Oz 16: Kabumpo in Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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her voice as cheerful as her painted face, and before anyone could stop her she began to run toward a little grove of trees .

" come back ! " cried the prince, starting after her .

" come back ! " trumpeted Kabumpo in alarm .

"I'll get her ! " coughed wag, hopping forward jealously ."I've known her the longest ."

Pompa and Kabumpo both started to run, too, but just at_that minute down swooped the chariot and out jumped Ozma, the lovely little ruler of Oz .

" at last ! " gasped Kabumpo, pushing Pompa forward .

if Ozma was startled by their singular appearance, she was too polite to_say so, and she returned Pompa's deep bow with a still deeper curtsey .

"Glinda tells me you_have come a long, long way just to help me," said Ozma anxiously ." is_that so ? "

" princess ! " cried Pompa, falling on_his knee ." I_know you_are worried about_your palace and your Courtiers and your friends . two drops of_that triple trick tea" ( he waved at_the small kettle) " upon Ruggedo's right foot and three on_his left will set everything right ! "

" but where did you get it- and why ? " Ozma looked doubtfully at_the Scarecrow .

" might as_well try it," advised the Scarecrow .

" we_will explain everything later," puffed the elegant elephant ." trust old Kabumpo, your highness, and everything will turn out happily ."

"I believe i_will," smiled Ozma ." will_you try the trick tea, Glinda ? "

Glinda took the kettle and poured it exactly as directed . first Ruggedo gave a gusty sigh that blew the clouds about in every direction .

" look out ! " warned Glinda .

next instant they all fluttered down like a pack of cards, for Ruggedo had taken a step-a giant step that shook the earth as_if it had_been a block of jelly- and when_they had picked themselves up Ruggedo was out of sight, tramping like a giant in a dream, back toward the emerald city .

" you wait here ! " cried Glinda to Ozma ." and I'll follow him ! " she sprang into her chariot .

" how do_you_know he'll go back ? " asked the little ruler of Oz, staring with straining eyes for a glimpse of_the giant .

" because the question box said so," chuckled Kabumpo triumphantly .

" good magic ! " approved the Scarecrow ." but where is_that charming Peg ? i_think I'll run find her ."

no sooner had the Scarecrow disappeared than Pompa, swallowing very hard, again approached Ozma . but Ozma, still looking after Glinda's vanishing chariot, was hardly aware of_the prince of Pumperdink .

poor Pompa dropped on_his knee ( which had a large hole in_it by_this_time) and began mumbling indistinct sentences . then, as Kabumpo frowned with disgust, the prince burst out desperately, " princess, will_you marry me ? "

" marry you ? " gasped the little ruler of Oz ." good gracious, no ! "

chapter 19

Ozma Takes things in hand

prince POMPADORE jumped up quickly .

" i_told you she wouldn't ! " he choked, looking reproachfully at Kabumpo ."I'm not half good enough ."

" he doesn't always look so scratched up and shabby," wheezed Kabumpo breathlessly ." we've been scorched and pinched and kidnapped . we've been through every kind of hardship to save your highness- and now ! " the elegant elephant slouched against a tree, the picture of discouragement . he_seemed to_have forgotten the jewels that were to_have won the princess for Pompa and_his threat of running off with her should , she refuse him .

" why, you don't even know me," cried Ozma, dismayed by even the thought of marrying; for though the little ruler of Oz has lived almost a thousand years she_is no older than you_are and would no more think of marrying than Dorothy or Betsy bobbin or trot .Ruling the kingdom of Oz takes almost all of Ozma's time and in any that_is left she wants to play and enjoy herself like any_other sensible little girl . for Ozma is only a little girl fairy after all .

"I'm not going to marry anybody ! " she declared stoutly . then, because she really was touched by Pompa's woebegone appearance, she asked more kindly, " why did you_want to marry me especially ? "

" because you_are the properest princess in Oz," groaned the prince, leaning disconsolately against Kabumpo ." because if_we don't Pumperdink will disappear and my poor old father and my mother and everyone .

" not to_speak of us," gulped the elegant elephant .

" but where is Pumperdink, and who said it would disappear ? " asked Ozma in amazement .

" and how did you happen to_have this trick tea and come to rescue me ? "

" the prince always rescues the princess he intends to marry," said Kabumpo wearily ." i_should think you'd know that ."

" well, I'm very grateful, and I'll do anything I_can except marry you," exclaimed Ozma, who was beginning to_feel very_much interested in_this strange pair .

" thank_you," said Kabumpo stiffly, for he_was deeply offended ." thank_you, but we_must_be going . come along, Pompa ."

"Don't be aGooch ! " this_time it_was Pompa who spoke ."I'm going to_tell her everything ! "

and Pompa, being as I_have told you before_the most charming prince in_the_world, made Ozma a comfortable throne of green boughs and, throwing himself at her feet, poured out the whole story of_their adventures, beginning with_the birthday party and_the mysterious scroll . he_told of_their meeting with Peg Amy and wag and ended up with_the ride upon_the Runaway country .

Kabumpo stood by, swaying sulkily . he_was very_much disappointed in_the princess of Oz . he_felt that she had no proper appreciation of_his Pompa's importance ."I'm going to_find Peg," he_called finally ." she's got more sense than any of you," he wheezed under his breath as he swept grandly out of sight .

Ozma put both hands to her head as Pompa finished his recital and really it_was enough to puzzle any fairy .Scrolls, live wooden Dolls, a giant rabbit, a mysterious magician threatening disappearances and Ruggedo's wicked use of_the box of mixed magic .

" goodness ! " cried the little ruler of Oz ." i_wish the Scarecrow would come back . he's so clever I'm sure he_could help_us; but first you had better bring me the magic box ."

Pompa rose slowly and, picking up all the little flasks and boxes that had spilled out when wag pounded Ruggedo, he put them back into_the casket and handed it to Ozma . she examined the contents as curiously as_the others had done . the Expanding extract was the_only_thing missing, for Ruggedo had poured the whole bottle over his head . the question box seemed to Ozma the most wonderful of all of Glegg's magic .

" why, all we_have to_do is to ask this box questions," she cried in excitement ." has my palace reached the emerald city ? " she asked breathlessly .

" shake it three times," said Pompa, as Ozma looked in vain for her answer .

" yes," stated the box after_the third shake, and Ozma sighed with relief .

"I suppose you asked it if I were the proper princess mentioned in_the scroll," she said, a bit shyly .

the prince shook his head ." knew without asking," said Pompa heavily .

" do_you_mean to_say you never asked it that ? " gasped Ozma in disbelief ." why, I_am surprised at you ." and before Pompa could object she shook the little box briskly ." who is_the princess that Pompa must marry ? " she demanded anxiously .

" the princess of sun top mountain," flashed the question box promptly . then, as an afterthought, it added, " trust the mirror and golden door knob ! "

" now, you_see ! " cried Ozma, jumping up in delight ."I wasn't the proper princess at all ! "

Pompa smiled faintly, but without enthusiasm . the thought of hunting another princess was almost too_much ." i_wish I_could just take Peg Amy and wag and go back to Pumperdink without marrying anybody," he choked bitterly .

" now, don't give up," advised Ozma kindly ." it_was very wrong of Glegg to cause you all this trouble .I'm going to_keep his box of mixed magic and take away all his powers when I_find him, but until I_do, you'll have to_follow directions .Oh mercy ! what's that ? "

they both ducked and turned around in a hurry, as a terrific thumping sounded behind them .

" it's the Runaway country again," cried Pompa, seizing Ozma's hands in distress, " and it's caught all the others ."

the Scarecrow had climbed a tree, and was waving to_them wildly as_the country galloped nearer ." might as_well come aboard," he_called genially ." this_is a fast country- no arguing with it at all ."

Ozma looked helplessly at Pompa, and_the prince had only time to grasp her more firmly when_the country scooped them neatly into_the air . down they tumbled, beside Peg Amy and wag and_the elegant elephant .

" what do_you_mean by_this ? " demanded Ozma, as_soon_as she regained her breath .

"Don't you_know this lady is_the ruler of all Oz ? " cried Pompa warningly .

" Peg's the ruler of me," replied the country calmly ."I nearly lost her once, but now I've caught her and all the rest, and I_am not going to stop until I've reached the Nonestic ocean-giants or no giants ."

Ozma had_been somewhat prepared for_the Runaway country by Pompa's description, but she had never dreamed it would dare to run off with her . while Peg Amy began to coax it to stop, she took out Glegg's little question box .

" how shall I stop this country ? " she whispered anxiously .

" spin around six times and cross your fingers," directed the question box .

this Ozma proceeded to_do, much to_the agitation of_the Scarecrow, who thought she had taken leave of her senses . but next instant the country came to ajolting halt .

" Peg, princess Peg ! " shrieked the island ." I_am bewitched, I_can't move a step ! "

" then everybody off," shouted the Scarecrow, jerking a branch of a tree as_if he were a conductor ." end of_the line everybody off ! " and_they lost no time tumbling off the wild little country .

" it seems too bad to leave it," said Peg Amy regretfully, picking herself up .

" it threw us off without any feeling or consideration when it saw Ruggedo," sniffed Kabumpo ." therefore it has no claims on us whatsoever ."

" but couldn't you_do something for_it ? " asked Peg, approaching Ozma timidly ." it's so tired of being a plateau .Couldn't you let it be an island, and find someone to settle on_it ? I wouldn't mind going," she added generously .

" you shall do nothing of_the sort," cried Kabumpo angrily ." you're going back to Pumperdink with Pompa and me ."

" she's going with me," cried wag ."Aren't you, Peg ? "

" you seem_to_be a very popular person, smiled Ozma ." while a country has no right to run away, and while I never heard of one doing it before, I've no objections to its being an island . it's running off with people I object to ." she looked the country sternly in its lake- eyes .

" but I_can't move," screamed the country, tears streaming down its hill, " and I've got to_have somebody to settle me ."

"Oh ! here's Glinda," shouted the Scarecrow, tossing up his hat ." now we_shall know what's happened to Ruggedo ."

leaving the country for a moment, they all ran to welcome the good sorceress of Oz .Glinda's reports were most satisfactory .Ruggedo had walked straight back to_the emerald city, stepped into_the yawning cavern, and immediately the palace had settled firmly upon its old foundations . then had come a muffled explosion, and when Glinda and Dorothy ran through_the secret passage, which had_been discovered meanwhile by_the soldier with_the green Whiskers, they saw Ruggedo, shrunken to_his former size, sitting angrily on_his sixth rock of history .

" I_have locked him up in_the palace," finished Glinda, " and I strongly advise your highness to punish him severely ."

Ozma sighed ." what would you_do ? " she asked, appealing to_the Scarecrow . so_many things had come up for her attention and advice in_the last few hours that_the little fairy ruler felt positively dizzy .

" let's all sit down in a circle and think," proposed the Scarecrow cheerfully . this they all did except Kabumpo, who stood off glumly by himself . Peg was looking anxiously at Pompadore, for_the elegant elephant had told her of Ozma's refusal, and wondering sadly what she_could do to help, when_the Scarecrow bounced up impulsively .

" I_have it," chuckled the straw man ." let's send Ruggedo off on_the Runaway country . he deserves to_be banished and, if Ozma makes the country an island, he_can do no harm ."

here Ozma had to stop and explain to Glinda about_the country that wanted to_be an island, and after a short consultation they decided to take_the Scarecrow's advice .

" just as_soon_as I reach the emerald city I'll put on my magic belt and wish him onto the island," declared Ozma ." and i_think we'd better go right straight back," she added thoughtfully, " for_it's growing darker every_minute and Dorothy will_be anxious to hear everything that's happened ."

" now you"-Ozma tapped Pompadore gently on_the arm-" you_must start at once for sun top mountain .I'm going to ask_the question box just where it_is .

Pompa sighed deeply, and when Ozma consulted the question box as_to_the location of sun top mountain, it stated that_this kingdom was in_the very centre of_the north Winkie country ." that's fine," said Ozma, clapping her hands ."I'll have the Runaway country carry you over the deadly desert, and as soon as_you_have married the princess you_must bring her to_see me in_the emerald city ."

" what's all this ? " demanded Kabumpo, pricking up his ears .

" the question box says I_must marry the princess of sun top mountain," said Pompa, getting up wearily .

" well, great Grump, why couldn't it have said so before ? " asked Kabumpo shrilly .

" you never asked it," snapped wag, twitching his nose ." i_told you Ozma wasn't the princess mentioned in_the scroll ! "

" now don't quarrel," begged Peg Amy, jumping up hastily ." there's still plenty of_time to save Pumperdink . come along, Pompa ."

" that's right," said Ozma, smiling approvingly at Peg ." and when Pompa finds his princess you_must come and live with me in_the emerald city, for as Ruggedo was responsible for bringing you to

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