"Maybe . I'll land . on . something soft ! " panted Peter, as he turned over and over and then dropped straight downward "Anyway, it won't be any worse than being cut and blown up " He had fallen several miles and so confusing, tumbling through clouds and air-ways, wind made such frightful whistling ears, he finally gave up thinking altogether and closed his eyes

Splash ! With terrific slap, Peter struck the surface of shining blue ocean, the force fall carrying him very bottom, where he bumped his head severely on clam shell Dazed and choking, Peter rose surface and almost mechanically began to swim After several strokes, he shook the water eyes and looked around him Then little exclamation of excitement and relief Not more than twenty paces off lay small, straggly looking island

"Well, better than being blown up, gulped Peter, heading straight island "Maybe some fishermen live here and maybe some boats pass Gee whillikens, won't grand-father be surprised when he hears , though ! "

Immensely cheered, Peter cut swiftly choppy blue waves, water was soon shallow enough for him to wade ashore The island was not much larger public square at home few sea gulls circled aimlessly overhead, but as Peter there were no people or houses First he walked completely round the island, then, feeling rather depressed, started across The soil was poor and rocky and there were only about dozen trees altogether When he had come top of small hill, Peter sank down on heap of rocks and began to wring the water coat How long he sat there wondering what eat, how endure the loneliness or ever find his way back to Philadelphia, Peter never knew But he suddenly became aware of rattle and rumble below and out opposite side rock heap sprang perfectly furious little man gray rocks himself, long, wispy white hair and beard blew and snapped wind

"Get off my chimney, idiot ! " screamed the old gentleman, dancing wrathfully up and down "Can't you're filling my cave with smoke ? "

Stopping right middle dance, he glared long and searchingly little boy Then, bursting into loud sobs, he began to hop 'round and 'round on one leg, wiping his tears whiskers and fairly sizzling with indig-nation

" ! " he shouted, raising his arms heavens, " , that after five years of loneliness miserable mortal should fall island ! Why couldn't it gnome or witch or somebody real and interesting ? I hate children," shrieked the angry little fellow, stamping his curly foot at Peter

Peter so startled sudden appearance old gentleman and then so surprised at his curious actions that he had said nothing at all But now he jumped angrily off the rock heap He's no bigger than , thought Peter courageously, and he needn't think talk like that " your island ? " he asked stiffly

" it's my island ! " spluttered the little man "Go away, I hate children "

"Well, 't help that," answered Peter "Besides, I'm not child I'm nine years old and Fifth-B "

"I don't care what you're in," shrilled the little islander "You're in my way now, and if I had my magic belt I'd turn you to potato and mash you for supper Don't I'm King ? " he squealed, thumping himself three times chest

"Well, you don't act like one," answered Peter, in disgust " the King island you'd some supper and place to sleep "

"King island ! " screamed the angry little man "I'm Ruggedo, the Rough, the one and only Metal Monarch and ruler over five hundred thousand gnomes besides "

"Gnomes ! " murmured Peter, pushing back his cap He had read about these underground elves, who mine all the precious stones in and world, but he had never really believed

"Yes, gnomes ! " boasted the little gray gentle-man, marching proudly up and down

"Where are they ? " inquired Peter, little anxiously For, thought Peter to himself, all as cross and tempery as , life island is going very unpleasant and dangerous

"You stand there and ask me that," howled the Gnome King furiously "Don't I've been banished from my Kingdom for years and made prisoner ridiculous little island, just because I tried back my magic belt from Ozma of Oz ? Don't miserable child who stole it first place I hate children," repeated the Gnome King, clutching his hair with both hands and snapping his wicked little eyes at Peter

" 've been here all by yourself think you'd be someone to," ventured the little boy, seating himself carefully on rock " book about Oz once, he went on in an interested voice, "but I didn't know really true Is Ozma still Queen and does Dorothy still live Emerald City ? "

"Dorothy's the girl who stole my belt," sputtered Ruggedo, Gnome King " read about Dorothy, know about me

"You weren't book ," explained Peter patiently, "but Dorothy and Ozma, real and near Oz, maybe tell me how there ? "

"If suppose I'd be here ? " yelled Ruggedo Picking up rock, he flung it at Peter's head and rushed violently into his cavern Peter dodged the rock and, almost wishing he had stuck balloon bird, stared dejectedly out to sea The sun was sinking west prospect of long stay barren island dreadful little Gnome King was not at all cheering

"I'll probably starve to death," sighed Peter, kicking gloomily at stone Then, remembering some string pocket, he pulled it out and, fastening small piece of wire string, started toward the beach intention of catching few fish dinner Halfway there, to small sluggish stream and, casting his line into its muddy waters, sat down to wait for bite He had no matches but thought maybe if he caught few fish and offered Ruggedo one he might allow him to cook over his fire

Now Ruggedo had fully intended to stay cave and not speak another word to Peter, but finally his curiosity got the best of him After all alone for five years, even creature you despise is better than no one at all, so presently stalking out again Peter had meantime decided as polite as possible old gnome, for no one could help him Therefore, as Ruggedo approached, puffing away at short clay pipe, he waved to him quite cheerfully

"Don't wave at me," wheezed Ruggedo, taking his pipe out mouth and frowning darkly "I'm King, ! "

"Oh, what difference does that make ? " said Peter impatiently "We're both stranded, aren't we ? Let's stop quarreling and try way off the island Don't boats ever stop here and how far away land of Oz, anyway ? "

"Boats ! " scoffed the Gnome King, "I've been here five years and not one boat has passed As for Oz, very middle Nonestic Ocean and about as far from Oz as possibly be "

"You mean you've been here five years ? " gasped Peter incredulously, "and nothing has happened in all ? "

"Nothing - but you," answered the Gnome King

"Well, you needn't think I'm going to stay that long," blustered Peter, jerking at his fish line in great agitation "I'll build boat, or raft or something "

Taking his pipe mouth, the old gnome looked at Peter almost respectfully He had often thought of building raft himself but, being King and naturally quite unskillful and lazy, he had never really gotten down " help me off this island," he puffed after short pause, "I'll make you the richest boy "

"Humph ! " grunted Peter, not much impressed old gnome's promises Just then, his line gave tug and pulling it up quite joyfully when Ruggedo seized his arm

"Look ! " shuddered the gnome, pointing trembling finger out to sea Not far island, the waters Nonestic Ocean were boiling and churning in terrifying manner As Peter jumped feet, the waves arose in mighty green wall and, with deafening roar, came crashing downward

CHAPTER 5

Sea Tips Upside Down in Quake

FLUNG flat upon their faces terrific shock, before either Ruggedo or Peter had the courage to look up Then Peter, rubbing the sand and dust eyes, raised his head and stared fearfully out to sea What made him blink with astonishment The sea had turned itself upside down and on top waves, and almost touching Ruggedo's island, lay long gleaming stretch of sea bottom

Crystal caverns and sea grottos, coral walls and castles glittered and shimmered last rays setting sun and, rushing toward the edges strange morass was every sort of sea creature Peter ever had imagined Giant fish wallowed desperately toward the sides and hurled themselves back water Peter rubbed his eyes again not dreaming and, as golden haired mermaid plunged boldly window of coral castle, grab for Ruggedo But Ruggedo was already crooked little legs

"Come on ! Come on ! " wheezed the old Gnome King frantically "Can't it's way off the island ? "

In daze, Peter ran after him and jumped across the small stretch of water separating their island mysterious sea country It extended as far ahead as see

"Hurry ! Hurry ! " urged Ruggedo, stumbling over slippery rocks and pausing every to disentangle himself oozy arms of some clutching sea plant "It may go straight shores of Ev ! " panted the gnome, giving no attention frightful sea monsters who were rushing past him in an effort to fling themselves back water "Come on ! Come on ! "

Shuddering little, as he collided with an octopus, Peter came Now they were wading knee deep in green slime, with lobsters, crabs, turtles, jiggers and jelly fish squirming and wiggling uncomfortably against their legs