"Who hit me ? " screamed the elephant, lashing about furiously trunk "I'll mash him, I'll crash him ! Ah hah ! " His little eyes snapped wickedly fell upon Humpy's stick The next instant the great beast had seized the dummy trunk and flung him fifty feet air Then, pausing to straighten his pearl head-piece, he glared indignantly at Dorothy elephant in Oz elegant enough to own headband of pearls and, with little shriek of surprise and recognition, Dorothy ran forward just to save Humpy from another toss air

"Why Kabumpo ! " cried the little girl in delight "Wait ! Wait minute ! " The Elegant Elephant, after quick look little girl, snatched huge silk hanky from pocket robe and blew his trunk violently

"Well, I'll be blowed isn't Dorothy," wheezed Kabumpo, half-choked between embarrassment and surprise "What brings you here ? "

Just as he spoke he caught another glimpse of Humpy, who had risen and was advancing unsteadily "Excuse me until I mash that idiot," he roared

"Oh please don't mash him," begged Dorothy in alarm " he's only dummy and he didn't mean to hit you Besides he's friend "

Kabumpo swayed uncertainly for moment and then stuffed his handkerchief back into his pocket "Well, nobody but dummy would hit an elephant trunk Why have such dumb friends ? " he asked sulkily

As quickly as , Dorothy explained her strange meeting dummy, his coming to life and her curious adventures since such an amazing story that Kabumpo now regarded Humpy with more interest than anger Dorothy, seeing dummy still thought her in danger, hastily took away his stick and introduced him Elegant Elephant

Kabumpo, , belongs royal family of Pumperdink, cozy old-fashioned country Gilliken country, and chief ornaments court and prime favorite of Pompadore, the young Prince He has suite of rooms palace, and more jewels and embroidered robes than elephant in all of Oz

Once upon time Kabumpo had helped Pompa save Peg Amy, an enchanted Princess, from dreadful old wizard named Glegg This little Princess had afterwards married the Prince of Pumperdink and adventure that Dorothy had first met the Elegant Elephant

"But why did he throw me away ? " asked Humpy suspiciously, when Dorothy had told him all that just told you

"I'll throw you away every time you hit me, so you'd better get that through your head at once," trumpeted Kabumpo indignantly

"Well, just so you don't throw Dorothy, all right," sighed the dummy resignedly "I'm quite used to being flung about, but I've never been in picture with an elephant before "

"This isn't picture It's Oz," snapped Kabumpo loftily "Don't anything at all ? "

"Ah, don't quarrel," begged Dorothy anxiously "Tell me about Pompa and Peg Amy, Kabumpo, and how's everything in Pumperdink ? "

"Well," mused the Elegant Elephant, taking out his handkerchief again and mopping his forehead thoughtfully, "things are kinda slow Since Pompa married Peg there's been no excitement at all Fact is," admitted Kabumpo confidentially, " just on my way Emerald City whether stir up little fun "

"Why so are we ! " cried Dorothy in delight "Let's all go together Oh Kabumpo, won't that be fun ? "

The Elegant Elephant looked dubiously dummy "Well, 're going same direction ride on my back," he remarked carelessly Then, winding his trunk about Dorothy Kabumpo, under his pompous manner, was really kind-hearted old fellow] he set the little girl aloft and, snatching up the dummy, he tossed him recklessly over his shoulder

With blast trunk like steamboat whistle, Kabumpo got under way, plunging ahead so swiftly that Dorothy and Humpy had all do their seats

"Isn't this fun ? " called Dorothy, holding fast Elegant Elephant's great ear

" ? " inquired the dummy, clinging desperately to Kabumpo's jewelled harness and fluttering up and down like banner at each step "So fun ? Ah, how fast learning "

CHAPTER 13

Snip Meets the Blanks

night before Ozma received the mysterious warning, Snip and Mombi - well know - were making their way deep forest other side of Catty Corners Each step was growing harder and harder weary little button boy Holding the great goose arms, he staggered along, guided flicker of Mombi's lantern, stumbling over roots, brushing against trees and shivering clammy chill of midnight The old witch seemed positively tireless and Snip had about decided go no further, when she stopped suddenly beside rough stone well

"Snip," wheezed Mombi craftily, "I'm thirsty Now you're younger than Just get me drink, ? " Her voice was so pleasant that Snip unsuspectingly set Pajuka ground and peered down dark depths well, while Mombi held the lantern chain side and, grasping it in both hands, Snip leaned over and began to haul up the bucket

the chance Mombi waiting for all evening and, seizing Snip heels, she heartlessly tumbled him well Her wicked shout of triumph and Snip's shrill outcry awakened Pajuka Fluttering air, great snatch disappearing little button boy

Snip, part, clutching desperately rough stones to save himself, caught instead handful of goose feathers and went plunging down dreadful darkness Down, down, down he fell, like lump of lead, very bottom With eyes shut tight and clenched fists, Snip waited terrible bump that should end his fall But instead of bump, soft thud and bounce and himself wedged fast in padded bucket The jar set the bucket in motion and for moment Snip thought going to shoot top again Instead it began to move sideways, for opening out bottom well was long, damp passageway, bucket swinging on heavy cable shot rapidly along underground tunnel

too dark for Snip but, stretching his arms carefully, the walls above and side Clearly the old witch had meant to destroy him, so work out her wicked plans undisturbed "But maybe," whispered poor Snip, crouching low from bumping his head, "maybe get out after all and manage to reach the Emerald City first and warn Ozma of Mombi's treachery Then surely Ozma will help me find Pajuka and she, herself, can hunt lost King "

long and terrible ride, and Snip's heart thumped so loudly drowned out the creak straining cable Where under the earth was he going ? Would the flying bucket never stop ? Just as losing his courage entirely, Snip saw star The bucket had come end tunnel and was shooting up another well as swiftly as Snip had fallen down the first one Almost this joyful discovery, the bucket reached the top, spilled him carelessly over the edge and dropped back with hollow ring bottom

For several minutes Snip lay where he had fallen, too shaken and breathless to care where Then, rolling over, he looke anxiously around faint starlight, not much was visible in small orchard and just beyond the trees he the dim outlines of strange city Satisfying himself that no immediate danger threatened and too weary another step, the worn-out little adventurer flung himself down beside the well and was soon fast asleep

morning and nearly nine o'clock when awakened sound of hurrying foot-steps and shrill cries

"He has freckles," screamed the first voice

"His nose turns up," shouted the second

"Who threw him well ? " demanded third fretfully "Is he welcome or is he not ? "

"Not ! " boomed the voices altogether

"Take his hat, get his buttons ! " growled deep bass voice the steps pattered so close that Snip rolled over and sat up, confronting as so the very oddest company he had ever seen unbelievable second he stared, thinking still be asleep and dreaming The company on their part regarded him with blank looks And no wonder They face among them !

" were people without clothes say they were savages," gasped Snip, "but clothes, without people ! Whew ! " Leaping feet, he turned toward the town and ran life

Screaming furiously, the Blanks started in pursuit Now to look over your shoulder collection of suits, hats, shoes and gloves, all in their proper places upon perfectly invisible wearers, chasing after you is fearsome business, and came nearer and nearer Snip fairly stepped upon his own toes hurry to escape

"How dare you show your face around here ? " raged the leader, brandishing with an invisible hand dreadfully visible and dangerous looking umbrella "Don't it's against the law to show your face in Blankenburg ? "

"I-can't-help-it ! " panted Snip and then terrible crowd began to gain on him, he reached pockets, seized handful of buttons and flung them wildly over his shoulder When he dared to look back again, the Blanks were quarreling bitterly over the buttons

Taking advantage greediness, Snip lunged town, entered the first house to and slammed the door At first he thought the great dim room was empty but he finally made out an old man with silver hair and beard sitting cross-legged on long table back window stitching solemnly upon red velvet cloak and looked so kind and gentle that Snip promptly burst into an account troubles But dismay, the tailor went calmly on work, never glancing up at all Snip could hear the Blanks clattering over the paving stones so, rushing forward, he shook the old man desperately sleeve

With start that sent his spectacles flying across the shop, the tailor leaped feet "A boy ! " he stuttered, seizing Snip shoulders "Why, how did you get here ? No, don't tell me now for I couldn't hear you if my ears have flown off and we'll have to wait till they return boy ! Bless my heart, yours first face I've seen in years and years "

In growing amazement and alarm, Snip waved toward the window With quick nod, the tailor swept him into big cupboard "They shan't ," declared the old man determinedly and, when moment later the Blanks rushed shop, he shook his head crossly at all threats and inquiries