Oz 22: The Giant Horse of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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the story . so, as_they hurried on to_the blue cottage, trot told how she and button bright and Cap'n bill had flown on a magic umbrella to sky island, conquered the Pinks and Blues, and how she had_been crowned queen of_the island . she was trying to explain to Benny why she preferred being a little girl in_the emerald city to a queen in_the sky, when_the Scarecrow gave a sharp cry of alarm and sprang back from_the road .

thunderous hoof beats came pounding along the highway, and as trot and Benny jumped out_of_the way a most astonishing steed galloped pell mell by_them . it carried two riders, but as_they were seated on a level with_the tree tops they were almost invisible . about all trot and her companions could_see were high boy's legs . for, of_course, it_was high boy, and never having seen a high horse in_the whole course of_their lives the three travelers pressed back against the low wall, at_the side of_the road .

"Hey ! " yelled the Scarecrow, torn between fright and curiosity .

" where ? " whinnied the high horse, stopping short and coming down so suddenly that Phil and_the medicine man were nearly jolted out_of_the saddle ." did you say hay ? " he repeated gently, his head now on a level with_the Scarecrow ."Ah ! " Leaning forward, he snatched several wisps out_of_the Scarecrow's shirt front and munched them up with great relish .

" stop ! " commanded trot sharply, as_the Scarecrow, clutching his shirt front together, began to climb over the wall ." you mustn't eat the Scarecrow; he's alive ! "

"Oh, all right then ! " sighed high boy, looking curiously down at trot, " but he started it, you_know . i_should never have lowered myself to_speak to_you at all if he had_not hollered ' hay ! '

" what I really meant was ' how- ! ! " stuttered the Scarecrow, balancing himself on_the top of_the wall and ready to jump either way ." how do_you do ? " he finished, jerking off his hat nervously .

" as I'm told sometimes, and as I please, others," sniffed high boy, switching his tail impatiently ." but if_it's how and not hay, I_might as_well get up and go on again ."

" no, wait," directed Philador, greatly interested in_the appearance of_the three travelers . the Scarecrow he had recognized at once from a picture he had seen in a history at home ." this gentleman lives in_the emerald city, high boy, and perhaps he_will show us the way to_the capital ." at_the little prince's words, the Scarecrow quickly jumped down off the wall .

" we_are going to_the emerald city ourselves," he exclaimed in surprise ." it's in_the opposite direction from_the one you_are taking ."

" we're hunting a queen," explained Benny, deciding it_was about time he got into_the conversation .

" why, so are we ! " cried the medicine man, leaning so_far out to_the side that his chest flew open and spilled half its contents in_the road . trot and_the Scarecrow were extremely shocked at_this unexpected happening, but immediately went to Herby's assistance and when_the last pill box was in place, the medicine man slammed his chest and, with a wide wave of_his arms, announced:

" this_is prince Philador of_the Ozure Isles, on a quest to_find his royal mother and save his father's kingdom . I_am a medicine man and-"

" I_am a high horse ! " neighed high boy, pawing up the dust with_his hoof and tossing back his mane ." the only high horse in Oz ! "

all of_these announcements, as_you_can well imagine, filled trot and her companions with astonishment .

" why, we've just left the Ozure Isles," burst out trot breathlessly ."A bird- man carried us to Quiberon's cave and-"

" let's all sit down," beamed the Scarecrow, " and talk this over comfortably ." before Philador or Herby could dismount, high boy dropped down upon his haunches and, putting one hoof behind his ear, begged the Scarecrow to_proceed with_the story .

" why don't you tie yourself up ? " he muttered impatiently to_the medicine man, who in rolling off his back had again upset his medicine chest .

"I'll lend you my belt," volunteered trot, as Phil, who had also fallen off high boy, picked himself up and sat down beside the straw man .

" now then ! " exclaimed trot, after she had again restored the contents of Herby's chest and fastened it securely with her belt, " tell us everything that has happened ! "

"Ladies first," murmured high boy, showing both rows of teeth ." you travel in strange company, my dear ." his eyes rolled at Benny and came to rest so hungrily on_the Scarecrow that that agitated gentleman began stuffing in_his stray wisps of hay as fast as possible .

" trot out your tale, little girl," invited high boy, swallowing hard and removing his eyes from_the Scarecrow with evident effort .Philador added his entreaties to high boy's . trot began at once to recount their amazing experiences in Quiberon's cave .

" why, it all fits together ! " exclaimed the little prince, jumping up excitedly ."Quiberon demands a mortal maiden or threatens to destroy our kingdom in three days . somehow or other someone or other flew off to_the emerald city for_you, though I_cannot imagine my father allowing such a thing and there_are no bird- men on_the Ozure Isles ."

" what_is your_name, child ? " asked high boy, waving his hoof reprovingly at Phil ." let the young lady finish her story, princeling ." so Philador sat down, and trot, after telling her name and explaining the strange coming to life of Benny, went on with their further adventures, their meeting with Orpah and their final escape by explosion to_the mainland .

"Orpah told us all about Mombi's wickedness," finished trot, in an anxious voice, " and we were on_our way to_the emerald city to ask Ozma to help your father when we bumped into you .

" and I_shall carry you there," promised high boy with a little snort of pleasure ."A girl named trot can ride me any day .a fine, horsey sounding name ! do_you care for riding, my dear ? " trot nodded enthusiastically and smiled up at_this most comical beast . then Philador, stepping out into_the center of_the ring, told everything that had happened to him since_the blue gull left him at_the good witch's hut . trot and_the Scarecrow were both astonished and alarmed to learn of Tattypoo's disappearance, and as interested in_the medicine man as Philador had_been in Benny .Benny himself listened gravely to_the whole recital and at_the conclusion began rubbing his chin in deep perplexity .

" if Mombi stole Philador's mother when he_was two years old," he muttered in a puzzled voice, " and Mombi has_not_been witch of_the north for twenty years, how is_it that Philador is_not grown up ? " they all laughed heartily at_the stone man's question .

" because we stay one age as long as we_wish, in Oz," answered the little prince gaily ."I like being ten, so I've been ten for ever so_long ."

" so have I," declared trot ." nobody grows up here unless they_want to, Benny .Isn't that fine ? "

" fine, but funny," acknowledged the stone man, looking from one to_the other .

" everything in Oz is fine but funny," admitted the Scarecrow, turning an exuberant somersault ." look at high boy and look at me ! "

" you'd make a fine lunch," observed high boy, lifting his nose hungrily .

"Don't you_think we'd better start on ? " trot, as_the Scarecrow, with an indignant glance at high boy, sprang behind a tree " even though Quiberon cannot get out destroy the Ozure Isles, Cheeriobed must_be worried about Philador and Ozma ought to_know about_the good witch's disappearance right away .

" right you_are ! " Pulling himself to_his feet, high boy capered and pranced, first stretching his telescope legs up till his body was out of sight and then decreasing their length till his stomach rested on_the ground .

" do_you consider him safe ? " whispered Benny, observing high boy's antics with a worried frown ." had we not better walk ? "

" far better," quavered the Scarecrow, from behind his tree .

"Oh come, get on ! " coaxed high boy ." i_was only teasing .I wouldn't harm a hay of your head," he promised merrily ." so_long as trot likes you, I'll carry you anywhere ."

" better get on while he's down," advised the medicine man, making ready to mount .

" he's a very fast runner," added Philador, smiling at trot .

" and will save you breath, steps and time," whinnied high boy, shaking his mane impatiently ." up with_you my brave kingdom savers ! " Realizing that they_would reach the emerald city much faster on high boy, trot spoke a few words to_the Scarecrow and after a little coaxing he consented to_come, climbing up after all the others so he_would_be as far from high boy's teeth as possible .

Fortunately the high horse's back was long so_that there_was plenty of room for_them all . first came the little prince of_the Ozure Isles, then Herby, then trot, then Benny, and last of all the Scarecrow .

" now hold tight," warned high boy, rolling his eyes back gleefully, " and all ready ! " Slapping the reins on_his neck, Philador ordered him to_get up .Whirling ' round in_the direction indicated by_the Scarecrow, high boy not_only got up but shot up so high they_could see over the tree tops, and ran so fast that_they clung breathlessly together .

" how's that ? " inquired the king's steed, looking proudly around at trot .

"Fu- fine ! " stuttered the little girl, " but couldn't you trot a little slower, high boy ? " "I'll trot slower for trot, though I'd much rather not, I_can pace, I_can race and I canter, alot ! "

chortled high boy, snapping up his umbrella tail as he_gave a sample of each gait .

" he's awfully smart," confided Philador in a loud whisper ." and we ought to reach the emerald city tonight at_the very latest ." trot nodded enthusiastically and as she became more accustomed to_the jerky gait of_the high horse she found it strangely exhilarating .

imagine being able to look over the tree tops as_you gallop along the road ! every once in a while high boy would drop down to a lower level so his riders could_see whether anyone was passing . while he_was jogging along about five feet from_the ground, a farmer turned into_the lane . he_was driving a huge herd of cattle and called loudly for high boy to_get out_of_the way . instead, high boy merely turned sideways and shot upward, allowing the whole procession to_pass under his body .

Leaning over, trot and Philador saw the farmer sitting in_the middle of_the road mopping his forehead, and_they laughingly agreed that traveling on high boy was_the most interesting experience they had yet had . the Scarecrow was still uneasy about his stuffing, but even he_was enjoying the ride, pointing out all the sights to Benny and_the medicine man, and explaining all the treats in store when_they reached the emerald city .

" I_cannot imagine who carried you to_the Ozure Isles . are_you sure it_was not the blue gull ? " questioned Philador, as high boy jogged comfortably along the blue highway .

" no, it_was a man with golden wings," insisted trot positively, " and he_must_have been terribly strong to_have carried Benny all that way .

as Philador still puzzled over the strange birdman, she called out suddenly: " why, we_must_have gone right by Jinjur's house ! "

" so we_have ! " muttered the Scarecrow, looking back regretfully ." she'd have given you some fine ginger- bread, too ."

" never mind," neighed high boy ." we'll be in_the emerald city in_time for tea and there's a village just ahead . maybe they'll have some fresh cake or buns ." Stretching up his long legs, high boy looked over the walls of_the little town at_the next turn of_the road . it seemed entirely deserted and all the houses had shuttered windows and tightly locked doors .Dropping down to regular horse size, high boy trotted up_to_the wooden door in_the wall and butted his head three times against the panels .

for a moment there_was absolute silence, and then a muffled voice called out crossly: " can't you read ? "

" it says ' keep out ! ' " whispered trot, leaning over so she_could read the sign nailed on_the door .

" can't you let_us in ? " bellowed high boy, beginning to stamp with impatience at_the delay ." we're in a hurry and_have to_go through_this town . let_us in, do_you hear ? "

"I hear ! " shouted the voice defiantly, " but I'll not let you in .I'm the out keeper ."

"Hah, hah ! " roared the Scarecrow ."I've often heard of an inn keeper but never an out keeper . come out, keeper, and let's have a look at you ! "

almost instantly the top section of_the door flew open and_the upper half and head of_the out keeper appeared .

" help ! " gasped trot, clutching the medicine man . and no wonder !

chapter 15

the shutter Faces

the face of_the out keeper was entirely hidden behind blue shutters . they seemed to sprout out behind the ears on each side of_his head and fasten securely in front with two bolts .

"I suppose he hears through_the slats," said Philador, leaning back to whisper this observation to_the medicine man .

" perfectly ! " answered the out keeper ." can you_see through_the slats, too ? " asked Herby, quite interested in_the fellow's singular

" no ! ' snapped the out keeper crossly ." but who wants to_see ? most people are_not worth looking at . presently I_shall shut my shutters tight and then I_shall neither see you nor listen to_you," he finished triumphantly .

" but we'll still be here ! " whinnied high boy, with a mischievous prance .Leaning forward he thrust his head through_the opening, seized the out keeper by_the seat of_his pantaloons and, withdrawing his head, stretched up his telescope legs and stepped calmly over the wall ." that's the way to handle an O .K .," snickered high boy, dropping the out keeper carelessly in a clump of pickle bushes .

"I'm not an O .K .! " shrieked the out keeper, springing furiously out_of_the pickle bushes ."I'm a shutter face ! " Pulling back the bolts that fastened

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