Oz 22: The Giant Horse of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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him so tall . what did you suppose a high horse ate ? " asked the king merrily .

Leading the visitors into_the castle he left them in a sumptuous dressing room with amethyst mirrors and brushes and gorgeous silk hangings .Philador was glad enough to wash off the dust and brush his hair, but Herby spent most of_the time rearranging the bottles and boxes in_his medicine chest .

" better take a couple of_these," he advised, as_the little prince started for_the door .

" what_are they for ? " asked Phil curiously, as Herby swallowed several of_the pills himself .

" for yawns," explained the medicine man quickly ." where there's a feast there's bound to_be talking . now speeches always make me sleepy, so to_keep from yawning and offending their Majesties, I_have taken this slight precaution .

" give_me a couple of precautions, too," laughed Philador ." I_hope they won't keep us long Herby, for we ought_to_be halfway to_the emerald city by now .

as Philador and_the medicine man stepped through_the doorway, they were met by a tremendous Uplander who introduced himself as high jinx . he_was Joe king's chief adviser and immediately conducted them to_the dining hall where he seated them between_the king and queen .

Herby had_been quite right about_the speeches . almost everyone at_the table made a speech, complimenting the little prince on_his bravery and wishing him success on_his perilous journey . but the medicine man's pills worked so_well that neither he nor Philador yawned even once during the entire procedure . as for_the luncheon, it might_have_been a birthday party at_least, from_the number of goodies served . what with_the chicken and waffles, sweet potatoes and hot biscuits, not to mention the cream cake, custard pie and lavender ices, Philador decided he_could never be hungry again .

queen hyacinth had ordered a lunch packed up for_the travelers, and when Herby and Philador both declared they_could_not eat another bite, Joe king himself went off to search for_his high horse .

" on high boy you_will reach the capital in no time," his majesty assured them earnestly, " and when_you have saved the Ozure Isles and saved your royal mother, you_must come back and pay us a real visit ."

this Philador readily promised to_do; also to_find out from Ozma what had become of_the good witch of_the north for, without a ruler, the Gilliken country was open to war and invasion by hostile tribes . while they were waiting for_the high horse to appear, Phil and_the medicine man expressed a desire to walk about_the city .Joe, giving each of_them an umbrella, in_case a storm came up, as he put it, hurried off to_find high boy himself .

greatly encouraged by_the happy change in their fortunes, Philador and Herby walked briskly along high street, stopping now_and_then to gaze in shop windows or to wave to_the friendly children playing in_the doorways . they were careful to_keep close to_the castle and were about to_turn back, when a great gust of wind came tearing across the town, flattening them against the side of a house . they had just time to open their umbrellas when_the storm broke with_such suddenness and fury that they_could neither see, hear nor call for help . and help they most certainly needed .

Philador had a confused glimpse of an old Uplander putting down his umbrella and jumping into_it, before_the wind seized his own and whirled him aloft like a kite . drenched and breathless, he soared over the city .Fortunately the wind was light and buoyant and_the umbrella strong and sturdy, so_that when it did come down Philador landed gently enough . the storm seemed to_be left behind and scrambling to_his feet, the little prince looked anxiously upward . he_was at_the very bottom of Joe king's mountain and_the top was still hidden by_the black storm clouds . though he looked and looked, not one glimpse of_the castle nor city towers could he catch . with a discouraged sigh, he turned about just in_time to_see the medicine man sail down into_the midst of a huckleberry bush .

" well ! " spluttered Herby, putting down his umbrella and pulling himself out with great difficulty ." what do_you_think of_this ? "

" not much," confessed Philador ruefully ." we've lost high boy and we haven't time to_go back and-"

" the good witch's thinking cap is gone too," mourned the medicine man, clapping his hand to_his head ." we'll have to_do our own thinking hereafter ." Herby opened his medicine chest and peered in, and presently he_was crunching away at one of_his remedies . when Philador, who had_been looking about, called that he_was ready to start, the medicine man came almost cheerfully .

" we still have the jumping rope," he reminded the little boy happily ." and we still have the lunch basket and we're over the first mountain .

Philador nodded soberly and wondered what Herby had_been taking to_make him so cheerful . for_his part, he_could_not help thinking that their fall had_been most unfortunate . without the thinking cap how were they to_know which direction to_take, and without high boy's long legs to help them how were they ever to reach the emerald city in_time ? ahead loomed a still higher mountain .Sighing deeply he trudged along the rocky little path, his head down and_the lunch basket trailing listlessly from_his hand .

" if_we'd only stayed in_the castle," he mused sorrowfully, " this never would_have happened ." Herby did_not answer but quietly passed him a small round box ." comfort pills . will cure any trouble that hasn't happened," announced the label . absently the little prince took two and handed the box back . as he popped the pills into his mouth, there_was a joyful snort and stamp behind them . it was_the king's horse, and with outspread arms Philador ran to meet him .

" why didn't you wait for_me ? " whinnied high boy, lowering himself down to_the little boy's height and looking reproachfully into his eyes ."I've been looking for_you all over the mountain .

" the storm came up and blew us away, explained Philador hastily .

" did you put your umbrellas down ? " asked high boy, nodding amiably to_the medicine man .

" why should we put them down ? " questioned Herby, puckering up his forehead, " it_was raining ! "

" of_course it_was raining .Wasn't I there too, but you_must know that in_our country, the storms come up and_the thing to_do is to_put your umbrella down and jump in_it . like this," explained high boy, swinging his umbrella tail expertly under his telescope legs and standing calmly in_the center of it ." then when_the rain comes, you don't get wet or blown away . always put your umbrella down when a storm comes up," he finished, jumping out of_his umbrella and swinging it back into place .

Philador was too surprised to_make any remark, but Herby, delighted to_see the king's famous steed, put his foot into_the stirrup and pulled up into_the saddle .

" do_you_know the way to_the emerald city ? " he asked breathlessly .

" two mountains and a couple of countries to_the south," answered high boy carelessly ." up with_you princeling, four legs are better than two, especially when_they are my kind ." to_this Philador could agree most heartily, and swinging himself up in front of Herby, he_took the reins hanging loosely round high boy's neck and begged him to start .

"I always did want_to_see the capital," confessed high boy trotting smartly along the stony mountain path ."I hear that_there_is a saw horse at_the emerald city, and i_want_to_see whether he_is as handsome and as useful as I_am ."

" he couldn't possibly be as nice," sighed Philador, putting both arms round high boy's neck ." you're even better than my sea horse ."

"Hey ! Hey ! well, what do_you_think of_that ? " with a snort of surprise and pleasure, the king's horse set off for_the second mountain at such apace that_the wind whistled by like a hurricane .

" hold on, boys," he neighed boisterously ."I'm your friend for life ! "

"A~ very~ fast friend ! " stuttered Herby, clutching Philador by_the belt and wincing each_time he struck the saddle . and so up the mountain pounded high boy, his front legs short, his back legs long and_his umbrella tail switching behind him .

chapter 11

the king of cave city

the same morning that Philador was having his amazing experiences in_the good witch's hut and on Joe king's mountain, trot and her friends were having some curious adventures in cave city .

" where are we going ? " asked trot, following the old mer- man cautiously and once almost treading on_his tail .

" to_the king," answered the mer- man sadly ." do_you call this a city ? " sniffed the Scarecrow, looking scornfully down the dim damp corridors opening to_the right and left and_the muddy stream of water flowing through_the center .

" no, I don't call it a city," wheezed their guide resting for a few_moments on_his crutches, " but you had better not let the cave men hear you criticizing their town . it_will go hard enough with_you as_it_is ." Sighing to himself the old fellow went tapping along on_his crutches ." wait till silly sees you," he mumbled mournfully .

" who's silly ? " inquired Benny, picking up a boulder and hurling it into_the center of_the stream .

" the king," replied the mer- man without turning ' round .

"Humph ! " chuckled the Scarecrow, winking at trot, "I've known many Kings who acted silly and who looked silly, but I_have never met one who called himself that . do_you_mean to_say you call him silly right to_his face ? "

" to_his side face," answered the mer- man solemnly ." he only has half a face," he added, stopping again ." that's all anyone has here . that's all you'll have presently," he predicted gloomily .

" half a face ! " gasped trot, putting one hand to her cheek and looking around uneasily ." why what do_you_mean ? "

" are_you a cave man ? " demanded the Scarecrow, running around and planting himself in front of_the old mer- man ." if_you're not, get us out of here . my face may_be funny, but I'm attached to_it and it's attached to_me and nobody can_have half of trot's face either ! "

" nor mine ! " panted Benny, bringing his stone heels together with aresounding click ." show us the way out of here or I'll tread on_your tail ."

" there_is no way out," quavered their guide, sitting down on a sapphire rock and waving his tall about sadly ." I_have_been here for years, ever_since Mombi stole the queen of_the Ozure Isles and sent Quiberon to plague the Islanders .

"Mombi ! why Mombi was put out two years_ago," exclaimed trot, dropping down on another rock ." do_you_mean to_say she stole this queen before then ? and were those the Ozure Isles we flew over this_morning ? "

" were they jeweled islands ? " inquired the mer- man eagerly, " and did you_see a city of Sapphires ? " trot shook her head quickly and_the old mer- man, covering his face with both hands began to rock to and fro with grief ." if I_could but see the sapphire city once more, if I_could just see the jeweled rocks and_the blue waters of Orizon," he mumbled miserably .

" then you're a prisoner, too ? " asked trot, leaning forward sympathetically .

" who_are you ? " demanded the Scarecrow again ." and how is_it you still have both sides of your face ? "

" because the blue ray could_not destroy a waterman," said the old man proudly, and sitting up he_told them a strange story .

" my name is Orpah," he announced sadly, " and i_was keeper of_the king's sea horses . every morning i_would drive them from_the jeweled caverns to graze upon_the green plants at_the bottom of_the lake, bringing them back when_the king and_his subjects wished to ride . yes, for many years I cared for_the sea horses of Cheeriobed, who gave_me not_only every thing I wished for but had these golden crutches made for_me so I_could travel on land as_well as in_the water ."

" are all the inhabitants of_the Ozure Isles like you ? " interrupted trot, " or have they wings like the bird man who brought us here ? "

" I_am the only mer- man in_these parts and_the other Islanders have two legs like you yourself .I never saw any with wings," exclaimed Orpah, regarding the little girl with a puzzled frown .

" let him tell his story and then we'll tell ours, advised Benny, who was extremely interested in_the old man's recital .

" there isn't much more," sighed the mer- man gloomily ." everything went well and happily till the day the little prince of_the Ozure Isles was two years old . then Mombi suddenly appeared, snatched up her majesty and flew off . the same day Quiberon came roaring across the lake . one by one, he devoured the herd of sea horses on_which the Ozure Islanders were accustomed to ride to_the mainland . when I tried to defend them he seized me and thrust me into his cave .Leaping through_the water- fall, I escaped to cave city and have_been a prisoner ever_since . if I refuse to obey the cave men, they shut me up without water . without water I_cannot live, so as their slave I_have_been forced to work in_this dismal underground cavern .

" just wait till Ozma hears this," cried trot indignantly ." that monster tried to catch us too, but he's caught himself now, and never will get away .

" do_you_mean it ? " Orpah sprang to_his crutches and looked joyfully from one to_the other . trot hastily told him how the bird man had carried them from_the emerald city to Quiberon's cave, how they, too, had escaped through_the water- fall and how the great monster, rushing after them, had become wedged in_the narrow passageway .

" i_wish the king knew about_this . if Cheeriobed knew, he'd ' start at once in search of_the queen," cried Orpah excitedly .

" we'll tell him as_soon_as we're out," proposed the Scarecrow cheerfully, " and help him

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