Oz 02: The Marvelous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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of_this dress was almost barbaric; so tip was fully justified in staring at_the gown for some moments before his eyes were attracted by_the

85 pretty face above it . yes, the face was pretty enough, he decided; but it wore an expression of discontent coupled to a shade of Defiance or audacity .

while the boy stared the girl looked upon him calmly .a lunch basket stood beside her, and she held a dainty sandwich in one hand and a hard- boiled egg in_the other, eating with an evident appetite that aroused tip's sympathy .

he_was just about to ask a share of_the luncheon when_the girl stood up and brushed the crumbs from her lap .

" there ! " said she; " it_is time for_me to_go . carry that basket for_me and help yourself to its contents if_you_are hungry ."

tip seized the basket eagerly and began to eat, following for a time the strange girl without bothering to ask questions . she walked along before him with swift strides, and there_was about her an air of decision and importance that led him to suspect she was some great personage .

finally, when he had satisfied his hunger, he ran up beside her and tried to_keep pace with her swift footsteps -- a very difficult feat, for she was much taller than he, and evidently in a hurry .

" thank_you very_much for_the sandwiches," said tip, as he trotted along ." may I ask your_name ? "

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" I_am general Jinjur," was_the brief reply .

"Oh ! " said the boy surprised ." what sort of a general ? "

"I command the army of revolt in_this war," answered the general, with unnecessary sharpness .

"Oh ! " he again exclaimed ."I didn't know there_was a war ."

" you were_not supposed to_know it," she returned, " for we_have kept it a secret; and considering that_our army is composed entirely of girls," she added, with some pride, " it_is surely a remarkable thing that_our revolt is_not_yet discovered ."

" it_is, indeed," acknowledged tip ." but where is your army ? "

" about a mile from here," said general Jinjur ." the forces have assembled from all parts of_the land of Oz, at my express command . for this_is_the day we_are to conquer his majesty the Scarecrow, and wrest from_him the throne . the army of revolt only awaits my coming to march upon_the emerald city ."

" well ! " declared tip, drawing a long breath, " this_is certainly asurprising thing ! may I ask why you wish to conquer his majesty the Scarecrow ? "

" because the emerald city has_been ruled by men long enough, for_one reason," said the girl .

87 " moreover, the city glitters with beautiful gems, which might far better be used for rings, bracelets and necklaces; and there_is enough money in_the king's treasury to_buy every girl in_our army a dozen new gowns . so we intend to conquer the city and run the government to suit ourselves ."

Jinjur spoke these words with an eagerness and decision that proved she was in earnest .

" but war is a terrible thing," said tip, thoughtfully .

" this war will_be pleasant," replied the girl, cheerfully .

" many of you_will_be slain ! " continued the boy, in an awed voice .

"Oh, no", said Jinjur ." what man would oppose a girl, or dare to harm her ? and there_is not an ugly face in my entire army ."

tip laughed .

" perhaps you_are right," said he ." but the guardian of_the gate is considered a faithful guardian, and_the king's army will not let the city be conquered without a struggle ."

" the army is old and feeble," replied general Jinjur, scornfully ." his strength has all been used to grow whiskers, and_his wife has such a temper that she has already pulled more than half of_them

88 out by_the roots . when_the wonderful wizard reigned the soldier with_the green Whiskers was a very_good royal army, for people feared the wizard . but no one is afraid of_the Scarecrow, so his royal army don't count for much in_time of war ."

after_this conversation they proceeded some distance in silence, and before long reached a large clearing in_the forest where fully four hundred young women were assembled . these were laughing and talking together as gaily as if_they had gathered for a picnic instead of a war of conquest .

they were divided into four companies, and tip noticed that all were dressed in costumes similar to_that worn by general Jinjur . the only real difference was_that while those girls from_the Munchkin country had the blue strip in front of_their skirts, those from_the country of_the Quadlings had the red strip in front; and those from_the country of_the Winkies had the yellow strip in front, and_the Gillikin girls wore the purple strip in front . all had green waists, representing the emerald city they intended to conquer, and_the top button on each waist indicated by its color which country the wearer came from . the uniforms were jaunty and becoming, and quite effective when massed together .

tip thought this strange army bore no weapons

89 whatever; but in_this he_was wrong . for each girl had stuck through_the knot of her back hair two long, glittering knitting-needles .

general Jinjur immediately mounted the stump of a tree and addressed her army .

" friends, fellow-citizens, and girls ! " she said; " we_are about to_begin our great revolt against the men of Oz ! we march to conquer the emerald city -- to dethrone the Scarecrow king -- to acquire thousands of gorgeous gems -- to rifle the royal treasury -- and to obtain power over our former oppressors ! "

"Hurrah ! " said those who had listened; but tip thought most of_the army was too_much engaged in chattering to_pay attention to_the words of_the general .

the command to march was now given, and_the girls formed themselves into four bands, or companies, and set off with eager strides toward the emerald city .

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the boy followed after them, carrying several baskets and wraps and packages which various members of_the army of revolt had placed in_his care . it_was not long before_they came to_the green granite walls of_the city and halted before_the gateway .

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the guardian of_the gate at once came out and looked at them curiously, as_if a circus had come to town . he carried a bunch of keys swung round his neck by a golden chain; his hands were thrust carelessly into his pockets, and he_seemed to_have no idea at all that_the city was threatened by rebels .Speaking pleasantly to_the girls, he_said:

" good morning, my dears ! what can I_do for_you ? "

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" surrender instantly ! " answered general Jinjur, standing before him and frowning as terribly as her pretty face would allow her to .

" surrender ! " echoed the man, astounded ." why, it's impossible . it's against the law ! I never heard of_such a thing in my life ."

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" still, you_must surrender ! " exclaimed the general, fiercely ." we_are revolting ! "

" you don't look it," said the guardian, gazing from one to another, admiringly .

" but we_are ! " cried Jinjur, stamping her foot, impatiently; " and we mean to conquer the emerald city ! "

" good gracious ! " returned the surprised guardian of_the Gates; " what a nonsensical idea ! go home to your mothers, my good girls, and milk the cows and bake the bread .Don't you_know it's a dangerous thing to conquer a city ? "

" we_are_not afraid ! " responded the general; and she looked so determined that_it made the guardian uneasy .

so he rang the bell for_the soldier with_the green Whiskers, and_the next minute was sorry he had done so . for immediately he_was surrounded by a crowd of girls who drew the knitting-needles from their hair and began Jabbing them at_the guardian with_the sharp points dangerously near his fat cheeks and blinking eyes .

the poor man howled loudly for mercy and made no resistance when Jinjur drew the bunch of keys from around his neck .

followed by her army the general now rushed

93 full page line- art drawing .

general JINJUR and her army capture the city .

94 to_the gateway, where she was confronted by_the royal army of Oz -- which_was the other name for_the soldier with_the green Whiskers .

" halt ! " he cried, and pointed his long gun full in_the face of_the leader .

some_of_the girls screamed and ran back, but general Jinjur bravely stood her ground and said, reproachfully:

" why, how now ? would you shoot a poor, defenceless girl ? "

" no," replied the soldier ." for_my gun isn't loaded ."

" not loaded ? "

" no; for fear of accidents . and I've forgotten where I hid the powder and shot to load it with . but if_you'll wait a short time I'll try to hunt them up ."

"Don't trouble yourself," said Jinjur, cheerfully . then she turned to her army and cried:

"Girls, the gun isn't loaded ! "

"Hooray," shrieked the rebels, delighted at_this good news, and_they proceeded to rush upon_the soldier with_the green Whiskers in_such a crowd that_it_was a wonder they didn't stick the knitting-needles into one another .

but the royal army of Oz was too_much afraid

95 of women to meet the onslaught . he simply turned about and ran with all his might through_the gate and toward the royal palace, while general Jinjur and her mob flocked into_the unprotected city .

in_this_way was_the emerald city captured without a drop of blood being spilled . the army of revolt had become an army of Conquerors !

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96 full page line- art drawing .

97 the Scarecrow Plans an escape

tip slipped away from_the girls and followed swiftly after_the soldier with_the green Whiskers . the invading army entered the city more slowly, for they stopped to dig emeralds out_of_the walls and paving-stones with_the points of_their knitting-needles . so the soldier and_the boy reached the palace before_the news had spread that_the city was conquered .

the Scarecrow and jack Pumpkinhead were still playing at quoits in_the courtyard when_the game was interrupted by_the abrupt entrance of_the royal army of Oz, who came flying in without his hat or gun, his clothes in sad disarray and_his long beard floating a yard behind him as he ran .

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" tally one for_me," said the Scarecrow, calmly " what's wrong, my man ? " he added, addressing the soldier .

"Oh ! your majesty -- your majesty ! the city is conquered ! " gasped the royal army, who was all out of breath .

" this_is quite sudden," said the Scarecrow ." but please go and bar all the doors and windows of_the palace, while I show this Pumpkinhead how to throw a quoit ."

the soldier hastened to do_this, while tip, who had arrived at his heels, remained in_the courtyard to look at_the Scarecrow with wondering eyes .

his majesty continued to throw the quoits as coolly as_if no danger threatened his throne, but the Pumpkinhead, having caught sight of tip, ambled toward the boy as fast as his wooden legs would go .

" good afternoon, noble parent ! " he cried, delightedly ." I'm glad_to_see you_are here . that terrible saw- horse ran away with me ."

"I suspected it," said tip ." did you get hurt ? are_you cracked at all ? "

" no, I arrived safely," answered jack, " and_his majesty has_been very kind indeed to_me .

at_this moment the soldier with_the green Whiskers returned, and_the Scarecrow asked:

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" by_the_way, who has conquered me ? "

"A regiment of girls, gathered from_the four corners of_the land of Oz," replied the soldier, still pale with fear .

" but where was my Standing army at_the_time ? " inquired his majesty, looking at_the soldier, gravely .

" your Standing army was running," answered the fellow, honestly; " for no man could face the terrible weapons of_the invaders ."

" well," said the Scarecrow, after a moment's thought, "I don't mind much the loss of_my throne, for_it's a tiresome job to rule over the emerald city . and this crown is so heavy that_it makes my head ache . but I_hope the Conquerors have no intention of injuring me, just because I happen to_be the king ."

"I heard them, say" remarked tip, with some hesitation, " that_they intend to_make a rag carpet of your outside and stuff their sofa-cushions with your inside ."

" then I_am really in danger," declared his majesty, positively, " and it_will_be wise for_me to consider ameans to escape ."

" where can_you go ? " asked jack Pumpkinhead .

" why, to my friend the tin woodman, who

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rules over the Winkies, and calls himself their emperor," was_the answer ." I_am_sure he_will protect me ."

tip was looking out the window .

" the palace is surrounded by_the enemy," said

101 he " it_is too late to escape . they_would soon tear you to pieces ."

the Scarecrow sighed .

" in an emergency," he announced, " it_is always a good thing to pause and reflect . please excuse me while I pause and reflect ."

" but we also are in danger," said the Pumpkinhead, anxiously ." if any of_these girls understand cooking, my end is_not far off ! "

" nonsense ! " exclaimed the Scarecrow ." they're too busy to cook, even if_they know how ! "

" but should I remain here a prisoner for any length of_time," protested jack," I'm liable to spoil ."

"Ah ! then you_would_not_be fit to associate with," returned the Scarecrow ." the matter is more serious than I suspected ."

" you," said the Pumpkinhead, gloomily, " are liable to live for many years . my life is necessarily short . so I_must take advantage of_the few_days that remain to_me ."

" there, there ! Don't worry," answered the Scarecrow soothingly; " if_you'll keep quiet long enough for_me to_think, I'll try to_find some way for_us all to escape ."

so the others waited in patient silence while the Scarecrow walked to a corner and stood with_his

102 face to_the wall for a good five minutes

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