"Let the Long-Eared Hearer listen ," suggested Kaliko

"Call him here at once ! " commanded Ruggedo eagerly

So there entered the cavern nome with enormous ears, who bowed low King

"Strangers are approaching," said Ruggedo, "and their errand Listen carefully talk and tell me why coming here, and what for "

The nome bowed again and spread out his great ears, swaying them gently up and down and back and forth For half an hour he stood silent, in an attitude of listening, while both the King and Kaliko grew impatient delay At last the Long-Eared Hearer spoke:

"Shaggy Man is coming here to rescue his brother from captivity," said he

"Ha, the Ugly One ! " exclaimed Ruggedo "Well, Shaggy Man his ugly brother, for all I care He's too lazy to work always getting in my way Where Ugly One now, Kaliko ? "

"The last time Your Majesty stumbled over the prisoner you commanded me to Metal Forest, which I suppose still there "

" The invaders hard time finding the Metal Forest," said the King, with grin of malicious delight, "for half the time 't find it myself Yet I created the forest and made every tree, out of gold and silver, so as the precious metals in safe place and reach of mortals But tell me, Hearer, strangers want anything else ? "

"Yes, indeed ! " returned the nome "The Army of Oogaboo is determined to capture all the rich metals and rare jewels in your kingdom, officers and their Queen have arranged to divide the spoils and carry them away "

When he heard this Ruggedo uttered bellow of rage and began dancing up and down, rolling his eyes, clicking his teeth together and swinging his arms furiously Then, in an ecstasy of anger he seized the long ears Hearer and pulled and twisted them cruelly; but Kaliko grabbed up the King's sceptre and rapped him over the knuckles with it, Ruggedo let go the ears and began to chase his Royal Chamberlain around the throne

The Hearer took advantage opportunity to slip away cavern and escape, and King had tired himself out chasing Kaliko he threw himself into his throne and panted for breath, while he glared wickedly at his defiant subject

"You'd better save your strength to fight the enemy," suggested Kaliko " terrible battle Army of Oogaboo gets here "

"The Army won't get here," said the King, still coughing and panting "I'll drop 'em down the Hollow Tube--every man Jack and every girl Jill of 'em ! "

"And defy Tititi-Hoochoo ? " asked Kaliko

"Yes Go at once to my Chief Magician and order him the path toward the Hollow Tube, and to tip Tube invisible, so they'll all fall "

Kaliko went away shaking his head, for he thought Ruggedo was making great mistake the Magician and had the path twisted so led directly opening Hollow Tube, and this opening invisible

Having obeyed the orders master, the Royal Chamberlain went private room and began to write letters of recommendation of himself, stating that an honest man, good servant and small eater

"Pretty soon," to himself, " to look for another job, is certain that Ruggedo has ruined himself reckless defiance mighty Tititi-Hoochoo And in seeking job nothing is so effective as letter of recommendation "

Chapter Ten

Terrible Tumble Through Tube

I suppose that Polychrome, and perhaps Queen Ann and her Army, able to dispel the enchantment of Ruggedo's Chief Magician had they known that danger lay in their pathway; Rainbow's Daughter was fairy and as Oogaboo is part Land of Oz its inhabitants cannot easily be deceived by such common magic Nome King could command But no one suspected any especial danger until after they had entered Ruggedo's cavern, and so they were journeying along in quite contented manner when Tik-Tok, who marched ahead, suddenly disappeared

The officers thought turned corner, so they kept on their way and all likewise disappeared--one after another Queen Ann was rather surprised , and in hastening forward to learn the reason she also vanished from sight

Betsy Bobbin had tired her feet by walking, so she was now riding back stout little mule, facing backward and talking to Shaggy and Polychrome, who were just behind Suddenly Hank pitched forward and began falling and Betsy tumbled over his head had she not grabbed the mule's shaggy neck with both arms and held on for dear life

All around was darkness, falling directly downward but seemed sliding along steep incline Hank's hoofs were resting upon some smooth substance over which he slid swiftness wind Once Betsy's heels flew up and struck similar substance overhead They were, indeed, descending the "Hollow Tube" that led other side world

"Stop, Hank--stop ! " cried the girl; but Hank only uttered plaintive "Hee-haw ! " for impossible for him to obey

After several minutes had passed and no harm had befallen them, Betsy gained courage She nothing at all, nor could she hear anything except the rush of air past her ears plunged downward along the Tube Whether she and Hank were alone, or the others were , tell But had some one been able flash-light photograph Tube most curious picture resulted Tik-Tok, flat upon his back and sliding headforemost down the incline And there were the Officers Army of Oogaboo, all tangled up in confused crowd, flapping their arms and trying to shield their faces clanking swords, which swung back and forth during the swift journey and pommeled everyone within their reach Now followed Queen Ann, who had struck the Tube in sitting position and went flying along with dash and abandon that thoroughly bewildered the poor lady, who had no idea what had happened to her Then, little distance away, but unseen others inky darkness, slid Betsy and Hank, while behind them were Shaggy and Polychrome and finally Files Princess

When first they tumbled Tube all were too dazed clearly, but the trip was long one, because the cavity led straight earth to place just opposite the Nome King's dominions, and long adventurers got end they had begun to recover their wits

" awful, Hank ! " cried Betsy in loud voice, and Queen Ann heard her and called out: " safe, Betsy ? "

"Mercy, no ! " answered the little girl "How could anyone be safe when she's going about sixty miles minute ? " Then, after pause, she added: "But where s'pose we're going to, Your Maj'sty ? "

"Don't ask her that, please don't ! " said Shaggy, who was not too far away to overhear them "And please don't ask me why, either "

"Why ? " said Betsy

"No one can tell where going until we get there," replied Shaggy, and then he yelled "Ouch ! " for Polychrome had overtaken him and was now sitting head

The Rainbow's Daughter laughed merrily, and so infectious joyous laugh that Betsy echoed it and Hank said "Hee haw ! " in mild and sympathetic tone of voice

"I'd like where and when we'll arrive, just the same," exclaimed the little girl

"Be patient and you'll find out, my dear," said Polychrome "But isn't this an odd experience ? Here am I, whose home is skies, making journey center earth--where I never expected ! "

"How we're center earth ? " asked Betsy, her voice trembling little through nervousness

"Why, t be anywhere else," replied Polychrome " often heard passage, once built by Magician who was great traveler He thought it would save him the bother of going around the earth's surface, but he tumbled Tube so fast that he shot out other end and hit star sky, which at once exploded "

"The star exploded ? " asked Betsy wonderingly

"Yes; the Magician hit it so hard "

"And what became Magician ? " inquired the girl

"No one knows that," answered Polychrome "But I don't think it matters much "

"It matters , also hit the stars when we come out," said Queen Ann, with moan

"Don't worry," advised Polychrome "I believe the Magician was going the other way, and probably he went much faster than going "

"It's fast enough to suit me," remarked Shaggy, gently removing Polychrome's heel left eye "Couldn't you manage all by yourself, my dear ? "

"I'll try," laughed the Rainbow's Daughter

All they were swiftly falling Tube, and not so easy imagine read their words But although they were so helpless and altogether dark as fate, the fact were able to converse at all cheered them, considerably

Files and Ozga were also conversing clung tightly to one another, young fellow bravely strove to reassure the Princess, although terribly frightened, both on her account and own

An hour, under such trying circumstances, is very , and for more than an hour they continued their fearful journey Then, just began to fear the Tube would never end, Tik-Tok popped out into broad daylight and, after making graceful circle air, fell with splash into great marble fountain

Out came the officers, in quick succession, tumbling heels over head and striking the ground in many undignified attitudes

" love of sassafras ! " exclaimed Peculiar Person who was hoeing pink violets in garden "What can all this mean ? "

For answer, Queen Ann sailed up Tube, took ride air as high treetops, and alighted squarely on top Peculiar Person's head, smashing jeweled crown over his eyes and tumbling him ground

The mule was heavier and had Betsy clinging back, so go so high up Fortunately little rider he struck the ground upon his four feet Betsy was jarred trifle but not hurt and when she looked around her she saw the Queen Peculiar Person struggling together ground, where the man was trying to choke Ann and she had both hands bushy hair and was pulling with all her might officers, got upon their feet, hastened to separate the combatants and sought to restrain the Peculiar Person attack their Queen again

, Shaggy, Polychrome, Ozga and Files had all arrived and were curiously examining the strange country they found themselves and which they knew exactly opposite side world place where they had fallen Tube lovely place, indeed, and seemed the garden of some great Prince, for vistas of trees and shrubbery seen the towers of an immense castle But the only inhabitant to greet them Peculiar Person just mentioned, who had shaken off the grasp officers without effort and was now trying to pull the battered crown from off his eyes

Shaggy, who was always polite, helped him to and man was free and again he looked at his visitors with evident amazement