The excitement begins during Prince Pompadore's 18th birthday celebration The cake (the finest ever baked by Hashem the chef) disappears, reappears, and then explodes when cut, revealing scroll, golden mirror and doorknob The scroll warns the royal family - King Pompus, Queen Posy and Prince Pompadore - that unless the prince marries "proper" princess, the entire kingdom of Pumperdink will disappear !

When King Pompus decides most-homeliest of fairy princesses - Faleero forest of Follensby, Kabumpo decides to save the Prince and off they go to Emerald City

, nothing is Oz is ever simple, and old Ruggedo, the *Gnome King is at it again Finding box wizard J Glegg's "Mixed Magic" underneath the palace of Pumperdink, he accidentally spills bottle of "Instantaneous Expanding Extract" on himself and grows 3/4 of mile high

Did I mention the bottle of "Spike's Hair Strengthener" that he spilled head first - causing his hair into iron spikes ? Did I mention palace of Pumperdink becomes impaled atop his head ? Did I mention that he runs away scared . castle . impaled spiked hair . like hat ! !

Now, Prince Pompadore and Kabumpo must first 'find' 'save' his missing kingdom - getting mixed up with live wooden doll named Peg-Amy, giant rabbit named Wag, and old Ruggedo himself

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Dear children:

like Elephants ? believe in Giants ? And love all the jolly people Wonderful Land of Oz ? Well then you'll want to hear latest happenings delightful Kingdom All are set forth in true Oz fashion in "Kabumpo in Oz," the fifteenth Oz book Kabumpo is an Elegant Elephant very old and wise, and has kindly heart, as have all the Oz folks new book you'll meet Prince Pompa, and Peg Amy, charming Wooden Doll new countries, strange adventures most surprising Box of Magic ever heard of Ruggedo , the wicked old Gnome King, does lot of mischief before Princess Ozma can stop him Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Scraps, Glinda the Good, Tik-Tok, and other old friends all are alive and busy new book just back Emerald City best of Oz wishes for everybody, but especially you

Philadelphia Spring of 1922 Ruth Plumly Thompson

This book is dedicated with all heart To Janet My littlest sister but biggest assistor

Ruth Plumly Thompson

List of Chapters

1 The Exploding Birthday Cake
2 Picking Proper Princess
3 Kabumpo and Pompa Disappear
4 The curious Cottabus Appears
5 City Figure Heads
6 Ruggedo's History In Six Rocks
7 Sir Hokus Giants
8 Woe Emerald City
9 Mixed Magic Makes Mischief
10 Peg and Wag Rescue
11 The King Illumi Nation
12 The Delicious Sea of Soup
13 Road to Ev
14 Terror in Ozma's Palace
15 The Sand Man Takes Hand
16 Kabumpo Vanquishes the Twigs
17 Meeting the Runaway Country
18 Prince Pompadore Proposes
19 Ozma Takes Things in Hand
20 The Proper Princess is Found
21 How It All Came About
22 Ruggedo's Last Rock

Chapter 1 The Exploding Birthday Cake

"The cake, you chattering Chittimong ! Where cake ? Stirem, Friem, Hashem, where cake ? " cried Eejabo, chief footman palace of Pumperdink, bouncing royal pantry

The Three cooks, too astonished for speech, and with staring eyes, pointed center table The great gorgeous birthday cake was gone, though not two seconds before it placed table by Hashem himself

" my m-m-asterpiece," sobbed Hashem, tearing off his cap and throwing his apron over his head

"Help ! Robbers ! Thieves ! " cried Friem, running window

Here was howdedo The trumpets blowing celebration best part celebration was gone !

"We'll all be dipped ! " wailed Eejabo, flinging open the second best china closet so violently that three silver cups and pewter mug tumbled out Just then scream from Hashem, who had removed the apron head "Look ! " he shrieked "There ! "

Back table rushed the other three, Stirem and Friem rubbing their eyes and Eejabo his head where the cups had bumped him severely table stood the royal cake, as pink and perfect as ever

" there all the time, mince my eyebrows ! " spluttered Hashem in an injured voice "Called me Chittimong, did you ? " Grasping big wooden spoon he ran angrily at Eejabo

" gone or wasn't it ? " cried Eejabo, appealing others and hastily catching up bread knife to defend himself Instantly there arose babble

" ! "

"It wasn't ! "

"Was ! " Rap, bang, clatter In minute they were in furious argument, with words but with spoons, forks and bowls And dear knows what become cake bell rung loudly second footman poked his head door "The cake ! Where cake ? " he wheezed importantly

So Eejabo, dodging three cups and salt cellar, seized the great silver platter and dashed great banquet hall One pink coat tail was missing wig was somewhat elevated over the left ear lump raised pewter mug, but he summoned what dignity and joined the grand procession of footmen who were bearing gold and silver dishes filled with goodies birthday feast of Prince Pompadore of Pumperdink

The royal guests were already assembled and just as Eejabo entered the pages blew shrill blast upon their silver trumpets Prime Pumper stepped forward to announce their Majesties

"Oyes ! Oyez ! " shouted the Prime Pumper, pounding floor silver staff, while the guests politely inclined their heads just as heard the same announcement dozens of times before:

"Oyez ! Oyez ! " "Pompus the Proud And Pozy Pink, King and Queen Of Pumperdink -- Way King And clear the floor Way good Prince Pompadore Way Elegant Elephant-- Way King Queen Prince, ! "

So everybody wayed, they bowed, and down the center room swept Pompus, very fat and gorgeous purple robes and jeweled crown, ermine cloak, and Prince Pompadore very straight and handsome ! , they looked exactly as good old-fashioned royal family should

But Kabumpo, who swayed along grandly Prince -- few royal families could boast of so royal and elegant an elephant ! huge and gray head he wore jeweled bands and jeweled court robe billowed out majestically as he walked His little eyes twinkled merrily ears flapped so sociably, that just to look at him put one in good humor Kabumpo only elephant in Pumperdink, or in any Kingdom near Pumperdink, so no wonder prime favorite at Court He given King at Pompa's christening by friendly stranger and since then had enjoyed every luxury and advantage always addressed as Sir by all palace servants

He lends an air of elegance to our Court," the King was fond of saying, Elegant Elephant he surely had become Now an Elegant Elephant at Court might seem strange in regular up-to-date country, but Pumperdink at all regular nor cozy, old-fashioned Kingdom 'way up northern part Gilliken country of Oz; old-fashioned enough to wear knee breeches King and cozy enough to still enjoy birthday parties and candy pulls

If Pompus, the King was bit proud blame him ? His Queen loveliest, his son the most charming elephant the most elegant and unusual for twenty Kingdoms round about And Pompus, for all his pride, had very simple way of ruling Pumperdinkians did right they were rewarded; did wrong they were dipped

very center courtyard great stone well with huge stone bucket Pumperdink well all offenders and law breakers were lowered Its waters were dark blue and color stuck to one for the inhabitants of Pumperdink were careful to behave well, so Chief Dipper, who often had days with nothing he spent in writing poetry and as Prince Pompadore took the place of honor head table the Chief Dipper rose humble place foot and with moist flourish burst forth:

"Oh, Pompadore of Pumperdink, Of all perfection you're the pink; Your praises now I utter ! Your eyes are clear as apple sauce, Your head the best I've come across; Your heart is soft as butter "

" ," said the King, Chief Dipper down, blushing with pride and confusion Prince Pompadore bowed rest party clapped tremendously

"Sounds like dipper full of nonsense ," wheezed Kabumpo, who stood directly back of Prince Pompadore's throne, leisurely consuming bale of hay placed floor beside him It may surprise you that all the animals in Oz can talk but such case, and Pumperdink being fairy country of Oz, Kabumpo could talk as any man and better than most

"Eyes like apple sauce--heart of butter ! Ho-ho, kerumph ! " The Elegant elephant laughed so hard he shook all over; then slyly reaching over the Prime Pumper's shoulder, he snatched his glass of Pink Lemonade and emptied it down his great throat, setting the tumbler back old fellow turned his head

"Did you call, sir ? " asked Eejabo, hurrying over He had mistaken Kabumpo's laugh for command

"Yes; why did you not give his Excellency lemonade ? " demanded the Elegant Elephant sternly

" ; drunk it, Sir ! " stuttered Eejabo

"Drunk it ! " cried the Prime Pumper, pounding table indignantly "I never had any ! "

"Fetch him glass at once,: rumbled Kabumpo, waving his trunk, and Eejabo, too wise to argue with member royal family, brought another glass of lemonade But no sooner had he done so mischievous elephant stole that, next the Prime Pumper's plate and roll, and all so quickly, no one but Prince Pompadore knew happening and Poor Eejabo was kept running backwards and forwards till his wig stood on end with confusion and rage

All of very amusing Prince, and helped him to listen pleasantly fifteen long birthday speeches addressed to him by members Royal Guard But speeches were dull, the dinner was not The fiddlers fiddled so merrily, chief cook Hashem had so outdone himself preparation of new and delicious dainties that by ice-cream-and-cake time everyone was in high good humor