Ruth Plumly Thompson

The Giant Horse of Oz

To my big-best and Only brother Richard Shuff Thompson this book is affectionately dedicated

List of Chapters

1 The King Ozure Isles
2 The Golden Pear
3 The Strange Public Benefactor
4 Finding Mortal Maiden
5 Cave of Quiberon
6 The Wicked Soothsayer
7 The Trials of Tattypoo
8 The Man Bottle
9 King Uplanders
10 High Times Up Town
11 The King of Cave City
12 Escape from Cave City
13 The Round-abouties
14 Meeting of Celebrities
15 The Shutter Faces
16 The Lost Queen Returns
17 Royal Welcome
18 The Tale of Tattypoo
19 Another Wishing Pill
20 Rulers East and North

CHAPTER 1

The King Ozure Isles

FAR North, walled in on all sides craggy slopes Munchkin Mountains, lies the great Lost Lake of Orizon And glittering on its blue bosom, like large and lovely necklace, rest the Ozure Isles of Oz Now Oz itself, this mysterious land we read and hear so often, is large oblong Kingdom divided into four smaller Kingdoms Emerald City exact center Here dwells Ozma, the present ruler, little fairy of great gentleness and power While all the Kingdoms in Oz are subject to Ozma, each has its own special sovereign

For instance, the Northern Country Gillikens is governed Good Witch Tattypoo; the Red Land Quadlings, by Glinda the Good Sorceress South; the Western and Yellow Empire Winkies is under the kindly control of Nick Chopper, the Tin Woodman of Oz; the blue Munchkin Country is governed by King of whom nothing much heard for many long year But be that as it may, Munchkin Country great Lost Lake of Orizon lies

The waters of Orizon are deep, salt and dashing, so more like an inland sea than lake On ancient Oz maps Orizon is marked by large blue circle, but so steep and impenetrable are the paths over the mountains, so beset with dangerous beasts and yawning chasms, few travelers have glimpsed its sparkling waters, or the islands rising so dazzlingly from its center On Oz maps today, Orizon shown at all, Lost Lake and its jeweled islands have long since been forgotten merry inhabitants of Ozma's Kingdom

Except blue gulls that circle endlessly over the Sapphire City of Cheeriobed, no one thinks of, or visits the Ozure Isles, at all Yet whole curious Land of Oz is no Kingdom more interesting or delightful five Ozure Isles, each small and sparkling with flashing cliffs of iridescent gems and shores honeycombed with caves and jeweled grottoes Instead of pebbles, the beaches are strewn with precious stones, opals, rubies and amethyst, turquoise and pearls, but more numerous than precious stones are the glittering sapphires that color the whole island realm with their dazzling blue light, and Cheeriobed, the King, has fashioned his capital City

The Ozurians number one thousand and seven tall fair haired race of Munchkins In olden days they were the happiest, most care-free people in Oz, but that was before Mombi, the wicked witch North, stole the young Queen and sent the monster Quiberon to guard the waters of Orizon Since then, the good King subjects virtual prisoners islands The great flock of sea horses they were wont to ride mainland destroyed pitiless monster and only when Quiberon is sleeping dare the inhabitants venture down shore in aquariums, the sea horses that abound own tropical waters Well, the sea horses of Orizon were like that, only as large as Arabian steeds, with flashing manes, great winged fins and powerful shining tails To ride upon their backs must more pleasurable than anything imagine and their loss was greatest griefs this island monarch had suffered One would wonder that so unfortunate King could endure life at all

But Cheeriobed was so kind and gay and so naturally merry that even face of all his misfortunes calm and uncomplaining and often had whole days when he forgot unhappy Upon his shimmering islands grew everything necessary for comfort and ease subjects were light hearted and industrious and always obedient desires Then, the sun flashing jeweled rocks and sparkling shores Ozure Isles by day moon silvering the spires Sapphire City by night would lift the heaviest heart To further lighten the sorrows good King, Philador, his son Nowhere four Kingdoms of Oz lived gayer, handsomer and more companionable little fellow Then too, Cheeriobed was fortunate enough at his castle juggler balance ten chairs and some more things upon his chin, minstrel who knew thousand songs, and carpet that could beat itself So rare occasions when Quiberon lay dozing, life was gay and happy blue castle

On one such calm and sunny morning, Cheeriobed, his throne drawn close great windows, was gazing dreamily off toward the Munchkin Mountains thinking old happy days and only half listening strumming of Umtillio, the minstrel At his side, Toddledy, faithful scribe and Prime Moneyster was balancing the castle accounts, while Palumbo, the court juggler, balanced seven books, three ink wells and gold chair tip nose

"Has Your Highness ever considered," panted Palumbo, speaking with difficulty because books and ink bottles-"Has Your Highness ever considered how the noses and chins Kingdom neglected ? With little training, teach the Islanders to carry their entire possessions careless and interesting fashion Take your own nose for instance-" The King passed his hand uneasily over his nose and Toddledy looking up accounts began to mutter crossly under his breath "Take your own nose," continued Palumbo persuasively, "with little practice balance the fire tongs, the screen sapphire clock itself tip We'll begin with few simple exercises "

Paying no attention to Toddledy, the Court Juggler set down the books and ink bottles and lifted the huge clock mantel "Now then," he puffed earnestly, "if Your Highness will kneel and turn the head left " Cheeriobed with resigned wink at his Prime Moneyster had just got down upon his knees, when shuddering explosion shook the castle The jeweled chandeliers rattled like castanets, ornaments left their accustomed places and flew air, chairs slid into corners, carpet that could shake itself, shook off three tables and chair and rolling up so rapidly it caught Umtillio unawares, reared stiffly on end and stood in corner Cheeriobed had fallen heavily floor and small wonder first tremor Palumbo had dropped the sapphire clock upon his head and taken heels

"Quiberon ! " quavered Toddledy, rushing over window and drawing aside the blue curtains, "Great Totomos-what does he want now ? "

to answer the old Prime Moneyster the castle rocked more violently than ever The waters of Orizon below began to toss and bubble, and presently from their churning depths rose the frightful head of Mombi's monster No sea serpent was ever uglier than Quiberon, fire shot eye and smoke nostrils He had the head scales and talons of dragon long hideous body of giant fear-fish As Toddledy clutched curtains from falling, Quiberon sent great cloud of smoke upward It twisted, curled and spiraled, forming itself finally into long black sentence, the words hanging like dark threat clear morning air

"Send mortal maiden to wait upon me or in three days destroy you utterly ! " As Toddledy with smarting eyes read this monstrous message, Quiberon showed all red tusks and dove beneath the waves same instant Akbad the Soothsayer came tearing throne room

"Dunce ! " shrieked Akbad, shaking his long finger under Toddledy's nose, "why stand there idle whole Kingdom is in danger ? The King is in danger, the Prince is in danger, I, Akbad the Soothsayer, am in danger of being destroyed utterly Utterly ! Utterly ! Utterly ! "

Racing around in frenzied circle, Akbad began to tear out handfuls hair and cast it floor His loud outcries aroused the unconscious monarch Rubbing the lump sapphire clock had raised upon his forehead, Cheeriobed rose and unsteadily made his way window The black sentence was growing fainter but was still legible After reading it twice, the unhappy monarch groaned heavily and dropped his head sapphire sill "Where are we mortal maiden and even find one, condemn her to such fate ? " mourned the King

"Here comes Jewlia," panted Toddledy, ducking his head as small Ozurian came sailing window Each Ozure Islanders took turns serving Quiberon last charge cavern was Jewlia, the Court Jeweler's daughter Not caring for land food Quiberon had never molested the keepers cavern , he had satisfied himself with devouring the sea horses, preventing any Ozure Islanders from leaving the Islands and shaking them up whenever to amuse himself His treatment of Jewlia was therefore all the more alarming While the King continued to groan and Akbad to tear out his hair, Toddledy hurried anxiously over little maiden

"My child ! " stuttered loddledy touching her gently arm-"What has happened, hurt ? "

" only telling him stories," wailed Jewlia, wiping her eyes on her blue silk apron

"A pernicious and wicked habit," fumed Akbad, shaking his finger trembling little girl "What kind of stories, may I ask ? "

"Stories about Ozma of Oz three little mortal maids come to live Emerald City," sobbed Jewlia " them in an old history book in my father's shop, and when I finished the last story-" Jewlia paused to wipe her eyes-"Quiberon rushed cave, and when back, seized me talons and hurled me window " Burying her head in her hands Jewlia began to weep afresh

"There, there," begged Cheeriobed, patting her kindly shoulder "Don't cry, my dear "

"Let her cry ! " roared Akbad, stamping furiously up and down "The mischievous wench, with her tales of mortal maidens, has ruined us all Nothing can save us now " to emphasize his gloomy prediction, the castle began to tremble violently Holding crown with both hands- inset with cobble stones which are extremely rare on jeweled island-Cheeriobed sat down hard upon his throne

" think ! " muttered the King in faint voice

"Think ! " sniffed the Soothsayer, hooking his arm around pillar "Can mortal maid monster's cave ? Can of way to leave the islands, even ? "

"Has Your Majesty forgotten the golden pear ? " Swinging backward and forward window curtains castle rocked to and fro, Toddledy peered out inquiringly King

"The pear ! " chattered Cheeriobed "No one must pick the golden pear for Prince Philador and picked only in times of extreme danger "

"What call this ? " demanded Akbad indignantly "Are we destroyed without lifting finger to save ourselves ? "