Oz 16: Kabumpo in Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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all came about

before Pompa had time to rise, a tall, richly clad old nobleman rushed into_the room .

" Peg ! " cried the old gentleman, clasping the princess in_his arms ." you_are back ! at last the enchantment is broken ! "

for moment the two forgot all about Pompa and_the others . then, gently disengaging herself, Peg seized the prince's hands and drew him to_his feet .

" uncle," she said breathlessly, holding to Pompa with one hand and waving with_the other at Kabumpo and wag, " here are the friends responsible for_my release . this_is my uncle Tozzyfog," she explained quickly, and impulsively uncle Tozzyfog sprang to_his feet and embraced each in turn- even Kabumpo .

" sit down," begged the old nobleman, sinking into a golden chair and mopping his head with a flowered silk kerchief .

Pompa, who_could_not take his eyes from_his new and wonderful Peg Amy, dropped into another chair .Kabumpo leaned limply against a pillar and wag sat where he_was, his nose twitching faster than ever and_his ears stuck out straight behind him .

" you_are probably wondering about_the change in Peg," began uncle Tozzyfog, as_the princess perched on_the arm of_his chair, " so I'll try to_tell my part of_the story . three years_ago an ugly old peddler climbed the path to sun top mountain . he_said his name was Glegg and, forcing his way into_the castle, he demanded the hand of_my niece in marriage ."

Peg shuddered and uncle Tozzyfog blew his nose violently at_the distressing memory . then, speaking rapidly and pausing every few_minutes to appeal to_the princess, he continued the story of Peg's enchantment . naturally the old peddler had_been refused and thrown out_of_the castle . that night as uncle Tozzyfog prepared to carve the royal roast, there came an explosion, and when_the courtiers had picked themselves up Peg Amy was nowhere to_be seen, and only athreatening scroll remained to explain the mystery .Glegg, who was really a powerful magician, infuriated by uncle Tozzyfog's treatment, had changed the little princess into a tree .

" know ye," began the scroll quite like the one that had spoiled Pompa's birthday, " know ye that unless ye princess of sun top mountain consents to wed J .Glegg she shall remain a tree forever, or until two shall call and believe her to_be a princess .

the whole castle had_been plunged into utmost gloom by_this terrible happening, for Peg was_the kindliest, best loved little princess any kingdom could wish for . lord Tozzyfog and nearly all the Courtiers set out at once to search for_the little tree and for two years they wandered over Oz, addressing every hopeful tree as princess, but never happening on_the right one . finally they returned in despair and sun top mountain, once the most cheerful kingdom in all Oz, had become the gloomiest . there_was no singing, nor dancing- no happiness of any kind . even the flowers had drooped in_the absence of_their little mistress .

" why didn't you appeal to Ozma ? " demanded Pompa at_this point in_the story .

" because in another scroll Glegg warned us that_the day we told Ozma, Peg Amy would cease to even be a tree," explained uncle Tozzyfog hoarsely .

" then how did she become a doll ? tell me that, uncle Fozzytog," gulped wag, raising one paw .

" she'll have to_tell you that herself," confessed Peg's uncle, " for_that's all of_the story I_know ."

so here Peg took up the story herself . the morning after her transformation into a tree Glegg had appeared and asked her again to marry him ." i_was a little yellow tree, in_the Winkie country, not far from_the emerald city," explained Peg, " and every day for two months Glegg appeared and gave_me the power of speech long enough to answer his question . and each_time he asked me to marry him but I always said ' no ! ' " the princess shook her yellow curls briskly .

" one afternoon there came a one-legged sailor man and a little girl ." even Kabumpo shuddered as Peg Amy told how Cap'n bill had cut down the little tree, pared off all the branches and carved from_the trunk a small wooden doll for trot .

" it didn't hurt," princess Peg hastened to explain as she caught Pompa's sorrowful expression, " and being a doll was alot better than being a tree . I_could_not move or speak but I_knew what_was going on and life in Ozma's palace was cheerful and interesting . only, of_course, I longed to_tell Ozma or trot of_my enchantment .I missed dear uncle Tozzyfog and all the people of sun top mountain . then, as_you all know, i_was stolen by_the old gnome and after Ruggedo carried me underground I forgot all about being a princess and remembered nothing of_this ." Peg glanced lovingly around the room ."I only felt that I had_been alive before . so you ! " Peg jumped up and flung one arm around wag, " and you," she flung the other around Pompa, " saved me by calling me a princess and really believing i_was one . and you ! " Peg hastened over to Kabumpo, who was rolling his eyes sadly ." you_are the darlingest old elephant in Oz ! see, I still have the necklace and bracelet ! " and sure enough on Peg's round arm and white neck gleamed the jewels the elegant elephant had generously given when he thought her only a funny wooden doll .

"Oh ! " groaned Kabumpo ." why didn't I let you look in_the mirror before ? no wonder you kept remembering things ."

" but why did Glegg send the threatening scroll to Pumperdink three years after he'd enchanted Peg ? " asked wag, scratching his head .

" because ! " shrilled apiercing voice, and in through_the window bounded a perfectly dreadful old man . it_was Glegg himself !

" because ! " screeched the wicked magician, advancing toward the little party with crooked finger, " when_that meddling old sailor touched Peg with_his knife I lost all power over her; because my question box told me that Pompadore of Pumperdink could bring about her disenchantment and he has . I_made it interesting for_you, didn't I ? there isn't another magician in Oz can put scrolls up in cakes and roasts like I_can nor mix magic like mine .Ha ! Ha ! " Glegg threw back his head and rocked with enjoyment ." you_have_had all the trouble and I_shall_have all the reward ! "

everyone was so stunned by_this terrible interruption that no one made a move as Glegg sprang toward Peg Amy . but before he had reached the princess there_was a queer sulphurous explosion and_the magician disappeared in a cloud of green smoke . they rubbed their eyes and as_the smoke cleared they saw trot, the little girl who had played with Peg Amy when she was a wooden doll .

"Ozma," explained trot breathlessly, for she had come on a fast wish .

after following the adventures of Pompa and Peg in_the magic mirror, and as_the magician had tried to snatch the princess, Ozma had transported him by_means of her magic belt to_the emerald city, and sent trot to bring her best wishes the whole party .

"I'm sorry I didn't make you a prettier dress when_you were my doll," said trot, seizing Peg Amy's hand impulsively, " but you_see I didn't know you were a princess ."

" but you guessed my name," said Peg softly .

there were so_many explanations to_be made and so_many things to wonder over and exclaim about, that_it seemed as_if they_could never stop talking .

uncle Tozzyfog rang all the bells in_the castle tower and stepping out on a balcony told the people of sun top mountain of_the return of princess Peg Amy . then the servants were summoned and such a feast as only an Oz cook can prepare was started in_the castle kitchen . the Courtiers came hurrying back, for during Peg's absence uncle Tozzyfog had lived alone in_the castle . yes, the Courtiers came back and_the people of sun top mountain poured into_the castle in throngs and nearly overwhelmed the rescuers by_the enthusiasm of_their thanks .

Kabumpo had never been so admired and complimented in_his whole elegant life . as for wag, his speech grew more mixed up every_minute . at last, when_the Courtiers and uncle Tozzyfog had run off to dress for_the grand banquet, and after trot had_been magically recalled by Ozma to_the emerald city, the four who had gone through so_many adventures together were left alone .

" well, how about Pumperdink, my boy ? " chuckled Kabumpo, with a wave of_his trunk ." are we going to let the old kingdom disappear or not ? "

" it_is my duty to save my country," said Pompa loftily . then, with a mischievous smile at Peg Amy, "Don't you_think so, princess ? " Peg Amy looked merrily at_the elegant elephant and then took Pompa's hand .

" yes, I_do," said the princess of sun top mountain .

" then, you_will marry me ? " asked Pompa, looking every inch a prince in_spite of_his singed head and torn clothes .

" we_must save Pumperdink, you_know," sighed Peg softly .

" three cheers for_the princess of Pumperdink ! may she be as happy as_the day is short ! " cried wag in_his impulsive way .

uncle Tozzyfog was as pleased as wag when he heard the news, and Pompa, attired in a royal gold embroidered robe, was married to Peg Amy upon_the spot, with much pomp and magnificence .

never before was there such rejoicing-a merrier company or a happier bride .Kabumpo, arrayed in two gold curtains borrowed for_the happy occasion, had never appeared more elegant and wag was everywhere at once and simply overwhelmed with attention .

that same night a messenger was dispatched to Pumperdink to carry the good news and_the next morning Pompa and Peg set out for_the emerald city, the princess riding proudly on wag and Pompadore on Kabumpo .Knowing the whole four as_you now do, you_will believe me when I_say that their journey was_the merriest and most delightful ever recorded in_the merry kingdom of Oz .

after a short visit with Ozma and another to_the king and queen of Pumperdink they all returned to sun top mountain, where they_are living happily at_this very minute .

chapter 22

Ruggedo 's last rock

there_are only a few more mysteries to clear up before we leave for a time the jolly kingdom of Oz .Ruggedo, much shaken by his terrible experiences with Glegg's magic, confessed everything to Ozma on her return to_the emerald city you_can imagine the surprise of_the little fairy ruler on learning how her palace had come to_be impaled upon_the spikes of_the wicked old gnome's gray head .

" he_will never re- form," said Tik Tok mournfully, as Ruggedo finished his recital . the bad little gnome assured Ozma that he had reformed and begged for another chance, but this_time Ozma knew better, and putting on her magic belt she whispered a few secret words . then they all hurried over to_the magic picture, for they knew that Ruggedo had_been transported to a safe place at last . the picture showed the Runaway country rushing along faster than an express train and dancing up and down on its highest hill was_the furious old king of_the Gnomes . they watched until the country plunged joyfully into_the Nonestic ocean and, when it_was almost in_the middle, Ozma stopped it by_the magic spinning process and it became Ruggedo's island .

" well," sighed Dorothy as_they turned from_the picture, "I guess that_will_be Ruggedo's last rock ! "

" he's rocked in_the cradle of_the deep now, chuckled the Scarecrow ." and I_hope it quiets him down . they ought to_make a good pair- that bad little island and_that bad little king," he added reflectively .

then Ozma proposed that_they follow the adventures of Peg and Pompa, having so satisfactorily disposed of Ruggedo . how she transported Glegg just in_time to save the princess you already know . but what happened to Glegg himself is interesting . when_the old magician had asked his question box how to regain control over Peg again it had directed him to bury his mixed magic under the emerald city and in two years to send the scroll to Pumperdink . so Glegg had tunneled out the cave under Ozma's palace and left his magic in what he supposed was a very safe place . it had_been a great hardship to_do without it for two years, but he_wanted Peg so badly that he actually did this, never dreaming that Ruggedo had moved in and discovered his treasures . the question box had told the exact day Peg would_be disenchanted and all that long two years Glegg had waited, hidden in a forest near sun top mountain .

as he_knew nothing of_the discovery of_his magic box, no one was more surprised than he to_find himself, just as he_was on_the point of seizing Peg, transported to_the emerald city .

while sir Hokus of Pokes held the struggling Glegg, Ozma asked the question box how to deal with_him . everybody crowded around the little fairy ruler to hear what the wicked old magician's fate was to_be .

" give him a taste of_his own magic," directed the question box ." make him drink a cup of_his triple trick tea ." this Ozma did, although it took fourteen people to_get Glegg to drink it . but, stars ! no sooner had the liquid touched his lips than_the miserable old magician went off with a loud explosion !

the box of mixed magic was carefully put away in Ozma's gold safe and then the whole company-Ozma, Dorothy, sir Hokus, the Scarecrow and all the celebrities devoted themselves to setting the topsy turvy palace to rights, for they knew by_the magic picture that Pompa and Peg Amy were coming to visit them .

"Glegg, Glegg, shake a leg and never more, sir, bother Peg ! "

shouted Scraps, as she swept up the black soot Glegg had left when he exploded . and he never did .

fine

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