Oz 16: Kabumpo in Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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to life, i_want to_take care of you always ."

Peg Amy dropped acurtsey and promised to_come, but she didn't feel very cheerful about_it . then as Ozma was anxious to_get back to_the emerald city, they all hurried to Runaway country .

" you_are to_take these travelers across the deadly desert," said Ozma, addressing the Runaway country quite sternly, " and you_are to set them down in_the Winkie country . if_you_do this i_will restore your moving power again and give_you a little gnome for king . then you_may run off to_the Nonestic ocean as_soon_as ever you wish ."

" i_want Peg," pouted the country, " but if_that's the best you_can do I suppose I'll have to stand it ." after a little more grumbling it agreed to Ozma's terms . wearily, Kabumpo, wag, Peg and Pompa climbed aboard and then Ozma spun around six times in_the opposite direction and immediately the country found itself able to move again .

" good-bye ! " called Ozma, as she and_the Scarecrow jumped into Glinda's chariot ." good-bye and good luck ! "

" good-bye ! " called Peg, waving her old torn bonnet .

" good riddance," grumbled the country gruffly and, turning sideways, began running toward the deadly desert .

chapter 20

the proper princess is found !

is_the mirror safe, and have_you still got the gold door knob ? " asked Pompa, as_the country swung out onto the deadly desert ." the question box said i_was to trust them, you_know ."

" and by what right did Ozma take that box ? " wheezed Kabumpo irritably, as he_felt in_his pocket to_see whether the magic articles were still there ." that's gratitude for_you ! we_find Glegg's box of mixed magic and rescue her, and off she goes with all our magic, leaving us to_the tender mercies of aRunaway country ! "

" you find the box ! " shrilled wag ." well, I like that ! "

"Oh, what difference does it make ? " groaned Pompa, stretching out upon_the ground . they were all completely exhausted by_the day's adventures and as cross as three sticks- all except Peg Amy, who never was cross .

" I_shall marry this princess and save my country, but I'm going away as_soon_as_the wedding is over and spend the rest of_my life in travel," announced Pompa gloomily .

"Don't blame you," rubbled the elegant elephant with a sniff .

"Ah, now ! " laughed Peg ." that doesn't sound like you, Pompa . why, maybe this princess will_be so lovely you'll want to carry her straight back to Pumperdink ."

" i_think Princesses are a great bore," said wag with a terrific yawn ."I prefer plain folks like Peg and_the Scarecrow ."

" you're all hungry, that's what's the matter," chuckled the wooden doll ." when_you've had some supper you'll be just as anxious to_find the princess of sun top mountain as_you were to_find Ozma . here's the Winkie country now, and there's a star for good luck ."

Peg waved toward the green fields with one hand and toward the clouds with_the other . it_was dusk now and just one star twinkled cheerily in_the sky .

"I'll set you down, but I'm not going away, said the Runaway country determinedly, " for if_that little old gnome doesn't turn up I'm going to catch you all again ."

"Ozma never forgets . she'll keep her promise," said Peg ." and you_must do just as she told you to_do for she has some powerful magic and can send_you right back to where you came from ."

" can she ? " gulped the country anxiously .

" you_might wait a while, though," suggested Pompa darkly ." after I've seen this new princess aRunaway country might_be very_good thing ."

" well, you_can't expect her to marry you if_you talk that way, said Peg warningly, as_the country came to a stop in a huge field of daisies .

"I'll wait," it said hopefully, as_the four travelers swung themselves down .

"I wonder if_we_are in_the north central part," murmured Peg Amy, looking around anxiously . now it happened the country had crossed the deadly desert slantwise and although none_of_the party knew it they were scarcely a mile from sun top mountain .

" I_see a garden ! " cried wag, twitching his nose hungrily ." come on, prince, let's find some supper ." with head down and dragging his feet, Pompa followed wag .Kabumpo began jerking snappishly at some tree tops and Peg Amy sat down to_think .

" i_wish," thought the wooden doll, looking up at_the bright star, " i_wish I_might_have asked the box one little question ." Peg Amy looked so solemn that Kabumpo stopped eating and regarded her anxiously .

" what's the matter ? " asked the elegant elephant gruffly; for he quite counted on Peg's cheerfulness .

" i_was thinking about_it again," admitted Peg apologetically ." about being alive before .I'm sure i_was alive before i_was a doll, Kabumpo . i_think i_was a person, like Pompa," she continued softly .

" you're much better as_you_are," said the elegant elephant uneasily, for_it had just occurred to him that_the magic mirror would tell Peg who she was as_well as_the question box . but should he let her look in_it ? that was_the question . poor, tired old Kabumpo shifted from one foot to_the other as he tried to_make up his mind . two huge drops of perspiration ran down his trunk . what good would it do ? he reasoned finally . suppose it told something awful ! it couldn't change her and it might make her unhappy . no, he_would_not let Peg look in_the mirror .

" how would you like to_have this pearl bracelet ? " he asked in an embarrassed voice .

" why, Kabumpo, I'd just adore it ! " cried Peg, springing up in a hurry ." and I'm not going to worry about being alive any more, for everyone is so lovely to_me I ought_to_be the happiest person in Oz ."

" you_are," puffed Kabumpo, clumsily slipping the bracelet on Peg's wooden arm, " and if_we ever get back to Pumperdink you_shall_have as_many silk dresses as you_want and-" the rest of_the sentence was smothered in a hug .

Peg Amy was growing fonder and fonder of pompous old Kabumpo and by_the_time he had recovered his breath wag and_the prince came ambling back together . they had found an orchard and a kitchen garden and as_they were no longer hungry, both were more cheerful .

" let's play scop hotch," suggested wag amiably ."I'm tired of hunting Princesses ." there_was a smooth patch of sand under the trees and wag hopped over and began marking out the squares with_his paw .

"Scop hotch ! " laughed Pompa, while Peg gave a skip of delight .

" play if_you_want to," wheezed Kabumpo, shaking himself wearily, " I_feel about as playful as a stone lion . besides, hop Scotch isn't an elephant game .

Peg, wag and Pompa began to hop Scotch for dear life . Peg often tumbled over, for_it is hard to_keep your balance on wooden legs, but it_was Peg who won in_the end and wag crowned her with daisies ." i_wish we_could go on just as_we_are, gasped Pompa, mopping his face with_his silk handkerchief ." we're all good chums and, if_it weren't for Pumperdink's disappearing, we_might travel all over Oz and_have no end of adventures together ."

"Speaking of disappearing," said Kabumpo, opening one eye, for he had dozed off during the game, "I suppose we'd better be starting if_we're to save the kingdom at all ."

" good-bye to pleasure," sighed Pompa, as Kabumpo lifted him to_his back ." good-bye to everything ! "

"Oh, cheer up," begged Peg, settling herself on wag's back .

"Hurrah ! Hurrah ! Hurrah ! " a large yellow bird rose suddenly from a near- by bush and flapped its wings over Pompa's head ."Hurrah ! Hurrah ! "

"Shoo ! get away ! " grumbled Kabumpo crossly ." what_are you cheering about ? "

" she said to," cawed the bird, darting over Peg Amy's head ."Hurrah ! Hurrah ! Hurrah ! let me teach you how to_be cheerful in three chirps . first, think of what you might_have_been; next, think of what you_are; then think of what you_are going to_be . do_you get it ? " the bird put its head on one side and regarded them anxiously .

" he_might_have_been king of Oz, instead of_which he_is only a lost prince, and he's going to_be married to a mountain top princess . do you_see anything cheerful about_that ? " demanded Kabumpo angrily ." clear out ! we'll do our own cheering ."

" shall I go ? " asked the Hurrah bird, looking very crestfallen and pointing its claw at Peg Amy .

" maybe you_can tell us the way to sun top mountain," said Peg politely .

" you_can see it from_the other side of_the hill," replied the Hurrah bird ."I'll give_you a few hurrahs for luck .Hurrah ! Hurrah ! Hur-rah ! "

"Oh, go away," grumbled Kabumpo .

" not till you look at my nest . did you ever see aHurrah bird's nest ? " he chirped brightly .

" let's look at it," said Pompa, smiling in_spite of himself . the Hurrah bird preened itself proudly as_they peered through_the bushes . surely it had the gayest nest ever built, for it_was woven of straw of many colors, and hung all over the near- by branches were small Oz flags . in_the nest three little yellow chicks were growing up into Hurrahs and_they chirped faintly at_the visitors .

" remember," called the father Hurrah, as_they bade him good-bye, " you_can always be cheerful in three chirps if_you_think of what you might_have_been, what you_are, and what you_are going to_be .Hurrah ! Hurrah ! Hurrah ! "

" there's something in what you've said," chuckled wag ." good-bye ! "

the moon had come up brightly and even Kabumpo began to_feel more like himself ." there's alot to_be learned by traveling, eh, wag ? " he winked at_the rabbit, who was just behind him ." let's see-somersaults for sums- never be gormish- and now, how to_be cheerful in three chirps .Hurrah ! Hurrah ! Hurrah ! " the elegant elephant began to plow swiftly through_the daisy field, so_that in almost no time they reached the top of_the little hill and as_they_did so Peg gave a little scream of delight . as for_the others, they were simply speechless .

a purple mountain rose steeply ahead, and set like a crown upon its summit was aglittering gold castle, the loveliest, laciest gold castle you_could imagine, with a hundred fluttering pennants . all down the mountain side spread its lovely gardens, its golden arbors and flower bordered paths .

"I've seen it before ! " cried the wooden doll softly, but no one heard her .Pompa drew a deep breath, for_the castle, shimmering in_the moonlight, seemed almost too beautiful to_believe .

"Whe-ew ! " whistled wag, breaking the silence, " the princess of tun sop Wountain must_be wonderful ."

" shall we start up now ? " gasped Kabumpo, swinging his trunk nervously .

"I don't believe she'll ever marry me . let's don't go at all," muttered the prince of Pumperdink in a shaky voice .

"Oh, come on ! " called wag, who was curious to_see the owner of so grand a castle .

" but we mustn't go, wag," gasped Peg Amy ." how would it look to_have a shabby old doll tagging along when he's trying to_talk to_the princess ! " "

if Peg doesn't go, I'm not going," declared Pompa stubbornly .

" you're just as good as any princess," said Kabumpo, " and I'm not going without you, either ."

as_the elegant elephant refused to budge and there seemed no other way out of it, Peg Amy finally consented and_the four adventurers started fearfully up the winding path, almost expecting the castle to disappear before_they reached the top, so unreal did it seem in_the moonlight . there_was no one in_the garden but there were lights in_the castle windows ." just as if_they expected us," said the elegant elephant, as_they reached the tall gates .Pompa opened the gates and next instant they were standing before_the great castle door .

" shall we knock ? " chattered wag, his eyes sticking out with excitement .

" no ! wait a minute," begged the prince, who was becoming more agitated every_minute .

" here's the mirror and_the door knob," quavered Kabumpo ."Didn't the question box say to trust them ? why, look here, Pompa, my boy, it fits ! " clumsily, Kabumpo held up the glittering door knob he had brought all the way from Pumperdink; then he slipped it easily on_the small gold bar projecting from_the door .

but instead of looking joyful Pompa groaned dismally . he started to protest but Kabumpo had already turned the knob and_they found themselves in aglittering gold court room .

" now for_the princess," puffed Kabumpo, looking around with_his twinkling little eyes ." here, take_the mirror, Pompa ." the room was empty, although brilliantly lighted, and_the prince stood uncertainly in_the very center . suddenly, with a determined little cry, Pompa rushed over to Peg Amy, who stood leaning against a tall gold chair .

" Peg," choked Pompa, dropping on_his knees beside the wooden doll, "I'll have to_find some other way to save Pumperdink .I'm not going to marry this princess and have_you taken away from me . you're a proper enough princess for_me and we'll just go back to Pumperdink and be--

" the mirror ! look in_the mirror ! " screamed wag, who was sitting beside Peg Amy .

unconsciously, Pompa had held out the gold mirror and Peg, leaning over to listen, had looked directly into_it . above Peg's pleasant reflection in_the mirror they read these startling and important words:

this_is Peg Amy, princess of sun top mountain .

while Pompa stared with round eyes the words faded out and this new legend formed in_the glass:

the proper princess is found ! this_is_the proper princess .

"I always knew you were a princess," cried wag, turning a somersault .

the big rabbit had just come right- side- up, when a still more amazing thing happened . the wooden body of Peg melted before their eyes and in its place stood the loveliest little princess in_the_world . and yet, with all her beauty, she was strangely like the old Peg . her eyes had the same merry twinkle and her mouth the same pleasant curve .

"Oh ! " cried princess Peg, holding her arms out to her friends ." now I_am the happiest person in Oz ! "

chapter 21

how it all

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