Oz 14: Glinda of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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my name is Aujah," said the third .

Glinda had never heard these names before, but looking closely at_the three she asked:

" are_you witches or workers in magic ? "

" some_of_the secret arts we_have gleaned from nature," replied the brownhaired maiden modestly, " but we_do_not place our skill beside that of_the great sorceress, Glinda the good ."

"I suppose you_are aware it_is unlawful to practice magic in_the land of Oz, without the permission of_our ruler, princess Ozma ? "

" no, we were_not aware of_that," was_the reply ." we_have heard of Ozma, who is_the appointed ruler of all this great fairyland, but her laws have_not reached us, as_yet ."

Glinda studied the strange maidens thoughtfully; then she said to_them:

" princess Ozma is even now imprisoned in_the Skeezer village . for_the whole island with its great dome, was sunk to_the bottom of_the lake by_the witchcraft of Coo-ee-oh, whom the flathead Su-dic transformed into a silly swan . I_am seeking some way to overcome Coo-ee-oh's magic and raise the isle to_the surface again . can_you help me do_this ? "

the maidens exchanged glances, and_the white-haired one replied

" we_do_not know; but we_will try to assist you ."

" it seems," continued Glinda musingly, " that Coo-ee-oh derived most of her witchcraft from three Adepts at magic, who at one_time ruled the Flatheads . while the Adepts were being entertained by Coo-ee-oh at a banquet in her palace, she cruelly betrayed them and after transforming them into fishes cast them into_the lake .

" if I_could find these three fishes and return them to_their natural shapes -- they_might know what magic Coo-ee-oh used to sink the island . i_was about to_go to_the shore and call these fishes to_me when_you arrived . so, if_you_will join me, we_will try to_find them ."

the maidens exchanged smiles now, and_the golden- haired one, Audah, said to Glinda:

" it_will_not_be necessary to_go to_the lake . we_are the three fishes ."

" indeed ! " cried Glinda ." then you_are the three Adepts at magic, restored to your proper forms ? "

" we_are the three Adepts," admitted Aujah .

" then," said Glinda, " my task is half accomplished . but who destroyed the transformation that made you fishes ? "

" we_have promised not to_tell," answered Aurah; " but this young Skeezer was largely responsible for_our release; he_is brave and clever, and we owe him our gratitude ."

Glinda looked at Ervic, who stood modestly behind the Adepts, hat in hand ." he shall be properly rewarded," she declared, " for in helping you he has helped us all, and perhaps saved his people from being imprisoned forever in_the sunken isle ."

the sorceress now asked her guests to seat themselves and a long talk followed, in_which_the wizard of Oz shared .

" we_are quite certain," said Aurah, " that if_we_could get inside the dome we_could discover Coo-ee-oh's secrets, for in all her work, after we became fishes, she used the formulas and incantations and arts that she stole from_us . she may_have added to_these things, but they were the foundation of all her work ."

" what means do_you suggest for_our getting into_the dome ? " inquired Glinda .

the three Adepts hesitated to reply, for they had_not yet considered what could_be_done to reach the inside of_the great dome . while they were in deep thought, and Glinda and_the wizard were quietly awaiting their suggestions, into_the tent rushed trot and Betsy, dragging between_them the patchwork girl .

"Oh, Glinda," cried trot, "Scraps has thought of a way to rescue Ozma and Dorothy and all of_the Skeezers ."

the three Adepts could_not avoid laughing merrily, for not_only were they amused by_the queer form of_the patchwork girl, but trot's enthusiastic speech struck them as really funny . if_the great sorceress and_the famous wizard and_the three talented Adepts at magic were unable as_yet to solve the important problem of_the sunken isle, there_was little chance for a patched girl stuffed with cotton to succeed .

but Glinda, smiling indulgently at_the earnest faces turned toward her, patted the children's heads and said:

"Scraps is very clever . tell us what she has thought of, my dear ."

" well," said trot, "Scraps says that if_you_could dry up all the water in_the lake the island would_be on dry land, an' everyone could come and go whenever they liked ."

Glinda smiled again, but the wizard said to_the girls:

" if we_should dry up the lake, what would become of all the beautiful fishes that now live in_the water ? "

" dear me ! that's so," admitted Betsy, crestfallen; " we never thought of_that, did we trot ? "

"Couldn't you transform 'em into polliwogs ? " asked Scraps, turning a somersault and then standing on one leg ." you_could give them a little, teeny pond to swim in, and_they'd be just as happy as_they_are as fishes ."

" no indeed ! " replied the wizard, severely ." it_is wicked to transform any living creatures without their consent, and_the lake is_the home of_the fishes and belongs to_them ."

" all right," said Scraps, making a face at him; "I don't care ."

" it's too bad," sighed trot, " for i_thought we'd struck a splendid idea ."

" so you_did," declared Glinda, her face now grave and thoughtful ." there_is something in_the patchwork girl's idea that_may_be of real value to_us ."

" i_think so, too," agreed the golden-haired adept ." the top of_the great dome is only a few feet below the surface of_the water . if_we_could reduce the level of_the lake until the dome sticks a little above the water, we_could remove some_of_the glass and let ourselves down into_the village by_means of ropes ."

" and there would_be plenty of water left for_the fishes to swim in," added the white-haired maiden .

" if_we succeed in raising the island we_could fill up the lake again," suggested the brown-haired adept .

"I believe," said the wizard, rubbing his hands together in delight, " that_the patchwork girl has shown us the way to success ."

the girls were looking curiously at_the three beautiful Adepts, wondering who they were, so Glinda introduced them to trot and Betsy and Scraps, and then sent the children away while she considered how to carry the new idea into effect .

not much could_be_done that night, so the wizard prepared another tent for_the Adepts, and in_the evening Glinda held a reception and invited all her followers to meet the new arrivals . the Adepts were greatly astonished at_the extraordinary personages presented to_them, and marveled that jack Pumpkinhead and_the Scarecrow and_the tin woodman and Tik-Tok could really live and think and talk just like other people . they were especially pleased with_the lively patchwork girl and loved to watch her antics .

it_was quite a pleasant party, for Glinda served some dainty refreshments to_those who_could eat, and_the Scarecrow recited some poems, and_the cowardly lion sang a song in_his deep bass voice . the_only_thing that marred their joy was_the thought that their beloved Ozma and dear little Dorothy were yet confined in_the great dome of_the sunken island .

chapter Twenty- two

the sunken island

as_soon_as they had breakfasted the next morning, Glinda and_the wizard and_the three Adepts went down to_the shore of_the lake and formed a line with their faces toward the submerged island . all the others came to watch them, but stood at a respectful distance in_the background .

at_the right of_the sorceress stood Audah and Aurah, while at_the left stood the wizard and Aujah . together they stretched their arms over the water's edge and in unison the five chanted a rhythmic incantation .

this chant they repeated again and again, swaying their arms gently from side to side, and in_a_few_minutes the watchers behind them noticed that_the lake had begun to recede from_the shore . before long the highest point of_the dome appeared above the water . gradually the water fell, making the dome appear to rise . when it_was three or four feet above the surface Glinda gave the signal to stop, for their work had_been accomplished .

the blackened submarine was now entirely out of water, but uncle Henry and Cap'n bill managed to push it into_the lake .Glinda, the wizard, Ervic and_the Adepts got into_the boat, taking with_them a coil of strong rope, and at_the command of_the sorceress the craft cleaved its way through_the water toward the part of_the dome which_was now visible .

" there's still plenty of water for_the fish to swim in," observed the wizard as_they rode along ." they_might like more but I'm sure they_can get along until we_have raised the island and can fill up the lake again ."

the boat touched gently on_the sloping glass of_the dome, and_the wizard took some tools from_his black bag and quickly removed one large pane of glass, thus making a hole large enough for their bodies to_pass through . stout frames of steel supported the glass of_the dome, and around one_of_these frames the wizard tied the end of a rope .

"I'll go down first," said he, " for while I'm not as spry as Cap'n bill I'm sure I_can manage it easily . are_you sure the rope is long enough to reach the bottom ? "

" quite_sure," replied the sorceress .

so the wizard let down the rope and climbing through_the opening lowered himself down, hand over hand, clinging to_the rope with_his legs and feet . below in_the streets of_the village were gathered all the Skeezers, men, women and children, and you_may_be_sure that Ozma and Dorothy, with lady Aurex, were filled with joy that their friends were at last coming to_their rescue .

the queen's palace, now occupied by Ozma, was directly in_the center of_the dome, so_that when_the rope was let down the end of it came just in front of_the palace entrance . several Skeezers held fast to_the rope's end to steady it and_the wizard reached the ground in safety . he hugged first Ozma and then Dorothy, while all the Skeezers cheered as loud as they_could .

the wizard now discovered that_the rope was long enough to reach from_the top of_the dome to_the ground when doubled, so he tied a chair to one end of_the rope and called to Glinda to sit in_the chair while he and some_of_the Skeezers lowered her to_the pavement . in_this_way the sorceress reached the ground quite comfortably and_the three Adepts and Ervic soon followed her .

the Skeezers quickly recognized the three Adepts at magic, whom they had learned to respect before their wicked queen betrayed them, and welcomed them as friends . all the inhabitants of_the village had_been greatly frightened by their imprisonment under water, but now realized that an attempt was to_be made to rescue them .

Glinda, the wizard and_the Adepts followed Ozma and Dorothy into_the palace, and_they asked lady Aurex and Ervic to join them . after Ozma had told of her adventures in trying to_prevent war between_the Flatheads and_the Skeezers, and Glinda had told all about_the rescue expedition and_the restoration of_the three Adepts by_the help of Ervic, a serious consultation was held as_to how the island could_be made to rise .

"I've tried every way in my power," said Ozma, " but Coo-ee-oh used a very unusual sort of magic which I_do_not understand . she seems to_have prepared her witchcraft in_such_a_way that a spoken word is necessary to accomplish her designs, and these spoken words are known only to herself ."

" that_is a method we taught her," declared Aurah the adept .

" I_can do no more, Glinda," continued Ozma, " so i_wish you_would try what your sorcery can accomplish ."

" first, then," said Glinda, " let_us visit the basement of_the island, which I_am told is underneath the village ."

a flight of marble stairs led from one of Coo-ee-oh's private rooms down to_the basement, but when_the party arrived all were puzzled by what they saw . in_the center of a broad, low room, stood a mass of great cog- wheels, chains and pulleys, all interlocked and seeming to_form a huge machine; but there_was no engine or other motive power to make_the wheels turn .

" this, I suppose, is_the means by_which the island is lowered or raised," said Ozma, " but the magic word which_is needed to move the machinery is unknown to_us ."

the three Adepts were carefully examining the mass of wheels, and soon the golden-haired one said:

" these wheels do_not control the island at all . on_the contrary, one set of_them is used to open the doors of_the little rooms where the submarines are kept, as may_be seen from_the chains and pulleys used . each boat is kept in a little room with two doors, one to_the basement room where we_are now and_the other letting into_the lake .

" when Coo-ee-oh used the boat in_which she attacked the Flatheads, she first commanded the basement door to open and with her followers she got into_the boat and made the top close over them . then the basement door being closed, the outer door was slowly opened, letting the water fill the room to float the boat, which then left the island, keeping under water ."

" but how could she expect to_get back again ? " asked the wizard .

" why the boat would enter the room filled with water and after_the outer door was closed a word of command started a pump which pumped all the water from_the room . then the boat would open and Coo-ee-oh could enter the basement ."

" I_see," said the wizard ." it_is a clever contrivance, but won't work unless one knows the magic words ."

" another part of_this machinery," explained the white-haired adept, " is used to extend the bridge from_the island to_the mainland . the steel bridge is in a room much like that in_which_the boats are kept, and at Coo-ce-oh's command it would reach out, joint by joint, until its far end touched the shore of_the lake . the same magic command would make_the bridge return to its former position . of_course the bridge could_not_be used unless the island was on_the surface of_the water ."

" but how do_you suppose Coo-ee-oh managed to sink the island, and make it rise again ? " inquired Glinda .

this the Adepts could_not yet explain . as nothing more could_be learned from_the basement they mounted the steps to_the queen's private suite again, and Ozma showed

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