"No wonder Mombi could walk through," sighed Snip, greatly relieved witch recovered her magic powers

CHAPTER 17

Mombi's Magic

THE thoughts little company, sped toward the Emerald City, were many and varied Mombi, suspended precariously in Kabumpo's trunk, smiled darkly to herself, for Mombi, as usual, had plan to outwit her enemies remember changing the King to dummy at all, and had at first doubted that Humpy really King, but when she had read upon his collar the forgotten green magic formula, even Mombi was convinced All that was now necessary to dispel the enchantment was to reach the Emerald City

"Once there, I'll show them," the old witch chuckled wickedly to herself, as she thought of what would happen then

Pajuka, looking stuffed King beside him, was wondering sadly whether he royal master would ever be quite the same, whether the good old Oz days they had enjoyed together would ever return again Fluttering his wings, and keeping his balance with difficulty, the poor goose dreamed longingly comfortable chairs old hunting lodge, pipe smoking jacket with sixteen pockets

Snip was trying to puzzle out how the King had ever fallen into California, how Tora had got his strange ears, how Pajuka would look as man and how Ozma would like giving up the throne to her father

Tora, holding fast precious ears, had closed his eyes and begun blue suit for Snip and velvet cloak for Dorothy He had taken great fancy little girl "Let the other fellows worry king," thought the tailor with tired sigh

Dorothy, for her part, was trying to imagine what would happen reached the capitol She felt sure Mombi meant some mischief but, comforting herself thought of Sir Hokus of Pokes other brave inhabitants castle, she finally stopped worrying and began to wonder how Humpy would look when changed to himself and what would become of her apartment palace all so strange and confusing that Dorothy could hardly wait how it would turn out, and watched anxiously first sight green towers and spires of Ozma's palace

Humpy was too busy holding on crown and to Kabumpo of anything, but the Elegant Elephant was busily considering the appearance make King's coronation "I'll just have that old tailor cut me white velvet robe," decided Kabumpo importantly "I'll wear my pearls and satin bow on my tail and

Just then, Snip gave little scream of delight, for, spreading out suddenly before them like picture from fairyland itself, enchanting Emerald City of Oz Its lacy turrets and spires sparkled with emeralds, its marble streets glowed same precious stones The air was sweet with roses and honeysuckle and everywhere were flowering parks and tree lined avenues

Humpy, Pajuka, Snip tailor were simply stunned magnificence capitol, but to Dorothy, Mombi and Kabumpo, the Emerald City was an old story Accustomed to its beauty and familiar with its grandeur, they scarcely gave it second glance town's people, recognizing Dorothy, waved cheerfully passed and all too soon for Snip, who ridden up and down its enchanted streets all day, the Elegant Elephant charged royal park and approached the Palace of Emeralds itself

"Master," choked the goose, touching Humpy tremulously wing, "our castle was never so fine that all belongs ! " Pajuka stretched his neck exultantly "I wonder if there's pipe anywhere castle ? " he puffed suddenly

" twenty pipes, my good goose ! " promised the dummy "Everybody pipe ! "

Dorothy and Snip giggled little Then, as Kabumpo stepped broad portico, Pajuka, remembering Mombi's past threats, began to scream hoarsely, "The witch-don't let her go, don't let her go, whatever ! She'll steal Ozma's magic and destroy us all Hold on to Mombi ! "

Kabumpo point of dropping the old woman so pull the jewelled bell rope, but at Pajuka's warning he tightened his grip

"Pray alight, Dorothy, and announce his Majesty ! " puffed the Elegant Elephant, forgetting that not more than an hour ago he had called the King piece of night shirt Dorothy and Snip slid down together and, both seizing the rope, set it to jingling merrily

"Won't they be surprised," murmured Dorothy, looking over her shoulder at Kabumpo strange passengers "Won't they be surprised see here ? But why don't door ? "

Why indeed ? very simple reason, that no one -not even the cook's boy morning, Jellia Jamb, Ozma's small serving maid, looking castle window, had seen her mistress little group who were with her garden vanish before her eyes Rushing frantically palace, she spread the dire news, and immediately the entire household had set out the lost ones-the entire household tallest courtier tiniest page Tik Tok enlightened them, but the machine man had run down No one thought to wind him up and even Tik Tok know that Ozma and her friends had gone to Morrow

In puzzled dismay, Dorothy pressed her nose diamond panes door Then, seeing great hall was empty, she tried the knob In their excitement the searchers had left the door unlocked and, with little exclamation of surprise, Dorothy opened it and motioned for Kabumpo passengers

Kabumpo was bitterly disappointed that no one to witness his grand entry King and, reached the throne room itself without encountering anyone, he looked positively crestfallen "A fine welcome Highness ! " he grunted irritably "Where court ? Where are the attendants thing like never have happened in Pumperdink ! "

"Ha, ha ! " croaked Mombi maliciously, but subsided at once Elegant Elephant gave her shake Pajuka and Tora had alighted with Snip and all were staring beautiful room in admiration

But Kabumpo was still angry " tailor admitted presence ? " he demanded loftily, fixing his eyes upon Tora's shabby suit "In Pumperdink such things done "

Dorothy was too worried over the strange silence castle to bother with Kabumpo's saucy speeches, but the dummy, falling head-long Elegant Elephant's back, put his arm affectionately through Tora's

Humpy waved Kabumpo aside and pulled the old tailor to seat beside him Tora shoved his spectacles up forehead and looked gravely pompous dummy

"Let him stay by all means," said Humpy condescendingly "Every King his tailor and he's mine Besides, has anyone else room flying ears, ? "

"Well, I prefer my ears on," grunted the Elegant Elephant disdainfully

"I'm glad they're on you," sniffed Pajuka unaccountably drawn gentle old tailor, but Tora himself was too taken up splendid surroundings to mind Kabumpo's remarks Just then Humpy, catching sight glittering emerald throne, let go tailor's arm and started running across the room The others gave little heed, for certainly right and fitting King to occupy his proper place palace

Mombi, seeing the dummy's move, fairly trembled with excitement Without being at all aware of it, Humpy was playing directly into her hands and as he sank down throne the witch gave shriek of triumph Held fast through she was in Kabumpo's trunk, her arms were still free Beginning with Snip and going on to Dorothy, Mombi began to count, "One-two-three-four-five-six-seven ! "

At seven her finger pointed to Pajuka, whose every feather stood erect with terror Snatching two buttons from Kabumpo's robe, Mombi popped them into her mouth and shouted the magic formula dummy's collar "202 B E-10 B-4 7," ran the number, but as Mombi said it, it sounded like this, "Two eaten before seven "

That done, Mombi glared King "I command you to assume your proper form," she screamed

Well, surely nothing worse next happening With grinding, crashing suddenness, the palace began to sink, gaining speed as it went Down, down, down, till the windows and doorways were blotted out with earth and mud whole company lost choke of utter and awful darkness Of all the screams room, Mombi's was loudest Never in her darkest imaginings had Mombi anticipated anything like this ! What unknown and dreadful magic had she set in motion ?

CHAPTER 18

Ozma's Odd Home-Coming

WHILE the dummy King friends were making their way Emerald City North, Ozma and her faithful followers were plodding wearily up South through lonely section Quadling Country The red house hunting park totally deserted but the Scarecrow, climbing an old windmill nearby, had seen dimly tree tops the glittering spires capitol Considerably cheered therefore, the little party had continued its journey home

At Kabumpo was making his grand entry city, Scraps, turning to ask Sir Hokus question, noticed Knight was fidgeting about in an extremely odd and alarming manner They were bit ahead others and for time Scraps regarded her companion with her head on one side But silence Patch Work Girl's strong points and Knight continued to squirm and bounce, she stopped short road

"Why jump from side to side and rattle about like salt shaker ? fleas ? " inquired Scraps, looking sharply at Sir Hokus " an ant in your armor, or what ? "

"Something-something's tickling me," confessed the Knight, wriggling his shoulders desperately "Something like-like sparrow Ouch ! " gasped Sir Hokus, giving himself shake that unfastened the top buckle mailed shirt

At Sir Hokus' cry, Scraps, too, gave startled shriek, for Knight's shirt sped the golden goose feather he had tucked there for safe-keeping Before either had recovered from their surprise it poised air and began to write furiously Knight's burnished shield, while Scraps and Sir Hokus watched breathlessly

"The King of Oz is palace," announced the feather with flourish, then fluttered down lifelessly dust

"Odds blood ! It thinks I'm blackboard," grunted Sir Hokus indignantly, and nearly bending double glimpse writing "Ozma, Betsy, Trot, Wizard, come quickly ! "

excited cries, the others, who were just around bend road, broke into run Sir Hokus, puffing and still indignant, pointed shield The second message magic quill was as amazing first, which had sent them to Morrow

"Well, that saves us hunting for him," observed the Scarecrow, cheerfully picking up the goose quill " found himself, Shall I keep this my dear ? "

"Please do," sighed Ozma, staring hard message, which the Knight was vainly trying to rub shield, "and let's hurry Just think, my father is castle ! Hurry ! Hurry ! We're almost home ! " And setting an example herself, the little fairy girl fairly flew down the road

"I recognize this King," shouted Scraps, running awkwardly after Ozma

"I wonder whether he'll live castle ? " puffed Trot, who was running hand in hand with Betsy Bobbin "I kinda wish he'd never turned up, don't you ? "

Betsy nodded emphatically, and it confessed that all others shared Trot's wish But as Ozma herself seemed so happy at her father's restoration, such thoughts seemed almost treasonable and no one but Scraps voiced his real opinion