Oz 13: The Magic of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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get too disagreeable, you'll drive me away before I finish this incantation ."

trot kept quiet, after_the rebuke, and_the duck resumed the quacky muttering .Cap'n bill chuckled a little to himself and remarked to trot in a whisper: " for a bird that ain't got anything to_do, this lonesome duck is makin' consider'ble fuss . an' I ain't sure, after all, as toadstools would_be worth sittin' on ."

even as he spoke, the sailor- man felt something touch him from behind and, turning his head, he_found a big toadstool in just the right place and of just the right size to sit upon . there_was one behind trot, too, and with a cry of pleasure the little girl sank back upon it and found it a very comfortable seat-- solid, yet almost like a cushion . even Cap'n bill's weight did_not break his toadstool down, and when both were seated, they found that_the lonesome duck had waddled away and was now at_the water's edge .

" thank_you, ever so_much ! " cried trot, and_the sailor called out: " much obliged ! "

but the lonesome duck paid no attention . without even looking in their direction again, the gaudy fowl entered the water and swam gracefully away .

16 . the glass Cat Finds the black bag

when_the six monkeys were transformed by Kiki Aru into six giant soldiers fifty feet tall, their heads came above the top of_the trees, which in_this part of_the forest were_not so high as in some other parts; and, although the trees were somewhat scattered, the bodies of_the giant soldiers were so big that_they quite filled the spaces in_which they stood and_the branches pressed them on every side .

of_course, Kiki was foolish to have_made his soldiers so big, for now they_could_not get out_of_the forest . indeed, they_could_not stir a step, but were imprisoned by_the trees . even had they been in_the little clearing they_could_not have_made their way out of it, but they were a little beyond the clearing . at first, the other monkeys who had_not_been enchanted were afraid of_the soldiers, and hastily quitted the place; but soon finding that_the great men stood stock still, although grunting indignantly at their transformation, the band of monkeys returned to_the spot and looked at them curiously, not guessing that_they were really monkeys and their own friends .

the soldiers couldn't see them, their heads being above the trees; they_could_not even raise their arms or draw their sharp swords, so closely were they held by_the leafy branches . so the monkeys, finding the giants helpless, began climbing up their bodies, and presently all the band were perched on_the shoulders of_the giants and peering into their faces .

"I'm Ebu, your father," cried one soldier to a monkey who had perched upon his left ear, " but some cruel person has enchanted me ."

"I'm your uncle Peeker," said another soldier to another monkey .

so, very_soon all the monkeys knew the truth and were sorry for their friends and relations and angry at_the person-- whoever it_was-- who had transformed them . there_was a great chattering among_the tree-tops, and_the noise attracted other monkeys, so that_the clearing and all the trees around were full of_them .

Rango the gray Ape, who was_the chief of all the monkey tribes of_the forest, heard the uproar and came to_see what_was wrong with_his people . and Rango, being wiser and more experienced, at once knew that_the strange magician who looked like a mixed- up beast was responsible for_the transformations . he realized that_the six giant soldiers were helpless prisoners, because of_their size, and knew he_was powerless to release them . so, although he feared to meet the terrible magician, he hurried away to_the great Clearing to_tell Gugu the king what had happened and to_try to_find the wizard of Oz and get him to save his six enchanted subjects .

Rango darted into_the great Clearing just as_the wizard had restored all the enchanted ones around him to_their proper shapes, and_the gray Ape was glad_to_hear that_the wicked magician- beast had_been conquered .

" but now, O mighty wizard, you_must come with me to where six of_my people are transformed into six great giant men," he_said, " for if_they_are allowed to remain there, their happiness and their future lives will_be ruined ."

the wizard did_not reply at once, for he_was thinking this a good opportunity to win Rango's consent to_his taking some monkeys to_the emerald city for Ozma's birthday cake .

" it_is a great thing you ask of me, O Rango the gray Ape," said he, " for_the bigger the giants are the more powerful their enchantment, and_the more difficult it_will_be to restore them to_their natural forms . however, i_will think it over ."

then the wizard went to another part of_the clearing and sat on a log and appeared to_be in deep thought .

the glass Cat had_been greatly interested in_the gray Ape's story and was curious to_see what the giant soldiers looked like .Hearing that their heads extended above the tree-tops, the glass Cat decided that if_it climbed the tall avocado tree that stood at_the side of_the clearing, it might_be able to_see the giants' heads . so, without mentioning her errand, the crystal creature went to_the tree and, by sticking her sharp glass claws in_the bark, easily climbed the tree to its very top and, looking over the forest, saw the six giant heads, although they were now a long way off . it_was, indeed, a remarkable sight, for_the huge heads had immense soldier caps on them, with red and yellow plumes and looked very fierce and terrible, although the monkey hearts of_the giants were at_that moment filled with fear .

Having satisfied her curiosity, the glass Cat began to climb down from_the tree more slowly . suddenly she discerned the wizard's black bag hanging from a limb of_the tree . she grasped the black bag in her glass teeth, and although it_was rather heavy for so small an animal, managed to_get it free and to carry it safely down to_the ground . then she looked around for_the wizard and seeing him seated upon_the stump she hid the black bag among some leaves and then went over to where the wizard sat .

"I forgot to_tell you," said the glass Cat, " that trot and Cap'n bill are in trouble, and I_came here to hunt you up and get you to_go and rescue them ."

" good gracious, Cat ! why didn't you tell me before ? " exclaimed the wizard .

" for_the reason that I_found so_much excitement here that I forgot trot and Cap'n bill ."

" what's wrong with_them ? " asked the wizard .

then the glass Cat explained how they had gone to_get the magic flower for Ozma's birthday gift and had_been trapped by_the magic of_the queer island . the wizard was really alarmed, but he shook his head and said sadly:

"I'm afraid I_can't help my dear friends, because I've lost my black bag ."

" if I_find it, will_you go to_them ? " asked the creature .

" of_course," replied the wizard ." but I_do_not_think that a glass Cat with nothing but pink brains can succeed when all the rest of us have failed ."

"Don't you admire my pink brains ? " demanded the Cat .

" they're pretty," admitted the wizard, " but they're not regular brains, you_know, and so we don't expect them to amount to much ."

" but if I_find your black bag-- and find it inside of five minutes-- will_you admit my pink brains are better than your common human brains ? "

" well, I'll admit they're better HUNTERS," said the wizard, reluctantly, " but you_can't do_it . we've searched everywhere, and_the black bag isn't to_be found ."

" that shows how_much you_know ! " retorted the glass Cat, scornfully ." watch my brains a minute, and_see them whirl around ."

the wizard watched, for he_was anxious to regain his black bag, and_the pink brains really did whirl around in a remarkable manner .

" now, come with me," commanded the glass Cat, and led the wizard straight to_the spot where it had covered the bag with leaves ."According to my brains," said the creature, " your black bag ought_to_be here ."

then it scratched at_the leaves and uncovered the bag, which the wizard promptly seized with a cry of delight . now that he had regained his magic Tools, he_felt confident he_could rescue trot and Cap'n bill .

Rango the gray Ape was getting impatient . he now approached the wizard and said:

" well, what do_you intend to_do about_those poor enchanted monkeys ? "

"I'll make a bargain with_you, Rango," replied the little man ." if_you_will let me take a dozen of your monkeys to_the emerald city, and keep them until after Ozma's birthday, I'll break the enchantment of_the six giant Soldiers and return them to_their natural forms ."

but the gray Ape shook his head .

" I_can't do_it," he declared ." the monkeys would_be very lonesome and unhappy in_the emerald city and your people would tease them and throw stones at them, which would cause them to fight and bite ."

" the people won't see them till Ozma's birthday dinner," promised the wizard ."I'll make them very_small-- about four inches high, and I'll keep them in a pretty cage in my own room, where they_will_be safe from harm .I'll feed them the nicest kind of food, train them to_do some clever tricks, and on Ozma's birthday I'll hide the twelve little monkeys inside a cake . when Ozma cuts the cake the monkeys will jump out on to_the table and do their tricks . the next_day i_will bring them back to_the forest and make them big as ever, and_they'll have some exciting stories to_tell their friends . what do_you say, Rango ? "

" I_say no ! " answered the gray Ape ."I won't have my monkeys enchanted and made to_do tricks for_the Oz people ."

" very_well," said the wizard calmly; " then I'll go . come, Dorothy," he_called to_the little girl, " let's start on_our journey ."

"Aren't you going to save those six monkeys who_are giant soldiers ? " asked Rango, anxiously .

" why should I ? " returned the wizard ." if you_will_not do me the favor I ask, you_cannot expect me to favor you ."

" wait a minute," said the gray Ape ."I've changed my mind . if_you_will treat the twelve monkeys nicely and bring them safely back to_the forest, I'll let you take them ."

" thank_you," replied the wizard, cheerfully ." we'll go at once and save those giant soldiers ."

so all the party left the clearing and proceeded to_the place where the giants still stood among_the trees .Hundreds of monkeys, apes, baboons and orangoutangs had gathered round, and their wild chatter could_be heard a mile away . but the gray Ape soon hushed the babel of sounds, and_the wizard lost no time in breaking the enchantments . first one and then another giant soldier disappeared and became an ordinary monkey again, and_the six were shortly returned to_their friends in their proper forms .

this action made the wizard very popular with_the great army of monkeys, and when_the gray Ape announced that_the wizard wanted to borrow twelve monkeys to_take to_the emerald city for a couple of weeks, and asked for volunteers, nearly a hundred offered to_go, so great was their confidence in_the little man who had saved their comrades .

the wizard selected a dozen that seemed intelligent and good- tempered, and then he opened his black bag and took out aqueerly shaped dish that was silver on_the outside and gold on_the inside . into_this dish he poured a powder and set fire to_it . it made a thick smoke that quite enveloped the twelve monkeys, as_well as_the form of_the wizard, but when_the smoke cleared away the dish had_been changed to a golden cage with silver bars, and_the twelve monkeys had become about three inches high and were all seated comfortably inside the cage .

the thousands of hairy animals who had witnessed this act of magic were much astonished and applauded the wizard by barking aloud and shaking the limbs of_the trees in_which they sat . Dorothy said: " that was a fine trick, wizard ! " and_the gray Ape remarked: " you_are certainly the most wonderful magician in all the land of Oz ! "

"Oh, no," modestly replied the little man ."Glinda's magic is better than mine, but mine seems good enough to use on ordinary occasions . and now, Rango, we_will say good-bye, and I promise to return your monkeys as happy and safe as_they_are now ."

the wizard rode on_the back of_the hungry tiger and carried the cage of monkeys very carefully, so as not to joggle them . Dorothy rode on_the back of_the cowardly lion, and_the glass Cat trotted, as before, to show them the way .

Gugu the king crouched upon a log and watched them go, but as he bade them farewell, the enormous leopard said:

" I_know now that you_are the friends of beasts and_that the forest people may trust you . whenever the wizard of Oz and princess Dorothy enter the forest of Gugu hearafter, they_will_be as welcome and as safe with_us as ever they_are in_the emerald city ."

17 .a remarkable journey

" you_see," explained the glass Cat, " that magic isle where trot and Cap'n bill are stuck is also in_this Gillikin country-- over at_the east side of it, and it's no farther to_go across-lots from here than it_is from here to_the emerald city . so we'll save time by cutting across the mountains ."

" are_you sure you_know the way ? " asked Dorothy .

" I_know all the land of Oz better than any_other living creature knows it," asserted the glass Cat .

" go ahead, then, and guide us," said the wizard ." we've left our poor friends helpless too long already, and_the sooner we rescue them the happier they'll be ."

" are_you sure you_can_get 'em out of_their fix ? "

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