Oz 22: The Giant Horse of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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she_would come ? " he asked, squinting up at_the court soothsayer .

" just as_soon_as_the wizard of Oz returns from_the blue forest," answered Akbad sulkily .

" when trot and her friends reach the emerald city, they_will persuade her to_come right away," put in Orpah, " and_they promised to_come back with her . you_will_be astonished at_the stone man," finished Orpah solemnly .

at Orpah's casual remark, Akbad could_not restrain a groan . however would he explain to_the little ruler of all Oz his own foolish and deceitful conduct ? Dropping heavily from_the chandelier he bade the company good- night and made for_the door, his wings flapping and dragging behind him . as he put out his hand to_turn the knob, the door flew violently open and Jewlia burst into_the room .

"A boat ! " panted the little girl, throwing her apron over her head, "a boat is coming ' round opal point ."

" it_is Ozma ! " exclaimed his majesty, thumping the table with both fists ." where are my spectacles, hand me my crown, spread the red rug and call out the guard of honor ! "

without waiting for any of_these commands to_be carried out, Cheeriobed plunged from_the palace through_the gardens and down to_the shore of lake Orizon .Orpah reached the beach almost as_soon_as his majesty, followed closely by Toddledy and all the king's Retainers .a little murmur of disappointment went up from_the crowd as_they stared in_the direction indicated by Jewlia .a boat was rounding the point, but only a fisherman's dory . opposite the man at_the oars sat a closely wrapped figure and, as_the boat came nearer, this figure arose, cast off the cloak and, standing erect, extended both arms .

" why ! " panted Jewlia, beginning to jump up and down, " it's the queen- queen Orin, herself ! "

" the queen ! long live the queen ! " roared the Ozure Islanders, wading out into_the water in their surprise and excitement .Standing up in_the shabby row- boat, as lovely and radiant as on_the day Mombi had stolen her away, was_the queen of_the Ozure Isles . her jeweled crown glittered and flashed in_the star light, her long fair hair tumbled in a bright shower of ringlets to her gold girdled waist . her soft blue dress, studded with sapphires and pearls, floated out like afilmy blue cloud in_the evening wind . never had she appeared so young and beautiful . head over tail, Orpah dove into_the lake and began swimming out to_the boat and only the strong arms of_the Guardsmen kept Cheeriobed from diving after him .

"Orin ! Orin ! " cried the king in a tremulous voice, " where have_you been ? " almost ready to jump out_of_the boat herself, the queen raised her voice to answer, when a long tongue of flame shot across the sky and with a thunderous roar, Quiberon rushed around the point and hurled himself at_the tiny boat . so sudden and unexpected was_the appearance of_the monster, the Ozure Islanders fell back in dismay .

" save her ! save her ! " groaned the king, struggling to free himself from_the Guards, but no one made a move .Akbad, stiff with fright and terror, saw the great body of Quiberon poised over the small craft, and in_that moment some_of_the spirit and courage that had distinguished him in_his youth returned . with a hoarse scream, the soothsayer hurled himself into_the air and, flying straight for Quiberon, snatched the queen from_the very jaws of death . the magic wings, which up_to_this_time had refused to carry him beyond the islands, this_time, because he now had no thought of himself, obeyed his command .Circling high over the head of_the enraged sea monster, Akbad headed for_the sapphire castle . with shouts and cheers the Ozure Islanders followed and, dashing into_the castle after_the soothsayer, barred the doors and slammed down the windows . before either the king or queen had time to thank Akbad, the gigantic body of Quiberon crashed through_the garden and hurled itself over the castle wall .

" we_are lost ! " wailed the king, as_the castle began to rock and tremble from_the repeated blows of_the furious monster ." nothing can save us now .

Cowering in_the throne room, the king and_his little band of followers waited for_the blow that_would crush the castle and destroy them utterly . but, strangely enough, the noise and confusion and thuds upon_the wall grew less and finally stopped altogether ." he's backing away for a last try," groaned Toddledy, burying his head in_his hands .

" never mind," sighed the queen, throwing her arms ' round Cheeriobed's neck ." at_least we_shall perish together ." at_the queen's words there_was a tremendous whack on_the roof .a blue sapphire skylight splintered to bits and a great head was thrust through_the opening .

chapter 17

a royal welcome

as high boy, neighing joyously, trotted down the main street of_the emerald city, windows were thrown up and doors flung open and_the inhabitants rushed out with torches to_see who was passing . and when_they saw trot and_the Scarecrow, mounted on so strange asteed, they promptly fell in, so_that by_the_time high boy reached the castle a regular procession had formed behind them .Standing up and balancing himself by holding on to Benny, the Scarecrow introduced the little prince of_the Ozure Isles, the medicine man, the live statue and lastly high boy himself . then high boy, to_the great delight of_the multitude, stretched up and then down, switched his umbrella tail and bowed so often and vigorously that trot and_the others had all they_could do to_keep their places . the wild cheers and shouts at high boy's performance brought the occupants of_the castle running to_the windows and doors to_see what_was the matter .

" why, trot ! " cried Dorothy, dashing down the golden steps ." we've been hunting you all day and were just going to look in_the magic picture to_see where you were .

" well, here we_are, my dear," laughed the Scarecrow, " and we bring strange news and four strangers to_the castle .Hello Hokus ! Hello, jack ! Hi there Tik Tok ! Howdy, Scraps ! "

Waving to_the celebrities who crowded the open doorway, the Scarecrow urged high boy to enter .Mounting the steps carefully and being careful not to tread upon any toes, high boy stepped proudly into Ozma's royal residence, Dorothy dancing ahead to announce them to_the little fairy .Betsy, Ozma, nick chopper and Jellia Jamb, a small maid- in-waiting, were playing pa'cheesi, but hastily pushed back the board, as high boy came cantering in .

" why here's the whole pack," cried the tin woodman, jumping up and waving the tin funnel he used for a hat-" the pack horse, too ! " finished nick, eyeing the king's steed in some surprise .

" pack horse ! " snorted high boy, stopping short and rolling his red eyes temperishly ."I'm a high horse, you odd looking junkman, and I'll have_you know I stand very high in my own country ." to_prove his claim, high boy clicked his telescope legs up so fast that trot bumped her head on_the ceiling and_the Scarecrow dove at once to_the carpet .

" down ! down ! " whispered Philador reprovingly ." and don't forget you_are in_the presence of royalty ." Lowering himself with one great jerk, high boy shortened his front legs and made a deep bow to_the little ruler of Oz, and trot and_the others lost no time tumbling off .

" the prince of_the Ozure Isles, your Maj' sty ! " puffed trot, as Ozma gave high boy a bewildered smile ." the medicine man of Oz and my friend Benny, from Boston ."

" is he alive ? " whispered Betsy, putting out her hand to touch the stone man, who was bending stiffly before_the throne .

" alive, but not a real person," sighed Benny, fixing his stone eyes mournfully on Betsy bobbin .

" he's much better than a real person," declared the Scarecrow, rushing impetuously forward ." just wait till you hear how he jumped into_the mouth of a monster ."

" tell us ! tell us ! " begged Betsy, clasping her hands .

"Hast had an adventure, maiden ? " Pushing his way to_the throne, sir Hokus, the good knight of Oz, took trot eagerly by_the arm .

"Dozens and dozens ! " panted trot, sinking down on_the carpeted steps leading to_the throne ." so_many I hardly know where to_begin ."

" why_not begin with me ? " suggested Herby, throwing out his chest importantly . high boy groaned with impatience as_the contents of Herby's chest flew about_the room, and_the wizard of Oz, who stood just behind Ozma, clapped on an extra pair of spectacles and hurried forward to_get a better view of_the medicine man .

while trot and_the Scarecrow helped Herby pick up his pill boxes, Ozma, noticing the worried expression of prince Philador, bade him come nearer and tell what_was troubling him .Philador, dropping on one knee before_the throne, thought he had never seen a gentler little fairy than_the queen of all Oz .Feeling a bit shy in_the presence of so great and grand a company he arose and told the whole story of Mombi's enchantments and Quiberon's cruelty and of_his flight on_the blue gull to_the hut of Tattypoo .

Ozma and her advisers were_not only astonished at_the little prince's troubles, but alarmed and distressed by_the unexplainable disappearance of_the good witch .

" as_soon_as Philador tells us the rest of_his story, we_will look for Tattypoo in_the magic picture" murmured Ozma, " and also for_the queen of_the Ozure Isles ."

"I'd like a chance at_that monster," blustered sir Hokus, who was a famous dragon slayer " and myself and sword are at your service, princeling ! "

Philador smiled gratefully at_the good knight of Oz and, helped out by trot and_the Scarecrow, told how he had released the medicine man from_his bottle- of_his visit to_the king of_the Uplanders- his meeting with high boy- and their adventures with trot and her friends in shutter town . then trot told her story, about Benny and_his strange coming to life, his drop to Oz and their frightful experiences in cave city . during the telling of both stories, the wizard of Oz made hurried notes in_his little black book and, as trot finished, he bounced out of_his seat like a rubber ball .

" your highness," began the wizard, looking over his specs at_the little fairy ruler, " I_have jotted down for_your_convenience the problems to_be solved and_the mysteries to_be accounted for . first, we_must find the queen of_the Ozure Isles and restore her to her subjects . secondly, we_must undo as_much of Mombi's mischief as_we_can; destroy Quiberon, punish the bird- man who carried trot to_the monster's cave and restore the medicine man to himself ."

at_this Herby shook his head violently ."I prefer to remain as I_am," declared Herby stoutly ." I_am entirely satisfied with my medicine chest ."

Ozma smiled at Herby's earnestness and_the wizard drew his pencil through_that entry .

" we_must then find Tattypoo," continued the little man seriously, " and change Benny to a real person, as a reward for_his services to Philador and trot ."

" how about a little yummy jummy ? " wheezed high boy, who was sitting on_his haunches with both ears cocked forward .

" why you're a fellow after my own heart," purred the hungry tiger, crawling out from under a huge green sofa ." this good beast is hungry . let's all have something to eat," he proposed, licking his chops and waving his tail gently from side to side .

" you_may tell the royal cook to_prepare a feast at once .Nodding laughingly at_the hungry tiger, the little sovereign rose and, stepping down from_the throne, took Philador's arm ." come ! " said Ozma ." we_will look in_the magic picture and_see whether Quiberon is still caught in_the cavern and where Mombi has hidden your royal mother ."

as_you_may well imagine, Philador needed no urging . even Ozma forgot her dignity in_the interest and excitement of_the moment . hand in hand, they skipped up the golden stairway, followed by trot and all the other curious courtiers .Hanging in Ozma's sitting room is one_of_the_most curious and powerful treasures in all Oz . it_is a magic picture . one has but to stand before this picture and ask to_see a certain person . immediately he appears and in exactly the place where he happens to_be at_the moment the question is asked .

" we had better look at_that monster first," said the wizard of Oz, settling both pairs of specs and staring nervously over Ozma's shoulder ." show us Quiberon ! " he commanded, before_the little ruler or Philador had a chance to_speak . instantly the quiet country scene melted away and out flashed the terrible figure of Mombi's monster, throwing himself again and again upon_the sapphire castle of Oz . high boy was so frightened that he shot up ten feet and bumped his head on_the ceiling .

" have at you ! " roared sir Hokus, plunging forward and almost forgetting . it_was but the small picture of Quiberon he_was seeing .Philador and trot clutched one another in horror and only Ozma remained calm .Clapping her hands for silence, she turned quickly to_the wizard of Oz .

" quick, wizard ! " breathed the little fairy, " fetch your black bag of magic and transport us all to_the Qzure Isles . take hold of hands ! " commanded Ozma, as_the little wizard rushed from_the room .Philador immediately took trot's hand, trot took Benny's, Benny took Herby's, Herby took the tin woodman's, nick chopper took Scraps', the patch work girl took the good knight's, he_took Betsy's, Betsy seized Dorothy, Dorothy took the Scarecrow, and high boy not to_be left out, jumped into_the middle of_the ring, as Jellia and Ozma completed the circle . then back skipped the wizard, and, wriggling between Dorothy and_the Scarecrow, swallowed two of_his famous wishing pills, smiling confidently .

" transport us at once to_the sapphire city and castle of Cheeriobed," commanded the wizard . now Philador had never been transported in_his whole life .Gritting his teeth and closing his eyes he waited tensely for something to drag him through_the air and wondering fearfully if they_would_be in_time to save his father and_the royal household .

Feeling no motion or sensation of any kind he opened his eyes, thinking in great disappoint-ment that_the magic spell had failed . but so powerful are the wizard's wishing pills, they transport one in atwinkling and without ruffling so_much as an eyebrow . so when_the little prince opened his eyes, he_was terrified to_find Quiberon in_the center of_their magic circle

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