Oz 02: The Marvelous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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low moan proceed from_the rose; but he paid no attention to_the sound, and Mombi was thus carried out_of_the city and into Glinda's camp without anyone having a suspicion that_they had succeeded in their quest .

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256 the transformation of old Mombi

the witch was at first frightened at finding herself captured by_the enemy; but soon she decided that she was exactly as safe in_the tin woodman's button- hole as growing upon_the bush . for no one knew the rose and Mombi to_be one, and now that she was without the gates of_the city her chances of escaping altogether from Glinda were much improved .

" but there_is no hurry," thought Mombi ." i_will wait awhile and enjoy the humiliation of_this sorceress when she finds I_have outwitted her ." so throughout_the night the rose lay quietly on_the woodman's bosom, and in_the morning, when Glinda summoned our friends to aconsultation, nick chopper carried his pretty flower with_him to_the white silk tent .

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" for some reason," said Glinda, " we_have failed to_find this cunning old Mombi; so I_fear our expedition will prove a failure . and for_that I_am sorry, because without our assistance little Ozma will never be rescued and restored to her rightful position as queen of_the emerald city"

" do_not let_us give up so easily," said the Pumpkinhead ." let_us do something else ."

" something else must really be_done," replied Glinda, with a smile ." yet I_cannot understand how I_have_been defeated so easily by an old witch who knows far less of magic than I_do myself ."

" while we_are on_the ground I believe it would_be wise for_us to conquer the emerald city for princess Ozma, and find the girl afterward," said the Scarecrow ." and while the girl remains hidden i_will gladly rule in her place, for I understand the business of ruling much better than Jinjur does ."

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" but I_have promised not to molest Jinjur," objected Glinda .

" suppose you all return with me to my kingdom -- or empire, rather," said the tin woodman, politely including the entire party in a royal wave of_his arm ." it_will give_me great pleasure to entertain you in my castle, where there_is room enough and to spare . and if any of you wish to_be nickel- plated, my valet will do_it free of all expense ."

while the woodman was speaking Glinda's eyes had_been noting the rose in_his button- hole, and now she imagined she saw the big red leaves of_the flower tremble slightly . this quickly aroused her suspicions, and in a moment more the sorceress had decided that_the seeming rose was nothing else than a transformation of old Mombi . at_the same instant Mombi knew she was discovered and must quickly plan an escape, and as transformations were easy to her she immediately took the form of a shadow and glided along the wall of_the tent toward the entrance, thinking thus to disappear .

but Glinda had not_only equal cunning, but far more experience than_the witch . so the sorceress reached the opening of_the tent before_the shadow, and with a wave of her hand closed the entrance so securely that Mombi could_not find a crack big

259 enough to creep through . the Scarecrow and_his friends were greatly surprised at Glinda's actions; for none_of_them had noted the shadow . but the sorceress said to_them:

" remain perfectly quiet, all of you ! for_the old witch is even now with_us in_this tent, and I_hope to capture her ."

these words so alarmed Mombi that she quickly transformed herself from a shadow to a black ant, in_which shape she crawled along the ground, seeking a crack or crevice in_which to hide her tiny body .

Fortunately, the ground where the tent had_been pitched, being just before_the city gates, was hard and smooth; and while the ant still crawled about, Glinda discovered it and ran quickly forward to effect its capture but, just as her hand was descending, the witch, now fairly frantic with fear, made her last transformation, and in_the form of a huge griffin sprang through_the wall of_the tent -- tearing the silk asunder in her rush -- and in a moment had darted away with_the speed of a whirlwind .

Glinda did_not hesitate to_follow . she sprang upon_the back of_the saw- horse and cried:

" now you shall prove that you_have a right to_be alive ! run -- run -- run ! "

the saw- horse ran . like a flash he followed the

260 griffin, his wooden legs moving so fast that_they twinkled like the rays of a star . before our friends could recover from their surprise both the griffin and_the saw- horse had dashed out of sight .

" come ! let_us follow ! " cried the Scarecrow .

they ran to_the place where the Gump was lying and quickly tumbled aboard .

" fly ! " commanded tip, eagerly .

" where to ? " asked the Gump, in its calm voice .

"I don't know," returned tip, who was very nervous at_the delay; " but if_you_will mount into_the air i_think we_can discover which_way Glinda has gone ."

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" very_well," returned the Gump, quietly; and it spread its great wings and mounted high into_the air .

far away, across the meadows, they_could now see two tiny specks, speeding one after_the other; and_they knew these specks must_be the griffin and_the saw- horse . so tip called the Gump's attention to_them and bade the creature try to overtake the witch and_the sorceress . but, swift as was_the Gump's flight, the pursued and pursuer moved more swiftly yet, and within a few_moments were blotted out against the dim horizon .

" let_us continue to_follow them, nevertheless," said the Scarecrow ." for_the land of Oz is of small extent, and sooner or later they_must both come to a halt ."

old Mombi had thought herself very wise to_choose the form of a griffin, for its legs were exceedingly fleet and its strength more enduring than that of other animals . but she had_not reckoned on_the untiring energy of_the saw- horse, whose wooden limbs could run for days without slacking their speed . therefore, after an hour's hard running, the griffin's breath began to fail, and it panted and gasped painfully, and moved more slowly than before . then it reached the edge of_the desert and began racing across the deep sands . but its tired feet sank far

262 into_the sand, and in_a_few_minutes the griffin fell forward, completely exhausted, and lay still upon_the desert waste .

Glinda came up a moment later, riding the still vigorous saw- horse; and having unwound a slender golden thread from her girdle the sorceress threw it over the head of_the panting and helpless griffin, and so destroyed the magical power of Mombi's transformation .

for_the animal, with one fierce shudder, disappeared from view, while in its place was discovered the form of_the old witch, glaring savagely at_the serene and beautiful face of_the sorceress .

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263 full page line- art drawing .

264 princess Ozma of Oz

" you_are my prisoner, and it_is useless for_you to struggle any longer," said Glinda, in her soft, sweet voice ." lie still a moment, and rest yourself, and then i_will carry you back to my tent ."

" why do_you seek me ? " asked Mombi, still scarce able to_speak plainly for lack of breath ." what have I done to_you, to_be so persecuted ? "

" you have_done nothing to_me," answered the gentle sorceress; " but I suspect you_have_been guilty of several wicked actions; and if I_find it_is true that you_have so abused your knowledge of magic, I intend to punish you severely ."

"I defy you ! " croaked the old hag ." you dare not harm me ! "

just then the Gump flew up to_them and alighted upon_the desert sands beside Glinda . our friends

265 were delighted to_find that Mombi had finally been captured, and after ahurried consultation it_was decided they should all return to_the camp in_the Gump . so the saw- horse was tossed aboard, and then Glinda still holding an end of_the golden thread that was around Mombi's neck, forced her prisoner to climb into_the sofas . the others now followed, and tip gave the word to_the Gump to return .

the journey was_made in safety, Mombi sitting in her place with a grim and sullen air; for_the old hag was absolutely helpless so_long as_the magical thread encircled her throat . the army hailed Glinda's return with loud cheers, and_the party of friends soon gathered again in_the royal tent, which had_been neatly repaired during their absence .

" now," said the sorceress to Mombi, " i_want you to_tell us why the wonderful wizard of Oz paid you three visits, and what became of_the child, Ozma, which so curiously disappeared ."

the witch looked at Glinda defiantly, but said not a word .

" answer me ! " cried the sorceress .

but still Mombi remained silent .

" perhaps she doesn't know," remarked jack .

"I beg you_will keep quiet," said tip ." you_might spoil everything with your foolishness ."

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" very_well, dear father ! " returned the Pumpkinhead, meekly .

" how glad I_am to_be aWoggle- bug ! " murmured the highly Magnified insect, softly ." no one can expect wisdom to flow from a pumpkin ."

" well," said the Scarecrow, " what shall we_do to_make Mombi speak ? unless she tells us what we_wish to_know her capture will do us no good at all ."

" suppose we_try kindness," suggested the tin woodman ."I've heard that anyone can_be conquered with kindness, no matter how ugly they_may_be ."

at_this the witch turned to glare upon him so horribly that_the tin woodman shrank back abashed .

Glinda had_been carefully considering what to_do, and now she turned to Mombi and said:

" you_will gain nothing, I assure you, by thus defying us . for I_am determined to learn the truth about_the girl Ozma, and unless you tell me all that you_know, i_will certainly put you to death ."

"Oh, no ! Don't do_that ! " exclaimed the tin woodman ." it would_be an awful thing to kill anyone -- even old Mombi ! "

" but it_is merely a threat," returned Glinda ." I_shall_not put Mombi to death, because she will prefer to_tell me the truth ."

"Oh, I_see ! " said the tin man, much relieved .

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" suppose I tell you all that you wish to_know," . said Mombi, speaking so suddenly that she startled them all ." what_will you_do with me then ? "

" in_that case," replied Glinda, " I_shall merely ask_you to drink a powerful draught which will cause you to forget all the magic you_have ever learned ."

" then i_would become a helpless old woman ! "

" but you_would_be alive," suggested the Pumpkinhead, consolingly .

" do try to_keep silent ! " said tip, nervously .

"I'll try," responded jack; " but you_will admit that_it's a good thing to_be alive ."

" especially if one happens to_be thoroughly educated," added the Woggle- bug, nodding approval .

" you_may make your choice," Glinda said to old Mombi, " between death if_you remain silent, and_the loss of your magical powers if_you tell me the truth . but i_think you_will prefer to live .

Mombi cast an uneasy glance at_the sorceress, and saw that she was in earnest, and not to_be trifled with . so she replied, slowly:

" i_will answer your questions ."

" that_is what I expected," said Glinda, pleasantly ." you_have chosen wisely, I assure you ."

she then motioned to one of her Captains, who brought her a beautiful golden casket . from_this

268 the sorceress drew an immense white pearl, attached to a slender chain which she placed around her neck in_such_a_way that_the pearl rested upon her bosom, directly over her heart .

" now," said she, " i_will ask my first question: why did the wizard pay you three visits ? "

" because i_would_not come to him," answered Mombi .

" that_is no answer," said Glinda, sternly ." tell me the truth ."

" well," returned Mombi, with downcast eyes, " he visited me to learn the way I make tea-biscuits ."

" look up ! " commanded the sorceress .

Mombi obeyed .

" what_is the color of_my pearl ? " demanded Glinda .

" why -- it_is black ! " replied the old witch, in a tone of wonder .

" then you_have told me a falsehood ! " cried Glinda, angrily ." only when_the truth is spoken will my magic pearl remain a pure white in color ."

Mombi now saw how useless it_was to_try to deceive the sorceress; so she said, meanwhile scowling at her defeat:

" the wizard brought to_me the girl Ozma, who was then no more than a baby, and begged me to conceal the child ."

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" that_is what i_thought," declared Glinda, calmly ." what did he give_you for thus serving him ? "

" he taught me all the magical tricks he_knew . some were good tricks, and some were only frauds; but I_have remained faithful to my promise ."

" what did you_do with_the girl ? " asked Glinda; and at_this question everyone bent forward and listened eagerly for_the reply .

"I enchanted her," answered Mombi .

" in what way ? "

"I transformed her into -- into -- "

" into what ? " demanded Glinda, as_the witch hesitated .

" into a boy ! " said Mombi, in a low tone ."

a boy ! " echoed every voice; and then, because they knew that_this old woman had reared tip from childhood, all eyes were turned to where the boy stood .

" yes," said the old witch, nodding her head; " that_is_the princess Ozma -- the child brought to_me by_the wizard who stole her father's throne . that_is_the rightful ruler of_the emerald city ! " and she pointed her long bony finger straight at_the boy .

"I ! " cried tip, in amazement ." why, I'm no princess Ozma -- I'm not

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