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]
your own --" the lion miserably slunk down beside Dorothy .

sir Hokus looked fierce and rattled his sword, but he_could think of nothing that_would help them out of_their trouble .

" to- morrow there won't be any Scarecrow in Oz ! " wailed Dorothy ."Oh, dear ! Oh, dear ! " and_the little girl began to cry as_if her heart would break .

" stop ! stop ! " begged the Scarecrow, while sir Hokus awkwardly patted Dorothy on_the back ."I'd rather have_you for_my family any day .I don't care aKinkajou for being emperor, and as for_my sons, they_are unnatural villains who make my life miserable by telling me how old I_am ! "

" just like a poem I once read," said Dorothy, brightening up:

" you_are old, father William," the young man said, " and your hair has become very white, and yet you incessantly stand on_your head ! do_you_think, at your age, it_is right ? "

" that's it, that's it exactly ! " exclaimed the Scarecrow as Dorothy finished repeating the verse ." ' you_are old, father Scarecrow ! ' that's all I hear . I_did stand on my head, too . and Dorothy, I_can't seem to_get used to being a grandparent," added the Scarecrow in a melancholy voice ." it's turning my straws gray ." he plucked several from_his chest and held them out to her ." why, those little villains don't even believe in Oz ! ' it's not on_the map, old Grandpapapapapah ! ' " he mumbled, imitating the tones of_his little grandsons so cleverly that Dorothy laughed in_spite of herself .

" this_is what becomes of pride ! " the Scarecrow extended his hands expressively ." most people who hunt up their family trees are in for a fall, and I've had mine ."

" but who do_you_want to_be ? " asked the knight gravely ."A Scarecrow in Oz -- or the -- er -- emperor that you were ? "

"I don't care who I were ! " in_his excitement, the Scarecrow lost his grammar completely ." i_want to_be who I_am . i_want to_be myself ."

" but which one ? " asked the cowardly lion, who was still a bit confused .

" why, my best self, of_course," said the Scarecrow with a bright smile . the sight of_his old friends had quite restored his cheerfulness ."I've been here long enough to_know that I_am a better Scarecrow than an emperor ."

" why, how simple it_is ! " sighed Dorothy contentedly ." professor Wogglebug was all wrong . it's not what you were, but what you_are -- it's being yourself that counts ."

" by my Halidom, the little maid is right ! " said sir Hokus, slapping his knee in delight ." let your Gheewizard but try his transformations ! out on him ! but what says yon honest henchman ? " happy Toko, although he understood no word of_the conversation, had_been watching the discussion with great interest . he had_been trying to attract the Scarecrow's attention for some_time, but the knight was_the only_one who had noticed him .

" what_is it, Tappy ? " asked the Scarecrow, dropping easily back into silver Islandish .

" honored master, the dawn approaches and with it the royal princes and_the grand Gheewizard -- and your bride ! " happy paused significantly . the Scarecrow shuddered .

" let's go back to Oz ! " said the cowardly lion uneasily .

the Scarecrow was feeling in_the pocket of_his old Munchkin suit which he always wore under his robes of state ." here ! " said he, giving a little pill to happy Toko ." it's one of professor Wogglebug's language pills," he exclaimed to Dorothy, " and will enable him to_speak and understand Ozish ." happy swallowed the pill gravely .

" greetings, honorable Ozites ! " he_said politely as_soon_as_the pill was down . Dorothy clapped her hands in delight, for it_was so comfortable to_have him speak their own language .

" I_could never have stood it here without Tappy Oko ! " the Scarecrow looked fondly at his imperial Punster .

" queer name he has," rumbled the cowardly lion, looking at happy Toko as_if he had thoughts of eating him .

" methinks he_should_be knighted," rumbled sir Hokus, beaming on_the little Silverman ." rise, sir Pudding ! "

" the sun will do_that in a minute or more, and then, then we_shall all be thrown into prison ! " wailed happy Toko dismally .

" we were going to escape in a small boat," explained the Scarecrow, " but --" it_was not necessary for him to finish .a boat large enough to hold Dorothy, the cowardly lion, the Scarecrow, happy Toko, the camel and_the dromedary could_not very_well be launched in secret .

"Oh, dear ! " sighed Dorothy, " if I'd only wished you and all of us back in_the emerald city ! "

" you wished very_well, lady dot," said the knight ." when i_think of what i_was going to wish for --"

" what were you going to wish, Hokus ? " asked the cowardly lion curiously .

" for a dragon ! " faltered the knight, looking terribly ashamed .

"A dragon ! " gasped Dorothy ." why, what good would that_have done us ? "

" wait ! " interrupted the Scarecrow ." I_have thought of something ! why_not climb my family tree ? it_is a long, long way, but at_the top lies Oz ! "

"Grammercy, a pretty plan ! " exclaimed sir Hokus, peering up at_the bean pole .

"Wouldn't that be social climbing ? " chuckled happy Toko, recovering his spirits with a bound . the cowardly lion said nothing, but heaved a mighty sigh which no one heard, for they were all running toward the bean pole . it_was a good family tree to climb, sure enough, for there were handy little notches in_the stalk .

" you go first ! " sir Hokus helped Dorothy up . when she had gone a few steps, the Scarecrow, holding his robes carefully, followed, then honest happy Toko .

"I'll go last," said sir Hokus bravely, and had just set his foot on_the first notch when a hoarse scream rang through_the hall .

chapter 19

PLANNING to fly from_the silver island

it was_the comfortable camel .Waking suddenly, he_found himself deserted ."Oh, where is my dear Karwan Bashi ? " he roared dismally ." come back ! come back ! "

" hush up, can't you ? " rumbled the cowardly lion ." do_you_want Dorothy and everybody to_be thrown into prison on_our account ? we_can't climb the bean pole and will_have to wait here and face it out ."

" but how uncomfortable," wailed the camel . he began to sob heavily . Dorothy, although highest up the bean pole, heard all of_this distinctly ."Oh," she cried remorsefully, " we_can't desert the cowardly lion like this .I never thought about him ."

" spoken like the dear little maid you_are," said the knight ." the good beast never reminded us of it, either . there's bravery for_you ! "

" let_us descend at once, I'll not move a step without the cowardly lion ! " in_his agitation, the Scarecrow lost his balance and fell headlong to_the ground, knocking sir Hokus's helmet terribly askew as he passed . the others made haste to_follow him and were soon gathered gravely at_the foot of_the beanstalk .

"I'll have to_think of some other plan," said the Scarecrow, looking nervously at_the sky, which showed, through_the long windows, the first streaks of dawn . the comfortable camel controlled its sobs with difficulty and pressed as close to sir Hokus as it could . the doubtful dromedary was still asleep .

" it would_have_been a terrible climb," mused the Scarecrow, thinking of_his long, long fall down the pole ."Ah, I_have it ! "

" what ? " asked Dorothy anxiously .

"I wonder I_did_not think of it before .Ah, my brains are working better ! i_will abdicate," exclaimed the Scarecrow triumphantly ." i_will abdicate, make a farewell speech, and return with_you to Oz ! "

" what if_they refuse to let your radiant highness go ? " put in happy Toko tremulously ." what if_the Gheewizard should work his magic before_you finished your speech ? "

" then we'll make a dash for_it ! " said sir Hokus, twirling his sword recklessly .

"I'm with_you," said the cowardly lion huskily, " but you needn't have come back for_me ."

" all right ! " said the Scarecrow cheerfully ." and now that everything's settled so nicely, we_might as_well enjoy the little time left . put out the lights, Tappy . Dorothy and_I_will sit on_the throne, and_the rest of you come as close as possible ."

sir Hokus wakened the doubtful dromedary and pulled and tugged it across the hall, where it immediately fell down asleep again . the comfortable camel ambled about eating the flowers out_of_the vases . the cowardly lion had placed himself at Dorothy's feet, and sir Hokus and happy Toko seated themselves upon_the first step of_the gorgeous silver throne .

then, while they waited for morning, Dorothy told the Scarecrow all about_the Pokes and fix city, and_the Scarecrow told once again of_his victory over the king of_the golden Islands .

" where is_the magic fan now ? " asked Dorothy at_the end of_the story .

the Scarecrow smiled broadly, and feeling in a deep pocket brought out the little fan and also the parasol he had plucked from_the beanstalk ." do_you_know," he_said smiling, " so_much has happened I haven't thought of_them since_the battle . i_was saving them for_you, Dorothy ."

" for_me ! " exclaimed the little girl in delight ." let me see them ! " the Scarecrow handed them over obligingly, but happy Toko trembled so violently that he rolled down the steps of_the throne .

"I beg of you ! " he scrambled to_his feet and held up his hands in terror ."I beg of you, don't open that fan ! "

" she's used to magic, Tappy . you needn't worry," said the Scarecrow easily .

" of_course I_am," said Dorothy with great dignity ." but this'll be mighty useful if anyone tries to conquer Oz again . we_can just fan 'em away ."

Dorothy pulled a hair from_the cowardly lion's mane, and winding it around the little fan, put it carefully in_the pocket of her dress . the parasol she hung by its ribbon to her arm .

" perhaps Ozma will look in_the magic picture and wish us all back again," said the little girl after they had sat for a time in silence .

" I_doubt it ." the dromedary stirred and mumbled in its sleep .

" singular beast, that ! " ejaculated the knight ."Doubting never gets one anywhere ."

" hush ! " warned the Scarecrow ."I hear footsteps ! "

" come here ." sir Hokus called hoarsely to_the camel, who was eating a paper lantern at_the other end of_the room . the beast ran awkwardly over to_the throne, and swallowing the lantern with a convulsive gulp, settled down beside the dromedary .

" whatever happens, we_must stick together," said the knight emphatically ."Ah -- ! "

Dorothy held fast to_the Scarecrow with one hand and to_the throne with_the other . the sun had risen at last . there_was a loud crash of drums and trumpets, a rush of feet, and into_the hall marched the most splendid company Dorothy had seen in her whole life of adventures .

chapter 20

Dorothy UPSETS the ceremony of_the island

"A caravan ! " whistled the comfortable camel, lurching to_his feet ." how nice ! "

" I_doubt that ! " the dromedary's eyes flew open, and he stared sleepily at_the magnificent procession of silver Islanders .

first came the musicians, playing their shining silver trumpets and flutes . the grand chew chew and general mugwump followed, attired in brilliant silk robes of state . then came the three princes, glittering with jeweled chains and medals, and_the fifteen little princes, like so_many silver butterflies in their satin kimonas . next appeared a palanquin bearing the veiled princess orange blossom, followed by a whole company of splendid courtiers and after them as many_of_the everyday silver Islanders as_the hall would hold . there_was a moment of silence . then the whole assemblage, contrary to_the Scarecrow's edict, fell upon their faces .

" my ! " exclaimed Dorothy, impressed in_spite of herself ." are_you sure you_want to_give up all this ? "

" great emperor, beautiful as_the sun, wise as_the stars, and radiant as_the clouds, the ceremony of restoration is about to_begin ! " quavered the grand chew chew, rising slowly . then he paused, for he_was suddenly confused by_the strange company around the Scarecrow's throne .

" treachery ! " hissed the eldest prince to_the others ." we left him tied to_the bean pole . ancient Papa Scarecrow needs watching ! who_are these curious objects he has gathered about him, pray ? "

now by some magic which even I_cannot explain, the people from Oz found they_could understand all that was being said . when Dorothy heard herself called an object and saw the wicked faces of_the three princes and_the stupid little grandsons, she no longer wondered at_the Scarecrow's decision .

the Scarecrow himself bowed calmly ." first," said he cheerfully, " let me introduce my friends and visitors from Oz ."

the silver Islanders, who really loved the Scarecrow, bowed politely as he_called out the names of Dorothy and_the others . but the three silver princes scowled and whispered indignantly among themselves .

" I_am growing very wroth ! " choked sir Hokus to_the cowardly lion .

" let the ceremony proceed ! " called the eldest prince harshly, before_the Scarecrow had finished his introductions ." let the proper body of_his serene highness be immediately restored . way for_the grand Gheewizard ! way for_the grand Gheewizard ! "

" one moment," put in_the Scarecrow in a dignified voice ." I_have something to_say ." the silver Islanders clapped loudly at_this, and Dorothy felt a bit reassured . perhaps they_would listen to reason after all and let the Scarecrow depart peacefully . how they were ever to escape if_they didn't, the little girl could_not_see .

" my dear children," began the Scarecrow in_his jolly voice, " nothing could_have_been more wonderful than my return to_this lovely island, but in_the years I_have_been away from_you I_have changed very_much, and I_find I no longer care for being emperor . so with your kind permission, i_will keep the excellent body I now have and will abdicate in favor of_my eldest son and return with my friends to Oz . for in Oz I really belong ."

a dead silence followed the Scarecrow's speech -- then perfect pandemonium .

" no ! no ! you_are a good emperor ! we_will_not let you go ! " shrieked the people ." you_are our

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