Oz 14: Glinda of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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such a tool ."

so they wandered among_the bushes and finally came to a shallow pool of water, formed by a small bubbling spring . Dorothy stooped to_get a drink and discovered in_the water a green crab, about as big as her hand . the crab had two big, sharp claws, and as_soon_as Dorothy saw them she had an idea that_those claws could save them .

" come out_of_the water," she called to_the crab; " i_want to_talk to_you ."

rather lazily the crab rose to_the surface and caught hold of a bit of rock . with_his head above the water he_said in a cross voice:

" what do_you_want ? "

" we_want you to cut the web of_the purple spiders with your claws, so we_can get through it," answered Dorothy ." you_can do_that, can't you ? "

"I suppose so," replied the crab ." but if I_do what_will you give_me ? "

" what do_you wish ? " Ozma inquired .

" i_wish to_be white, instead of green," said the crab ." green crabs are very common, and white ones are rare; besides the purple spiders, which infest this hillside, are afraid of white crabs . could you make me white if i_should agree to cut the web for_you ? "

" yes," said Ozma, " I_can do_that easily . and, so you_may know I_am speaking the truth, i_will change your color now ."

she waved her silver wand over the pool and_the crab instantly became snow- white -- all except his eyes, which remained black . the creature saw his reflection in_the water and was so delighted that he at once climbed out_of_the pool and began moving slowly toward the web, by backing away from_the pool . he moved so very slowly that Dorothy cried out impatiently: " dear me, this_will never do ! " Caching the crab in her hands she ran with_him to_the web .

she had to hold him up even then, so he_could reach with_his claws strand after strand of_the filmy purple web, which he_was able to sever with one nip .

when enough of_the web had_been cut to allow them to_pass, Dorothy ran back to_the pool and placed the white crab in_the water, after which she rejoined Ozma . they were just in_time to escape through_the web, for several of_the purple spiders now appeared, having discovered that their web had_been cut, and had the girls not rushed through_the opening the spiders would_have quickly repaired the cuts and again imprisoned them .

Ozma and Dorothy ran as fast as they_could and although the angry spiders threw a number of strands of web after them, hoping to lasso them or entangle them in_the coils, they managed to escape and clamber to_the top of_the hill .

chapter three

the mist Maidens

from_the top of_the hill Ozma and Dorothy looked down into_the valley beyond and were surprised to_find it filled with afloating mist that was as dense as smoke . nothing in_the valley was visible except these rolling waves of mist, but beyond, on_the other side, rose agrassy hill that appeared quite beautiful .

" well," said Dorothy, " what_are we to_do, Ozma ? walk down into that thick fog, an' prob'bly get lost in_it, or wait till it clears away ? "

"I'm not sure it_will clear away, however long we wait," replied Ozma, doubtfully ." if we_wish to_get on, i_think we_must venture into_the mist ."

" but we_can't see where we're going, or what we're stepping on," protested Dorothy ." there_may_be dreadful things mixed up in_that fog, an' I'm scared just to_think of wading into_it ."

even Ozma seemed to hesitate . she was silent and thoughtful for a little while, looking at_the rolling drifts that were so gray and forbidding . finally she said:

"I believe this_is a mist valley, where these moist clouds always remain, for even the sunshine above does_not drive them away . therefore the mist Maids must live here, and_they are fairies and should answer my call ."

she placed her two hands before her mouth, forming a hollow with_them, and uttered a clear, thrilling, bird- like cry . it floated far out over the mist waves and presently was answered by a similar sound, as of a far- off echo .

Dorothy was much impressed . she had seen many strange things since coming to_this fairy country, but here was a new experience . at ordinary times Ozma was just like any little girl one might chance to meet -- simple, merry, lovable as could_be -- yet with a certain reserve that lent her dignity in her most joyous moods . there were times, however, when seated on her throne and commanding her subjects, or when her fairy powers were called into use, when Dorothy and all others about her stood in awe of_their lovely girl ruler and realized her superiority .

Ozma waited . presently out from_the billows rose beautiful forms, clothed in fleecy, trailing garments of gray that could scarcely be distinguished from_the mist . their hair was mist- color, too; only their gleaming arms and sweet, pallid faces proved they were living, intelligent creatures answering the call of a sister fairy .

like sea nymphs they rested on_the bosom of_the clouds, their eyes turned questioningly upon_the two girls who stood upon_the bank . one came quite near and to her Ozma said:

" will_you_please take us to_the opposite hillside ? we_are afraid to venture into_the mist . I_am princess Ozma of Oz, and this_is my friend Dorothy, a princess of Oz ."

the mist Maids came nearer, holding out their arms . without hesitation Ozma advanced and allowed them to embrace her and Dorothy plucked up courage to_follow . very gently the mist Maids held them . Dorothy thought the arms were cold and misty -- they didn't seem real at all -- yet they supported the two girls above the surface of_the billows and floated with_them so swiftly to_the green hillside opposite that_the girls were astonished to_find themselves set upon_the grass before_they realized they had fairly started .

" thank_you ! " said Ozma gratefully, and Dorothy also added her thanks for_the service .

the mist Maids made no answer, but they smiled and waved their hands in good-bye as again they floated out into_the mist and disappeared from view .

chapter Four

the magic tent

" well," said Dorothy with a laugh, " that was easier than I expected . it's worth while, sometimes, to_be a real fairy . but I wouldn't like to_be that kind, and live in a dreadful fog all the time ."

they now climbed the bank and found before them a delightful plain that spread for miles in all directions . fragrant wild flowers were scattered throughout_the grass; there were bushes bearing lovely blossoms and luscious fruits; now_and_then a group of stately trees added to_the beauty of_the landscape . but there were no dwellings or signs of life .

the farther side of_the plain was bordered by a row of palms, and just in front of_the palms rose aqueerly shaped hill that towered above the plain like a mountain . the sides of_this hill were straight up and down; it_was oblong in shape and_the top seemed flat and level .

"Oh, ho ! " cried Dorothy; "I'll bet that's the mountain Glinda told us of, where the Flatheads live ."

" if_it_is," replied Ozma, " the lake of_the Skeezers must_be just beyond the line of palm trees . can_you walk that far, Dorothy ? "

" of_course, in_time," was_the prompt answer ."I'm sorry we had to leave the sawhorse and_the red wagon behind us, for they'd come in handy just now; but with_the end of_our journey in sight a tramp across these pretty green fields won't tire us a bit ."

it_was a longer tramp than they suspected, however, and night overtook them before_they could reach the flat mountain . so Ozma proposed they camp for_the night and Dorothy was quite ready to approve . she didn't like to admit to her friend she was tired, but she told herself that her legs " had prickers in 'em," meaning they had begun to ache .

usually when Dorothy started on a journey of exploration or adventure, she carried with her a basket of food, and other things that a traveler in a strange country might require, but to_go away with Ozma was quite a different thing, as experience had taught her . the fairy ruler of Oz only needed her silver wand -- tipped at one end with a great sparkling emerald -- to_provide through_its magic all that they_might need . therefore Ozma, having halted with her companion and selected a smooth, grassy spot on_the plain, waved her wand in graceful curves and chanted some mystic words in her sweet voice, and in an instant a handsome tent appeared before them . the canvas was striped purple and white, and from_the center pole fluttered the royal banner of Oz .

" come, dear," said Ozma, taking Dorothy's hand, " I_am hungry and I'm sure you_must_be also; so let_us go in and_have our feast ."

on entering the tent they found a table set for two, with snowy linen, bright silver and sparkling glassware, a vase of roses in_the center and many dishes of delicious food, some smoking hot, waiting to satisfy their hunger . also, on either side of_the tent were beds, with satin sheets, warm blankets and pillows filled with swansdown . there were chairs, too, and tall lamps that lighted the interior of_the tent with a soft, rosy glow .

Dorothy, resting herself at her fairy friend's command, and eating her dinner with unusual enjoyment, thought of_the wonders of magic . if one were a fairy and knew the secret laws of nature and_the mystic words and ceremonies that commanded those laws, then a simple wave of a silver wand would produce instantly all that men work hard and anxiously for through weary years . and Dorothy wished in her kindly, innocent heart, that all men_and_women could_be fairies with silver wands, and satisfy all their needs without so_much work and worry, for then, she imagined, they_would_have all their working hours to_be happy in . but Ozma, looking into her friend's face and reading those thoughts, gave a laugh and said:

" no, no, Dorothy, that wouldn't do at all . instead of happiness your plan would bring weariness to_the world . if every_one could wave a wand and_have his wants fulfilled there would_be little to wish for . there would_be no eager striving to obtain the difficult, for nothing would then be difficult, and_the pleasure of earning something longed for, and only to_be secured by hard work and careful thought, would_be utterly lost . there would_be nothing to_do you_see, and no interest in life and in_our fellow creatures . that_is all that makes life worth our while -- to_do good deeds and to help those less fortunate than ourselves ."

" well, you're a fairy, Ozma .Aren't you happy ? " asked Dorothy

" yes, dear, because I_can use my fairy powers to_make others happy . had I no kingdom to rule, and no subjects to look after, i_would_be miserable . also, you_must realize_that while I_am a more powerful fairy than any_other inhabitant of Oz, I_am not as powerful as Glinda the sorceress, who has studied many arts of magic that I_know nothing of . even the little wizard of Oz can do some things I_am unable to accomplish, while I_can accomplish things unknown to_the wizard . this_is to explain that I'm not all- powerful, by any means . my magic is simply fairy magic, and not sorcery or wizardry ."

" all the same," said Dorothy, "I'm mighty glad you_could make this tent appear, with_our dinners and beds all ready for_us ."

Ozma smiled .

" yes, it_is indeed wonderful," she agreed ." not all fairies know that sort of magic, but some fairies can do magic that fills me with astonishment . i_think that_is what makes us modest and unassuming -- the fact that_our magic arts are divided, some being given each of us .I'm glad I don't know everything, Dorothy, and_that there still are things in both nature and in wit for_me to marvel at ."

Dorothy couldn't quite understand this, so she said nothing more on_the_subject and presently had a new reason to marvel . for when_they had quite finished their meal table and contents disappeared in a flash .

" no dishes to wash, Ozma ! " she said with a laugh ."I guess you'd make alot of folks happy if_you_could teach 'em just that one trick ."

for an hour Ozma told stories, and talked with Dorothy about various people in whom they were interested . and then it_was bedtime, and_they undressed and crept into their soft beds and fell asleep almost as_soon_as their heads touched their pillows .

chapter Five

the magic stairway

the flat mountain looked much nearer in_the clear light of_the morning sun, but Dorothy and Ozma knew there_was a long tramp before them, even yet . they finished dressing only to_find a warm, delicious breakfast awaiting them, and having eaten they left the tent and started toward the mountain which_was their first goal . after going a little way Dorothy looked back and found that_the fairy tent had entirely disappeared . she was not surprised, for she knew this_would happen .

" can't your magic give_us a horse an' wagon, or an automobile ? " inquired Dorothy .

" no, dear; I'm sorry that such magic is beyond my power," confessed her fairy friend .

" perhaps Glinda could," said Dorothy thoughtfully .

"Glinda has a stork chariot that carries her through_the air," said Ozma, " but even our great sorceress cannot conjure up other modes of travel .Don't forget what i_told you last night, that no one is powerful enough to_do everything ."

" well, I s' pose I ought to_know that, having lived so_long in_the land of Oz," replied Dorothy; " but I_can't do any magic at all, an' so I_can't figure out e'zactly how you an' Glinda an' the wizard do_it ."

"Don't try," laughed Ozma ." but you_have at_least one magical

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