Oz 14: Glinda of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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GLINDA of OZ

in_which are related the Exciting experiences of princess Ozma of Oz, and Dorothy, in their hazardous journey to_the home of_the Flatheads, and to_the magic isle of_the Skeezers, and how they were rescued from dire peril by_the sorcery of Glinda the good

by L . frank BAUM " royal historian of Oz"

this book is dedicated to my son Robert Stanton Baum

list of CHAPTERS
1 the call of duty
2 Ozma and Dorothy
3 the mist Maidens
4 the magic tent
5 the magic stairway
6 flathead mountain
7 the magic isle
8 queen Coo-ee-oh
9 lady Aurex
10 under water
11 the conquest of_the Skeezers
12 the diamond swan
13 the alarm bell
14 Ozma's Counsellors
15 the great sorceress
16 the enchanted Fishes
17 under the great dome
18 the cleverness of Ervic
19 red Reera, the Yookoohoo ..
20 aPuzzling problem
21 the three Adepts
22 the sunken island
23 the magic Words
24 Glinda's triumph

chapter one

the call to duty

Glinda, the good sorceress of Oz, sat in_the grand court of her palace, surrounded by her maids of honor -- a hundred of_the most beautiful girls of_the fairyland of Oz . the palace court was built of rare marbles, exquisitely polished .Fountains tinkled musically here and there; the vast colonnade, open to_the south, allowed the maidens, as_they raised their heads from their embroideries, to gaze upon a vista of rose-hued fields and groves of trees bearing fruits or laden with sweet- scented flowers . at times one_of_the girls would start a song, the others joining in_the chorus, or one would rise and dance, gracefully swaying to_the music of a harp played by a companion . and then Glinda smiled, glad_to_see her maids mixing play with work .

presently among_the fields an object was seen moving, threading the broad path that led to_the castle gate . some_of_the girls looked upon_this object enviously; the sorceress merely gave it a glance and nodded her stately head as_if pleased, for_it meant the coming of her friend and mistress -- the only_one in all the land that Glinda bowed to .

then up the path trotted a wooden animal attached to a red wagon, and as_the quaint steed halted at_the gate there descended from_the wagon two young girls, Ozma, ruler of Oz, and her companion, princess Dorothy . both were dressed in simple white muslin gowns, and as_they ran up the marble steps of_the palace they laughed and chatted as gaily as if_they were_not the most important persons in_the_world's loveliest fairyland .

the maids of honor had risen and stood with bowed heads to greet the royal Ozma, while Glinda came forward with outstretched arms to greet her guests .

" we've just come on a visit, you_know," said Ozma ." both Dorothy and I were wondering how we_should pass the day when we happened to_think we'd not been to your Quadling country for weeks, so we took the sawhorse and rode straight here ."

" and we came so fast," added Dorothy, " that_our hair is blown all fuzzy, for_the sawhorse makes a wind of_his own . usually it's a day's journey from_the Em'rald city, but I don't s' pose we were two hours on_the way ."

" you_are most welcome," said Glinda the sorceress, and led them through_the court to her magnificent reception hall .Ozma took the arm of her hostess, but Dorothy lagged behind, kissing some_of_the maids she knew best, talking with others, and making them all feel that she was their friend . when at last she joined Glinda and Ozma in_the reception hall, she found them talking earnestly about_the condition of_the people, and how to_make them more happy and contented -- although they were already the happiest and most contented folks in all the world .

this interested Ozma, of_course, but it didn't interest Dorothy very_much, so the little girl ran over to a big table on which_was lying open Glinda's great book of Records .

this book is one_of_the greatest treasures in Oz, and_the sorceress prizes it more highly than any of her magical possessions . that_is_the reason it_is firmly attached to_the big marble table by_means of golden chains, and whenever Glinda leaves home she locks the great book together with five jeweled padlocks, and carries the keys safely hidden in her bosom .

I_do_not suppose there_is any magical thing in any fairyland to compare with_the record book, on_the pages of_which are constantly being printed a record of every event that happens in any part of_the world, at exactly the moment it happens . and_the records are always truthful, although sometimes they_do_not give as_many details as one could wish . but then, lots of things happen, and so the records have to_be brief or even Glinda's great book could_not hold them all .

Glinda looked at_the records several_times each_day, and Dorothy, whenever she visited the sorceress, loved to look in_the book and_see what_was happening everywhere . not much was recorded about_the land of Oz, which_is usually peaceful and uneventful, but today Dorothy found something which interested her . indeed, the printed letters were appearing on_the page even while she looked .

" this_is funny ! " she exclaimed ." did you_know, Ozma, that there were people in your land of Oz called Skeezers ? "

" yes," replied Ozma, coming to her side, " I_know that on professor Wogglebug's map of_the land of Oz there_is a place marked 'Skeezer,' but what the Skeezers are like I_do_not know . no one I_know has ever seen them or heard of_them . the Skeezer country is ' way at_the upper edge of_the Gillikin country, with_the sandy, impassable desert on one side and_the mountains of Oogaboo on another side . that_is a part of_the land of Oz of_which I_know very little ."

"I guess no one else knows much about_it either, unless it's the Skeezers themselves," remarked Dorothy ." but the book says: ' the Skeezers of Oz have declared war on_the Flatheads of Oz, and there_is likely to_be fighting and much trouble as_the result .'"

" is_that all the book says ? " asked Ozma .

" every word," said Dorothy, and Ozma and Glinda both looked at_the record and seemed surprised and perplexed .

" tell me, Glinda," said Ozma, " who_are the Flatheads ? "

" I_cannot, your majesty," confessed the sorceress ." until now I never have heard of_them, nor have I ever heard the Skeezers mentioned . in_the faraway corners of Oz are hidden many curious tribes of people, and those who never leave their own countries and never are visited by_those from_our favored part of Oz, naturally are unknown to_me . however, if_you so desire, I_can learn through my arts of sorcery something of_the Skeezers and_the Flatheads ."

" i_wish you_would," answered Ozma seriously ." you_see, Glinda, if these are Oz people they_are my subjects and I_cannot allow any wars or troubles in_the land I rule, if I_can possibly help it ."

" very_well, your majesty," said the sorceress, " i_will try to_get some information to guide you . please excuse me for a time, while I retire to my room of magic and sorcery ."

" may I go with_you ? " asked Dorothy, eagerly .

" no, princess," was_the reply ." it would spoil the charm to_have anyone present ."

so Glinda locked herself in her own room of magic and Dorothy and Ozma waited patiently for her to_come out again .

in about an hour Glinda appeared, looking grave and thoughtful .

" your majesty," she said to Ozma, " the Skeezers live on a magic isle in a great lake . for_that reason -- because the Skeezers deal in magic -- I_can learn little about_them ."

" why, I didn't know there_was a lake in_that part of Oz," exclaimed Ozma ." the map shows a river running through_the Skeezer country, but no lake ."

" that_is because the person who_made the map never had visited that part of_the country," explained the sorceress ." the lake surely is_there, and in_the lake is an island -- a magic isle -- and on_that island live the people called the Skeezers ."

" what_are they like ? " inquired the ruler of Oz .

" my magic cannot tell me that," confessed Glinda, " for_the magic of_the Skeezers prevents anyone outside of_their domain knowing anything about_them ."

" the Flatheads must know, if_they're going to fight the Skeezers," suggested Dorothy

" perhaps so," Glinda replied, " but I_can get little information concerning the Flatheads, either . they_are people who inhabit a mountain just south of_the lake of_the Skeezers . the mountain has steep sides and a broad, hollow top, like a basin, and in_this basin the Flatheads have their dwellings . they also are magic- workers and usually keep to themselves and allow no one from outside to visit them . I_have learned that_the Flatheads number about one hundred people -- men, women and children -- while the Skeezers number just one hundred and one ."

" what did they quarrel about, and why do they wish to fight one another ? " was Ozma's next question .

" I_cannot tell your majesty that," said Glinda .

" but see here ! " cried Dorothy, " it's against the law for anyone but Glinda and_the wizard to work magic in_the land of Oz, so if these two strange people are magic-makers they_are breaking the law and ought_to_be punished ! " Ozma smiled upon her little friend .

" those who_do_not know me or my laws," she said, " cannot_be expected to obey my laws . if we_know nothing of_the Skeezers or the Flatheads, it_is likely that_they know nothing of us ."

" but they ought to_know, Ozma, and we ought to_know . who's going to_tell them, and how are we going to_make them behave ? "

" that," returned Ozma, " is what I_am now considering . what would you advise, Glinda ? "

the sorceress took a little time to consider this question, before she made reply . then she said: " had you not learned of_the existence of_the Flatheads and_the Skeezers, through my book of Records, you_would never have worried about_them or their quarrels . so, if_you pay no attention to_these peoples, you_may never hear of_them again ."

" but that wouldn't be right," declared Ozma ." I_am ruler of all the land of Oz, which includes the Gillikin country, the Quadling country, the Winkie country and_the Munchkin country, as_well as_the emerald city, and being the princess of_this fairyland it_is my duty to_make all my people -- wherever they_may_be -- happy and content and to settle their disputes and keep them from quarreling . so, while the Skeezers and Flatheads may not know me or that I_am their lawful ruler, I now know that_they inhabit my kingdom and_are my subjects, so I would_not_be doing my duty if I kept away from_them and allowed them to fight ."

" that's a fact, Ozma," commented Dorothy ." you've got to_go up_to_the Gillikin country and make these people behave themselves and make up their quarrels . but how are_you going to_do_it ? "

" that_is what_is puzzling me also, your majesty," said the sorceress ." it may_be dangerous for_you to_go into those strange countries, where the people are possibly fierce and warlike ."

" I_am not afraid," said Ozma, with a smile .

"'Tisn't a question of being 'fraid," argued Dorothy ." of_course we_know you're a fairy, and can't be killed or hurt, and we_know you've alot of magic of your own to help_you . but, Ozma dear, in_spite of all this you've been in trouble before, on account of wicked enemies, and it isn't right for_the ruler of all Oz to_put herself in danger ."

" perhaps I_shall_be in no danger at all," returned Ozma, with a little laugh ." you mustn't imagine danger, Dorothy, for_one should only imagine nice things, and we_do_not know that_the Skeezers and Flatheads are wicked people or my enemies . perhaps they_would_be good and listen to reason ."

" Dorothy is right, your majesty," asserted the sorceress ." it_is true we_know nothing of_these faraway subjects, except that_they intend to fight one another, and_have a certain amount of magic power at their command . such folks do_not like to submit to interference and_they are more likely to resent your coming among them than to receive you kindly and graciously, as is your due ."

" if_you had an army to_take with_you," added Dorothy, " it wouldn't be so bad; but there isn't such a thing as an army in all Oz ."

" I_have one soldier," said Ozma .

" yes, the soldier with_the green whiskers; but he's dreadful 'fraid of_his gun and never loads it .I'm sure he'd run rather than fight . and one soldier, even if he were brave, couldn't do much against two hundred and one Flatheads and Skeezers ."

" what then, my friends, would you suggest ? " inquired Ozma .

"I advise you to send the wizard of Oz to_them, and let him inform them that_it_is against the laws of Oz to fight, and_that you command them to settle their differences and become friends," proposed Glinda ." let the wizard tell them they_will_be punished if_they refuse to obey the commands of_the princess of all the land of Oz ."

Ozma shook her head, to indicate that_the advice was not to her satisfaction .

" if_they refuse, what then ? " she asked ." i_should_be obliged to carry out my threat and punish them, and that_would_be an unpleasant and difficult thing to_do . I_am_sure it would_be better for_me to_go peacefully, without an army and armed only with my authority as ruler, and plead with_them to obey me . then, if_they prove obstinate I_could resort to other means to win their obedience ."

" it's a ticklish thing, anyhow you look at it," sighed Dorothy ."I'm sorry now that I noticed the record in_the great book ."

" but can't you realize, my dear, that I_must do my duty, now that I_am aware of_this trouble ? " asked Ozma ." I_am fully determined to_go at once to_the magic isle of_the Skeezers and to_the enchanted mountain of_the Flatheads, and prevent war and strife between their inhabitants . the only question to decide is whether it_is better for_me to_go alone, or to assemble a party of_my friends and loyal supporters to accompany me ."

" if_you go i_want to_go, too," declared Dorothy ." whatever happens it's going to_be fun -- ' cause all excitement is fun -- and I wouldn't miss it for_the world ! "

neither Ozma nor Glinda paid any attention to_this statement, for they were gravely considering the serious aspect of_this proposed adventure .

" there_are plenty of friends who_would like to_go with_you," said the sorceress, " but none_of_them would afford your majesty any protection in_case you were in danger . you_are yourself the most powerful fairy in Oz, although both I and_the wizard have more

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