Oz 16: Kabumpo in Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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this_is_the first Oz book with an animal in_the title role .Kabumpo, however, is much more than an animal - he_is a genuine personality .Kabumpo, the elegant elephant, is_the wisest and oldest living creature in Pumperdink ( an area of_the purple Gillikin country) .

the excitement begins during prince Pompadore's 18th birthday celebration . the cake ( the finest ever baked by Hashem the chef) disappears, reappears, and then explodes when cut, revealing a scroll, a golden mirror and a doorknob . the scroll warns the royal family - king Pompus, queen posy and prince Pompadore - that unless the prince marries a" proper" princess, the entire kingdom of Pumperdink will disappear !

when king Pompus decides on_the most-homeliest of fairy princesses - Faleero of_the forest of Follensby, Kabumpo decides to save the prince and off they go to emerald city .

of_course, nothing is Oz is ever simple, and old Ruggedo, the * gnome king is at it again as_well .Finding a box of_the wizard J .Glegg's " mixed magic" underneath the palace of Pumperdink, he accidentally spills a bottle of " instantaneous Expanding extract" on himself and grows 3/4 of a mile high .

did I mention the bottle of " spike's hair strengthener" that he spilled on_his head first - causing his hair to_turn into iron spikes ? did I mention that_the palace of Pumperdink becomes impaled atop his head ? did I mention that he of_course runs away scared .. . with_the castle .. . impaled on_his spiked hair .. . like a hat ! !

now, prince Pompadore and Kabumpo must first ' find' and_the ' save' his missing kingdom - getting mixed up with a live wooden doll named Peg-Amy, a giant rabbit named wag, and old Ruggedo himself .

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dear children:

do_you like Elephants ? do_you believe in Giants ? and do_you love all the jolly people of_the wonderful land of Oz ? well then you'll want to hear about_the latest happenings in_that delightful kingdom . all are set forth in true Oz fashion in "Kabumpo in Oz," the fifteenth Oz book .Kabumpo is an elegant elephant . he_is very old and wise, and has a kindly heart, as have all the Oz folks . in_the new book you'll meet prince Pompa, and Peg Amy, acharming wooden doll . there_are new countries, strange adventures and_the most surprising box of magic you_have ever heard of .Ruggedo , the wicked old gnome king, does alot of mischief with_this before princess Ozma can stop him . of_course Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Scraps, Glinda the good, Tik-Tok, and other old friends all are alive and busy in_the new book . I_am just back from_the emerald city with_the best of Oz wishes for everybody, but especially you .

Philadelphia spring of 1922 ruth Plumly Thompson

this book is dedicated with all of_my heart to Janet my littlest sister but biggest assistor

ruth Plumly Thompson

list of Chapters

1 . the Exploding birthday cake
2 .Picking a proper princess
3 .Kabumpo and Pompa disappear
4 . the curious Cottabus Appears
5 . in_the city of_the figure Heads
6 .Ruggedo's history in Six Rocks
7 . sir Hokus and_the Giants
8 . woe in_the emerald city
9 . mixed magic Makes mischief
10 . Peg and wag to_the rescue
11 . the king of_the Illumi nation
12 . the delicious sea of soup
13 . on_the road to Ev
14 . terror in Ozma's palace
15 . the sand man Takes a hand
16 .Kabumpo Vanquishes the Twigs
17 .Meeting the Runaway country
18 . prince Pompadore Proposes
19 .Ozma Takes things in hand
20 . the proper princess is found
21 . how it all came about
22 .Ruggedo's last rock

chapter 1 the Exploding birthday cake

" the cake, you chattering Chittimong ! where is_the cake ? Stirem, Friem, Hashem, where is_the cake ? " cried Eejabo, chief footman in_the palace of Pumperdink, bouncing into_the royal pantry .

the three cooks, too astonished for speech, and with staring eyes, pointed to_the center table . the great gorgeous birthday cake was gone, though not two seconds before it had_been placed on_the table by Hashem himself .

" it_was my m-m-asterpiece," sobbed Hashem, tearing off his cap and throwing his apron over his head .

" help ! Robbers ! Thieves ! " cried Friem, running to_the window .

here was ahowdedo . the trumpets blowing for_the celebration to_begin and_the best part of_the celebration was gone !

" we'll all be dipped for_this ! " wailed Eejabo, flinging open the second best china closet so violently that three silver cups and a pewter mug tumbled out . just then there_was a scream from Hashem, who had removed the apron from_his head ." look ! " he shrieked " there it_is ! "

back to_the table rushed the other three, Stirem and Friem rubbing their eyes and Eejabo his head where the cups had bumped him severely . upon_the table stood the royal cake, as pink and perfect as ever .

" it_was there all the time, mince my eyebrows ! " spluttered Hashem in an injured voice ." called me aChittimong, did you ? " Grasping a big wooden spoon he ran angrily at Eejabo .

" was_it gone or wasn't it ? " cried Eejabo, appealing to_the others and hastily catching up a bread knife to defend himself . instantly there arose a babble .

" it_was ! "

" it wasn't ! "

" was ! " Rap, bang, clatter . in a minute they were in a furious argument, not_only with words but with spoons, forks and bowls . and dear knows what would_have become of_the cake had_not a bell rung loudly and_the second footman poked his head through_the door ." the cake ! where is_the cake ? " he wheezed importantly .

so Eejabo, dodging three cups and a salt cellar, seized the great silver platter and dashed into_the great banquet hall . one pink coat tail was missing and_his wig was somewhat elevated over the left ear from_the lump raised by_the pewter mug, but he summoned what dignity he_could and joined the grand procession of footmen who were bearing gold and silver dishes filled with goodies for_the birthday feast of prince Pompadore of Pumperdink .

the royal guests were already assembled and just as Eejabo entered the pages blew a shrill blast upon their silver trumpets and_the prime Pumper stepped forward to announce their Majesties .

"Oyes ! Oyez ! " shouted the prime Pumper, pounding on_the floor with_his silver staff, while the guests politely inclined their heads just as if_they had_not heard the same announcement dozens of times before:

"Oyez ! Oyez ! " "Pompus the proud and Pozy pink, king and queen of Pumperdink -- way for_the king and clear the floor way for_our good prince Pompadore . way for_the elegant elephant-- way for_the king and_the queen and_the prince, I_say ! "

so everybody wayed, which_is to_say they bowed, and down the center of_the room swept Pompus, very fat and gorgeous in_his purple robes and jeweled crown, ermine cloak, and prince Pompadore very straight and handsome ! in_fact, they looked exactly as a good old- fashioned royal family should .

but Kabumpo, who swayed along grandly after_the prince -- few royal families could boast of so royal and elegant an elephant ! he_was huge and gray . on_his head he wore jeweled bands and a jeweled court robe billowed out majestically as he walked . his little eyes twinkled merrily and_his ears flapped so sociably, that just to look at him put one in a good humor .Kabumpo was_the only elephant in Pumperdink, or in any kingdom near Pumperdink, so no wonder he_was a prime favorite at court . he had_been given to_the king at Pompa's christening by a friendly stranger and since then had enjoyed every luxury and advantage . he_was always addressed as sir by all of_the palace servants .

he lends an air of elegance to our court," the king was fond of saying, and_the elegant elephant he surely had become . now an elegant elephant at court might seem strange in a regular up- to- date country, but Pumperdink is_not at all regular nor up_to_date . it_is a cozy, old- fashioned kingdom ' way up in_the northern part of_the Gilliken country of Oz; old- fashioned enough to wear knee breeches and_have a king and cozy enough to still enjoy birthday parties and candy pulls .

if Pompus, the king was a bit proud who_could blame him ? his queen was_the loveliest, his son the most charming and_his elephant the most elegant and unusual for twenty Kingdoms round about . and Pompus, for all his pride, had a very simple way of ruling . when_the Pumperdinkians did right they were rewarded; when_they did wrong they were dipped .

in_the very center of_the courtyard there_is a great stone well with a huge stone bucket . into_this Pumperdink well all offenders and law breakers were lowered . its waters were dark blue and as_the color stuck to one for several_days the inhabitants of Pumperdink were careful to behave well, so that_the chief dipper, who often had days at_a_time with nothing to_do . this_time he spent in writing poetry and as prince Pompadore took the place of honor at_the head of_the table the chief dipper rose from_his humble place at_the foot and with a moist flourish burst forth:

"Oh, Pompadore of Pumperdink, of all perfection you're the pink; your praises now I utter ! your eyes are clear as apple sauce, your head the best I've come across; your heart is soft as butter ."

" very_good," said the of_the king, and_the chief dipper down, blushing with pride and confusion . prince Pompadore bowed and_the rest of_the party clapped tremendously .

"Sounds like a dipper full of nonsense to_me," wheezed Kabumpo, who stood directly back of prince Pompadore's throne, leisurely consuming a bale of hay placed on_the floor beside him . it may surprise you to_know that all the animals in Oz can talk . but such is_the case, and Pumperdink being in_the fairy country of Oz, Kabumpo could talk as_well as any man and better than most .

" eyes like apple sauce-- heart of butter ! Ho-ho, kerumph ! " the elegant elephant laughed so hard he shook all over; then slyly reaching over the prime Pumper's shoulder, he snatched his glass of pink lemonade and emptied it down his great throat, setting the tumbler back before_the old fellow turned his head .

" did you call, sir ? " asked Eejabo, hurrying over . he had mistaken Kabumpo's laugh for a command .

" yes; why did you not give his excellency lemonade ? " demanded the elegant elephant sternly .

" I_did; he_must_have drunk it, sir ! " stuttered Eejabo .

" drunk it ! " cried the prime Pumper, pounding on_the table indignantly ."I never had any ! "

" fetch him a glass at once,: rumbled Kabumpo, waving his trunk, and Eejabo, too wise to argue with a member of_the royal family, brought another glass of lemonade . but no sooner had he done so than_the mischievous elephant stole that, next the prime Pumper's plate and roll, and all so quickly, no one but prince Pompadore knew what_was happening and poor Eejabo was kept running backwards and forwards till his wig stood on end with confusion and rage .

all of this_was very amusing to_the prince, and helped him to listen pleasantly to_the fifteen long birthday speeches addressed to him by members of_the royal guard . but if_the speeches were dull, the dinner was not . the fiddlers fiddled so merrily, and_the chief cook Hashem had so outdone himself in_the preparation of new and delicious dainties that by ice- cream- and- cake time everyone was in a high good humor .

" the cake, my good Eejabo ! fetch forth the cake ! " commanded king Pompus, beaming fondly upon his son . nervously Eejabo stepped to_the side table and lighted the eighteen tall birthday candles .a cake that had disappeared once might easily do_so again, and Eejabo was anxious to_have it cut and out_of_the way-- out of_his way at_least .

Hashem, looking through a tiny crack in_the door, almost burst with pride as his gorgeous pink masterpiece was set down before_the prince .

" many happy returns of your eighteenth birthday ! " cried the Courtiers, jumping to_their feet and waving their napkins enthusiastically .

" thank_you ! thank_you ! " chuckled Pompadore, bowing low ." I_feel that_this_is but one of many more to_come ! " which_may sound strange, but Pumperdink being in Oz, one may_have as_many eighteenth birthdays as one cares to_have . this_was Pompa's tenth and while the courtiers drank his health the prince made ready to blow out the birthday candles .

" that's right, blow 'em all out at once ! " cried king . so Pompa puffed out his cheeks and blew like a porpoise; so did queen Pozy and_the prime Pumper; so did everybody . they blew until every dish upon_the table skipped and sank back exhausted in their chairs, but the candles burned as merrily as ever .

then Kabumpo took a hand-- or rather a trunk . he had_been watching the proceedings with_his twinkling little eyes . now he_took a tremendous breath, pointed his trunk straight at_the cake and blew with all his strength . every candle went out-- but stars ! as_they_did, the great pink cake exploded with_such force that half the Courtiers were flung under the table and_the rest knocked unconscious by flying fragments of icing tumblers and plates .

" treason ! " screamed Pompus, the first to recover from_the shock ." who dared put gunpowder in_the cake ? " Brushing the icing from_his nose, he glared around angrily . the first person to catch his eye was Hashem, the cook who stood trembling in_the door- way .

"Dip him ! " shouted the king furiously . and_the chief dipper, only too glad of an excuse to escape, seized poor Hashem ." and him ! " ordered the king, as Eejabo tried to sidle out_of_the room ." and them ! " as all the other footmen started to run .Forming his victims in a line the chief dipper marched them sternly from_the banquet hall .

"Oyez ! Oyez everybody shall be dipped ! " mumbled the prime Pumper, feebly raising his head .

"Oh, no ! Oh, no ! nothing of_the sort ! " snapped the king, fanning poor queen Pozy pink with a plate . she had fainted dead away .

" what_is the meaning of_this outrage ? " shouted Pompus, his anger rising again .

" how should I_know ? " wheezed Kabumpo, dragging prince Pompadore from beneath the table and pouring ajug of cream over his head .

" something hit me," moaned the prince, opening his eyes .

" of_course it did ! " said Kabumpo ." the cake hit you . made a great hit with_us all-- that cake ! " the elegant elephant looked ruefully at his silk robe of state, which_was hopelessly smeared with icing; then put his trunk to_his

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