Oz 21: The Gnome King of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16]
about Zamagoochie ? " asked Scraps, dropping down beside the little boy and regarding him curiously .

" because it was_the first place that came into my head," explained Peter ."Jimminy, but I_hope it's a long way from_the emerald city, and I_hope something happens to_keep him there ."

" will the cloak take him anywhere he_wants to_go ? " demanded Scraps .Peter nodded gloom-ily .

" then good-bye to_the emerald city and Ozma ! " moaned Scraps ." good-bye to all of us .

" yes, but what's to_be_done with_the slave ? " grumpy had lifted the lid of_the chest again and was regarding Peter with great interest .

" he's not a slave ! " exclaimed Scraps scornfully ." I_can tell by his looks, he's a mortal child like Dorothy and Betsy . how did you find your way to Oz, boy ? " Peter was anxious to escape from_the castle, but when Scraps assured him that there_was no present hope of_such a thing, he_told her all that had happened since_the balloon bird carried him off from Philadelphia . as_the story progressed, grumpy climbed out_of_the chest and sat as close to Peter as he_could possibly squeeze .

" tell him about us ! " urged the little bear, as Peter wound up his story with a description of Kuma party and_his guiding hand .Scraps shook her head impatiently, but when Peter added his voice to grumpy's she introduced the pet of_the former queen and gave a brief description of herself and her happy life at_the capital . when Peter heard how she had_been kidnapped and forced to_do all the castle work, he shook his head sympathetically .

" we'll both run away," declared Peter, resolutely, " and as_you_know more about Oz than I_do, perhaps we'll reach the emerald city ahead of Ruggedo ."

" but first you_must escape from_the castle," the little bear reminded them sagely ." how will_you do_that ? "

" i_wish there had_been a little more magic in_that casket," sighed Scraps ." all you_have left is_the emerald . let me see the emerald, Peter ." Peter pulled out the sorcerer's stone and handed it over to Scraps and, as he_did, felt the note that Kuma's hand had thrust into his pocket .Opening it eagerly, Peter followed the patchwork girl to_the light . but as_they reached the center table, the candle which had_been burning lower and lower gave a final sputter: and went out, leaving them in total darkness .

"Botheration ! " cried Peter in exasperation ." now what shall we_do ? "

" go to sleep," yawned the little bear ." whenever you don't know what to_do, go to sleep . that's my advice . here, lean on me .

" why don't you ? " suggested Scraps, feeling her way carefully back to_the rocker ." mortal folk need rest, but as I_do_not, I'll sit and plan our escape ."

grumpy's advice did seem sensible and, as Peter was very tired, he curled down beside little bear and soon did go to sleep, his head resting comfortably on grumpy's soft shoulder . in_his hand he grasped Kurna's note, and in in_his dreams imagined himself already in_the the emerald city, fighting to defend the little queen of all Oz .

chapter 10

escape from patch at last

when Peter awakened next morning, he thought for a few_moments he_was still aboard ship . but he soon realized that_the up and down motion he_was experiencing was merely the deep breathing of_the little bear . without disturbing grumpy, he straightened up and rubbed his eyes .Scraps was over by_the window turning Soob's emerald over and over in her cotton fingers . reminded of_the letter he had_been about to read when_the candle went out, Peter felt around till he_found Kuma's note .Hurrying over to_the patchwork girl, he spread it open and quickly read its contents .

" if_you ever need a helping hand, send for mine," said the note ." write directions on_this paper and toss into_the air ."

" well, hurrah ! " exclaimed Peter, showing the note to Scraps ."Kuma will lend us a hand any_time we_need it ." " three cheers ! Four laughs ! Five grins-a bow ! send for_it quick, I_need it now," cried the patchwork girl ." in a minute I'll have to cook, sweep, dust, scrub and make beds . why, an extra hand will_be wonderful . send for_it, Peter . send for_it right way . you're a slave too, remember ."

" i_was thinking it might unlock the doors and help_us escape," mused the little boy, wrinkling up his brows ." could you read the markings on_the emerald ? "

" no," admitted Scraps, handing back the stone, " but keep it safely, Peter . you never know when or where magic will work in_this country and we_need all the magic we_can find to_get to_the emerald city before Ruggedo ."

"I wonder where he_is now ? " worried Peter ."Zamagoochie was_the country Kuma's father came from, but I wonder where it_is and whether Rug is still there or whether he has reached the emerald city and turned Ozma to a canary ? "

" stop ! stop ! " begged Scraps ." let's stop worrying and try to_think . if_we send for Kuma's hand now, when all the Quilties are working in_the fields, we_will soon be captured, even if_we escape from_the castle . we'll have to wait till night," sighed the patchwork girl, " though how I'm going to stand another day here I don't see ! "

" never mind," said Peter sympathetically, "I'll help ."

"I'll help, too ! " volunteered grumpy, rolling over on_his side and yawning tremendously ." it won't be as bad as growling all the time and_that's how I helped cross patch ! "

"Sh-hh ! " warned Scraps, " here they_come ! look out for_the Scissor bird, Peter, he's dreadfully careless with_his bill ." Thrusting Kuma's note into his pocket and assuming as defiant an attitude as he well could, Peter waited for_the door to open, which it presently did . in came Scrapper, the Scissor bird on_his shoulder and Piecer staggering under a great pile of coats and other garments that had_been sent in to_be mended .

" good morning, slave ! " Scrapper bowed stiffly to Peter and then to Scraps ." kindly prepare breakfast, at once ! "

"Oh scrapple ! " scolded the patchwork girl .

" not scrapple, eggs," said Piecer, setting down his pile of garments ." and when_you have finished with breakfast, please sort these ."

" why don't you sort them yourself," suggested Peter boldly, but as_the Scissor bird made a dash in_his direction he hastily sprang behind Scraps .

" it's an outrage to expect a queen to_do all the work," began Scraps, settling her spectacles severely ."Ozma never does a stroke of work .Ozma-"

"Ozma ? " shrilled the Scissor bird ." well, every time you_think you're Ozma, look in_the glass . come along, you lazy creature ! " Circling over the patchwork girl's head and making playful snips at her yarn, the Scissor bird drove her ahead of him toward the castle kitchen .Peter and grumpy followed cautiously, conversing in indignant whispers .

Peter had often been camping and, seeing how terribly unhandy Scraps was with_the cooking utensils, he prepared the breakfast himself . then he set the table and carried the eggs, nicely fried, to_the two Quilties, who sat at ease in_the shabby dining room . the Scissor bird ate a saucer of calico scraps and grumpy a loaf of bread and an apple . after being assured that_the patchwork girl herself would eat nothing, Peter fried himself an egg and sat down at_the kitchen table to enjoy himself . the scissor bird was too busy eating to bother them for a moment and, availing himself of_this opportunity, Peter began to_talk in a low voice to Scraps .

" why did you wish for a dozen eggs when_you first saw Ruggedo ? " he asked curiously .

" because eggs are poison to gnomes," whis-pered Scraps ." they_are more afraid of eggs than of bombshells and they_cannot even stay in_the same room with one ."

"Hm-m ! " mused Peter thoughtfully, "I'll remember that . how is_it," he asked presently, " that grumpy can talk ? "

" all the animals in Oz talk," explained Scraps in a matter of fact voice ." just wait till you hear the cowardly lion and_the hungry tiger ! "

" do they live in_the emerald city ? " Peter's eyes grew round with interest .Scraps nodded enthusiastically, then noticing that_the Scissor bird had finished, she sprang up and began to clear away the dishes . but grumpy kindly offered to wash them, so hurrying back into_the sitting room, Scraps and Peter fell to sorting old clothes . in one pile they put coats, in another dresses, in a third, trousers, and in a fourth, all the shirts needing new cuffs or collars . conversation was impossible, for_the Scissor bird was never quiet for a moment and soon Peter's head began to ache from its continuous screeching . once when he dropped an old cloak, it snipped a lock of_his hair and when he struck out at it angrily, it nearly nipped a piece off his ear .

to Scrapper and Piecer, sitting in_the doorway, this proved highly amusing and, glaring at_the old Quilties, Peter resolved to send for Kuma's hand at_the first opportunity . grumpy had finished the dishes and, with a gingham apron tied round his waist, was energetically sweeping the floor .

"Don't you care," he whispered comfortingly as he passed Peter ." today won't last forever ! " it seemed like forever to Peter and Scraps, but as_they came to_the bottom of_the pile the patchwork girl made astartling discovery . between a faded vest and a quilted dressing gown lay an old gray sack . as Scraps held it up, she saw a note sticking out_of_the pocket . the Scissor bird happened at_that moment to_be swinging on_the chandelier so, snatching out the note, Scraps read it quickly herself and

" the sandman's nap Sack . will put wearer to sleep at once, read Peter . then, as Scraps put her finger warningly to her lips, he tucked the nap Sack beneath his coat .

" we'll put 'em all to sleep," whispered Peter out_of_the corner of_his mouth ." we'll send for Kuma's hand and get away from here ! " they soon had a chance to_try the nap Sack, for Piecer and Scrapper, having some work to attend to in_the garden, went out and locked the door in their usual manner .

immediately Scraps threw down a pile of coats and stood up defiantly .

"I refuse to work any longer," she shouted, stamping her foot emphatically .

"Hah ! " snapped the Scissor bird, falling off the chandelier and stopping directly in front of Scraps' nose ." every time you open your mouth you say something ."

" yes ! " answered Scraps saucily, " and every time you say something you open your mouth ." as_the furious creature rushed at_the patchwork girl, Peter threw the nap Sack over his head . no sooner had he done so than its shrill voice grew lower and lower, until, with a tired flop, it fell to_the floor and lay snoring like azazagooch, which_is the loudest snoring animal in Oz .

" we won't wait till night . we'll send the note now, Scraps," cried Peter triumphantly .

" what's up ? what's up .Don't leave me, begged the little bear, crowding close to Peter ."I'm tired of being cross . i_want to_go some place where I_can_be pleasant without losing my position ."

" all right ! all right ! " promised Peter ." but you'll have to help_us, grumpy . now keep quiet while I write to Kuma ." Pulling out the crumpled letter, Peter found a pencil and scribbled on_the bottom of_the page: " we_are prisoners in_the palace of patch . please send_us your hand to unlock the doors and help_us to escape ." Signing his name hurriedly, Peter tossed the note into_the air . it disappeared almost at once and in high excitement the three sat down to await developments ."I believe we_could take that nap Sack off and use it again," observed Peter after a little silence .

" he might wake up," objected Scraps .

" but we_can easily put him to sleep again ." Tiptoeing over to_the Scissor bird, he_took off the nap Sack . as he_did there_was a crash outside and, hurrying to_the window, they saw Kuma's right arm and hand smashing its way through_the glass in_the castle door .

" hurry ! hurry ! " cried Scraps .Tearing the work basket from her head she threw it into a corner and flung the crown jewels of patch after it ."I abdicate ! " chuckled the patchwork girl, turning expectantly toward the door .

" now then," breathed Peter, " let's all stand together and run like sixty ."

" if_we stand, how can we run ? " mumbled grumpy, but no one answered the little bear, for at_that instant the key turned in_the lock, the door opened and in swept the arm of Kuma, a stout club grasped in its hand .Motioning for_them to_follow, it whizzed down the hallway .Scrapper, running in from_the garden to_see what_was happening, received a smart blow on_the head .Piecer, panting up the steps from_the kitchen, was picked up bodily and dropped out_of_the window .

through_the castle door, down the steps and out_of_the garden rushed the three adventurers . as_they started down the road, a crowd of Quilty men, on their way to_the palace with a fresh load of patches, stared at them in astonishment . then, suddenly realizing that_the queen was escaping, they rushed after her with yells and shouts of disapproval . but the arm of Kuma laid about with_the club, seeming to_be everywhere at once, and with groans and screams the Quilties fell back . only three of_the bolder ones continued the chase . over the most persistent of_their pursuers Peter flung the nap Sack and, as he fell snoring by_the roadside, grumpy sent the second flying into a ditch .Kuma's club soon disposed of_the third and without further interruption they pelted down the crossroads of patch .

always Kuma's hand flashed on ahead, making the way easy, taking down fence bars, opening gates, thrusting aside the branches of trees . many_of_the Quilties saw them from_the cottage windows, but before_they could get down to_their doors the strange procession had passed by .Scraps, being magically made and stuffed with cotton, did_not tire, but grumpy and Peter were soon panting with exhaustion . there_was a remedy for

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