As Guph continued his wicked pleading, Carter stood frozen spot, his corn ears waving to and fro with wrath and indignation He longed to snatch the precious ruby from its hiding place and dash back to warn the others But the gnomes were so close, he dared not move But all at once Kaliko came to decision and began to hurry toward small door

" consult the wizard," muttered the Gnome King in weak whisper "Come, what the wizard thinks " Taking Guph's arm, Kaliko went pattering down the rocky hallway In one leap, the Vegetable Man reached the great throne, found the ruby ring and dropped it into his leather pouch about to return companions King's exspectacles, lying arm throne, attracted his attention Clapping them hurriedly upon his nose, he rushed toward the cavern occupied little Prince of Rash But halfway there great leap

"Great cauliflowers ! " gasped Carter As plainly as the pictures book, Guph thumping the little boy head with pickaxe

"Stop ! Stop ! " screamed the Vegetable Man, dashing cavern like whirlwind Off flew the King's exspectacles and splintered into bits floor, entrance was so noisy, Evered jumped up in fright couch where he sleeping

"What's the matter ? " he demanded, feeling around sleepily sword

"Matter ! " coughed Carter, "Wasn't that rogue Guph in here ? " The Prince shook his head and, looking next cavern, Carter saw Betsy curled up peacefully on green sofa and cave beyond came the resounding snores Hungry Tiger "Nothing's happened at all," yawned Reddy

"It exspectacles," puffed Carter, catching glimpse pink splinters of glass at his feet

" going to happen, my Rash young friend ? That scalawag of gnome intends to bang you over the ears with pick-axe him with my own eyes and Kaliko's specs ! "

"Bang me with pick-axe ! " shuddered Evered, jumping up in alarm, as Carter ran to waken Betsy Hungry Tiger As fast as , the Vegetable Man told them all he had overheard, and showed them the ruby ring Kaliko had slyly hidden away Their pleasure at recovering the second ruby was entirely spoiled treachery Gnome King and, scarcely looking at it, Reddy thrust the ring into his pocket

" run the fastest," panted the Hungry Tiger "Jump on my back, all of you and I'll make sprint for safety " Almost as one, the three leaped Hungry Tiger's back, Carter leaving his wheel-barrow with sigh, and arming himself spade he had picked Indus Tree

But Hungry Tiger dashed door throne room, Guph entire army came swarming through another entrance Kaliko, himself, was nowhere in sight He had delegated Guph to secure the Rash ruby and dispose travellers Then, thought the Gnome King, if any trouble arose afterward, Guph held responsible

But Guph intend any trouble afterward He meant to destroy the travellers so utterly that not even Ozma, with her magic, to discover what had become Therefore, wicked little elf saw his four victims preparing to escape, loud screech, hurled himself Hungry Tiger, and brought his pick-axe down with all his might head little Prince It feather for all the impression it made upon Reddy And while Betsy and Carter ducked back in dismay, the gnomes rushed at them in body and simply rained blows upon their heads and shoulders But the blows fell as harmlessly as an April shower and when Carter realized this, he began laying about spade so briskly enemy went down in heaps " rubies is protecting us," whispered Prince Evered, pulling out his sword Take that you gray robber ! " And bringing the sword down on Guph's shoulders he stretched him flat rocks same moment, the Hungry Tiger, gathering himself for spring, leaped entirely over the gnome army and, charging out the first door to, raced down long dismal tunnel hear the gnomes scampering after them and, redoubling his speed, the Hungry Tiger fairly flew down the dim corridor When sudden turn brought him up against swinging door, he went through like shot and out upon huge rocky cliff

"Whoa ! Whoa ! " quavered Carter, jerking the Hungry Tiger frantically tail

"Stop ! Stop ! " implored Betsy and Reddy both together No wonder ! Bubbling up cliff and hurling itself down over the rocks below, was shimmering sheet of flame, the highest fire-fall, perfectly exact, whole of Kaliko's Kingdom But the Hungry Tiger could no more stop himself than barrel rolling down hill With roar that loosened three rocks and boulder, he plunged over the cliff and down the fire-fall itself

"Ruby ! Ruby ! " moaned the Vegetable Man, clutching Betsy little Prince "Do your work ! " The roar flames drowned out sound and green and yellow tongues of fire licked out travellers were hurled downward But so powerful Rash Ruby, they were harmless as spring zephyrs, while the stones and rocks against which they bumped and bounded seemed soft as pillows The tiger was falling head first, and somehow the three riders managed back and hang together Just reached the bottom and swirled down pool of flames base fire-fall, Carter lost his hold on Reddy's belt He soon regained it, but not quickly enough

"My ears burn," complained the Vegetable Man, Hungry Tiger struggled flaming torrent toward the shore

"What's that ? " questioned Betsy, sniffing the air suddenly same moment they were simply covered with shower of crisp white flakes

"My ears ! " moaned the Vegetable Man, in grief-stricken tones "They've popped ! " This on top of all the other shocks was almost , and tiger had dragged himself fiery stream and scrambled up the steep bank, they all dropped down steaming rocks and simply panted with exhaustion

"First time I ever came down fire-fall," puffed Reddy, gazing fearfully tumbling torrent of flames

"Well, it's the last time I ever come down one," growled the Hungry Tiger " hadn't been ruby of yours we'd all nicely toasted by now -" The Hungry Tiger looked sorrowfully Vegetable Man

"The best ears I ever had," groaned Carter, feeling the husks that were left to him

"Did it hurt ? " asked Betsy sympathetically But the Vegetable Man made no reply

" 't hear you," explained the Hungry Tiger gloomily "If I had that Gnome King I'd eat him "

"He didn't turn out ," admitted Betsy sadly "But never mind Reddy has another ruby and we're upstairs world again "

"That's so ! Maybe we're nearer the Emerald City than ," rumbled the Hungry Tiger "Let's look around bit " Motioning for Carter , and still feeling depressed over Kaliko's treachery Vegetable Man's sad loss, they started across the stony country edging the Gnome King's dominions

"It's funny Ozma doesn't ," whispered Betsy little Prince of Rash, as Carter strode gloomily and silently beside them "I've been away Emerald City two days now and be wondering where and certainly missed the Hungry Tiger "

"But how would Ozma know where to look ? " asked Reddy

"The Magic Picture would show her," answered Betsy, and quickly explained the most magic of Ozma's possessions This curious painting hangs royal palace, and when Ozma wishes where her friends are and what doing she has but to stand before it and request them to appear Immediately they flash into view, the picture showing just where and what doing More than once, Ozma had saved her subjects from serious disaster by consulting the Magic Picture, and it did seem strange that she looked for Betsy Hungry Tiger

While Betsy little Prince were still puzzling over it, they stepped across the rocky borders Gnome King's dominion into pleasant farming country were all so relieved themselves once again in more natural surroundings stopped worrying and began to enjoy themselves The fields of potatoes and cabbages were especially cheering to Carter Green, and came up on waving field of corn, joyful shout and sprang lightly over fence

"Wait ! " gaily holding up both hands "Wait till I pick couple of ears ! "

CHAPTER 12

Immense City

Vegetable Man returned new corn ears, nicely adjusted, everyone felt more cheerful

" hear ? " asked the Hungry Tiger curiously

Carter nodded " they're even better last pair," he confided happily "It isn't everyone pick new ear when his old one pops or wears out Not so bad being Vegetable Man, eh, Betsy, my dear ? "

"No," agreed the little girl thoughtfully, "and you haven't taken root , Carter ? "

The Vegetable Man grinned "Haven't had chance," he chuckled merrily "We haven't stayed in one place long enough the next country we come to is calm and quiet pick up cart and some fresh vegetables "

" pick up square meal," roared the Hungry Tiger, licking his whiskers hungrily

" there's some magic ! " Clasping her hands, Betsy looked around expectantly "Then cross the Deadly Desert and go home I kinda miss Dorothy and Ozma," she acknowledged wistfully "And I'd like Hank "

"Well, the last ruby," exclaimed Prince Evered "The one Kaliko had must the ruby that protected one from danger by water You said he bought it from fisherman, Carter ? "

"Yes," mused the Vegetable Man "It the one Irashi flung river, while the one ruby that protects from danger earth and under the earth Look how it saved us pick-axes fire-fall ! "

"Then the left ruby that protects you from danger air," reflected Betsy thoughtfully " spose we'll have to fly up air it ? "