Oz 21: The Gnome King of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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do_you say to this_one ? " Separating a bright green one from_the bunch, he held it out invitingly .

" how_much ? " asked Peter doubtfully . he liked being called a young gentleman, and_the more he looked at_the green balloon, the more it fascinated him . the balloon man had already seen the quarter in Peter's hand and quickly stating that twenty-five cents was_the price, he thrust the balloon upon Peter and pocketed his quarter, all so quickly the little boy fairly gasped . why, he had_not even made up his mind to_buy, and yet here he_was with_the green balloon and there_was the man with_his quarter . uncertainly, Peter stood staring at_the balloon man .

" it's a bird ! " whispered the merchant, leaning forward to touch the balloon lovingly with_the tips of_his fingers ."Ah-h-h ! " as_the balloon man said "Ah ! " a crowd of Peter's friends turned the corner and not wishing them to catch him with anything so babyish as a balloon, Peter started to run across the square . and never had Peter run so easily . each step took him four or five paces ahead, and when he_found himself bounding entirely over the fountain in_the center of_the square, he wisely decided to stop running . so he_did, but it made no difference . his legs stopped moving, to_be_sure, but Peter himself shot upward, soaring lightly as a feather over tree tops, house tops, huge buildings and church steeples . not until the tall figure of William Penn, on_the town hall, faded into_the merest dot, did Peter remember the balloon man's words .

" why, it_is a bird," murmured the startled boy, blinking at_the comical creature above him . the stem of_the balloon to_which he clung had turned to a strong stiff leg, while the balloon itself had expanded into a plump, green balloon bird . it careened through_the air without any motion of wings or body and for a while, Peter, hanging to its leg, was too frightened to open his mouth . the city had disappeared long_ago and, as_they pushed up toward the clouds, Peter, regaining a little of_his courage, gave the bird's leg a sharp pull ." stop ! " shouted Peter in as commanding a voice as he_could muster .

" stop yourself," retorted the balloon bird sharply, and_the words came in tiny explosions like the pop pop of an air gun ." do_you_think I enjoy having my leg pulled ? " it chirped indignantly .

" but where are we going ? " cried Peter anxiously .

" balloon island ! " popped the bird, bending its head to_get a better view of_the little boy ." hold tight, for if_you let go, you'll probably puncture yourself on a steeple ."

Peter had_been thinking this very thing himself ." you_are a present to queen Luna from Sandaroo," continued the bird calmly ." she needed an airrend boy, so Sandaroo sent you .

" the balloon man ? " gasped Peter, scarcely believing his ears .

" he's not a balloon man," replied the bird disdainfully ." he's lord high bouncer of Balloona . you were picked for airrend boy," he continued placidly, " because you look strong and stout and because the balloon boys on_the island are always puncturing themselves or exploding . did you ever explode ? " asked the bird severely .

" people don't explode," answered the little boy scornfully, " and I'm not going to_be an errand boy for alot of balloonatics either," he shouted angrily ." you'd better let me go or I'll tell my grandfather on you .

" let go if_you_want to," said the bird carelessly ." you're holding on to_me, aren't you ? " this_was only too true, and after one dizzy look downward, Peter tightened his clutch on_the balloon bird's leg and wondered desperately what to_do ." you_must tread lightly when we land on_the island," warned the balloon bird, after a short silence, during which they covered miles of air, " but I daresay it_will_be all right after you_are blown up .

" blown up," coughed Peter, " why, what do_you_mean ? "

" well, you wouldn't do as_you_are," murmured the bird, rolling its eyes disapprovingly down at_the little boy, " so the queen has a splendid plan . she will cut a tiny hole in your back and then have_you blown up till you_can float as easily as we_do .Oh, you'll enjoy floating," promised the balloon bird, diving through a moist cloud bank .

Peter doubted that he_would enjoy floating, he doubted it very_much, and_the more he thought about being blown up and_the hole that was to_be cut in_his back the more dreadfully uneasy he became . his arms ached from_the long swing through_the air and, as_the balloon bird plunged through a particularly black cloud, Peter took a long breath and let go .

" maybe .. .I'll land .. . on .. . something soft ! " panted Peter, as he turned over and over and then dropped straight downward ." anyway, it won't be any worse than being cut and blown up ." he had fallen several miles by_this_time and it_was so confusing, tumbling through clouds and air-ways, and_the wind made such a frightful whistling in_his ears, he finally gave up thinking altogether and closed his eyes .

splash ! with a terrific slap, Peter struck the surface of ashining blue ocean, the force of_his fall carrying him to_the very bottom, where he bumped his head severely on aclam shell .Dazed and choking, Peter rose to_the surface and almost mechanically began to swim . after several strokes, he shook the water from_his eyes and looked around him . then he_gave a little exclamation of excitement and relief . not more than twenty paces off lay a small, straggly looking island .

" well, this_is better than being blown up, gulped Peter, heading straight for_the island ." maybe some fishermen live here and maybe some boats pass .Gee whillikens, won't grand- father be surprised when he hears about_this, though ! "

immensely cheered, Peter cut swiftly through_the choppy blue waves, and_the water was soon shallow enough for him to wade ashore . the island was not much larger than_the public square at home .a few sea gulls circled aimlessly overhead, but so_far as Peter could_see there were no people or houses . first he walked completely round the island, then, feeling rather depressed, started across . the soil was poor and rocky and there were only about a dozen trees altogether . when he had come to_the top of a small hill, Peter sank down on a heap of rocks and began to wring the water from_his coat . how long he sat there wondering what he_should eat, how he_should endure the loneliness or ever find his way back to Philadelphia, Peter never knew . but he suddenly became aware of a rattle and rumble below and out from_the opposite side of_the rock heap sprang a perfectly furious little man . he_was gray as_the rocks himself, and_his long, wispy white hair and beard blew and snapped in_the wind .

" get off my chimney, idiot ! " screamed the old gentleman, dancing wrathfully up and down ." can't you_see you're filling my cave with smoke ? "

Stopping right in_the middle of_his dance, he glared long and searchingly at_the little boy . then, bursting into loud sobs, he began to hop ' round and ' round on one leg, wiping his tears on_his whiskers and fairly sizzling with indig- nation .

" to_think ! " he shouted, raising his arms to_the heavens, " to_think, that after five years of loneliness a miserable mortal should fall on_this island ! why couldn't it have_been a gnome or a witch or somebody real and interesting ? I hate children," shrieked the angry little fellow, stamping his curly foot at Peter .

Peter had_been so startled by_the sudden appearance of_the old gentleman and then so surprised at his curious actions that he had said nothing at all . but now he jumped angrily off the rock heap . he's no bigger than I_am, thought Peter courageously, and he needn't think he_can talk to_me like that ." is_this your island ? " he asked stiffly .

" of_course it's my island ! " spluttered the little man ." go away, I hate children ."

" well, I_can't help that," answered Peter ." besides, I'm not a child .I'm nine years old and in_the Fifth-B ."

"I don't care what you're in," shrilled the little islander ." you're in my way now, and if I had my magic belt I'd turn you to a potato and mash you for supper .Don't you_know I'm a king ? " he squealed, thumping himself three times upon_the chest .

" well, you don't act like one," answered Peter, in disgust ." if_you_are the king of_this island i_wish you'd give_me some supper and a place to sleep ."

" king of_this island ! " screamed the angry little man ."I'm Ruggedo, the rough, the one and only metal monarch and ruler over five hundred thousand gnomes besides ."

"Gnomes ! " murmured Peter, pushing back his cap . he had read about these underground elves, who mine all the precious stones in and out_of_the world, but he had never really believed in_them .

" yes, gnomes ! " boasted the little gray gentle- man, marching proudly up and down .

" where are they ? " inquired Peter, a little anxiously . for, thought Peter to himself, if_they_are all as cross and tempery as this_one, life on_the island is going to_be very unpleasant and dangerous .

" you stand there and ask me that," howled the gnome king furiously ."Don't you_know I've been banished from my kingdom for years and made a prisoner on_this ridiculous little island, just because I tried to_get back my magic belt from Ozma of Oz ? Don't you_know it_was a miserable child who stole it in_the first place .I hate children," repeated the gnome king, clutching his hair with both hands and snapping his wicked little eyes at Peter .

" if_you've been here all that_time by yourself i_should think you'd be glad_to_have someone to_talk to," ventured the little boy, seating himself carefully on a rock ." I_read a book about Oz once, he went on in an interested voice, " but I didn't know it_was really true . is Ozma still queen and does Dorothy still live in_the emerald city ? "

" Dorothy's the girl who stole my belt," sputtered Ruggedo, for_it was_the gnome king ." if_you_have read about Dorothy, you_must know about me .

" you weren't in_the book I_read," explained Peter patiently, " but if_you_know Dorothy and Ozma, they_must_be real and if_we_are near Oz, maybe you_can tell me how to_get there ? "

" if I_knew do_you suppose I'd be here ? " yelled Ruggedo .Picking up a rock, he flung it at Peter's head and rushed violently into his cavern .Peter dodged the rock and, almost wishing he had stuck with_the balloon bird, stared dejectedly out to sea . the sun was sinking in_the west and_the prospect of a long stay on_the barren island with_the dreadful little gnome king was not at all cheering .

"I'll probably starve to death," sighed Peter, kicking gloomily at a stone . then, remembering some string in_his pocket, he pulled it out and, fastening a small piece of wire on_the string, started toward the beach with_the intention of catching a few fish for_his dinner . halfway there, he_came to a small sluggish stream and, casting his line into its muddy waters, sat down to wait for a bite . he had no matches but thought maybe if he caught a few fish and offered Ruggedo one he might allow him to cook over his fire .

now Ruggedo had fully intended to stay in_his cave and not speak another word to Peter, but finally his curiosity got the best of him . after you_have_been all alone for five years, even a creature you despise is better than no one at all, so presently he_came stalking out again .Peter had in_the meantime decided to_be as polite as possible to_the old gnome, for no one could help him . therefore, as Ruggedo approached, puffing away at a short clay pipe, he waved to him quite cheerfully .

"Don't wave at me," wheezed Ruggedo, taking his pipe out of_his mouth and frowning darkly ."I'm a king, I_am ! "

"Oh, what difference does that make ? " said Peter impatiently ." we're both stranded, aren't we ? let's stop quarreling and try to_find a way off the island .Don't boats ever stop here and how far away is_this land of Oz, anyway ? "

"Boats ! " scoffed the gnome king, "I've been here five years and not one boat has passed . as for Oz, you_are in_the very middle of_the Nonestic ocean and about as far from Oz as you_could possibly be ."

" you mean to_say you've been here five years ? " gasped Peter incredulously, " and nothing has happened in all that_time ? "

" nothing - but you," answered the gnome king .

" well, you needn't think I'm going to stay that long," blustered Peter, jerking at his fish line in great agitation ."I'll build a boat, or a raft or something ."

Taking his pipe from_his mouth, the old gnome looked at Peter almost respectfully . he had often thought of building a raft himself but, being a king and naturally quite unskillful and lazy, he had never really gotten down to_it ." if_you help me off this island," he puffed after a short pause, "I'll make you the richest boy in_the_world ."

"Humph ! " grunted Peter, not much impressed by_the old gnome's promises . just then, his line gave a tug and he_was pulling it up quite joyfully when Ruggedo seized his arm .

" look ! " shuddered the gnome, pointing atrembling finger out to sea . not far from_the island, the waters of_the Nonestic ocean were boiling and churning in aterrifying manner . as Peter jumped to_his feet, the waves arose in a mighty green wall and, with adeafening roar, came crashing downward .

chapter 5

sea Tips upside down in quake

flung flat upon their faces by_the terrific shock, it_was some_time before either Ruggedo or Peter had the courage to look

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