Oz 21: The Gnome King of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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any success, and was standing on_the spot where he picked up the diary, before he_made any progress at all . then, looking down, he noticed that_the plank beneath his feet was raised up higher than_the others . it might easily have_been swollen out of place by_the action of_the water but, bending down, Peter began to pry at_the board . at_the second tug it came up altogether, revealing a square, box- like enclosure . in_the enclosure lay a small carved casket of jade, a ruby key on top .

Forgetting the necessity for caution, Peter gave a shriek of excitement and, falling upon his knees before_the opening, reached eagerly down for_the magic box . to fit the key in_the lock and open the casket was_the work of but a moment . he_was a bit disappointed to_find what looked like a package of grey gauze, a small uncut emerald and an ivory box with a few directions on_the lid .Placing the smaller objects on_the floor beside him, Peter unrolled the grey package . it proved to_be a long, misty cape, and on_the collar was a tiny tag stitched in green .

" the Flying cloak of invisibility," announced the tag ."Renders wearer invisible and takes him wheresoever he desires to_go .

with a sharp exclamation of delight, Peter arose and was about to fling the magic cloak around him when it_was snatched roughly from behind . it was_the old gnome king, of_course . for several minutes he had_been peering over Peter's shoulder and had also read the legend on_the green tag .

" take me to_the emerald city ! " shouted Ruggedo, wrapping himself in_the misty folds of_the gray garment . too startled to even try to recover his property, Peter stood blinking at_the old gnome . but he neither disappeared nor whirled off in a cloud of silver dust, as Peter had expected him to_do . in_fact, nothing happened to him at all .

" what kind of a miserable mumpish magician made this ? " stormed Ruggedo, dragging off the cloak and holding it up_to_the light .

" well, you had no business to_take it in_the first place," burst out Peter angrily ." I_found the magic casket and_the cloak is mine ! what good would it have_done, any_way, if_it had carried you to_the emerald city ? " he continued more calmly ." you_would_have left all this treasure behind and had no one to help_you capture your belt' ."

" that's so," admitted Ruggedo, sitting down with_the cloak in_his lap ." if I had gone you_would_have taken all the jewels for_yourself ."

" you bet i_would ." Folding his arms Peter stared sternly down at_the mean little gnome ." why can't you play fair ? " he demanded indignantly .

" well, weren't you going to fly back to Philadelphia and leave me ? " asked Ruggedo triumphantly ."Hah ! Hah ! you're no better than I_am . that's why I like you," he finished maliciously .

Peter blushed a little at_the gnome king's shrewd guess . he had_been going to wish himself back to Philadelphia, but pretending not to care, he swept up the other treasures from_the magic box and put them into his pocket ." if_you keep the cloak, I_shall keep these ! " he announced firmly, " and I_know why the cloak won't work, too ! "

" why ? " in_spite of himself, Ruggedo's voice trembled with eagerness .

"Oh- because ! " Smiling provokingly and whistling a careless tune, Peter climbed up the ladder .Ruggedo was after him in a flash .

" tell me ! " begged the gnome in_his most coaxing voice ."Don't you realize_that with_the magic cloak I_can fly into Ozma's palace and recover my belt without being detected . and when I_do," he promised earnestly, "I'll transport you immediately back to Philadelphia - you and all the gold pieces ."

" promise ? " Ruggedo nodded so vigorously his hair blew backward and forward seven times .

" all right then," agreed Peter, leaning against the rail of_the Blunderoo ." it won't fly because it's torn ." Holding the cloak up, Ruggedo saw that Peter was right . there_was a large hole in_the back and a rent reaching from_the collar to_the hem .

"Huh, my gnomes can soon mend that," boasted Ruggedo in relief, " and then let miss Ozma of Oz look to her crown ! I'll fly to_the emerald city, steal my belt, and I'll turn her to a canary and clap her into a gold cage .I'll clap them all into cages ! " roared Ruggedo, beginning to bounce up and down like a rubber ball ." there won't be one emerald left upon_the other, when I get through with_them . banish me for five years ! take away my kingdom ! I'll show them ! "

Forgetting all about Peter, the old gnome king stamped, shrieked and threatened till the little boy in disgust retired to_the other side of_the ship . he_could easily have taken the cloak away from Ruggedo, but wisely decided to wait ." if_we ever do reach this kingdom of_his and_the cloak is properly mended I'll take it myself, fly to_the emerald city and warn Ozma that_the gnome king is free," resolved Peter, staring dreamily at_the tumbling blue waves ." and once in_the emerald city, Ozma will surely send me back to ' Philadelphia with_the magic belt ." Having settled all this to_his satisfaction, the little boy pulled out the other possessions of Soob, the sorcerer . the emerald was covered with strange markings, but Peter could make nothing of_them, so he put it back into his pocket and opened the ivory box .

" in_case of extreme danger, plant these," advised a pink slip on top of_the box ." these" proved to_be two onions, or at_least they looked like onions .Peter had hoped to_find something exciting, like awishing ring, and putting the onions back, he closed the box with a little sigh . then, clasping his hands behind his head, he fell to thinking about_the pirates and wondering why there were no bones on board .

" they_must_have taken to_the small boats and escaped when_the Blunderoo sank," concluded Peter and, having disposed of_this question, began wondering what his friends in Philadelphia were doing . he_was sorry indeed to_have his grandfather worried by his absence, but could_not help feeling a little important at_the commotion it must_be causing ." they've probably called in_the police by now," mused Peter, and he hoped that when his grandfather gave his picture to_the reporters he_would remember to mention that Peter was captain of_the a. P .Baseball team . in fancy, he_saw the large headlines in_the morning papers when_the news of_his final return did get out .

' young Philadelphia boy Finds treasure ship and Saves the emerald city of Oz ! ' that wouldn't be bad," thought Peter, and was going over in_his mind just how he_would describe the sea quake and_his other strange adventures when a loud screech from Ruggedo called him to_the side of_the ship .

" land ! " shouted the gnome king, with an excited wave toward the west . and it_was land .Rolling gently in with_the tide, the Blunderoo was approaching a long shallow beach .

" we'll probably go aground," exclaimed Peter, looking anxiously over the side ." it's a good thing the waves are_not any larger . what country do_you suppose it_is, Rug ? " Ruggedo had_been staring intently ahead and now jumped at_least three feet into_the air .

" why, it's Ev ! " croaked the gnome king, hoarse with delight ."Ev ! Ev ! Ev ! the most beautiful country in_the_world . my country, Peter ! "

"Looks like a wilderness to_me," puffed the little boy, but even Peter felt strangely elated and gay . he had_not really believed the old gnome's story of_his vast dominions, but if this_was Ev, he_must_have been telling the truth ."I don't see any castle ! " he murmured, leaning far out over the rail .

" underground ! " panted Ruggedo ."Caverns ! Caves ! Labyrinths and everything . wait till you_see them, Peter . you'll never want to_go back to Philadelphia again . wait ! "

chapter 7

Kalico Falls as king of_the Gnomes

every wash and slap of_the waves sent the battered old hull of_the Blunderoo nearer to shore and, at last, with a tired groan, it stuck its nose into_the sand and, listing over sideways, came to acreaky stop .

" have_you the cloak ? " asked Peter, one leg already over the rail .Ruggedo held up the small gray package, but looked doubtfully at_the foaming waves below .

" how are we going to_get to_the beach ? " he frowned uneasily .

" lived here all your life and can't swim ? " exclaimed Peter ." great goldfish ! come on, I'll help_you," he added impatiently, as_the gnome continued to stare uncertainly down at_the water .Hurrying down the ladder, Peter dropped easily into_the sea, and after a good bit of coaxing, Ruggedo slipped in after him .Taking a firm hold on_the gnome's long whiskers and with Ruggedo sputtering and sizzling like a hot coal in a dish pan, Peter struck out for shore . it_was soon shallow enough for_them to wade and in exactly three minutes from_the time the Blunderoo grounded, they stood on_the barren shores of Ev .

Forgetting his discomfort, for gnomes like water about as_much as cats, the metal monarch began to run as fast as his crooked legs would carry him toward a group of little hills . looking round without much enthusiasm at_the dreary waste of sand and cactus, Peter followed more slowly . his only plan was to_keep a sharp watch over Ruggedo and, as_soon_as_the cloak was repaired, to_take it away from_him and fly to_the emerald city .

" I_do hope Ozma can transport the treasure to Philadelphia with me," sighed Peter, quickening his steps as Ruggedo disappeared behind a particularly large rock . he half expected the gnome would try to slip away from_him but, to_tell the truth, Ruggedo was more kindly disposed toward Peter than toward any mortal he had ever met . he admired Peter's courage and felt that his good fortune was largely due to_the boy's enterprise and spirit . besides, Ruggedo wished to show off his immense dominions and treasure caves, so, as Peter rounded the rock, he_took his hand and pressed a hidden spring in_the crevice . instantly a huge door swung inward and_they found themselves in a long, dim tunnel .

"I wonder if Kaliko still thinks he_is king ! " wheezed Ruggedo, pattering along ahead of Peter .Kaliko had_been appointed to rule in Ruggedo's place and had_been promoted from royal chamberlain to king of_the Gnomes ."Ha ! Ha ! " laughed Ruggedo maliciously ." he'll be as pleased as aGundersnutch when he sees me back ! "

Peter answered nothing to_this, for he_was too interested in_the underground world in_which he_found himself to_pay much attention to_the old gnome's remarks . as_they proceeded, a perfect network of passageways opened from_the main tunnel, the sides, walls and ceilings gleaming with sparkling jewels .Thousands of gnomes with pick axes were busily at work digging out the gems and they_did_not even look up as Peter and Ruggedo passed them .Blazing rubies and emeralds set in tall stands lighted up the strange caverns and Peter's heart began to pound with excitement as_the passageway broadened out into a richly carpeted hallway . presently they found themselves before a grilled golden door with a diamond knob . without pausing, Ruggedo turned the knob, opened the door and simply rushed into his former throne room . on a huge round ruby, hollowed out to_form a seat, a thin, nervous gnome sat reading a silver sheet about as thick as our morning papers . it was_the gnome man's daily, and as Peter and Ruggedo burst noisily into_the royal chamber, he dropped the silver sheet and looked up with an exclamation of alarm .

" you ! " gasped Kaliko, as_if he_could_not believe his own senses .

" who else ? " snickered Ruggedo, winking at Peter ."I'll thank_you_for my crown, you robber . take it right off your Kalikoko . quick now ! hand it over ! "

"Ozma will never consent to_this," stammered Kaliko, holding to_the crown with both hands .

"Ozma has nothing to_do with me now, announced Ruggedo calmly ." I_have magic stronger than Ozma's and if_you don't hop off that throne, I'll turn you to a ball and bounce you off ! "

Peter listened in amazement to Ruggedo's boasts, but Kaliko seemed to_believe every word . with quaking knees, he descended the steps of_the throne and held out the crown to_his former master .

"Ha ! Ha ! " roared Ruggedo, snatching the crown and clapping it jauntily on_the back of_his head ." you're enough to_make an alligator laugh, Kaliko . so brave ! so kingly ! but don't stand there gibbering like a dunce . if_you_are no longer king, you_are still royal chamberlain, and this_is Peter, future general of_my armies ! " Tripping merrily up the steps of_the throne, Ruggedo waved toward the little boy ." we_will shortly make a journey to_the emerald city," he announced grandly, " but right now we_desire refreshment . lunch for two," he commanded, putting his finger tips together and leaning back comfortably ." and, by_the_way," he added as an afterthought, " there_is a pirate ship on_the beach . have it unloaded and_the treasure stored in_the silver grotto . then order me a dozen new suits and send in_the royal wizard ."

at each command, Kaliko bowed meekly, and as Ruggedo picked up the ruby scepter lying on_the arm of_the throne, he ducked and ran out the door, for Ruggedo, as amere matter of habit, had flung the scepter after him .

"A blockhead ! " sniffed Ruggedo contemp~ tuously, " but didn't I manage him well ? "

" he's not very brave," admitted Peter, sitting on_the edge of_the crystal rocking chair, " but how are_you going to_get along without any magic ? suppose the gnomes don't want you back again ? "

" one_thing at_a_time ! one_thing at_a_time ! " beamed Ruggedo, in_such a fine humor at his unexpected turn of luck, he_felt almost pleasant ." let's not worry till we_have to, general ." Peter couldn't help smiling at his new title and, surveying himself in_the long mirror, wondered how he_would look in a gnome uniform . but at_this juncture they were interrupted by_the entrance of_the royal wizard . he looked frightened and anxious, and Peter could_see from_his manner that_the

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