Oz 08: Tik-Tok of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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." it_is almost like being out of doors, it_is so big, and Ruggedo made the wonderful forest to amuse himself, as_well as_to tire out his hard- working nomes . all the trees are gold and silver and_the ground is strewn with precious stones, so it_is a sort of treasury ."

" let_us go there at once and rescue my dear brother," pleaded shaggy earnestly .

Kaliko hesitated .

"I don't believe I_can find the way," said he ."Ruggedo made three secret passages to_the metal forest, but he changes the location of_these passages every week, so_that no one can get to_the metal forest without his permission . however, if_we look sharp, we_may_be_able to discover one_of_these secret ways ."

" that reminds me to ask what has become of queen Ann and_the Officers of Oogaboo," said Files .

"I'm sure I_can't say," replied Kaliko .

" do_you suppose Ruggedo destroyed them ? "

"Oh, no; I'm quite_sure he didn't . they fell into_the big pit in_the passage, and we put the cover on to_keep them there; but when_the executioners went to look for_them they had all disappeared from_the pit and we_could find no trace of_them ."

" that's funny," remarked Betsy thoughtfully ."I don't believe Ann knew any magic, or she'd have worked it before . but to disappear like that seems like magic; now, doesn't it ? "

they agreed that_it did, but no one could explain the mystery .

" however," said shaggy, " they_are gone, that_is certain, so we_cannot help them or be helped by_them . and_the important thing just now is to rescue my dear brother from captivity ."

" why do they call him the ugly one ? " asked Betsy .

" I_do_not know," confessed shaggy ." I_can not remember his looks very_well, it_is so_long since I_have_seen him; but all of_our family are noted for their handsome faces ."

Betsy laughed and shaggy seemed rather hurt; but polychrome relieved his embarrassment by saying softly: " one can_be ugly in looks, but lovely in disposition ."

" our first task," said shaggy, a little comforted by_this remark, " is to_find one of_those secret passages to_the metal forest ."

" true," agreed Kaliko ." so i_think i_will assemble the chief nomes of_my kingdom in_this throne room and tell them that I_am their new king . then I_can ask them to assist us in searching for_the secret passages .

" that's a good idea," said the dragon, who seemed to_be getting sleepy again .

Kaliko went to_the big gong and pounded on_it just as Ruggedo used to_do; but no one answered the summons .

" of_course not," said he, jumping up from_the throne, where he had seated himself ." that_is my call, and I_am still the royal chamberlain, and will_be until I appoint another in my place ."

so he ran out_of_the room and found Guph and told him to answer the summons of_the king's gong .Having returned to_the royal cavern, Kaliko first pounded the gong and then sat in_the throne, wearing Ruggedo's discarded ruby crown and holding in_his hand the sceptre which Ruggedo had so often thrown at his head .

when Guph entered he_was amazed .

" better get out of_that throne before old Ruggedo comes back," he_said warningly .

" he isn't coming back, and I_am now the king of_the Nomes, in_his stead," announced Kaliko .

" all of which_is quite true," asserted the dragon, and all of_those who stood around the throne bowed respectfully to_the new king .

Seeing this, Guph also bowed, for he_was glad to_be rid of_such a hard master as Ruggedo . then Kaliko, in quite a kingly way, informed Guph that he_was appointed the royal chamberlain, and promised not to throw the sceptre at his head unless he deserved it .

all this being pleasantly arranged, the new chamberlain went away to_tell the news to all the nomes of_the underground kingdom, every_one of whom would_be delighted with_the change in Kings .

chapter Twenty

Quox quietly Quits

when_the chief nomes assembled before their new king they joyfully saluted him and promised to obey his commands . but, when Kaliko questioned them, none knew the way to_the metal forest, although all had assisted in its making . so the king instructed them to search carefully for one_of_the passages and to bring him the news as_soon_as they had found it .

meantime Quox had managed to back out_of_the rocky corridor and so regain the open air and_his old station on_the mountain- side, and there he lay upon_the rocks, sound asleep, until the next_day . the others of_the party were all given as good rooms as_the caverns of_the nomes afforded, for king Kaliko felt that he_was indebted to_them for_his promotion and was anxious to_be as hospitable as he_could .

much wonderment had_been caused by_the absolute disappearance of_the sixteen officers of Oogaboo and their queen . not anome had seen them, nor were they discovered during the search for_the passages leading to_the metal forest . perhaps no one was unhappy over their loss, but all were curious to_know what had become of_them .

on_the next_day, when our friends went to visit the dragon, Quox said to_them: " I_must now bid you good-bye, for_my mission here_is finished and I_must depart for_the other side of_the world, where I belong ."

" will_you go through_the tube again ? " asked Betsy .

" to_be_sure . but it_will_be a lonely trip this_time, with no one to_talk to, and I_cannot invite any of you to_go with me . therefore, as_soon_as I slide into_the hole I_shall go to sleep, and when I pop out at_the other end i_will wake up at home ."

they thanked the dragon for befriending them and wished him a pleasant journey . also they sent their thanks to_the great Jinjin, whose just condemnation of Ruggedo had served their interests so_well . then Quox yawned and stretched himself and ambled over to_the tube, into which he slid headforemost and disappeared .

they really felt as if_they had lost a friend, for_the dragon had_been both kind and sociable during their brief acquaintance with_him; but they knew it_was his duty to return to_his own country . so they went back to_the caverns to renew the search for_the hidden passages that led to_the forest, but for three days all efforts to_find them proved in vain .

it_was polychrome's custom to_go every day to_the mountain and watch for her father, the rainbow, for she was growing tired with wandering upon_the earth and longed to rejoin her sisters in their sky palaces . and on_the third day, while she sat motionless upon a point of rock, whom should she see slyly creeping up the mountain but Ruggedo !

the former king looked very forlorn . his clothes were soiled and torn and he had no sandals upon his feet or hat upon his head .Having left his crown and sceptre behind when he fled, the old nome no longer seemed kingly, but more like abeggerman .

several_times had Ruggedo crept up_to_the mouth of_the caverns, only to_find the six eggs still on guard . he_knew quite well that he_must accept his fate and become ahomeless wanderer, but his chief regret now was_that he had neglected to_fill his pockets with gold and jewels . he_was aware that a wanderer with wealth at his command would fare much better than one who was a pauper, so he still loitered around the caverns wherein he_knew so_much treasure was stored, hoping for a chance to_fill his pockets .

that was how he_came to recollect the metal forest .

"Aha ! " said he to himself, "I alone know the way to_that forest, and once there I_can fill my pockets with_the finest jewels in all the world ."

he glanced at his pockets and was grieved to_find them so small . perhaps they_might_be enlarged, so_that they_would hold more . he_knew of a poor woman who lived in a cottage at_the foot of_the mountain, so he went to her and begged her to sew pockets all over his robe, paying her with_the gift of a diamond ring which he had worn upon his finger . the woman was delighted to possess so valuable a ring and she sewed as_many pockets on Ruggedo's robe as she possibly could .

then he returned up the mountain and, after gazing cautiously around to_make sure he_was not observed, he touched a spring in a rock and it swung slowly backward, disclosing a broad passageway . this he entered, swinging the rock in place behind him .

however, Ruggedo had failed to look as carefully as he_might_have done, for polychrome was seated only a little distance off and her clear eyes marked exactly the manner in_which Ruggedo had released the hidden spring . so she rose and hurried into_the cavern, where she told Kaliko and her friends of her discovery .

"I've no_doubt that that_is a way to_the metal forest," exclaimed shaggy ." come, let_us follow Ruggedo at once and rescue my poor brother ! "

they agreed to_this and king Kaliko called together a band of nomes to assist them by carrying torches to light their way .

" the metal forest has a brilliant light of_its own," said he, " but the passage across the valley is likely to_be dark ."

polychrome easily found the rock and touched the spring, so in less_than an hour after Ruggedo had entered they were all in_the passage and following swiftly after_the former king .

" he means to rob the forest, I'm sure," said Kaliko; " but he_will_find he_is no longer of any account in_this kingdom and i_will_have my nomes throw him out ."

" then please throw him as hard as_you_can," said Betsy, " for he deserves it .I don't mind an honest, out- an'- out enemy, who fights square; but changing girls into fiddles and ordering 'em put into slimy Caves is mean and tricky, and Ruggedo doesn't deserve any sympathy . but you'll have to let him take as_much treasure as he_can get in_his pockets, Kaliko ."

" yes, the Jinjin said so; but we won't miss it much . there_is more treasure in_the metal forest than a million nomes could carry in their pockets ."

it_was not difficult to walk through_this passage, especially when_the torches lighted the way, so they made good progress . but it proved to_be a long distance and Betsy had tired herself with walking and was seated upon_the back of_the mule when_the passage made a sharp turn and a wonderful and glorious light burst upon them . the next moment they were all standing upon_the edge of_the marvelous metal forest .

it lay under another mountain and occupied a great domed cavern, the roof of which_was higher than a church steeple . in_this space the industrious nomes had built, during many years of labor, the most beautiful forest in_the_world . the trees--trunks, branches and leaves-- were all of solid gold, while the bushes and underbrush were formed of filigree silver, virgin pure . the trees towered as high as natural live oaks do and were of exquisite workmanship .

on_the ground were thickly strewn precious gems of every hue and size, while here and there among_the trees were paths pebbled with cut diamonds of_the clearest water . taken all together, more treasure was gathered in_this metal forest than is contained in all the rest of_the world-- if_we except the land of Oz, where perhaps its value is equalled in_the famous emerald city .

our friends were so amazed at_the sight that for a while they stood gazing in silent wonder . then shaggy exclaimed .

" my brother ! my dear lost brother ! is he indeed a prisoner in_this place ? "

" yes," replied Kaliko ." the ugly one has_been here for two_or_three years, to my positive knowledge ."

" but what could he find to eat ? " inquired Betsy ." it's an awfully swell place to live in, but one can't breakfast on rubies and di'monds, or even gold ."

" one doesn't need to, my dear," Kaliko assured her ." the metal forest does_not fill all of_this great cavern, by any means . beyond these gold and silver trees are other trees of_the real sort, which bear foods very nice to eat . let_us walk in_that direction, for I_am quite_sure we will_find shaggy's brother in_that part of_the cavern, rather than in_this ."

so they began to tramp over the diamond- pebbled paths, and at every step they were more and more bewildered by_the wondrous beauty of_the golden trees with their glittering foliage .

suddenly they heard a scream .Jewels scattered in every direction as some one hidden among_the bushes scampered away before them . then a loud voice cried: " halt ! " and there_was the sound of a struggle .

chapter Twenty- one

a bashful brother

with fast beating hearts they all rushed forward and, beyond a group of stately metal trees, came full upon a most astonishing scene .

there_was Ruggedo in_the hands of_the officers of Oogaboo, a dozen of whom were clinging to_the old nome and holding him fast in_spite of_his efforts to escape . there also was queen Ann, looking grimly upon_the scene of strife; but when she observed her former companions approaching she turned away in a shamefaced manner .

for Ann and her officers were indeed a sight to behold . her majesty's clothing, once so rich and gorgeous, was now worn and torn into shreds by her long crawl through_the tunnel, which, by_the_way, had led her directly into_the metal forest . it_was, indeed, one_of_the three secret passages, and by far the most difficult of_the three .Ann had not_only torn her pretty skirt and jacket, but her crown had become bent and battered and even her shoes were so cut and slashed that_they were ready to_fall from her feet .

the officers had fared somewhat worse than their leader, for holes were worn in_the knees of_their trousers, while sharp points of rock in_the roof and sides of_the tunnel

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