glass partition of_the room he_saw Zeb sitting up on_his bench and yawning . so the wizard went in to him .

"Zeb," said he, " my balloon is of no further use in_this strange country, so I_may as_well leave it on_the square where it fell . but in_the basket- car are some things i_would like to_keep with me . i_wish you_would go and fetch my satchel, two lanterns, and a can of kerosene oil that_is under the seat . there_is nothing else that I care about ."

so the boy went willingly upon_the errand, and by_the_time he had returned Dorothy was awake . then the three held a counsel to decide what they should do next, but could think of no way to better their condition .

"I don't like these veg' table people," said the little girl ." they're cold and flabby, like cabbages, in_spite of_their prettiness ."

"I agree with_you . it_is because there_is no warm blood in_them," remarked the wizard .

" and they_have no hearts; so they_can't love anyone-- not even themselves," declared the boy .

" the princess is lovely to look at," continued Dorothy, thoughtfully; " but I don't care much for her, after all . if there_was any_other place to_go, I'd like to_go there ."

" but is_there any_other place ? " asked the wizard .

"I don't know," she answered .

just then they heard the big voice of Jim the cab- horse calling to_them, and going to_the doorway leading to_the dome they found the princess and a throng of her people had entered the house of_the sorcerer .

so they went down to greet the beautiful vegetable lady, who said to_them:

" I_have_been talking with my advisors about you meat people, and we_have decided that you_do_not belong in_the land of_the Mangaboos and must not remain here ."

" how can we go away ? " asked Dorothy .

"Oh, you_cannot go away, of_course; so you_must_be destroyed," was_the answer .

" in what way ? " enquired the wizard .

" we_shall throw you three people into_the garden of_the Twining Vines," said the princess, " and they_will soon crush you and devour your bodies to_make themselves grow bigger . the animals you_have with_you we_will drive to_the mountains and put into_the black pit . then our country will_be rid of all its unwelcome visitors ."

" but you_are in need of a sorcerer," said the wizard, " and not one of_those growing is yet ripe enough to pick . I_am greater than any thorn- covered sorcerer that every grew in your garden . why destroy me ? "

" it_is true we_need a sorcerer," acknowledged the princess, " but I_am informed that one_of_our own will_be ready to pick in_a_few_days, to take_the place of Gwig, whom you cut in two before it_was time for him to_be planted . let_us_see your arts, and_the sorceries you_are able to perform . then i_will decide whether to destroy you with_the others or not ."

at_this the wizard made a bow to_the people and repeated his trick of producing the nine tiny piglets and making them disappear again . he_did it very cleverly, indeed, and_the princess looked at_the strange piglets as_if she were as truly astonished as any vegetable person could_be . but afterward she said:

" I_have heard of_this wonderful magic . but it accomplishes nothing of value . what else can_you do ? "

the wizard tried to_think . then he jointed together the blades of_his sword and balanced it very skillfully upon_the end of_his nose . but even that did_not satisfy the princess .

just then his eye fell upon_the lanterns and_the can of kerosene oil which Zeb had brought from_the car of_his balloon, and he got a clever idea from those commonplace things .

" your highness," said he, " i_will now proceed to_prove my magic by creating two suns that you_have never seen before; also i_will exhibit a destroyer much more dreadful that your Clinging Vines ."

so he placed Dorothy upon one side of him and_the boy upon_the other and set a lantern upon each of_their heads .

"Don't laugh," he whispered to_them, " or you_will spoil the effect of_my magic ."

then, with much dignity and a look of vast importance upon his wrinkled face, the wizard got out his match- box and lighted the two lanterns . the glare they made was very_small when compared with_the radiance of_the six great colored suns; but still they gleamed steadily and clearly . the Mangaboos were much impressed because they had never before seen any light that did_not come directly from their suns .

next the wizard poured a pool of oil from_the can upon_the glass floor, where it covered quite a broad surface . when he lighted the oil a hundred tongues of flame shot up, and_the effect was really imposing .

" now, princess," exclaimed the wizard, " those of your advisors who wished to throw us into_the garden of Clinging Vines must step within this circle of light . if_they advised you well, and were in_the right, they_will_not be injured in any_way . but if any advised you wrongly, the light will wither him ."

the advisors of_the princess did_not like this test; but she commanded them to step into_the flame and one by one they_did so, and were scorched so badly that_the air was soon filled with an odor like that of baked potatoes . some_of_the Mangaboos fell down and had to_be dragged from_the fire, and all were so withered that_it would_be necessary to plant them at once .

" sir," said the princess to_the wizard, " you_are greater than any sorcerer we_have ever known . as_it_is evident that my people have advised me wrongly, i_will_not cast you three people into_the dreadful garden of_the Clinging Vines; but your animals must_be driven into_the black pit in_the mountain, for_my subjects cannot bear to_have them around ."

the wizard was so pleased to_have saved the two children and himself that he_said nothing against this decree; but when_the princess had gone both Jim and eureka protested they_did_not want to_go to_the black pit, and Dorothy promised she_would do all that she_could to save them from such a fate .

for two_or_three days after_this-- if_we call days the periods between sleep, there being no night to divide the hours into days-- our friends were_not disturbed in any_way . they were even permitted to occupy the house of_the sorcerer in peace, as_if it had_been their own, and to wander in_the gardens in search of food .

once they came near to_the enclosed garden of_the Clinging Vines, and walking high into_the air looked down upon it with much interest . they saw a mass of tough green vines all matted together and writhing and twisting around like a nest of great snakes . everything the vines touched they crushed, and_our adventurers were indeed thankful to_have escaped being cast among them .

whenever the wizard went to sleep he_would take_the nine tiny piglets from_his pocket and let them run around on_the floor of_his room to amuse themselves and get some exercise; and one_time they found his glass door ajar and wandered into_the hall and then into_the bottom part of_the great dome, walking through_the air as easily as eureka could . they knew the kitten, by_this_time, so they scampered over to where she lay beside Jim and commenced to frisk and play with her .

the cab- horse, who never slept long at_a_time, sat upon his haunches and watched the tiny piglets and_the kitten with much approval .

"Don't be rough ! " he_would call out, if eureka knocked over one_of_the round, fat piglets with her paw; but the pigs never minded, and enjoyed the sport very greatly .

suddenly they looked up to_find the room filled with_the silent, solemn- eyed Mangaboos . each of_the vegetable folks bore a branch covered with sharp thorns, which_was thrust defiantly toward the horse, the kitten and_the piglets .

" here-- stop this foolishness ! " Jim roared, angrily; but after being pricked once_or_twice he got upon his four legs and kept out_of_the way of_the thorns .

the Mangaboos surrounded them in solid ranks, but left an opening to_the doorway of_the hall; so the animals slowly retreated until they were driven from_the room and out upon_the street . here were more of_the vegetable people with thorns, and silently they urged the now frightened creatures down the street .Jim had to_be careful not to step upon_the tiny piglets, who scampered under his feet grunting and squealing, while eureka, snarling and biting at_the thorns pushed toward her, also tried to protect the pretty little things from injury . slowly but steadily the heartless Mangaboos drove them on, until they had passed through_the city and_the gardens and come to_the broad plains leading to_the mountain .

" what does all this mean, anyhow ? " asked the horse, jumping to escape a thorn .

" why, they_are driving us toward the black pit, into which they threatened to cast us," replied the kitten ." if I were as big as_you_are, Jim, I'd fight these miserable turnip-roots ! "

" what would you_do ? " enquired Jim .

"I'd kick out with those long legs and iron- shod hoofs ."

" all right," said the horse; "I'll do_it ."

an instant later he suddenly backed toward the crowd of Mangaboos and kicked out his hind legs as hard as he_could .a dozen of_them smashed together and tumbled to_the ground, and seeing his success Jim kicked again and again, charging into_the vegetable crowd, knocking them in all directions and sending the others scattering to escape his iron heels . eureka helped him by flying into_the faces of_the enemy and scratching and biting furiously, and_the kitten ruined so_many vegetable complexions that_the Mangaboos feared her as_much as_they_did the horse .

but the foes were too many to_be repulsed for long . they tired Jim and eureka out, and although the field of battle was thickly covered with mashed and disabled Mangaboos, our animal friends had to_give up at last and allow themselves to_be driven to_the mountain .

7 . into_the black pit and out again

when_they came to_the mountain it proved to_be a rugged, towering chunk of deep green glass, and looked dismal and forbidding in_the extreme . half way up the steep was ayawning cave, black as night beyond the point where the rainbow rays of_the colored suns reached into_it .

the Mangaboos drove the horse and_the kitten and_the piglets into_this dark hole and then, having pushed the buggy in after them-- for_it seemed some_of_them had dragged it all the way from_the domed hall-- they began to pile big glass rocks within_the entrance, so that_the prisoners could_not get out again .

" this_is dreadful ! " groaned Jim ." it_will_be about_the end of_our adventures, I guess ."

" if_the wizard was here," said one_of_the piglets, sobbing bitterly, " he_would_not see us suffer so ."

" we ought_to_have called him and Dorothy when we were first attacked," added eureka ." but never mind; be brave, my friends, and_I_will go and tell our masters where you_are, and get them to_come to your rescue ."

the mouth of_the hole was nearly filled up now, but the kitten gave a leap through_the remaining opening and at once scampered up into_the air .

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