Oz 02: The Marvelous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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nick, " the broom shall be used for a tail," and he fastened it firmly to_the back end of_the sofa body .

tip took the pepper- box from_his pocket .

" the thing looks very big," said he, anxiously;

197 " and I_am not sure there_is enough powder left to bring all of it to life . but I'll make it go as far as possible ."

" put most on_the wings," said nick chopper; " for they_must_be made as strong as possible ."

" and don't forget the head ! " exclaimed the Woggle- bug .

" or the tail ! " added jack Pumpkinhead .

" do be quiet," said tip, nervously; " you_must give_me a chance to work the magic charm in_the proper manner ."

very carefully he began sprinkling the thing with_the precious powder . each of_the four wings was first lightly covered with a layer . then the sofas were sprinkled, and_the broom given a slight coating .

" the head ! the head ! Don't, I beg of you, forget the head ! " cried the Woggle- bug, excitedly .

" there's only a little of_the powder left," announced tip, looking within_the box ." and it seems to_me it_is more important to bring the legs of_the sofas to life than_the head ."

" not so," decided the Scarecrow ." every thing must_have a head to direct it; and since_this creature is to fly, and not walk, it_is really unimportant whether its legs are alive or not ."

so tip abided by_this decision and sprinkled the Gump's head with_the remainder of_the powder .

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" now" said he, " keep silence while I work the, charm ! "

Having heard old Mombi pronounce the magic words, and having also succeeded in bringing the saw- horse to life, tip did_not hesitate an instant in speaking the three cabalistic words, each accompanied by_the peculiar gesture of_the hands .

it_was a grave and impressive ceremony .

as he finished the incantation the thing shuddered throughout its huge bulk, the Gump gave the screeching cry that_is familiar to_those animals, and then the four wings began flopping furiously .

tip managed to grasp a chimney, else he would_have_been blown off the roof by_the terrible breeze raised by_the wings . the Scarecrow, being light in weight, was caught up bodily and borne through_the air until tip luckily seized him by one leg and held him fast . the Woggle- bug lay flat upon_the roof and so escaped harm,

line- art Drawing

199 and_the tin woodman, whose weight of tin anchored him firmly, threw both arms around jack Pumpkinhead and managed to save him . the saw- horse toppled over upon his back and lay with_his legs waving helplessly above him .

and now, while all were struggling to recover themselves, the thing rose slowly from_the roof and mounted into_the air .

" here ! come back ! " cried tip, in a frightened voice, as he clung to_the chimney with one hand and_the Scarecrow with_the other ." come back at once, I command you ! "

it_was now that_the wisdom of_the Scarecrow, in bringing the head of_the thing to life instead of_the legs, was proved beyond a doubt . for_the Gump, already high in_the air, turned its head at tip's command and gradually circled around until it could view the roof of_the palace .

" come back ! " shouted the boy, again .

and_the Gump obeyed, slowly and gracefully waving its four wings in_the air until the thing had settled once more upon_the roof and become still .

200 full page line- art drawing .

201 in_the jackdaw's nest

" this," said the Gump, in asqueaky voice not at all proportioned to_the size of_its great body, " is_the most novel experience I ever heard of . the last thing I remember distinctly is walking through_the forest and hearing a loud noise . something probably killed me then, and it certainly ought_to_have been the end of me . yet here I_am, alive again, with four monstrous wings and a body which I venture to_say would make any respectable animal or fowl weep with shame to own . what does it all mean ? Am I aGump, or am I ajuggernaut ? " the creature, as it spoke, wiggled its chin whiskers in a very comical manner .

" you're just a thing," answered tip, " with aGump's head on_it . and we_have_made you and brought you to life so_that you_may carry us through_the air wherever we_wish to_go ."

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" very_good ! " said the thing ." as I_am not aGump, I_cannot_have aGump's pride or independent spirit . so I_may as_well become your servant as anything else . my only satisfaction is_that I_do_not seem to_have a very strong constitution, and am not likely to live long in a state of slavery ."

"Don't say that, I beg of you ! " cried the tin woodman, whose excellent heart was strongly affected by_this sad speech ." are_you not feeling well today ? "

"Oh, as for_that," returned the Gump, " it_is my first day of existence; so I_cannot judge whether I_am feeling well or ill ." and it waved its broom tail to and fro in a pensive manner .

" come, come ! " said the Scarecrow, kindly ." do try, to_be more cheerful and take life as_you find it . we_shall_be kind masters, and will strive to render your existence as pleasant as possible . are_you willing to carry us through_the air wherever we_wish to_go ? "

" certainly," answered the Gump ."I greatly prefer to navigate the air . for should I travel on_the earth and meet with one of_my own species, my embarrassment would_be something awful ! "

" I_can appreciate that," said the tin woodman, sympathetically .

" and yet," continued the thing, " when I carefully

203 look you over, my masters, none of you seems_to_be constructed much more artistically than I_am ."

"Appearances are deceitful," said the Woggle- bug, earnestly ." I_am both highly Magnified and thoroughly educated ."

" indeed ! " murmured the Gump, indifferently .

" and my brains are considered remarkably rare specimens," added the Scarecrow, proudly .

" how strange ! " remarked the Gump .

" although I_am of tin," said the woodman, "I own a heart altogether the warmest and most admirable in_the whole world ."

"I'm delighted to hear it," replied the Gump, with a slight cough .

" my smile," said jack Pumpkinhead, " is worthy your best attention . it_is always the same ."

"Semper idem," explained the Woggle- bug, pompously; and_the Gump turned to stare at him .

" and I," declared the saw- horse, filling in an awkward pause, "am only remarkable because I_can't help it ."

" I_am proud, indeed, to meet with_such exceptional masters," said the Gump, in a careless tone ." if I_could but secure so complete an introduction to myself, i_would_be more than satisfied ."

" that_will come in_time," remarked the scare-

204 crow ." to ' know thyself' is considered quite an accomplishment, which it has taken us, who_are your elders, months to perfect . but now," he added, turning to_the others, " let_us get aboard and start upon our journey ."

" where shall we go ? " asked tip, as he clambered to a seat on_the sofas and assisted the Pumpkinhead to_follow him .

" in_the south country rules a very delightful queen called Glinda the good, who I_am_sure will gladly receive us," said the Scarecrow, getting into_the thing clumsily ." let_us go to her and ask her advice ."

" that_is cleverly thought of," declared nick chopper, giving the Woggle- bug a boost and then toppling the saw- horse into_the rear end of_the cushioned seats ." I_know Glinda the good, and believe she will prove a friend indeed ."

" are we all ready ? " asked the boy .

" yes," announced the tin woodman, seating himself beside the Scarecrow .

" then," said tip, addressing the Gump, " be kind enough to fly with_us to_the southward; and do_not go higher than to escape the houses and trees, for_it makes me dizzy to_be up so_far ."

" all right," answered the Gump, briefly .

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it flopped its four huge wings and rose slowly into_the air; and then, while our little band of adventurers clung to_the backs and sides of_the sofas for support, the Gump turned toward the south and soared swiftly and majestically away .

" the scenic effect, from_this altitude, is marvelous," commented the educated Woggle- bug, as_they rode along .

" never mind the scenery," said the Scarecrow ." hold on tight, or you_may get a tumble . the thing seems to rock badly .'

" it_will_be dark soon," said tip, observing that_the sun was low on_the horizon ." perhaps we_should_have waited until morning .I wonder if_the Gump can fly in_the night ."

"I've been wondering that myself," returned the Gump quietly ." you_see, this_is a new experience to_me .I used to_have legs that carried me swiftly over the ground . but now my legs feel as if_they were asleep ."

" they_are," said tip ." we didn't bring 'em to life ."

" you're expected to fly," explained the Scarecrow ." not to walk ."

" we_can walk ourselves," said the Woggle- bug ."

I begin to understand what_is required of me," remarked the Gump; " so i_will do my best to

206 please you," and he flew on for a time in silence .

presently jack Pumpkinhead became uneasy .

"I wonder if riding through_the air is liable to spoil pumpkins," he_said .

" not unless you carelessly drop your head over the side," answered the Woggle- bug ." in_that event your head would no longer be a pumpkin, for_it would become a squash ."

" have I not asked you to restrain these unfeeling jokes ? " demanded tip, looking at_the Woggle- bug with a severe expression .

" you_have; and I've restrained a good_many_of_them," replied the insect ." but there_are opportunities for so_many excellent puns in_our language that, to an educated person like myself, the temptation to express them is almost irresistible ."

" people with more or less education discovered those puns centuries_ago," said tip .

" are_you sure ? " asked the Woggle- bug, with a startled look .

" of_course I_am," answered the boy ." an educated Woggle- bug may_be a new thing; but aWoggle- bug education is as old as_the hills, judging from_the display you make of it ."

the insect seemed much impressed by_this remark, and for a time maintained a meek silence .

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the Scarecrow, in shifting his seat, saw upon_the cushions the pepper- box which tip had cast aside, and began to examine it .

" throw it overboard," said the boy; " it's quite empty now, and there's no use keeping it ."

" is_it really empty ? " asked the Scarecrow, looking curiously into_the box .

" of_course_it_is," answered tip ."I shook out every grain of_the powder .

" then the box has two bottoms," announced the Scarecrow, " for_the bottom on_the inside is fully an inch away from_the bottom on_the outside ."

" let me see," said the tin woodman, taking the box from_his friend ." yes," he declared, after looking it over, " the thing certainly has a false bottom . now, I wonder what that_is for ? "

" can't you get it apart, and find out ? " enquired tip, now quite interested in_the mystery .

" why, yes; the lower bottom unscrews," said the tin woodman ." my fingers are rather stiff; please see if_you_can open it ."

he handed the pepper- box to tip, who had no difficulty in unscrewing the bottom . and in_the cavity below were three silver pills, with a carefully folded paper lying underneath them .

this paper the boy proceeded to unfold, taking

208 care not to spill the pills, and found several lines clearly written in red ink .

" read it aloud," said the Scarecrow . so tip read, as follows:

"DR .NIKIDIK'S celebrated WISHING PILLS .

"Directions for use: swallow one pill; count seventeen by twos; then make a wish .- the wish will immediately be granted . caution: keep in a dry and dark place ."

" why, this_is a very valuable discovery ! " cried the Scarecrow .

" it_is, indeed," replied tip, gravely ." these pills may_be of great use to_us .I wonder if old Mombi knew they were in_the bottom of_the pepper- box .I remember hearing her say that she got the powder of life from_this same Nikidik ."

" he_must_be a powerful sorcerer ! " exclaimed the tin woodman; " and since_the powder proved a success we ought_to_have confidence in_the pills ."

" but how," asked the Scarecrow, " can anyone count seventeen by twos ? Seventeen is an odd number ."

" that_is true," replied tip, greatly disappointed ." no one can possibly count seventeen by twos ."

" then the pills are of no use to_us," wailed the Pumpkinhead; " and this fact overwhelms me with

209 grief . for I had intended wishing that my head would never spoil ."

" nonsense ! " said the Scarecrow, sharply ." if_we_could use the pills at all we_would make far better wishes than that ."

" I_do_not_see how anything could_be better," protested poor jack ." if_you were liable to spoil at any_time you_could understand my anxiety ."

" for_my part," said the tin woodman, "I sympathize with_you in every respect . but since we_cannot count seventeen by twos, sympathy is all you_are liable to_get ."

by_this_time it had become quite dark, and_the voyagers found above them a cloudy sky, through which the rays of_the moon could_not penetrate .

the Gump flew steadily on, and for some reason the huge sofa- body rocked more and more dizzily every hour .

the Woggle- bug declared he_was sea- sick; and tip was also pale and somewhat distressed . but the others clung to_the backs of_the sofas and did_not seem to mind the motion as long as_they were_not tipped out .

darker and darker grew the night, and on and on sped the Gump through_the black heavens . the

210 travelers could_not even see one another, and an oppressive silence settled down upon them .

after a long_time tip, who had_been thinking deeply, spoke .

"

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