Oz 08: Tik-Tok of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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mind the fire and pincers, my good brothers . it_will_be best to_take these strangers to_the private citizen ."

" very_well, Tubekins," responded a voice, deep and powerful, that seemed to_come out_of_the air, for_the speaker was invisible .

all our friends gave a jump, at_this . even polychrome was so startled that her gauze draperies fluttered like a banner in a breeze . shaggy shook his head and sighed; queen Ann looked very unhappy; the officers clung to each_other, trembling violently .

but soon they gained courage to look more closely at_the peculiar person . as he_was a type of all the inhabitants of_this extraordinary land whom they afterward met, i_will try to_tell you what he looked like .

his face was beautiful, but lacked expression . his eyes were large and blue in color and_his teeth finely formed and white as snow . his hair was black and bushy and seemed inclined to curl at_the ends . so_far no one could find any fault with_his appearance . he wore a robe of scarlet, which did_not cover his arms and extended no lower than his bare knees . on_the bosom of_the robe was embroidered a terrible dragon's head, as horrible to look at as_the man was beautiful . his arms and legs were left bare and_the skin of one arm was bright yellow and_the skin of_the other arm a vivid green . he had one blue leg and one pink one, while both his feet-- which showed through_the open sandals he wore-- were jet black .

Betsy could_not decide whether these gorgeous colors were dyes or the natural tints of_the skin, but while she was thinking it over the man who had_been called "Tubekins" said:

" follow me to_the residence-- all of you ! "

but just then a voice exclaimed: " here's another of_them, Tubekins, lying in_the water of_the fountain ."

" gracious ! " cried Betsy; " it must_be Tik-Tok, and he'll drown ."

" water is a bad thing for_his clockworks, anyway," agreed shaggy, as with one accord they all started for_the fountain . but before_they could reach it, invisible hands raised Tik-Tok from_the marble basin and set him upon his feet beside it, water dripping from every joint of_his copper body .

" MA--ny tha--tha--tha-- thanks ! " he_said; and then his copper jaws clicked together and he could_say no more . he next made an attempt to walk but after several awkward trials found he_could_not move his joints .

Peals of jeering laughter from persons unseen greeted Tik-Tok's failure, and_the new arrivals in_this strange land found it very uncomfortable to realize_that there were many creatures around them who were invisible, yet could_be heard plainly .

" shall I wind him up ? " asked Betsy, feeling very sorry for Tik-Tok .

" i_think his machinery is wound; but he_needs oiling," replied shaggy .

at once an oil- can appeared before him, held on a level with_his eyes by some unseen hand . shaggy took the can and tried to oil Tik-Tok's joints . as_if to assist him, a strong current of warm air was directed against the copper man which quickly dried him . soon he_was able_to_say " MA-ny thanks ! " quite smoothly and_his joints worked fairly well .

" come ! " commanded Tubekins, and turning his back upon them he walked up the path toward the castle .

" shall we go ? " asked queen Ann, uncertainly; but just then she received a shove that almost pitched her forward on her head; so she decided to_go . the officers who hesitated received several energetic kicks, but could_not_see who delivered them; therefore they also decided-- very wisely-- to_go . the others followed willingly enough, for unless they ventured upon another terrible journey through_the tube they_must make_the best of_the unknown country they were in, and_the best seemed to_be to obey orders .

chapter Eleven

the famous fellowship of Fairies

after a short walk through very beautiful gardens they came to_the castle and followed Tubekins through_the entrance and into a great domed chamber, where he commanded them to_be seated .

from_the crown which he wore, Betsy had thought this man must_be the king of_the country they were in, yet after he had seated all the strangers upon benches that were ranged in a semicircle before a high throne, Tubekins bowed humbly before_the vacant throne and in a flash became invisible and disappeared .

the hall was an immense place, but there seemed to_be no one in_it beside themselves . presently, however, they heard a low cough near them, and here and there_was the faint rustling of a robe and a slight patter as of footsteps . then suddenly there rang out the clear tone of a bell and at_the sound all was changed .

Gazing around the hall in bewilderment they saw that_it_was filled with hundreds of men_and_women, all with beautiful faces and staring blue eyes and all wearing scarlet robes and jeweled crowns upon their heads . in_fact, these people seemed exact duplicates of Tubekins and it_was difficult to_find any mark by_which to_tell them apart .

" my ! what alot of Kings and Queens ! " whispered Betsy to polychrome, who sat beside her and appeared much interested in_the scene but not a bit worried .

" it_is certainly a strange sight," was polychrome's reply; " but I cannot_see how there can_be more than one king, or queen, in any_one country, for were these all rulers, no one could tell who was master ."

one_of_the Kings who stood near and overheard this remark turned to her and said: " one who_is master of himself is always a king, if only to himself . in_this favored land all Kings and Queens are equal, and it_is our privilege to bow before one supreme ruler-- the private citizen ."

" who's he ? " inquired Betsy .

as_if to answer her, the clear tones of_the bell again rang out and instantly there appeared seated in_the throne the man who was lord and master of all these royal ones . this fact was evident when with one accord they fell upon their knees and touched their foreheads to_the floor .

the private citizen was not unlike the others, except that his eyes were black instead of blue and in_the centers of_the black irises glowed red Sparks that seemed like coals of fire . but his features were very beautiful and dignified and_his manner composed and stately . instead of_the prevalent scarlet robe, he wore one of white, and_the same dragon's head that decorated the others was embroidered upon its bosom .

" what charge lies against these people, Tubekins ? " he asked in quiet, even tones .

" they came through_the forbidden tube, O mighty citizen," was_the reply .

" you_see, it was_this way," said Betsy ." we were marching to_the Nome king, to conquer him and set shaggy's brother free, when on a sudden--"

" who_are you ? " demanded the private citizen sternly .

" me ? Oh, I'm Betsy bobbin, and--"

" who is_the leader of_this party ? " asked the citizen .

" sir, I_am queen Ann of Oogaboo, and--"

" then keep quiet," said the citizen ." who is_the leader ? "

no one answered for a moment . then general Bunn stood up .

" sit down ! " commanded the citizen ." I_can_see that sixteen of you_are merely officers, and of no account ."

" but we_have an army," said general Clock, blusteringly, for he didn't like to_be told he_was of no account .

" where is your army ? " asked the citizen .

" it's me," said Tik-Tok, his voice sounding a little rusty ."I'm the on-ly Pri-vate Sol-dier in_the par-ty ."

Hearing this, the citizen rose and bowed respectfully to_the clockwork man .

" pardon me for not realizing your importance before," said he ." will_you oblige me by taking a seat beside me on my throne ? "

Tik-Tok rose and walked over to_the throne, all the Kings and Queens making way for him . then with clanking steps he mounted the platform and sat on_the broad seat beside the citizen .

Ann was greatly provoked at_this mark of favor shown to_the humble clockwork man, but shaggy seemed much pleased that his old friend's importance had_been recognized by_the ruler of_this remarkable country . the citizen now began to question Tik-Tok, who told in_his mechanical voice about shaggy's quest of_his lost brother, and how Ozma of Oz had sent the clockwork man to assist him, and how they had fallen in with queen Ann and her people from Oogaboo . also he_told how Betsy and Hank and polychrome and_the rose princess had happened to join their party .

" and you intended to conquer Ruggedo, the metal monarch and king of_the Nomes ? " asked the citizen .

" yes . that seemed the on-ly thing for_us to_do," was Tik-Tok's reply ." but he_was too cle-ver for_us . when we got close to_his cav-ern he_made our path lead to_the tube, and made the op-en-ing in- vis-i-ble, so_that we all fell in- to_it be-fore we_knew it_was there . it_was an eas-y way to_get rid of us and now Rug-gedo is safe and we_are far a- way in a strange land ."

the citizen was silent a moment and seemed to_be thinking . then he_said:

" most noble private soldier, I_must inform you that by_the laws of_our country anyone who comes through_the forbidden tube must_be tortured for nine days and ten nights and then thrown back into_the tube . but it_is wise to disregard laws when_they conflict with justice, and it seems that you and your followers did_not disobey our laws willingly, being forced into_the tube by Ruggedo . therefore the Nome king is alone to blame, and he alone must_be punished ."

" that suits me," said Tik-Tok ." but Rug-ge- do is on_the o-ther side of_the world where he_is a- way out of your reach ."

the citizen drew himself up proudly .

" do_you imagine anything in_the_world or upon it can_be out_of_the reach of_the great Jinjin ? " he asked .

"Oh ! are_you, then, the great Jinjin ? " inquired Tik-Tok .

" I_am ."

" then your_name is Ti-ti-ti-Hoo-choo ? "

" it_is ."

queen Ann gave a scream and began to tremble . shaggy was so disturbed that he_took out a handkerchief and wiped the perspiration from_his brow . polychrome looked sober and uneasy for_the first time, while Files put his arms around the rose princess as_if to protect her . as for_the officers, the name of_the great Jinjin set them moaning and weeping at a great rate and every_one fell upon his knees before_the throne, begging for mercy .Betsy was worried at seeing her companions so disturbed, but did_not know what it_was all about . only Tik-Tok was unmoved at_the discovery .

" then," said he, " if_you_are Ti-ti-ti-Hoo-choo, and think Rug-ge- do is to blame, I_am_sure that some- thing queer will hap- pen to_the king of_the Nomes ."

"I wonder what ' twill be," said Betsy .

the private citizen-- otherwise known as Tititi- Hoochoo, the great Jinjin-- looked at_the little girl steadily .

" i_will presently decide what_is to happen to Ruggedo," said he in a hard, stern voice . then, turning to_the throng of Kings and Queens, he continued: "Tik-Tok has spoken truly, for_his machinery will not allow him to lie, nor will it allow his thoughts to_think falsely . therefore these people are_not our enemies and must_be treated with consideration and justice . take them to your palaces and entertain them as guests until to- morrow, when I command that_they be brought again to my residence . by then I_shall_have formed my plans ."

no sooner had Tititi-Hoochoo spoken than he disappeared from sight . immediately after, most of_the Kings and Queens likewise disappeared . but several of_them remained visible and approached the strangers with great respect . one_of_the lovely Queens said to Betsy:

"I trust you_will honor me by being my guest . I_am Erma, queen of light ."

" may Hank come with me ? " asked the girl .

" the king of Animals will care for your mule," was_the reply ." but do_not fear for him, for he_will_be treated royally . all of your party will_be reunited on_the morrow ."

"I--I'd like to_have some one with me," said Betsy, pleadingly .

queen Erma looked around and smiled upon polychrome .

" will the rainbow's daughter be an agreeable companion ? " she asked .

"Oh, yes ! " exclaimed the girl .

so polychrome and Betsy became guests of_the queen of light, while other beautiful Kings and Queens took charge of_the others of_the party .

the two girls followed Erma out_of_the hall and through_the gardens of_the residence to a village of pretty dwellings . none of_these was so large or imposing as_the castle of_the private citizen, but all were handsome enough to_be called palaces-- as, in_fact, they really were .

chapter Twelve

the lovely lady of light

the palace of_the queen of light stood on a little eminence and was a mass of crystal windows, surmounted by a vast crystal dome . when_they entered the portals Erma was greeted by six lovely maidens, evidently of high degree, who at once aroused Betsy's admiration . each bore a wand in her hand, tipped with an emblem of light, and their costumes were also emblematic of_the lights they represented .Erma introduced them to her guests and each made a graceful and courteous acknowledgment .

first was sunlight, radiantly beautiful and very fair; the second was moonlight, a soft, dreamy damsel with nut- brown hair; next came starlight, equally lovely but inclined to_be retiring and shy . these three were dressed in shimmering robes of silvery white . the fourth was daylight, a brilliant damsel with laughing eyes and frank manners, who wore a variety of colors . then came Firelight, clothed in a fleecy flame- colored robe that wavered around her shapely form in a very attractive manner . the sixth maiden, Electra, was_the most beautiful of all, and Betsy thought from_the first that both sunlight and daylight regarded Electra with envy and were a little jealous of her .

but all

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