Oz 18: Grandpa in Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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all we_need is a little sleep," yawned the old soldier, after they had finished off the toast, for neither bill nor Urtha needed food ." if bill will keep watch, you and I had better turn in, for there's no knowing what may happen to- morrow .

"I'll keep watch," promised bill readily .

" hush ! " warned Grampa suddenly, for Urtha, wearied by her strange adventures, had fallen fast asleep in_the middle of counting the stars and lay in a fragrant heap, her lovely violet eyes closed tight and all the big and little posies that made up the wonderful little flower girl herself were asleep too .

" if she hadn't been a fairy," whispered Grampa, looking down at her affectionately, " she would_have wilted long_ago . we_must take good care of her, my boy, for I_doubt if there's as lovely a little lady anywhere else in Oz ."

" she's the only luck we've had," mused Tatters, " and i_wish-" the prince looked up at_the stars and did_not finish his sentence but, rolling up the skin of_the old thread bear, he_made a pillow for Urtha's head and he and Grampa went tip-toeing to_the other side of_the island and stretched themselves on_the ground . the motion of_the little island, as it rode lightly over the waves, was very soothing and before long the old soldier and_the young prince were sound asleep too, leaving only the weather cock on guard . and bill, in all the years he had spent on_the barn near Chicago, had never felt so important .Perched on_the highest ridge of_the island, he kept a sharp look- out in all directions, scanning the tumbling waters of_the Nonestic ocean for signs of a fortune and a princess and talking softly to himself in_the starlight .

Grampa was having a fine dream . he_was being presented at court and was just about to shake hands with princess Ozma herself, when he_was wakened by a ton of kitchen tins falling down amountainside . or that's what it sounded like to Grampa .Leaping to_his feet, the old soldier snatched up his gun .Tatters and Urtha were both sitting bolt upright, rubbing their eyes .

" it's bill ! " yawned the prince sleepily . with an exclamation of disgust, the old soldier threw down his gun and covered his ears . the weather cock was indulging in_his morning crow and helping the sun to rise . just as Grampa thought he_could_not stand it another minute, the frightful clamor ceased .

" the sun has risen," announced bill calmly, " and there's land ahead ! "

it_was a bit foggy but, crowding to_the edge of_the island, the little company saw that_they were being carried straight toward a land of ice and snow .Tatters and Urtha had never seen snow before, for there_is no snow in Oz, but Grampa had read all about such things in Fumbo's books and, while he_was explaining, the little island bumped on_the snowy shores of_this strange ice- bound land .

" all off ! " cried Grampa, seizing Urtha by_the hand .Tatters ran back for_his umbrella and_the skin of_the old thread bear; then jumped after Grampa and_the flower maiden .

" colder and colder ! " predicted bill, flying after_the prince and settling on_the branches of an ice- covered tree . but Tatters was not thinking of_the weather . with round eyes, he_was studying a huge sign that stretched between two tall hemlocks .

" the illustrious island of Isa Poso," announced the sign, and in smaller letters, " beware of_the dragon ."

" great Gollywockers ! " gasped the old soldier, reading over Tatters' shoulder ." can't they give afeller a rest ? "

" what's a dragon ? " asked Urtha, touching Tatters on_the arm .

chapter 12

the island of Isa Poso

while Tatters was still studying the sign and explaining a dragon to Urtha, the old soldier stepped over to another tree where an even larger sign was displayed . this_is what it said:

reward ! one- half the kingdom and_the hand of_the princess Poso to_the slayer of_the dragon Enorma . chin chilly the third, king of Isa Poso .

"Hah," cried Grampa, with a little skip, " this_is more like it ! "

" like what ? " asked Tatters, blowing on_his stiff fingers .

" like olden times . in my youth," said Grampa solemnly, " young lads served in_the armies of strange kings, slew monsters and were rewarded with half the kingdom and_the princess' hand . let_us immediately slay this dragon, my boy, and win the reward . then all that_will_be left for_us to_do will_be to_find your father's head ."

" and I'll find the dragon," volunteered the weather cock, rising into_the frosty air .

" what shall I_do ? " asked Urtha, running up_to_the old soldier .

" just be your lovely little self," smiled Grampa, " and stay where we_can_see you . why, just to look at you makes me feel like aconquering army with banners flying ."

Urtha was so happy at Grampa's neat little speech that she blew him a kiss and began dancing in circles over the shimmery snow and wherever Urtha's foot rested the snow melted and flowers sprang up, until there were circles of posies pricked out against the snow .Grampa and Tatters were so interested that_they almost forgot the icy wind that was blowing over this white, frozen land . but soon the prince, who in_spite of_the skin of_the thread bear was thinly clad, began to shiver and_the old soldier to shake in good earnest . first he stood on_the other because that was his game leg and not subject to frost bites .

"A game leg's a mighty fortunate thing," wheezed Grampa huskily, " but i_wish we were like Urtha- then we wouldn't feel this pesky wind . let's march on, for if_we stay here we'll freeze stiff ." Marching on an empty stomach through a strange freezing land was not the pleasantest thing in_the_world but both Gampa and Tatters stepped out bravely, the young prince smiling over his shoulder every few_minutes at_the little flower maiden ." it's a lucky thing we're not being followed," whispered Grampa, and it certainly was- for after them, in a tell- tale row, pansies, tulips, daffodils and forget- me-nots marked out the steps of_the light footed little flower fairy .

" I_hope we track down this dragon soon, groaned Tatters, pausing to stamp his foot and rub the end of_his nose .Icicles were forming on Grampa's whiskers and_the sun, flashing on_the snow, almost blinded the gallant old soldier . he_was almost ready to quit .

" no wonder the king calls himself chin chilly," chattered Grampa dismally ." my chin's chilly too; I'm chilly all over .Urtha, my dear, do you_see anything that looks like a dragon ? "

" I_see a bright light," called Urtha, who was dancing ahead of_the shivering adventurers .

" I_feel a warm wind ! " cried the prince of Ragbad excitedly .

" the dragon ! the dragon ! " screamed the weathercock, appearing suddenly over the top of a bleak, icy hill . before bill's warning had died away, the dragon itself hove into view and, with a great roar, came tobogganing down upon_the frightened little company like a scenic railway train .Urtha jumped behind Tatters, Tatters drew his umbrella and Grampa looked down the sights of_his gun into_the flaming throat of Enorma herself . for a moment nothing happened, for_the dragon, now that she was down the hill, seemed to wait for_them to make_the first move .

"Don't shoot," begged the prince of Ragbad imploringly ."Don't shoot yet Grampa, it's the first time I've been warm to- day ! "

Grampa's whiskers had already thawed out and_the heat from_the fire-breathing monster was so comforting that_they almost forgot their fear . the dragon, on her part, seemed more curious than angry .

" well, I'll be snowballed ! " she snorted, wagging her head from side to side ." how did you get here ? "

" it's a long strange story," sighed Grampa, lowering his gun and holding his hands toward the waves of heat that blew from_the dragon's nostrils .

" we fell, swam, sailed and exploded," crowed bill, flapping his wings over the dragon's head .

" well, before_you melt, would you mind telling me why you came at all ? " asked Enorma, with a terrific yawn .

" melt ! " exclaimed Grampa, his eyes snapping, " why, I'm just beginning to thaw out ."

" well, you'll soon be entirely out_of_the way," said the dragon comfortably ." the folk hereabout melt at my mere approach ." Enorma yawned again and began to pant a little, from her slide down the hill .

"Humph ! " grunted the old soldier . at_the first yawn he had made astartling discovery- at_the second he_was sure he had made it .Taking out his snuff box, the old soldier tip- toed close to_the monster and flung the entire contents in her face .

then, " run for your lives ! " shouted Grampa, starting off at his best pace . and it_is well that_they quickly obeyed this command, for_the sneezes of_that dragon shook the entire island and sent the snow in blinding flurries all around them .

" what- what's happening ? " asked the prince of Ragbad, peering out wildly from behind an icy cliff .

" your fortune's made, that's all ! " announced Grampa proudly ." more ways than one of winning a battle ."

Stepping out, and motioning for_the others to_follow, the old soldier approached the still quivering monster .Tears streamed from her eyes and she was still sneezing broken- heart-edly .

"Enorma is as false as her teeth ! " puffed Grampa, and with astonishment Tatters and Urtha saw that_the dragon was perfectly toothless-having lost her one and only set at_the first pinch of Grampa's snuff .

" will_you finish her off, or shall I ? " asked the old soldier, rattling his sword in businesslike fashion . before Tatters could answer Enorma gave a frightened moan and began scuttling across the snow fields like an express train bound for Atlantic city .

" halt ! stop ! or I'll fall on_your head ! come back here at once and be slaughtered ! " screamed bill, flying after her while the others followed as fast as they_could on foot . but in_the end Enorma finished herself for, turning to_see how close Grampa and Tatters were coming, she plunged headfirst into an icy stream and put herself outcompletely and entirely out- for a dragon can no more stand a dash of water than a furnace, or a witch !

when Grampa and Tatters reached the edge of_the stream, Enorma was floating like a great green log on_the surface, only a tiny puff of smoke to show that she had ever been aroaring, fire-eating, sure- enough monster .

gentle little Urtha wept a bit but Tatters soon comforted her . then he and_the old soldier moored Enorma fast to a tree, so_that they_would_have proof of_their valor when_they met the king of_the island . they were all warm from_the encounter with_the dragon, but it soon wore off and it wasn't long before_they began to shiver again .

" wish we'd brought one of_those house plants along," sighed Tatters .

" wish I_could get my teeth in one of Mrs sew- and- sew's ragamuffins," murmured Grampa, trudging gloomily over the snow .

" bill's found something," called Urtha, who was dancing a few steps ahead . just then down came the weather cock to announce that he had discovered the dragon's cave . it_was tunneled out of a huge, snowy hill and at one end burned aroaring fire .Dragons, as_you_know, drink flame as other creatures drink water and Enorma always kept a huge pile of trees burning in her cavern .

" bill, you're a real explorer ! " cried Grampa and, taking off one of_his medals, he hung it ' round the weather cock's neck .Stacked against the walls of_the cave were great piles of frozen meat, for Enorma- in_spite of her false teeth- had_been a mighty huntress . in a trice Grampa had a bear steak sputtering on_the fire on pointed sticks and nothing could_have_been cozier than their breakfast .

" i_told you our troubles were over," beamed the old soldier, handing Tatters a portion of_the steak on a tin army plate ." all we_have to_do now is to claim the reward, find the king's head and journey back to Ragbad ." Grampa grinned with satisfaction .

" but how can we do_that ? " asked Tatters dubiously ." there's the ocean and_the sandy desert between ."

"Don't worry," advised Grampa, settling comfortably before_the fire ." this old chin chilly will_be so delighted to_have the dragon out_of_the way that he'll probably send_us home in a golden ship with_our pockets full of diamonds . how will_you like that, loveliness ? " Urtha was playing hide and seek with bill but at Grampa's words she came over to_the fire .

"I'll like it if Tatters does," said the little flower fairy, smiling shyly at_the prince of Ragbad .

" well, I'll like it," admitted Tatters, " especially with_you along, for we_can dance on_the deck and play scrum . why, I've never had time to teach you yet .Grampa, won't you lend us your leg ? "

" not now," objected the old soldier ." duty before pleasure, my children . remember that we_have_not found this chin chilly, nor claimed the reward . as_we're warmed up and fed we'd better start hunting again ."

" here I go by_the name of bill," crowed the weather cock, flinging out_of_the cavern .Grampa stowed some_of_the dried bear meat in_his knapsack and then, forming his little company in line, gave the order to march away .

" first we'll have another look at_the dragon," said the old soldier, " and then we'll try to_find the palace of Isa Poso ."

so down the snowy hill they marched and slid and_they had just come to_the banks of_the stream when harsh voices from_the other side of a clump of trees made them stop short .

"Flowers ! " screamed the first voice ." pull them up, tread them down ! who dares to plant flowers on Isa Poso ? "

"Footprints, too, chilly dear," grunted a deeper voice ." here_is an animal with un- matched feet ."

Dropping on_his knees, the old soldier peered around the frozen tree trunks and saw two of_the islanders bending over the tracks they had made when_they chased Enorma

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