Oz 19: The Lost King of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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almost as_much as Kinda jolly, was so upset he dashed here and there till everyone else was_that way, too, especially general Whiffenpuff . altogether the confusion was terrific .

" wait ! " grunted the general, picking himself up for_the fifth time ." wait ! I will_find them all ! " Seizing his gun, and with never a thought of dinner, he plunged boldly out into_the night to_find Mombi, the goose, snip and an invisible cook . after_that things grew calmer, for_the king had great confidence in Whiffenpuff . the boys and girls trooped back to_their cottages and_the rest sat down to a picnic supper out_of_the ice box .

"Whiffenpuff will_find 'em, no fear," whispered Hah Hoh, squeezing Kinda jolly's hand comfortingly, " and if he doesn't just remember that I also have something up my sleeve ! "

" what_is it ? " asked the king mournfully, and as clearly as he_could, for he had half a chicken sandwich in_the other cheek .

"A funny bone," confided the town Laugher, with so comical and important an expression that Kinda had to_be thumped on_the back to_keep from choking .

"A funny bone ! " gasped the king, as he recovered his breath ." let me see it, you rascal ."

so the town Laugher showed Kinda jolly his left elbow and_they both roared at_the joke .

chapter 4

in_the purple forest

snip thought of a great_many things to_tell Mombi as he_was being dragged along through_the forest, but she ran so_far and so fast that by_the_time she stopped he_was too bumped about and breathless to_say any of_them .

" now what ? " puffed Pajuka, settling on_the lowest branch of a purple pine .

" well, do_you expect to_find the king under the first tree we come to ? " panted the old witch, dropping down on a stump and mopping her forehead with her apron ." hand over that basket, you ." before he_could comply, Mombi had snatched the basket from snip and, loosening her hold upon his arm, began rummaging among its contents till she found a small purple scroll ." keep your eye on_the boy," ordered Mombi, snapping the scroll open, " and if he tries to escape nip off his nose, d' ye hear ? "

"Oh, I'm sure he wouldn't do_that," said Pajuka, fluttering his wings ." he'd much rather come with_us to_find the king and share the reward, wouldn't you lad ? "

snip glanced fearfully around him . the shadows were growing longer and longer, and in_the dim purple twilight the forest looked so grim and forbidding that he decided even bad company was better than none . so he shook his head and swallowing the lump in_his throat resolved to make_the best of things, and at_the same time find out all he_could about_this mysterious affair .

" what did I tell you," clucked Pajuka, preening his feathers ."I shouldn't be surprised if he'd be a great help to_us, Mombi ! "

" then let him begin by gathering some wood," grunted Mombi, " and none of your tricks snip my boy, or I'll turn you to a muffin and eat you for breakfast ."

" is snip your_name ? " asked Pajuka, waddling after_the little button boy . snip nodded and began slowly picking up twigs and putting them in a heap .

"A heartless old wretch," wheezed the goose, when_they were out of ear shot ."Don't mind her . she_can no more turn you to a muffin than I_can, but she is_the only_one who_can help me find the king so we_must humor her . stick by me snip and I'll stick by_you . is_it a bargain ? " in_the strange, silent forest, the white goose looked so big and friendly that snip dropped his twigs and flung both arms around his neck .

"I like you Pajuka," said the little button boy, giving him a quick hug .

" and I like you, snip," replied the goose, snuggling close to him . then, as Mombi glanced up suspiciously, they both fell to gathering twigs and in a few_moments had enough for a fine fire .Mombi was still poring over the scroll . looking over her shoulder, snip saw that_it_was a map of Oz- such a map as he had often seen in_his geoziphy books at home .Mombi held the map close to her nose, for in_the failing light it_was hard to_see anything .

" if I_could only remember ! if I_could only remember ! " muttered Mombi, rocking backward and forward on_the stump ." what did I_do with_the king ? where did I put him ? what did I use- green magic or blue, word magic or number magic, fire magic or smoke magic ? can't you remember anything ? " she whirled in great exasperation upon Pajuka .

" well, not much," sighed the goose, rubbing his head with_his wing ." you_see it_was so long_ago . I_do remember we were in a small greenwood near where the emerald city stands today when_you changed me to a goose . but as_you drove me away immediately, I never knew what became of_the king ."

" then it_was green magic ! " cried Mombi, springing up exultantly ." we_must go to_the emerald city and find that wood, for if_the king was transformed by green magic he_must_be restored by green magic, and_the only place where green magic takes effect is in and around the emerald city . once there i_will doubtless remember everything," chuckled Mombi ." if I don't, I'll just steal some of Ozma's magic .I'll steal the magic belt, restore the king to_the throne and_have my revenge for all these weary years .I'll turn Ozma to a piano and thump her every day," continued Mombi, rubbing her hands gleefully together ."I'll turn everyone else in_the palace to one object and then destroy that object

"I object ! " spluttered Pajuka, treading on_the old witch's toes in_his excitement .

" so will they," grinned Mombi, showing her yellow tusks, " but it_will do them no good .Don't stand staring at me, simpleton . light the fire ." Whirling upon snip, Mombi raised her stick threateningly, and snip, who had_been staring with open mouth ( for he had never heard so_much badness in_his whole life) made haste to_do as he_was told .

Mombi, still muttering and chuckling, began to lay out the chicken and cheese upon_the tree stump . though the fire snapped merrily enough, supper was not very cheerful for snip, but he ate the chicken wing and small bit of cheese that Mombi grudgingly gave him and broke up some bread for Pajuka .

" where've you been all these years ? " asked the old witch, looking curiously at_the goose over her mug of coffee .

" everywhere, everywhere in Oz, searching for_you and_the king," puffed Pajuka ."I've lived with miserable barnyard fowls, eating farmer's scraps, and in constant danger of_the ax . you might_have made me a wild goose, then at_least i_should_have had some fun .I shudder when i_think how near I've been to roasting ."

" well, didn't they roast you in_the old days ? " replied Mombi unfeelingly ." prime ministers are as often roasted as geese ! "

" yes, but not in_the same way ." Pajuka rolled his eyes sadly at snip .

" why didn't you tell Ozma or Glinda on her," asked the little button boy boldly .

"Aha ! because he_knew if he_did he'd disappear entirely . that was part of_the trick," shrilled Mombi ."Wasn't it, old feather head ? "

" yes, it's better to_be a goose than nothing at all," admitted Pajuka mournfully ." but never mind, when we_find the king, he_will restore Mombi's powers and she will restore my elegant figure and

"Oh, hold your bill," snapped Mombi crossly .

looking very ruffled, Pajuka retired to_the other side of_the fire, where he and snip conversed in low tones, while Mombi cleared away the supper and began her endless experiments in_the old black frying pan .

" i_should think in some ways, being a goose would_be rather nice," observed snip, looking inquisitively at Pajuka ."Having wings for instance, and never needing to_get undressed or have your hair cut ."

" well," agreed Pajuka slowly, "feathers are more convenient than clothes and while the life of a goose is very simple, it_is_not all unpleasant .I've enjoyed flying alot, and I never need to worry about rubbers or carrying an umbrella . but after all," Pajuka sighed and gazed sadly into_the fire, " after all, my boy, there_is nothing like being yourself ."

snip considered this for a little while in silence, trying to fancy himself in Pajuka's place ." well, what do_you miss the most ? " he inquired suddenly .Pajuka had one eye shut and was preparing to close the other, but at snip's words both flew wide open .

" my pockets," gasped Pajuka, with a great groan ." what_is a man without his pockets ? no place to_put his hands or his bills ! " Clapping his wing to_his side, Pajuka looked tragically at snip, and snip patting his own bulging pockets-pockets full of cake crumbs, marbles, pencil stubs and string- nodded sympathetically ." and not_only that," continued the goose in a grieved voice, "I waken at such ridiculous hours .Hah, hoh ! I_find myself falling asleep ." Pajuka paused here for a simply tremendous yawn ." right after supper, Hoh hum ! " finished the goose apologetically . then, tucking his head under his wing and drawing up one leg, he fell fast asleep before snip could ask him another question .

Pajuka was so close to_the fire that_the little button boy was afraid he_would singe his feathers . so, picking him up carefully, he set him back against a gnarled old tree and, curling up on a pile of leaves beside him, lay watching old Mombi . the wind fortunately was blowing away from_him, or he certainly would_have_been choked by_the awful mixtures in_the black frying pan . if he had_not known positively that her magic powers were gone, he_would_have taken to_his heels at once, for_the monsters that Mombi was trying to conjure up out_of_the frying pan, would_have devoured him in a minute .

"Magicum squadgicum squidgicum squdge

I order asnooch to_come out of_this smudge ! "

Mombi frowned darkly as she hissed this, but only a dense smoke rose from_the frying pan, and after listening nervously to ten separate incantations and finding that nothing at all happened, snip curled down among_the leaves and was soon as fast asleep as Pajuka- asleep - and dreaming he, himself, was a goose being chased up a pink mountain by a giant with a blue ax .

Mombi continued her experiments with_the frying pan long after snip and Pajuka were asleep, but finally she gave up in disgust and then she, too, lay down for a nap, which lasted until dawn .

chapter 5

the Rolling Hoopers

snip was awakened by atickling feeling of_his nose and, opening his eyes, saw Pajuka standing over him with a big bunch of grapes in_his bill ."Hello ! " yawned snip, sitting up and rubbing his eyes sleepily ." is_it morning ? "

Pajuka dropped the grapes into his lap ." half past it . been up since five, had a fly and a swim and brought you these for breakfast," clucked the goose, who seemed to_be in a fine humor ."Mombi's eaten all the rest of_the chicken herself, the old Scundermutch ! "

the sun filtered down cheerily through_the treetops and a fresh little breeze had set all the forest leaves to dancing . snip, himself, felt curiously light hearted and gay . perhaps it was_the long sleep he had had in_the open, or the friendly presence of Pajuka, or the thought of_the strange adventures that lay ahead . anyway, he jumped up with a will and even the scowl old Mombi gave him failed to dampen his spirits . she had already prepared and eaten her breakfast and was beating out the fire with her shoe .Following Pajuka to a small sparkling brook, snip splashed his face and hands vigorously, ate his grapes and a large sugar bun that_the thoughtful Pajuka had plucked from a nearby bun bush . by_this_time Mombi had her basket packed and, shaking her stick crossly, announced it_was time to start .

" which_way are we going ? " asked snip, taking the basket and falling into step beside her .

" my way ! " snapped Mombi fiercely .

" well, that's a witch way, isn t it,,, observed Pajuka, flopping along a few feet overhead and winking down slyly at snip, as he plodded down the road .

" hold your bill," snapped Mombi, hobbling along so fast that_the little button boy had to skip to_keep pace with her ." i_told you last night we were going to_the emerald city ."

" but i_thought you were banished from there forever," put in snip, who knew his Oz history by heart .

" I_shall disguise myself," shrilled Mombi triumphantly ."I'll pretend I'm a market woman selling a fat goose and while I'm arguing with_the cook, Pajuka shall fly into_the palace and steal some of Ozma's magic ."

" how do_you_know I_shall ? " honked Pajuka sulkily ."Ozma has never done me any harm . the thing for_us to_do is to_find the king . once we've come to_the little wood where you transformed him you'll remember where he_is . why, maybe we'll find him before then ."

" yes, but what good will it do if I don't remember my magic," sniffed Mombi ." unless you_want to_be a goose for_the rest of your life, you'd better make up your mind to_do what I_say . as for_you," the old witch whirled angrihy upon snip, " any more of_this supposing and I'll turn you to asix pence and spend you at_the first village ."

snip merely whistled and turned up his nose at_this, for he_knew perfectly well Mombi could_not carry out her threat . besides snip had a plan of_his own . the little button boy had decided that as_soon_as they reached the famous capitol of Oz he_would slip away from Mombi and tell princess Ozma the whole story . then she herself could use her magic to help Pajuka find the king . so he stepped jauntily along, paying no attention to Mombi's mutterings, looking curiously to_the right and left and thinking how_much he_should_have to_tell Kinda jolly when he returned to Kimbaloo .

the forest, like all the northern lands of Oz, was slightly tinged with purple, the national color of_the Gillikens

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