Oz 19: The Lost King of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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my ear and eaten up my wig .I hate dogs ."

" but Toto's only a little dog, you'll just love Toto," Dorothy assured him quickly .

Humpy still looked doubtful and, seeing that dogs made him unhappy, Dorothy began telling him all about_the Scarecrow and Scraps .Chatting pleasantly, they walked along for more than an hour, when Humpy, ever on_the lookout for adventures, gave Dorothy's arm a quick jerk .Moving slowly behind a thin fringe of trees to_the right was a great gray shadow . as_they stopped, the shadow stopped too and out through_the trees something that looked like a long grey snake came curiously curling .

" run ! " puffed the valiant dummy ." run, Dorothy ! this_is my part of_the show for_it can't bite me ! "

Raising his stick, Humpy brought it down sharply on_the thick gray body . there_was an enraged snort and snuffle in_the bushes . then, before Dorothy could run or Humpy could use his stick again, a perfectly enormous elephant came charging out between_the trees . his sides were heaving with rage and_his tusks were trembling with temper .

" who hit me ? " screamed the elephant, lashing about furiously with_his trunk ."I'll mash him, I'll crash him ! Ah hah ! " his little eyes snapped wickedly as_they fell upon Humpy's stick . the next instant the great beast had seized the dummy in_his trunk and flung him fifty feet into_the air . then, pausing to straighten his pearl head- piece, he glared indignantly at Dorothy . there_is only_one elephant in Oz who_is elegant enough to own a headband of pearls and, with a little shriek of surprise and recognition, Dorothy ran forward just in_time to save Humpy from another toss in_the air .

" why Kabumpo ! " cried the little girl in delight ." wait ! wait a minute ! " the elegant elephant, after a quick look at_the little girl, snatched a huge silk hanky from a pocket in_his robe and blew his trunk violently .

" well, I'll be blowed if_it isn't Dorothy," wheezed Kabumpo, half-choked between embarrassment and surprise ." what brings you here ? "

just as he spoke he caught another glimpse of Humpy, who had risen and was advancing unsteadily ." excuse me until I mash that idiot," he roared .

"Oh please don't mash him," begged Dorothy in alarm ." you_see he's only a dummy and he didn't mean to hit you . besides he's a friend of_mine ."

Kabumpo swayed uncertainly for a moment and then stuffed his handkerchief back into his pocket ." well, nobody but a dummy would hit an elephant on_the trunk . why have such dumb friends ? " he asked sulkily .

as quickly as she_could, Dorothy explained her strange meeting with_the dummy, his coming to life and her curious adventures since . it_was such an amazing story that Kabumpo now regarded Humpy with more interest than anger . Dorothy, seeing that_the dummy still thought her in danger, hastily took away his stick and introduced him . to_the elegant elephant .

Kabumpo, you_know, belongs to_the royal family of Pumperdink, a cozy old- fashioned country in_the Gilliken country, and he_is one_of_the chief ornaments of_its court and a prime favorite of Pompadore, the young prince . he has a suite of rooms in_the palace, and more jewels and embroidered robes than any_other elephant in all of Oz .

once upon a time Kabumpo had helped Pompa save Peg Amy, an enchanted princess, from a dreadful old wizard named Glegg . this little princess had afterwards married the prince of Pumperdink and it_was on_this adventure that Dorothy had first met the elegant elephant .

" but why did he throw me away ? " asked Humpy suspiciously, when Dorothy had told him all that I_have just told you .

"I'll throw you away every time you hit me, so you'd better get that through your head at once," trumpeted Kabumpo indignantly .

" well, just so you don't throw Dorothy, it_will_be all right," sighed the dummy resignedly ."I'm quite used to being flung about, but I've never been in a picture with an elephant before ."

" this isn't a picture . it's Oz," snapped Kabumpo loftily ."Don't you_know anything at all ? "

"Ah, don't quarrel," begged Dorothy anxiously ." tell me about Pompa and Peg Amy, Kabumpo, and how's everything in Pumperdink ? "

" well," mused the elegant elephant, taking out his handkerchief again and mopping his forehead thoughtfully, " things are kinda slow . since Pompa married Peg there's been no excitement at all . fact is," admitted Kabumpo confidentially, " i_was just on my way to_the emerald city to_see whether I_could stir up a little fun ."

" why so are we ! " cried Dorothy in delight ." let's all go together .Oh Kabumpo, won't that be fun ? "

the elegant elephant looked dubiously at_the dummy ." well, so_long as_you're going in_the same direction you_might as_well ride on my back," he remarked carelessly . then, winding his trunk about Dorothy Kabumpo, under his pompous manner, was really a kind-hearted old fellow] he set the little girl aloft and, snatching up the dummy, he tossed him recklessly over his shoulder .

with a blast from_his trunk like a steamboat whistle, Kabumpo got under way, plunging ahead so swiftly that Dorothy and Humpy had all they_could do to_keep their seats .

"Isn't this fun ? " called Dorothy, holding fast to_the elegant elephant's great ear .

" is_it ? " inquired the dummy, clinging desperately to Kabumpo's jewelled harness and fluttering up and down like a banner at each step ." so this_is fun ? Ah, how fast I_am learning ."

chapter 13

snip Meets the Blanks

on_the night before Ozma received the mysterious warning, snip and Mombi - as_we well know - were making their way through_the deep forest on_the other side of Catty Corners . each step was growing harder and harder for_the weary little button boy .Holding the great goose in_his arms, he staggered along, guided by_the flicker of Mombi's lantern, stumbling over roots, brushing against trees and shivering with_the clammy chill of midnight . the old witch seemed positively tireless and snip had about decided he_could go no further, when she stopped suddenly beside a rough stone well .

" snip," wheezed Mombi craftily, "I'm thirsty . now you're younger than I_am . just get me a drink, will_you ? " her voice was so pleasant that snip unsuspectingly set Pajuka on_the ground and peered down into_the dark depths of_the well, while Mombi held the lantern . there_was a chain at_the side and, grasping it in both hands, snip leaned over and began to haul up the bucket .

this_was the chance Mombi had_been waiting for all evening and, seizing snip by_the heels, she heartlessly tumbled him into_the well . her wicked shout of triumph and snip's shrill outcry awakened Pajuka .Fluttering into_the air, he_made a great snatch at_the disappearing little button boy .

snip, on_his part, clutching desperately at_the rough stones to save himself, caught instead a handful of goose feathers and went plunging down into_the dreadful darkness . down, down, down he fell, like a lump of lead, to_the very bottom . with eyes shut tight and clenched fists, snip waited for_the terrible bump that should end his fall . but instead of a bump, there_was a soft thud and bounce and he_found himself wedged fast in a padded bucket . the jar set the bucket in motion and for a moment snip thought it_was going to shoot up_to_the top again . instead it began to move sideways, for opening out from_the bottom of_the well was a long, damp passageway, and_the bucket swinging on a heavy cable shot rapidly along through_this underground tunnel .

it_was too dark for snip to_see but, stretching his arms carefully, he_felt the walls above and at_the side . clearly the old witch had meant to destroy him, so she_could work out her wicked plans undisturbed ." but maybe," whispered poor snip, crouching low to_keep from bumping his head, " maybe I_can get out after all and manage to reach the emerald city first and warn Ozma of Mombi's treachery . then surely Ozma will help me find Pajuka and she, herself, can hunt for_the lost king ."

it_was a long and terrible ride, and many_times snip's heart thumped so loudly that_it drowned out the creak of_the straining cable . where under the earth was he going ? would the flying bucket never stop ? just as he_was losing his courage entirely, snip saw a star . the bucket had come to_the end of_the tunnel and was shooting up another well as swiftly as snip had fallen down the first one . almost as_soon_as he_made this joyful discovery, the bucket reached the top, spilled him carelessly over the edge and dropped back with a hollow ring to_the bottom .

for several minutes snip lay where he had fallen, too shaken and breathless to care where he_was . then, rolling over, he looke anxiously around . in_the faint starlight, not much was visible . he_seemed to_be in a small orchard and just beyond the trees he could_see the dim outlines of a strange city .Satisfying himself that no immediate danger threatened and too weary to_go another step, the worn- out little adventurer flung himself down beside the well and was soon fast asleep .

it_was morning and nearly nine o'clock when he_was awakened by_the sound of hurrying foot-steps and shrill cries .

" he has freckles," screamed the first voice .

" his nose turns up," shouted the second .

" who threw him in_our well ? " demanded a third fretfully ." is he welcome or is he not ? "

" not ! " boomed the voices altogether .

" take his hat, get his buttons ! " growled a deep bass voice . at_this the steps pattered so close that snip rolled over and sat up, confronting as he_did so the very oddest company he had ever seen . for_one unbelievable second he stared, thinking he_must still be asleep and dreaming . the company on their part regarded him with blank looks . and no wonder . they had_not a face among them !

" if_it were people without clothes i_should say they were savages," gasped snip, " but clothes, without people ! Whew ! " Leaping to_his feet, he turned toward the town and ran as_if for_his life .

Screaming furiously, the Blanks started in pursuit . now to look over your shoulder and_see a collection of suits, hats, shoes and gloves, all in their proper places upon perfectly invisible wearers, chasing after you is a fearsome business, and as_they came nearer and nearer snip fairly stepped upon his own toes in_his hurry to escape .

" how dare you show your face around here ? " raged the leader, brandishing with an invisible hand adreadfully visible and dangerous looking umbrella ."Don't you_know it's against the law to show your face in Blankenburg ? "

"I- can't- help- it ! " panted snip and then as_the terrible crowd began to gain on him, he reached in_his pockets, seized a handful of buttons and flung them wildly over his shoulder . when he dared to look back again, the Blanks were quarreling bitterly over the buttons .

Taking advantage of_their greediness, snip lunged into_the town, entered the first house he_came to and slammed the door . at first he thought the great dim room was empty but he finally made out an old man with silver hair and beard sitting cross-legged on a long table at_the back window . he_was stitching solemnly upon a red velvet cloak and looked so kind and gentle that snip promptly burst into an account of_his troubles . but to_his dismay, the tailor went calmly on with_his work, never glancing up at all . snip could hear the Blanks clattering over the paving stones so, rushing forward, he shook the old man desperately by_the sleeve .

with a start that sent his spectacles flying across the shop, the tailor leaped to_his feet ."A boy ! " he stuttered, seizing snip by_the shoulders ." why, how did you get here ? no, don't tell me now for I couldn't hear you if you_did . you_see my ears have flown off and we'll have to wait till they return .a boy ! bless my heart, yours is_the first face I've seen in years and years ."

in growing amazement and alarm, snip waved toward the window . with a quick nod, the tailor swept him into a big cupboard ." they shan't have_you," declared the old man determinedly and, when a moment later the Blanks rushed into_the shop, he shook his head crossly at all of_their threats and inquiries .

" can't you_see my ears are off ? " he mumbled fretfully ." whom do_you_want ? what_are you screeching about ? "

the Blanks cried loudly that_they were searching for a boy, but the tailor pretended not to understand and, after poking about_the shop a bit, they finally took themselves off . snip, who had one eye glued to_the cupboard door, saw them streaming into_the street, their plumed hats trembling with indignation, their buckled shoes twinkling with_the speed of_their invisible feet .

as_the last blank turned the corner, there_was awhirr in_the air and in through_the window flashed two butterflies . but were they butterflies ? next instant they had fluttered over and attached themselves to_the old tailor's head .

" not butterflies, but butterfly ears ! " gasped snip, falling headlong from_the cupboard with_the shock of_the thing .

" it's all right," smiled the tailor, adjusting the ears quickly and looking kindly over at snip ." and dear, dear, what a strange story my left ear is telling me ! "

" do your .ears tell you stories ? " asked snip, forgetting his own troubles for a moment .

" yes . the left one tells me that an elephant has run off with a little girl," mused the tailor, wiping his specs ." fancy that, now ! "

snip could hear

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