Oz 20: The Hungry Tiger of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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with Ippty's help has outwitted us every time ."

" is Ippty the fellow with_the fountain pen finger ? " asked Betsy curiously .

the barber nodded ." he has a handful of odd fingers," he continued despondently, "a pencil, asealing wax finger, an eraser, a candle thumb and a pen- knife besides .Oh, he's a handy rogue for a fellow like Irashi, but the real ruler of rash is Asha, the brother of_the present pasha . weary of_the cares of state, he retired to an unknown country to study radio, leaving his small son and Fizzenpop to govern the kingdom . no sooner had he gone than Irashi seized the throne and hid the little prince away . until we_find the lost prince, nothing can_be_done," finished the rash barber sorrowfully .

" well, I'll tell Ozma on him," declared Betsy determinedly, " just as_soon_as I get back to_the emerald city ."

" do_you_think we ever will get back ? " the hungry tiger paused in_his restless walk and regarded the little group mournfully ."I've been here two days and there's not a chink anywhere in_this wall ."

" let's all look," proposed Betsy, jumping up, and encouraged by her cheerfulness, the four prisoners made a careful tour of_the pink courtyard . but after several hours had_been spent in an unsuccessful search, even Betsy grew downhearted .

" shall we_have something to eat ? " asked the little girl, as_they all dropped down wearily beside the hungry tiger's water tub ." it's a good thing they threw that cart over . at_least, we won't starve ! " Insisting that_this was his part of_the performance, Carter passed round tomatoes and apples, till everyone felt refreshed . even the hungry tiger, after swallowing several dozen of each, admitted that he_felt a little less hollow .

" make_the most of_the day time," advised the hungry tiger gloomily, " for to- night you_are supposed to_be eaten and will_have to hide down below till we_find some way out of rash ! " it_was not a pleasant prospect, and though Carter did what he_could to_keep things cheerful, Betsy and_the barber grew quieter and quieter as_the afternoon advanced .

no more prisoners were flung over the wall, and as_the first stars twinkled out, the three slipped silently into_the underground cave . the hungry tiger had just pushed the pink paving stone back, when Irashi and Ippty, preceded by_the pink Guards bearing torches, stepped out upon_the wall .

" good evening, furious feline ! " called Ippty shrilly ." how do_you do and how do_you do_it ? he's eaten the entire lot," he explained in a breathless whisper to Irashi .

" we've brought you some dessert," announced the pasha, who seemed to_be in a high good humor ."A tempting little waif . throw the little waif over," he_called playfully to_the Guards . the hungry tiger had immediately turned his back upon these rash rascals, but as a crumpled little bundle came tumbling down beside him, he swung around . what he_saw made him roar so ferociously that Irashi, Ippty and_the pink Guards covered their ears and fled from_the wall .

" what's he saying ? " gasped the pasha, sinking down on a pink settee and clapping his fat hands to_his quivering middle .

" he's talking tiger, your highness," stuttered Ippty, with a slight shudder, " and tiger is a language I never studied . but never mind, from now on, we_are the sole rulers of rash ! " Thumping the pasha upon_the back, Ippty led him into_the throne room . as_soon_as they had gone, the hungry tiger stopped roaring and gently approached the small prisoner .

"Don't cry," begged the hungry tiger miser- ably . it_was dreadful to_have everyone afraid of him, especially a helpless little boy ." why, he's no older than Betsy," thought the hungry tiger, bristling with anger at Irashi's wickedness ." if_you stop crying, I'll take you for a ride all round the courtyard," he promised breathlessly . this offer so astonished the little fellow that he_took his arm from before his face and blinked through his tears at_the huge beast . there_was no mistaking the kindly expression in_the hungry tiger's eyes, and with a gasp of relief he jumped up and was about to mount the great beast, when a thin figure leapt from_the top of_the wall and came hurtling down between_them .

" spare him ! spare him, cruel monster ! " wheezed the newcomer hoarsely ." I_am old and thin, but eat me instead ." Placing himself between_the hungry tiger and_the boy, the old rasher extended his arms pleadingly . it_was Fizzenpop, and as_the hungry tiger drew back with embarrassment and surprise, the grand vizier of rash flung himself at his feet .

" it_is_the scarlet prince ! " panted Fizzenpop, beating his head up and down upon_the stones, " prince Evered of rash ! "

"Sh- ! " warned the hungry tiger, looking about uneasily . then as Fizzenpop continued his entreaties, he held up his paw for silence ." you're a nice old bone," sighed the hungry tiger ." but even so, I_have no desire to eat you . it's my conscience," he continued heavily ."I've lived among people too long to hold a position like this ." the grand vizier could scarcely believe his ears .

" but the other prisoners ? " he demanded wildly ." you_have eaten them ? " the hungry tiger, with a tired shake of_his head, waved toward the loosened paving stone . the two corn ears of_the vegetable man were sticking up through_the crevice and he_was carefully repeating to_those below everything as it happened .

" how can I ever thank_you ! " exclaimed Fizzenpop, prostrating himself again at_the hungry tiger's feet .

"Don't thank me, help me," begged the hungry tiger uncomfortably ." and tell me more about_this little chap . perhaps together we_can plan a way to escape .Fizzenpop's brave action in offering himself in place of_the little prince made the hungry tiger feel terribly ashamed . more and more he_was coming to realize_that he_would never be_able to devour a live man . it_was a long story, and sitting down beside the water tub with prince Evered in_his lap, the grand vizier told how Irashi had stolen the throne of_the kingdom and made himself pasha of rash .

" there_are three magic rubies to protect the rightful rulers of rash," explained Fizzenpop in a low voice ." one protects him from all danger by water, one protects him from all injury in_the air and_the other from all harm on_the earth or under the earth; the rubies are embedded among other gems in_the rash scepter . no sooner had Evered's father retired than Irashi began to scheme and plan to_make himself king .Knowing he_could do nothing while the rash rubies were in_our possession, he managed, with Ippty's help, to steal the royal scepter . next he had the little prince seized and hidden away . after searching in vain for many months, I chanced yesterday into a rash Cobbler's shop and found Evered playing with_the cobbler's children .Hoping to_get him safely out_of_the country I hurried him back to_the palace, but Irashi soon discovered him and_the rest," Fizzenpop groaned heavily, " the rest, you_know ! "

" but what became of_the rubies ? " asked the hungry tiger, as Fizzenpop continued to stroke the head of_the little prince . so_much had happened in_the last few hours that even Fizzenpop's story could_not keep the prince awake .

" one he hurled from_the highest turret of_the palace, another he flung into_the rash river and_the last he buried somewhere in_the garden," answered the grand vizier sadly ." until we recover the three magic rubies the prince's very life is in danger and rash must remain under the wicked rule of Irashi, the rough . every evening, when I_am unobserved, I_have searched most diligently for_these precious gems, but without any success .

" well, Irashi won't rule long if I_can find a way out of here," growled the hungry tiger ." think, man ! is_there no way out ? " Fizzenpop shook his head dejectedly and then, as it_was growing late, they thought it best to conceal the little prince with_the rest of_the prisoners .

"Betsy," called the hungry tiger softly . there_was no answer and, pulling aside the pink paving block, he peered down into_the cavern ." they_must_be asleep," muttered the hungry tiger in surprise ." here, Mr Fizzen- pop, you keep watch while I lower the boy ." it_was too dark to_see, and after_the hungry tiger had eased the ragged little prince into_the cave, he decided to step in himself and_see how everything was going . so he slipped gently down into_the darkness .

for nearly ten minutes Fizzenpop kept an anxious eye upon_the wall . then, feeling he had given the hungry tiger ample time to replace the block, he turned round . there_was no one in_the courtyard .

" merciful mustard ! " gasped the grand VI-zier, dashing over to_the opening .Hanging down by his heels, he glared into_the damp little chamber . but it_was perfectly empty . no tiger ! no prince ! no barber ! no anything ! Falling in, head first, Fizzenpop began feeling all over the walls and floors . then, as his search yielded nothing, he raised his voice in a long dismal wail .

" what's wrong ? " three rash Guards ap-peared sleepily on_the wall and presently Irashi, himself, wrapped in a pink bath robe, rushed out to_see what_was the matter .

" the tiger ! " gulped Fizzenpop wildly, " the hungry tiger has escaped ! " Fizzenpop was already in great disfavor, owing to_his discovery of_the lost prince, and realizing instantly that_it would never do to_tell Irashi the whole truth he resolved to save himself for_his country and Evered by a clever story . so, while Irashi listened breathlessly from_the wall, he_told how he had come out to observe the great creature from Oz, how he had seen him prying up apaving stone and had sprung into_the courtyard to_prevent him from escaping ." but i_was too late ! " lamented Fizzenpop shaking his head mournfully ." the hungry tiger has disappeared by some miracle of magic ! "

" and such a useful beast," sniffed Irashi ." but you shall be rewarded Fizzenpop, for_this brave action," and ordering the Guards to let down ropes to_the grand vizier, the pasha of rash went regretfully back to bed ."Oh, well," he yawned as he dropped into a doze, " he's eaten that pest of a prince and_that is something ."

chapter 7

escape from rash

after_the hungry tiger had pushed back the pink block, Betsy and her two companions settled themselves as comfortably as they_could in_the little cavern . it_was too dark to_see, but they_could hear the sad singer crooning drearily to himself . Carter immediately ran his fingers along the floor .Fortunately it_was stone .

" no danger of taking root here," he whispered in a relieved voice to Betsy ."Hello, what's that racket ? " that racket, as_we already know, was Irashi and_the pink Guardsmen, and as_the noise continued, the vegetable man, who was tallest, stuck his ears through_the crevice between_the blocks . what Carter heard through his corn ears was simply amazing, and as he immediately repeated it to_the little company below, they soon forgot their discomfort in their interest . when Fizzenpop explained who the last prisoner was, the barber threw his shaving mug joyfully into_the air and began to prance wildly up and down upon_the shins of_the sad singer .

" three cheers for_the scarlet prince ! " roared the barber, thumping on_the wall with_his razor ." three cheers for prince Evered of rash ! "

" be quiet," begged Betsy anxiously, " they'll hear you .Oh, hush ! " but the barber refused to_be restrained and continued to thump enthusiastically upon_the wall .Withdrawing his ears from_the crevice, Carter groped about in_the dark in an effort to stop the reckless fellow, but at_the third snatch, the whole side of_the cavern fell away and pitched the entire company into a dark damp tunnel . Carter managed to slip his arm round Betsy bobbin, as he fell past her, and they_could hear the sputter and groans of_the rash barber and_the singer far below ." anyway ! " gasped Betsy, as_they skidded down the slippery passageway together, " anyway we're out of rash ! "

" is_this anyway," groaned the vegetable man, trying to_keep himself and Betsy right side up ." well, if_this_is anyway, I prefer some other way .Whew ! "

Betsy was about to reply when_the floor of_the tunnel dropped out and_they fell straight downward, then, striking a rubbery incline, shot straight upward . the rest of_the trip was more like a rush through a scenic railway tunnel than anything Betsy ever had experienced . up slides, down slides, round loops, bends and curves, swooped the rash prisoners till there_was no breath left in any_one_of_them . and when, after a half hour of it, they shot out into_the open, they lay for nearly five minutes, perfectly motionless, where they had fallen . then the rash singer sat up and in a strangled voice quavered:

" we're down ! we're down and out of rash, and everything has gone to smash ! Snif ! Snif ! a trip like this upsets me, but how we got here_is what gets me ! "

probably he_would_have continued his song indefinitely, but at_that minute all of Carter's vegetables, which had slid more slowly down the tunnel, sprayed out_of_the opening and simply overwhelmed him .Betsy had_not breath enough to laugh, but Carter, not being so easily winded, sprang up and ran to_the singer's assistance .

" they always throw things when I sing," sobbed the poor fellow, as Carter helped him to_his feet, and a little defiantly he repeated his last stanza:

"Snif ! Snif ! a trip like this upsets me, but how we got here_is what gets me ! "

" it gets me, too," mumbled the barber, rolling over and looking around for_his razor ." one minute there we_are and next minute there we ain't ! Strikes me this ground

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