Oz 22: The Giant Horse of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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him find the queen besides ."

" but how are we to_get out ? " groaned the mer- man dismally ."I've been here for twenty years .

" i_will fight these cave men," declared Benny, picking up a rock and glancing belligerently from left to right .

" hush," warned the Scarecrow in a low voice ." we_are being shadowed ."

" what's that ? " shivered trot, as a cold damp wind went whistling past her ears and a long series of wails came echoing through_the cavern .

" the cave men," whispered Orpah, quickening his pace ." they_are coming to_get you .

" they won't get me," blustered Benny, brandishing his umbrella in one hand and_the rock in_the other .

" why, they're shadows ! " cried trot, seizing the Scarecrow's arm ." live shadows ."

"Silhouettes," corrected the mer- man, placing himself boldly in front of_the little girl .

Rushing along both sides of_the wall, came the cave men, shouting and yelling and waving their shadow swords and clubs . you_have seen the picture of Egyptian silhouettes carved on old tombs and walls ? well, the cave men were like that, except that they_could move and talk .

"Pooh ! who's afraid ? " stuttered trot, as_the threatening shadows swept along each side of_the cave .

" surrender ! " called a blue shade, armed with a long spear ." surrender in_the name bf king silly the second ."

" nonsense ! "puffed the Scarecrow, shaking his cotton fist at_the shadow, while Benny let his rock fly directly at_the speaker . it struck the wall with a terrific thud, but the silhouette did_not even seem to notice it . at_the same time, the three travelers felt an irresistible force pushing them forward . the cave men themselves were moving backward .

" you_are summoned into_the presence of_the king ! " announced apikeman in a high thin voice .

" well I'll be pebbled," panted the stone man . for even Benny's great weight could_not withstand the relentless force that was dragging them along with_the shadow army .Orpah tried to comfort them, but there_was little the old man could_say in_the presence of_this cruel and ghostly company . when at last they reached the king's cavern, even Benny felt dismayed . king silly the second was so immense he_took up one entire side of_the royal cave . he_was sitting sideways, like all of_the other shadows, upon a throne roughly drawn on_the rocks . his one eye rolled angrily around at_the intruders and as his subjects grouped themselves around the throne, he_called loudly .

" no bodies allowed here . how dare you clutter up my kingdom with your miserable bodies ? "

" we_can't help being ourselves," faltered trot, eyeing his majesty nervously, " and if_you'll tell us the way out of your kingdom, we'll go immediately ."

" faster than that, even," added the Scarecrow, looking ' round with a shudder .

" hold your tongue," advised the king sharply ." since you_are here, you_might as_well be silhouettes too . I_need some new slaves . pray stand against that wall yonder with your best sides out and I'll have_you melted down to shadows ."

"I won't be a shadow ! " cried Benny, stamping his foot determinedly ." I_am going to_the emerald city so I_can_be a real person ."

" you'll make an excellent shade," muttered the king, resting his chin upon his arm .

" but look here," protested the Scarecrow, waving his hat to attract his majesty's attention, you_can't do_this . we_are important subjects of Ozma of Oz and when we fail to return she will come here with her army and destroy you .

" she_can't fight shadows," answered the king calmly ." fetch the blue ray, Ozeerus ."

Backing along the wall, the blue shade thus addressed left the cavern, returning presently with aflaming blue torch . as_the weird blue light danced all over the ceiling and walls, trot seized her two friends by_the hands .

" run ! " panted trot frantically . but at their first step, the same invisible force that had swept them into_the king's presence, thrust them back against the left wall of_the cave .

" this ray," explained the king, smiling icily, " will destroy those clumsy bodies of yours and transform you into fine, useful shades . quick, best sides out ."

"Am I to_become a shadow before I become a man ? " groaned Benny, glancing about desper-ately .

" will I be the shadow of myself ? " moaned the Scarecrow, putting both hands before his face and crouching back against the wall .

" never mind," comforted trot ." maybe it won't hurt much and we won't have to_be shadows long, for Ozma will soon miss us and then this silly old king will_be sorry as_well as silly ."

" who is_to_be first ? " inquired the monarch, giving no heed to trot's remarks .Benny glanced from_the blazing blue torch to trot and then quickly stepped forward .

" i_will_be first," announced Benny, " but beware, when I become a shadow, I'll toss you off the throne, I'll hammer you to shadow bits, I'll-" Benny got no further, for at_this juncture, Ozeerus turned the blue torch full upon him . there_was a sparkle and flash as_the blue flame sprayed against the wall and then such a roar and grind that_the Scarecrow toppled over like aten- pin and trot clapped both hands to her ears .

chapter 12

escape from cave city

the last thing trot remembered was an ear splitting explosion, a terrible tumble through a dark tunnel, a terrific splash and_the sudden shock of finding herself under water .Choking and spluttering the little girl struck out valiantly . as she did, two wet arms clasped themselves ' round her waist and she felt herself being borne swiftly upward . next instant the warm sun was shining on her face and, opening her eyes, trot found herself on_the surface of lake Orizon .Supporting her with one arm, Orpah was swimming steadily toward a rocky beach .Blinking and gasping, for she had swallowed a dreadful dose of salt water, the little girl tried to look for her friends . but there_was no sign of Benny or the Scarecrow, nor of_the jeweled islands she had seen before_the bird man dropped her in Quiberon's cave .

too exhausted to ask questions, trot let the old mer- man tow her ashore . as it grew shallower, he lifted her in_his arms and set her on a high rock out_of_the reach of_the tide .

" now, I_must go back for_the others," he wheezed hoarsely ." but we're free- free my girl- and all of_our troubles are over ! "

trot smiled faintly, too wet and shaken to_say a word and, with a joyous flirt of_his tail, Orpah disappeared under the waves . but the warm sunshine and bracing breeze soon restored trot to herself .Wringing out her dress and shaking back her hair she began to look eagerly for_the return of Orpah . she wondered just how she had reached the bottom of_the lake and whether Benny and_the Scarecrow had_been blown there with her . and before she had answered this question to her own satisfaction, the hard head of_the stone man appeared suddenly above the water . at each step he rose higher and Orpah, swimming joyously at his side, waved gaily to trot .Benny was carrying the Scarecrow in_his arms, and when_they reached the little girl's rock, the straw man gave a feeble cheer .

Benny had lost his high hat and umbrella and was covered with clinging sea weeds, but at sight of trot, safe and sound upon_the rocks, his stone lips parted in a broad smile .

" well," rasped Benny jovially, " this_is better than being shades, but let's go in where it's dryer ."

" by all means," coughed the Scarecrow ." I_feel like a sponge ! " as Benny came opposite, trot, standing on top- toe, put her arms ' round ' his neck .Striding easily over the jagged rocks, the stone man carried both trot and_the Scarecrow far up on_the beach . the mer- man had recovered his crutches by_this_time, and hobbled happily along behind them .

"I'm glad you're not a real man yet," muttered the Scarecrow, as Benny put him carefully down on_the sand ."A real man could never have walked along the bottom of a lake, nor saved us from being shadows ."

" did I save you ? " asked Benny, easing trot down beside the Scarecrow .

" of_course you_did ! " Dragging himself up beside the others, Orpah beamed on_the former statue ." when_you refused to melt into a shadow, Ozeerus turned the blue ray higher and higher till it exploded and blew out the side of_the cave and carried us all to_the bottom of_the lake ."

" but where are the Ozure Isles ? " questioned trot, standing up and shading her eyes with one hand .

" back there," explained Orpah, waving toward the west ." that blue ray blew us clear across the bottom of_the lake to_the mainland ."

" I_shall never be the same," the Scarecrow assured them sorrowfully ." I_feel like an aquarium . is my face washed off, trot ? and_see what's got into my chest, will_you ? " trot thrust her hand into_the Scarecrow's stuffed shirt and, with a little grimace, brought forth awriggling fish . there were several crabs and a turtle in_the Scarecrow's pockets, but after they had shaken him well and restored the wriggling creatures to_the lake, trot and Orpah wrung out the poor straw man and stretched him in_the sun to dry .

" you'll be all right soon," smiled trot, giving him a little hug, " and when we reach the emerald city, you_can_have yourself laundered and restuffed and I'll touch up your face with my new paints ."

" but what_are we going to_do now ? " asked Benny, surveying the little girl expectantly .

" well," answered trot, shaking back her wet hair, " i_think we'd better get back to_the emerald city as_soon_as we_can, so_that Ozma can help find the queen of_the Ozure Isles, and keep Quiberon from doing any more mischief .Don't you_think so, Orpah ? "

" that's the best thing I've heard since I escaped from cave city," smiled the mer- man, " and if_you_can spare me, I'll swim across right now and tell Cheeriobed the good news .

"Don't be too sure it_will_be good," sighed the Scarecrow, raising his head with a great effort . he still felt damp and depressed, but trot shook the old mer- man heartily by_the hand and promised to return with Ozma to_the Ozure Isles .

"I'd like to_see the sapphire city again," finished trot .

" if trot comes, I'll come too," promised Benny, " but you_may not know me, for I'll be a real person after I_have_seen the wizard of Oz ! "

" you're a real person now," chuckled Orpah, tapping Benny on_the arm with_his gold crutch, " and Cheeriobed will reward you well for your services ."

" I_hope they won't hang wreaths ' round my neck," worried Benny, as_the mer- man dove into_the lake ."I hate wreaths ! when do we start on, trot ? "

" as_soon_as_the Scarecrow dries off and I_find something to eat," answered trot ."Oh, Benny, I'm so hungry ! "

" what's that ? " inquired Benny, in surprise .

" it's the way she's made," explained the Scarecrow patiently, " and one_of_the inconveniences of being a real person . real people, my dear Benny, must eat three times a day, at_least .I'm glad I'm stuffed with straw and you_may thank your hackers and hewers that you_are made of stone ! "

" but, what_will she eat ? " asked Benny, staring at trot with a worried frown .

"Oh, I'll find something," laughed trot, who was used to taking care of herself and picking up lunches in strange lands .Running to_the top of a small sand dune, she looked carefully all around and soon found a big clump of beach plums .a toast tree grew nearby and between_the two, trot fared extremely well . the brisk breezes dried her clothes while she ate and, feeling rested and refreshed, trot skipped back to her companions, thinking how astonished Dorothy and Betsy would_be when she told them about cave city and_the bird man .

the Scarecrow was telling Benny something of life in_the capital, and_the more the public benefactor heard about_this strange and marvelous city, the more anxious he_was to_be off . the Scarecrow himself could now walk without collapsing, so as_soon_as trot appeared they both declared themselves ready to start .

" I_know this country," declared the Scarecrow with aknowing wink ." we_have but to walk east until we come to Jinjur's cottage, then proceed in a south- westerly direction till we reach the emerald city itself ."

" who_is Jinjur ? " inquired Benny, tramping heavily through_the tall grass .

"A young lady who gathered an army of girls and conquered the emerald city when i_was emperor," answered the Scarecrow, with a merry glance at trot .

" how unladylike ! " mused the stone man ." are_you not afraid she will conquer you again ? "

" dear me, no ! " laughed the Scarecrow ." that's all over and done with and Jinjur and I are the best of friends . i_was tired of being emperor, anyway," he finished carelessly ." it's more fun being yourself ."

" will I be myself when I'm .a real man ? " asked the statue soberly ."I'm beginning to_feel happy the way I_am ."

" that's because you're helping everybody," exclaimed trot, giving him a little pat

" is_it ? " Stroking his chin thoughtfully, the stone man stopped ."I don't even mind losing my hat and umbrella," he finished in surprise .

" we'll soon find you new ones, promised the Scarecrow ." as_soon_as we reach the emerald city, and when we've helped find this lost queen, you_can settle down with_us and be happy ever afterward ."

" how long is_that ? " Benny eyed the straw man with deep interest .

" for as long as_you live," announced trot with a little skip .

" then I_hope I live always," sighed Benny ."I'd hate to stand still for fifty years like I_did before . and if I'm ever called upon to_be a statue again, I_hope I'll be asitting- down statue . you_have no idea how tiresome it_is standing up for_yourself and somebody

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