Oz 08: Tik-Tok of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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will heal in a day and my leg will heal in a week, when I_shall_be as_well as ever .Having shot me, and so caused me all this annoyance, it_is only fair and just that you remain here and allow me to eat you as_soon_as I_can open my jaws ."

"I beg to differ with_you," returned the soldier firmly ." I_have_made an engagement with queen Ann of Oogaboo to help her conquer the world, and I_cannot break my word for_the sake of being eaten by aRak ."

"Oh; that's different," said the monster ." if_you've an engagement, don't let me detain you ."

so Files felt around in_the dark and grasped the hand of_the trembling queen, whom he led away from_the flapping, sighing Rak . they stumbled over the stones for a way but presently began to_see dimly the path ahead of_them, as_they got farther and farther away from_the dreadful spot where the wounded monster lay . by and by they reached a little hill and could_see the last rays of_the sun flooding a pretty valley beyond, for now they had passed beyond the cloudy breath of_the Rak . here were huddled the sixteen officers, still frightened and panting from their run . they had halted only because it_was impossible for_them to run any farther .

queen Ann gave them a severe scolding for their cowardice, at_the same time praising Files for_his courage .

" we_are wiser than he, however," muttered general Clock, " for by running away we_are now able to assist your majesty in conquering the world; whereas, had Files been eaten by_the Rak, he_would_have deserted your army ."

after a brief rest they descended into_the valley, and as_soon_as they were out of sight of_the Rak the spirits of_the entire party rose quickly . just at dusk they came to a brook, on_the banks of_which queen Ann commanded them to_make camp for_the night .

each officer carried in_his pocket a tiny white tent . this, when placed upon_the ground, quickly grew in size until it_was large enough to permit the owner to enter it and sleep within its canvas walls .Files was obliged to carry a knapsack, in which_was not_only his own tent but an elaborate pavilion for queen Ann, besides a bed and chair and a magic table . this table, when set upon_the ground in Ann's pavilion, became of large size, and in a drawer of_the table was contained the queen's supply of extra clothing, her manicure and toilet articles and other necessary things . the royal bed was_the only_one in_the camp, the officers and private sleeping in hammocks attached to_their tent poles .

there_was also in_the knapsack a flag bearing the royal emblem of Oogaboo, and this flag Files flew upon its staff every night, to show that_the country they were in had_been conquered by_the queen of Oogaboo . so_far, no one but themselves had seen the flag, but Ann was pleased to_see it flutter in_the breeze and considered herself already a famous conqueror .

chapter Four

Betsy Braves the Billows

the waves dashed and_the lightning flashed and_the thunder rolled and_the ship struck a rock .Betsy bobbin was running across the deck and_the shock sent her flying through_the air until she fell with a splash into_the dark blue water . the same shock caught Hank, a thin little, sad- faced mule, and tumbled him also into_the sea, far from_the ship's side .

when Betsy came up, gasping for breath because the wet plunge had surprised her, she reached out in_the dark and grabbed a bunch of hair . at first she thought it was_the end of a rope, but presently she heard a dismal "Hee-haw ! " and knew she was holding fast to_the end of Hank's tail .

suddenly the sea was lighted up by a vivid glare . the ship, now in_the far distance, caught fire, blew up and sank beneath the waves .

Betsy shuddered at_the sight, but just then her eye caught a mass of wreckage floating near her and she let go the mule's tail and seized the rude raft, pulling herself up so_that she rode upon it in safety .Hank also saw the raft and swam to_it, but he_was so clumsy he never would_have_been able to climb upon it had_not Betsy helped him to_get aboard .

they had to crowd close together, for their support was only a hatch- cover torn from_the ship's deck; but it floated them fairly well and both the girl and_the mule knew it would keep them from drowning .

the storm was not over, by any means, when_the ship went down .Blinding bolts of lightning shot from cloud to cloud and_the clamor of deep thunderclaps echoed far over the sea . the waves tossed the little raft here and there as a child tosses a rubber ball and Betsy had a solemn feeling that for hundreds of watery miles in every direction there_was no living thing besides herself and_the small donkey .

perhaps Hank had the same thought, for he gently rubbed his nose against the frightened girl and said "Hee-haw ! " in_his softest voice, as_if to comfort her .

" you'll protect me, Hank dear, won't you ? " she cried helplessly, and_the mule said "Hee-haw ! " again, in tones that meant a promise .

on board the ship, during the days that preceded the wreck, when_the sea was calm, Betsy and Hank had become good friends; so, while the girl might_have preferred a more powerful protector in_this dreadful emergency, she felt that_the mule would do all in a mule's power to guard her safety .

all night they floated, and when_the storm had worn itself out and passed away with a few distant growls, and_the waves had grown smaller and easier to ride, Betsy stretched herself out on_the wet raft and fell asleep .

Hank did_not sleep a wink . perhaps he_felt it his duty to guard Betsy .Anyhow, he crouched on_the raft beside the tired sleeping girl and watched patiently until the first light of dawn swept over the sea .

the light wakened Betsy bobbin . she sat up, rubbed her eyes and stared across the water .

"Oh, Hank; there's land ahead ! " she exclaimed .

"Hee-haw ! " answered Hank in_his plaintive voice .

the raft was floating swiftly toward a very beautiful country and as_they drew near Betsy could_see banks of lovely flowers showing brightly between leafy trees . but no people were to_be seen at all .

chapter Five

the Roses repulse the Refugees

gently the raft grated on_the sandy beach . then Betsy easily waded ashore, the mule following closely behind her . the sun was now shining and_the air was warm and laden with_the fragrance of roses .

"I'd like some breakfast, Hank," remarked the girl, feeling more cheerful now that she was on dry land; " but we_can't eat the flowers, although they_do smell mighty good ."

"Hee-haw ! " replied Hank and trotted up a little pathway to_the top of_the bank .

Betsy followed and from_the eminence looked around her .a little way off stood a splendid big greenhouse, its thousands of crystal panes glittering in_the sunlight .

" there ought_to_be people somewhere ' round," observed Betsy thoughtfully; "gardeners, or somebody . let's go and_see, Hank .I'm getting hungrier ev'ry minute ."

so they walked toward the great greenhouse and came to its entrance without meeting with anyone at all .a door stood ajar, so Hank went in first, thinking if there_was any danger he_could back out and warn his companion . but Betsy was close at his heels and_the moment she entered was lost in amazement at_the wonderful sight she saw .

the greenhouse was filled with magnificent rosebushes, all growing in big pots . on_the central stem of each bush bloomed a splendid rose, gorgeously colored and deliciously fragrant, and in_the center of each rose was_the face of a lovely girl .

as Betsy and Hank entered, the heads of_the Roses were drooping and their eyelids were closed in slumber; but the mule was so amazed that he uttered a loud "Hee-haw ! " and at_the sound of_his harsh voice the rose leaves fluttered, the Roses raised their heads and a hundred startled eyes were instantly fixed upon_the intruders .

"I--I beg your pardon ! " stammered Betsy, blushing and confused .

"O-o-o-h ! " cried the Roses, in a sort of sighing chorus; and one_of_them added: " what a horrid noise ! "

" why, that was only Hank," said Betsy, and as_if to_prove the truth of her words the mule uttered another loud "Hee-haw ! "

at_this all the Roses turned on their stems as far as_they were able and trembled as_if some one were shaking their bushes .a dainty moss rose gasped: " dear me ! how dreadfully dreadful ! "

" it isn't dreadful at all," said Betsy, somewhat indignant ." when_you get used to Hank's voice it_will put you to sleep ."

the Roses now looked at_the mule less fearfully and one_of_them asked:

" is_that savage beast named Hank ? "

" yes; Hank's my comrade, faithful and true," answered the girl, twining her arms around the little mule's neck and hugging him tight ."Aren't you, Hank ? "

Hank could only say in reply: "Hee-haw ! " and at his bray the Roses shivered again .

" please go away ! " begged one ." can't you_see you're frightening us out of a week's growth ? "

" go away ! " echoed Betsy ." why, we've no place to_go . we've just been wrecked ."

" wrecked ? " asked the Roses in a surprised chorus .

" yes; we were on a big ship and_the storm came and wrecked it," explained the girl ." but Hank and I caught hold of a raft and floated ashore to_this place, and-- we're tired and hungry . what country is_this, please ? "

" this_is_the rose kingdom," replied the moss rose, haughtily, " and it_is devoted to_the culture of_the rarest and fairest Roses grown ."

"I believe it," said Betsy, admiring the pretty blossoms .

" but only Roses are allowed here," continued a delicate tea rose, bending her brows in a frown; " therefore you_must go away before_the royal gardener finds you and casts you back into_the sea ."

"Oh ! is_there a royal gardener, then ? " inquired Betsy .

" to_be_sure ."

" and_is he a rose, also ? "

" of_course not; he's a man--a wonderful man," was_the reply .

" well, I'm not afraid of a man," declared the girl, much relieved, and even as she spoke the royal gardener popped into_the greenhouse--a spading fork in one hand and awatering pot in_the other .

he_was a funny little man, dressed in a rose- colored costume, with ribbons at his knees and elbows, and a bunch of ribbons in_his hair . his eyes were small and twinkling, his nose sharp and_his face puckered and deeply lined .

"O-ho ! " he exclaimed, astonished to_find strangers in_his greenhouse, and when Hank gave a loud bray the gardener threw the watering pot over the mule's head and danced around with_his fork, in_such agitation that presently he fell over the handle of_the implement and sprawled at full length upon_the ground .

Betsy laughed and pulled the watering pot off from Hank's head . the little mule was angry at_the treatment he had received and backed toward the gardener threateningly .

" look out for_his heels ! " called Betsy warningly and_the gardener scrambled to_his feet and hastily hid behind the Roses .

" you_are breaking the law ! " he shouted, sticking out his head to glare at_the girl and_the mule .

" what law ? " asked Betsy .

" the law of_the rose kingdom . no strangers are allowed in_these domains ."

" not when_they're shipwrecked ? " she inquired .

" the law doesn't except shipwrecks," replied the royal gardener, and he_was about to_say more when suddenly there_was a crash of glass and a man came tumbling through_the roof of_the greenhouse and fell plump to_the ground .

chapter Six

shaggy Seeks his stray brother

this sudden arrival was a queer looking man, dressed all in garments so shaggy that Betsy at first thought he_must_be some animal . but the stranger ended his fall in asitting position and then the girl saw it_was really a man . he held an apple in_his hand, which he had evidently been eating when he fell, and so little was he jarred or flustered by_the accident that he continued to munch this apple as he calmly looked around him .

" good gracious ! " exclaimed Betsy, approaching him ." who_are you, and where did you come from ? "

" me ? Oh, I'm shaggy man," said he, taking another bite of_the apple ." just dropped in for a short call . excuse my seeming haste ."

" why, I s' pose you couldn't help the haste," said Betsy .

" no .I climbed an apple tree, outside; branch gave way and-- here I_am ."

as he spoke the shaggy man finished his apple, gave the core to Hank-- who ate it greedily -- and then stood up_to bow politely to Betsy and_the Roses .

the royal gardener had_been frightened nearly into fits by_the crash of glass and_the fall of_the shaggy stranger into_the bower of Roses, but now he peeped out from behind a bush and cried in_his squeaky voice:

" you're breaking the law ! you're breaking the law ! "

shaggy stared at him solemnly .

" is_the glass the law in_this country ? " he asked .

"Breaking the glass is breaking the law," squeaked the gardener, angrily ." also, to intrude in any part of_the rose kingdom is breaking the law ."

" how do_you_know ? " asked shaggy .

" why, it's printed in a book," said the gardener, coming forward and taking a small book from_his pocket ." page thirteen . here it_is: ' if any stranger enters the rose kingdom he shall at once be condemned by_the ruler and put to death .' so you_see, strangers," he continued triumphantly, " it's death for_you all and your time has_come ! "

but just here Hank interposed . he had_been stealthily backing toward the royal gardener, whom he disliked, and now the mule's heels shot out and struck the little man in_the middle . he doubled up like the letter "U" and flew out_of_the door so swiftly--

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