by Ruth Plumly Thompson

List of Chapters
1 The Pasha of Rash
2 Betsy's Birthday
3 The Hungry Tiger in Rash
4 The Vegetable Man of Oz
5 Prisoners in Rash
6 The Scarlet Prince
7 Escape from Rash
8 In Down Town
9 The Indus Tree
10 The Magic Spectacles
11 The Second Rash Ruby
12 Immense City
13 Beside the Wall
14 TheAirman of Oz
15 Rusty Ore Rescue
16 Reddy Giants
17 The Big Wig's Secret
18 The Third Rash Ruby
19 Reddy Restored Throne
20 Safe Emerald City

CHAPTER 1

The Pasha of Rash

BURNT AGAIN ! " roared the Pasha of Rash, flinging his bowl of pudding across the table "Vassals ! Varlets ! Villains ! Fetch forth the cook ! " Pasha's furious words the two Rash Footmen who stood behind his chair, took running slide down the long dining hall and leaped door pantry Several cups crashed against the door as it closed, so just hurried

Pasha reached for large sauce dish, Ippty, the Chief Scribe realm, slipped quietly under the table, where he began jotting down in little note book each shocking remark pudding, making huge blot whenever plate broke or cup splintered to fragments He had to write pretty fast up peppery little Pasha and covered three pages with notes and blots the footmen returned with Hasha, the cook, shivering

"So ! " wheezed the ruler of all the Rashes, puffing out his cheeks and glaring frightened little man, "Here ! "

"Am ! " choked the poor cook, falling upon his knees, "And may your Excellency live forever ! "

"Live forever ! " sputtered the Pasha, thump-ing the table fist, "On burnt puddings and raw roasts ? It's wonder I'm alive at all take me for an ostrich that you serve me lumps of charcoal and call it pudding ? cook or donkey ? "

, Ippty lifted corner table cloth and peered out what Hasha would say Then, cook made no remark he calmly wrote "donkey," closed the little book and crept cautiously out hiding place There were only three spoons left table and pretty sure flung at Hasha and not at him perfectly right and last one clattered down head luckless cook, Hasha rose, and extending both arms began tremulously:

" burn the pudding, Excellency, it fire "

"The fire ? " raged the Pasha, his eyes fairly popping with indignation " hear that Ippty, he blames it fire And who tends the fire, pray ? Put him out ! Fire him ! Fizzenpop ! Fizzenpop, you old rascal, where ? "

The fire shall be put out cook shall be fired," muttered Ippty, flipping his book open and scribbling away industriously This, readily do, first finger Scribe's right hand was fountain pen, his second finger long yellow pencil, his third finger an eraser, his little finger stick of sealing wax thumb fat candle Ippty's was quite usual, except pen knife that served him for thumb Blotting the last entry book cuff, neatly cut from blotting paper, he turned expectantly toward the door, just as Fizzenpop, the Grand Vizier, came hurtling through Being Grand Vizier of Rash was no easy task and Fizzenpop had grown thin and bald service country

"What now ? " he gasped, pulling slipper and looking anxiously from one other

"Punish this pudding burner ! " commanded the Pasha angrily "Put him-"

"In jail ! " chuckled Ippty "In other words to incarcerate the cook " The Chief Scribe loved long words and knew almost crossword puzzle makers

"But your Highness," objected the Grand Vizier, pointing his long finger, "the prison is already overcrowded Could we not, could we not cut off his-" Hasha looked imploringly at Fizzenpop, Grand Vizier, clearing his throat, finished hastily, "cut off his allowance instead ? "

"No ! " thundered Irasha furiously, "I'll be peppered if Prison place for him ! Out sight, scullion ! " He waved contemptously cook

"All right," signed Fizzenpop, "I'll put him cell with your grand uncle " (The Pasha's grand uncle flung into prison for beating the Rash sovereign at chess ) "But remember, warned the Grand Vizier, as Hasha was led disconsolately away guards, "remember not room for another person Your Highness some other way to dispose of prisoners "

"What can ? " mumbled the Pasha, leaning sulkily elbow

" 'd take my advice, you'd set them all free," said Fizzenpop calmly "With half the population in prison, how expect any work done ? "

"Well, why don't they behave themselves then ? " demanded the Pasha fretfully Fizzenpop sighed again, but made no further answer What use to ask this wicked little ruler why behave himself ? Half the arrests in Rash were for no reason at all, and probably puzzling location singular country, tell you that Rash is small pink Kingdom, southwestern country of Ev and directly across the Deadly Desert Fairyland of Oz The Rashes, true, are hasty and hot-tempered race and always breaking out in spots, but warm-hearted and generous , and with just treatment and proper handling, as loyal subjects as sovereign could ask for But Irasha, the present Pasha, was neither just nor wise He had seized the throne by treachery and was feared and hated entire Rash nation, one revolution followed another realm was in constant state of uproar Again and again poor old Fizzenpop would make up his mind to retire, but feeling that serve his countrymen better by remaining, had stayed on, enduring the terrible tempers Pasha and living day rightful ruler restored throne

"Well, why don't you say something ? " growled Irasha, growing irritable long silence "What do other countries do with their prisoners ? "

" destroy them ? proposed Ippty cheerfully, before Fizzenpop had chance to answer The Chief Scribe was as cruel and merciless as his Master Irasha had discovered him in Rash book shop, where employed as clerk, and fascinated by his strange hands had raised him present important position "In ancient countries," continued Ippty, sharpening the second finger right hand thumb left, "in ancient countries prisoners were thrown wild beasts Now I call that very neat No fuss or worry, and practically no expense " Ippty closed his thumb with pleased smile and looked brightly Pasha

"What ! " shrieked Fizzenpop, stamping his foot furiously Scribe, "Who ever would think thing ? "

" ," answered the Pasha calmly " it's plan Ippty But the trouble is," he paused and pushed back his spotted turban, "the trouble is, no wild animals I had wild animal," sighed Irasha gloomily exception of few speckled bears, no animals of any kind in Rash, and Fizzenpop had just drawn long breath of relief when Ippty began again

"But plenty of wild animals in Oz, your Highness ! " suggested Ippty " send across the Deadly Desert and get wild animal from Oz ? "

" ? " The Pasha straightened up chair and looked almost pleasant "I believe " he mused thoughtfully "An excellent notion, Ippty, for case we need prison at all expense of feeding the monster practically nothing "

"And what's it from eating us ? " demanded Fizzenpop explosively now he able to soften the lot Rash prisoners very considerably He shuddered what would happen if Ippty's dreadful plan really was carried out; But Fizzenpop was too wise to openly oppose this rash pair, so he merely shrugged his shoulders "Well," he sighed folding his arms resignedly, " it works out I, myself, am too thin to worry, but this beast will probably consider you and Ippty choice morsels ! " He rolled his eyes sideways fat little Pasha still fatter Scribe "How will wild animal know the difference between Pashas and prisoners ? " he inquired sarcastically Irasha looked rather uncomfortable

"We'll have civilized wild animal," he muttered uneasily, "an educated fellow eat whom we tell him to and obey the laws country "

"And who ever heard of civilized wild animal ? " sniffed the Grand Vizier, with sour smile

" ," declared Ippty, elevating his nose disagreeably " any number of educated wild animals Emerald City of Oz There's the Cowardly Lion, for instance, there's the Comfortable Camel Doubtful Dromedary, and there's the Hungry Tiger How Hungry Tiger ? " asked Ippty triumphantly

"Hungry Tiger ! " Fizzenpop gave gasp of dismay, for he had never even heard creature

"Let's get the Hungry Tiger," yawned the Pasha, who was growing rather sleepy "He'll be just the one But sure he's tame and harmless, Ippty, and safe about ? "

"Oh quite ! " Ippty assured him quickly "Why, he wouldn't hurt baby, his conscience is so tender That's why he's hungry "

"Then what makes eat the prisoners ? " asked the Grand Vizier nervously

"Well;" observed Ippty, scratching his ear fountain pen, " tiger realizes perfectly legal and lawful to eat prisoners I daresay jump chance, for way satisfy his appetite conscience same time no criminals Emerald City, for Ozma, the Queen, is silly, soft hearted little fairy and never arrests anyone, so the Hungry Tiger enough here and eat our prisoners

"Ippty is right," puffed the Pasha, rising sitffly chair "Just take hurry-cane stand there, and fetch back this Hungry Tiger, old fellow, and if he won't come fetch him anyway

"Certainly your Highness," murmured the Scribe, bowing low " start for Oz at once

"You'll be sorry ," panted Fizzenpop Pasha's pudgy figure disappeared down the pink passageway, and between anger and anxiety the Grand Vizier of Rash began to hop up and down like jumpingjack