Oz 14: Glinda of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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all the poison I had to kill the fishes with, and I_can't make any more because only my wife knew the secret of it, and she_is now a foolish Pig and has forgotten all her magic ."

" very_well," said the diamond swan scornfully, as she floated upon_the water and swam gracefully here and there .I'm glad_to_see you_are foiled . your punishment is just beginning, for although you_have enchanted me and taken away my powers of sorcery you_have still the three magic fishes to deal with, and_they'll destroy you in_time, mark my words ."

the Su-dic stared at_the swan a moment . then he yelled to_his men:

" shoot her ! shoot the saucy bird ! "

they let fly some arrows at_the diamond swan, but she dove under the water and_the missiles fell harmless . when Coo-ce-oh rose to_the surface she was far from_the shore and she swiftly swam across the lake to where no arrows or spears could reach her .

the Su-dic rubbed his chin and thought what to_do next . near by floated the submarine in_which_the queen had come, but the Skeezers who were in_it were puzzled what to_do with themselves . perhaps they were_not sorry their cruel mistress had_been transformed into a diamond swan, but the transformation had left them quite helpless . the under- water boat was not operated by machinery, but by certain mystic words uttered by Coo-ee-oh . they didn't know how to submerge it, or how to make_the water- tight shield cover them again, or how to make_the boat go back to_the castle, or make it enter the little basement room where it_was usually kept . as a matter of fact, they were now shut out of_their village under the great dome and could_not get back again . so one_of_the men called to_the supreme dictator of_the Flatheads, saying:

" please make us prisoners and take us to your mountain, and feed and keep us, for we_have nowhere to_go ."

then the Su-dic laughed and answered:

" not so . I_can't be bothered by caring for alot of stupid Skeezers . stay where you_are, or go wherever you please, so_long as_you keep away from_our mountain ." he turned to_his men and added: " we_have conquered queen Coo-ee-oh and made her a helpless swan . the Skeezers are under water and may stay there . so, having won the war, let_us go home again and make merry and feast, having after many years proved the Flatheads to_be greater and more powerful than_the Skeezers ."

so the Flatheads marched away and passed through_the row of palms and went back to_their mountain, where the Su-dic and a few of_his officers feasted and all the others were forced to wait on them .

"I'm sorry we couldn't have roast Pig," said the Su- dic, " but as_the only Pig we_have is made of gold, we_can't eat her . also the golden Pig happens to_be my wife, and even were she not gold I_am_sure she_would be too tough to eat ."

chapter Twelve

the diamond swan

when_the Flatheads had gone away the diamond swan swam back to_the boat and one_of_the young Skeezers named Ervic said to her eagerly:

" how can we get back to_the island, your majesty ? "

"Am I not beautiful ? " asked Coo-ee-oh, arching her neck gracefully and spreading her diamond- sprinkled wings ." I_can_see my reflection in_the water, and I'm sure there_is no bird nor beast, nor human as magnificent as I_am ! "

" how shall we get back to_the island, your majesty ? " pleaded Ervic .

" when my fame spreads throughout_the land, people will travel from all parts of_this lake to look upon my loveliness," said Coo-ee-oh, shaking her feathers to make_the diamonds glitter more brilliantly .

" but, your majesty, we_must go home and we_do_not know how to_get there," Ervic persisted .

" my eyes," remarked the diamond swan, " are wonderfully blue and bright and will charm all beholders ."

" tell us how to make_the boat go -- how to_get back into_the island," begged Ervic and_the others cried just as earnestly: " tell us, Coo-ee-oh; tell us ! "

"I don't know," replied the queen in a careless tone .

" you_are a magic- worker, a sorceress, a witch ! "

" i_was, of_course, when i_was a girl," she said, bending her head over the clear water to catch her reflection in_it; " but now I've forgotten all such foolish things as magic .Swans are lovelier than girls, especially when_they're sprinkled with diamonds .Don't you_think so ? " and she gracefully swam away, without seeming to care whether they answered or not .

Ervic and_his companions were in despair . they saw plainly that Coo-ee-oh could_not or would_not help them . the former queen had no further thought for her island, her people, or her wonderful magic; she was only intent on admiring her own beauty .

" truly," said Ervic, in agloomy voice, " the Flatheads have conquered us ! "

* * * * * * * *

some_of_these events had_been witnessed by Ozma and Dorothy and lady Aurex, who had left the house and gone close to_the glass of_the dome, in_order_to_see what_was going on . many_of_the Skeezers had also crowded against the dome, wondering what would happen next . although their vision was to an extent blurred by_the water and_the necessity of looking upward at an angle, they had observed the main points of_the drama enacted above . they saw queen Coo- ee-oh's submarine come to_the surface and open; they saw the queen standing erect to throw her magic rope; they saw her sudden transformation into a diamond swan, and a cry of amazement went up from_the Skeezers inside the dome .

" good ! " exclaimed Dorothy ."I hate that old Su-dic, but I'm glad Coo-ee-oh is punished ."

" this_is a dreadful misfortune ! " cried lady Aurex, pressing her hands upon her heart .

" yes," agreed Ozma, nodding her head thoughtfully; "Coo-ee-oh's misfortune will prove a terrible blow to her people ."

" what do_you_mean by_that ? " asked Dorothy in surprise ."Seems to_me the Skeezers are in luck to lose their cruel queen ."

" if_that were all you_would_be right," responded lady Aurex; " and if_the island were above water it would_not_be so serious . but here we all are, at_the bottom of_the lake, and fast prisoners in_this dome ."

" can't you raise the island ? " inquired Dorothy .

" no . only Coo-ee-oh knew how to do_that," was_the answer .

" we_can try," insisted Dorothy ." if_it can_be made to_go down, it can_be made to_come up . the machinery is still here, I suppose .

" yes; but the machinery works by magic, and Coo-ee-oh would never share her secret power with any_one of us ."

Dorothy's face grew grave; but she was thinking .

"Ozma knows alot of magic," she said .

" but not that kind of magic," Ozma replied .

" can't you learn how, by looking at_the machinery ? "

"I'm afraid not, my dear . it isn't fairy magic at all; it_is witchcraft ."

" well," said Dorothy, turning to lady Aurex, " you say there_are other sub-sub-sinking boats . we_can get in one of_those, and shoot out to_the top of_the water, like Coo-ee-oh did, and so escape . and then we_can help to rescue all the Skeezers down here ."

" no one knows how to work the under- water boats but the queen," declared lady Aurex .

"Isn't there any door or window in_this dome that we_could open ? "

" no; and, if there were, the water would rush in to flood the dome, and we_could_not get out ."

" the Skeezers," said Ozma, " could_not drown; they only get wet and soggy and in_that condition they_would_be very uncomfortable and unhappy . but you_are a mortal girl, Dorothy, and if your magic belt protected you from death you_would_have to lie forever at_the bottom of_the lake ."

" no, I'd rather die quickly," asserted the little girl ." but there_are doors in_the basement that open -- to let out the bridges and_the boats -- and that_would not flood the dome, you_know ."

" those doors open by a magic word, and only Coo-ee-oh knows the word that_must be uttered," said lady Aurex .

" dear me ! " exclaimed Dorothy, " that dreadful queen's witchcraft upsets all my plans to escape .I guess I'll give it up, Ozma, and let you save us ."

Ozma smiled, but her smile was not so cheerful as usual . the princess of Oz found herself confronted with a serious problem, and although she had no thought of despairing she realized that_the Skeezers and their island, as_well as Dorothy and herself, were in grave trouble and_that unless she_could find ameans to save them they_would_be lost to_the land of Oz for all future time .

" in_such a dilemma," said she, musingly, " nothing is gained by haste . careful thought may aid us, and so may the course of events . the unexpected is always likely to happen, and cheerful patience is better than reckless action ."

" all right," returned Dorothy; " take your time, Ozma; there's no hurry . how about some breakfast, lady Aurex ? "

their hostess led them back to_the house, where she ordered her trembling servants to_prepare and serve breakfast . all the Skeezers were frightened and anxious over the transformation of_their queen into a swan .Coo-ee-oh was feared and hated, but they had depended on her magic to conquer the Flatheads and she was_the only_one who_could raise their island to_the surface of_the lake again .

before breakfast was over several of_the leading Skeezers came to Aurex to ask her advice and to question princess Ozma, of whom they knew nothing except that she claimed to_be a fairy and_the ruler of all the land, including the lake of_the Skeezers .

" if what you told queen Coo-ee-oh was_the truth," they said to her, " you_are our lawful mistress, and we_may depend on you to_get us out of_our difficulties ."

" i_will try to do_that" Ozma graciously assured them, " but you_must remember that_the powers of fairies are granted them to bring comfort and happiness to all who appeal to_them . on_the contrary, such magic as Coo-ee- oh knew and practiced is unlawful witchcraft and her arts are such as no fairy would condescend to use . however, it_is sometimes necessary to consider evil in_order to accomplish good, and perhaps by studying Coo- ee-oh's tools and charms of witchcraft I may_be_able to save us . do_you promise to accept me as_your ruler and to obey my commands ? "

they promised willingly .

" then," continued Ozma, " i_will go to Coo-ee-oh's palace and take possession of it . perhaps what I_find there_will_be of use to_me . in_the meantime tell all the Skeezers to fear nothing, but have patience . let them return to_their homes and perform their daily tasks as usual .Coo-ee-oh's loss may not prove a misfortune, but rather ablessing ."

this speech cheered the Skeezers amazingly . really, they had no one now to depend upon but Ozma, and in_spite of_their dangerous position their hearts were lightened by_the transformation and absence of_their cruel queen .

they got out their brass band and a grand procession escorted Ozma and Dorothy to_the palace, where all of Coo-ee-oh's former servants were eager to wait upon them .Ozma invited lady Aurex to stay at_the palace also, for she knew all about_the Skeezers and their island and had also been a favorite of_the former queen, so her advice and information were_sure to_prove valuable .

Ozma was somewhat disappointed in what she found in_the palace . one room of Coo-ee-oh's private suite was entirely devoted to_the practice of witchcraft, and here were countless queer instruments and jars of ointments and bottles of potions labeled with queer names, and strange machines that Ozma could_not guess the use of, and pickled toads and snails and lizards, and a shelf of books that were written in blood, but in a language which the ruler of Oz did_not know .

" I_do_not_see," said Ozma to Dorothy, who accompanied her in her search, " how Coo-ee-oh knew the use of_the magic tools she stole from_the three adept Witches . moreover, from all reports these Adepts practiced only good witchcraft, such as would_be helpful to_their people, while Coo-ee-oh performed only evil ."

" perhaps she turned the good things to evil uses ? " suggested Dorothy .

" yes, and with_the knowledge she gained Coo-ee-oh doubtless invented many evil things quite unknown to_the good Adepts, who_are now fishes," added Ozma ." it_is unfortunate for_us that_the queen kept her secrets so closely guarded, for no one but herself could use any of_these strange things gathered in_this room ."

"Couldn't we capture the diamond swan and make her tell the secrets ? " asked Dorothy .

" no; even were we able to capture her, Coo-ee-oh now has forgotten all the magic she ever knew . but until we ourselves escape from_this dome we_could_not capture the swan, and were we to escape we_would_have no use for Coo-ee-oh's magic ."

" that's a fact," admitted Dorothy ." but -- say, Ozma, here's a good idea ! Couldn't we capture the three fishes -- the gold and silver and bronze ones, and couldn't you transform 'em back to_their own shapes, and then couldn't the three Adepts get us out of here ? "

" you_are_not very practical, Dorothy dear . it would_be as hard for_us to capture the three fishes, from among all the other fishes in_the lake, as_to capture the swan ."

" but if_we_could, it would_be more help to_us," persisted the little girl .

" that_is true," answered Ozma, smiling at her friend's eagerness ." you find a way to catch the fish, and I'll promise when_they are caught to restore them to_their proper forms ."

" I_know you_think I_can't do_it," replied Dorothy, " but I'm going to_try ."

she left the palace and went to a place where she_could look through a clear pane of_the glass dome into_the surrounding water . immediately she became interested in_the queer sights that met her view .

the lake of_the Skeezers was inhabited by fishes of many kinds and many sizes . the water was so transparent that_the girl could_see for a long distance and_the fishes came so close to_the glass of_the dome that sometimes they actually touched it . on_the

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