Oz 16: Kabumpo in Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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strange catch, were the only answer, and in real alarm the elegant elephant moved away from_the shore, and in doing_so bumped against a white sign, stuck in_the sand .

" please Don't fall in," directed the sign politely ." it Spoils the soup .

" soup ! " sputtered Kabumpo . then another sign caught his eye: " soup sea- salted to taste- help yourself"

" come down- come down here directly ! " cried the elegant elephant, snatching the prince from_his back ." here's the soup--a whole sea full . now all you_need is a bowl ."

Swallowing convulsively the last bit of carrot, Pompa stood staring out over the tossing, smoking soup sea . every now_and_then a bone or a vegetable would bob out_of_the waves, and_the poor hungry prince of Pumperdink thought he had never seen a more lovely sight in_his life .

" we'll probably be awarded a china medal for_this," chuckled the elegant elephant ." won't old Pumper's eyes stick out when we tell him about_it ? but now for a bowl ! "

Swinging his trunk gently, Kabumpo walked up the white beach, and had_not gone more than a dozen steps before he_came to a cluster of huge shells . he turned one over curiously ." why, it's a soup bowl," whistled the elegant elephant . he rushed back with it to Pompadore, who still stood dreamily surveying the soup .

"I never thought I'd be so thrilled by a common soup bowl," thought Kabumpo, staring at_the prince in amusement . he stepped out on a rock and dipped up a bowl of_the hot liquid .

" here ! drink ! " commanded the elegant elephant, handing the bowl to_the prince ." drink to_the proper princess and_the future queen of Pumperdink ."

"Don't go," begged the prince between gulps, " I_shall want two- three- several ! "

Kabumpo laughed good naturedly ." this_is_the pleasantest thing that has happened to_us . here ! have another ! "

then both Pompa and_the elegant elephant gasped, for out_of_the bubbling waves arose the most curious figure that_they had ever seen- the most curious and_the jolliest . he was_made entirely of soup bones, and_his head was a monster cabbage, with a soup bowl set jauntily on_the side for acap . for a cabbage head he sang very_well and this_was the song to_which he kept time by waving a silver ladle:

"Ho ! I_am the king of_the soup sea, yes, I_am the king of_the deep; my crown is a bowl and my scepter a ladle, I fell in_the soup when I fell from_the cradle, and find it exceedingly cheap !

I stir it up nightly, and pepper it rightly- a liquid perfection you'll find . and here_is a roll, sirs, so fill up your bowl, sirs, and think of me after you've dined ."

when he_came to " dined," the soup king gave a playful leap and disappeared backward into_the waves .

Pompa rubbed his eyes and looked at Kabumpo to_see whether he had_been dreaming .

"Oh ! " cried Kabumpo, his eyes as round as little saucers .Floating gently toward them were two large, crisp, buttered rolls .

" the most charming king I've ever met," chuckled Kabumpo, scooping up the rolls and handing them to Pompa .

Pompa, staring dreamily ahead, first took a drink of soup, then a nibble of roll, too happy for speech .Four times the elegant elephant refilled the bowl . then, his stomach full for_the first time since they had left Pumperdink, the prince stretched himself out on_the sands .

" now," puffed the elegant elephant ceremoniously, " if_you_think you've had quite enough, I'll snatch a few bites myself ." Chuckling softly he_made his way back to some young trees, and dined luxuriously off their tops .

when he returned to_the beach, Pompa was fast asleep, and for a few_moments Kabumpo was inclined to sleep himself ." but then," he reflected, "Ozma may require alot of coaxing before she consents to marry Pompa, and two of_our precious seven days are gone . it_is plainly my duty to save Pumperdink . besides, when Pompa is married he_will_be king of Oz ! then I, the elegant elephant, will_be the biggest figure at court ."

Kabumpo threw up his trunk and trumpeted softly to_the stars . then, giving himself a big shake and a little stretch, he lifted the sleeping prince to_his back and started on again . in about two hours he had circled the soup sea and, guiding himself by a particularly bright and twinkling star, ran swiftly and steadily toward the south .

as_the first streaks of dawn appeared in_the sky, Kabumpo passed through a quaint little Gilliken village . he snatched a bag of rolls from adoorstep and stuck them into his pocket, but he_did_not stop, and so fast asleep was_the little village that except for a few wide- awake roosters, no one knew how important a person had passed through .

the sky grew pinker and pinker . you_have no idea how pink the morning skies in Oz can_be . just as_the sun got out of bed, the elegant elephant came to_the wonderful emerald city itself, shining and fairylike as a dream under the lovely colors of sunrise .Kabumpo paused and took a deep breath . even he_was impressed, and it took a good bit to impress him . he reached back and touched Pompa with_his trunk .

" wake up, my boy," whispered Kabumpo in atrembling voice ." wake up and put on_your crown, for we_have come to_the city of your proper princess ."

Pompa sat up and rubbed his eyes in amazement . without a word, he_took the crown Kabumpo handed up_to him, and set it on_his scorched, golden head . accustomed as Pompa was to grandeur, for Pumperdink is very magnificent in its funny old- fashioned way, he_could_not help but gasp at Ozma's fair city . the lovely green parks, and houses studded with countless emeralds, the shining marble streets, filled the prince with wonder .

"I don't believe she'll ever marry me," he stuttered, beginning to_feel quite frightened at his boldness .

" nonsense," wheezed Kabumpo faintly . he_was beginning to_have misgivings himself ." sit up now ! look your best, and I'll carry you straight into_the palace gardens ."

no one was awake . even the soldier with_the green Whiskers lay snoring against a tree, so_that Kabumpo stole unobserved into_the royal Gardens .

"I don't see the palace," whispered Pompa anxiously ."Wouldn't it show above the trees ? "

" it ought to," said Kabumpo, wrinkling up his forehead ." but look ! who is_that ? "

Pompa's heart almost stopped, and even Kabumpo's gave a queer jump . on a golden bench, just ahead, sat the loveliest person either had seen in all of_their eighteenth birthdays .

"Ozma," gasped the elegant elephant, as_soon_as he had breath enough to whisper ." what luck ! you_must ask her at once .

" not now," begged the prince of Pumperdink, as Kabumpo unceremoniously helped him to_the ground . his knees shook, his tongue stuck to_the roof of_his mouth . he had never proposed to a fairy princess before in_his whole life . then all at once he had an idea .Slipping his hand into_the elegant elephant's pocket, he drew out the magic mirror ."I'll see if she's a princess," stuttered Pompa .

the elephant shook his head angrily but was afraid to_speak again lest he disturb the quiet figure on_the bench .

" and I'll not propose unless she is_the one," said Pompa, tip-toeing toward the bench . without making a sound he suddenly held the mirror before_the startled and lovely lady .

"Glinda, good sorceress of Oz," flashed the mirror promptly .

" great gooseberries ! " cried Glinda, springing to her feet in alarm and swinging around on Pompa ." where did you come from ? " after studying a whole day and night in her magic books, Glinda had returned to_the emerald city to_try to perfect her plan for rescuing Ozma .

" from Pumperdink, your highness," puffed Kabumpo, lunging forward anxiously . he, too, had seen the words in_the mirror and_the fear of offending a sorceress made him quake in_his skin- which_was loose enough to quake in, dear knows !

"A thousand pardons ! " cried the prince, dropping on one knee and taking off his crown .

" we were seeking princess Ozma, the fairy ruler of Oz ."

Glinda looked from Kabumpo to_the prince and controlled a desire to laugh . the elegant elephant's torn and scorched robe hung in rags from_his shoulders and_his jeweled headpiece was dangling over one ear .Pompa's clothes were equally shabby and_his almost bald head with a lock sticking up here and there gave him a singular and comical appearance .

"Pumperdink ? " mused Glinda, tapping her foot thoughtfully . then, like a flash she remembered the entry in_the book of Records-" the prince of Pumperdink is journeying toward the emerald city ."

" why did you want_to_see Ozma ? " asked Glinda anxiously . perhaps these two strangers could throw some light on_the mysterious disappearance of_the royal palace .

" our country was threatened with disappearance and i_thought-"

" he thought Ozma might help_us," finished the elegant elephant breathlessly . he_did_not believe in telling strange Sorceresses about everything . now if Glinda had_not_been so occupied with_the disappearance of_the palace and all the dearest people in Oz, she might_have_been more curious about_the disappearance of Pumperdink . as it_was she just shook her head sadly ."I'm afraid Ozma cannot help_you," she said, " for Ozma herself has disappeared-Ozma and everyone in_the palace ."

" disappeared ! " trumpeted the elegant elephant, sitting down with a thud ." great Grump ! the thing's getting to_be a habit ! "

what_was to_become of Pompa now ? would he never be king, nor he, Kabumpo, ever be known as_the most elegant elephant in Oz ? had they made the long journey in vain ?

" where ? when ? " gasped prince Pompadore .

" night before last," explained Glinda ."I've been consulting my magic books ever_since but have only been able to discover one fact ."

" what_is that ? " asked Kabumpo faintly .

" that_they_are in Ev," said Glinda, " and_that a giant carried them off . I_came here early this_morning to_see whether I_could discover anything new . would you care to_see where the castle stood ? "

" did he carry the castle off, too ? " shuddered Pompa .Glinda nodded gloomily and led them over to_the great hole in_the center of_the gardens .

for a minute she stood watching them . then, glancing at a golden sun dial set in_the center of a lovely flower bed, she murmured half to herself, " I_must_be off ! " next instant she clapped her hands and down swept ashining chariot drawn by white swans .

" good-bye ! " called Glinda, springing in lightly ."I'm off to Ev to_try my magic against the giant's . wait here and when I've helped Ozma perhaps I_can help_you ! "

" can't we help ? can't we go ? " cried Pompa, running a few steps after_the chariot, but Glinda, already high in_the air, did_not hear him and in_the wink of an eye the chariot and its lovely occupant had melted into_the pink morning clouds .

" now what shall we_do ? " groaned the prince, letting his arms drop heavily at his sides .

" do ! " snorted Kabumpo ." the thing for_you to_do is to act like a prince instead of aGooch ! there_are other ways of getting to Ev than by chariot ."

the thought of Kabumpo in Glinda's chariot made Pompa smile in_spite of himself .

" there ! that's better," said the elegant elephant more pleasantly .

" now, what's to hinder us from going to Ev and rescuing princess Ozma ? she couldn't help marrying you if_you saved her from a giant, could she ? "

" but could I save her- that's the question," muttered the prince, looking uneasily at_the yawning cavity where the castle had stood ." this giant must_be a terrible fellow ! "

"Pooh ! " said Kabumpo airily ." who's afraid of giants ? I'll wind my trunk around his leg and pull him to earth . then you_can dispatch the villain . we_must get you a sword, though," he added softly .

" all right ! I'll do_it ! " cried the prince, throwing out his chest . the very thought of killing a giant made him feel about ten feet high ." do_you_know the way to Ev, Kabumpo ? we'll have to hurry, because unless I marry Ozma before_the seven days are up my poor old father and mother and all of Pumperdink will disappear forever ."

you_see, even Pompa had now got it into his head that Ozma was_the proper princess mentioned in_the scroll .

" we'll start at once," sighed the elegant elephant a bit ruefully ."I've had no sleep and precious little to eat but when_you_are king of Oz you_can reward old Kabumpo as he deserves ."

" everything I_have will_be yours," cried the prince, giving the elephant, or as_much of him as he_could grasp, a sudden hug . then each took a long drink from one_of_the bubbling fountains and, munching the rolls Kabumpo had picked up in_the Gilliken village, the two adventurers stole out_of_the gardens .

as_they reached the gates, Kabumpo paused and_his little eyes twinkled with delight . there lay the soldier with_the green Whiskers, snoring tremendously and beside him was a long, sharp sword with an emerald handle ." just what we_need," chuckled Kabumpo, snatching it up in_his trunk . then out through_the gates and swiftly through_the still sleeping city swept the elegant elephant and_the prince of Pumperdink, off to rescue princess Ozma, a prisoner in Ev !

chapter 13

on_the road to Ev

in their journey to Ev, Peg and wag had a night's start of Kabumpo and prince Pompadore, but towards morning wag's ears began to droop with sleep .

"Gotta natch a sap, Peg," wag muttered thickly, as_they halted on a little hill .

"Natch a sap ? what's that ? " asked the wooden doll anxiously . wag made no answer- just flopped on_his side and in a minute was asleep and snoring tremendously .

"Oh ! " whispered Peg, pulling herself gently from beneath the sleeping rabbit ." he meant snatch a nap .

she laughed softly and seated herself under a small tree . the birds were beginning to waken and their singing filled Peg Amy with delight ." how wonderful it all is," she murmured, gazing up at_the little ruffly pink clouds ." how wonderful it is_to_be alive ! "

"Hello ! Mr robin ! "

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