Oz 22: The Giant Horse of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16]
over the entire sapphire city . high boy carried Ozma, Scraps, trot, Betsy and Dorothy, and_they all agreed that, next to_the capital, the sapphire city was_the fairest city in Oz . the sun shone with dazzling brightness on_the glittering spires, the jeweled sands and rocks had never sparkled more beautifully . even the waters of Orizon seemed bluer since_the queen's return . everywhere the cheers and shouts of_the delighted Islanders greeted the visitors and lovely Orin .

" if_we just had our sea horses," mused Cheeriobed, putting one arm around the queen and_the other around Philador, " everything would_be as it_was before ." the old mer- man who stood close by_the king looked so unhappy at_this remark that Ozma bade high boy stop, and jumping down hurried over to_the wizard . after a whispered conference which nobody seemed to notice, Ozma and_the little man tip- toed off by_themselves . and when next Cheeriobed looked out over the lake, he_gave a shout of delight and pleasure . in toward the shore, with flying manes and flashing tails, raced the whole herd of white sea horses, lively and lovely as_they ever were .

" i_wish Joe king could_see this," whinnied high boy, wading out to meet them and neighing agreeting in_the high horse tongue .Orpah was already in_the water, caressing first one and then another of_his former pets, while the little prince jumped in with all his clothes, to mount his own prancing sea charger .

" how did you_do it ? " begged Cheeriobed, turning back to Ozma, who stood smiling at him from her perch on an opal rock .

" ask_the wizard," replied the little fairy mysteriously, but when_they all crowded curiously around the wizard he merely shook his head and muttered that restoring a herd of sea horses from a pile of bones was quite easy- if_you just knew how . and with_this answer they were forced to_be satisfied .

next the wizard, with another of_his magic powders, moved the great figure of Quiberon to_the mouth of_his cave, where it stands to_this day for all to_see .

" the fire from_his nostrils must_have eaten away the sides of_the passage- way and enabled him to squeeze out," explained the wizard, who had_been puzzling over this particular problem ever_since his arrival . as_this cleared up the last of_the mysteries, Ozma and her courtiers now made ready to depart .Philador was so loath to_say goodbye to trot that Ozma persuaded the king, the queen and_the little prince to return with_them to_the emerald city . so again a magic ring was formed, with high boy in_the center, and again the wizard's wishing pills transported them over hills and valleys to_the most splendid castle in Oz .

chapter 20

Rulers east and north

it_was noon time when_they dropped down lightly in_the gardens of Ozma's castle ." let's dance" proposed Benny, blinking across the vistas of velvet lawns, flowering arches and sparkling fountains .

" why, Benny ! " exclaimed trot, " do_you really feel like dancing ? "

"Don't you ? " questioned the stone man, smiling down at_the little girl with_whom he had come through so_many exciting adventures . trot nodded delightedly and, as_the royal band grouped on_the castle steps to welcome them home broke into a lively tune, the whole company, still in_the ring they had formed in Cheeriobed's garden, danced ' round and ' round and ' round, high boy cavorting hilariously in_the center .

Benny could_have danced tirelessly on for hours, but Cheeriobed and sir Hokus were soon out of breath . so Ozma clapped her hands and, bidding them form in a long line, placed herself at_the head and marched merrily into_the palace . there, drawn up_to meet them were all the celebrities they had_not already met . jack pumpkin head, stiffly extending his arms, Tik Tok, clicking off short sentences of pleasure, the soldier with_the green Whiskers, bowing almost to_the ground, the cowardly lion and Dorothy's small dog, Toto, not to mention the famous saw horse and so_many more I_could_not begin to name them all .Philador kept close to trot, for he_wanted to hear about each_one and_the Scarecrow, taking Benny and_the medicine man under his wing, saw that_they were everywhere introduced .Ozma herself, with_the king of_the Ozure Isles on one arm and_the queen on_the other, led the way to_the grand banquet hall . the hungry tiger, peering in from_the castle kitchen, where he had_been anxiously awaiting their return, sprang out joyously as_they entered .

" this party's been ready since last night," he roared accusingly ." where have_you been ? " while high boy dropped down a few pegs to explain, the great company seated itself at_the long green banquet table . soon dishes and silver began to clink merrily, footmen to rush to and fro with delicious trays of goodies, while the Oz orchestra struck up that good old favorite, "Oz and Ozma, forever ." Benny, to_his great satisfaction, sat next to_the wizard of Oz, and between courses the little man explained that he_was a native of Omaha and had first come to Oz in a circus balloon . the inhabitants had immediately taken him for a wizard, so he had decided to stay and be a wizard . for many years he had ruled over Oz, practicing the trick magic he had learned in_the circus and superintending the building of_the emerald city . later he returned to America and Ozma, the rightful ruler of_the fairy kingdom was disenchanted by Glinda and placed upon_the throne . when_the wizard returned to Oz, the little fairy made him royal wizard of_the realm and by hard study and constant practice he had become the most famous magician in any country out_of_the world .

" so you_think you_can change me to a real man ? " queried Benny, looking admiringly at_the famous wonder- worker .

" certainly," replied the wizard carelessly, tossing off a glass of emeralade ." whenever you wish ! "

" think it over carefully," cautioned the Scarecrow, who sat on_the other side ." is_it not better to_be big and hard than small and weak, like most natural beings ? you're a very famous person as_you_are,"' he finished, flatteringly, " but as a meat man you_will_be quite like everybody else . i_was once a real person, he confided solemnly, " and did_not care for_it at all . take my advice and stay as_you_are, old boulder ! "

" please do ! " begged trot from her place across the table ." you're so strong and handsome and you_can dance as_well as anyone . you didn't tread on my toe even once," declared the little girl stoutly .Benny would_have blushed at trot's words, had such a thing been possible . as it_was, he smiled so happily that he_did_not look like a public benefactor at all . the stone frown that was carved on Benny's forehead had gradually melted away, and_his expression was now so pleasant and jolly, I_am_sure none_of_the worthy fathers of Boston would_have recognized their former citizen .

" it shall be as trot wishes," and Benny, with a fond glance across the table, and amid the cheers and claps of_the celebrities, he agreed to stay as he_was .

" and live at our capital always," invited Ozma, from_the head of_the table ." and Herby, too . he shall be our court physician," declared Ozma, and coming ' round to where they sat, she touched them both on_the shoulder with her emerald scepter, to show they now belonged to her court .Benny was too overcome to_say a word, but Herby, with a great jingling of pill boxes, arose and, with one hand on_his medicine chest, made a lengthy speech of thanks .

" every time he comes near, you_can hear his pills rattle," observed high boy in a low voice to_the saw horse . one end of_the table had_been reserved for_the palace pets and high boy had the seat of honor at_the head . next to him stood the saw horse, Ozma's little wooden, gold- shod steed, taking in every thing but the refreshments and making short sharp answers to high boy's remarks . high boy secretly thought him a poor looking creature, but as he wisely kept this thought to himself they got along famously .

the hungry tiger's appetite amazed high boy . after several bowls of horse- radish, two bales of hay and a pail of yummy jummy, high boy himself could_not eat another morsel . but the tiger kept sleepily and competently on cleaning his plate . as_soon_as it_was empty it_was hastily replenished with rare roasts and undone steak and mutton . the hungry tiger, as_many of you_know, has lived in_the emerald city for many years and_is great company for_the cowardly lion, who came to_the capital with Dorothy on her very first visit . this big beast, with long sighs, and with tears in_his voice, explained how dreadfully cowardly he_was and high boy, to_see if_this really were so, trumpeted suddenly in_the cowardly lion's ear .

with a terrible squeal, the cowardly lion slid under the table and_they were just pulling him out, when_the tin woodman arose and rapped loudly for order . the wizard had left the banquet hall a few_minutes before and, now returning, whispered a few words to Ozma . at once the little fairy stood up and, facing the king and queen of_the Ozure Isles, began to_speak .

" our wizard," explained Ozma in her gentle voice, " has_been trying to discover the where-abouts of Cheeriobed's father . but all of_his questions have brought no change in_the magic picture, showing that Mombi has utterly destroyed the good king of_the Munchkins . as Mombi is no longer here to remedy what_has_been done and we ourselves are powerless to remedy it either, I now pronounce you, Cheeriobed, and you, Orin, king and queen of_the east, and rulers of all of_the Munchkins and_the sapphire city of Oz shall be your capital ."

the applause brought forth by_this announcement was simply deafening . when it had subsided somewhat, the Scarecrow, jumping up, held out his hand to Orin and then the king .

" may I be the first to congratulate your Majesties ? " cried the straw man, impulsively ."I, myself, am aMunchkin and hereafter please consider me a loyal friend and subject ."

the king and queen both assured him that they_would_be pleased to_do_so and in a short address Cheeriobed promised to rule to_the best of_his ability the great empire of_the east . trot and Philador, who sat side by side, heard Ozma's proclamation with great pleasure and satisfaction .

" I_hope you'll visit us often," whispered Philador ." you_can ride on my sea horse and wear my crown, and I'm going to ask my father to_make you a princess, trot ." at_this, Cheeriobed, who had overheard Philador's remark, jumped up and announced that his first act as king of_the east would_be to create trot a princess of_the Ozure Isles with_the privilege of living in_the sapphire city at any_time and for as long as she wanted .

" that makes trot twice a princess," chuckled the Scarecrow to Benny, as_the little girl slipped the sapphire ring Cheeriobed held out to her in place of a crown ( which he promised to_give her later) on her middle finger .

"Hi ! Hi ! three cheers for princess trot ! " whinnied high boy above all the noise and clapping . when Ozma could make herself heard, she again called for silence .Wondering what surprising announcement would come next the company turned eagerly to_their little ruler .

" as Orin is no longer good witch of_the north and_the Gillikens are without a sovereign, I_have decided to_make Joe and hyacinth rulers of_the north ! " declared Ozma imperiously-" and-"

" we accept with pleasure ! " interrupted high boy, not_only rising to_his feet but stretching up till he towered over them all ." we accept this high honor your majesty has conferred upon us, and if_you_will just excuse me, I'll dash off and tell the good news to Joe ." Holding his head so high that he bumped it on_the top of_the door, high boy clattered from_the banquet hall to_the great astonishment and amusement of all . that_is all except trot and Philador .Rushing after_the high horse, they called loudly for him to stop . and when he_saw the little girl and boy waving from_the top steps of_the castle he_did come and, stretching up, let each of_them embrace him heartily .

"I'm coming again to visit you," promised high boy with a slight choke, for he hated to_say goodbye to_his little friends ."I'll see you_have high positions at our court, too ." then shaking his head and stretching up a bit higher he cantered off, neighing tremendously as he went .

"Hi ! Hi ! everybody Hi ! I_am the highest horse in Oz ! high horse to_their Majesties, king and queen of_the north ." arm in arm Philador and trot returned to_the banquet hall and, after_the last speech had_been made and_they had all drunk the health of_the new sovereigns in pale pink lemonade, the party broke up and_they all went out into_the garden to play blind- man's buff .

as_the royal family from_the Ozure Isles did_not return to_their capital for ten days, they had plenty of_time to_see all the wonderful sights in_the emerald city and to grow as fond of dear little Ozma and her gay court and courtiers as_we_are, ourselves !

the end

Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16]