Oz 20: The Hungry Tiger of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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chair, Betsy told how the hungry tiger had_been carried to rash, of her meeting with_the vegetable man and_the strange manner in_which they had arrived in_the same kingdom . then she went on with prince Evered's story, told how he had_been deprived of_his throne and robbed of_the three rash rubies .

as Betsy described the magical powers of_the stolen gems, the gnome king leaned forward with sudden interest and as_the little girl explained how the vegetable man had come into possession of one_of_the lost rubies, Carter saw a surprised look flash between Kaliko and_his chief chamberlain . then he_saw the gnome king slip a small ring from_his finger and hide it in a crevice of_his throne . none_of_the others noticed Kaliko's action at all .Reddy was too interested in_the gnome's curious cavern to bother about any possible danger, the hungry tiger's eyes had closed in a momentary doze and Betsy, herself, seemed to_have the greatest confidence in_the king .

"I'll have to watch out for all of us," decided Carter, hurriedly wiping the mold from_his nose . and while Betsy continued her story, the vegetable man began to examine the king's cavern with great care ." we_may_have to leave in a hurry," thought Carter nervously .

" lend me those exspectacles," mumbled the hungry tiger sleepily, as_the little girl told Kaliko their intention of returning to_the emerald city as_soon_as they_could and having Ozma restore Reddy to_his throne ." lend me those exspectacles ." when_the little prince of rash held them up before_the hungry tiger's eyes, he_gave a roar of delight .

" what do you_see ? " asked Reddy curiously .

" what do I_see ? " purred the hungry tiger licking his chops ." why, I_see that lunch is ready at last . come on fellows ! "

" he's right," chuckled Kaliko, taking back his glasses ." for I ordered it an hour ago . this_way my dear ." Taking Betsy's arm, the gnome king led the way to_his crystal dining hall where one table was set cozily for four, and another, apparently for a dozen ."I haven't forgotten your tremendous appetite, you_see, smiled Kaliko, waving toward the low table along which roasts of beef and legs of lamb were ranged in atempting row . the hungry tiger gave a sigh of satisfaction, and without waiting for a knife, fork or napkin, began to munch his way hungrily down the table . for Betsy and_the little prince, Kaliko had prepared an alluring luncheon of fried chicken, sweet potatoes and peach pie . at_the vegetable man's place stood asparkling glass of root beer .

"I didn't suppose you'd care to eat," observed Kaliko tactfully, " but i_was sure you_would enjoy our national drink ."

Carter was so touched by_the gnome king's thoughtfulness that he began to reproach himself for_his unkind suspicions .

Kaliko, himself, ate sparingly of a hot mud pie and swallowed a cup of scalding black rock coffee and, while ten little nimble gnomes waited on_the table, he and Betsy talked over old Oz times and discussed means of crossing the deadly desert .

"I don't know how you feel," yawned the hungry tiger, when he had finally worked his way to_the end of_his long table, " but I_feel like a nap .

Betsy and_the little prince admitted that_they were tired, too, and immediately Guph showed them to a splendid suite of guest caverns, just off the throne room . the vegetable man slammed his door hard, then opened it quite noiselessly . just as he had expected, the two gnomes had their heads close together . now, when it comes to hearing there_is nothing so fine as a corn ear and what Carter heard through his made him tremble with indignation .

" if . you weren't such a miserable mole," muttered Guph bitterly, " you'd get that other ruby ! "

chapter 11

the second rash ruby

i_told you there_was a strange power in_that ruby when_you bought it from_the fisherman," hissed Guph ." no ruby has an R carved in_the side without some reason . it_is undoubtedly one_of_the magic rubies of rash- the one protecting the holder from danger by water ."

several_days before Betsy's arrival, an old Ev fisherman had brought asparkling square ruby to_the gnome king . he had found it in a fish he had drawn up in_his nets and, knowing Kaliko's fondness for jewels, had taken it straight to_the king .Kaliko at once purchased the stone and had it set in a small ring- the same ring Carter had seen him slip into_the rock throne ." if_you had the courage of a flea," grumbled Guph, " you'd steal the ruby this vegetable person discovered and become a real power in_the land ."

" but it wouldn't be right," objected Kaliko, mopping his brow with_his gray kerchief, " besides, Ozma would hear of it and come with her army to conquer us .

" how could she if_you had the two rash rubies ? " argued Guph ." how would she ever know ? we'll just destroy all these rubbishy travellers and that_will_be the end of it . where's the ring now ? " he inquired anxiously .

" safe enough," answered Kaliko, glancing over his shoulder ." i_took it off as_soon_as Betsy mentioned the rubies . i_was afraid she_would notice it ."

" come on then," urged Guph coaxingly-" can't you be a little bad for once .Tisn't natural for a gnome to_be good all the time and where does all this goodness get you ? show you're a real gnome for once and forget all this mortal stuff you learned from Betsy bobbin

as Guph continued his wicked pleading, Carter stood frozen to_the spot, his corn ears waving to and fro with wrath and indignation . he longed to snatch the precious ruby from its hiding place and dash back to warn the others . but the gnomes were so close, he dared not move . but all at once Kaliko came to a decision and began to hurry toward a small door .

" i_will consult the wizard," muttered the gnome king in a weak whisper ." come, let_us_see what the wizard thinks about_this ." Taking Guph's arm, Kaliko went pattering down the rocky hallway . in one leap, the vegetable man reached the great throne, found the ruby ring and dropped it into his leather pouch . he_was about to return to_his companions when_the king's exspectacles, lying on_the arm of_the throne, attracted his attention .Clapping them hurriedly upon his nose, he rushed toward the cavern occupied by_the little prince of rash . but halfway there he_gave a great leap .

" great cauliflowers ! " gasped Carter . as plainly as you_see the pictures in_this book, he_saw Guph thumping the little boy on_the head with apickaxe .

" stop ! stop ! " screamed the vegetable man, dashing into_the cavern like a whirlwind . off flew the king's exspectacles and splintered into bits on_the floor, and_his entrance was so noisy, Evered jumped up in a fright from_the couch where he had_been sleeping .

" what's the matter ? " he demanded, feeling around sleepily for_his sword .

" matter ! " coughed Carter, "Wasn't that rogue Guph in here ? " the prince shook his head and, looking into_the next cavern, Carter saw Betsy curled up peacefully on a green sofa and from_the cave beyond came the resounding snores of_the hungry tiger ." nothing's happened at all," yawned Reddy .

" it was_the exspectacles," puffed Carter, catching a glimpse of_the pink splinters of glass at his feet .

" do_you_know what_is going to happen, my rash young friend ? that scalawag of a gnome intends to bang you over the ears with a pick-axe . I_saw him with my own eyes and Kaliko's specs ! "

" bang me with a pick-axe ! " shuddered Evered, jumping up in alarm, as Carter ran to waken Betsy and_the hungry tiger . as fast as he_could, the vegetable man told them all he had overheard, and showed them the ruby ring Kaliko had slyly hidden away from_them . their pleasure at recovering the second ruby was entirely spoiled by_the treachery of_the gnome king and, scarcely looking at it, Reddy thrust the ring into his pocket .

" I_can run the fastest," panted the hungry tiger ." jump on my back, all of you and I'll make a sprint for safety ." almost as one, the three leaped on_the hungry tiger's back, Carter leaving his wheel- barrow with a sigh, and arming himself with_the spade he had picked from_the Indus tree .

but as_the hungry tiger dashed through_the door into_the throne room, Guph and_his entire army came swarming through another entrance .Kaliko, himself, was nowhere in sight . he had delegated Guph to secure the rash ruby and dispose of_the travellers . then, thought the gnome king, if any trouble arose afterward, Guph would_be held responsible .

but Guph did_not intend to_have any trouble afterward . he meant to destroy the travellers so utterly that not even Ozma, with her magic, would_be_able to discover what had become of_them . therefore, when_the wicked little elf saw his four victims preparing to escape, he_gave a loud screech, hurled himself at_the hungry tiger, and brought his pick-axe down with all his might upon_the head of_the little prince . it might_have_been a feather for all the impression it made upon Reddy . and while Betsy and Carter ducked back in dismay, the gnomes rushed at them in a body and simply rained blows upon their heads and shoulders . but the blows fell as harmlessly as an April shower and when Carter realized this, he began laying about with_his spade so briskly that_the enemy went down in heaps ." one_of_the rubies is protecting us," whispered prince Evered, pulling out his sword . take that you gray robber ! " and bringing the sword down on Guph's shoulders he stretched him flat upon_the rocks . at_the same moment, the hungry tiger, gathering himself for a spring, leaped entirely over the gnome army and, charging out the first door he_came to, raced down a long dismal tunnel . they_could hear the gnomes scampering after them and, redoubling his speed, the hungry tiger fairly flew down the dim corridor . when a sudden turn brought him up against aswinging door, he went through like a shot and out upon a huge rocky cliff .

"Whoa ! Whoa ! " quavered Carter, jerking the hungry tiger frantically by_the tail .

" stop ! stop ! " implored Betsy and Reddy both together . no wonder ! Bubbling up from_the cliff and hurling itself down over the rocks below, was ashimmering sheet of flame, the highest fire- fall, to_be perfectly exact, in_the whole of Kaliko's kingdom . but the hungry tiger could no more stop himself than a barrel rolling down hill . with a roar that loosened three rocks and a boulder, he plunged over the cliff and down the fire- fall itself .

" ruby ! ruby ! " moaned the vegetable man, clutching Betsy and_the little prince ." do your work ! " the roar of_the flames drowned out every_other sound and green and yellow tongues of fire licked out at_the travellers as_they were hurled downward . but so powerful was_the rash ruby, they were harmless as spring zephyrs, while the stones and rocks against which they bumped and bounded seemed soft as pillows . the tiger was falling head first, and somehow the three riders managed to_keep on_his back and hang together . just before_they reached the bottom and swirled down into_the pool of flames at_the base of_the fire- fall, Carter lost his hold on Reddy's belt . he soon regained it, but not quickly enough .

" my ears burn," complained the vegetable man, as_the hungry tiger struggled through_the flaming torrent toward the shore .

" what's that ? " questioned Betsy, sniffing the air suddenly . at_the same moment they were simply covered with a shower of crisp white flakes .

" my ears ! " moaned the vegetable man, in grief- stricken tones ." they've popped ! " this on top of all the other shocks was almost too_much, and when_the tiger had dragged himself out_of_the fiery stream and scrambled up the steep bank, they all dropped down upon_the steaming rocks and simply panted with exhaustion .

" first time I ever came down a fire- fall," puffed Reddy, gazing fearfully at_the tumbling torrent of flames .

" well, it's the last time I ever come down one," growled the hungry tiger ." if_it hadn't been for_that ruby of yours we'd all have_been nicely toasted by now . as_it_is-" the hungry tiger looked sorrowfully at_the vegetable man .

" the best ears I ever had," groaned Carter, feeling the husks that were left to him .

" did it hurt ? " asked Betsy sympathetically . but the vegetable man made no reply .

" he_can't hear you," explained the hungry tiger gloomily ." if I had that gnome king I'd eat him ."

" he didn't turn out very_well," admitted Betsy sadly ." but never mind .Reddy has another ruby and we're in_the upstairs world again ."

" that's so ! maybe we're nearer the emerald city than we_think," rumbled the hungry tiger ." let's look around a bit and_see ." Motioning for Carter to_follow, and still feeling depressed over Kaliko's treachery and_the vegetable man's sad loss, they started across the stony country edging the gnome king's dominions .

" it's funny Ozma doesn't help_us," whispered Betsy to_the little prince of rash, as Carter strode gloomily and silently beside them ."I've been away from_the emerald city two days now and she_must be wondering where I_am and they_have certainly missed the hungry tiger by_this_time ."

" but how would Ozma know where to look for_you ? " asked Reddy .

" the magic picture would show her," answered Betsy, and quickly explained the most magic of Ozma's possessions . this curious painting hangs in_the royal palace, and when Ozma wishes to_know where her friends are and what they_are doing she has but to stand before it and request them to appear . immediately they flash

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