Ruggedo, the Monarch of all the Metals and Precious Stones Underground World, was round little man with flowing white beard, red face, bright eyes and scowl that covered all his forehead One would think, to look at him, that he jolly; one might think, considering his enormous wealth, that he happy; but not the case The Metal Monarch was surly and cross because mortals had dug treasure earth and kept it above ground, where all the power of Ruggedo nomes was unable to recover it He hated the mortals but also the fairies who live earth or above it, and instead of being content riches he still possessed unhappy because own all the gold and jewels

Ruggedo nodding, half asleep, chair when suddenly he sat upright, uttered roar of rage and began pounding upon huge gong that stood beside him

The sound filled the vast cavern and penetrated to many caverns beyond, where countless thousands of nomes were working at their unending tasks, hammering out gold and silver and other metals, or melting ores in great furnaces, or polishing glittering gems The nomes trembled sound King's gong and whispered fearfully to one another that something unpleasant was sure to happen; but none dared pause task,

The heavy curtains of cloth-of-gold were pushed aside and Kaliko, the King's High Chamberlain, entered the royal presence

"What's up, Your Majesty ? " he asked, with wide yawn, for he had just wakened

"Up ? " roared Ruggedo, stamping his foot viciously "Those foolish mortals are up, that's what ! And down "

"Down here ? " inquired Kaliko

"Yes ! "

"How ? " continued the Chamberlain, yawning again

" it in my bones," said Ruggedo " always feel it hateful earth-crawlers draw near to my Kingdom positive, Kaliko, that mortals are this very minute on their way here to annoy me--and I hate mortals more than catnip tea ! "

"Well, what's ? " demanded the nome

"Look through your spyglass, where the invaders are," commanded the King

So Kaliko went to tube wall of rock and put his eye The tube ran cavern side mountain and turned several curves and corners, but as magic spyglass Kaliko was able through it just as easily it straight

"Ho--hum," said he " 'em, Your Majesty "

"What do they look like ? " inquired the Monarch

"That's hard question to answer, for queerer assortment of creatures I never yet beheld," replied the nome "However, such collection of curiosities may prove dangerous There's copper man, worked by machinery--"

"Bah ! that's only Tik-Tok," said Ruggedo "I'm not afraid of him Why, only the other day I met the fellow and threw him down well "

"Then some one pulled him out again," said Kaliko "And there's little girl--"

"Dorothy ? " asked Ruggedo, jumping up in fear

"No; some other girl , several girls, of various sizes; but Dorothy , nor is Ozma "

"That's good ! " exclaimed the King, sighing in relief

Kaliko still had his eye spyglass

" ," said he, "an army of men from Oogaboo all officers and carry swords And Shaggy Man--who seems very harmless--and little donkey with big ears "

"Pooh ! " cried Ruggedo, snapping his fingers in scorn "I've no fear mob dozen nomes can destroy them all in jiffy "

"I'm not so sure ," said Kaliko "The people of Oogaboo are hard to destroy, and I believe the Rose Princess is fairy As for Polychrome, Rainbow's Daughter injured by nome "

"Polychrome ! Is she among them ? " asked the King

"Yes; just recognized her "

"Then these people are coming here on no peaceful errand," declared Ruggedo, scowling fiercely " , no one ever comes here on peaceful errand I hate everybody, and everybody hates me ! "

"Very true," said Kaliko

" in some way prevent these people from reaching my dominions Where are they now ? "

"Just now crossing the Rubber Country, Your Majesty "

"Good ! Are your magnetic rubber wires in working order ? "

" so," replied Kaliko " your Royal Will that some fun invaders ? "

" ," answered Ruggedo " to teach them lesson never forget "

Now, Shaggy had no idea that in Rubber Country, nor had any companions They noticed that everything around them was of dull gray color and path they walked was soft and springy, yet they had no suspicion rocks and trees were rubber and even the path they trod of rubber

Presently they came to brook where sparkling water dashed through deep channel and rushed away between high rocks far down the mountain-side Across the brook were stepping-stones, so placed that travelers might easily leap from one to another and manner cross the water farther bank

Tik-Tok was marching ahead, followed by his officers and Queen Ann After them came Betsy Bobbin and Hank, Polychrome and Shaggy, and last of all the Rose Princess with Files The Clockwork Man saw the stream stepping stones and, without making pause, placed his foot first stone

The result was astonishing First he sank down soft rubber, which then rebounded and sent Tik-Tok soaring high air, where he turned succession of flip-flops and alighted upon rubber rock far rear party

General Apple see Tik-Tok bound, so quickly had he disappeared; therefore he also stepped stone (which guess was connected with Kaliko's magnetic rubber wire) and instantly shot upward like an arrow General Cone came next and met with like fate, but the others now noticed that something was wrong and with one accord they halted the column and looked back along the path

Tik-Tok, still bounding from one rubber rock to another, rising less distance ground And General Apple, bounding away in another direction, his three-cornered hat jammed over his eyes long sword thumping him arms and head as it swung And there, also, appeared General Cone, who had struck rubber rock headforemost and was so crumpled up that his round body looked more like bouncing-ball form of man

Betsy laughed merrily strange sight and Polychrome echoed her laughter But Ozga was grave and wondering, while Queen Ann became angry at seeing the chief officers Army of Oogaboo bounding around in so undignified manner She shouted to stop, but they were unable to obey, even though been glad Finally, however, they all ceased bounding and managed upon their feet and rejoin the Army

"Why did you ? " demanded Ann, who seemed greatly provoked

"Don't ask them why," said Shaggy earnestly " ask them why, but you ought not The reason is plain Those stones are rubber; therefore stones Those rocks around us are rubber, and therefore rocks Even this path path; it's rubber Unless very careful, your Majesty, all likely the bounce, just poor officers and Tik-Tok did "

"Then let's be careful," remarked Files, who was full of wisdom; but Polychrome wanted to test the quality rubber, so she began dancing Every step sent her higher and higher air, she resembled big butterfly fluttering lightly Presently she made great bound and bounded way across the stream, landing lightly and steadily other side

" no rubber over here," she called "Suppose you all try to bound over the stream, without touching the stepping-stones "

Ann and her officers were reluctant to undertake such risky adventure, but Betsy at once grasped the value suggestion and began jumping up and down until she found herself bounding almost as high as Polychrome had done Then she suddenly leaned forward next bound took her easily across the brook, where she alighted side Rainbow's Daughter

"Come on, Hank ! " called the girl, donkey tried to obey He managed to bound pretty high but when he tried to bound across the stream he misjudged the distance and fell with splash middle water

"Hee-haw ! " he wailed, struggling toward the far bank Betsy rushed forward to help him out, but mule stood safely beside her she was amazed not wet at all

"It's dry water," said Polychrome, dipping her hand stream and showing how the water fell and left it perfectly dry

" case," returned Betsy, " all walk water "

She called to Ozga and Shaggy to wade across, assuring them the water was shallow and wet them At once they followed her advice, avoiding the rubber stepping stones, and made the crossing with ease This encouraged the entire party to wade dry water, and all had assembled bank and renewed their journey along the path that led Nome King's dominions

When Kaliko again looked through his magic spyglass he exclaimed:

"Bad luck, Your Majesty ! All the invaders have passed the Rubber Country and now are fast approaching the entrance to your caverns "

Ruggedo raved and stormed news anger was so great that , as he strode up and down his jeweled cavern, he paused to kick Kaliko upon his shins, which were so sensitive poor nome howled with pain Finally the King said:

"There's no help ; drop these audacious invaders down the Hollow Tube "

Kaliko gave jump, , and looked at his master wonderingly

" that, Your Majesty," , " make Tititi-Hoochoo very angry "

"Never mind that," retorted Ruggedo "Tititi- Hoochoo lives other side world, so what do I care anger ? "

Kaliko shuddered and uttered little groan

"Remember his terrible powers," he pleaded, "and remember that he warned you, the last time you slid people Hollow Tube, that if it again take vengeance upon you "

The Metal Monarch walked up and down in silence, thinking deeply

"Of two dangers," said he, " wise the least What suppose these invaders want ? "