Oz 18: Grandpa in Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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seemed unbelievable .

" wonder what Pudge would say to_this," mused Grampa, as Tatters rushed over to_his side .Urtha was already dancing about on_the glowing sands as happily as she had danced in_the wizard's garden .

" here come the firemen ! " cried prince Tatters, and rather anxiously the old soldier turned to meet the islanders . the people of fire island were as interesting and unusual as their island, being entirely of red and blue flames, and so light upon their feet they fairly flashed about over the glowing rocks .

" shall I fall on their heads ? " inquired bill ." is_it a fight ? "

" no," answered Grampa, squinting a bit from_the glare, "I believe they're friendly ." and_the old soldier was right, for as_the fire Islanders came nearer they waved their arms gaily and seemed delighted with_the unusual appearance of_their visitors .a little ahead of_the others strode a tall man, who was_made entirely of glowing, red hot iron . except for_this face, he_might_have_been any village blacksmith and_his face was so round and jolly that Tatters immediately took heart .

" prince forge John the . first ! " called two small flame pages, as_the fire monarch reached the party on_the beach . prince forge John bowed, Grampa saluted, bill crowed and Ur-tha-breaking off a flowery spray from her skirts-held it out prettily to_the ruler of fire island .

" what acharming little fairy ! " cried prince forge John in_his hot crackling voice ." and you," he turned pleased eyes upon Grampa and Tatters, " how brave you look, and it," with a wave at_the weather cock, " how beautiful it_is- all of splendid iron ! "

" thanks," crowed bill ."I'm useful, too . if_you_will tell me where to_find the head, the princess and_the fortune, I'll tell you which_way the wind blows . head ? fortune ? princess ? " finished bill, as_if he were repeating a lesson

prince forge John looked so confused at_this speech that Grampa stepped forward and hastily explained all that had happened since king Fumbo had lost his head, ending up with_the wizard's garden, the discovery of Urtha and their fortunate use of Gorba's medicine .

"H-m ! " mused prince forge John, rubbing his iron chin ." so you're seeking the head of_this lad's father and_the lad himself seeks a fortune and a princess ? well, I_have_not seen the king's head, but the prince may stay here with_us, marry one_of_our fire Maidens and make a fortune in_the fire works . there's many a fortune been snatched from_the fire . how would you like that, my boy ? "

" yes, do stay and marry me," cried one_of_the little flame maidens, running impulsively up_to_the prince ." you_are so odd and you look so interesting ! "

Tatters looked terribly embarrassed, for he_was fearful that_the maiden would scorch his nose ."I- I_must find my father's head first," stuttered the prince, backing away uneasily, " and if your majesty could tell us of a way back to Oz-" Tatters bowed again and looked appealingly at Grampa .

" well, you_might go up in smoke," suggested prince forge John slowly ." i_think, myself, that_this wizard's medicine will wear off presently and then you'll all burn up .

"Oh," groaned the old soldier, snatching out his handkerchief, " why do_you_think such terrible thoughts ? "

" would it hurt ? " breathed Urtha, who hated to_see anyone unhappy .

" is_there no fire escape ? " choked Tatters, with bulging eyes .

prince forge John shook his head ."I'd like to help_you," he murmured gravely, " but you_are so strangely made I don't see how I_can . better just stay on here .Burning's not so bad and i_think you'd burn a long_time ." several of_the fire Islanders nodded as_the prince said this, but Grampa and Tatters could find no consolation in_such a prospect .

" and marching north seemed so easy ! " wailed poor Tatters, leaning heavily on_his red um-brella .

" never mind," sighed the old soldier, "I'll think of something else . let's jump back in_the water," he proposed brightly .

" but if_the medicine wears off boiling would_be just as bad as burning," objected Tatters, with a little shudder .

" that's so," admitted Grampa ." it seems, my boy, that every cup of soup has at_least one fly ! "

" there's a fly on_your nose," screeched bill, hopping up and down . and so there_was-a saucy little fire fly . there were fire flies everywhere darting here and there among_the fire flowers and over the fields of waving fire weeds .

" better stay," repeated prince forge John hospitably ." anyway let_us show you a bit of_the island ."

Grampa nodded, for he_did_not know what else to_do, and so he and_the others followed sadly after_the prince and_his cortege . there were no houses on fire island, but each flame family had its own open fire place . between stretched meadows of clear blue flame and many beautiful gardens, where, from flowing beds of red hot coals, lovely fire flowers arose . the stems were of green flame, the tops of yellow, blue and red . the prince picked a bouquet of_these strange posies for Urtha and, to Grampa's surprise, the fire flowers neither burned the little flower girl nor went out in her hands .

if_it had_not_been for_the dreadful thought of burning up that hung over them, the old soldier and Tatters might_have enjoyed their trip across the island . but as it_was they got little pleasure from_it . even prince forge John's fire works, where all the hearth fires and kitchen fires are manufactured and_the fourth of July Roman candles and sparklers are made, aroused in_them no enthusiasm . when_they reached the other side of_the island, the prince offered each member of_the party a box of fire crackers for refreshments and this made Grampa smile in_spite of_his worry .

" no use setting ourselves off before our time ! " chuckled the old soldier, handing them back with a bow . the prince looked a little hurt, but he and_the rest of_his company ate up their fire crackers with relish and after prince forge John had finished his sixteenth box he had a sudden idea .

"I've thought of a way to save you," cried prince forge John, fairly crackling with pleasure ." you_can just go to Blazes ! "

" what ? " shouted Grampa, who, being in_the army, thought he_was insulted .

" yes," repeated forge John calmly ." you_must go to Blazes . see that dark house across the waters there ? well, you'll find him on_the other side of_that ."

Grampa shaded his eyes and, looking across the green, sulphurous waters surrounding fire island, made out a great tower of darkness . it_was quite easy to_see, for every_other place was lighted with_the ruddy glow from_the island .

" fetch the boat," ordered the prince briskly, and while Grampa and Tatters were still gazing in stupefaction at_the tower, several of_the fire men began shoving an iron boat down the beach .Unceremoniously forge John took them by_the arms and helped them in . to_tell the truth, he_was growing sleepy and anxious to_be rid of_these singular visitors .

" the flower fairy may stay," he yawned graciously, but Urtha had no such intention . gently disengaging herself from a group of_the fire maidens, she ran after_the boat and sprang lightly in beside Tatters .

" what do_you_mean ? where are we going ? hold on here ! " blustered the old soldier . but prince forge John merely waved his firm arms and_the two fire men began to row away as fast as they_could .

" good-bye," called the prince, with another yawn ."I'm sorry you wouldn't stay and burn with_us ."

" we're going to blazes, to blazes, to blazes ! " crowed bill, who had flown up into_the bow of_the boat .

" that's right," crackled the flame man nearest to Tatters ." he'll soon send_you up .

" but who-- who_is Blazes ? " asked the prince of Ragbad, stretching out both his hands imploringly .

" the keeper of_the volcano," answered the second rower, looking at Tatters intently .

" lightning, thunder, hot winds and earthquakes ! " crowed the weather cock wildly .

Grampa flopped hopelessly into_the bottom of_the boat .

chapter 11

into_the volcano

by_the_time Grampa had recovered enough to sit up the boat was scraping on_the black rocks at_the foot of_the dark tower .

"Cinders ! soot ! " called the rowers loudly . in answer to_their hail a door opened cautiously and_the keepers of_the dark tower peered out .

" what's wanted ? " asked the first hoarsely, while the second swung his dark lantern toward the party in_the boat .

" take these men to Blazes and tell him to send 'em up ! " directed the flame men together and, almost pushing Grampa and_his little company from_the boat, they jumped in and started to row back to_their island . the dark tower was wet and clammy and made of moss that soaked up the rays of light from fire island as a sponge soaks up water . the keepers of_the tower themselves looked burnt out and cindery and far from agreeable .

" you go ! " said soot, after a contemptuous glance at_the newcomers ."I've got to_keep the light out ."

" all right ! " agreed Cinders ." come on you, whatever you_are ! " there_was no way to_get back to fire island, so Grampa motioned for_the others to_come and in silence they followed Cinders over the black, slippery rocks . bill perched on Grampa's shoulder and Tatters held fast to Urtha, who for_the first time seemed a little frightened .

" being alive is so strange," sighed the little flower girl, stepping along tremulously .

" it's not always like this," whispered the prince comfortingly . he_was terribly frightened himself, but resolved to_be as brave as he_could before this lovely little lady of flowers . the dark tower seemed to_be on_the mainland of_this queer underground country and, after a short march over the rocks, they came to a steep gray mountain . there_was a door in_the center and Cinders hammered on_this with a poker he carried under one arm . the door opened immediately and a hot red glare smote the travellers in_the face .

"John says to send these creatures up, grumbled Cinders, backing out_of_the light .

" I_hope_that medicine's still working ! " groaned Grampa ." do_you still feel cool ? "

" pretty cool," faltered the prince of Ragbad ." but-"

" come in," roared the huge fireman, who had opened the door, " do_you_want to_give_me chill ? " Snatching Tatters by one hand and Urtha by_the other, he jerked them through_the door and Grampa, seeing that Cinders was about to slam it shut, sprang in quickly after them .Blazes was about twice as tall as_the men on fire island and_his flaming face was cruel and ugly .

" so you're to_be sent up ? " he sneered, staring curiously at_the bewildered little company ." well, you're not worth an eruption, but orders are orders, so up you go ! "

Grampa could find no words to answer, for_his eyes were glued in horror upon_the boiling lake of lava, churning about a few feet below . thick green smoke curled up toward them in clouds and just as he_was about to order a hasty retreat to_the door the keeper of_the volcano seized aforty- foot poker and plunged it into_the lake .

next instant it had risen to_the top, caught the four fire- proof travellers in its sulphurous waves and hurled itself frothing and bubbling to_the top of_the earth . being erupted from a volcano is such a noisy, smothering, altogether terrifying experience that Grampa and_his little army could_not have told what_was happening had they tried . and had it not been for Gorba's medicine they_would_have blown clear out_of_the story, but, thanks to_the medicine, the boiling lava did_not injure them and having hurled them from_the middle of_the earth and some fifty feet higher than_the earth, the liquid immediately surrounding them began to harden and form aflying island .

of_course Grampa and Tatters were too dizzy to_know this and_the first indication they had that_the eruption was over, was a dreadful bounce and a perfect shower of water . the water brought them to_their senses and-fearfully opening their eyes- they looked around .Horrors ! the volcano was in_the kingdom of Ev, on_the other side of_the deadly desert, and had flung them clear into_the Nonestic ocean itself ! this great body of water lies far to_the northwest and mighty few Ozites have ever reached its shores .

" well," coughed Grampa, rubbing his game leg vigorously, " i_thought we were goners, but I_see we_are survivors . are_you all right ? are_you all here ? "

Urtha shook her lovely fern hair out of her eyes and, strange as it may seem, the little flower girl had come through_the eruption without crushing a single posy .

" fair and cooler ! " wheezed bill, hopping up on a little ridge of_the hardened lava .

" but how did we get here ? " asked Tatters, rubbing his eyes .

" you'll have to ask Blazes," puffed Grampa, " but I_must say I prefer water to fire ." already the spirits of_the old soldier were beginning to rise ." we_may_be far from home, but we're on top again and still moving ." Grampa took a few marching steps and waved his sword .

" and what_are those ? " asked Urtha, standing on tip- toe to point at_the stars . in_the wizard's garden there had_been no sky .Tatters explained as best he_could and_the little flower girl clasped her hands and gazed up in delight ." they're sky flowers," she confided to bill, but the weather cock was too busy looking for_the fortune to answer .

"Seems to_me we're shipwrecked," observed Tatters gloomily . their little island was bobbing up and down on top of_the waves and there_was no land of any kind in sight . but Grampa, who had_been investigating the contents of_his knapsack, gave a little chuckle . the bread and butter they had picked in_the wizard's garden- not being entirely fire proof- was nicely toasted and looked so crisp and inviting that_it made Grampa's mouth water .

" what you fussing about ? " said the old soldier, winking at_the prince ." 'Tisn't every- body can_have their supper cooked in a volcano ." he handed Tatters a great pile of_the toast and after_the prince of Ragbad had eaten a dozen slices, he began to_feel more cheerful himself .

" all

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