Oz 18: Grandpa in Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17]
is_not supposed to_do anything," said the old soldier severely .

"Oh," sighed the bird, " that's easy ! " and putting down its head, it lay quietly on its side .

" it's a rooster ! " exclaimed the prince, touching it with one hand, " an iron rooster ! " at_this the bird sprang up indignantly .

" you_may shoot me if_you_want, but I'll not lie here and let you call me names," it shrilled angrily ." where are your eyes ? can't you_see I'm a weather cock ? "

" do_you suppose I'd have wasted a good bullet on you if I had ? I_may_have an iron constitution but I don't eat cast iron birds," sniffed Grampa ." what do_you_mean, flying through_this forest deceiving hungry travellers ? "

"I don't know what I mean," replied the weather cock calmly, " for I've only been alive since last night . what do_you_mean yourself, pray ? must everyone have ameaning like a riddle ? "

Grampa stroked his whiskers thoughtfully over this remark .

" but how did you come to_be alive ? " asked the prince, leaning on_his red umbrella and regarding the bird with deep interest- for even in Oz weather cocks usually stick to_their poles .

" there_was a storm," explained the cock, lifting one claw, " lightning, thunder, wind and rain . one minute i_was whirling around on_the top of_my barn and next minute i_was spinning through space . then all at once I_came in contact with a live wire, there_was a flash, i_was charged with a strange force and to my infinite amazement I_found that my wings would work and_that I_could crow . so I crew and flew and flew and crew, till I fell exhausted in_this forest ."

"Humph ! " grunted Grampa ."A likely story . in_the first place there_are no live wires in Oz and-"

"Oz ! " screeched the weather cock, "I didn't say Oz . i_was on a barn near Chicago when_the storm broke . have_you never heard of Chicago, you odd looking, old creature ? "

" never," answered Grampa emphatically, " but wherever you started from, you're in Oz now and you_might as_well get used to_it . come along, Tatters . there's nothing to_be gained by arguing, it only makes me hungry ."

" but tell me," the weather cock fluttered into_the air, " what am I to_do with my life ? "

" keep it- if_you_can," chuckled the old soldier and started off between_the trees . but Tatters was loath to leave this singular bird .

" let him come with_us Grampa," coaxed the prince ." he won't need anything to eat and he might help_us find the fortune ."

" yes, do," crowed the weather cock ." I_can waken you in_the morning, tell you which_way the wind blows and fall upon_the heads of your enemies . have_you any enemies ? " the weather cock asked hopefully .

" not yet," murmured the prince, looking ahead into_the shadows,-" but-"

"Shouldn't wonder if he_would make a good fighter," reflected Grampa, half closing his eyes ." never saw acock yet that wasn't game . do_you agree to join this company, obey all commands and go by_the name of bill ? "

"I'll go by_the name of bill, but what name shall I come by," asked the weather cock, putting its head on one side .

" the same, you iron idiot ! " shouted Grampa, who was a bit short tempered ." do_you agree ? "

" yes," crowed the weather cock, putting up his claw solemnly .

" then forward fly," commanded the old soldier . and up into_the air with a rusty creak flung the weather cock and just beneath marched Granpa and_the prince . as_they progressed through_the ever darkening forest, Tatters told bill of_the great storm in Ragbad, how he_was seeking his father's head and_his own fortune .

" your father lost his head in_the same storm I_found my life," wheezed the weather cock earnestly, " so it_is only fair that i_should help_you .

"Hah ! we_shall_be helped by fair means or fowl ! " chuckled the old soldier, who_would_have his little joke~ but it_was lost on bill, who was already looking around for_the king's head and_the fortune . and though he_was not quite_sure what a fortune was, he_felt confident that he_should find one . it had grown so dark by now that Grampa soon called a halt . under a tall blue tree the little company made camp . bill was most helpful in collecting wood and prince Tatters put up the red umbrella, which_was so large that_it served them admirably for a tent .a little beyond the rim of_the umbrella Grampa kindled a fire, and after a cozy supper of toasted sandwiches the old soldier unbuckled his leg and he and prince Tatters settled down to a quiet game of scrum . bill flew to_the top of_the blue tree to observe the wind and_the weather, and nothing could_have_been more peaceful . the stars twinkled merrily above, the fire crackled cheerily below and Tatters had just beaten Grampa two games to one, when a hundred little snaps in_the underbrush made them turn in alarm .

" great gum drops ! " gasped the old soldier, jumping to_his foot .

Tatters snatched up the umbrella and, using it for a shield, began to back away, for in_the circle of_the firelight and completely surrounding the blue tree stood a company of bandits . they were tall and terrible, with great slouch hats and blue boots .Pistols and daggers by_the dozen bristled in their belts and nothing could_have_been fiercer than their whiskered faces and scowling brows .

for a moment no one spoke .Grampa frowned angrily and prince Tatters tried to look as_if he_was not scared . as usual, bill was calm .

" are_you going to stop here and let them call you gum drops ? " sneered the leader, plucking a dagger from_his boot . he_took one stride forward, then pitched on_his face and lay perfectly still- for_the weather cock, convinced that_this was an enemy, had fallen hard upon his head . the suddenness of_the blow surprised the outlaws and while they drew back in confusion Grampa leaned down, seized his wooden leg and buckling it on as he ran, joined prince Tatters, who by_this_time had his back against the tree .

" go it bill ! " shouted the old soldier, laying about with_his drum sticks .

" here I go by_the name of bill ! " screeched the excited weather cock, rising into_the air again ." here I come by_the name of bill .Sucumb, you blue monster ! " and down went a second bandit . this enraged the others, and though prince Tatters poked away valiantly with_the big umbrella, and Grampa knocked out three of_the outlaws with_his drum sticks and bill fell upon_the heads of two more, they were hopelessly outnumbered . in a minute more they were overpowered, bound with heavy ropes and dragged through_the forest to_the bandits' camp . even the weather cock swung head down from_the belt of one_of_the robbers .

chapter 4

the baffled Bandits

so disappointed I_could cry," blubbered the robber chief, pulling out his red handkerchief ." shake them again Skally, shake them hard ! " before him on_the ground lay the few possessions of Grampa and Tatters- an old silver watch, the four-pence, a rusty pen knife and two copper medals . the chief had recovered from_the terrible blow of_the cast iron weather cock, but had a large black lump over one eye . bill, who insisted on crowing in a dozen different keys, had_been muffled in_the bandit's cloak and put under a rock .

" i_told you they were a poor lot," sniffed Skally, but nevertheless, he seized first Grampa and then Tatters and shook them violently by_the heels . this he_could easily do, being eight feet tall and exceedingly muscular . two red gum drops rolled out of Grampa's pocket, but that was all .

" and_they're not even frightened," complained the bandit in a grieved voice, as Skally set the two roughly on their feet .

" frightened ! " puffed Grampa indignantly .( after_the two terrible shakings he had only breath enough to puff .) " you didn't think a flock of bush-whacking bandits like you_could frighten an old soldier like me, and a young prince like Tatters, did you ? "

" prince ! " gasped the bandit, blinking at Tatters through_the smoke of_the wood fire, while the rest of_the outlaws began to slap their knees and roar with merriment .

" yes, prince," shrilled Grampa, " and don't make faces at me, you ugly villain ."

" well ! " roared the chief, after another long look at Tatters, " he_may_be a prince to_his mother, but he's a pain in_the eye to_me ! "

" then shut your eyes," advised Grampa promptly ."I'd do_it for_you if I were_not tied up . in a fair fight I'd beat you any day ."

" we've taken everything they_have . shall we hang them or let them go ? " asked Skally in a bored voice .

" no you haven't," screamed Grampa defiantly ." no you haven't . take my picture you scoundrel ! take my rheumatism ! take my advice and clear out of_this forest before I report you to_the princess of Oz ."

even prince Tatters, who really was frightened at_the fierce appearance of_the bandit, had to laugh a little at_the surprised expression on_the chief's face as_the old soldier continued to stamp and scold . and_the more Grampa scolded the more cheerful the bandit became .

" he reminds me of_my old father," he remarked in an admiring undertone to Skally .

"Does your old father know you're a bandit ? " shouted Grampa sternly, "holding up honest adventurers and getting your living by breaking the law ? "

" father always told me to_take things easy," replied the chief, popping one of Grampa's gum drops into his mouth ." 'Vaga,' he_said to_me over and over again, ' always take things easy, my boy,' and I_do," grinned the robber wickedly ." but business is mighty slow in_this forest lately .Kings and princes are getting poorer and poorer every day . look at him ! " he waved scornfully at Tatters ." not worth a shoe button and_the whole week it_has_been the same story . all we got to- day was a wizard, but he_was as false as his whiskers couldn't even change leaves to gold or sticks to precious stones . all he had with_him was a bottle of patent medicine . now medicine," yawned Vaga, touching with_his boot a long green bottle that lay with a heap of rubbish near the fire, " is something I never take ."

" but i_thought wizards were_not allowed to practice magic in Oz," put in Tatters, surprised into speech by_the bandit's last statement ." it's against the law isn't it ? "

" so are bandits ! " roared Vaga ." but I'm here just the same, my boy, taking things easy, and when I've saved up enough I'm going to open an inn and take things easier still ."

" another way to rob honest travellers," groaned the old soldier, " but now, as_you've taken our four-pence and_our time, untie these bonds and we'll return to our camp .

" let him tell his story," suggested Skally, " it might entertain us and_they certainly owe us something for all this trouble ."

" no, I've decided to_make outlaws of_them," announced Vaga calmly ." the old one is a fine fighter and can_be a father to_me the young one would frighten anybody, as for_the cast iron bird it can_be melted up into bullets ."

" what shall we_do now ? " whispered Tatters, seizing Grampa's arm . the old soldier winked encouragingly .

" not bad at all," he murmured aloud, as_if he were half pleased at_the idea of being a bandit ." plenty of fighting and it's as good a way as any to_make a fortune . swear us in Mr Vagabandit, swear us in my son ! "

the bandit chief was surprised and overjoyed at Grampa's change of heart . he immediately ordered Skally to untie the captives . each was given a black mask and a dagger and, having raised their hands and solemnly agreed to break every law in Oz, they were welcomed with cheers and shouts into_the outlaw band . after_the excitement had died down, they all gathered about_the fire and Grampa told them the history of Ragbad, how he had got his game leg and of_the nine hundred and eighty great battles he had fought in . the bandits listened attentively at first, but the old soldier's recital was so_long that presently one and then another of_the bandits fell asleep, and by_the_time Grampa had reached the nine hundredth battle the whole company lay sprawled about_the fire, snoring like good fellows instead of bad ones . prince Tatters, his head on_the skin of_the old thread bear, was asleep too .

" more ways than one of winning a battle," chuckled the old soldier, smiling behind his whiskers . first, he recovered his watch, medals and_the four-pence . they were still on_the ground beside Vaga .Protruding from_the robber's pocket was a rough blue pouch . very carefully the old soldier drew it out ." this_will pay for_the shakings," said Grampa, stowing it away in_his game leg ."I'll sample the soundrel's tobacco when we're well out of_this ." as he straightened up the long, green bottle of patent medicine caught his eye ."I'll take this along too," he muttered, sticking it in_his pocket ." maybe it_will help my rheumatism ."

the fire had died down and it_was so dark and forbidding in_the blue forest that Grampa decided to snatch a few hours' rest before making an escape .Stretching unconcernedly beside long-legged Skally he fell into a deep and peaceful slumber . and so_well trained was_this old campaigner that in two hours, exactly, he awoke . the sun had_not yet risen, but in_the dim gray light of early morning Grampa could make out the forms of_the sleeping bandits .Stepping softly, so as not to waken them, he touched Tatters on_the shoulder . the prince started up in alarm, but when Grampa, with fingers to_his lips, motioned for him to_come he seized his red umbrella and tiptoed after him .

" have I lived to_this age to_be an old father to a bandit ? " puffed Grampa indignantly as_they hurried along . he shook his fist over his

Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17]