Oz 13: The Magic of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17]
to_find a bed to rest in . but the beasts are better than_the people, and why should they not have all the good things the people have ? so I propose that before_the Oz people have the time to_make all those ropes to snare you with, that all we beasts get together and march against the Oz people and capture them . then the beasts will become the masters and_the people their slaves ."

" what good would that_do us ? " asked Bru the bear .

" it would save you from slavery, for_one_thing, and you_could enjoy all the fine things of Oz people have ."

"Beasts wouldn't know what to_do with_the things people use," said the gray Ape .

" but this_is only part of_my plan," insisted the Nome ." listen to_the rest of it . we two LI-Mon-Eags are powerful magicians . when_you have conquered the Oz people we_will transform them all into beasts, and send_them to_the forests to live, and we_will transform all the beasts into people, so they_can enjoy all the wonderful delights of_the emerald city ."

for a moment no beast spoke . then the king said: " prove it ."

" prove what ? " asked Ruggedo .

" prove that you_can transform us . if_you_are a magician transform the unicorn into a man . then we_will believe you . if_you fail, we_will destroy you ."

" all right," said the Nome ." but I'm tired, so I'll let my comrade make_the transformation ."

Kiki Aru had stood back from_the circle, but he had heard all that was said . he now realized that he_must make good Ruggedo's boast, so he retreated to_the edge of_the clearing and whispered the magic word .

instantly the unicorn became a fat, chubby little man, dressed in_the purple Gillikin costume, and it_was hard to_tell which_was the more astonished, the king, the bear, the Ape or the former unicorn .

" it's true ! " shorted the man- beast ." good gracious, look what I_am ! it's wonderful ! "

the king of Beasts now addressed Ruggedo in a more friendly tone .

" we_must believe your story, since you_have given us proof of your power," said he ." but why, if_you_are so great a magician, cannot you conquer the Oz people without our help, and so save us the trouble ? "

" alas ! " replied the crafty old Nome, " no magician is able to_do everything . the transformations are easy to_us because we_are LI-Mon-Eags, but we_cannot fight, or conquer even such weak creatures as_the Oz people . but we_will stay with_you and advise and help_you, and we_will transform all the Oz people into beasts, when_the time comes, and all the beasts into people ."

Gugu the king turned to_his Counselors .

" how shall we answer this friendly stranger ? " he asked .

Loo the former unicorn was dancing around and cutting capers like a clown .

" on my word, your majesty," he_said, " this being a man is more fun than being a unicorn ."

" you look like a fool," said the gray Ape .

" well, I_feel fine ! " declared the man- beast .

" i_think I prefer to_be a bear," said big Bru ." i_was born a bear, and I_know a bear's ways . so I_am satisfied to live as a bear lives ."

" that," said the old Nome, " is because you_know nothing better . when we_have conquered the Oz people, and you become a man, you'll be_glad of it ."

the immense leopard rested his chin on_the log and seemed thoughtful .

" the beasts of_the forest must decide this_matter for themselves," he_said ." go you, Rango the gray Ape, and tell your monkey tribe to order all the forest beasts to assemble in_the great Clearing at sunrise to- morrow . when all are gathered together, this mixed- up beast who_is a magician shall talk to_them and tell them what he has told us . then, if_they decide to fight the Oz people, who_have declared war on us, i_will lead the beasts to battle ."

Rango the gray Ape turned at once and glided swiftly through_the forest on_his mission . the bear gave a grunt and walked away .Gugu the king rose and stretched himself . then he_said to Ruggedo: " meet us at sunrise to- morrow," and with stately stride vanished among_the trees .

the man- unicorn, left alone with_the strangers, suddenly stopped his foolish prancing .

" you'd better make me a unicorn again," he_said ."I like being a man, but the forest beasts won't know I'm their friend, Loo, and they_might tear me in pieces before morning ."

so Kiki changed him back to_his former shape, and_the unicorn departed to join his people .

Ruggedo the Nome was much pleased with_his success .

" to- morrow," he_said to Kiki Aru, " we'll win over these beasts and set them to fight and conquer the Oz people . then i_will_have my revenge on Ozma and Dorothy and all the rest of_my enemies ."

" but I_am doing all the work," said Kiki .

" never mind; you're going to_be king of Oz," promised Ruggedo .

" will the big leopard let me be king ? " asked the boy anxiously .

the Nome came close to him and whispered:

" if Gugu the leopard opposes us, you_will transform him into a tree, and then he_will_be helpless ."

" of_course," agreed Kiki, and he_said to himself: " I_shall also transform this deceitful Nome into a tree, for he lies and I_cannot trust him ."

9 . the isle of_the magic flower

the glass Cat was a good guide and led trot and Cap'n bill by straight and easy paths through all the settled part of_the Munchkin country, and then into_the north section where there were few houses, and finally through a wild country where there were no houses or paths at all . but the walking was not difficult and at last they came to_the edge of a forest and stopped there to_make camp and sleep until morning .

from branches of trees Cap'n bill made a tiny house that was just big enough for_the little girl to crawl into and lie down . but first they ate some_of_the food trot had carried in_the basket .

"Don't you_want some, too ? " she asked the glass Cat .

" no," answered the creature .

"I suppose you'll hunt around an' catch a mouse," remarked Cap'n bill .

" me ? catch a mouse ! why should I do_that ? " inquired the glass Cat .

" why, then you_could eat it," said the sailor- man .

"I beg to inform you," returned the crystal tabby, " that I_do_not eat mice . being transparent, so anyone can_see through me, I'd look nice, wouldn't I, with a common mouse inside me ? but the fact is_that I haven't any stomach or other machinery that_would permit me to eat things . the careless magician who_made me didn't think I'd need to eat, I suppose ."

"Don't you ever get hungry or thirsty ? " asked trot .

" never .I don't complain, you_know, at_the way I'm made, for I've never yet seen any living thing as beautiful as I_am . I_have the handsomest brains in_the_world . they're pink, and you_can see 'em work ."

"I wonder," said trot thoughtfully, as she ate her bread and jam, " if_my brains whirl around in_the same way yours do ."

" no; not the same way, surely," returned the glass Cat; " for, in_that case, they'd be as good as my brains, except that_they're hidden under a thick, boney skull ."

"Brains," remarked Cap'n bill, " is of all kinds and work different ways . but I've noticed that them as thinks that their brains is best is often mistook ."

trot was a little disturbed by sounds from_the forest, that night, for many beasts seemed prowling among_the trees, but she was confident Cap'n bill would protect her from harm . and in_fact, no beast ventured from_the forest to attack them .

at daybreak they were up again, and after a simple breakfast Cap'n bill said to_the glass Cat:

" up anchor, mate, and let's forge ahead .I don't suppose we're far from_that magic flower, are we ? "

" not far," answered the transparent one, as it led the way into_the forest, " but it may take you some_time to_get to_it ."

before long they reached the bank of a river . it_was not very wide, at_this place, but as_they followed the banks in a northerly direction it gradually broadened .

suddenly the blue- green leaves of_the trees changed to a purple hue, and trot noticed this and said:

"I wonder what made the colors change like that ? "

" it's because we_have left the Munchkin country and entered the Gillikin country," explained the glass Cat ." also it's a sign our journey is nearly ended ."

the river made a sudden turn, and after_the travelers had passed around the bend, they saw that_the stream had now become as broad as a small lake, and in_the center of_the lake they beheld a little island, not more than fifty feet in extent, either way . something glittered in_the middle of_this tiny island, and_the glass Cat paused on_the bank and said:

" there_is the gold flower- pot containing the magic flower, which_is very curious and beautiful . if you_can_get to_the island, your task is ended-- except to carry the thing home with_you ."

Cap'n bill looked at_the broad expanse of water and began to whistle a low, quavering tune . trot knew that_the whistle meant that Cap'n bill was thinking, and_the old sailor didn't look at_the island as_much as he looked at_the trees upon_the bank where they stood . presently he_took from_the big pocket of_his coat an axe- blade, wound in an old cloth to_keep the sharp edge from cutting his clothing . then, with a large pocket knife, he cut a small limb from a tree and whittled it into a handle for_his axe .

" sit down, trot," he advised the girl, as he worked ."I've got quite a job ahead of me now, for I've got to build us a raft ."

" what do we_need a raft for, Cap'n ? "

" why, to_take us to_the island . we_can't walk under water, in_the river bed, as_the glass Cat did, so we_must float atop the water ."

" can_you make a raft, Cap'n bill ? "

"O' course, trot, if_you_give me time ."

the little girl sat down on a log and gazed at_the island of_the magic flower . nothing else seemed to grow on_the tiny isle . there_was no tree, no shrub, no grass, even, as far as she_could make out from_that distance . but the gold pot glittered in_the rays of_the sun, and trot could catch glimpses of glowing colors above it, as_the magic flower changed from one sort to another .

" when i_was here before," remarked the glass Cat, lazily reclining at_the girl's feet, " I_saw two Kalidahs on_this very bank, where they had come to drink ."

" what_are Kalidahs ? " asked the girl .

" the most powerful and ferocious beasts in all Oz . this forest is their especial home, and so there_are few other beasts to_be found except monkeys . the monkeys are spry enough to_keep out_of_the way of_the fierce Kalidahs, which attack all other animals and often fight among themselves ."

" did they try to fight you when_you saw 'em ? " asked trot, getting very_much excited .

" yes . they sprang upon me in an instant; but I lay flat on_the ground, so I wouldn't get my legs broken by_the great weight of_the beasts, and when_they tried to bite me I laughed at them and jeered them until they were frantic with rage, for they nearly broke their teeth on my hard glass . so, after a time, they discovered they_could_not hurt me, and went away . it_was great fun ."

" I_hope they don't come here again to drink,-- not while we're here, anyhow," returned the girl, " for I'm not made of glass, nor is Cap'n bill, and if those bad beasts bit us, we'd get hurt ."

Cap'n bill was cutting from_the trees some long stakes, making them sharp at one end and leaving acrotch at_the other end . these were to bind the logs of_his raft together . he had fashioned several and was just finishing another when_the glass Cat cried: " look out ! there's aKalidah coming toward us ."

trot jumped up, greatly frightened, and looked at_the terrible animal as_if fascinated by its fierce eyes, for_the Kalidah was looking at her, too, and its look wasn't at all friendly . but Cap'n bill called to her: " wade into_the river, trot, up_to your knees-- an' stay there ! " and she obeyed him at once . the sailor- man hobbled forward, the stake in one hand and_his axe in_the other, and got between_the girl and_the beast, which sprang upon him with a growl of Defiance .

Cap'n bill moved pretty slowly, sometimes, but now he_was quick as could_be . as_the Kalidah sprang toward him he stuck out his wooden leg and_the point of it struck the beast between_the eyes and sent it rolling upon_the ground . before it could get upon its feet again the sailor pushed the sharp stake right through_its body and then with_the flat side of_the axe he hammered the stake as far into_the ground as it would go . by this_means he captured the great beast and made it harmless, for try as it would, it could_not get away from_the stake that held it .

Cap'n bill knew he_could_not kill the Kalidah, for no living thing in Oz can_be killed, so he stood back and watched the beast wriggle and growl and paw the earth with its sharp claws, and then,

Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17]