Oz 03: Ozma of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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great cheer went up from all her friends, which_was led by_the voices of_the Scarecrow and_the private . but the Nome king did_not join them . he crept back onto his throne like a whipped dog, and lay there bitterly bemoaning his defeat .

" but we_have_not_yet found my faithful follower, the tin woodman," said Ozma to Dorothy, " and without him I_do_not wish to_go away ."

" nor I," replied Dorothy, quickly ."Wasn't he in_the palace ? "

" he_must_be there," said Billina; " but I had no clue to guide me in guessing the tin woodman, so I_must_have missed him ."

" we_will go back into_the rooms," said Dorothy ." this magic belt, I_am_sure, will help_us to_find our dear old friend ."

so she re- entered the palace, the doors of_which still stood open, and everyone followed her except the Nome king, the queen of Ev and prince Evring . the mother had taken the little prince in her lap and was fondling and kissing him lovingly, for he_was her youngest born .

but the others went with Dorothy, and when she came to_the middle of_the first room the girl waved her hand, as she had seen the king do, and commanded the tin woodman, whatever form he might then have, to resume his proper shape . no result followed this attempt, so Dorothy went into another room and repeated it, and so through all the rooms of_the palace . yet the tin woodman did_not appear to_them, nor could they imagine which among_the thousands of ornaments was their transformed friend .

sadly they returned to_the throne room, where the king, seeing that_they had met with failure, jeered at Dorothy, saying:

" you_do_not know how to use my belt, so it_is of no use to_you . give it back to_me and_I_will let you go free-- you and all the people who came with_you . as for_the royal family of Ev, they_are my slaves, and shall remain here ."

" I_shall keep the belt," said Dorothy .

" but how can_you escape, without my consent ? " asked the king .

" easily enough," answered the girl ." all we_need to_do is to walk out the way that we came in ."

"Oh, that's all, is_it ? " sneered the king ." well, where is_the passage through which you entered this room ? "

they all looked around, but could_not discover the place, for_it had long since been closed . Dorothy, however, would_not_be dismayed . she waved her hand toward the seemingly solid wall of_the cavern and said:

"I command the passage to open ! "

instantly the order was obeyed; the opening appeared and_the passage lay plainly before them .

the king was amazed, and all the others overjoyed .

" why, then, if_the belt obeys you, were we unable to discover the tin woodman ? " asked Ozma .

" I_can't imagine," said Dorothy .

" see here, girl," proposed the king, eagerly; " give_me the belt, and_I_will tell you what shape the tin woodman was changed into, and then you_can easily find him ."

Dorothy hesitated, but Billina cried out:

"Don't you_do it ! if_the Nome king gets the belt again he_will make every_one of us prisoners, for we_will_be in_his power . only by keeping the belt, Dorothy, will_you ever be_able to leave this place in safety ."

" i_think that_is true," said the Scarecrow ." but I_have another idea, due to my excellent brains . let Dorothy transform the king into a goose-egg unless he agrees to_go into_the palace and bring out to_us the ornament which_is our friend nick chopper, the tin woodman ."

"A goose-egg ! " echoed the horrified king ." how dreadful ! "

" well, a goose-egg you_will_be unless you go and fetch us the ornament we_want," declared Billina, with a joyful chuckle .

" you_can see for_yourself that Dorothy is able to use the magic belt all right," added the Scarecrow .

the Nome king thought it over and finally consented, for he_did_not want to_be a goose-egg . so he went into_the palace to_get the ornament which_was the transformation of_the tin woodman, and_they all awaited his return with considerable impatience, for they were anxious to leave this underground cavern and_see the sunshine once more . but when_the Nome king came back he brought nothing with_him except a puzzled and anxious expression upon his face .

" he's gone ! " he_said ." the tin woodman is nowhere in_the palace ."

" are_you sure ? " asked Ozma, sternly .

"I'm very sure," answered the king, trembling, " for I_know just what I transformed him into, and exactly where he stood . but he_is_not there, and please don't change me into a goose-egg, because I've done the best I_could ."

they were all silent for a time, and then Dorothy said:

" there_is no use punishing the Nome king any more, and I'm 'fraid we'll have to_go away without our friend ."

" if he_is_not here, we_cannot rescue him," agreed the Scarecrow, sadly ." poor nick ! I wonder what has become of him ."

" and he owed me six weeks back pay ! " said one_of_the generals, wiping the tears from_his eyes with_his gold- laced coat sleeve .

very sorrowfully they determined to return to_the upper world without their former companion, and so Ozma gave the order to_begin the march through_the passage .

the army went first, and then the royal family of Ev, and afterward came Dorothy, Ozma, Billina, the Scarecrow and Tiktok .

they left the Nome king scowling at them from_his throne, and had no thought of danger until Ozma chanced to look back and saw a large number of_the warriors following them in full chase, with their swords and spears and axes raised to strike down the fugitives as_soon_as they drew near enough .

Evidently the Nome king had made this last attempt to_prevent their escaping him; but it did him no good, for when Dorothy saw the danger they were in she stopped and waved her hand and whispered a command to_the magic belt .

instantly the foremost warriors became eggs, which rolled upon_the floor of_the cavern in_such numbers that_those behind could_not advance without stepping upon them . but, when_they saw the eggs, all desire to advance departed from_the warriors, and_they turned and fled madly into_the cavern, and refused to_go back again .

our friends had no further trouble in reaching the end of_the passage, and soon were standing in_the outer air upon_the gloomy path between_the two high mountains . but the way to Ev lay plainly before them, and_they fervently hoped that_they had seen the last of_the Nome king and of_his dreadful palace .

the cavalcade was led by Ozma, mounted on_the cowardly lion, and_the queen of Ev, who rode upon_the back of_the tiger . the children of_the queen walked behind her, hand in hand . Dorothy rode the sawhorse, while the Scarecrow walked and commanded the army in_the absence of_the tin woodman .

presently the way began to lighten and more of_the sunshine to_come in between_the two mountains . and before long they heard the " thump ! thump ! thump ! " of_the giant's hammer upon_the road .

" how may we pass the monstrous man of iron ? " asked the queen, anxious for_the safety of her children . but Dorothy solved the problem by a word to_the magic belt .

the giant paused, with_his hammer held motionless in_the air, thus allowing the entire party to_pass between his cast- iron legs in safety .

19 . the king of Ev

if there were any shifting, rock- colored Nomes on_the mountain side now, they were silent and respectful, for_our adventurers were_not annoyed, as before, by their impudent laughter . really the Nomes had nothing to laugh at, since_the defeat of_their king .

on_the other side they found Ozma's golden chariot, standing as_they had left it . soon the lion and_the tiger were harnessed to_the beautiful chariot, in which_was enough room for Ozma and_the queen and six of_the royal children .

little Evring preferred to ride with Dorothy upon_the sawhorse, which had a long back . the prince had recovered from_his shyness and had become very fond of_the girl who had rescued him, so they were fast friends and chatted pleasantly together as_they rode along .Billina was also perched upon_the head of_the wooden steed, which seemed not to mind the added weight in_the least, and_the boy was full of wonder that ahen could talk, and say such sensible things .

when_they came to_the gulf, Ozma's magic carpet carried them all over in safety; and now they began to_pass the trees, in_which birds were singing; and_the breeze that was wafted to_them from_the farms of Ev was spicy with flowers and new-mown hay; and_the sunshine fell full upon them, to warm them and drive away from their bodies the chill and dampness of_the underground kingdom of_the Nomes .

" i_would_be quite content," said the Scarecrow to Tiktok, " were only the tin woodman with_us . but it breaks my heart to leave him behind ."

" he_was a fine fel- low," replied Tiktok, "al- though his MA-ter-i-al was not ve-ry du-ra-ble ."

"Oh, tin is an excellent material," the Scarecrow hastened to_say; " and if anything ever happened to poor nick chopper he_was always easily soldered . besides, he_did_not have to_be wound up, and was not liable to_get out of order ."

"I some-times wish," said Tiktok, " that i_was stuffed with straw, as_you_are . it_is hard to_be made of cop-per ."

" I_have no reason to complain of_my lot," replied the Scarecrow ."A little fresh straw, now_and_then, makes me as good as new . but I_can never be the polished gentleman that my poor departed friend, the tin woodman, was ."

you_may_be_sure the royal children of Ev and their queen mother were delighted at seeing again their beloved country; and when_the towers of_the palace of Ev came into view they_could_not forbear cheering at_the sight . little Evring, riding in front of Dorothy, was so overjoyed that he_took a curious tin whistle from_his pocket and blew a shrill blast that made the sawhorse leap and prance in sudden alarm .

" what_is that ? " asked Billina, who had_been obliged to flutter her wings in_order to_keep her seat upon_the head of_the frightened sawhorse .

" that's my whistle," said prince Evring, holding it out upon his hand .

it_was in_the shape of a little fat Pig, made of tin and painted green . the whistle was in_the tail of_the Pig .

" where did you get it ? " asked the yellow hen, closely examining the toy with her bright eyes .

" why, I picked it up in_the Nome king's palace, while Dorothy was making her guesses, and I put it in my pocket," answered the little prince .

Billina laughed; or at_least she made the peculiar cackle that served her for a laugh .

" no wonder I couldn't find the tin woodman," she said; " and no wonder the magic belt didn't make him appear, or the king couldn't find him, either ! "

" what do_you_mean ? " questioned Dorothy .

" why, the prince had him in_his pocket," cried Billina, cackling again .

" I_did_not ! " protested little Evring ."I only took the whistle ."

" well, then, watch me," returned the hen, and reaching out a claw she touched the whistle and said "Ev ."

swish !

" good afternoon," said the tin woodman, taking off his funnel cap and bowing to Dorothy and_the prince ." i_think I_must_have been asleep for_the first time since I was_made of tin, for I_do_not remember our leaving the Nome king ."

" you_have_been enchanted," answered the girl, throwing an arm around her old friend and hugging him tight in her joy ." but it's all right, now ."

" i_want my whistle ! " said the little prince, beginning to cry .

" hush ! " cautioned Billina ." the whistle is lost, but you_may_have another when_you get home ."

the Scarecrow had fairly thrown himself upon_the bosom of_his old comrade, so surprised and delighted was he to_see him again, and Tiktok squeezed the tin woodman's hand so earnestly that he dented some of_his fingers . then they had to_make way for Ozma to welcome the tin man, and_the army caught sight of him and set up a cheer, and everybody was delighted and happy .

for_the tin woodman was a great favorite with all who knew him, and_his sudden recovery after they had thought he_was lost to_them forever was indeed a pleasant surprise .

before long the cavalcade arrived at_the royal palace, where a great crowd of people had gathered to welcome their queen and her ten children . there_was much shouting and cheering, and_the people threw flowers in their path, and every face wore a happy smile .

they found the princess Langwidere in her mirrored chamber, where she was admiring one of her handsomest heads-- one with rich chestnut hair, dreamy walnut eyes and a shapely hickorynut nose . she was very_glad to_be relieved of her duties to_the people of Ev, and_the queen graciously permitted her to retain her rooms and her cabinet of heads as long as she lived .

then the queen took her eldest son out upon a balcony that overlooked the crowd of subjects gathered below, and said to_them:

" here_is your future ruler, king Evardo Fifteenth . he_is fifteen years_of_age, has fifteen silver buckles on_his jacket and is_the fifteenth Evardo to rule the land of Ev ."

the people shouted their approval fifteen times, and even the Wheelers, some of whom were present, loudly promised to obey the new king .

so the queen placed a big crown of gold, set with rubies, upon Evardo's head, and threw an ermine robe over his shoulders, and proclaimed him king; and he bowed gratefully to all his subjects and then went away to_see if he_could find any cake in_the royal pantry .

Ozma of Oz and her people, as_well as Dorothy, Tiktok and Billina, were splendidly entertained by_the queen mother, who owed all her happiness to_their kind offices; and_that evening the

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