Oz 19: The Lost King of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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of_their forest they were flung down by_the invisible back wind and finally gave it up .Seeing that_they were safe at last, Dorothy sank down under a tomato tree and fanned herself vigorously with her hat .

" do we do_this often ? " puffed the dummy, giving himself a shake ." I_see this_is going to_be a funny picture ."

" it's not a picture at all," answered the little girl a bit crossly ." it's real . i_told you we_have lots of adventures in Oz . well, this_is a real adventure ."

" really ! " smiled the dummy, straightening his crown ." well, if_we're not in a picture we ought_to_be .I'll bet we looked ridiculous running forward backward . I_say, if_it isn't a funny reel it's real funny and I_hope you'll admit that, miss Dorothy ."

" are_you sure there's nothing in your head but hair ? " asked the little girl suspiciously .Humpy took off his crown and smoothed his silver wig solemnly ."I don't think so," he_said ." why do_you ask ? "

" well," Dorothy gave a little chuckle in_spite of herself, " you just made a joke and you thought about writing back . you sound kinda smart to_me .

" you're wrong, sighed Humpy, gravely replacing his crown ."I'm only a hair- brained dummy, but I like being alive and I like having you for_my star and after_this-" Humpy shook his fist angrily at_the still muttering woods- men-" after_this I'll take all the knocks and hard falls for_you . then maybe, if_you tried hard, you_might grow to like me a little ? "

" why, I like you already, you dear, generous old thing ." Jumping up, Dorothy gave Humpy an impulsive hug . then, picking a large tomato, she ate it hungrily . it seemed a long_time since she had breakfasted with_the forgetful poet in perhaps city .

" we'd better start on now," said the little girl, finishing off the tomato with a long sigh of satisfaction ." we're in_the Gillikin country and if_we walk fast we_may reach the emerald city before night comes .

" all right, miss star ." Picking up a crooked branch to balance himself, Humpy stepped out cheerfully and, talking of one_thing and another, they journeyed for more than an hour through_the pleasant fields and lanes, causing no small wonder to_the Gilliken farmers whom they passed on_the way, for Dorothy in her torn stockings and frock and_the dummy in_his regal robes and crown made a strange pair, even for Oz .

without explaining themselves at all, the two hurried on, never stopping until they came to a broad purple river .Humpy looked inquiringly at Dorothy and Dorothy with a puzzled little sigh sat down upon_the river bank .

"I'm sure we ought to cross this river," said Dorothy thoughtfully, " but how ? "

Humpy put one finger in_the water ." do_you_want me to_fall in for_you ? " asked the dummy obligingly .

" well, I don't see what good that_would do," frowned Dorothy ." let me see ! " Dorothy looked reflectively at her toes, so of_course she saw nothing but her boots, but Humpy looked off across the river, and so it_was Humpy who saw them first .

"Oh, look ! " stuttered the dummy, grasping Dorothy by_the sleeve ." here comes another adventure, miss star ! "

Jumping up in alarm, Dorothy saw a curious company scooting about upon_the surface of_the water . at_the very same moment they saw Dorothy, and came skating and sliding across the river like a swarm of giant water bugs .

" now don't tell me this_is real," grunted the dummy, sitting down with a thud ."I wouldn't believe them, even in a picture ."

" but they're not in a picture," wailed Dorothy ." they're here, whether you believe them or not . why they_have sails ! Oh Humpy, get up quick .Aren't you going to help me ? " with a mighty effort Humpy pulled himself together and arose .

"Teg tuo ! Teg tuo ! " shrilled the dummy, lapsing in_his fright and excitement into_the terrible language of back ."Og yawa ! Og yawa ! Kcab Sdoow ! " and snatching off his crown, he hurled it violently at_the heads of_the approaching rivermen .

chapter 12

the playful Scooters

the first of_the rivermen caught the dummy's crown neatly and tossed it back ." is_it a game ? " he_called hoarsely . Dorothy had no time to dodge, so she quickly caught the crown, which came with_such force that she sat down with a jolt .

the dummy danced up and down and waved his arms threateningly .

" come on, Flub Blub . it's a game," called the first riverman to_the man just behind him ." two Scoots playing a game ! here," he croaked in_his deep, frog- like voice, " throw it to_me ! " he raised his sails coaxingly at Dorothy and, partly because she was afraid to_have him come nearer and partly because she didn't know what else to_do, the little girl pitched back the crown with all her might . the one called Flub Blub caught it immediately . the next throw was to Humpy and backward and forward between_the puzzled travellers on_the bank and curious creatures on_the water flew the dummy's crown, and breathlessly between catches Dorothy examined these strange playfellows .

they were tall and angular and so sunburned that_they almost appeared to_be Indians . they were clad in shiny water proof hats and slickers . on their long, thin feet, shaped somewhat like skis and somewhat like narrow boats, they slid over the water as surely and carelessly as_we skate about on ice .Extending from_the ankle to_the finger tips, and as_much a part of_the wearer as wings are part of a bird, were bright yellow sails . when their arms were down at their sides, the sails were folded in and almost unnoticeable, but with arms outstretched the rivermen had two wide- spread sails to help them scoot over the water . by lowering the right arm or the left, they_could turn, tack and get about faster than any sailing boat you_have ever seen . their faces, under the broad souwesters, were child- like and pleasant and, finding them more interesting than dangerous, Dorothy motioned for Humpy to hold the crown, which had landed for about_the tenth time with aresounding thwack against his chest .

" but i_was just getting good," objected the dummy, placing the crown regretfully on_his head ." what now ? " Humpy had become so engrossed in catching the crown that he had quite forgotten his fright and, as_the leader came in close to_the shore, he looked at him with frank curiosity .

" well, Scoots," bubbled the one called Flub Blub, rocking gently backward and forward on_the water, " who won ? "

" i_think it_was a tie," answered Dorothy politely, " but why do_you call us Scoots ? "

" because your sails haven't grown, gurgled the riverman, taking a white bubble pipe from_his mouth and smiling broadly at_the little girl ." but don't mind, my dear . we_must all be Scoots before we're Scooters . just stick in_the mud a little longer and your sails will grow as large as mine ."

" Dorothy's not a scoot, she's a star," protested Humpy, " and I'm her double and do all the hard falling .Don't you_know' a star when_you see one ? "

the scooter turned his pale blue eyes curiously on Humpy ." you look about as_much like her as a pumpkin looks like a peach," he observed mildly ." why do_you call yourself her double ? and if she's a star what's she doing out now ? it's only ten o'clock ." at_this all the other Scooters removed their pipes and nodded gravely .

" is she an out- and- out star, or a down- and- out star ? " inquired Flub Biub, blowing a whole flock of soap bubbles from_his pipe and watching them float lazily up the river .

"I'm a princess," put in Dorothy, seeing that everything was becoming hopelessly confused, " and we're on_our way to_the emerald city ."

"A princess ! " exclaimed the scooter in amazement . he_took off his souwester and scratched his head in a puzzled way . Dorothy was so astonished to_find that his hair was moss that she said nothing at all for a whole minute .

" if_you're a princess, why are_you so shabby ? " choked a scooter named Mouldy .

"Don't mind him, he has a bad cold," apologized Flub, putting his hat on again ." he_would go apicking daisies on_the shore yesterday and got his feet dry . now look at him ! "

the scooter coughed miserably ." that's right," he wheezed, dabbing at his eyes with_his right sail ." never get your feet dry little scoot, it's turrible ! "

at_this Dorothy giggled in_spite of herself . then seeing the poor fellow was offended she asked quickly, " is_there any_way we_could cross this river, Mr Mouldy ? "

" there's a bridge a bit further on," sniffed the scooter, waving his sail sulkily .Following the direction, Dorothy saw what at first looked like a silver bridge . but on closer inspection it proved to_be a great torrent of water spouting across the river like the stream from a giant hose .

" but it's water ! " gasped the little girl in dismay .

" of_course it's water . what should a bridge be but water ? " demanded the leader of_the Scooters impatiently ." just stand on one side and it_will shoot you across .

" how dreadfully wet," sighed the dummy dolefully, " but I'll cross if_you_will Dorothy ."

" that's right," said Flub Blub approvingly, " and here's the way to_do_it ." followed by_the others, the scooter sailed up the river and leaped lightly on_the gleaming arch of water . Dorothy, watching them shoot across with sails outspread, thought she had never seen a more interesting sight . just before_they reached the opposite bank, they jumped into_the water and in less_than a minute they all were back .

" see," smiled the leader cheerfully, " it's as easy as sailing, miss star or princess or whatever else you call yourself ."

" just a little girl, thank_you," smiled Dorothy, looking very doubtfully at_the water bridge .

" is he a little girl too ? " asked the riverman, eyeing Humpy attentively . at_this the poor dummy looked so indignant that Dorothy quickly told about her fall into America, her meeting with Humpy and_the strange manner in_which he had_been wished to life . but as_the Scooters had never heard of America, nor of amoving picture dummy, her story was not at all clear to_them . and when she went on to explain that crossing the river on_the water bridge and getting her feet wet would give her a cold, they were more astonished than ever .

"Couldn't you carry her across ? " asked Humpy, as_they stood arguing excitedly together ."I don't mind the water myself and am quite used to floating and falling, but Dorothy

" ever try a water fall ? " interrupted Mouldy inquisitively .

" let's take her across, boys ! " called Flub Blub before Humpy had a chance to answer ." come along princess little girl and Mr dummy ! " with hoarse shouts the Scooters stretched their long arms .a dozen seized upon Humpy and, holding him awkwardly between_them, started scooting across the river . Dorothy, standing precariously on Flub Blub's right foot and balanced by Mouldy's left arm, fairly raced over the waters between_the two rivermen . their sails flapped merrily in_the wind and_the spray from their long ski- like feet spread out like white wings behind .

" won't Ozma and Betsy be surprised when I tell them about_this ! " thought Dorothy as_they neared the opposite bank . little did Dorothy guess of_the strange happenings Ozma and_the others would soon have to relate to her !

" better stay with_us and learn to scoot," advised Flub Blub, seeing the smile on Dorothy's face .

"Ah what_is more brave

than a life on_the wave !

no care and no trouble,

life goes like a bubble ! "

the scooter waved his arm jovially, as he recited the couplet .

" but what do_you eat ? " inquired Dorothy . she had_been puzzling over this for some_time .

" water cress, water melons and fish," answered Flub Blub, without slackening his speed .

" raw fish ? " asked Dorothy, with a little gasp .

" well, rawther," giggled another scooter just behind them ." raw fish make_the sails grow . stay in_the water little girl and you'll soon have a fine pair of sails ."

" that's right," added Flub Blub approvingly .Removing his bubble pipe he continued earnestly, " fish will make your feet grow too . eat fish, my dear, and grow a beautiful pair like mine ! "

Dorothy looked down at_the scooter's long feet and shuddered ." that settles it," she whispered, with a little shiver ."I'll never eat fish ! "

they had now reached the opposite side of_the river .Thanking the Scooters for their kindness and bidding them an affectionate farewell, the little girl scampered quickly up the bank .Humpy and already been tossed ashore .

" good-bye ! " shouted the Scooters, cheerfully waving their sails . they were in mid- stream by_this_time .

" good-bye ! " called Dorothy and Humpy, picking himself up clumsily, waved his crown .

"Ah, still the same size I_see," smiled Humpy, looking amiably at Dorothy ." any more adventures coming ? "

" well, I liked that one," chuckled Dorothy, pulling up her stockings and straightening her hat ."Didn't you ? "

Humpy nodded, his eyes wandering over the fields and hills, spreading out invitingly before them ." is_this the way to your palace ? " he demanded, throwing his cloak back over one shoulder and waving his stick ahead .

" it's not my palace," explained Dorothy, taking his arm, " it's Ozma's . she is_the queen of Oz, you_know, but I_have the dearest little apartment there, with a hundred fairy tale books, a hundred games, a hundred dresses, a dog named Toto and a little white kitten ."

" well, I_hope your dog won't chew me," said Humpy uneasily ." i_was in a picture with a dog once . he_was supposed to knock me down . well, he_did and, before_they could pull him away he had chewed off my

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