Oz 22: The Giant Horse of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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to_be like other people, to laugh, to sing, to dance and be happy ."

it_was hard to imagine this pompous looking image singing and dancing, but trot had seen stranger things than this happen in_the marvelous land of Oz, so, stifling her misgivings, smiled at him kindly .

" you'll have to_be a little careful about dancing," she cautioned gently, " not to step on anyone's foot, or hold them too tightly or-"Ho Ho ! " roared the Scarecrow ." i_should say you had better be careful . one step from your stone toes, and one squeeze from those stone arms would finish any partner brave enough to waltz round with_you ." at_this the stone man looked so downcast that trot felt really sorry for him .

"I guess stone arms and legs are_not much use," he sighed, rolling his eyes sadly at_the little girl .

" but they're terribly strong," trot reminded him cheerfully, " and would_be fine in a battle . and after a while, when_you're quite used to being alive, I wouldn't mind dancing with_you," finished trot in a little burst of generosity .

"Wouldn't you ? " Stopping stock still, Benny began to bow ." my dear," exclaimed the stone man gratefully, and bending so low he almost lost his balance, " those are the kindest words I've heard since I_came to life and to Oz ." trot, pleased and delighted at such appreciation, curtsied back .

"Hurrah ! " shouted the Scarecrow, tossing his hat into_the air ." you're acting realer every_minute . do_you_know, this reminds me of_my first journey to_the emerald city . i_was not always the accomplished person you_see before_you," he confided mysteriously .

for_a_long_time Benny had_been trying to puzzle out just what kind of a person the Scarecrow was . never in_his whole park experience had he seen anyone so curiously constructed, so unsteady and flimsy, yet so gaily alive . he listened attentively therefore as_the straw man began to_tell his story to_his new friend .

" I_am aScarecrow," he began impressively, and I_must admit he_was as fond of talking about himself as most of_the gentlemen of_my own acquaintance . trot who had heard the story many_times began to hum a little tune and to_think of something else ."Onginally," continued the Scarecrow brightly, " i_was intended to scare away the crows from a farmer's corn field . my head is a small stuffed sack on_which the features are neatly painted . this blue suit and these red boots and cotton gloves belonged to_the farmer; also this hat .Having assembled me in_this more or less careless fashion and stuffed me with hay, he hung me upon a tall pole in_the corn field and went about his planting . for_a_long_time I hung around, not knowing how interesting life could_be . then, one day," the Scarecrow paused and waved his arms dramatically, " along came Dorothy, a little girl about_the size of trot . she had_been blown from Kansas by a cyclone and was on her way to_the emerald city to ask_the wizard of Oz to send her back home . well, to_make a long story short, Dorothy lifted me from my pole and I_found I_could walk and talk almost as fast as she_could . but while i_was alive, I realized that I_could never be a really important person with a head full of hay . so I decided to_go to emerald city with Dorothy and ask_the wizard of Oz to_give_me some brains ."

" well, did he ? " Benny looked curiously at_the Scarecrow's bulging forehead .

" haven't you noticed them ? " demanded the Scarecrow in a vexed voice .Removing his hat he tapped the top of_his head proudly ." in here are the finest and most magic brains in Oz," he announced seriously ." not_only did they help me to_become an emperor, but they_have since solved many questions of state for_our present ruler, Ozma of Oz . I_can think of anything, can't I, trot ? "

the little girl nodded politely and Benny, much impressed, watched the Scarecrow put on_his hat ." I_have a castle of_my own in_the Winkie country but spend most of my_time in_the emerald city," he concluded proudly .

" did the wizard send Dorothy back to America ? " asked Benny, as_the Scarecrow stopped to pick a green rose for trot .

" certainly ! " answered the Scarecrow, pulling two thorns from_his cotton thumb, " but she_is in Oz again . no one who has lived in Oz can stay away long . Dorothy lives in_the castle with Ozma, Betsy and trot .Betsy bobbin is another little girl from America, so you_see you'll have lots of company, old fellow ."

"Does the wizard live there, too ? " questioned Benny eagerly, as_the Scarecrow clumsily presented the rose to trot, " and do_you_think he_could change me to a real person ? "

" of_course, but if I were you, i_should stay as_you_are . there_are lots of real people but precious few stone ones . think of_the advantages ! " Tapping Benny lightly on_the chest the Scarecrow began to enumerate them ." first of all," he explained merrily, " you_will never tire, need food or suffer pain . you_will never wear out nor require clothes . why, you_have all the advantages of life without any of_its inconveniences .Isn't that true, trot ? "

trot smiled and made a gesture that might_have_been " yes" or " no ." it would_have taken a wiser person than trot to settle a question like the Scarecrow's .

they were drawing nearer to_the emerald city every moment now . over the tree tops ahead, Benny could_see the tall towers and flashing spires of_the castle . the air was fresh, fragrant and somehow exciting . on each side of_the yellow brick road, cozy green cottages with domed emerald roofs began to appear . friendly faced folk, in stiff green silk costumes, waved to_them from_the doorways . trot and_the Scarecrow waved back, and Benny, taking off his hat and bowing stiffly from_time to_time, decided that he_was going to_find life in_the land of Oz extremely pleasant and interesting . at trot's suggestion they turned off the yellow brick highway to_take a short cut to_the castle .

" well ,"laughed trot, dancing along through_the pleasant little wood, " we'll soon be in_the emerald city now, and then- and then ! "

" then what ? " wheezed the Scarecrow, stopping to swing on a low branch .

" why, then we'll have a party ! " exclaimed trot ."Don't we always have a party when_you come to_the castle, but this party will_be for Benny, in honor of_his coming to life ." the stone man was not sure just what a party was, but so_long as trot was in_it he_knew everything would_be all right ." we'll have games," continued the little girl happily, " and music and riddles and refreshments- and-"

" stop ! " roared an imperious voice in trot's ear .

" now then, will_you come along peaceably or must I use force ? " at_this sudden horrid interruption, Benny and_the Scarecrow swung round in perfect astonishment .

"A-a goblin " faltered trot, catching wildly at Benny .

" run ! run ! that awful bird ! " panted the Scarecrow, taking a great leap forward .

" run if_you_want to," rumbled the public benefactor stopping short ." but as I_am not a real person, I_shall stay here and fight . get away from here, you wild Whankus ! leave trot alone, you old Wallybuster ! " Words that he had never known were in_his head came tumbling from Benny's stone lips and brandishing his umbrella threateningly he stepped between_the little girl and_the great ugly bird- man . but Akbad, for of_course it_was Akbad, paid no attention to Benny's expostulations . he_was looking earnestly at_the picture he had torn from_his history of Oz . all night the magic wings had carried him steadily toward the capital and it_was Akbad who had scared the two travelers . after frightening them to_his heart's content, he had alighted in a small orchard to refresh himself with a few peaches . when he flew on again the wings had carried him straight after trot and her companions . looking down and seeing a little girl with_them this_time, he had immediately dropped to earth .

" you'll do, you're one_of_them ! " shrilled the soothsayer, waving the picture triumphantly ." come on, there's no time to lose ! " before either Benny or the Scarecrow realized what_was happening, Akbad seized the little girl and spread his great golden wings .

" stop ! " yelled the Scarecrow, running back and catching trot by_the hand .

" stop ! " gritted Benny, making a wild snatch for_the soothsayer's heels . as Benny's stone fingers closed around his ankles Akbad soared into_the air . you_would_have thought the great weight of_the stone man would_have held him down . but what_are a thousand pounds to a pair of magic wings ! up and away, over the sparkling spires of_the capital circled Akbad, paying no more attention to Benny than to a feather and scarcely noticing the Scarecrow at all .

" take us to_the Ozure Isles," he commanded, tightening his grasp on trot's arm .

chapter 5

in_the cave of Quiberon

it had taken the golden wings nearly nine hours to carry Akbad to_the emerald city . it took scarcely five to bring him back, so that_it_was a little after noon when_the soothsayer and_his prisoners reached the sparkling shores of_the Ozure Isles . not a word had_been spoken by anyone during the entire flight . trot had started to scream, but the wind rushing down her throat about a mile a minute had almost choked her . when she managed to_get her mouth shut again she was glad to_keep it that way, her eyes too for_that matter .Benny was too startled to_say anything and_the Scarecrow had all he_could do to_keep himself from blowing apart . but as Akbad, folding his wings, began to descend, trot with a long sigh opened her eyes .

the five lovely islands of Cheeriobed lay glittering just below and trot gave a little gasp of relief and pleasure, as_they hovered over the gorgeous sapphire city . frightened though she was, trot's heart began to beat with excitement and curiosity . surely nothing so very dreadful could happen in a place like this ! but Akbad did_not stop, and flying over the beautiful city carried them to_the extreme end of_the last island . here the waters of Orizon were pounding and roaring between two jeweled cliffs . between_the two cliffs and at_the very mouth of a great cave, Akbad closed his wings . with a suddenness that took what little breath trot had left, they came tumbling down on_the narrow beach .Benny got such a thump, he let go the soothsayer's heels and almost fell into_the lake . trot and_the Scarecrow rolled over twice and, clutching each_other wildly, sat up, simply speechless with indignation .

" you," puffed Akbad, for he, too, was worn out by_the long fly, " you_have_been chosen to save the Ozure Isles ." he shook his long finger in trot's face ." these others may escape if_they wish, but you_must stay and serve the monster Quiberon ." as trot, blinking her eyes between shock and consternation, tried to understand what it_was all about, there came a great snort and splashing and in toward the cave swam the monster himself .

" here's your mortal maiden ! " yelled Akbad, and spreading his wings, rose quickly into_the air, leaving trot and her friends to_face the giant fear fish .Benny had by_this_time struggled to_his feet, but at sight of_the monster he nearly lost his balance again . as for trot and_the Scarecrow, after one horrified glance, they seized hands and dashed in_the only direction open to_them- straight into_the blue cave .

" wait ! " thundered Quiberon, shooting a long tongue of flame from_his fiery nostrils . he_was so close that_the fire and smoke blackened both Benny's eyes . with a grunt of surprise and displeasure, the stone man snatched up his umbrella and pounded after trot and_the Scarecrow .

" i_thought you said that in Oz things would_be different," shouted Benny, grinding the jeweled pebbles on_the floor of_the cave to powder beneath his flying stone boots .

" well, isn't this different ? " stuttered the Scarecrow, tripping over a sapphire boulder and sprawling upon his nose .

"Oh, hurry ! " begged trot, jerking him quickly to_his feet ." here it comes ." at another time the three travelers might_have paused to admire the great jeweled grotto, but with_this snorting, puffing monster at their heels they scarcely glanced at_the sapphire icicles hanging from_the roof and jutting out from_the sides and_the sparkling gems that strewed the floor of_the cave . water rushed through_the center and it_was no easy task running over the rocks and boulders at_the side . the glowing eyes of_the monster lighted up the whole cavern . like a steam engine, he puffed and snorted behind them, filling the air with asulphurous smoke, till it smelled like twenty Fourths of July rolled into one . at every flash from_his nostrils, the poor Scarecrow would wince and shudder .

" one spark, and I_am an ash heap ! " groaned the unhappy straw man, leaping wildly from boulder to rock .

" what shall we_do now ? " wailed trot, stopping in dismay, for they had come to_the very back of_the cavern and could run no farther .

"I don't know what a real person would do," panted Benny glancing around desperately, " but I'll do something . quick, squeeze into that little opening ." there_was just time for trot and_the Scarecrow to slip into_the narrow crevice at_the back of_the cave before Quiberon dragged himself out_of_the water and flung himself up on_the rocks .

" where is_the mortal maiden ? " roared the great dragon, as Benny placed himself bravely between his friends and_the monster .

" turn off your fire works ! do_you_want to burn her to a crisp ? " shouted the stone man, waving his umbrella boldly under Quiberon's very nose ." can't you talk without smoking ? " he continued crossly, " you're turning me quite black ."

" speak without smoking," muttered the monster in a puzzled voice ." well, I_might try it . is_this better ? " he grunted presently .Benny nodded and waving the cloud of

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