Oz 15: The Royal Book of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18]
bow and fairly beamed with pleasure . Dorothy, meanwhile, had set out an appetizing repast on a small, rocky ledge -- a regular feast, it appeared to_the hungry travelers . there were loaves of black bread, figs, dates, cheese, and a curious sort of dried meat which the cowardly lion swallowed in great quantities .

"Isn't this cozy ? " said Dorothy, forgetting the long, weary way ahead ." my, I'm glad we met you ! "

" very comforting to_us, too, my dear," said the camel, swaying complacently ."Isn't it, Doubty ? "

" there_are some silk cushions in my right- hand saddle sack, but I_doubt very_much whether you'll like 'em," mumbled the dromedary gruffly .

" out with_them ! " cried sir Hokus, pouncing on_the doubtful dromedary, and in a minute each of_the party had a cushion and was as snug as possible .

" could anything have_been more fortunate ? " exulted the knight ." we_can now resume our journey properly mounted ."

" i_think I'll ride the cowardly lion," said Dorothy, looking uneasily at_the high seat on_the camel's back ." let's start before it grows any darker ."

they had eaten to heart's content, and now, packing up the remainder of_the feast, the little party made ready to start .

sir Hokus, using the cowardly lion as a footstool, mounted the camel, and then Dorothy climbed on her old friend's back, and_the little caravan moved slowly through_the forest .

" there's a tent in my left- hand saddle sack, but I_doubt very_much whether you_can put it up," said the doubtful dromedary, falling in behind the comfortable camel ." I_doubt it very_much indeed ."

" how now, what means this doubting ? " called sir Hokus from_his perilous seat ."I'll pitch it when_the time comes ."

" mind you don't pitch out when_the camel goes ! " called the cowardly lion, who_would_have his little joke . sir Hokus, to_tell the truth, was feeling tossed about and dizzy, but he_was too polite to mention the fact . as_they proceeded, Dorothy told the comfortable camel all about_the Scarecrow and Oz .

an occasional word jolted down from above told her that_the knight was singing . they had gone possibly a mile when Dorothy pointed in excitement to a road just ahead .

" we_must_have missed it before ! wait, I'll see what it's like ." Jumping down from_the cowardly lion's back, she peered curiously at_the narrow, tree- lined path ." why, here's a sign ! "

" what of ? " asked the comfortable camel, lurching forward eagerly and nearly unseating the knight .

wish way

read Dorothy in a puzzled voice .

"Looks like a pretty good road," said the comfortable camel, squinting up its eyes .

" I_doubt it, Camy, I_doubt it very_much," said the doubtful dromedary tremulously .

" what does my dear Karwan Bashi think ? " asked the comfortable camel, looking adoringly back at_the knight .

" it_is unwise to_go back when_the journey lieth forward," said the knight, and immediately returned to_his song . so, single file, the little company turned in at_the narrow path, the comfortable camel advancing with timid steps and_the doubtful dromedary bobbing his head dubiously .

chapter 17

DOUBTY and CAMY vanish into space

for a short time, everything went well . then Dorothy, turning to_see how sir Hokus was getting along, discovered that_the doubtful dromedary had disappeared .

" why, where in_the_world ? " exclaimed Dorothy . the comfortable camel craned his wobbly neck and, when he_saw that his friend was gone, burst into tears . his sobs heaved sir Hokus clear out of_his seat and flung him, helmet first, into_the dust .

" go to ! " exploded the knight, sitting up ." if I were a bird, riding in yon nest would_be easier ." the last of_his sentence ended in a hoarse croak . sir Hokus vanished, and a great raven flopped down in_the center of_the road .

"Oh, where is my dear Karwan Bashi ? Oh, where is Doubty ? " screamed the comfortable camel, running around in frenzied circles ." i_wish I'd never come on_this path ! "

" magic ! " gasped Dorothy, clutching the cowardly lion's mane . the comfortable camel had melted into air before their very eyes .

" I_doubt it, I_doubt it very_much ! " coughed a faint voice close to her ear . Dorothy ducked her head involuntarily as a big yellow butterfly settled on_the cowardly lion's ear .

" our doubtful friend," whispered the lion weakly ."Oh, be careful, Dorothy dear . we_may turn into frogs or something worse any minute ."

Dorothy and_the cowardly lion had had experiences with magic transformations, and_the little girl, pressing her fingers to her eyes, tried to_think of something to_do . the raven was making awkward attempts to fly and cawing " go to, now ! " every_other second .

"Oh, i_wish dear_Sir Hokus were himself again," wailed Dorothy after trying in vain to recall some magic sentences . presto ! the knight stood before them, a bit breathless from flying, but hearty as ever .

" I_see ! I_see ! " said the cowardly lion with a little prance ." every wish you make on_this road comes true . remember the sign: ' wish way .' i_wish the comfortable camel were back . i_wish the doubtful dromedary were himself again," muttered the cowardly lion rapidly, and in an instant the two creatures were standing in_the path .

"Uds bodikins ! so I_did wish myself a bird ! " gasped the knight, rubbing his gauntlets together excitedly .

" there you_are ! there you_are ! " cried the comfortable camel, stumbling toward him and resting his foolish head on_his shoulder ." dear, dear Karwan Bashi ! and Doubty, old fellow, there you_are too ! Ah, how comfortable this all is ."

" not two -- one," wheezed the doubtful dromedary ." and Camy, I_doubt very_much whether I'd care for butterflying .I just happened to wish myself one ! "

"Don't make any more wishes," said the cowardly lion sternly .

" methinks a proper wish might serve us well," observed sir Hokus . he had_been pacing up and down in great excitement ." why_not wish --"

"Oh, stop ! " begged Dorothy ." wait till we've thought it all out .Wishing's awfully particular work ! "

" one person better speak for_the party," said the cowardly lion ." now, i_suggest --"

"Oh, be careful ! " screamed Dorothy again ." i_wish you_would all stop wishing ! " sir Hokus looked at her reproachfully . no wonder . at Dorothy's words, they all found themselves unable to_speak . the doubtful dromedary's eyes grew rounder and rounder . for_the first time in its life, it_was unable to doubt anything .

" now I'll have to_do_it all," thought Dorothy, and closing her eyes she tried to_think of_the very best wish for everybody concerned . it_was night and growing darker . the cowardly lion, the camel and dromedary and sir Hokus peered anxiously at_the little girl, wondering what in_the_world was going to happen . being wished around is no joke . for five minutes Dorothy thought and thought . then, standing in_the middle of_the road, she made her wish in a clear, distinct voice . it_was not a very long wish . to_be exact, it had only eight words .Eight -- short -- little words ! but stars ! no sooner were they out of Dorothy's mouth than_the earth opened with asplintering crash and swallowed up the whole company !

chapter 18

Dorothy FINDS the SCARECROW !

the next thing Dorothy knew, she was sitting on_the hard floor of a great, dark hall . one lantern burned feebly, and in_the dim, silvery light she_could just make out the comfortable camel scrambling awkwardly to_his feet .

"I smell straw," sniffed the camel softly .

" I_doubt very_much whether I_am going to like this place ." the voice of_the doubtful dromedary came hesitatingly through_the gloom .

" by sword and scepter ! " gasped the knight, " are_you there, sir cowardly ? "

" thank goodness, they_are ! " said Dorothy .Wishing other people about is a risky and responsible business ." they're all here, but I wonder where here_is ." she jumped up, but at a shuffle of feet drew back .

"Pigs ! Weasels ! " shrilled an angry voice, and a fat little man hurled himself at sir Hokus, who happened to_have fallen in_the lead .

"Uds trudgeons and bludgeons and maugre thy head ! " roared the knight, shaking him off like a fly .

"Tappy, Tappy, my dear boy . caution ! what's all this ? " at_the sound of_that dear, familiar voice Dorothy's heart gave a skip of joy, and without stopping to explain she rushed forward .

" Dorothy ! " cried the Scarecrow, stepping on_his kimona and falling off his silvery throne ."Lights, Tappy ! more lights, at once ! " but Tappy was too busy backing away from sir Hokus of Pokes .

" approach, vassal ! " thundered the knight, who under- stood not a word of Tappy's speech ." approach ! i_think I've been insulted ! " he drew his sword and glared angrily through_the darkness, and Tappy, having backed as far as possible, fell heels over pigtail into_the silver fountain . at_the loud splash, Dorothy hastened to_the rescue .

" they're friends, and we've found the Scarecrow, we've found the Scarecrow ! " she seized sir Hokus and shook him till his armor rattled .

"Tappy ! Tappy ! " called the Scarecrow ." where in_the_world did he pagota ? " that's exactly what he_said, but to Dorothy it sounded like no language at all .

" why," she cried in dismay, " it's the Scarecrow, but I_can't understand a word he's saying ! "

" i_think he_must_be talking turkey," droned the comfortable camel, " or donkey ! I_knew a donkey once, a very uncomfortable party, I --"

" I_doubt it's donkey," put in_the dromedary importantly, but no one paid any attention to_the two beasts . for happy Toko had at last dragged himself out_of_the fountain and set fifteen lanterns glowing .

"Oh ! " gasped Dorothy as_the magnificent silver throne room was flooded with light, " where are we ? "

the Scarecrow had picked himself up, and with outstretched arms came running toward her talking a perfect Niagara of silver Islandish .

" have_you forgotten your Ozish so soon ? " rumbled the cowardly lion reproachfully as Dorothy flung her arms around the Scarecrow . the Scarecrow, seeing the cowardly lion for_the first time, fairly fell upon his neck . then he brushed his clumsy hand across his forehead .

"Wasn't I talking Ozish ? " he asked in a puzzled voice .

"Oh, now you_are ! " exclaimed Dorothy . and sure enough, the Scarecrow was talking plain Ozish again .( which I don't mind telling you is also plain English .)

the knight had_been watching this little reunion with hardly repressed emotion .Advancing hastily, he dropped on one knee .

" my good sword and lance are ever at thy service, my lord Scarecrow ! " he exclaimed feelingly .

" who is_this impulsive person ? " gulped the Scarecrow, staring in undisguised astonishment at_the kneeling figure of_the ( yes, the " the" is_there) sir Hokus of Pokes .

" he's my knight Errant, and he's taken such good care of me," explained Dorothy eagerly .

" splendid fellow," hissed the cowardly lion in_the Scarecrow's other painted ear, " if he_does talk odds and ends ."

" any friend of little Dorothy's is my friend," said the Scarecrow, shaking hands with sir Hokus warmly ." but what i_want to_know is how you all got here ."

" first tell us where we_are," begged the little girl, for_the Scarecrow's silver hat and queue filled her with alarm .

" you_are on_the silver island," said the Scarecrow slowly ." and I_am the emperor -- or his good- for- nothing spirit -- and tomorrow," the Scarecrow glared around wildly, " tomorrow I'll be eighty-five going on eighty-six ." his voice broke and ended in a barely controlled sob .

" doubt that," drawled the doubtful dromedary sleepily .

"Eighty-five years old ! " gasped Dorothy ." why, no one in Oz grows any older ! "

" we_are no longer in Oz ." the Scarecrow shook his head sadly . then, fixing the group with a puzzled stare, he exclaimed, " but how did you get here ? "

" on a wish," said the knight in a hollow voice .

" yes," said Dorothy, " we've been hunting you all over Oz, and at last we came to wish way, and I_said ' i_wish we were all with_the Scarecrow,' just like that -- and next minute --"

" we fell and fell -- and fell -- and fell," wheezed the comfortable camel .

" and fell -- and fell -- and fell -- and fell," droned the dromedary, " and --"

" here you_are," finished the Scarecrow hastily, for_the dromedary showed signs of going on forever .

" now tell us every single thing that has happened to_you," demanded Dorothy eagerly .

happy Toko had recognized Dorothy and_the cowardly lion from_the Scarecrow's description, and he now approached with an arm full of cushions . these he set in a circle on_the floor, with one for_the Scarecrow in_the center, and with awarning finger on_his lips placed himself behind his master .

"Tappy is right ! " exclaimed the Scarecrow ." we_must_be as quiet as possible, for a great danger hangs over me ."

without more ado, he_told them of_his amazing fall down the beanstalk; of_his adventures on silver island; of_his sons and grandsons and_the Gheewizard's elixir which would turn him from a lively Scarecrow into an old, old emperor . all that I_have told you, he_told Dorothy, up_to_the very point where his eldest son had bound him to_the bean pole and tied up poor, faithful happy Toko . happy, it seems, had at last managed to free himself, and_they were about to_make their escape when Dorothy and her party had fallen into_the throne room . the comfortable camel and doubtful dromedary lis-tened politely at first, but worn out by their exciting adventures, fell asleep in_the middle of_the story .

nothing could_have exceeded Dorothy's dismay to learn that_the jolly Scarecrow of Oz, whom she had discovered herself, was in reality Chang Wang woe, emperor of silver island .

"Oh, this spoils everything ! " wailed the little girl .( the thought of Oz without the Scarecrow was unthinkable .) " it spoils everything ! we were going to adopt you and be your truly family .Weren't we ? "

the cowardly lion nodded ." i_was going to_be your cousin," he mumbled in achoked voice, " but now that you_have a family of your

Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18]