Oz 22: The Giant Horse of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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circle and_the circle itself in_the gardens of_his father's blue palace . with part of_his long body coiled up in a flower bed, and_the other poised to strike another blow at_the king's castle, the awful monster did_not even seem aware of_the people from_the emerald city . trot hid her face on Philador's shoulder, and Philador, with a shudder, saw the good knight draw his sword . but before sir Hokus could make a thrust, or Quiberon could strike, the wizard of Oz, blowing a black powder into_the air, stamped three times with_his left foot .

with a terrible bellow, the great fear- fish began to hurl himself at_the castle, but froze in mid air, petrified by_the wizard's black magic into aglittering dragon of silver and bronze .

" we'll move him later," observed the wizard calmly ."A shame to_have a creature like that cluttering up so lovely a garden, but now let_us go in to_the king ."

scarcely able to_believe his eyes, and with many backward glances, the little prince tiptoed to_the great jewel- trimmed door and knocked twice . but no one came . then sir Hokus thumped loudly with_his mailed fist and high boy, turning about, played a lively tatoo upon_the panels with_his heels .

" they still think it's Quiberon," snorted high boy at last ." wait here, I'll look in and_see whether everything's all right ." Stretching up till he_was on a level with one_of_the sky lights, high boy butted out the sapphire pane and stuck his head through_the opening .

" unlock your door," whinnied the high horse impatiently ." unlock the door, it's only us ." Cheeriobed, who expected to_see the terrible face of Quiberon, stared up in perfect amazement at_the talking horse . it_was not, you_must admit, a very reassuring sight to_see a horse's head coming through_the roof, and for a few seconds he_was too stunned to move or speak . but as high boy continued to_call loudly for admittance and finally shouted that_they were keeping Ozma waiting in_the garden, the good monarch sprang up and, unbolting the door, himself admitted the royal rescuers . you_can well imagine the king's relief and astonishment when he_saw the petrified figure of Quiberon, rearing up over his castle .

" father ! father ! " cried the little prince, clasping him around the waist ." here's Ozma and trot and_the wizard of Oz, and Quiberon never can harm us again ."

at_the sound of Philador's voice, queen Orin rushed out to embrace her son and, after hasty introductions and greetings all ' round, the party from_the emerald city filed into_the castle .Akbad slunk . silently out of sight, as Cheeriobed led Ozma to_the throne .Seating queen Orin beside the little ruler and calling for footmen to bring chairs for_the other visitors, the excited king ran to and fro until everyone was seated .

" just think," puffed Cheeriobed, sinking down at last beside Philador, " we don't even know where your mother's been all these years nor how she escaped and came back to_us . my ! my ! what alot to_be talked over ! "

" talk ! talk ! and still no food," groaned high boy, flopping down beside the medicine man ."I'm hollower than an old soldier's wooden leg ! "

" never mind," comforted Herby, opening his medicine chest ." I_have a cure for_that too ." Taking out two pills and slipping them down high boy's throat, he winked knowingly ." they_will dull the pangs of hunger," he assured him gravely . while high boy, with closed eyes waited for_his pangs to_be dulled, Ozma looked happily around the friendly group of Ozure Islanders .

" if_we just knew where Tattypoo was, sighed the little fairy girl softly, " there would_be nothing more to worry us .

" worry no longer, your highness ! " Turning to_see where the whisper had come from, Ozma saw queen Orin arise from_the throne .

" I_am the good witch of, the north," announced Orin clearly .

" but i_thought you were my mother," wailed the little prince, seizing her hand imploringly . at once the whole room was thrown into a state of utmost confusion, some saying this, some saying that, and all wondering aloud, so_that it sounded like a session of congressmen .

" how can_you be both a queen and a witch ? " shouted the little wizard, standing on a chair so_that Orin could hear him .

" you'll have to admit she's abewitching queen," neighed high boy, opening one eye and then the other and forgetting all about his hunger pangs ." why_not let the lady speak for herself ? " he_called shrilly .

" sound horse sense," declared Toddledy, nodding approvingly at high boy, and Ozma, who was even more astonished than Cheeriobed at Orin's announcement, raised her scepter for silence .

" let queen Orin tell her story," commanded Ozma in her gentle voice . there_was an instant silence and almost as one, the whole company turned to_the lovely figure in blue, and waited expectantly for her to_speak .

chapter 18

the tale of Tattypoo

TWENTY-FIVE years_ago, began the queen, tossing back her golden hair, " i_was a princess of_the north . to_the mountain castle of_my father, king Gil of Gilkenny, came Cheeriobed, prince of_the Ozure Isles, to ask for_my hand in marriage . his father was king of_the Munchkins, a monarch of great wealth and power . as my father made no objection to_the match and as I myself was quite willing-" here Orin paused and smiled prettily at Cheeriobed-"preparations were made at once for_the wedding .

" at_that_time, as_you all know, Mombi was ruler of_the north .Passing Gilkenny one late afternoon and seeing the footmen hanging lanterns in_the garden, she stopped to inquire the reason for_the festivities .Cheeriobed, who was helping with_the decorations, quickly explained that_they were for_our wedding, and Mombi, in_spite of her extreme age and ugliness, fell instantly and deeply in love with_the prince . as I watched uneasily from a hidden arbor, I_saw the old witch transform herself into acharming young maiden .Following Cheeriobed about, she explained that she was no longer an old and ugly witch, but a powerful princess, that if he_would marry her they_would_have not_only the Gilliken country, but the Munchkin country as_well for their kingdom ."

Cheeriobed pursed up his lips and shook his head sadly at_this part of_the story, for he well remembered Mombi's wicked proposals and her plan to destroy his father, the king of_the Mun-chkins .

" of_course," proceeded Orin demurely, "Cheeriobed refused and Mombi resuming her own shape rushed off in a fury, promising to_make us all suffer . that very night word came by messenger that Cheeriobed's father had disappeared . and," continued the queen somberly, " he has never been heard of since .Distressed and unhappy though we were, Cheeriobed and I were married at once and returned to_the Ozure Isles, where he assumed the title of king and where we hoped to escape Mombi and her mischievous magic . for three years we were safe and happy and thought she had forgotten all about us . but one day, when Philador was about two years old, Mombi suddenly appeared on_the beach, where we were sitting together . she was riding on a huge black eagle and, bidding the eagle seize me in its talons, carried me off before I had time to cry out for help, and_that," sighed Orin, " was_the last I_saw of_the Ozure Isles until tonight ."

" but what happened ? " gasped Dorothy, leaning so_far forward she nearly tumbled from her chair ." where did she take you ? "

" to her hut in_the mountains," answered the queen sadly ." there, shutting me up in a huge closet, she began an incantation to_change me into a witch, old and ugly as she herself ."

" I_know what happened ! I_know what happened ! " cried the little wizard, springing entirely out of_his chair and spinning ' round three times ." you were too sweet and beautiful to_turn into a bad witch and_the worst she_could do only changed you into a good one ." Orin blushed at_the wizard's little speech .

"I don't know about_that," she went on modestly, " but I_do know that I became a witch, forgetting entirely my former life in Gilkenny and on_the Ozure Isles, and living for several_months in_the forest without home or shelter .

Coming one morning on Mombi, at one of her wicked enchantments, I raised my staff and bade her stop . to my astonishment, I_found i_was a better witch than she . magic phrases and spells came easily to my lips, and without difficulty or trouble I drove her out_of_the forest and took possession of her hut . then, at_the earnest request of_the Gillikens, I stayed in_the north and ruled over that great country as Tattypoo ."

" ruled wisely and well," added Ozma, giving Orin an affectionate pat on_the shoulder .

" but did you_know then that Mombi had changed you to a witch ? " demanded trot, looking up at_the queen with round eyes, " and how did you change back to yourself ? " Orin, with a rueful little laugh, shook her head at trot .

"I didn't realize, then, that Mombi had changed me to a witch," she admitted frankly and went on to relate how Agnes, the amiable dragon, had persuaded her to look in_the witch's window . her first glance through_the blue window pane had showed her Cheeriobed and Philador, just as_they were when she had left the Ozure Isles .Remembering at once who she really was, Tattypoo had recklessly and joyfully jumped out the window, thus breaking the witch's spell and becoming her own true self again .

" what became of_the dragon ? " asked sir Hokus, rattling his sword hopefully .

" why, Agnes turned out to_be my maid- in-waiting, who had_been bewitched by Mombi too, and when she jumped after me she also was restored to her own shape and immediately set off for_my father's castle, to_tell him the good news .I, myself, started at once for_the Ozure Isles ."

" i_wish you had met us," whinnied high boy, who had taken a great fancy to_the queen ." did you_have to walk or swim, MA'am ? "

"A basket bird carried me nearly all the way," explained Orin ." the rest of_the distance I walked and when I reached the shores of Orizon an old fisherman agreed to row me across .

" he shall be well rewarded ! " puffed Cheeriobed ." did the fellow know nothing of Quiberon ? "

"I guess not," sighed the queen, " neither did I, for_that matter, but here I_am, and now tell me how you, dear Ozma, and all of_these brave people happened to_be here just in_time to save me ? "

" it_was Akbad," the king informed her joyfully ." our brave soothsayer picked the golden pear, carried Philador to_the emerald city and begged Ozma to_come to our assistance . where is_the fellow anyway ? Akbad ! Akbad ! fetch the soothsayer, some of you ! "

"Akbad," murmured Ozma half aloud and looking from one to_the other in amazement ." why, I never heard of Akbad ! "

"Akbad didn't carry me to_the capital ! " cried Philador, jumping up indignantly ." the grand Mogul took me to_the good witch's hut and_the rest of_the way I went with Herby and trot and Benny and high boy ."

Cheeriobed was so stunned by_this strange news he sank back on_his throne in perfect as-tonishment and, at Orin's earnest solicitation, Phil and trot told their stories .

"Akbad shall be punished well for_this," promised Cheeriobed . he_was shocked at_the dreadful dangers Philador and trot had encountered, and_the deceitfulness of_his trusted soothsayer . while a dozen guards ran to fetch Akbad, the queen put her hand gently on Cheeriobed's arm .

" remember that he snatched me from_the very jaws of Quiberon," she reminded him softly ." perhaps he_can explain ." but the king kept muttering under his breath and when_the Guards returned, dragging Akbad by_the wings, his feelings overcame him and rushing forward he began to shake the old islander violently to and fro .

" let Akbad speak, if he has anything to_say, suggested Ozma, as Cheeriobed paused for breath . at once Akbad flung himself on_his knees and begged the good king's forgiveness .

" these heavy wings are punishment enough," groaned the soothsayer .

" stolen wings are never of use to_the thief," said Ozma, leaning forward gravely, " but since you_have saved queen Orin and suffered a little yourself, I_hope Cheeriobed will pardon you .

as trot and_the queen added their pleas to Ozma's, the king finally consented to pardon Akbad, dismissing him from_the court and giving him a small cottage at_the end of_the island to live in .

" and must I wear these wings forever ? " asked Akbad, turning sorrowfully toward the door .

"I believe I_could remove them," whispered the wizard, and after a short conference the two sovereigns agreed to let the wizard remove the golden wings . it took about ten minutes and ten powders to accomplish this feat, but as_they finally crumpled into gold dust, Akbad sprang joyfully from_the court room, so glad to_be rid of_the heavy pinions that he_did_not even mind his banishment .

" there ! " sighed Ozma, " that settles everything and now we_can all be happy again .

" I_can't be happy till I eat," moaned high boy in a weak voice, the effects of Herby's pills hav-ing worn off long_ago ." is_there no food in_this castle ? " Laughing heartily, Cheeriobed sent Toddledy to waken the cook and, though it_was long past midnight, the whole company presently sat down to such a feast as had_not_been held in_that kingdom for many a long year . high boy had his yummy jummy, and though the patch work girl, Benny, the tin woodman and_the Scarecrow were_not constructed to partake of refreshments, they enjoyed the party quite as_much as_the others .

and when at last the feast was over, and Cheeriobed led his visitors to splendid apartments, these four celebrities sat talking in_the throne room for_the rest of_the night, spending the hours most pleasantly while high boy snored comfortably on a great bearskin rug before_the door .

and not till the silver bells in_the castle tower tolled ten did anyone above stairs stir from . his silken couch .

chapter 19

another Wishing Pill

after a merry breakfast in_the gardens, Cheeriobed conducted the royal party over

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