Oz 20: The Hungry Tiger of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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boy clapped on_the giant's wig .

you_have never seen a more terrified and bewildered company . the screams of Irashi and_his Guardsmen, as Reddy shot skyward, nearly deafened Betsy and Ozma . and as he began to pick up one and then another of_the soldiers and take away their swords, their terror was pitiful . they crawled, ran, leaped, and tumbled in a wild scramble to_get away, the hungry tiger snapping viciously at their heels and_the airman helping them most efficiently with_his iron boots . in one moment more, not a rasher was to_be seen anywhere .

" and_that," grunted the airman, rubbing his hands together with great glee, " that_is_the end of_the gamin and spinach ."

Irashi would_have fled too, had_not Atmos seized him by_the pantaloons and swung him up in_the tree beside Ippty . by_this_time word of_the frightful battle had reached the castle and Fizzenpop, his turban standing straight on end, came flying out to_see what had happened . but even Fizzenpop's knees smote together when he_saw the great giant striding up and down the garden, and when_the giant actually lifted him into_the air, the grand vizier gave himself up for lost .

Betsy and Ozma, delighted at_the splendid victory, now came hurrying over and while the hungry tiger guarded the two rascals in_the tree, Reddy took off his wig, and told Fizzenpop the story of_their adventures, proudly displaying the three magic rubies of rash .

at sight of_the rubies, the delight and astonishment of_the grand vizier knew no bounds, and after embracing Reddy a dozen times and prostrating himself twice before each of_the others, the old statesman rushed back to_the palace .

next instant the tower bells were tolling out a joyful welcome to_the rightful ruler of rash and, Fizzenpop, himself, in_his best turban and tunic was reading a proclamation from_the pink balcony stating that Evered, the scarlet prince had returned and_the rule of Irashi the rough was over forever .

" how about a little lunch ? " proposed the hungry tiger, putting his paws over his ears to drown out the roars and cheers of_the populace .

Overjoyed at Irashi's downfall, the citizens of rash were celebrating the victory as noisily as possible ." and what_are we going to_do with_these two handsome rogues ? I've a notion to eat them up ! " the hungry tiger roared, glaring ferociously at_the trembling pair in_the tree .

" well, they certainly deserve it," exclaimed Betsy, looking severely at Irashi and Ippty ."Don't you_think so Carter ? "

the kind hearted vegetable man pulled his corn ear in embarrassment ." let Ozma and Reddy decide," murmured Carter in a low voice ." they're not an earthly bit of use to anyone, but perhaps they'll reform," he finished uncomfortably . at Carter's words, the airman gave a sudden bounce, and a gleam of purpose came into his round eye .

" tie them up," advised Atmos, " especially that prickly fingered one . then, after lunch we_can decide what_is to_be_done ."

" all right," agreed Reddy, and to_be_sure that they_would not escape, he put on_his big wig . then, picking the two Rashers out_of_the tree as if_they had_been toy soldiers, he wound them round and round with rope that Carter obligingly fetched from_the castle .Ippty's pen and pencily fingers he bound up securely in strips of_his handkerchief, which, grown to giant size, was large as a sheet . then, with_the two culprits tramping gloomily before them, the conquerors marched gaily to_the pink palace where a splendid repast already awaited them .

the hungry tiger's eyes shone with joy as he looked down the long table . one entire end had_been reserved for him .

"Isn't this better than rash prisoners ? " whispered Fizzenpop, leading him kindly to_his place and waving to_the rare steaks and roasts he had provided .

with a troubled glance at Ozma, the hungry tiger nodded . he hoped that Fizzenpop would_not tell the others why he had come to rash . but Betsy and Ozma were talking so busily, they never even heard the grand vizier's remark ." and if Ippty and Irashi are disposed of, I_have nothing to fear," thought the tiger uneasily .

Reddy, still in_his shabby clothes, but wearing the splendid ruby crown of rash, seated himself at_the head of_the table and, with Ozma on_his right and Betsy on_his left, presided in a truly royal manner . Carter and Atmos did_not eat at all, but their jokes and questions kept the whole company in a roar of merriment .

" it_is seldom," observed old Fizzenpop, gazing fondly at_the little prince, " it_is seldom that a city is captured without one broken bone ."

" I_am_glad I_did_not break mine," said the airman, patting his chest proudly .

" yours ? " gasped Betsy, " why Atmos, have_you any bones ? "

" one," admitted the airman, feeling his side experimentally ." it's afloating rib, and I never know just where it_will_be . every airman has afloating rib," confided Atmos blandly ." it helps them to float ."

" well, i_think you_are one_of_the_most interesting persons I_have ever met," cried Reddy, jumping to_his feet ." and Carter's the other .Oh I_do wish you_would all stay in rash . won't you please stay ? Betsy and Ozma can take turns being queen, Carter can_be royal gardener and_the hungry tiger and Atmos can_be anything they_want ."

" thanks," murmured the airman, " but what about_my lecture ? besides," he looked bashfully from one to_the other, "I'm engaged to an heiress and must return to_the sky . but someday, when_you have a few years to spare, I_hope you'll all visit me and we'll go on a regular sky- lark ."

"Oh, I'd love to," cried Betsy bobbin .

" you talk as if_you were leaving us," objected the hungry tiger, raising himself with an effort . he had eaten a tremendous luncheon and could scarcely keep his eyes open .

" I_am," declared the airman solemnly, pushing back his chair . and before_the others half realized what he_was about, the huge fellow had seized Ippty and Irashi and vanished through_the doorway .

chapter 20

safe in_the emerald city

wait ! wait ! " begged Ozma, jumping up and hurrying after him ."Atmos Fere, Atmos dear, don't you remember you promised to carry us across the desert and back to Oz ? " by_this_time they had all run out into_the garden, but Atmos did_not even seem to hear their pleas . with Ippty and Irashi under one arm, he_was feverishly kicking off his iron boots .

" these villains," puffed Atmos, holding up his unhappy victims, " are as Carter said, of no use on_the earth at all, but they_will_be very useful to_me in_the sky . not as good specimens as I_could_have wished for, but i_will take them back with me, to_prove that_there_are really people at_the bottom of_the air . after_the lecture, I_shall drop them on some lonely island where they_can do no further mischief," declared Atmos calmly .

"Hurrah ! " roared the hungry tiger, over-joyed that his secret would now be kept safely .

" after_the lecture," gasped Ozma faintly, " but that_will_be years and years by skytime ? "

"Years and years," acknowledged Atmos, with a grin, and freeing himself from one boot soared a hundred feet into_the air ." look out below ! " he_called warningly, " here comes the other one ."

they had just time to dodge aside when_the other iron boot came crashing to earth ." good-bye ! " shouted the airman in afaraway voice, " good-bye, little princess, I'll see you again, some_time ! "

" good-bye ! " called Ozma, sadly .Standing on tip- toe, the whole company strained their eyes to catch a last glimpse of_their strange fellow adventurer . but Atmos and_the two wicked Rashers had already disappeared above the clouds .

"Oh ! " wailed Ozma suddenly, " how are we going to cross the deadly desert now ? "

"Don't cross it," begged Reddy again, " stay here . please, stay here ! "

" maybe Dorothy or the wizard will look in_the magic picture," suggested Betsy hopefully ." watch out Carter, you're taking root again ."

with a little exclamation of annoyance, the vegetable man jerked himself loose and began to comfort the princess of Oz .

" it_was really the best thing that could_have happened," he assured her eagerly ." with Irashi and Ippty out_of_the way, Reddy can rule his kingdom in peace, and while those two rogues will not really suffer, they_will_be kept out of mischief for years to_come .

" that's so," mused Ozma, thoughtfully, " and I'm rather glad Atmos has some proof . he_was such an old dear, when_you got to_know him ."

" you_may_have my big wig if_you_wish," offered Reddy, generously, " but I'm afraid, even as a giant, you_could_not step across the desert ."

" no," sighed Ozma, "I suppose not . besides, every ruler should_have at_least one magic possession . with_the rash rubies and_the giant's wig you ought_to_be_able to rule for many years without any trouble ."

" how about_the rubies ? " asked Carter ."Wouldn't the ruby that protected us from_the gnome king protect us from_the burning sands ? why, maybe it was_that ruby that helped us to cross the desert in_the first place .I had it then, you_know ! "

" i_thought it was_the quick sandals," said Betsy ." maybe the ruby would_not work on sand Carter and-"

" I_have thought of something ! " cried Fizzenpop, who was anxious for Reddy to_keep all of_his magic treasures ." it would_be unwise for her majesty to risk crossing the desert with only the ruby to help her, but with_our marvelous canes nothing could harm her at all ."

"Canes ? " murmured Ozma .

" hurry canes," smiled the grand vizier ." with_our patent action, triply guaranteed hurry canes you_can all cross the deadly desert and safely return to Oz ."

"Oh, Fizzenpop ! " exclaimed Reddy, in de- light, " why didn't i_think of_that ? "

the hungry tiger rolled up his eyes and shuddered, but the others, who had never ridden a rash hurry cane, were charmed with_the grand vizier's suggestion . that evening, after Reddy had shown Ozma and_the others all over his pretty pink kingdom, and after_the populace had given three cheers for_the Rescuers of rash, Fizzenpop took five hurry canes from_the umbrella stand .Five, because at_the last minute, Reddy insisted upon going to_the emerald city, too .

Giving Fizzenpop the giant wig, but keeping the rash rubies himself, and promising to return in a month, Reddy mounted his hurry cane . then, at a signal from_the little prince, each traveller clapped the head upon his cane and in five furious flashes they were off for Oz, and five minutes later, a little shocked and breathless, dropped down in_the emerald city itself .

Knowing that dear delightful place as_you_do, you_can imagine the welcome accorded the travellers . there were feasts and processions and story tellings and parties enough to satisfy even the hungry tiger . for days nothing was talked of, but the marvelous adventures of Betsy bobbin and_the little princess of Oz . Carter green was so sought after and invited about, he_could_not have taken root, even had he_wanted to . the little prince Evered has since returned to_his own country, but often comes over to_spend a pleasant evening in_the castle, bringing along his big wig, to entertain the Scarecrow .

as for_the hungry tiger, he never drops off to sleep without thanking his stars he_is_not a kitten, and if at times he looks a little hollow- eyed and wan, he_is on_the whole happier than ever, for he has learned that_it_is better to_have a stomach- ache than a heart- ache and_the heart-aches he had in rash, missing his friends, cured him forever of_the desire to eat a live man .

in_the pink palace of rash the iron boots of Atmos are still shown to visitors, to_prove that an airman really visited that country, and on clear nights old Fizzenpop, with a telescope, tries to catch a glimpse of_his wicked countrymen .

the end

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