Oz 22: The Giant Horse of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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of smoke from before his eyes peered anxiously downward .

" what do_you_want with trot ? " he asked suspiciously .

" i_want her for a servant," answered Quiberon promptly ." she_must polish my scales, comb my hair," he lifted a great silver lock that hung between his horns, " sweep out the cave and tell me stories ." Benny was about to snap his stone fingers in_the monster's face, when trot tapped him sharply on_the ankles .

"Don't make him angry," whispered the little girl ." maybe if I tried it for a time we_could find a way to escape ." disgusted at_the thought of trot even looking at such a creature, Benny nevertheless realized that she was more experienced in_the ways of_this fairy kingdom than he_was .Stifling an impulse to jump on_the monster's head Benny called gruffly:

" will_you promise not to hurt her ? "

" not at first," agreed Quiberon readily enough ." not till she tells me all she knows about mortals . that's fair enough, isn't it ? " with an angry grunt Benny stepped aside and trot and_the Scarecrow slipped out_of_the crevice .

" remember now, no more firing," quavered the Scarecrow, " and no nonsense either ! "

"Pooh ! " sniffed Quiberon so vigorously the Scarecrow was blown five feet into_the air and only saved by_the quick action of Benny from falling into_the tumbling stream below .

" what shall I_do first ? " asked trot, bowing timidly to Quiberon .

" you_may practice some songs," purred the dragon drowsily ." and when I return you_may sing me to sleep ."

" are we going to stand for_this ? " demanded Benny in a furious whisper to_the Scarecrow, who was balanced insecurely on a sharp spike jutting out from_the side of_the cave .

" hush ! " warned the Scarecrow ."I'm thinking ! " and putting his cotton finger to_his wrinkled forehead he gazed intently at_the ceiling .

" I_shall_be just outside, so don't try running away," advised Quiberon, sliding into_the water with a tremendous splash and in_a_few_minutes his glittering tail had disappeared through_the opening of_the cave .

" well ! " exclaimed trot, clasping her hands resignedly, "I've never tried singing a dragon to sleep, but I suppose there must always be a first time . I_hope he doesn't put his head in my lap, though ."

" he'd better not ! " stormed Benny, tramping angrily up and down ."I'll dance on_his talons, I'll tread on_his tail and pull out his whiskers ! "

" maybe there's another way out," mused the Scarecrow removing his eyes from_the ceiling of_the cave .

" let's look," proposed trot, darting eagerly toward the back of_the cavern .Hurriedly they circled one entire side without success .Tumbling straight from_the top of_the cave on_the other side was asparkling silver water fall .

"I wonder what's beyond that ? " muttered the Scarecrow looking up at it thoughtfully .

" water doesn't hurt me, so I'll just take a look," said the stone man and before trot or the Scarecrow could stop him Benny stepped right through_the water fall and disappeared . with a sharp cry of distress trot rushed forward .

" he's gone ! " wailed the little girl dolefully . the Scarecrow looked almost as upset as trot, for even in_this short time he had grown fond of_their strange stone comrade . as_they discussed in anxious tones what they had better do, the dripping face of Benny looked out through_the water fall .

" come on ! " he spluttered excitedly ." run through, it leads into another cave ! " Taking a deep breath and_the Scarecrow's hand, trot plunged into_the waterfall .Benny seized them just in_time, for_the terrible rush of water took trot's breath and_the poor Scarecrow was limp and helpless, when_they stepped out on_the other side .

"I'll carry him," decided Benny, as_the Scarecrow made an unsuccessful attempt to walk . the live statue was really beginning to enjoy all these strange adventures and excitements ." hurry ! " he puffed, picking up the poor, soggy straw man ." that monster's coming .I hear him ." before_they had reached the end of_the second cave, Quiberon with aflop and flash came plunging through_the water fall .

" how dare you run away ? " sizzled the monster . as_the water poured over his fire-breathing nose, steam came rolling in hot clouds toward trot and her friends .

" faster ! faster ! you go on ! " urged Benny ."I'll stop him ." with_the stifling steam curling round her head, trot ran as never before, all the way through_the second cavern and rushed headlong into a narrow passageway that opened out between two rocks .Benny meanwhile, realizing that they_could never outdistance Quiberon, stopped directly in_his path, first placing the Scarecrow on a little ledge beside him . with a snort that shook seven sapphire rocks from_the roof, Quiberon opened his monstrous mouth, and without a moment's hesitation the stone man stepped in . the Scarecrow, water soaked and helpless though he_was, could_not help admiring the courage of_his new friend . down came the jaws of_the great fear fish . crunch ! crunch ! crunch ! then, there_was a howl of anger and pain and eight red tusks lay on_the floor of_the cavern .

" bite a public benefactor, would you ? " sniffed Benny, stepping calmly out as_the monster opened his mouth, and before Quiberon had recovered he snatched up the Scarecrow and pounded after trot . they had almost reached the end of_the dim blue corridor before Quiberon appeared at_the head .Five times as furious as he had_been before, he_came crashing on like an express train . trot dared not look over her shoulder, and even Benny felt that nothing could save them now . without plan or hope they dashed on, till an ear splitting screech brought them to a sudden stop .

" you look ! " begged . trot, covering her eyes with both hands .Expecting almost anything, Benny swung round, then instantly gave a great shout of relief .

" he's stuck ! " cried the stone man exuberantly . and so he_was, a few yards behind them .Smoking, screaming and sending up shower after shower of Sparks, the monster lay jammed between_the rocky sides of_the passageway . so fast had trot and Benny been running they scarcely noticed the gradual narrowing of_the corridor, and so fast had Quiberon rushed after them that he had stuck fast before he had time to stop himself .

"A narrow escape for_us, but not for him," remarked the Scarecrow in a moist whisper . scarcely able to_see through_the black smoke Quiberon was sending out, and almost deafened by his whistles and roars, trot and Benny ran on . the passageway was growing narrower still, and after several twists and turns, it came to an abrupt stop .

" cave city ! " puffed trot . the words were studded in sapphire on_the rock ahead ." admittance three rocks ."

" well, we_can't go back," sighed the little girl, sitting down wearily, " so we'll just have to_try cave city ."

" but we haven't any rocks," observed Benny, putting the Scarecrow down beside trot and looking carefully all around ." and will the people of_this city welcome us~ or-" Benny did_not finish his sentence but looked uneasily from trot to_the Scarecrow .

" there_is a great deal of water on my brain," complained the Scarecrow, " but if someone will wring me out, I'll endeavor to_think ." Benny looked on rather nervously as trot squeezed the water from_the flimsy body of_the Scarecrow .

"Don't forget to wring my neck," directed the straw man calmly ."I believe I_am the only man in Oz whose neck can_be wrung without discomfort," he explained, glancing brightly up at_the live statue .Benny said nothing and indeed what could he say ? and trot, after shaking up the Scarecrow and smoothing him out as best she_could, propped him up against the side of_the passageway .

"I suppose if I were a real person, I_could think of something too," mourned Benny, taking off his high hat and rubbing his stone crown reflectively .

" you're much better than a real person ! " declared the Scarecrow promptly ."A real person could_not have jumped into_the jaws of a monster like Quiberon .I, for_my part, am glad you_are yourself ! "

" come on, Benny, let's look for some rocks ! " cried trot .

" and I_shall think of some, said the Scarecrow leaning his head back against the wall . but though Benny and trot searched up and down the narrow corridor not a loose rock, stone or even a pebble could they find . the walls, ceiling and floor were of smooth sparkling sapphire . it shed a weird blue light over the three travelers and soon they began to_feel as blue as_they looked . after searching in vain for rocks, they began to thump upon_the door of cave city, but with no results and had about decided they were prisoners forever in_the narrow enclosure, when_the Scarecrow gave a loud shout . I_have though of some rocks," he announced excitedly ." there_are three of us here . well then, we_have but to rock with laughter and_the doors will fly open ."

Benny looked doubtful and trot did_not feel much like laughing, but as_the Scarecrow insisted, they ranged themselves before_the door of cave city .Benny and trot had to support the Scarecrow between_them for he_was still too wet and soggy to stand alone .

" now you laugh ' he ! ', I'll laugh 'Ho ! ' and trot must laugh 'Hah ! '," directed the Scarecrow solemnly . so at his signal Benny burst into a loud " he ! " trot into a shrill "Hah ! " and_the Scarecrow into a husky "Ho ! " at_the same time they rocked all together and fixed their eyes expectantly upon_the door . much to trot's surprise, it instantly swung inward, and an old merman on crutches stood in_the opening .

" well ! well ! " he began querulously, " why don't you come in ? come in ! come in, I'm mighty sorry to_see you .

" sorry ? " gasped trot, as Benny stepped forward, drawing the others along with_him ." why ? "

" you'll know that soon enough," mumbled the old merman swinging along ahead of_them on_his crutches ." this_way please, and mind you don't tread on my tail ."

chapter 6

the wicked soothsayer

after leaving trot and her companions to_the mercies of Quiberon, Akbad flew quickly to_the king's garden, intending to rid himself of_the golden wings and say nothing at all about his curious adventure . but before he had come to_the enchanted tree, the king and half of_the courtiers came rushing out_of_the sapphire palace .

" my son ? where is my son ? " panted Cheerobed, seizing Akbad by_the arm, not even noticing the great wings that drooped from_the soothsayer's shoulders .

" the prince ! where is_the prince ? " demanded Toddledy in_the same breath ." miserable Mesmerizer can you_think of nothing ? " Akbad, worn and weary from_his long flight, fairly blinked with astonishment, for naturally he_knew nothing of Philador's disappearance, but he realized that he_would_be severely punished for stealing the golden pear . he_felt that Quiberon had probably devoured the little prince, but resolved for_the_present to save himself .

" have no fear for_the prince of_the Ozure Isles," he began boldly ."I, Akbad the soothsayer, have saved him ."

" how ? where ? " the king plucked him frantically by_the arm .

" he_is safe in_the emerald city," lied Akbad calmly ." last night, determined to save not_only the prince but our fair Islands as_well, I picked the golden pear .

a little murmur of disapproval greeted Akbad's statement and_they all looked curiously and accusingly at_the golden wings, which they seemed to_see for_the first time .

" immediately," continued the wily soothsayer, " these wings attached themselves to my shoulders .Flying into_the prince's bed chamber, I lifted him in my arms and carried him to_the great capital of Oz . leaving him in_the kindly care of_our gentle ruler, Ozma, I stole into_the garden and seizing a mortal maiden returned to_the Ozure Isles and left her in_the cave of Quiberon ." Folding his arms proudly he waited for_the king's commendation .

" that was very wrong of you," sighed Cheeriobed, letting his arm drop heavily at his side, " but I suppose you_did it for_the best ."

" idiot ! " hissed Toddledy, " why did you not ask Ozma to help_us ? "

" I_did ! " declared Akbad promptly ." as_soon_as_the wizard returns from_the blue forest she will journey to our illustrious islands, destroy Quiberon and restore his majesty's queen ! " even Toddledy was silenced by_this surprising news, while the Ozure Islanders began to cheer loud and lustily . only the king still seemed disturbed .

" but the mortal maiden, we_must save the mortal maiden ! " exclaimed Cheeriobed anxiously ." you_should never have carried her to_that monster's cave . who_will go with me to rescue this poor child ? " the Islanders looked uncomfortably at one another, then as_the king started resolutely off by himself, a dozen of_the boldest Guards followed .

" we_can only perish once," declared the leader gallantly, " and to_be destroyed with your majesty is not_only an honor but a pleasure as_well ." Akbad made no attempt to accompany them, but the others, shamed by such bravery dashed hurriedly after_the king .

when_the last one had gone, Akbad stepped quietly into_the garden .Sinking down under the emerald tree he mopped his brow with_his sleeve and cursed his own stupidity . why had he not done as he had said: appealed to Ozma for help instead of foolishly seizing the mortal maiden ? perhaps it_was not too late . he_would fly back and beg Ozma to_find the little prince and save the Ozure Isles .Hoarsely he commanded the wings to_take him to_the emerald city, but motionless and heavy they hung from_his shoulders . horrified to_find that they_would no longer obey him, he rubbed against the tree in an unsuccessful effort to brush them off . then he tried every magic phrase and incantation that he_knew to rid himself of_the golden wings but though he pulled and tugged the wings stuck fast .

now having wings sounds fine enough, but one must_be born with wings to wear them comfortably .Akbad could neither sit nor lie down with any ease and when he walked the wings trailed disturbingly behind him . he_found, after several trials that he_could still fly, but not beyond the shore

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