Oz 14: Glinda of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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them curiously, with a mischievous smile upon his face . then he deliberately kicked the tiger's head with_his foot and catching up a fallen branch of a tree he went to_the wolf and gave it a good whacking . both the beasts were furious at such treatment but could_not resent it .

button bright now threw down the stick and with_his hands in_his pockets wandered carelessly away .

" now," said Glinda, " let the glass Cat run and find him . he_is in_that direction," pointing the way, " but how far off I_do_not know . make haste and lead him back to_us as quickly as_you_can ."

the glass Cat did_not obey everyone's orders, but she really feared the great sorceress, so as_soon_as_the words were spoken the crystal animal darted away and was quickly lost to sight .

the wizard handed the mirror back to Glinda, for_the woodland scene had now faded from_the glass . then those who cared to rest sat down to await button bright's coming . it_was not long before be appeared through_the trees and as he rejoined his friends he_said in a peevish tone:

"Don't ever send that glass Cat to_find me again . she was very impolite and, if_we didn't all know that she had no manners, I'd say she insulted me ."

Glinda turned upon_the boy sternly .

" you_have caused all of us much anxiety and annoyance," said she ." only my magic saved you from destruction .I forbid you to_get lost again ."

" of_course," he answered ." it won't be my fault if I get lost again; but it wasn't my fault this_time ."

chapter Sixteen

the enchanted Fishes

I_must now tell you what happened to Ervic and_the three other Skeezers who were left floating in_the iron boat after queen Coo-ee-oh had_been transformed into a diamond swan by_the magic of_the flathead Su-dic .

the four Skeezers were all young men and their leader was Ervic .Coo-ee-oh had taken them with her in_the boat to assist her if she captured the flathead chief, as she hoped to_do by_means of her silver rope . they knew nothing about_the witchcraft that moved the submarine and so, when left floating upon_the lake, were at a loss what to_do . the submarine could_not_be submerged by_them or made to return to_the sunken island . there were neither oars nor sails in_the boat, which_was not anchored but drifted quietly upon_the surface of_the lake .

the diamond swan had no further thought or care for her people . she had sailed over to_the other side of_the lake and all the calls and pleadings of Ervic and_his companions were unheeded by_the vain bird . as_there_was nothing else for_them to_do, they sat quietly in their boat and waited as patiently as they_could for someone to_come to_their aid .

the Flatheads had refused to help them and had gone back to_their mountain . all the Skeezers were imprisoned in_the great dome and could_not help even themselves . when evening came, they saw the diamond swan, still keeping to_the opposite shore of_the lake, walk out_of_the water to_the sands, shake her diamond- sprinkled feathers, and then disappear among_the bushes to seek aresting place for_the night .

"I'm hungry," said Ervic .

"I'm cold," said another Skeezer .

"I'm tired," said a third .

"I'm afraid," said the last one_of_them .

but it did them no good to complain . night fell and_the moon rose and cast a silvery sheen over the surface of_the water .

" go to sleep," said Ervic to_his companions ."I'll stay awake and watch, for we_may_be rescued in some unexpected way .

so the other three laid themselves down in_the bottom of_the boat and were soon fast asleep .

Ervic watched . he rested himself by leaning over the bow of_the boat, his face near to_the moonlit water, and thought dreamily of_the day's surprising events and wondered what would happen to_the prisoners in_the great dome .

suddenly a tiny goldfish popped its head above the surface of_the lake, not more than a foot from_his eyes .asilverfish then raised its head beside that of_the goldfish, and a moment later abronzefish lifted its head beside the others . the three fish, all in a row, looked earnestly with their round, bright eyes into_the astonished eyes of Ervic the Skeezer .

" we_are the three Adepts whom queen Coo-ee-oh betrayed and wickedly transformed," said the goldfish, its voice low and soft but distinctly heard in_the stillness of_the night .

" I_know of_our queen's treacherous deed," replied Ervic, " and I_am sorry for your misfortune . have_you been in_the lake ever_since ? "

" yes," was_the reply .

"I -- I_hope you_are well -- and comfortable," stammered Ervic, not knowing what else to_say .

" we_knew that some day Ooo-ee-oh would meet with_the fate she so richly deserves," declared the bronzefish ." we_have waited and watched for this_time . now if_you_will promise to help_us and will_be faithful and true, you_can aid us in regaining our natural forms, and save yourself and all your people from_the dangers that now threaten you ."

" well," said Ervic, " you_can depend on my doing the best I_can . but I'm no witch, nor magician, you_must know ."

" all we ask is_that you obey our instructions," returned the silverfish ." we_know that you_are honest and_that you served Coo-ee-oh only because you were obliged to in_order to escape her anger . do as_we command and all will_be well ."

"I promise ! " exclaimed the young man ." tell me what I_am to_do first ."

" you_will_find in_the bottom of your boat the silver cord which dropped from Coo-ee-oh's hand when she was transformed," said the goldfish ." tie one end of_that cord to_the bow of your boat and drop the other end to_us in_the water . together we_will pull your boat to_the shore ."

Ervic much doubted that_the three small fishes could move so heavy a boat, but he_did as he_was told and_the fishes all seized their end of_the silver cord in their mouths and headed toward the nearest shore, which_was the very place where the Flatheads had stood when_they conquered queen Coo-ee-oh .

at first the boat did_not move at all, although the fishes pulled with all their strength . but presently the strain began to_tell . very slowly the boat crept toward the shore, gaining more speed at every moment .a couple of yards away from_the sandy beach the fishes dropped the cord from their mouths and swam to one side, while the iron boat, being now under way, continued to move until its prow grated upon_the sands .

Ervic leaned over the side and said to_the fishes: " what next ? "

" you_will_find upon_the sand," said the silverfish, "a copper kettle, which the Su-dic forgot when he went away . cleanse it thoroughly in_the water of_the lake, for_it has had poison in_it . when it_is cleaned, fill it with fresh water and hold it over the side of_the boat, so_that we three may swim into_the kettle . we_will then instruct you further ."

" do_you wish me to catch you, then ? " asked Ervic in surprise .

" yes," was_the reply .

so Ervic jumped out_of_the boat and found the copper kettle .Carrying it a little way down the beach, he washed it well, scrubbing away every drop of_the poison it had contained with sand from_the shore

then he went back to_the boat .

Ervic's comrades were still sound asleep and knew nothing of_the three fishes or what strange happenings were taking place about_them .Ervic dipped the kettle in_the lake, holding fast to_the handle until it_was under water . the gold and silver and bronze fishes promptly swam into_the kettle . the young Skeezer then lifted it, poured out a little of_the water so it would_not spill over the edge, and said to_the fishes: " what next ? "

" carry the kettle to_the shore . take one hundred steps to_the east, along the edge of_the lake, and then you_will_see a path leading through_the meadows, up hill and down dale . follow the path until you come to a cottage which_is painted a purple color with white trimmings . when_you stop at_the gate of_this cottage we_will tell you what to_do next . be careful, above all, not to stumble and spill the water from_the kettle, or you_would destroy us and all you have_done would_be in vain ."

the goldfish issued these commands and Ervic promised to_be careful and started to obey . he left his sleeping comrades in_the boat, stepping cautiously over their bodies, and on reaching the shore took exactly one hundred steps to_the east . then he looked for_the path and_the moonlight was so bright that he easily discovered it, although it_was hidden from view by tall weeds until one came full upon it . this path was very narrow and did_not seem_to_be much used, but it_was quite distinct and Ervic had no difficulty in following it . he walked through a broad meadow, covered with tall grass and weeds, up a hill and down into a valley and then up another hill and down again .

it seemed to Ervic that he had walked miles and miles . indeed the moon sank low and day was beginning to dawn when finally he discovered by_the roadside a pretty little cottage, painted purple with white trimmings . it_was a lonely place -- no other buildings were anywhere about and_the ground was not tilled at all . no farmer lived here, that was certain . who_would care to dwell in_such an isolated place ?

but Ervic did_not bother his head long with_such questions . he went up_to_the gate that led to_the cottage, set the copper kettle carefully down and bending over it asked:

" what next ? "

chapter Seventeen

under the great dome

when Glinda the good and her followers of_the rescue expedition came in sight of_the enchanted mountain of_the Flatheads, it_was away to_the left of_them, for_the route they had taken through_the great forest was some distance from_that followed by Ozma and Dorothy .

they halted awhile to decide whether they should call upon_the supreme dictator first, or go on to_the lake of_the Skeezers .

" if_we go to_the mountain," said the wizard, " we_may get into trouble with_that wicked Su-dic, and then we_would_be delayed in rescuing Ozma and Dorothy . so i_think our best plan will_be to_go to_the Skeezer country, raise the sunken island and save our friends and_the imprisoned Skeezers .Afterward we_can visit the mountain and punish the cruel magician of_the Flatheads ."

" that_is sensible," approved the shaggy man ."I quite agree with_you ."

the others, too, seemed to_think the wizard's plan the best, and Glinda herself commended it, so on they marched toward the line of palm trees that hid the Skeezers' lake from view .

pretty soon they came to_the palms . these were set closely together, the branches, which came quite to_the ground, being so tightly interlaced that even the glass Cat could scarcely find a place to squeeze through . the path which the Flatheads used was some distance away .

" here's a job for_the tin woodman," said the Scarecrow .

so the tin woodman, who was always glad to_be of use, set to work with_his sharp, gleaming axe, which he always carried, and in a surprisingly short time had chopped away enough branches to permit them all to_pass easily through_the trees .

now the clear waters of_the beautiful lake were before them and by looking closely they_could see the outlines of_the great dome of_the sunken island, far from shore and directly in_the center of_the lake .

of_course every eye was at first fixed upon_this dome, where Ozma and Dorothy and_the Skeezers were still fast prisoners . but soon their attention was caught by a more brilliant sight, for here was_the diamond swan swimming just before them, its long neck arched proudly, the amethyst eyes gleaming and all the diamond- sprinkled feathers glistening splendidly under the rays of_the sun .

" that," said Glinda, " is_the transformation of queen Coo-ce-oh, the haughty and wicked witch who betrayed the three Adepts at magic and treated her people like slaves ."

" she's wonderfully beautiful now," remarked the Frogman .

" it doesn't seem like much of a punishment," said trot ." the flathead Su-dic ought_to_have made her a toad ."

" I_am_sure Coo-ee-oh is punished," said Glinda, " for she has lost all her magic power and her grand palace and can no longer misrule the poor Skeezers ."

" let_us call to her, and hear what she has_to say," proposed the wizard .

so Glinda beckoned the diamond swan, which swam gracefully to a position near them . before anyone could speak Coo-ee-oh called to_them in arasping voice -- for_the voice of a swan is always harsh and unpleasant -- and said with much pride:

" admire me, Strangers ! admire the lovely Coo-ee-oh, the handsomest creature in all Oz . admire me ! "

" handsome is as handsome does," replied the Scarecrow ." are your deeds lovely, Coo-ce-oh ? "

"Deeds ? what deeds can a swan do but swim around and give pleasure to all beholders ? " said the sparkling bird .

" have_you forgotten your former life ? have_you forgotten your magic and witchcraft ? " inquired the wizard .

" magic -- witchcraft ? Pshaw, who cares for such silly things ? " retorted Coo-ee-oh ." as for_my past life, it seems like an unpleasant dream .I wouldn't go back to_it if I_could .Don't you admire my beauty, Strangers ? "

" tell us, Coo-ee-oh," said Glinda earnestly, " if_you_can recall enough of your witchcraft to enable us to raise the sunken island to_the surface of_the lake . tell us that and I'll give_you a string of pearls to wear around your neck and add to your beauty ."

" nothing can add to my beauty, for I'm the most beautiful creature anywhere in_the whole world ."

" but how can we raise the island ? "

"I don't know and I don't care . if ever I_knew I've forgotten, and I'm glad of it," was_the response ." just watch me circle around and_see me glitter !

" it's no use," said

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