Oz 20: The Hungry Tiger of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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discovery .

" what_is it ? " roared the hungry tiger, rubbing impatiently against his shins ." something to eat ? take off that wig, you rascal ! come down here and tell us what you_see .

but Reddy lifted Betsy into_the air and, placing her on_his shoulder, pointed excitedly toward the south . from_that great height Betsy could_not_see very distinctly, but even so the little girl gave a cry of surprise and delight .Striding down a road that_would soon cross their own came a most curious figure none other_than Atmos, the airman, and pattering along hopefully at his side, the little princess of all OZ .

" it's Ozma ! " cried Betsy, nearly losing her balance ."Oh, Reddy, she's coming to help_us . but who is_that funny balloon man ? hurry up Reddy ! let's go meet them ! "

" like this ? " boomed the prince of rash doubtfully .

" no," decided Betsy shaking her head ." it might scare her if_you were a giant . put me down and take off your wig ."

almost dropping Betsy, in_his excitement, Reddy pulled off his wig, and after quickly explaining their startling discovery to_the hungry tiger, the two children started on a run for_the cross-roads .

" I_hope she never finds out why I went to rash," muttered the hungry tiger under his breath, as he padded hurriedly after them .

Carter followed more slowly, brushing back his celery tops and perking up his corn ears . the vegetable man wished to_make as favorable an impression on_the little princess as possible . to Ozma, herself, and to Atmos, plodding wearily along the rough road, nothing could_have_been more astonishing than_the sudden appearance of Betsy bobbin and her friends .

" why Betsy ! " exclaimed the little fairy, running forward joyfully, " where have_you been ? "

" did you look in_the magic picture and find us ? " asked Betsy, giving Ozma an excited little hug ."Oh, Ozma, we've had such alot of adventures and now we_can all go home ! "

Ozma looked doubtful, and even more surprised, for as we_know perfectly well, she had_not looked in_the magic picture at all and was as lost as Betsy bobbin .

" and i_thought the earth was inhabited by Princesses," gasped the airman, looking in bewilderment from one to_the other ." what odd and interesting specimens . are_you real ? " he inquired, earnestly tapping Carter on_the chest .

" as real as rhubarb," answered the vegetable man, with a grin ." are_you ? but let me introduce the famous hungry tiger of Oz ."

" he has a beautiful mouth-" shuddered Atmos, glancing down sideways at_the tiger-"Er- when it_is shut ? Does he bite, Mr Er- rhubarb ? "

" only when I'm hungry," sighed the tiger, rolling his yellow eyes mournfully up at Atmos, " and I'm hungry all the time ."

" how extremely dangerous," murmured Atmos, stepping quickly behind the vegetable man ." is_this little boy creature with_you, too ? "

" of_course ! " laughed Betsy, smiling up at Atmos ." he's a prince and we're both helping him find the lost rubies so he_can_be the rightful ruler of rash ."

Betsy had_been trying to explain all the happenings of_the last three days and now, as prettily as she_could, she introduced Carter and Reddy to Ozma, and Carter, Reddy and_the hungry tiger to_the comical airman . then, because there_was so_much to explain and consider, they all sat down under a huge handkerchief tree and talked to_their hearts' content .

as Betsy insisted on hearing Ozma's story first, the little princess began it, the airman looking terribly embarrassed as she told how he had fallen from_the clouds and then flown off with her .Reddy nodded sympathetically, as Ozma described her flight through_the air .Having been carried off by a pigeon himself, he_knew just how she felt, and when Ozma told how the days and nights flew past in_the sky and how she had punctured the airman and come tumbling to earth, Carter green was simply rooted to_the spot . for_the vegetable man, in_his excitement, had forgotten to_keep moving .

" but we_are good friends now," put in Atmos hastily, as Reddy tugged the vegetable man loose ."Aren't we, little princess ? " Ozma nodded and smiled and went hurriedly on with her story . after being tossed about by_the rolling country, it had at last flung them into a small lake, which_was on_the whole, rather fortunate, as_they were nearly choked with dust .Atmos, in_spite of_his iron boots, floated nicely, and after they had washed off the mud, he towed the little fairy safely to shore . the sun had soon dried them off and_they had taken the first road that stretched ahead .

" and you_see," finished Ozma, smiling gaily at Betsy, " it_was a lucky road, for_it brought us straight to_you .

Betsy's story, as_you_can well imagine took much longer, for_the_time had_not flown as fast for_the earth travellers as it had for_the sky travellers . and as_the little girl, helped out by Carter and Reddy and_the hungry tiger, recounted her strange trip with Carter to rash, the discovery of_the hungry tiger, the wicked-ness of Irashi, the story of_the lost rubies and_the little prince, their escape and fall down town-Ozma and Atmos listened with simply breathless attention . and as Betsy described their experiences with Kaliko and_the tumble down the fire- fall, the airman snatched two handkerchiefs from_the tree and began to mop his head with first one and then the other .

" too strange to_believe," sighed the airman weakly ." they'll never believe this in_the cloud country ."

Ozma smiled to herself at_this, and decided that_the airman's lecture would last several centuries if he tried to include Betsy's story with_his own .Betsy was so out of breath by_this_time, Reddy took up the tale and told them all about immense city and_the Giants . as he put on_the wig to demonstrate its marvelous power, Ozma looked up at_the little prince in frank admiration .

" you_have shown yourself wise and brave and deserve to rule over a kingdom," said the little fairy, as Reddy took off the wig and sat down beside her ." i_wish I had some of_my magic appliances with me, then we_could locate the last ruby and restore you to_the throne at once . as it . is, we'll have to_go back to_the emerald city and consult the wizard of Oz ."

" last ruby," puffed Atmos, who had_not paid much attention to_the ruby part of_the story ." why, I_have a ruby ." Reaching in one of_his air pockets, the skyman produced asparkling square gem .Seizing the jewel with a grasp of surprise, Reddy brought out the other two and held them up for all to_see .

" why, it_is_the last ruby," cried the little prince, pointing to_the R, carved distinctly on_the side of_the gem ." it_is_the ruby that protects me from all danger in_the air ."

" but how did Atmos get it ? " exclaimed Betsy, completely bewildered .

" well, he_is an airman," began Reddy, not quite_sure himself, but too surprised and delighted to really care, " and I suppose-"

"I got it from a sky- lark," announced the airman, puffing out his cheeks importantly ." one morning, as i_was picking air currents from a large current bush near my air castle, a sky- lark flew by and dropped this ruby into my hand . and as it_was bright and shiny, and unlike anything I had ever seen, I kept it ."

" well, good for_you ! " cried Carter green, clapping Atmos on_the back ." the lark must_have caught the ruby as Irashi flung it into_the air . imagine the old scalawag's feelings when he_knows that a vegetable man found the ruby he buried in_the garden, a fisherman the ruby he hurled into_the river and an airman, the ruby he tossed into_the air ! quite a coincidence, I call it ." and taking three skips and ahop to_keep from rooting to_the spot, Carter perched on a rock he had found himself and began to whistle merrily .

" and now ! " exclaimed Betsy, running over to seize Reddy's hands, " now with all of_the rubies you_can conquer Irashi and nothing can ever harm you again ! "

"Oh, let's go back to Oz," growled the hungry tiger, lashing his tail a little at_the very thought of Irashi ." let's go back to Oz where the meals are regular and a tiger's a tiger .Reddy can live with_us and we'll all have fun together . that_is, if_we_can ever find a way to cross the desert ."

"I'll carry you across, volunteered the airman, looking down at his boots ."I'm big enough and I'd do anything for little Ozma .I'm her airrend boy," he grinned, winking at Carter green .

" and I'm Betsy's," declared Carter proudly .Jumping off the stone he began hopping round like a jack- rabbit, and Ozma could hardly keep her eyes off the comical little gentleman .

" let's start, fellows," suggested Carter squinting up at_the sun ." perhaps we_are nearer this desert than we_think and as_we're not sure of_the way either to_the emerald city or to rash, we'll have to_go where the next road takes us .

" the desert lies over there," announced Reddy, pointing toward the east ." I_saw the gleaming sand when I had on my big wig ."

" then let's go east," sighed Ozma, seating herself contentedly on_the hungry tiger . in atwinkling Betsy hopped up beside her and with Reddy pacing proudly ahead and Carter and Atmos ambling comfortably behind, the little procession started off .

chapter 19

Reddy restored to_the throne

the time passed most merrily for_the travellers . Carter and Atmos were so interested in each_other, and Betsy and Ozma were so busy exchanging their strange experiences, they scarcely noticed the country through which they were passing . but after an hour's march Reddy, who was still ahead of_the others, gave a loud cry of surprise, for he had caught a glimpse of_the pink towers of rash .

" we've travelled in a circle," panted the little boy excitedly, " and here we_are back where we started from ."

" well, shall we stop and conquer Irashi or go on back to Oz ? " queried Betsy ." the deadly desert is on_the other side of_the city, and we_could easily march around it ."

" march round by all means," roared the hungry tiger, who had his own reasons for avoiding rash ." in_the emerald city Ozma can do_the whole conquering by magic, and then if Reddy still wants to return to_his measly little kingdom, she_can transport him with_the magic belt ."

the little fairy looked inquiringly at Reddy, but Reddy lifted his chin and fingering his sword lovingly, shook his head .

"A prince should conquer his own enemies," declared the little boy bravely, " and after_the way Irashi treated us, I really ought to conquer him ."

" but can six people conquer a city ? " gasped the airman rolling his eyes a big wildly ." in_the sky it takes an army .

"I've seen one person conquer a city in Oz," boasted Betsy proudly ." come on red, I'll help_you .

" so will I ! " cried Carter green, picking up a stout stick, " and we_have the rash rubies, remember ! "

"I don't know much about earth battles, but I_can tread on a few toes," offered Atmos, clumping up_to_the little prince and tapping his boots significantly .

" and if_you_are set upon it, I'll bite off a few heads," roared the hungry tiger ." on to rash ! " Bidding the little girls hold tight, he went charging full speed over the hill', Reddy, Atmos and Carter racing breathless after him .

now it happened that Irashi and_his chief scribe were having luncheon in_the castle gardens . they had long since dismissed the hungry tiger and_the little prince from their evil minds . you_can therefore imagine their astonishment and dismay when Reddy and_his companions came hurtling through_the trees . the little army had rushed impetuously past the guards at_the gate and, after one glimpse of_the hungry tiger, the Rashers they encountered in_the city had fled like leaves before_the wind, so that_they had reached the castle without interference .

at sight of_the huge airman, Ippty, who had_been about to pour himself a cup of coffee, gave a frightful scream and scrambled nimbly into a tree, while Irashi, seizing a silver whistle, that hung round his neck, blew three shrill blasts and, drawing his scimiter, made a savage slash at Reddy . but the scimiter slid harmlessly down the little boy's cheek, and_the coffee pot, which Ippty hurled from_the tree, bounced like a rubber ball, off his head .

" it's the rubies, the rash rubies ! " exulted Betsy bobbin .Betsy and Ozma had jumped off the tiger, and_the great beast, crouched at_the foot of Ippty's tree, was glaring upward with a look so terrible that_the scribe of rash trembled till the very branches shook .

" see what's coming," coughed Carter, with awarning wave toward the castle . in answer to Irashi's whistle, the entire army of rash was advancing upon_the invaders .

" spinach ! Gamin and spinach ! " spluttered the vegetable man wildly .

" is_that what you call 'em ? " panted Atmos, and putting the little girls firmly behind him, he_made ready to tread upon_the army's toes .Swinging his stick like a flail, Carter took his place at Reddy's right and, roaring like a dozen cannons, the hungry tiger placed himself at_the little boy's left .Reddy, himself, giving no attention to_the frantic slashes of_the scimiter, nor the furious advance of_the rash army, was pushing Irashi steadily backwards .

and as_the old rascal, breathless from_his pummelings, turned to_see whether his army were coming, Reddy snatched off Irashi's crown and tossed it back to Betsy bobbin .

" keep it for_me Betsy," puffed the little prince, " I_can't use it now ." Clinging anxiously together, both little girls began to wish they had persuaded Reddy not to conquer Irashi . how was one small boy, even though he_was helped out by three magic rubies and five loyal friends, to conquer the entire army of rash ?

but Reddy's plans were all made . as_the Rashers rushed upon him, as_the airman got in one splendid kick and Carter one tremendous whack, the little boy

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