Oz 04: Dorthy and the Wizard in Oz by L. Frank Baum
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Dorothy and_the wizard in Oz

a faithful record of_their Amazing Adventures
in an underground world; and how with_the
aid of_their friends Zeb Hugson, eureka
the kitten, and Jim the cab- horse,
they finally reached the
wonderful land
of Oz

by L . frank Baum

" royal historian of Oz"

Contents:

-- to my Readers--
1 . the earthquake
2 . the glass city
3 . the arrival of_the wizard
4 . the vegetable kingdom
5 . Dorothy Picks the princess
6 . the Mangaboos prove dangerous
7 . into_the black pit and out again
8 . the valley of Voices
9 . they fight the invisible Bears
10 . the braided man of pyramid mountain
11 . they meet the wooden Gargoyles
12 .a wonderful escape
13 . the den of_the Dragonettes
14 .Ozma uses the magic belt
15 . old friends are Reunited
16 .Jim, the cab- horse
17 . the Nine tiny Piglets
18 . the trial of eureka, the kitten
19 . the wizard Performs another trick
20 .Zeb Returns to_the ranch

to my Readers

it's no use; no use at all . the children won't let me stop telling tales of_the land of Oz . I_know lots of other stories, and I_hope to_tell them, some_time or another; but just now my loving tyrants won't allow me . they cry: "Oz--Oz ! more about Oz, Mr Baum ! " and what can I_do but obey their commands ?

this_is our book-- mine and_the children's . for they_have flooded me with thousands of suggestions in regard to_it, and I_have honestly tried to adopt as many_of_these suggestions as could_be fitted into one story .

after_the wonderful success of "Ozma of Oz" it_is evident that Dorothy has become a firm fixture in_these Oz stories . the little ones all love Dorothy, and as one of_my small friends aptly states: " it isn't a real Oz story without her ." so here she_is again, as sweet and gentle and innocent as ever, I_hope, and_the heroine of another strange adventure .

there were many requests from my little correspondents for " more about_the wizard ." it seems the jolly old fellow made hosts of friends in_the first Oz book, in_spite of_the fact that he frankly acknowledged himself "a humbug ." the children had heard how he mounted into_the sky in a balloon and_they were all waiting for him to_come down again . so what could I_do but tell " what happened to_the wizard afterward" ? you_will_find him in_these pages, just the same humbug wizard as before .

there_was one_thing the children demanded which I_found it impossible to_do in_this present book: they bade me introduce Toto, Dorothy's little black dog, who has many friends among my readers . but you_will_see, when_you begin to read the story, that Toto was in Kansas while Dorothy was in California, and so she had to start on her adventure without him . in_this book Dorothy had to_take her kitten with her instead of her dog; but in_the next Oz book, if I_am permitted to write one, I intend to_tell a good_deal about Toto's further history .

princess Ozma, whom I love as_much as my readers do, is again introduced in_this story, and so are several of_our old friends of Oz . you_will also become acquainted with Jim the cab- horse, the Nine tiny Piglets, and eureka, the kitten . I_am sorry the kitten was not as_well behaved as she ought_to_have been; but perhaps she wasn't brought up properly . Dorothy found her, you_see, and who her parents were nobody knows .

I believe, my dears, that I_am the proudest story- teller that ever lived . many a time tears of pride and joy have stood in my eyes while I_read the tender, loving, appealing letters that came to_me in almost every mail from my little readers . to_have pleased you, to_have interested you, to_have won your friendship, and perhaps your love, through my stories, is to my mind as great an achievement as to_become president of_the United_States . indeed, i_would much rather be your story- teller, under these conditions, than to_be the president . so you_have helped me to fulfill my life's ambition, and I_am more grateful to_you, my dears, than I_can express in words .

I try to answer every letter of_my young correspondents; yet sometimes there_are so_many letters that a little time must pass before_you get your answer . but be patient, friends, for_the answer will surely come, and by writing to_me you more than repay me for_the pleasant task of preparing these books . besides, I_am proud to acknowledge that_the books are partly yours, for your suggestions often guide me in telling the stories, and I_am_sure they would_not_be half so good without your clever and thoughtful assistance .

L . frank BAUM

Coronado, 1908 .

1 . the earthquake

the train from 'Frisco was very late . it should_have arrived at Hugson's Siding at midnight, but it_was already five o'clock and_the gray dawn was breaking in_the east when_the little train slowly rumbled up_to_the open shed that served for_the station- house . as it came to a stop the conductor called out in a loud voice:

"Hugson's Siding ! "

at once a little girl rose from her seat and walked to_the door of_the car, carrying a wicker suit- case in one hand and a round bird- cage covered up with newspapers in_the other, while a parasol was tucked under her arm . the conductor helped her off the car and then the engineer started his train again, so_that it puffed and groaned and moved slowly away up the track . the reason he_was so late was because all through_the night there were times when_the solid earth shook and trembled under him, and_the engineer was afraid that at any moment the rails might spread apart and an accident happen to_his passengers . so he moved the cars slowly and with caution .

the little girl stood still to watch until the train had disappeared around a curve; then she turned to_see where she was .

the shed at Hugson's Siding was bare save for an old wooden bench, and did_not look very inviting . as she peered through_the soft gray light not a house of any sort was visible near the station, nor was any person in sight; but after a while the child discovered a horse and buggy standing near a group of trees a short distance away . she walked toward it and found the horse tied to a tree and standing motionless, with its head hanging down almost to_the ground . it_was a big horse, tall and bony, with long legs and large knees and feet . she_could count his ribs easily where they showed through_the skin of_his body, and_his head was long and seemed altogether too big for him, as_if it did_not fit . his tail was short and scraggly, and_his harness had_been broken in many places and fastened together again with cords and bits of wire . the buggy seemed almost new, for_it had a shiny top and side curtains .Getting around in front, so_that she_could look inside, the girl saw a boy curled up on_the seat, fast asleep .

she set down the bird- cage and poked the boy with her parasol . presently he woke up, rose to asitting position and rubbed his eyes briskly .

"Hello ! " he_said, seeing her, " are_you Dorothy gale ? "

" yes," she answered, looking gravely at his tousled hair and blinking gray eyes ." have_you come to_take me to Hugson's ranch ? "

" of_course," he answered ." train in ? "

"I couldn't be here if_it wasn't," she said .

he laughed at_that, and_his laugh was merry and frank .Jumping out_of_the buggy he put Dorothy's suit- case under the seat and her bird- cage on_the floor in front .

" canary-birds ? " he asked .

"Oh no; it's just eureka, my kitten . i_thought that was_the best way to carry her ."

the boy nodded .

" eureka's a funny name for acat," he remarked .

"I named my kitten that because I_found it," she explained ." uncle Henry says ' eureka' means ' I_have found it .'"

" all right; hop in ."

she climbed into_the buggy and he followed her . then the boy picked up the reins, shook them, and said "Gid-dap ! "

the horse did_not stir . Dorothy thought he just wiggled one of_his drooping ears, but that was all .

"Gid-dap ! " called the boy, again .

the horse stood still .

" perhaps," said Dorothy, " if_you untied him, he_would go ."

the boy laughed cheerfully and jumped out .

" guess I'm half asleep yet," he_said, untying the horse ." but Jim knows his business all right--don't you, Jim ? " patting the long nose of_the animal .

then he got into_the buggy again and took the reins, and_the horse at once backed away from_the tree, turned slowly around, and began to trot down the sandy road which_was just visible in_the dim light .

" thought that train would never come," observed the boy ."I've waited at_that station for five hours ."

" we had alot of earthquakes," said Dorothy ."Didn't you feel the ground shake ? "

" yes; but we're used to such things in California," he replied ." they don't scare us much ."

" the conductor said it was_the worst quake he ever knew ."

" did he ? then it must_have happened while i_was asleep," he_said thoughtfully .

" how is uncle Henry ? " she enquired, after a pause during which the horse continued to trot with long, regular strides .

" he's pretty well . he and uncle Hugson have_been having a fine visit ."

" is Mr Hugson your uncle ? " she asked .

" yes . uncle bill Hugson married your uncle Henry's wife's sister; so we_must_be second cousins," said the boy, in an amused tone ."I work for uncle bill on_his ranch, and he pays me six dollars a month and my board ."

"Isn't that a great deal ? " she asked, doubtfully .

" why, it's a great deal for uncle Hugson, but not for_me .I'm a splendid worker .I work as_well as I sleep," he added, with a laugh .

" what_is your_name ? " said Dorothy, thinking she liked the boy's manner and_the cheery tone of_his voice .

" not a very pretty one," he answered, as_if a little ashamed ." my whole name is Zebediah; but folks just call me 'Zeb .' you've been to Australia, haven't you ? "

" yes; with uncle Henry," she answered ." we got to San_Francisco a week ago, and uncle Henry went right on to Hugson's ranch for a visit while I stayed a few_days in_the city with some friends we had met ."

" how long will_you be with_us ? " he asked .

" only a day . tomorrow uncle Henry and I_must start back for Kansas . we've been away for_a_long_time, you_know, and so we're anxious to_get home again ."

the boy flicked the big, boney horse with_his whip and looked thoughtful . then he started to_say something to_his little companion, but before he_could speak the buggy began to sway dangerously from side to side and_the earth seemed to rise up before them . next minute there_was a roar and a sharp crash, and at her side Dorothy saw the ground open in a wide crack and then come together again .

" goodness ! " she cried, grasping the iron rail of_the seat ." what_was that ? "

" that was an awful big quake," replied Zeb, with a white face ." it almost got us that_time, Dorothy ."

the horse had stopped short, and stood firm as a rock .Zeb shook the reins and urged him to_go, but Jim was stubborn . then the boy cracked his whip and touched the animal's flanks with it, and after a low moan of protest Jim stepped slowly along the road .

neither the boy nor the girl spoke again for some minutes . there_was a breath of danger in_the very air, and every few_moments the earth would shake violently .Jim's ears were standing erect upon his head and every muscle of_his big body was tense as he trotted toward home . he_was not going very fast, but on_his flanks specks of foam began to appear and at times he_would tremble like a leaf .

the sky had grown darker again and_the wind made queer sobbing sounds as it swept over the valley .

suddenly there_was arending, tearing sound, and_the earth split into another great crack just beneath the spot where the horse was standing . with a wild neigh of terror the animal fell bodily into_the pit, drawing the buggy and its occupants after him .

Dorothy grabbed fast hold of_the buggy top and_the boy did the same . the sudden rush into space confused them so_that they_could_not think .

blackness engulfed them on every side, and in breathless silence they waited for_the fall to end and crush them against jagged rocks or for_the earth to close in on them again and bury them forever in its dreadful depths .

the horrible sensation of falling, the darkness and_the terrifying noises, proved more than Dorothy could endure and for a few_moments the little girl lost consciousness .Zeb, being a boy, did_not faint, but he_was badly frightened, and clung to_the buggy seat with a tight grip, expecting every moment would_be his last .

2 . the glass city

when Dorothy recovered her senses they were still falling, but not so fast . the top of_the buggy caught the air like a parachute or an umbrella filled with wind, and held them back so that_they floated downward with a gentle motion that was not so very disagreeable to bear

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