"Why don't we stop there ? " asked Betsy

"Because we go so fast that we acquire speed enough to carry us right other end "

"I don't understand that, and it makes my head ache to figure it out," she said after some thought " draws us center and another thing pushes us away But--"

"Don't ask me why, please," interrupted the Shaggy Man " 't understand it, let it go "

" understand it ? " she inquired

"All the magic isn't in fairyland," gravely "There's lots of magic in all Nature, and see it United States, where you and I once lived, here "

"I never did," she replied

"Because you were so used all that you didn't realize magic Is anything more wonderful than flower grow and blossom, or light electricity air ? The cows that manufacture milk machinery fully as remarkable in Tik-Tok's copper body, and perhaps you've noticed that--"

And then, before Shaggy could finish his speech, the strong light of day suddenly broke upon them, grew brighter, and completely enveloped them The dragon's claws no longer scraped against the metal Tube, for he shot open air hundred feet or more and sailed away slanting hole that when he landed peak of mountain and just over the entrance many underground caverns Nome King

officers tumbled off their seats when Quox struck the ground, but most dragon's passengers only felt slight jar All were glad on solid earth again at once dismounted and began to look Queerly enough, they had left the dragon, the seats that were strapped monster's back disappeared, and this probably happened because no further use and because Quox looked far more dignified in just his silver scales he still wore the forty yards of ribbon around his neck, great locket, but these only made him look "dressed up," as Betsy remarked

Now the army of nomes had gathered thickly around the mouth Tube, ready to capture the band of invaders they popped out There were, indeed, hundreds of nomes assembled, were led by Guph, their most famous General But expect the dragon to fly so high, and he shot Tube so suddenly took them by surprise nomes had rubbed the astonishment out eyes and regained their wits, they discovered the dragon quietly seated mountainside far above their heads, while the other strangers were standing in group and calmly looking down upon them

General Guph was very angry escape, no one's fault but his own

"Come down here and be captured ! " he shouted, waving his sword at them

"Come up here and capture us-- dare ! " replied Queen Ann, who was winding up the clockwork of her Private Soldier, so fight more briskly

Guph's first answer was roar of rage defiance; then he turned and issued command nomes These were all armed with sharp spears and with one accord they raised these spears and threw them straight at their foes, so rushed air in perfect cloud of flying weapons

Some damage done the dragon quickly crawled others, his body being so big shielded , including Hank The spears rattled against the silver scales of Quox and then fell harmlessly ground They were magic spears, , and all straightway bounded back hands who had thrown them, but even Guph useless to repeat the attack

now Queen Ann's turn to attack, so the Generals yelled "For--ward march ! " Colonels and Majors and Captains repeated the command valiant Army of Oogaboo, which seemed composed mainly of Tik- Tok, marched forward in single column toward the nomes, while Betsy and Polychrome cheered and Hank gave loud "Hee-haw ! " and Shaggy shouted "Hooray ! " and Queen Ann screamed: "At 'em, Tik-Tok--at 'em ! "

The nomes await the Clockwork Man's attack but in twinkling disappeared underground caverns They made great mistake in being so hasty, for Tik-Tok taken dozen steps before he stubbed his copper toe on rock and fell flat ground, where he cried: "Pick me up ! Pick me up ! Pick me up ! " until Shaggy and Files ran forward and raised him feet again

The dragon chuckled softly to himself as he scratched his left ear hind claw, but no one was paying much attention to Quox just then

evident to Ann and her officers that there no fighting unless the enemy was present, and the enemy boldly enter the underground Kingdom nomes So bold step demanded council of war

"Don't I'd better drop in on Ruggedo and obey the orders Jinjin ? " asked Quox

"By no means ! " returned Queen Ann " already put the army of nomes to flight and all that yet remains is to force our way into those caverns, and conquer the Nome King and all his people "

"That seems something of job," said the dragon, closing his eyes sleepily "But go ahead, like, and I'll wait here Don't be in any hurry on my account To one who lives thousands of years the delay of means nothing at all, and probably sleep until the time comes to act "

Ann was provoked speech

" go back to Tititi-Hoochoo now," she said, " Nome King is as good as conquered already "

But Quox shook his head "No," said he; "I'll wait "

Chapter Sixteen

The Naughty Nome

Shaggy Man had said nothing during the conversation between Queen Ann and Quox, simple reason that consider the matter worth an argument Safe within his pocket reposed the Love Magnet, which had never failed to win every heart The nomes, , like the heartless Roses and therefore won side he exhibited the magic talisman

Shaggy's chief anxiety to reach Ruggedo's Kingdom and now entrance lay before him confident to rescue his lost brother Let Ann dragon quarrel conquer the nomes, liked; Shaggy would let them try, and failed he had the means of conquest own pocket

But Ann was positive fail, for she thought her Army could do anything So she called the officers together and told them how to act, and she also instructed Tik-Tok what and what

"Please shoot your gun except as last resort," she added, "for wish cruel or to shed any blood--unless absolutely necessary "

"All right," replied Tik-Tok; "but Rug-ge-do would bleed if I filled him full of holes and put him in ci-der press "

Then the officers fell in line, the four Generals abreast and then the four Colonels four Majors four Captains They drew their glittering swords and commanded Tik-Tok to march, which Twice he fell down, being tripped rough rocks, but when he struck the smooth path he got along better gloomy mouth cavern entrance he stepped without hesitation, and after him proudly pranced the officers and Queen Ann The others held back little, waiting what would happen

the Nome King knew they were coming and was prepared to receive them Just rocky passage that led jeweled throne-room was deep pit, usually covered Ruggedo had ordered the cover removed and it now stood open, scarcely visible gloom

The pit was so large around nearly filled the passage and barely room to walk around it by pressing close rock walls This Tik-Tok did, copper eyes saw the pit clearly and he avoided it; but the officers marched straight hole and tumbled in heap bottom An instant later Queen Ann also walked pit, for she had her chin air and was careless where she placed her feet Then nomes pulled lever which replaced the cover pit and made the officers of Oogaboo and their Queen fast prisoners

As for Tik-Tok, he kept straight on cavern where Ruggedo sat throne and there he faced the Nome King and said:

"I here-by con-quer you name of Queen Ann So-forth of Oo-ga-boo, whose Ar-my , and I de-clare that her pris-on-er ! "

Ruggedo laughed at him

"Where famous Queen ? " he asked

"She'll be here in min-ute," said Tik-Tok "Per-haps she stopped to tie her shoe-string "

"Now, see here, Tik-Tok," began the Nome King, in stern voice, "I've had enough nonsense Your Queen and her officers are all prisoners, having fallen into my power, so perhaps you'll tell me what you mean "

"My or-ders were to con-quer you," replied Tik- Tok, "and my ma-chin-er-y the best it knows how to car-ry out those or-ders "

Ruggedo pounded gong and Kaliko appeared, followed closely by General Guph

"Take this copper man shops and set him to work hammering gold," commanded the King "Being run by machinery he steady worker He ought never made, but since he exists hereafter put him to good use "

" try to cap-ture me," said Tik-Tok, " fight "

"Don't ! " exclaimed General Guph, earnestly, "for useless to resist and hurt some one "

But Tik-Tok raised his gun and took aim and not knowing what damage the gun might nomes were afraid it

While thus defying the Nome King high officials, Betsy Bobbin rode calmly royal cavern, seated back of Hank the mule The little girl had grown tired of waiting for "something to happen" and so had come if Ruggedo conquered

"Nails and nuggets ! " roared the King; "how dare you bring that beast here and enter my presence unannounced ? "

"There wasn't anybody to announce me," replied Betsy "I guess your folks were all busy conquered yet ? "

"No ! " shouted the King, almost beside himself with rage