Oz 14: Glinda of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16]
showed them to a special room where Coo-ee-oh kept her magical instruments and performed all her arts of witchcraft .

chapter Twenty- three

the magic Words

many interesting things were to_be seen in_the room of magic, including much that had_been stolen from_the Adepts when_they were transformed to fishes, but they had to admit that Coo-ee-oh had a rare genius for mechanics, and had used her knowledge in inventing alot of mechanical apparatus that ordinary witches, wizards and sorcerers could_not understand .

they all carefully inspected this room, taking care to examine every article they came across .

" the island," said Glinda thoughtfully, "rests on a base of solid marble . when it_is submerged, as_it_is now, the base of_the island is upon_the bottom of_the lake . what puzzles me is how such a great weight can_be lifted and suspended in_the water, even by magic ."

"I now remember," returned Aujah, " that one_of_the arts we taught Coo-ee-oh was_the way to expand steel, and i_think that explains how the island is raised and lowered .I noticed in_the basement a big steel pillar that passed through_the floor and extended upward to_this palace . perhaps the end of it_is concealed in_this very room . if_the lower end of_the steel pillar is firmly embedded in_the bottom of_the lake, Coo-ee-oh could utter a magic word that_would make_the pillar expand, and so lift the entire island to_the level of_the water ."

"I've found the end of_the steel pillar . it's just here," announced the wizard, pointing to one side of_the room where a great basin of polished steel seemed to_have_been set upon_the floor .

they all gathered around, and Ozma said:

" yes, I_am quite_sure that_is_the upper end of_the pillar that supports the island .I noticed it when I first came here . it_has_been hollowed out, you_see, and something has_been burned in_the basin, for_the fire has left its marks .I wondered what_was under the great basin and got several of_the Skeezers to_come up here and try to lift it for_me . they were strong men, but could_not move it at all ."

" it seems to_me," said Audah the adept, " that we_have discovered the manner in_which Coo-ee-oh raised the island . she_would burn some sort of magic powder in_the basin, utter the magic word, and_the pillar would lengthen out and lift the island with it ."

" what's this ? " asked Dorothy, who had_been searching around with_the others, and now noticed a slight hollow in_the wall, near to where the steel basin stood . as she spoke Dorothy pushed her thumb into_the hollow and instantly a small drawer popped out from_the wall .

the three Adepts, Glinda and_the wizard sprang forward and peered into_the drawer . it_was half filled with a grayish powder, the tiny grains of_which constantly moved as_if impelled by some living force .

" it may_be some kind of radium," said the wizard .

" no," replied Glinda, " it_is more wonderful than even radium, for I recognize it as a rare mineral powder called Gaulau by_the sorcerers .I wonder how Coo-ee-oh discovered it and where she obtained it ."

" there_is no_doubt," said Aujah the adept, " that_this_is the magic powder Coo-ee-oh burned in_the basin . if only we_knew the magic word, I_am quite_sure we_could raise the island ."

" how can we discover the magic word ? " asked Ozma, turning to Glinda as she spoke .

" that we_must now seriously consider," answered the sorceress .

so all of_them sat down in_the room of magic and began to_think . it_was so still that after a while Dorothy grew nervous . the little girl never could keep silent for long, and at_the risk of displeasing her magic-working friends she suddenly said:

" well, Coo-ee-oh used just three magic words, one to make_the bridge work, and one to make_the submarines go out of_their holes, and one to raise and lower the island . three words . and Coo-ee-oh's name is made up of just three words . one is 'Coo,' and one is 'ee,' and one is 'oh .'

the wizard frowned but Glinda looked wonderingly at_the young girl and Ozma cried out:

"A good thought, Dorothy dear ! you_may_have solved our problem ."

"I believe it_is worth a trial," agreed Glinda ." it would_be quite natural for Coo-ee-oh to divide her name into three magic syllables, and Dorothy's suggestion seems like an inspiration ."

the three Adepts also approved the trial but the brown-haired one said:

" we_must_be careful not to use the wrong word, and send the bridge out under water . the main thing, if Dorothy's idea is correct, is to hit upon_the one word that moves the island ."

" let_us experiment," suggested the wizard .

in_the drawer with_the moving gray powder was a tiny golden cup, which they thought was used for measuring .Glinda filled this cup with_the powder and carefully poured it into_the shallow basin, which_was the top of_the great steel pillar supporting the island . then Aurah the adept lighted a taper and touched it to_the powder, which instantly glowed fiery red and tumbled about_the basin with astonishing energy . while the grains of powder still glowed red the sorceress bent over it and said in a voice of command: "Coo ! "

they waited motionless to_see what would happen . there_was agrating noise and a whirl of machinery, but the island did_not move a particle .

Dorothy rushed to_the window, which overlooked the glass side of_the dome .

" the boats ! " she exclaimed ." the boats are all loose an' sailing under water ."

" we've made a mistake," said the wizard gloomily .

" but it's one which shows we_are on_the right track," declared Aujah the adept ." we_know now that Coo-ee-oh used the syllables of her name for_the magic words ."

" if 'Coo' sends out the boats, it_is probable that ee' works the bridge," suggested Ozma ." so the last part of_the name may raise the island ."

" let_us try that next then," proposed the wizard .

he scraped the embers of_the burned powder out_of_the basin and Glinda again filled the golden cup from_the drawer and placed it on top the steel pillar .Aurah lighted it with her taper and Ozma bent over the basin and murmured the long drawn syllable: "Oh-h-h ! "

instantly the island trembled and with a weird groaning noise it moved upward -- slowly, very slowly, but with a steady motion, while all the company stood by in awed silence . it_was a wonderful thing, even to_those skilled in_the arts of magic, wizardry and sorcery, to realize_that a single word could raise that great, heavy island, with its immense glass dome .

" why, we're way above the lake now ! " exclaimed Dorothy from_the window, when at last the island ceased to move .

" that_is because we lowered the level of_the water," explained Glinda .

they_could hear the Skeezers cheering lustily in_the streets of_the village as_they realized that_they were saved .

" come," said Ozma eagerly, " let_us go down and join the people ."

" not just yet," returned Glinda, a happy smile upon her lovely face, for she was overjoyed at their success ." first let_us extend the bridge to_the mainland, where our friends from_the emerald city are waiting ."

it didn't take long to_put more powder in_the basin, light it and utter the syllable "EE ! " the result was_that a door in_the basement opened and_the steel bridge moved out, extended itself joint by joint, and finally rested its far end on_the shore of_the lake just in front of_the encampment .

" now," said Glinda, " we_can go up and receive the congratulations of_the Skeezers and of_our friends of_the rescue expedition ."

across the water, on_the shore of_the lake, the patchwork girl was waving them a welcome .

chapter Twenty-Four

Glinda's triumph

of_course all those who had joined Glinda's expedition at once crossed the bridge to_the island, where they were warmly welcomed by_the Skeezers . before all the concourse of people princess Ozma made a speech from a porch of_the palace and demanded that_they recognize her as their lawful ruler and promise to obey the laws of_the land of Oz . in return she agreed to protect them from all future harm and declared they_would no longer be subjected to cruelty and abuse .

this pleased the Skeezers greatly, and when Ozma told them they_might elect a queen to rule over them, who in turn would_be subject to Ozma of Oz, they voted for lady Aurex, and_that same day the ceremony of crowning the new queen was held and Aurex was installed as mistress of_the palace .

for her prime minister the queen selected Ervic, for_the three Adepts had told of_his good judgment, faithfulness and cleverness, and all the Skeezers approved the appointment .

Glinda, the wizard and_the Adepts stood on_the bridge and recited an incantation that quite filled the lake with water again, and_the Scarecrow and_the patchwork girl climbed to_the top of_the great dome and replaced the pane of glass that had_been removed to allow Glinda and her followers to enter .

when evening came Ozma ordered a great feast prepared, to_which every Skeezer was invited . the village was beautifully decorated and brilliantly lighted and there_was music and dancing until a late hour to celebrate the liberation of_the people . for_the Skeezers had_been freed, not_only from_the water of_the lake but from_the cruelty of_their former queen .

as_the people from_the emerald city prepared the next morning to depart queen Aurex said to Ozma:

" there_is only one_thing I now fear for_my people, and that_is_the enmity of_the terrible Su-dic of_the Flatheads . he_is liable to_come here at any_time and try to annoy us, and my Skeezers are peaceful folks and unable to fight the wild and wilful Flatheads ."

" do_not worry," returned Ozma, reassuringly ." we intend to stop on_our way at_the Flatheads' enchanted mountain and punish the Su-dic for_his misdeeds ."

that satisfied Aurex and when Ozma and her followers trooped over the bridge to_the shore, having taken leave of_their friends, all the Skeezers cheered them and waved their hats and handkerchiefs, and_the band played and_the departure was indeed a ceremony long to_be remembered .

the three Adepts at magic, who had formerly ruled the Flatheads wisely and considerately, went with princess Ozma and her people, for they had promised Ozma to stay on_the mountain and again see that_the laws were enforced .

Glinda had_been told all about_the curious Flatheads and she had consulted with_the wizard and formed a plan to render them more intelligent and agreeable .

when_the party reached the mountain Ozma and Dorothy showed them how to_pass around the invisible wall -- which had_been built by_the Flatheads after_the Adepts were transformed -- and how to gain the up- and- down stairway that led to_the mountain top .

the Su-dic had watched the approach of_the party from_the edge of_the mountain and was frightened when he_saw that_the three Adepts had recovered their natural forms and were coming back to_their former home . he realized that his power would soon be gone and yet he determined to fight to_the last . he_called all the Flatheads together and armed them, and told them to arrest all who came up the stairway and hurl them over the edge of_the mountain to_the plain below . but although they feared the supreme dictator, who had threatened to punish them if they_did_not obey his commands, as_soon_as they saw the three Adepts they threw down their arms and begged their former rulers to protect them .

the three Adepts assured the excited Flatheads that_they had nothing to fear .

Seeing that his people had rebelled the Su-dic ran away and tried to hide, but the Adepts found him and had him cast into a prison, all his cans of brains being taken away from_him .

after_this easy conquest of_the Su-dic, Glinda told the Adepts of her plan, which had already been approved by Ozma of Oz, and_they joyfully agreed to_it . so, during the next few_days, the great sorceress transformed, in a way, every flathead on_the mountain .

Taking them one at_a_time, she had the can of brains that belonged to each_one opened and_the contents spread on_the flat head, after which, by_means of her arts of sorcery, she caused the head to grow over the brains -- in_the manner most people wear them -- and_they were thus rendered as intelligent and good looking as any of_the other inhabitants of_the land of Oz .

when all had_been treated in_this manner there were no more Flatheads at all, and_the Adepts decided to name their people Mountaineers . one good result of Glinda's sorcery was_that no one could now be deprived of_the brains that belonged to him and each person had exactly the share he_was entitled to .

even the Su-dic was given his portion of brains and_his flat head made round, like the others, but he_was deprived of all power to work further mischief, and with_the Adepts constantly watching him he_would_be forced to_become obedient and humble .

the golden Pig, which ran grunting about_the streets, with no brains at all, was disenchanted by Glinda, and in her woman's form was given brains and a round head . this wife of_the Su-dic had once been even more wicked than her evil husband, but she had now forgotten all her wickedness and was likely to_be a good woman thereafter .

these things being accomplished in a satisfactory manner, princess Ozma and her people bade farewell to_the three Adepts and departed for_the emerald city, well pleased with their interesting adventures .

they returned by_the road over which Ozma and Dorothy had come, stopping to_get the sawhorse and_the red wagon where they had left them .

"I'm very_glad I went to_see these peoples," said princess Ozma, " for I not_only prevented any further warfare between_them, but they_have been freed from_the rule of_the Su-dic and Coo-ee-oh and_are now happy and loyal subjects of_the land of Oz . which proves that_it_is always wise to_do one's duty, however unpleasant that duty may seem_to_be ."

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