Oz 16: Kabumpo in Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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forward march ! " snapped the soldier . he had to_give himself orders, being the only man, general or private in_the army . and forward march he_did . it_was his custom to report to Ozma every morning to receive his orders for_the day . when he had gone through_the little patch of trees that separated his cottage from_the palace, the soldier with_the green Whiskers gave a great leap .

" halt ! break ranks ! " roared the grand army of Oz, clutching his beard in terror ." great Goulashes ! " he rubbed his eyes and looked again . yes, the gorgeous emerald- studded palace had disappeared, leaving not so_much as a gold brick to_tell where it had stood .Trembling in every knee, the grand army of Oz approached .a great black hole, the exact shape of_the palace, yawned at his feet . he_took one look down that awful cavity, then shot through_the palace gardens like a green comet .

like Paul revere he had gone to_give the alarm, and Paul revere himself never made better time . he thumped on windows and banged on doors and dashed through_the sleeping city like a whirlwind . in five minutes there_was not a man, woman or child who did_not know of_the terrible calamity . they rushed to_the palace gardens in a panic . some stared up in_the air; others peered down the dark hole; still others ran about wildly trying to discover some trace of_the missing castle .

" what shall we_do ? " they wailed dismally . for to_have their lovely little queen and_the wizard and all the most important people in Oz disappear at once was simply terrifying . they were a gentle and kindly folk, used to obeying orders, and now there_was no one to_tell them what to_do .

at last Unk Nunkie, an old Munchkin who had taken up residence in_the emerald city, pushed through_the crowd .Unk was a man of few words, but a wise old chap for all that, so they made way for him respectfully . first Unk Nunkie stroked his beard; then pointing with_his long lean finger toward the south he snapped out one word-"GLINDA ! "

of_course ! they_must tell Glinda . why had they not thought of it themselves ? Glinda would know just what to_do and how to_do_it . three cheers for Unk Nunkie ! Glinda, you_know, is_the good sorceress of Oz, who knows more magic than anyone in_the kingdom, but who only practices it for_the people's good . indeed, Glinda and_the wizard of Oz are the only ones permitted to practice magic, for so_much harm had come of it that Ozma made a law forbidding sorcery in all of_its branches . but even in a fairy country people do_not always obey the laws and everyone felt that magic was at_the bottom of_this disaster .

so away to fetch Glinda dashed the grand army, his green whiskers streaming behind him .Fortunately the royal stables had_not disappeared with_the palace, so the gallant army . sprang upon_the back of_the saw horse, and without stopping to explain to_the other royal beasts, bade it carry him to Glinda as fast as it could gallop . being made of wood with gold shod feet and magically brought to life, the saw horse can run faster than any animal in Oz . it never tired or needed food and when it understood that_the palace and its dear little mistress had disappeared it fairly flew; for_the saw horse loved Ozma with all its saw dust and was devoted as only a wooden beast can_be .

in an hour they had reached Glinda's shining marble palace in_the southern part of_the Quadling country, and as_soon_as_the lovely sorceress had heard the soldier's story, she hurried to_the magic book of Records . this_is_the most valuable book in Oz and it_is kept padlocked with many golden chains to a gold table, for in_this great volume appear all the events happening in and out_of_the world .

now, Glinda had_been so occupied trying to discover the cause of frowns that she had_not referred to_the book for several_days and naturally there were many pages to_go over . there were hundreds of entries concerning automobile accidents in_the United_States and elsewhere . these Glinda passed over hurriedly, till she came to three sentences printed in red, for Oz news always appeared in_the book in red letters . the first sentence did_not seem important . it merely stated that_the prince of Pumperdink was journeying toward the emerald city . the other two entries seemed serious .

"Glegg's box of mixed magic has_been discovered," said the second, and "Ruggedo has something on_his mind," stated the third .Glinda pored over the book for_a_long_time to_see whether any more information would_be given but not another red sentence appeared . with a sigh, Glinda turned to_the soldier with_the green Whiskers .

" the old gnome king must_be mixed up in_this," she said anxiously, " and as he_was last seen in_the emerald city, i_will return with_you at once ." so Glinda and_the soldier with_the green Whiskers flew back to_the emerald city drawn in Glinda's chariot by swift flying swans and_the little saw horse trotted back by himself . when_they reached the gardens a great crowd had gathered by_the fountain of oblivion and a tall green grocer was speaking excitedly .

" what_is it ? " asked Glinda, shuddering as she passed the dreadful hole where Ozma's lovely palace had once stood . everyone started explaining at once so_that Glinda was obliged to clap her hands for silence .

" foot print ! " Unk Nunkie stood upon his tip toes and whispered it in Glinda's ear and when she looked where Unk pointed she saw a huge, shallow cave- in_that crushed the flower beds for as far as she_could see .

" foot print ! " gasped Glinda in amazement .

"Uh huh ! " Unk Nunkie wagged his head determinedly and then, pulling his hat down over his eyes, spoke his last word on_the_subject: " giant ! "

"A giant foot print ! why so it_is ! " cried Glinda .

" what shall we_do ? " cried the frightened inhabitants of_the emerald city, wringing their hands .

" first, find Ruggedo," ordered Glinda, suddenly remembering the mysterious entry in_the book of Records . so, away to_the little cottage hurried the crowd . they searched it from cellar to garret, but of_course found no trace of_the wicked little gnome . as no one knew about_the secret passage in Ruggedo's cellar, they never thought of searching underground .

meanwhile Glinda sank down on one_of_the golden garden benches and tried to_think . the comfortable camel stumbled broken-heartedly across the lawn and dropping on its knees begged the sorceress in a tearful voice to save sir Hokus of Pokes . the camel and_the doubtful dromedary had_been discovered by_the knight on_his last adventure and were deeply attached to him . soon all the palace pets came and stood in a dejected row before Glinda-Betsy's mule, Hank, hee-hawing dismally and_the hungry tiger threatening to eat everyone in sight if any harm came to_the three little girls .

" I_doubt if_we'll ever see them again," groaned the doubtful dromedary, leaning up against a tree .

"Oh Doubty - how can_you ? " wailed the camel, tears streaming down its nose .

" please do be quiet," begged Glinda, " or I'll forget all the magic I_know . let me see, now- how does one catch amarauding giant who has run off with a castle ? "

on her fingers Glinda counted up all the giants in_the four countries of Oz . no ! it could_not_be an Oz giant; there_was none large enough . it must_be a giant from some strange country .

when_the crowd returned with_the news that Ruggedo had disappeared Glinda felt more uneasy still . but hiding her anxiety she bade the people return to_their homes and continue their work and play as usual . then, promising to return that evening with a plan to save the castle, and charging the soldier with_the green Whiskers to_keep a strict watch in_the garden, Glinda stepped into her chariot and flew back to_the south . all that day, in her palace in_the Quadling country, Glinda bent over her encyclopedia on giants, and far into_the night the lights burned from her high turret- chamber, as she consulted book after book of magic .

chapter 9 mixed magic Makes mischief

the book of Records had_been perfectly correct in stating that Ruggedo had something on_his mind . he had ! to understand the mysterious disappearance of Ozma's palace, we_must go back to_the old Ex- king of_the Gnomes . the whole of_the night after he had found Glegg's box of mixed magic, Ruggedo had spent trying to open the box . but pry and poke as he_would it stubbornly refused to_give up its secrets .

" better come to bed," advised wag, twitching his nose nervously ." mixed magic isn't safe, you_know . it might explode ."

" idiot ! " grumbled Ruggedo ."I don't know who Glegg is or was, but I'm going to open this box if_it takes me a century ."

" all right," quavered wag, retiring backward and holding up his paw ." all right, but remember I warned you ! Don't meddle with magic, that's my motto ! "

"I don't care aharebell what your motto is," sneered the gnome, continuing to hammer on_the gold lid .

when he reached his room, wag shut the door and sank dejectedly upon_the edge of_the bed .

" there's no manner of use trying to stop him," sighed the rabbit, " so I've got to_get out of here before he gets me into trouble .I'll go tomorrow ! " resolved wag, pulling his long ear nervously . with_this good resolution, the little rabbit drooped off asleep .

very cautiously he opened the door of_his little rockroom next morning .Ruggedo was sound asleep on_the floor, his head on_the magic box, and Peg Amy, with her wooden arms and legs flung out in every direction, lay sprawled in a corner .

" been shaking you again, the old scrabble- scratch ! " whispered the rabbit indignantly, " just ' cause he couldn't open that box . well, never mind, Peg, I'm leaving today and as surely as I've ears and whiskers you shall go too ! " Picking up the poor wooden doll wag tucked her under his arm . was_it imagination, or did the little wooden face break into a sunny smile ? it seemed so to wag and, with a real thrill of pleasure, he tip- toed back to_his room and began tossing his treasures into one_of_the bed sheets . he seated Peg in_his own small rocking chair and from_time to_time he nodded to her reassuringly .

" we'll soon be out now, my dear," he chuckled, quite as_if Peg had_been alive . she often did seem alive to wag ." then we'll see what Ozma has_to say to_this mixed magic," continued the bunny, wiggling his ears indignantly . and so occupied was he collecting his treasures that he_did_not hear Ruggedo's call and next minute the angry gnome himself stood in_the doorway .

" what does this mean ? " he cried furiously, pointing to_the tied up sheet . then he stamped his foot so hard that Peg Amy fell over sideways in_the chair and all the ornaments in_the room skipped as_if alive .

the rabbit whirled ' round in a hurry .

" it means I'm leaving you for good, you wicked little monster ! " shrilled wag, his whiskers trembling with agitation and_his ears sticking straight out behind ." leaving do_you hear ? "

then he snatched Peg Amy in one paw and_his treasures in_the other and tried to brush past Ruggedo . but the gnome was too quick for him .Springing out_of_the room, he slammed the door and locked it . wag could hear him rolling up rocks for further security .

" thought you'd steal a march on old Ruggedo; thought you'd tell Ozma all his plans and get a nice little reward ! well, think again ! " shouted the gnome through_the keyhole .

wag had plenty of_time to_think, for Ruggedo never came near the rabbit's room all day . at every sound poor wag leaped into_the air, for he_felt sure each blow could only mean the opening of_the dreaded magic box . to reassure himself he held long conversations with_the wooden doll and Peg's calm cheerfulness steadied him alot .

" I_might dig my way out but it would take so_long ! my ear tips ! how provoking it_is ! " exclaimed wag ." but perhaps he'll relent by nightfall ! " slowly the day dragged on but nothing came from_the big rock room but thumps, grumbles and bangs .

" it_is fortunate that you_do_not eat, Peg, dear," sighed the rabbit late in_the afternoon, nibbling disconsolately on a stale biscuit he had found under his bureau ." shall you care very_much if I starve ? I probably shall, you_know . of_course no one in Oz can die, but starving forever is_not comfortable either ." at_this the wooden doll seemed to shake her head, as_much as to_say: " you won't starve, wag dear; just be patient a little longer ." not that she really said this, mind you, but wag knew from her smile that_this_is what she was thinking .

it_was hot and stuffy in_the little rock chamber and_the faint light that filtered down from_the hole in_the ceiling was far from cheerful . at last night came, and_that was worse . wag lit his only candle but it_was already partly burned down and soon with a dismal sputter it went out and left the two sitting in_the dark . Peg Amy stared cheerfully ahead but the rabbit, worn out by his long day of fright and worry, fell into a heavy slumber .

meanwhile Ruggedo had worked on_the magic box and every_minute he became more impatient . all his poundings failed to_make even a dent on_the gold lid and even jumping on_it brought no result . the little gnome had eaten nothing since morning and by nightfall he_was stamping around the box in a perfect fury . his eyes snapped and twinkled like live coals and_his wispy white hair fairly crackled with rage .

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