Oz 08: Tik-Tok of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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three- course Nuts are_not all exactly alike in flavor or in contents, but they_are all good and in each_one may_be found a complete three- course dinner ."

" but how about breakfasts ? " inquired Betsy .

" why, there_are breakfast Trees for_that, which grow over there at_the right . they bear nuts, like the others, only the nuts contain coffee or chocolate, instead of soup; oatmeal instead of meat- and-potatoes, and fruits instead of dessert . sad as has_been my life in_this wonderful prison, I_must admit that no one could live more luxuriously in_the best hotel in_the_world than I_have lived here; but I will_be_glad to_get into_the open air again and_see the good old sun and_the silvery moon and_the soft green grass and_the flowers that_are kissed by_the morning dew .Ah, how_much more lovely are those blessed things than_the glitter of gems or the cold gleam of gold ! "

" of_course," said Betsy ."I once knew a little boy who wanted to catch the measles, because all the little boys in_his neighborhood but him had 'em, and he_was really unhappy ' cause he couldn't catch 'em, try as he_would . so I'm pretty certain that_the things we_want, and can't have, are_not good for_us .Isn't that true, shaggy ? "

" not always, my dear," he gravely replied ." if_we didn't want anything, we_would never get anything, good or bad . i_think our longings are natural, and if_we act as nature prompts us we_can't go far wrong ."

" for_my part," said queen Ann, " i_think the world would_be a dreary place without the gold and jewels ."

" all things are good in their way," said shaggy; " but we_may_have too_much of any good thing . and I_have noticed that_the value of anything depends upon how scarce it_is, and how difficult it_is to obtain ."

" pardon me for interrupting you," said king Kaliko, coming to_their side, " but now that we_have rescued shaggy's brother i_would like to return to my royal cavern . being the king of_the Nomes, it_is my duty to look after my restless subjects and_see that_they behave themselves ."

so they all turned and began walking through_the metal forest to_the other side of_the great domed cave, where they had first entered it . shaggy and_his brother walked side by side and both seemed rejoiced that_they were together after their long separation .Betsy didn't dare look at_the polka dot handkerchief, for fear she_would laugh aloud; so she walked behind the two brothers and led Hank by holding fast to_his left ear .

when at last they reached the place where the passage led to_the outer world, queen Ann said, in ahesitating way that was unusual with her:

" I_have_not conquered this Nome country, nor do I expect to_do_so; but i_would like to gather a few of_these pretty jewels before I leave this place ."

" help yourself, MA'am," said king Kaliko, and at once the officers of_the army took advantage of_his royal permission and began filling their pockets, while Ann tied alot of diamonds in a big handkerchief .

this accomplished, they all entered the passage, the nomes going first to light the way with their torches . they had_not proceeded far when Betsy exclaimed:

" why, there_are jewels here, too ! "

all eyes were turned upon_the ground and_they found a regular trail of jewels strewn along the rock floor .

" this_is queer ! " said Kaliko, much surprised ." I_must send some of_my nomes to gather up these gems and replace them in_the metal forest, where they belong .I wonder how they came to_be here ? "

all the way along the passage they found this trail of jewels, but when_they neared the end the mystery was explained . for there, squatted upon_the floor with_his back to_the rock wall, sat old Ruggedo, puffing and blowing as_if he_was all tired out . then they realized it_was he who had scattered the jewels, from_his many pockets, which one by one had burst with_the weight of_their contents as he had stumbled along the passage .

" but I don't mind," said Ruggedo, with a deep sigh ."I now realize_that I_could_not have carried such a weighty load very far, even had I managed to escape from_this passage with it . the woman who sewed the pockets on my robe used poor thread, for_which I_shall thank her ."

" have_you any jewels left ? " inquired Betsy .

he glanced into some_of_the remaining pockets .

"A few," said he, " but they_will_be sufficient to supply my wants, and I no longer have any desire to_be rich . if some of you_will kindly help me to rise, I'll get out of here and leave you, for I_know you all despise me and prefer my room to my company ."

shaggy and Kaliko raised the old king to_his feet, when he_was confronted by shaggy's brother, whom he now noticed for_the first time . the queer and unexpected appearance of_the ugly one so startled Ruggedo that he_gave a wild cry and began to tremble, as_if he had seen a ghost .

"Wh--wh-- who is_this ? " he faltered .

" I_am that helpless prisoner whom your cruel magic transformed from a handsome man into an ugly one ! " answered shaggy's brother, in a voice of stern reproach .

" really, Ruggedo," said Betsy, " you ought_to_be ashamed of_that mean trick ."

" I_am, my dear," admitted Ruggedo, who was now as meek and humble as formerly he had_been cruel and vindictive .

" then," returned the girl, " you'd better do some more magic and give the poor man his own face again ."

" i_wish I_could," answered the old king; " but you_must remember that Tititi-Hoochoo has deprived me of all my magic powers . however, I never took the trouble to learn just how to break the charm I cast over shaggy's brother, for I intended he_should always remain ugly ."

" every charm," remarked pretty polychrome, " has its antidote; and, if you_knew this charm of ugliness, Ruggedo, you_must_have known how to dispel it ."

he shook his head .

" if I_did, I--I've forgotten," he stammered regretfully .

" try to_think ! " pleaded shaggy, anxiously ." please try to_think ! "

Ruggedo ruffled his hair with both hands, sighed, slapped his chest, rubbed his ear, and stared stupidly around the group .

"I've a faint recollection that there_was one_thing that_would break the charm," said he; " but misfortune has so addled my brain that I_can't remember what it_was ."

" see here, Ruggedo," said Betsy, sharply, " we've treated you pretty well, so_far, but we won't stand for any nonsense, and if_you_know what's good for_yourself you'll think of_that charm ! "

" why ? " he demanded, turning to look wonderingly at_the little girl .

" because it means so_much to shaggy's brother . he's dreadfully ashamed of himself, the way he_is now, and you're to blame for_it . fact is, Ruggedo, you've done so_much wickedness in your life that_it won't hurt you to_do a kind act now ."

Ruggedo blinked at her, and sighed again, and then tried very hard to_think .

"I seem to remember, dimly," said he, " that a certain kind of a kiss will break the charm of ugliness ."

" what kind of a kiss ? "

" what kind ? why, it_was-- it_was-- it_was either the kiss of a mortal maid; or-- or-- the kiss of a mortal maid who had once been a fairy; or-- or the kiss of one who_is still a fairy . I_can't remember which . but of_course no maid, mortal or fairy, would ever consent to kiss a person so ugly-- so dreadfully, fearfully, terribly ugly-- as shaggy's brother ."

"I'm not so sure of_that," said Betsy, with admirable courage; "I'm a mortal maid, and if_it_is my kiss that_will break this awful charm, I-- I'll do_it ! "

"Oh, you really couldn't," protested ugly ." i_would_be obliged to remove my mask, and when_you saw my face, nothing could induce you to kiss me, generous as_you_are ."

" well, as for_that," said the little girl, "I needn't see your face at all . here's my plan: you stay in_this dark passage, and we'll send away the nomes with their torches . then you'll take off the handkerchief, and I--I'll kiss you ."

" this_is awfully kind of you, Betsy ! " said shaggy, gratefully .

" well, it surely won't kill me," she replied; " and, if_it makes you and your brother happy, I'm willing to_take some chances ."

so Kaliko ordered the torch-bearers to leave the passage, which they_did by going through_the rock opening . queen Ann and her army also went out; but the others were so interested in Betsy's experiment that_they remained grouped at_the mouth of_the passageway . when_the big rock swung into place, closing tight the opening, they were left in total darkness .

" now, then," called Betsy in a cheerful voice, " have_you got that handkerchief off your face, ugly ? "

" yes," he replied .

" well, where are_you, then ? " she asked, reaching out her arms .

" here," said he .

" you'll have to stoop down, you_know ."

he_found her hands and clasping them in_his own stooped until his face was near to_that of_the little girl . the others heard a clear, smacking kiss, and then Betsy exclaimed:

" there ! I've done it, and it didn't hurt a bit ! "

" tell me, dear brother; is_the charm broken ? " asked shaggy .

" I_do_not know," was_the reply ." it may_be, or it may not be . I_cannot tell ."

" has anyone a match ? " inquired Betsy .

" I_have several," said shaggy .

" then let Ruggedo strike one_of_them and look at your brother's face, while we all turn our backs .Ruggedo made your brother ugly, so I guess he_can stand the horror of looking at him, if_the charm isn't broken ."

Agreeing to_this, Ruggedo took the match and lighted it . he_gave one look and then blew out the match .

" ugly as ever ! " he_said with a shudder ." so it wasn't the kiss of a mortal maid, after all ."

" let me try," proposed the rose princess, in her sweet voice ." I_am a mortal maid who was once a fairy . perhaps my kiss will break the charm ."

Files did_not wholly approve of_this, but he_was too generous to interfere . so the rose princess felt her way through_the darkness to shaggy's brother and kissed him .

Ruggedo struck another match, while they all turned away .

" no," announced the former king; " that didn't break the charm, either . it must_be the kiss of a fairy that_is required-- or else my memory has failed me altogether ."

"Polly," said Betsy, pleadingly, " won't you try ? "

" of_course i_will ! " answered polychrome, with a merry laugh ."I've never kissed a mortal man in all the thousands of years I_have existed, but I'll do_it to_please our faithful shaggy man, whose unselfish affection for_his ugly brother deserves to_be rewarded ."

even as polychrome was speaking she tripped lightly to_the side of_the ugly one and quickly touched his cheek with her lips .

"Oh, thank_you-- thank_you ! " he fervently cried ."I've changed, this_time, I_know . I_can feel it ! I'm different . shaggy-- dear shaggy-- I_am myself again ! "

Files, who was near the opening, touched the spring that released the big rock and it suddenly swung backward and let in a flood of daylight .

everyone stood motionless, staring hard at shaggy's brother, who, no longer masked by_the polka- dot handkerchief, met their gaze with a glad smile .

" well," said shaggy man, breaking the silence at last and drawing a long, deep breath of satisfaction, " you_are no longer the ugly one, my dear brother; but, to_be entirely frank with_you, the face that belongs to_you is no more handsome than it ought_to_be ."

" i_think he's rather good looking," remarked Betsy, gazing at_the man critically .

" in comparison with what he_was," said king Kaliko, " he_is really beautiful . you, who never beheld his ugliness, may not understand that; but it_was my misfortune to look at_the ugly one many_times, and I_say again that, in comparison with what he_was, the man is now beautiful ."

" all right," returned Betsy, briskly, " we'll take your word for_it, Kaliko . and now let_us get out of_this tunnel and into_the world again ."

chapter Twenty- three

Ruggedo Reforms

it did_not take them long to regain the royal cavern of_the Nome king, where Kaliko ordered served to_them the nicest refreshments the place afforded .

Ruggedo had come trailing along after_the rest of_the party and while no one paid any attention to_the old king they_did_not offer any objection to_his presence or command him to leave them . he looked fearfully to_see if_the eggs were still guarding the entrance, but they had now disappeared; so he crept into_the cavern after_the others and humbly squatted down in a corner of_the room .

there Betsy discovered him . all of_the little girl's companions were now so happy at_the success of shaggy's quest for_his brother, and_the laughter and merriment seemed so general, that Betsy's heart softened toward the friendless old man who had once been their bitter enemy, and she carried to him some_of_the food and drink .Ruggedo's eyes filled with tears at_this unexpected kindness . he_took the child's hand in_his own and pressed it gratefully .

" look here, Kaliko," said Betsy, addressing the new king, " what's the use of being hard on Ruggedo ? all his magic power is gone, so he_can't do any more harm, and I'm sure he's sorry he acted so badly to everybody ."

" are_you ? " asked Kaliko, looking down at his former master .

" I_am," said Ruggedo ." the girl speaks truly .I'm sorry and I'm harmless .I don't want to wander through_the wide world, on top of_the ground, for I'm anome . no nome can ever be happy any place

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