Oz 02: The Marvelous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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rule in_his place ."

"Pastoria had a daughter, who is_the rightful heir to_the throne of_the emerald city . did you_know that ? " questioned the sorceress .

" no," replied the Scarecrow ." but if_the girl still lives i_will_not stand in her way . it_will satisfy me as_well to_have Jinjur turned out, as an impostor, as_to regain the throne myself . in_fact, it isn't much fun to_be king, especially if one has good brains . I_have known for some_time that I_am fitted to occupy a far more exalted position . but where is_the girl who owns the throne, and what_is her name ? "

" her name is Ozma," answered Glinda ." but where she_is I_have_tried in vain to discover . for_the wizard of Oz, when he stole the throne from Ozma's father, hid the girl in some secret place; and by_means of a magical trick with_which I_am not familiar he also managed to_prevent her being discovered -- even by so experienced a sorceress as myself ."

" that_is strange," interrupted the Woggle- bug, pompously ." I_have_been informed that_the wonderful wizard of Oz was nothing more than a humbug ! "

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" nonsense ! " exclaimed the Scarecrow, much provoked by_this speech ."Didn't he give_me a wonderful set of brains ? "

" there's no humbug about_my heart," announced the tin woodman, glaring indignantly at_the Woggle- bug .

" perhaps i_was misinformed," stammered the insect, shrinking back; "I never knew the wizard personally ."

" well, we_did," retorted the Scarecrow, " and he_was a very great wizard, I assure you . it_is true he_was guilty of some slight impostures, but unless he_was a great wizard how -- let me ask -- could he have hidden this girl Ozma so securely that no one can find her ? "

"I -- I_give it up ! " replied the Woggle- bug, meekly .

" that_is_the most sensible speech you've made," said the tin woodman .

" I_must really make another effort to discover where this girl is hidden," resumed the sorceress, thoughtfully ." I_have in my library a book in_which is inscribed every action of_the wizard while he_was in_our land of Oz -- or, at_least, every action that could_be observed by my spies . this book i_will read carefully tonight, and try to single out the acts that_may guide us in discovering the lost Ozma . in

243 the meantime, pray amuse yourselves in my palace and command my servants as if_they were your own . i_will grant you another audience tomorrow ."

with_this gracious speech Glinda dismissed the adventurers, and_they wandered away through_the beautiful gardens, where they passed several hours enjoying all the delightful things with_which the queen of_the Southland had surrounded her royal palace .

on_the following morning they again appeared before Glinda, who said to_them:

" I_have searched carefully through_the records of_the wizard's actions, and among them I_can find but three that appear to_have_been suspicious . he ate beans with a knife, made three secret visits to old Mombi, and limped slightly on_his left foot ."

"Ah ! that last is certainly suspicious ! " exclaimed the Pumpkinhead .

" not necessarily," said the Scarecrow ." he_may, have_had corns . now, it seems to_me his eating beans with a knife is more suspicious ."

" perhaps it_is a polite custom in Omaha, from_which great country the wizard originally came," suggested the tin woodman .

" it may_be," admitted the Scarecrow .

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" but why," asked Glinda, " did he make three secret visits to old Mombi ? "

"Ah ! why, indeed ! " echoed the Woggle- bug, impressively .

" we_know that_the wizard taught the old woman many of_his tricks of magic," continued Glinda; " and this he_would_not have_done had she not assisted him in some way . so we_may suspect with good reason that Mombi aided him to hide the girl Ozma, who was_the real heir to_the throne of_the emerald city, and a constant danger to_the usurper . for, if_the people knew that she lived, they_would quickly make her their queen and restore her to her rightful position ."

" an able argument ! " cried the Scarecrow ." I_have no_doubt that Mombi was mixed up in_this wicked business . but how does that knowledge help_us ? "

" we_must find Mombi," replied Glinda, " and force her to_tell where the girl is hidden ."

"Mombi is now with queen Jinjur, in_the emerald, city" said tip ." it_was she who threw so_many obstacles in_our pathway, and made Jinjur threaten to destroy my friends and give_me back into_the old witch's power ."

" then," decided Glinda, " i_will march with my

245 army to_the emerald city, and take Mombi prisoner . after_that we_can, perhaps, force her to_tell the truth about Ozma ."

" she_is a terrible old woman ! " remarked tip, with a shudder at_the thought of Mombi's black kettle; " and obstinate, too ."

" I_am quite obstinate myself," returned the sorceress, with a sweet smile ." so I_do_not fear Mombi in_the least . today i_will make all necessary preparations, and we_will march upon_the emerald city at daybreak tomorrow ."

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246 the tin- woodman Plucks a rose

the army of Glinda the good looked very grand and imposing when it assembled at daybreak before_the palace gates . the uniforms of_the girl soldiers were pretty and of gay colors, and their silver- tipped spears were bright and glistening, the long shafts being inlaid with mother- of- pearl . all the officers wore sharp, gleaming swords, and shields edged with peacock- feathers; and it really seemed that no foe could by any possibility defeat such a brilliant army .

the sorceress rode in a beautiful palanquin which_was like the body of a coach, having doors and

247 windows with silken curtains; but instead of wheels, which a coach has, the palanquin rested upon two long, horizontal bars, which were borne upon_the shoulders of twelve servants .

the Scarecrow and_his comrades decided to ride in_the Gump, in_order to_keep up with_the swift march of_the army; so, as_soon_as Glinda had started and her soldiers had marched away to_the inspiring strains of music played by_the royal band, our friends climbed into_the sofas and followed . the Gump flew along slowly at a point directly over the palanquin in_which rode the sorceress .

" be careful," said the

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248 tin woodman to_the Scarecrow, who was leaning far over the side to look at_the army below ." you_might fall ."

" it wouldn't matter," remarked the educated Woggle- bug ." he_can't get broke so_long as he_is stuffed with money ."

"Didn't I ask_you" began tip, in a reproachful voice .

" you_did ! " said the Woggle- bug, promptly ." and I beg your pardon . i_will really try to restrain myself ."

" you'd better," declared the boy ." that_is, if_you_wish to travel in_our company ."

"Ah ! I couldn't bear to part with_you now," murmured the insect, feelingly; so tip let the subject drop .

the army moved steadily on, but night had fallen before_they came to_the walls of_the emerald city . by_the dim light of_the new moon, however, Glinda's forces silently surrounded the city and pitched their tents of scarlet silk upon_the greensward . the tent of_the sorceress was larger than_the others, and was composed of pure white silk, with scarlet banners flying above it .a tent was also pitched for_the Scarecrow's party; and when these preparations had_been made, with military precision and quickness, the army retired to rest .

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great was_the amazement of queen Jinjur next morning when her soldiers came running to inform her of_the vast army surrounding them . she at once climbed to a high tower of_the royal palace and saw banners waving in every direction and_the great white tent of Glinda standing directly before_the gates .

" we_are surely lost ! " cried Jinjur, in despair; " for how can our knitting- needles avail against the long spears and terrible swords of_our foes ? "

" the best thing we_can do," said one_of_the girls, " is to surrender as quickly as possible, before we get hurt ."

" not so," returned Jinjur, more bravely ." the enemy is still outside the walls, so we_must try to gain time by engaging them in parley . go you with a flag of truce to Glinda and ask her why she has dared to invade my dominions, and what_are her demands ."

so the girl passed through_the gates, bearing a white flag to show she was on a mission of peace, and came to Glinda's tent ." tell your queen," said the sorceress to_the girl, " that she_must deliver up to_me old Mombi, to_be my prisoner . if_this_is done i_will_not molest her farther ."

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now when_this message was delivered to_the queen it filled her with dismay, for Mombi was her chief counsellor, and Jinjur was terribly afraid of_the old hag . but she sent for Mombi, and told her what Glinda had said .

" I_see trouble ahead for all of us," muttered the old witch, after glancing into a magic mirror she carried in her pocket ." but we_may even yet escape by deceiving this sorceress, clever as she thinks herself ."

"Don't you_think it_will_be safer for_me to deliver you into her hands ? " asked Jinjur, nervously .

" if_you_do, it_will cost you the throne of_the emerald city ! " answered the witch, positively ." but if_you_will let me have my own way, I_can save us both very easily ."

" then do as_you please," replied Jinjur, " for_it is so aristocratic to_be a queen that I_do_not wish to_be obliged to return home again, to_make beds and wash dishes for_my mother ."

so Mombi called Jellia Jamb to her, and performed a certain magical rite with_which she was familiar . as_a_result of_the enchantment Jellia took on_the form and features of Mombi, while the old witch grew to resemble the girl so closely that_it seemed impossible anyone could guess the deception .

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" now," said old Mombi to_the queen, " let your soldiers deliver up this girl to Glinda . she will think she has_the real Mombi in her power, and so will return immediately to her own country in_the south ."

therefore Jellia, hobbling along like an aged

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woman, was led from_the city gates and taken before Glinda .

" here_is_the person you demanded," said one_of_the guards, " and_our queen now begs you_will go away, as_you promised, and leave us in peace ."

" that i_will surely do," replied Glinda, much pleased; " if_this_is really the person she seems_to_be ."

" it_is certainly old Mombi," said the guard, who believed she was speaking the truth; and then Jinjur's soldiers returned within_the city's gates .

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the sorceress quickly summoned the Scarecrow and_his friends to her tent, and began to question the supposed Mombi about_the lost girl Ozma . but Jellia knew nothing at all of_this affair, and presently she grew so nervous under the questioning that she gave way and began to weep, to Glinda's great astonishment .

" here_is some foolish trickery ! " said the sorceress, her eyes flashing with anger ." this_is_not Mombi at all, but some other person who has_been made to resemble her ! tell me," she demanded, turning to_the trembling girl, " what_is your_name ? "

this Jellia dared not tell, having been threatened with death by_the witch if she confessed the fraud . but Glinda, sweet and fair though she was, understood magic better than any_other person in_the land of Oz . so, by uttering a few potent words and making a peculiar gesture, she quickly transformed the girl into her proper shape, while at_the same time old Mombi, far away in Jinjur's palace, suddenly resumed her own crooked form and evil features .

" why, it's Jellia Jamb ! " cried the Scarecrow, recognizing in_the girl one of_his old friends .

" it's our interpreter ! " said the Pumpkinhead, smiling pleasantly .

then Jellia was forced to_tell of_the trick Mombi

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had played and she also begged Glinda's protection, which the sorceress readily granted . but Glinda was now really angry, and sent word to Jinjur that_the fraud was discovered and she_must deliver up the real Mombi or suffer terrible consequences .Jinjur was prepared for_this message, for_the witch well understood, when her natural form was thrust upon her, that Glinda had discovered her trickery . but the wicked old creature had already thought up a new deception, and had made Jinjur promise to carry it out . so the queen said to Glinda's messenger:

" tell your mistress that I_cannot find Mombi anywhere, but that Glinda is welcome to enter the

254 city and search herself for_the old woman . she may also bring her friends with her, if she likes; but if she does_not find Mombi by sundown, the sorceress must promise to_go away peaceably and bother us no more ."

Glinda agreed to_these terms, well knowing that Mombi was somewhere within_the city walls . so Jinjur caused the gates to_be thrown open, and Glinda marched in at_the head of a company of soldiers, followed by_the Scarecrow and_the tin woodman, while jack Pumpkinhead rode astride the saw- horse, and_the educated, highly Magnified Woggle- bug sauntered behind in a dignified manner . tip walked by_the side of_the sorceress, for Glinda had conceived a great liking for_the boy .

of_course old Mombi had no intention of being found by Glinda; so, while her enemies were marching up the street, the witch transformed herself into a red rose growing upon a bush in_the garden of_the palace . it_was a clever idea, and a trick Glinda did_not suspect; so several precious hours were spent in a vain search for Mombi .

as sundown approached the sorceress realized she had_been defeated by_the superior cunning of_the aged witch; so she gave the command to her people to march out_of_the city and back to_their tents .

the Scarecrow and_his comrades happened to_be

255 searching in_the garden of_the palace just then, and_they turned with disappointment to obey Glinda's command . but before_they left the garden the tin woodman, who was fond of flowers, chanced to espy a big red rose growing upon a bush; so he plucked the flower and fastened it securely in_the tin buttonhole of_his tin bosom .

as he_did this he fancied he heard a low

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