Oz 16: Kabumpo in Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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trot, another of Ozma's companions . she was trot's favorite doll, for she had_been carved out of wood by captain bill, an old one-legged sailor, who was one_of_the_most celebrated characters in all Oz . he had carved her for trot one day when_they were on a picnic in_the Winkie country, from_the wood of a small yellow tree, and as captain bill had old- fashioned notions, Peg was a very old- fashioned doll . but she had splendid joints and could sit down and stand up . her face was painted and as pleasant as laughing blue eyes, a turned- up nose, and asmiling mouth could make it . trot had dressed her in a funny, old- fashioned dress, with pantalettes, and then, thinking Peg too short a name, the little girl had added Amy, because she was so amiable, she confided laughingly to_the old sailor . captain bill had wagged his head understandingly, and Peg Amy had straightway become the most popular doll in_the palace; that_is, until she disappeared, for Ruggedo had found her one day in_the garden and, chuckling wickedly, had carried her off to_his cave .

how trot would_have felt if she had seen her poor doll being shaken and scolded by_the old gnome king ! but trot never knew . she hunted and hunted for her doll, and finally gave up in despair .Fortunately, Peg was well made, or she would_have_been shaken to bits, but her joints held bravely, and nothing- not even the terrible scolding of_the bad old gnome- could change her pleasant expression .

being the sole subject of so wicked a king, however, was wearing even for a wooden doll, and Peg was beginning to show signs of wear . her nose was badly chipped, one pantalette was missing, and both sleeves had_been jerked from her dress by_the furious old gnome . if_the rabbit was around, Ruggedo did_not shake Peg as hard as he_wanted to, but when_the rabbit was gone, he pretended she was his old steward, Kaliko, and scolded and flung her about to_his heart's content .

when not carving his history or shaking Peg, Ruggedo had spent most of_his time digging new tunnels and chambers, so_that leading off from_the main cavern was a perfect network of underground passages . in_the back of Ruggedo's head was a notion that some day he_would conquer the emerald city, regain his magic powers and then, after changing all the inhabitants to mouldy muffins, return to_his dominions and oust Kaliko from_his throne . just how this_was to_be_done, he had_not decided, but the secret passages would_be useful . so meanwhile he dug secret passages .

above ground the little rascal went about so meekly and pretended to_be delighted with_his life among_the inhabitants of_the emerald city, that Ozma really thought he had reformed . wag, to_whom he confided his plans, would shake his head gloomily and often planned to leave the services of_the wicked old gnome . there_was no real harm in wag, but the rabbit had a weakness for collecting, and_the spoons, cups and odds and ends that Ruggedo brought him from_the emerald city filled him with delight . he_felt that_they were_not gotten honestly, but his work for Ruggedo was honest and hard, " and it's not my fault if_the old scrabble- scratch steals 'em," wag would mumble to himself . in_his heart he_knew that he_was doing wrong to stay with Ruggedo, but like all foolish creatures he_could_not make up his mind to_go . so this very night, while the old gnome sat playing the accordion and howling doleful snatches of_the gnome national air, wag was gloating over his treasures . they quite filled his little dug- out room . there were two emerald plates, a gold pencil, a dozen china cups and saucers, twenty thimbles stolen from_the work baskets of_the good dames of Oz, scraps of silk, pictures and almost everything you_could imagine .

"I'll soon have enough to marry and go to housekeeping on," murmured the rabbit, clasping his paws and twitching his nose very fast . he picked up a pair of purple wool socks that had once belonged to a little girl's doll and regarded them rapturously . out of all the articles Ruggedo had given him, wag considered these purple socks the most valuable, perhaps because they exactly fitted him and were the only things he_could really use . the squeaking of_the accordion stopped at last and, supposing his wicked little master had retired for_the night, wag prepared to enjoy himself .Draping a green silk scarf over his shoulders, he strutted before_the mirror, pretending he_was a courtier of Oz . then, throwing down the scarf, he sat down on_the floor and had just drawn on one_of_the socks when a loud shrill scream from Ruggedo made his ears stand straight on end in amazement .

" what now ? " coughed the rabbit, seizing the candle .Ruggedo was on_his knees before_the rocking chair .

" as i_was sitting here, playing and singing," spluttered the old gnome, "I noticed a little ring in one_of_the rocks on_the floor ! "

" well, what of it ? " sniffed wag, leaning down to pull up his socks ." what of it ? " shrieked the gnome .

" what of it, you poor, puny earth worm ! look ! " leaning over Ruggedo's shoulder and dropping hot candle grease down the gnome's neck, wag peered into a square opening on_the floor . there lay a small gold box . studded in gems on_the lid were these words:

Glegg's box of mixed magic .

" mixed magic ! " stuttered wag, dropping the candle ."Oh, my socks and soup spoons ! " Ruggedo said nothing, but his little red eyes blazed maliciously .Reaching down, he lifted out the box and, clasping it to_his fat little stomach, shook his fist at_the high domed ceiling of_the cave .

" now ! " hissed Ruggedo triumphantly ." now we_shall see what mixed magic will do to_the emerald city of Oz ! "

chapter 7

sir Hokus and_the Giants

"Oh ! " sighed sir Hokus of Pokes and Oz, stretching his armored legs to_the fire ." how I yearn to slay a giant ! how it would refresh me ! Hast any real giants in Oz, Dorothy ? "

"Don't you remember the candy giant ? " laughed the little girl, looking up from_the handkerchief she was making for Ozma .

" not to my taste," said the knight, " though his vest buttons were vastly nourishing ."

" well, there's Mr Yoo he's a real blood- and- bone giant . there_are plenty of giants, I guess, if we_knew just where to_find them ! " said the little girl, biting off her thread .

" find 'em- bind 'em, get behind 'em ! Hokus Pokus he don't mind 'em ! "

screamed the patch work girl, bounding out of her chair ." but why can't you stay peaceably at home, old iron Sides, and be jolly like the rest of us ? "

" you don't understand, Scraps," put in Dorothy gravely ." sir Hokus is a knight and it_is a true knight's duty to slay giants and dragons and go on quests ! "

" that_it_is, my lady Patches ! " boomed sir Hokus, puffing out his chest ."I've rusted here in idleness long enough . to- morrow, with Ozma's permission, I_shall start on a giant quest ."

"I'd go with_you, only I've promised to help Ozma count the royal emeralds," said the Scarecrow, who had ridden over from_his corn- ear residence to_spend .a week with_his old friends in_the emerald city .

"Giants, sir, are bluff and rude and might mistake a man for food ! Hokus Pokus, be discreet, or you_will soon be giant meat ! "

chuckled the patch work girl, crooking her finger under the knight's nose,

" nonsense ! " blustered sir Hokus, waving Scraps aside .Rising from_his green arm chair, he strode up and down the room, his armor clanking at every step . straightway the company began to_tell about wild giants they had read of or known . trot and Betsy bobbin held hands as_they sat together on_the sofa, and Toto, Dorothy's small dog, crept closer to_his little mistress, the bristles on_his back rising higher as each story was finished, " giant stories are all very_well, but why tell 'em at night ? " shivered Toto, peering nervously at_the long shadows in_the corners of_the room .

it was_the evening after Ruggedo's strange discovery of_the mixed magic and in_the royal palace Ozma and most of_the Courtiers had retired . but a few of princess Dorothy's special friends had gathered in_the cozy sitting- room of her apartment to_talk about old times . they were very unusual and interesting friends, not at all the sort one would expect to_find in a royal palace, even in fairyland . Dorothy, herself, before she had become a princess of Oz, had_been a little girl from Kansas but, after several visits to_this delightful country, she had preferred to_make Oz her home .

trot and Betsy bobbin also had come from_the United_States by way of shipwrecks, so to_speak, and had_been invited to remain by Ozma, the little fairy princess who ruled Oz, and now each of_these girls had a cozy little apartment in_the royal palace .Toto had come with Dorothy, but the rest of_the company were of more or less magic extraction .

the Scarecrow, a stuffed straw person, with a marvelous set of mixed brains given to him by_the wizard of Oz, was Dorothy's favorite . in_fact she had discovered him herself upon aMunchkin farm, lifted him down from_his bean pole and brought him to_the emerald city .Tik Tok was a wonderful man made entirely of copper, who_could talk, think and act as_well as_the next fellow when properly wound . you_would_have_been amazed to hear the giant story he_was ticking off at_this very minute . as for Scraps, she had_been made by a magician's wife out of old pieces of patch- work and magically brought to life . her bright patches, yarn hair and silver suspender button eyes gave Scraps so comical an expression that just to look at her tickled one's funny bone . her head was full of nonsense rhymes and she was so amusing and cheerful that Ozma insisted upon her living with_the rest of_the celebrities in_the emerald city .

sir Hokus of Pokes was a comparative newcomer in_the capital city of Oz . yet the knight was so old that_it would give_me lumbago just to_try to count up his birthdays . he dated back to king Arthur, in_fact, and had_been wished into_the land of Oz centuries before by an enemy sorcerer . Dorothy had found and rescued him, with_the cowardly lion's help, from Pokes, the dullest kingdom of Oz . as there were no other Knights in_the emerald city, sir Hokus was much stared at and admired . even the soldier with_the green Whiskers, the one and only soldier and entire army of Oz- yes, even the soldier with_the green Whiskers saluted sir Hokus when he passed .Ozma, herself, felt more secure since_the knight had come to live in_the palace . he_was well versed in adventure and always courageous and courteous, withal .

but, while I've been telling you all this, Tik Tok had finished his story of a three-legged giant who lived in Ev .

" and where is Ev ? " puffed sir Hokus, planting himself before Tik Tok .

"Ev," began Tik Tok in_his precise fashion, " is to_the north- west of here on_the other side of_the im-" there_was awhirr and a click and_the copper man stood motionless and soundless, his round eyes fixed solemnly on_the knight .

" pass- able desert," finished the Scarecrow, jumping up and kindly winding all of Tik Tok's keys as_if nothing had happened .

" pass- able desert," continued the copper man .

" that's where the old gnome king used to live," piped Betsy bobbin, bouncing up and down upon_the sofa, " under the mountains of Ev, and he threw us down a tube and tried to melt you in a crucible, didn't he, Tok Tok ? "

" he_was ave-ry bad per- son," said the copper man .

"Ruggedo was a wicked king, 'Tho' now he's good as pie, but none the less, I_must confess, he has a wicked eye ! "

burst out Scraps, who was tired of sitting still listening to giant Stories .

but sir Hokus could_not_be got off the subject of giants ." to Ev ! " thundered the knight, raising his sword ." to- morrow I'm off to Ev to conquer this terrible monster . large as a mountain, you say, Tik Tok ? well, what care I for mountains ? I, sir Hokus of Pokes, will slay him ! "

"Hurrah for_the giant killer ! " giggled Scraps, turning a somersault and nearly falling in_the fire .

" let's go to bed ! " said Dorothy uneasily . she had for_the_last few_minutes been hearing strange rumbles . of_course it could_not_be giants; still the conversation, she concluded, had better be finished by sunlight .

but it never was, for at_that moment there_was adeafening crash . the lights went out; the whole castle shivered; furniture fell every which_way . down clattered sir Hokus, falling with a terrible clangor on top of_the copper man . down rolled the little girls and_the Scarecrow and Scraps . down tumbled every- body .

" cyclone ! " gasped Dorothy, who had experienced several in Kansas .

"Giants ! " stuttered Betsy bobbin, clutching trot .

the wizard of Oz tried to reassure the agitated company . he_told them there_was no cause for alarm, and_that they_would soon find out what_was the trouble . the soothing words of_the wizard were scarcely heard .

what the others said was lost in_the noise that followed .Thumps-bangs-rashes-screams came from every room in_the rocking palace .

" we're flying ! the whole castle's flying up in_the air ! " screamed Dorothy . then she subsided, as an emerald clock and three pictures came thumping down on her head .

what had happened ? no one could_say . Dorothy, Betsy bobbin and trot had fainted dead away . the Scarecrow and sir Hokus were tangled up on_the floor, clasped in each_other's arms .

the confusion was terrific . only the wizard was still calm and smiling .

chapter 8

woe in_the emerald city

the soldier with_the green Whiskers finished his breakfast slowly, combed his beard, pinned on all of_his medals and solemnly issued forth from_his little house at_the garden gates .

" forward

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