Oz 21: The Gnome King of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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going in_the right direction," thought the little boy, closing his eyes and gritting his teeth to_keep them from chattering, " we'll get there in no time . if he isn't-"

"Whoa ! Whoa ! " roared grumpy, as long as he had breath enough to roar . even Scraps tried to_check the mad plunge of_their excited steed . but finally they all stopped shouting and devoted all their energies to hanging on .Peter rather expected they_would run into something and so was not greatly surprised to_find himself sitting in_the middle of_the road .Scraps sprawled beside him and grumpy, rubbing his head, limped crossly out of a ditch .Ozwold himself was leaning up against a tree with both eyes closed, while across the roadway lay an extremely upset and odd looking traveller .

" i_told you to whoa," growled grumpy, shaking his paw angrily ." now see what you've done ! "

" never say whoa to an oztrich," muttered the green bird, opening one eye ." say whum ! "

" but we've run over somebody," exclaimed Peter .

" is my child broken ? " asked the oztrich, opening the other eye and peering wildly in every direction .Fortunately the egg had fallen on a heap of soft sand and while Ozwold hurried over to assure himself it_was not cracked, Scraps and Peter ran to help the stranger ." are_you broken, stunned or killed, wrecked or sprained or simply spilled ? " quavered the patchwork girl, leaning over him .

" it's all right," sighed the stranger, sitting up slowly ."I'm used to being slammed . just so my back's not broken, I don't care ! "

" why, it's a book ! " burst out Peter, coming closer to_make sure .

" not a book, a bookman ! " corrected the traveller, rising with scrap's help to_his feet ."Books are old fashioned, but a bookman is right up_to_date .I don't wait to_be advertised, I speak for_myself, I don't lie around waiting to_be read, I run after people and make them read me . I_can carry myself and turn over a new leaf every day in_the year .I'm very interesting ! " finished the bookman, with a wide smile at Peter .Peter smiled back and how could he help it ? above his big book body the fellow had a round jolly face with floppy dog ears . his legs and arms were quite thin and he_was about as tall as Scraps .

" are_you sure you're not hurt ? " asked the little boy, as_the bookman began to run briskly up and down thumping the covers of_his book body to knock out the dust .

" what_are you about ? " asked grumpy, looking curiously at_the traveller and still rubbing his head with_his paw ." have_you any animal tales ? "

" or verse ? " cried the patchwork girl eagerly ." or baseball stories ? " questioned Peter, coming closer and closer . in their interest they had almost forgotten the oztrich .

"I've all kinds of stories," boasted the bookman and, unclasping his middle, spread wide the pages of_his book ." which will_you have first ? "

"A bear story," said grumpy, sitting down on_his haunches and waving both paws ." bear stories are the most exciting ! "

" no, a verse, shrilled the patchwork girl quickly .Peter was about to_call for abaseball story when he suddenly remembered his man-ners .

"Ladies first," said Peter, looking reprovingly at_the little bear ." just show us one of your verses, he remarked carelessly .

" funny or sad ? " asked the bookman, running his finger down his table of contents .

" funny, of_course," chuckled Scraps, tossing her head impatiently .Turning his pages rapidly the bookman stepped off a few paces and, leaning forward, the three travellers read: " do fishes use the liquid tones the world so highly praises ? could they speak dryly, and do bees converse in honeyed phrases ? "

"Ho ! Ho ! " laughed Peter merrily, " if they_do they'd soon get stuck . that's a good one almost as good as_your verses, Scraps ."

" there's a much funnier one on page seventy-six," said the bookman gaily ." wait ! "

" what for ? " Coming up behind them, Ozwold looked severely at their new friend ." what_are we waiting for ? " he repeated sternly .

" this_is_the man you ran over," explained Peter quickly, " and he's letting_us read his book ."

and you stand here reading with_the whole kingdom in danger ? " hissed the oztrich, thrusting his long neck forward angrily ."A nice way to save the queen, I_must say .

"I've a chapter on saving, somewhere, but I'm afraid it's on saving money," mumbled the bookman, thumbing his pages over hurriedly .Peter and Scraps looked rather crestfallen and, while they walked slowly toward the oztrich, he again addressed the bookman .

" if_you_know so_much, perhaps you_can tell us the way to_the emerald city," he wheezed disagreeably .

"I'm not a guide book," answered the book- man stiffly .

" then shut up," advised the oztrich so sharply that without intending to at all the bookman did shut up .

" are_you coming, or do I_have to save the kingdom myself ? " asked the oztrich, turning impatiently to Peter .

"I'll come, too, and entertain you as_you go along . read as_you run," said the bookman brightly .

" not as I run," sniffed Ozwold, who seemed determined to snub this new acquaintance ." better keep out of_my way or you'll be run over again .

"I'm afraid you_will," said Peter, patting the bookman kindly on_the back, for he_seemed quite crushed by Ozwold's rude speeches .

Scraps had already mounted the oztrich and now, leaning far out to_the side, shook hands with_the bookman, singing: " bookman ! bookman, don't you care, we'll see you some day somewhere, come to_the emerald city, do and then I'll read you through and through ! "

" so will I," promised grumpy earnestly ." you'll find us in_the palace . just ask for_the queen of_the Quilties and her pet," finished the little bear grandly .

" there won't be any palace if_you stand here much longer," fumed the oztrich, kicking up the dust angrily ." come on ! "

Realizing that there_was some truth in_the oztrich's remarks, Peter picked up the huge egg and climbed aboard . grumpy, growling under his breath, took his seat behind Peter .

" this_is no time for improving literature," hissed the oztrich, starting off at a two legged trot .Peter did_not bother to answer, but waved his cap cheerily to_the bookman, who still stood uncertainly in_the middle of_the road . he kept on waving till the bookman became amere speck in_the distance, then, turning about, devoted all his attention to holding on . for nearly an hour Ozwold pelted down the endless road . then suddenly Scraps clutched him excitedly about_the neck .

" stop ! " shouted the patchwork girl ." stop ! stop ! "

" what's the matter ? " coughed the oztrich, slackening his speed a trifle ." turn out between those pear trees quick, I_see the road of yellow brick," cried Scraps, waving one arm joyfully over her head .

" where does that take us ? " inquired Peter, leaning curiously over Scraps' shoulder ." to_the emerald city's golden gate; home ! home at last, I_can hardly wait ! "

sang Scraps, nearly choking the oztrich in her excitement ." hurry, Ozzy, hurry ! hurry ! "

"Don't forget to whum when_you come to_the emerald city," grumbled grumpy, as_the great green bird gathered itself together for another burst of speed .

" the emerald city may_be destroyed for all we_know," wheezed Ozwold gloomily ." but hold tight, everybody . here we go ! "

chapter 15

Wumbo, wonder worker, at home

the Gilliken country of Oz has always been a favorite retreat for witches, wizards and sorcerers . since_the practice of magic has_been forbidden for everyone except Glinda, the good sorceress of_the south, and_the wizard of Oz, a great_many_of_the lesser wizards and magic workers have retired to_the mountains of_the north to practice in secret or study for their own satisfaction the ancient art of wizardry .

in a crystal cavern on_the western slope of Zamagoochie lived Wumbo, the wonder worker . in_his youth, Wumbo had studied in_the best schools of sorcery and was not_only an accomplished magician, but a lovable and loyal citizen of Oz . therefore, when Ozma passed a law against the practice of magic, Wumbo withdrew to_his favorite cave and quietly and harmlessly continued his studies . now, of all studies sorcery is_the most profitable . being able to grant most of_his own wishes, Wumbo lived in_the utmost comfort and contentment, his cavern being almost as magnificent and luxurious as Ozma's castle . from preference, Wumbo lived by himself, but was seldom lonely, for when_you can conjure up a company of acrobats from a handful of pebbles, or an orchestra from a few sticks and dried peas, you_are always sure of entertainment . long after ordinary Oz folk were in their beds, Wumbo, in_his crystal study, would pore over his musty books of magic, trying out new spells and charms for_his own satisfaction and amusement .

he_was especially fond of_his book of Chants and Enchantments and, on_the evening I_am writing of, sat beside his great crystal lamp, turning over its leaves and humming cheerfully to himself .

" i_think," mused Wumbo at last, " I_shall use the speech-giving chant, tonight . it's been a long_time since I've talked with my furniture and no_doubt it has alot to_tell mel" Rubbing his hands gleefully, Wumbo turned to page ninety-seven and, after reading the chant several_times to himself, walked over to_his foot- stool and, touching it gently, droned: "Ooney, mooney, nooney nil, tell me foot- stool what you_will ."

" I_need re-covering," creaked the foot- stool promptly ." and next_time you trip over me, I trust you_will crack both shins ."

"Ho ! Ho ! " roared the wizard, bending backward and forward with mirth, " that's nice of you . anything else ? " as_the foot- stool made no further remark, he walked to_the mantel and touched the clock .

"Ooney, mooney, nooney nill, tell me, old clock, what you_will ."

" your wig's on crooked," ticked the clock critically, " and there's a smudge on_the end of your nose ." looking in_the glass, Wumbo saw that_the clock, as usual, was telling the truth .Straightening his wig, he went next to_his favorite chair .

"Ooney, mooney, nooney nill, tell me, arm- chair, what you_will ! " chanted Wumbo, putting both hands in_his pockets .

" somebody's sitting on me," complained the chair in a stuffy voice .

" somebody's sitting on you," gasped Wumbo in astonishment ." why, I don't see anybody ! "

" then feel 'em," whispered the chair hoarsely .Putting out his hand cautiously, Wumbo touched a long wispy beard and immediately jumped back with a cry of alarm .

" fold your arms ! fold your arms ! " spluttered the wonder worker, rushing back to_the book of Enchantments . the chair lost no time in obeying this order . instead of ordinary arms, Wumbo's chair had real ones and it clasped them about_the invisible sitter, so_that he_could neither move, scream nor scarcely breathe . meanwhile, with trembling fingers, Wumbo fluttered over the pages of_the chant book, till he_found the exact one he_was searching for- the chant to render visible the invisible ."Ominey, hominey, dominey deer, I command you invisible one to appear ! " mumbled Wumbo, straightening his specs ex-citedly, for he had had no visitors for seven years . instantly the figure of a gray gnome appeared in_the armchair, kicking, struggling and sputtering with fright and fury . as Wumbo continued to stare at him, the chair lowered one of_its arms, and Ruggedo, for, of_course, it was_the old gnome king, jerked up his head and roared loudly:

" take me to_the emerald city ! take me to_the emerald city ! "

" are_you addressing me ? " asked Wumbo, dropping into a chair opposite the gnome and regarding him attentively ." if_you_are, you_may as_well save your breath . I_have never practiced long- distance magic and could_not send_you to_the emerald city, even if i_wanted to ."

" who wants your old magic," sneered Rug-gedo ."I've magic of_my own . take me to_the emerald city . take me to_the emerald city ! " he screeched, trying in vain to squirm out_of_the clutching arms of Wumbo's chair .

" you_are evidently unfamiliar with one_of_the first and simplest of magic laws," observed the wizard reprovingly ." I_see now that you_are wearing an invisible cloak, but two magic charms cannot work at_the same time and as I spoke first you_will_have to wait till my chant wears off ."

" who_are you ? where am I ? how dare you keep me here ! " panted Ruggedo furiously .

" you_are in_the Zamagoochie country, in_the humble cave of Wumbo the wonder worker," answered the old gentleman quite amiably ." and as_you came here yourself, why blame me for trying to entertain you as I_see best ? "

" I_knew it ! I_knew it ! " raged the gnome king ." this_is Peter's doing . when I catch that boy I'll turn him to a peach basket and jump on him ! and you, I suppose, are the father of_that meddling Kuma party ? "

" why, yes," said Wumbo in surprise ." have_you met my son ? " Ruggedo gave a spiteful nod, and began to struggle anew with_the arms of_the chair .

"I command you to let me go," puffed the gnome king ."I've important business in_the emerald city and must reach there tonight ."

"I'm afraid that_will_be impossible," sighed Wumbo softly ." when my chair takes a fancy to a person, it sometimes hangs on to him for days and days . why_not sit still and rest yourself," he suggested, folding his arms comfortably .Seeing that for_the_present he_was perfectly powerless, Ruggedo lay back and glared at_the old wizard, his red eyes snapping with rage and resentment .

"I'll report you to Ozma," threatened the gnome king darkly ." you_know perfectly well that you_are breaking the law, having all this magic furniture and stuff ."

" take your feet off my rounds, ." ordered the chair sharply, giving Ruggedo a good squeeze,

" how about_your magic cloak ? " said Wumbo, smiling a little as Ruggedo hastened to_take his heels off the rungs of_the chair, " and how about turning a boy to a peach basket ? that sounds like pretty bad magic to_me . who is_this boy ? and why are_you wearing a cloak of invisibility ? "

" that's my business," muttered the gnome, looking uneasily around ." are_you going to let me go or not ? "

" that depends on where you_are going and what you_are going to_do," answered Wumbo, clapping his hands three times .a box of chocolates instantly appeared and tilted invitingly toward the wizard . helping himself, Wumbo offered a chocolate to Ruggedo, but the gnome shook his head impatiently, so Wumbo clapped his hands again and_the chocolates disappeared

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