Oz 19: The Lost King of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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two trees . he had followed them without a sound and now, snatching Humpy from_the clutches of_the old witch, placed him carefully upon his back .

with a cry of rage, Mombi tried to_get away, but Kabumpo was too quick for her .Seizing the witch in_his trunk and shaking her to and fro like a rattle, he ran trumpeting back to_the others . they had just discovered Humpy's absence and Pajuka with a hoarse shriek came flying toward the elegant elephant .

" she was trying to steal the king ! " panted Kabumpo indignantly ." shall I throw her over the mountain or step on her ? "

" step on her," commanded the dummy, extending two fingers of_his right hand as he had seen kings in_the movies do time and time again .Mombi gave a terrible screech and Dorothy and snip looked uneasily at one another .

" the king has spoken," honked Pajuka, settling down gravely beside the dummy, " therefore let the sentence be carried out ."

Dorothy closed her eyes and clung to snip, but just then, the calm voice of_the tailor intervened .

" your highness," began Tora gravely, " as_this woman is_the only_one in Oz who_can restore you to your proper self, do_you_think this step a wise one ? "'

the tailor's ears fluttered anxiously as he waited for_the king's decision . for an instant Humpy looked doubtfully at Mombi, then with a sigh lowered his fingers ." perhaps it would_be a rash step," he admitted regretfully .

" well, some steps must_be taken," honked Pajuka angrily ." are we to_put up with_this treachery forever ? "

" no, just until she restores the king," answered Tora mildly .

" then I_shall step on her," promised Kabumpo, giving Mombi another shake .

" that's right," said Dorothy, glad_to_have the dreadful business delayed ."Mombi must first restore the king ."

"I'll not do_it without a reward," screamed the witch defiantly ." do I get a reward or not ? "

the others were silent but Humpy, again extending his fingers, announced grandly, " you shall be rewarded as_you deserve ! " he winked at Pajuka as he_said this, but Mombi apparently was satisfied and stopped squirming .

" well, I_can't do_it here," she muttered sulkily ." the transformation was_made near the emerald city and_the enchantment cannot he broken until we reach the green country ."

" then let's go on to_the emerald city," proposed Dorothy eagerly . once there, reflected the little girl, Ozma herself could settle the whole troublesome business . somehow Dorothy could_not imagine Oz without the little fairy as its queen, and while she was glad indeed to_have found the lost king, she_could_not get used to_the idea of Humpy on_the throne and administering affairs in Oz .

Humpy, himself, was enjoying it all tremendously . he remembered nothing of_his past, it_is true, but the present was sufficiently interesting and exciting to_make up for everything .

" on to_the emerald city ! " he commanded, pompously waving his arms .

"I hear and I obey, your majesty," wheezed Kabumpo, and hardly giving the two children and_the old tailor time to climb aboard, he_was off, still holding Mombi fast in_his trunk .

" but what about_the mountain ? " asked snip, as it loomed up suddenly ahead .

" watch," called Pajuka and while Kabumpo swayed uncertainly before it, he flew straight through_the wall of rocks . like many another mountain when_you come right to_it, this_was no mountain at all only a shadow mountain .

" no wonder Mombi could walk through," sighed snip, greatly relieved that_the witch had_not recovered her magic powers .

chapter 17

Mombi's magic

the thoughts of_the little company, as_they sped toward the emerald city, were many and varied .Mombi, suspended precariously in Kabumpo's trunk, smiled darkly to herself, for Mombi, as usual, had a plan to outwit her enemies . she_could_not remember changing the king to a dummy at all, and had at first doubted that Humpy really was_the king, but when she had read upon his collar the forgotten green magic formula, even Mombi was convinced . all that was now necessary to dispel the enchantment was to reach the emerald city .

" once there, I'll show them," the old witch chuckled wickedly to herself, as she thought of what would happen then .

Pajuka, looking at_the stuffed king beside him, was wondering sadly whether he and_his royal master would ever be quite the same, whether the good old Oz days they had enjoyed together would ever return again .Fluttering his wings, and keeping his balance with difficulty, the poor goose dreamed longingly of_the comfortable chairs in_the old hunting lodge, of_his pipe and_his smoking jacket with sixteen pockets .

snip was trying to puzzle out how the king had ever fallen into California, how Tora had got his strange ears, how Pajuka would look as a man and how Ozma would like giving up the throne to her father .

Tora, holding fast to_his precious ears, had closed his eyes and begun to_plan a blue suit for snip and a velvet cloak for Dorothy . he had taken a great fancy to_the little girl ." let the other fellows worry about_this king," thought the tailor with a tired sigh .

Dorothy, for her part, was trying to imagine what would happen when_they reached the capitol . she felt sure Mombi meant some mischief but, comforting herself with_the thought of sir Hokus of Pokes and_the other brave inhabitants of_the castle, she finally stopped worrying and began to wonder how Humpy would look when he_was changed to himself and what would become of her apartment in_the palace . it_was all so strange and confusing that Dorothy could hardly wait to_see how it would turn out, and watched anxiously for_the first sight of_the green towers and spires of Ozma's palace .

Humpy was too busy holding on to_his crown and to Kabumpo to_think of anything, but the elegant elephant was busily considering the appearance he_would make at_the king's coronation ."I'll just have that old tailor cut me a white velvet robe," decided Kabumpo importantly ."I'll wear my pearls and a satin bow on my tail and

just then, snip gave a little scream of delight, for, spreading out suddenly before them like a picture from fairyland itself, was_the enchanting emerald city of Oz . its lacy turrets and spires sparkled with emeralds, its marble streets glowed with_the same precious stones . the air was sweet with roses and honeysuckle and everywhere were flowering parks and tree lined avenues .

Humpy, Pajuka, snip and_the tailor were simply stunned by_the magnificence of_the capitol, but to Dorothy, Mombi and Kabumpo, the emerald city was an old story . accustomed to its beauty and familiar with its grandeur, they scarcely gave it a second glance . many_of_the town's people, recognizing Dorothy, waved cheerfully as_they passed and all too soon for snip, who could_have ridden up and down its enchanted streets all day, the elegant elephant charged into_the royal park and approached the palace of Emeralds itself .

" master," choked the goose, touching Humpy tremulously with_his wing, " our castle was never so fine as_this . to_think that all of_this belongs to_you ! " Pajuka stretched his neck exultantly ."I wonder if there's a pipe anywhere in_the castle ? " he puffed suddenly .

" you_shall_have twenty pipes, my good goose ! " promised the dummy ." everybody shall_have a pipe ! "

Dorothy and snip giggled a little at_this . then, as Kabumpo stepped upon_the broad portico, Pajuka, remembering Mombi's past threats, began to scream hoarsely, " the witch-don't let her go, don't let her go, whatever you_do ! she'll steal Ozma's magic and destroy us all . hold on to Mombi ! "

Kabumpo had_been on_the point of dropping the old woman so he_could pull the jewelled bell rope, but at Pajuka's warning he tightened his grip .

" pray alight, Dorothy, and announce his majesty ! " puffed the elegant elephant, forgetting that not more than an hour ago he had called the king a piece of a night shirt . Dorothy and snip slid down together and, both seizing the rope, set it to jingling merrily .

" won't they be surprised," murmured Dorothy, looking over her shoulder at Kabumpo and_his strange passengers ." won't they be surprised when_they see who_is here ? but why don't they_come to_the door ? "

why indeed ? for_the very simple reason, that there_was no one to_come- not even the cook's boy . for_that morning, Jellia Jamb, Ozma's small serving maid, looking from_the castle window, had seen her mistress and_the little group who were with her in_the garden vanish before her eyes .Rushing frantically through_the palace, she spread the dire news, and immediately the entire household had set out to_find the lost ones- the entire household from_the tallest courtier to_the tiniest page .Tik Tok might_have enlightened them, but the machine man had run down . no one thought to wind him up and even Tik Tok did_not know that Ozma and her friends had gone to morrow .

in puzzled dismay, Dorothy pressed her nose to_the diamond panes in_the door . then, seeing that_the great hall was empty, she tried the knob . in their excitement the searchers had left the door unlocked and, with a little exclamation of surprise, Dorothy opened it and motioned for Kabumpo to_follow with_his passengers .

Kabumpo was bitterly disappointed that there_was no one to witness his grand entry with_the king and, when_they reached the throne room itself without encountering anyone, he looked positively crestfallen ."A fine welcome for_his highness ! " he grunted irritably ." where is_the court ? where are the attendants .a thing like this_would never have happened in Pumperdink ! "

"Ha, ha ! " croaked Mombi maliciously, but subsided at once when_the elegant elephant gave her a shake .Pajuka and Tora had alighted with snip and all were staring about_the beautiful room in admiration .

but Kabumpo was still angry ." is_this tailor to_be admitted to_the presence ? " he demanded loftily, fixing his eyes upon Tora's shabby suit ." in Pumperdink such things are_not done ."

Dorothy was too worried over the strange silence in_the castle to bother with Kabumpo's saucy speeches, but the dummy, falling head- long from_the elegant elephant's back, put his arm affectionately through Tora's .

Humpy waved Kabumpo aside and pulled the old tailor to a seat beside him .Tora shoved his spectacles up on_his forehead and looked gravely at_the pompous dummy .

" let him stay by all means," said Humpy condescendingly ." every king must_have his tailor and he's mine . besides, has anyone else in_this room flying ears, i_want to_know ? "

" well, I prefer my ears on," grunted the elegant elephant disdainfully .

"I'm glad they're on you," sniffed Pajuka . he_felt unaccountably drawn to_the gentle old tailor, but Tora himself was too taken up with_his splendid surroundings to mind Kabumpo's remarks . just then Humpy, catching sight of_the glittering emerald throne, let go of_the tailor's arm and started running across the room . the others gave little heed, for certainly it_was right and fitting for_the king to occupy his proper place in_the palace .

Mombi, seeing the dummy's move, fairly trembled with excitement . without being at all aware of it, Humpy was playing directly into her hands and as he sank down upon_the throne the witch gave a shriek of triumph .Held fast through she was in Kabumpo's trunk, her arms were still free .Beginning with snip and going on to Dorothy, Mombi began to count, " one- two- three-four-five-six-seven ! "

at seven her finger pointed to Pajuka, whose every feather stood erect with terror .Snatching two buttons from Kabumpo's robe, Mombi popped them into her mouth and shouted the magic formula on_the dummy's collar ."202 B E-10 B-4 7," ran the number, but as Mombi said it, it sounded like this, " two ought_to_be eaten before seven ."

that done, Mombi glared at_the king ."I command you to assume your proper form," she screamed .

well, surely nothing could_have_been worse than_the next happening . with agrinding, crashing suddenness, the palace began to sink, gaining speed as it went . down, down, down, till the windows and doorways were blotted out with earth and mud and_the whole company lost in_the choke of utter and awful darkness . of all the screams in_the room, Mombi's was loudest . never in her darkest imaginings had Mombi anticipated anything like this ! what unknown and dreadful magic had she set in motion ?

chapter 18

Ozma's odd home-Coming

while the dummy king and_his friends were making their way to_the emerald city from_the north, Ozma and her faithful followers were plodding wearily up from_the south through a lonely section of_the Quadling country . the red house in_the hunting park had_been totally deserted but the Scarecrow, climbing an old windmill nearby, had seen dimly through_the tree tops the glittering spires of_the capitol .Considerably cheered therefore, the little party had continued its journey home .

at about_the_time Kabumpo was making his grand entry into_the city, Scraps, turning to ask sir Hokus a question, noticed that_the knight was fidgeting about in an extremely odd and alarming manner . they were a bit ahead of_the others and for a time Scraps regarded her companion with her head on one side . but silence is_not one_of_the patch work girl's strong points and as_the knight continued to squirm and bounce, she stopped short in_the road .

" why do_you jump from side to side and rattle about like a salt shaker ? have_you fleas ? " inquired Scraps, looking sharply at sir Hokus ." is_there an ant in your armor, or what ? "

" something- something's tickling me," confessed the knight, wriggling his shoulders desperately ." something like- like a sparrow .Ouch ! " gasped sir Hokus, giving himself a shake that unfastened the top buckle of_his mailed shirt .

at sir Hokus' cry, Scraps, too, gave a startled shriek, for out_of_the knight's shirt sped the golden goose feather he had tucked there for safe-keeping . before either of_them had recovered from their surprise it poised in_the air and began to write furiously on_the knight's burnished shield, while Scraps and sir Hokus watched breathlessly .

" the king of Oz is in_the palace," announced the feather with a flourish, then

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