1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647
648
649
650
651
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670
671
672
673
674
675
676
677
678
679
680
681
682
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690
691
692
693
694
695
696
697
698
699
700
701
702
703
704
705
706
707
708
709
710
711
712
713
714
715
716
717
718
719
720
721
722
723
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737
738
739
740
741
742
743
744
745
746
747
748
749
750
751
752
753
754
755
756
757
758
759
760
761
762
763
764
765
766
767
768
769
770
771
772
773
774
775
776
777
778
779
780
781
782
783
784
785
786
787
788
789
790
791
792
793
794
795
796
797
798
799
800
801
802
803
804
805
806
807
808
809
810
811
812
813
814
815
816
817
818
819
820
821
822
823
824
825
826
827
828
829
830
831
832
833
834
835
836
837
838
839
840
841
842
843
844
845
846
847
848
849
850
851
852
853
854
855
856
857
858
859
860
861
862
863
864
865
866
867
868
869
870
871
872
873
874
875
876
877
878
879
880
881
882
883
884
885
886
887
888
889
890
891
892
893
894
895
896
897
898
899
900
901
902
903
904
905
906
907
908
909
910
911
912
913
914
915
916
917
918
919
920
921
922
923
924
925
926
927
928
929
930
931
932
933
934
935
936
937
938
939
940
941
942
943
944
945
946
947
948
949
950
951
952
953
954
955
956
957
958
959
960
961
962
963
964
965
966
967
968
969
970
971
972
973
974
975
976
977
978
979
980
981
982
983
984
985
986
987
988
989
990
991
992
993
994
995
996
997
998
999
1000
1001
1002
1003
1004
1005
1006
1007
1008
1009
1010
1011
1012
1013
1014
1015
1016
1017
1018
1019
1020
1021
1022
1023
1024
1025
1026
1027
1028
1029
1030
1031
1032
1033
1034
1035
1036
1037
1038
1039
1040
1041
1042
1043
1044
1045
1046
1047
1048
1049
1050
1051
1052
1053
1054
1055
1056
1057
1058
1059
1060
1061
1062
1063
1064
1065
1066
1067
1068
1069
1070
1071
1072
1073
1074
1075
1076
1077
1078
1079
1080
1081
1082
1083
1084
1085
1086
1087
1088
1089
1090
1091
1092
1093
1094
1095
1096
1097
1098
1099
1100
1101
1102
1103
1104
1105
1106
1107
1108
1109
1110
1111
1112
1113
1114
1115
1116
1117
1118
1119
1120
1121
1122
1123
1124
1125
1126
1127
1128
1129
1130
1131
1132
1133
1134
1135
1136
1137
1138
1139
1140
1141
1142
1143
1144
1145
1146
1147
1148
1149
1150
1151
1152
1153
1154
1155
1156
1157
1158
1159
1160
1161
1162
1163
1164
1165
1166
1167
1168
1169
1170
1171
1172
1173
1174
1175
1176
1177
1178
1179
1180
1181
1182
1183
1184
1185
1186
1187
1188
1189
1190
1191
1192
1193
1194
1195
1196
1197
1198
1199
1200
1201
1202
1203
1204
1205
1206
1207
1208
1209
1210
1211
1212
1213
1214
1215
1216
1217
1218
1219
1220
1221
1222
1223
1224
1225
1226
1227
1228
1229
1230
1231
1232
1233
1234
1235
1236
1237
1238
1239
1240
1241
1242
1243
1244
1245
1246
1247
1248
1249
1250
1251
1252
1253
1254
1255
1256
1257
1258
1259
1260
1261
1262
1263
1264
1265
1266
1267
1268
1269
1270
1271
1272
1273
1274
1275
1276
1277
1278
1279
1280
1281
1282
1283
1284
1285
1286
1287
1288
1289
1290
1291
1292
1293
1294
1295
1296
1297
1298
1299
1300
1301
1302
1303
1304
1305
1306
1307
1308
1309
1310
1311
1312
1313
1314
1315
1316
1317
1318
1319
1320
1321
1322
1323
1324
1325
1326
1327
1328
1329
1330
1331
1332
1333
1334
1335
1336
1337
1338
1339
1340
1341
1342
1343
1344
1345
1346
1347
1348
1349
1350
1351
1352
1353
1354
1355
1356
1357
1358
1359
1360
1361
1362
1363
1364
1365
1366
1367
1368
1369
1370
1371
1372
1373
1374
1375
1376
1377
1378
1379
1380
1381
1382
1383
1384
1385
1386
1387
1388
1389
1390
1391
1392
1393
1394
1395
1396
1397
1398
1399
1400
1401
1402
1403
1404
1405
1406
1407
1408
1409
1410
1411
1412
1413
1414
1415
1416
1417
1418
1419
1420
1421
1422
1423
1424
1425
1426
1427
1428
1429
1430
1431
1432
1433
1434
1435
1436
1437
1438
1439
1440
1441
1442
1443
1444
1445
1446
1447
1448
1449
1450
1451
1452
1453
1454
1455
1456
1457
1458
1459
1460
1461
1462
1463
1464
1465
1466
1467
1468
1469
1470
1471
1472
1473
1474
1475
1476
1477
1478
1479
1480
1481
1482
1483
1484
1485
1486
1487
1488
1489
1490
1491
1492
1493
1494
1495
1496
1497
1498
1499
1500
1501
1502
1503
1504
1505
1506
1507
1508
1509
1510
1511
1512
1513
1514
1515
1516
1517
1518
1519
1520
1521
1522
1523
1524
1525
1526
1527
1528
1529
1530
1531
1532
1533
1534
1535
1536
1537
1538
1539
1540
1541
1542
1543
1544
1545
1546
1547
1548
1549
1550
1551
1552
1553
1554
1555
1556
1557
1558
1559
1560
1561
1562
1563
1564
1565
1566
1567
1568
1569
1570
1571
1572
1573
1574
1575
1576
1577
1578
1579
1580
1581
1582
1583
1584
1585
1586
1587
1588
1589
1590
1591
1592
1593
1594
1595
1596
1597
1598
1599
1600
1601
1602
1603
1604
1605
1606
1607
1608
1609
1610
1611
1612
1613
1614
1615
1616
1617
1618
1619
1620
1621
1622
1623
1624
1625
1626
1627
1628
1629
1630
1631
1632
1633
1634
1635
1636
1637
1638
1639
1640
1641
1642
1643
1644
1645
1646
1647
1648
1649
1650
1651
1652
1653
1654
1655
1656
1657
1658
1659
1660
1661
1662
1663
1664
1665
1666
1667
1668
1669
1670
1671
1672
1673
1674
1675
1676
1677
1678
1679
1680
1681
1682
1683
1684
1685
1686
1687
1688
1689
1690
1691
1692
1693
1694
1695
1696
1697
1698
1699
1700
1701
1702
1703
1704
1705
1706
1707
1708
1709
1710
1711
1712
1713
1714
1715
1716
1717
1718
1719
1720
1721
1722
1723
1724
1725
1726
1727
1728
1729
1730
1731
1732
1733
1734
1735
1736
1737
1738
1739
1740
1741
1742
1743
1744
1745
1746
1747
1748
1749
1750
1751
1752
1753
1754
1755
1756
1757
1758
1759
1760
1761
1762
1763
1764
1765
1766
1767
1768
1769
1770
1771
1772
1773
1774
1775
1776
1777
1778
1779
1780
1781
1782
1783
1784
1785
1786
1787
1788
1789
1790
1791
1792
1793
1794
1795
1796
1797
1798
1799
1800
1801
1802
1803
1804
1805
1806
1807
1808
1809
1810
1811
1812
1813
1814
1815
1816
1817
1818
1819
1820
1821
1822
1823
1824
1825
1826
1827
1828
1829
1830
1831
1832
1833
1834
1835
1836
1837
1838
1839
1840
1841
1842
1843
1844
1845
1846
1847
1848
1849
1850
1851
1852
1853
1854
1855
1856
1857
1858
1859
1860
1861
1862
1863
1864
1865
1866
1867
1868
1869
1870
1871
1872
1873
1874
1875
1876
1877
1878
1879
1880
1881
1882
1883
1884
1885
1886
1887
1888
1889
1890
1891
1892
1893
1894
1895
1896
1897
1898
1899
1900
1901
1902
1903
1904
1905
1906
1907
1908
1909
1910
1911
1912
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
2035
2036
2037
2038
2039
2040
2041
2042
2043
2044
2045
2046
2047
2048
2049
2050
2051
2052
2053
2054
2055
2056
2057
2058
2059
2060
2061
2062
2063
2064
2065
2066
2067
2068
2069
2070
2071
2072
2073
2074
2075
2076
2077
2078
2079
2080
2081
2082
2083
2084
2085
2086
2087
2088
2089
2090
2091
2092
2093
2094
2095
2096
2097
2098
2099
2100
2101
2102
2103
2104
2105
2106
2107
2108
2109
2110
2111
2112
2113
2114
2115
2116
2117
2118
2119
2120
2121
2122
2123
2124
2125
2126
2127
2128
2129
2130
2131
2132
2133
2134
2135
2136
2137
2138
2139
2140
2141
2142
2143
2144
2145
2146
2147
2148
2149
2150
2151
2152
2153
2154
2155
2156
2157
2158
2159
2160
2161
2162
2163
2164
2165
2166
2167
2168
2169
2170
2171
2172
2173
2174
2175
2176
2177
2178
2179
2180
2181
2182
2183
2184
2185
2186
2187
2188
2189
2190
2191
2192
2193
2194
2195
2196
2197
2198
2199
2200
2201
2202
2203
2204
2205
2206
2207
2208
2209
2210
2211
2212
2213
2214
2215
2216
2217
2218
2219
2220
2221
2222
2223
2224
2225
2226
2227
2228
2229
2230
2231
2232
2233
2234
2235
2236
2237
2238
2239
2240
2241
2242
2243
2244
2245
2246
2247
2248
2249
2250
2251
2252
2253
2254
2255
2256
2257
2258
2259
2260
2261
2262
2263
2264
2265
2266
2267
2268
2269
2270
2271
2272
2273
2274
2275
2276
2277
2278
2279
2280
2281
2282
2283
2284
2285
2286
2287
2288
2289
2290
2291
2292
2293
2294
2295
2296
2297
2298
2299
2300
2301
2302
2303
2304
2305
2306
2307
2308
2309
2310
2311
2312
2313
2314
2315
2316
2317
2318
2319
2320
2321
2322
2323
2324
2325
2326
2327
2328
2329
2330
2331
2332
2333
2334
2335
2336
2337
2338
2339
2340
2341
2342
2343
2344
2345
2346
2347
2348
2349
2350
2351
2352
2353
2354
2355
2356
2357
2358
2359
2360
2361
2362
2363
2364
2365
2366
2367
2368
2369
2370
2371
2372
2373
2374
2375
2376
2377
2378
2379
2380
2381
2382
2383
2384
2385
2386
2387
2388
2389
2390
2391
2392
2393
2394
2395
2396
2397
2398
2399
2400
2401
2402
2403
2404
2405
2406
2407
2408
2409
2410
2411
2412
2413
2414
2415
2416
2417
2418
2419
2420
2421
2422
2423
2424
2425
2426
2427
2428
2429
2430
2431
2432
2433
2434
2435
2436
2437
2438
2439
2440
2441
2442
2443
2444
2445
2446
2447
2448
2449
2450
2451
2452
2453
2454
2455
2456
2457
2458
2459
2460
2461
2462
2463
2464
2465
2466
2467
2468
2469
2470
2471
2472
2473
2474
2475
2476
2477
2478
2479
2480
2481
2482
2483
2484
2485
2486
2487
2488
2489
2490
2491
2492
2493
2494
2495
2496
2497
2498
2499
2500
2501
2502
2503
2504
2505
2506
2507
2508
2509
2510
2511
2512
2513
2514
2515
2516
2517
2518
2519
2520
2521
2522
2523
2524
2525
2526
2527
2528
2529
2530
2531
2532
2533
2534
2535
2536
2537
2538
2539
2540
2541
2542
2543
2544
2545
2546
2547
2548
2549
2550
2551
2552
2553
2554
2555
2556
2557
2558
2559
2560
2561
2562
2563
2564
2565
2566
2567
2568
2569
2570
2571
2572
2573
2574
2575
2576
2577
2578
2579
2580
2581
2582
2583
2584
2585
2586
2587
2588
2589
2590
2591
2592
2593
2594
2595
2596
2597
2598
2599
2600
2601
2602
2603
2604
2605
2606
2607
2608
2609
2610
2611
2612
2613
2614
2615
2616
2617
2618
2619
2620
2621
2622
2623
2624
2625
2626
2627
2628
2629
2630
2631
2632
2633
2634
2635
2636
2637
2638
2639
2640
2641
2642
2643
2644
2645
2646
2647
2648
2649
2650
2651
2652
2653
2654
2655
2656
2657
2658
2659
2660
2661
2662
2663
2664
2665
2666
2667
2668
2669
2670
2671
2672
2673
2674
2675
2676
2677
2678
2679
2680
2681
2682
2683
2684
2685
2686
2687
2688
2689
2690
2691
2692
2693
2694
2695
2696
2697
2698
2699
2700
2701
2702
2703
2704
2705
2706
2707
2708
2709
2710
2711
2712
2713
2714
2715
2716
2717
2718
2719
2720
2721
2722
2723
2724
2725
2726
2727
2728
2729
2730
2731
2732
2733
2734
2735
2736
2737
2738
2739
2740
2741
2742
2743
2744
2745
2746
2747
2748
2749
2750
2751
2752
2753
2754
2755
2756
2757
2758
2759
2760
2761
2762
2763
2764
2765
2766
2767
2768
2769
2770
2771
2772
2773
2774
2775
2776
2777
2778
2779
2780
2781
2782
2783
2784
2785
2786
2787
2788
2789
2790
2791
2792
2793
2794
2795
2796
2797
2798
2799
2800
2801
2802
2803
2804
2805
2806
2807
2808
2809
2810
2811
2812
2813
2814
2815
2816
2817
2818
2819
2820
2821
2822
2823
2824
2825
2826
2827
2828
2829
2830
2831
2832
2833
2834
2835
2836
2837
2838
2839
2840
2841
2842
2843
2844
2845
2846
2847
2848
2849
2850
2851
2852
2853
2854
2855
2856
2857
2858
2859
2860
2861
2862
2863
2864
2865
2866
2867
2868
2869
2870
2871
2872
2873
2874
2875
2876
2877
2878
2879
2880
2881
2882
2883
2884
2885
2886
2887
2888
2889
2890
2891
2892
2893
2894
2895
2896
2897
2898
2899
2900
2901
2902
2903
2904
2905
2906
2907
2908
2909
2910
2911
2912
2913
2914
2915
2916
2917
2918
2919
2920
2921
2922
2923
2924
2925
2926
2927
2928
2929
2930
2931
2932
2933
2934
2935
2936
2937
2938
2939
2940
2941
2942
2943
2944
2945
2946
2947
2948
2949
2950
2951
2952
2953
2954
2955
2956
2957
2958
2959
2960
2961
2962
2963
2964
2965
2966
2967
2968
2969
2970
2971
2972
2973
2974
2975
2976
2977
2978
2979
2980
2981
2982
2983
2984
2985
2986
2987
2988
2989
2990
2991
2992
2993
2994
2995
2996
2997
2998
2999
3000
3001
3002
3003
3004
3005
3006
3007
3008
3009
3010
3011
3012
3013
3014
3015
3016
3017
3018
3019
3020
3021
3022
3023
3024
3025
3026
3027
3028
3029
3030
3031
3032
3033
3034
3035
3036
3037
3038
3039
3040
3041
3042
3043
3044
3045
3046
3047
3048
3049
3050
3051
3052
3053
3054
3055
3056
3057
3058
3059
3060
3061
3062
3063
3064
3065
3066
3067
3068
3069
3070
3071
3072
3073
3074
3075
3076
3077
3078
3079
3080
3081
3082
3083
3084
3085
3086
3087
3088
3089
3090
3091
3092
3093
3094
3095
3096
3097
3098
3099
3100
3101
3102
3103
3104
3105
3106
3107
3108
3109
3110
3111
3112
3113
3114
3115
3116
3117
3118
3119
3120
3121
3122
3123
3124
3125
3126
3127
3128
3129
3130
3131
3132
3133
3134
3135
3136
3137
3138
3139
3140
3141
3142
3143
3144
3145
3146
3147
3148
3149
3150
3151
3152
3153
3154
3155
3156
3157
3158
3159
3160
3161
3162
3163
3164
3165
3166
3167
3168
3169
3170
3171
3172
3173
3174
3175
3176
3177
3178
3179
3180
3181
3182
3183
3184
3185
3186
3187
3188
3189
3190
3191
3192
3193
3194
3195
3196
3197
3198
3199
3200
3201
3202
3203
3204
3205
3206
3207
3208
3209
3210
3211
3212
3213
3214
3215
3216
3217
3218
3219
3220
3221
3222
3223
3224
3225
3226
3227
3228
3229
3230
3231
3232
3233
3234
3235
3236
3237
3238
3239
3240
3241
3242
3243
3244
3245
3246
3247
3248
3249
3250
3251
3252
3253
3254
3255
3256
3257
3258
3259
3260
3261
3262
3263
3264
3265
3266
3267
3268
3269
3270
3271
3272
3273
3274
3275
3276
3277
3278
3279
3280
3281
3282
3283
3284
3285
3286
3287
3288
3289
3290
3291
3292
3293
3294
3295
3296
3297
3298
3299
3300
3301
3302
3303
3304
3305
3306
3307
3308
3309
3310
3311
3312
3313
3314
3315
3316
3317
3318
3319
3320
3321
3322
3323
3324
3325
3326
3327
3328
3329
3330
3331
3332
3333
3334
3335
3336
3337
3338
3339
3340
3341
3342
3343
3344
3345
3346
3347
3348
3349
3350
3351
3352
3353
3354
3355
3356
3357
3358
3359
3360
3361
3362
3363
3364
3365
3366
3367
3368
3369
3370
3371
3372
3373
3374
3375
3376
3377
3378
3379
3380
3381
3382
3383
3384
3385
3386
3387
3388
3389
3390
3391
3392
3393
3394
3395
3396
3397
3398
3399
3400
3401
3402
3403
3404
3405
3406
3407
3408
3409
3410
3411
3412
3413
3414
3415
3416
3417
3418
3419
3420
3421
3422
3423
3424
3425
3426
3427
3428
3429
3430
3431
3432
3433
3434
3435
3436
3437
3438
3439
3440
3441
3442
3443
3444
3445
3446
3447
3448
3449
3450
3451
3452
3453
3454
3455
3456
3457
3458
3459
3460
3461
3462
3463
3464
3465
3466
3467
3468
3469
3470
3471
3472
3473
3474
3475
3476
3477
3478
3479
3480
3481
3482
3483
3484
3485
3486
3487
3488
3489
3490
3491
3492
3493
3494
3495
3496
3497
3498
3499
3500
3501
3502
3503
3504
3505
3506
3507
3508
3509
3510
3511
3512
3513
3514
3515
3516
3517
3518
3519
3520
3521
3522
3523
3524
3525
3526
3527
3528
3529
3530
3531
3532
3533
3534
3535
3536
3537
3538
3539
3540
3541
3542
3543
3544
3545
3546
3547
3548
3549
3550
3551
3552
3553
3554
3555
3556
3557
3558
3559
3560
3561
3562
3563
3564
3565
3566
3567
3568
3569
3570
3571
3572
3573
3574
3575
3576
3577
3578
3579
3580
3581
3582
3583
3584
3585
3586
3587
3588
3589
3590
3591
3592
3593
3594
3595
3596
3597
3598
3599
3600
3601
3602
3603
3604
3605
3606
3607
3608
3609
3610
3611
3612
3613
3614
3615
3616
3617
3618
3619
3620
3621
3622
3623
3624
3625
3626
3627
3628
3629
3630
3631
3632
3633
3634
3635
3636
3637
3638
3639
3640
3641
3642
3643
3644
3645
3646
3647
3648
3649
3650
3651
3652
3653
3654
3655
3656
3657
3658
3659
3660
3661
3662
3663
3664
3665
3666
3667
3668
3669
3670
3671
3672
3673
3674
3675
3676
3677
3678
3679
3680
3681
3682
3683
3684
3685
3686
3687
3688
3689
3690
3691
3692
3693
3694
3695
3696
3697
3698
3699
3700
3701
3702
3703
3704
3705
3706
3707
3708
3709
3710
3711
3712
3713
3714
3715
3716
3717
3718
3719
3720
3721
3722
3723
3724
3725
3726
3727
3728
3729
3730
3731
3732
3733
3734
3735
3736
3737
3738
3739
3740
3741
3742
3743
3744
3745
3746
3747
3748
3749
3750
3751
3752
3753
3754
3755
3756
3757
3758
3759
3760
3761
3762
3763
3764
3765
3766
3767
3768
3769
3770
3771
3772
3773
3774
3775
3776
3777
3778
3779
3780
3781
3782
3783
3784
3785
3786
3787
3788
3789
3790
3791
3792
3793
3794
3795
3796
3797
3798
3799
3800
3801
3802
3803
3804
3805
3806
3807
3808
3809
3810
3811
3812
3813
3814
3815
3816
3817
3818
3819
3820
3821
3822
3823
3824
3825
3826
3827
3828
3829
3830
3831
3832
3833
3834
3835
3836
3837
3838
3839
3840
3841
3842
3843
3844
3845
3846
3847
3848
3849
3850
3851
3852
3853
3854
3855
3856
3857
3858
3859
3860
3861
3862
3863
3864
3865
3866
3867
3868
3869
3870
3871
3872
3873
3874
3875
3876
3877
3878
3879
3880
3881
3882
3883
3884
3885
3886
3887
3888
3889
3890
3891
3892
3893
3894
3895
3896
3897
3898
3899
3900
3901
3902
3903
3904
3905
3906
3907
3908
3909
3910
3911
3912
3913
3914
3915
3916
3917
3918
3919
3920
3921
3922
3923
3924
3925
3926
3927
3928
3929
3930
3931
3932
3933
3934
3935
3936
3937
3938
3939
3940
3941
3942
3943
3944
3945
3946
3947
3948
3949
3950
3951
3952
3953
3954
3955
3956
3957
3958
3959
3960
3961
3962
3963
3964
3965
3966
3967
3968
3969
3970
3971
3972
3973
3974
3975
3976
3977
3978
3979
3980
3981
3982
3983
3984
3985
3986
3987
3988
3989
3990
3991
3992
3993
3994
3995
3996
3997
3998
3999
4000
4001
4002
4003
4004
4005
4006
4007
4008
4009
4010
4011
4012
4013
4014
4015
4016
4017
4018
4019
4020
4021
4022
4023
4024
4025
4026
4027
4028
4029
4030
4031
4032
4033
4034
4035
4036
4037
4038
4039
4040
4041
4042
4043
4044
4045
4046
4047
4048
4049
4050
4051
4052
4053
4054
4055
4056
4057
4058
4059
4060
4061
4062
4063
4064
4065
4066
4067
4068
4069
4070
4071
4072
4073
4074
4075
4076
4077
4078
4079
4080
4081
4082
4083
4084
4085
4086
4087
4088
4089
4090
4091
4092
4093
4094
4095
4096
4097
4098
4099
4100
4101
4102
4103
4104
4105
4106
4107
4108
4109
4110
4111
4112
4113
4114
4115
4116
4117
4118
4119
4120
4121
4122
4123
4124
4125
4126
4127
4128
4129
4130
4131
4132
4133
4134
4135
4136
4137
4138
4139
4140
4141
4142
4143
4144
4145
4146
4147
4148
4149
4150
4151
4152
4153
4154
4155
4156
4157
4158
4159
4160
4161
4162
4163
4164
4165
4166
4167
4168
4169
4170
4171
4172
4173
4174
4175
4176
4177
4178
4179
4180
4181
4182
4183
4184
4185
4186
4187
4188
4189
4190
4191
4192
4193
4194
4195
4196
4197
4198
4199
4200
4201
4202
4203
4204
4205
4206
4207
4208
4209
4210
4211
4212
4213
4214
4215
4216
4217
4218
4219
4220
4221
4222
4223
4224
4225
4226
4227
4228
4229
4230
4231
4232
4233
4234
4235
4236
4237
4238
4239
4240
4241
4242
4243
4244
4245
4246
4247
4248
4249
4250
4251
4252
4253
4254
4255
4256
4257
4258
4259
4260
4261
4262
4263
4264
4265
4266
4267
4268
4269
4270
4271
4272
4273
4274
4275
4276
4277
4278
4279
4280
4281
4282
4283
4284
4285
4286
4287
4288
4289
4290
4291
4292
4293
4294
4295
4296
4297
4298
4299
4300
4301
4302
4303
4304
4305
4306
4307
4308
4309
4310
4311
4312
4313
4314
4315
4316
4317
4318
4319
4320
4321
4322
4323
4324
4325
4326
4327
4328
4329
4330
4331
4332
4333
4334
4335
4336
4337
4338
4339
4340
4341
4342
4343
4344
4345
4346
4347
4348
4349
4350
4351
4352
4353
4354
4355
4356
4357
4358
4359
4360
4361
4362
4363
4364
4365
4366
4367
4368
4369
4370
4371
4372
4373
4374
4375
4376
4377
4378
4379
4380
4381
4382
4383
4384
4385
4386
4387
4388
4389
4390
4391
4392
4393
4394
4395
4396
4397
4398
4399
4400
4401
4402
4403
4404
4405
4406
4407
4408
4409
4410
4411
4412
4413
4414
4415
4416
4417
4418
4419
4420
4421
4422
4423
4424
4425
4426
4427
4428
4429
4430
4431
4432
4433
4434
4435
4436
4437
4438
4439
4440
4441
4442
4443
4444
4445
4446
4447
4448
4449
4450
4451
4452
4453
4454
4455
4456
4457
4458
4459
4460
4461
4462
4463
4464
4465
4466
4467
4468
4469
4470
4471
4472
4473
4474
4475
4476
4477
4478
4479
4480
4481
4482
4483
4484
4485
4486
4487
4488
4489
4490
4491
4492
4493
4494
4495
4496
4497
4498
4499
4500
4501
4502
4503
4504
4505
4506
4507
4508
4509
4510
4511
4512
4513
4514
4515
4516
4517
4518
4519
4520
4521
4522
4523
4524
4525
4526
4527
4528
4529
4530
4531
4532
4533
4534
4535
4536
4537
4538
4539
4540
4541
4542
4543
4544
4545
4546
4547
4548
4549
4550
4551
4552
4553
4554
4555
4556
4557
4558
4559
4560
4561
4562
4563
4564
4565
4566
4567
4568
4569
4570
4571
4572
4573
4574
4575
4576
4577
4578
4579
4580
4581
4582
4583
4584
4585
4586
4587
4588
4589
4590
4591
4592
4593
4594
4595
4596
4597
4598
4599
4600
4601
4602
4603
4604
4605
4606
4607
4608
4609
4610
4611
4612
4613
4614
4615
4616
4617
4618
4619
4620
4621
4622
4623
4624
4625
4626
4627
4628
4629
4630
4631
4632
4633
4634
4635
4636
4637
4638
4639
4640
4641
4642
4643
4644
4645
4646
4647
4648
4649
4650
4651
4652
4653
4654
4655
4656
4657
4658
4659
4660
4661
4662
4663
4664
4665
4666
4667
4668
4669
4670
4671
4672
4673
4674
4675
4676
4677
4678
4679
4680
4681
4682
4683
4684
4685
4686
4687
4688
4689
4690
4691
4692
4693
4694
4695
4696
4697
4698
4699
4700
4701
4702
4703
4704
4705
4706
4707
4708
4709
4710
4711
4712
4713
4714
4715
4716
4717
4718
4719
4720
4721
4722
4723
4724
4725
4726
4727
4728
4729
4730
4731
4732
4733
4734
4735
4736
4737
4738
4739
4740
4741
4742
4743
4744
4745
4746
4747
4748
4749
4750
4751
4752
4753
4754
4755
4756
4757
4758
4759
4760
4761
4762
4763
4764
4765
4766
4767
4768
4769
4770
4771
4772
4773
4774
4775
4776
4777
4778
4779
4780
4781
4782
4783
4784
4785
4786
4787
4788
4789
4790
4791
4792
4793
4794
4795
4796
4797
4798
4799
4800
4801
4802
4803
4804
4805
4806
4807
4808
4809
4810
4811
4812
4813
4814
4815
4816
4817
4818
4819
4820
4821
4822
4823
4824
4825
4826
4827
4828
4829
4830
4831
4832
4833
4834
4835
4836
4837
4838
4839
4840
4841
4842
4843
4844
4845
4846
4847
4848
4849
4850
4851
4852
4853
4854
4855
4856
4857
4858
4859
4860
4861
4862
4863
4864
4865
4866
4867
4868
4869
4870
4871
4872
4873
4874
4875
4876
4877
4878
4879
4880
4881
4882
4883
4884
4885
4886
4887
4888
4889
4890
4891
4892
4893
4894
4895
4896
4897
4898
4899
4900
4901
4902
4903
4904
4905
4906
4907
4908
4909
4910
4911
4912
4913
4914
4915
4916
4917
4918
4919
4920
4921
4922
4923
4924
4925
4926
4927
4928
4929
4930
4931
4932
4933
4934
4935
4936
4937
4938
4939
4940
4941
4942
4943
4944
4945
4946
4947
4948
4949
4950
4951
4952
4953
4954
4955
4956
4957
4958
4959
4960
4961
4962
4963
4964
4965
4966
4967
4968
4969
4970
4971
4972
4973
4974
4975
4976
4977
4978
4979
4980
4981
4982
4983
4984
4985
4986
4987
4988
4989
4990
4991
4992
4993
4994
4995
4996
4997
4998
4999
5000
5001
5002
5003
5004
5005
5006
5007
5008
5009
5010
5011
5012
5013
5014
5015
5016
5017
5018
5019
5020
5021
5022
5023
5024
5025
5026
5027
5028
5029
5030
5031
5032
5033
5034
5035
5036
5037
5038
5039
5040
5041
5042
5043
5044
5045
5046
5047
5048
5049
5050
5051
5052
5053
5054
5055
5056
5057
5058
5059
5060
5061
5062
5063
5064
5065
5066
5067
5068
5069
5070
5071
5072
5073
5074
5075
5076
5077
5078
5079
5080
5081
5082
5083
5084
5085
5086
5087
5088
5089
5090
5091
5092
5093
5094
5095
5096
5097
5098
5099
5100
5101
5102
5103
5104
5105
5106
5107
5108
5109
5110
5111
5112
5113
5114
5115
5116
5117
5118
5119
5120
5121
5122
5123
5124
5125
5126
5127
5128
5129
5130
5131
5132
5133
5134
5135
5136
5137
5138
5139
5140
5141
5142
5143
5144
5145
5146
5147
5148
5149
5150
5151
5152
5153
5154
5155
5156
5157
5158
5159
5160
5161
5162
5163
5164
5165
5166
5167
5168
5169
5170
5171
5172
5173
5174
5175
5176
5177
5178
5179
5180
5181
5182
5183
5184
5185
5186
5187
5188
5189
5190
5191
5192
5193
5194
5195
5196
5197
5198
5199
5200
5201
5202
5203
5204
5205
5206
5207
5208
5209
5210
5211
5212
5213
5214
5215
5216
5217
5218
5219
5220
5221
5222
5223
5224
5225
5226
5227
5228
5229
5230
5231
5232
5233
5234
5235
5236
5237
5238
5239
5240
5241
5242
5243
5244
5245
5246
5247
5248
5249
5250
5251
5252
5253
5254
5255
5256
5257
5258
5259
5260
5261
5262
5263
5264
5265
5266
5267
5268
5269
5270
5271
5272
5273
5274
5275
5276
5277
5278
5279
5280
5281
5282
5283
5284
5285
5286
5287
5288
5289
5290
5291
5292
5293
5294
5295
5296
5297
5298
5299
5300
5301
5302
5303
5304
5305
5306
5307
5308
5309
5310
5311
5312
5313
5314
5315
5316
5317
5318
5319
5320
5321
5322
5323
5324
5325
5326
5327
5328
5329
5330
5331
5332
5333
5334
5335
5336
5337
5338
5339
5340
5341
5342
5343
5344
5345
5346
5347
5348
5349
5350
5351
5352
5353
5354
5355
5356
5357
5358
5359
5360
5361
5362
5363
5364
5365
5366
5367
5368
5369
5370
5371
5372
5373
5374
5375
5376
5377
5378
5379
5380
5381
5382
5383
5384
5385
5386
5387
5388
5389
5390
5391
5392
5393
5394
5395
5396
5397
5398
5399
5400
5401
5402
5403
5404
5405
5406
5407
5408
5409
5410
5411
5412
5413
5414
5415
5416
5417
5418
5419
5420
5421
5422
5423
5424
5425
5426
5427
5428
5429
5430
5431
5432
5433
5434
5435
5436
5437
5438
5439
5440
5441
5442
5443
5444
5445
5446
5447
5448
5449
5450
5451
5452
5453
5454
5455
5456
5457
5458
5459
5460
5461
5462
5463
5464
5465
5466
5467
5468
5469
5470
5471
5472
5473
5474
5475
5476
5477
5478
5479
5480
5481
5482
5483
5484
5485
5486
5487
5488
5489
5490
5491
5492
5493
5494
5495
5496
5497
5498
5499
5500
5501
5502
5503
5504
5505
5506
5507
5508
5509
5510
5511
5512
5513
5514
5515
5516
5517
5518
5519
5520
5521
5522
5523
5524
5525
5526
5527
5528
5529
5530
5531
5532
5533
5534
5535
5536
5537
5538
5539
5540
5541
5542
5543
5544
5545
5546
5547
5548
5549
5550
5551
5552
5553
5554
5555
5556
5557
5558
5559
5560
5561
5562
5563
5564
5565
5566
5567
5568
5569
5570
5571
5572
5573
5574
5575
5576
5577
5578
5579
5580
5581
5582
5583
5584
5585
5586
5587
5588
5589
5590
5591
5592
5593
5594
5595
5596
5597
5598
5599
5600
5601
5602
5603
5604
5605
5606
5607
5608
5609
5610
5611
5612
5613
5614
5615
5616
5617
5618
5619
5620
5621
5622
5623
5624
5625
5626
5627
5628
5629
5630
5631
5632
5633
5634
5635
5636
5637
5638
5639
5640
5641
5642
5643
5644
5645
5646
5647
5648
5649
5650
5651
5652
5653
5654
5655
5656
5657
5658
5659
5660
5661
5662
5663
5664
5665
5666
5667
5668
5669
5670
5671
5672
5673
5674
5675
5676
5677
5678
5679
5680
5681
5682
5683
5684
5685
5686
5687
5688
5689
5690
5691
5692
5693
5694
5695
5696
5697
5698
5699
5700
5701
5702
5703
5704
5705
5706
5707
5708
5709
5710
5711
5712
5713
5714
5715
5716
5717
5718
5719
5720
5721
5722
5723
5724
5725
5726
5727
5728
5729
5730
5731
5732
5733
5734
5735
5736
5737
5738
5739
5740
5741
5742
5743
5744
5745
5746
5747
5748
5749
5750
5751
5752
5753
5754
5755
5756
5757
5758
5759
5760
5761
5762
5763
5764
5765
5766
5767
5768
5769
5770
5771
5772
5773
5774
5775
5776
5777
5778
5779
5780
5781
5782
5783
5784
5785
5786
5787
5788
5789
5790
5791
5792
5793
5794
5795
5796
5797
5798
5799
5800
5801
5802
5803
5804
5805
5806
5807
5808
5809
5810
5811
5812
5813
5814
5815
5816
5817
5818
5819
5820
5821
5822
5823
5824
5825
5826
5827
5828
5829
5830
5831
5832
5833
5834
5835
5836
5837
5838
5839
5840
5841
5842
5843
5844
5845
5846
5847
5848
5849
5850
5851
5852
5853
5854
5855
5856
5857
5858
5859
5860
5861
5862
5863
5864
5865
5866
5867
5868
5869
5870
5871
5872
5873
5874
5875
5876
5877
5878
5879
5880
5881
5882
5883
5884
5885
5886
5887
5888
5889
5890
5891
5892
5893
5894
5895
5896
5897
5898
5899
5900
5901
5902
5903
5904
5905
5906
5907
5908
5909
5910
5911
5912
5913
5914
5915
5916
5917
5918
5919
5920
5921
5922
5923
5924
5925
5926
5927
5928
5929
5930
5931
5932
5933
5934
5935
5936
5937
5938
5939
5940
5941
5942
5943
5944
5945
5946
5947
5948
5949
5950
5951
5952
5953
5954
5955
5956
5957
5958
5959
5960
5961
5962
5963
5964
5965
5966
5967
5968
5969
5970
5971
5972
5973
5974
5975
5976
5977
5978
5979
5980
5981
5982
5983
5984
5985
5986
5987
5988
5989
5990
5991
5992
5993
5994
5995
5996
5997
5998
5999
6000
6001
6002
6003
6004
6005
6006
6007
6008
6009
6010
6011
6012
6013
6014
6015
6016
6017
6018
6019
6020
6021
6022
6023
6024
6025
6026
6027
6028
6029
6030
6031
6032
6033
6034
6035
6036
6037
6038
6039
6040
6041
6042
6043
6044
6045
6046
6047
6048
6049
6050
6051
6052
6053
6054
6055
6056
6057
6058
6059
6060
6061
6062
6063
6064
6065
6066
6067
6068
6069
6070
6071
6072
6073
6074
6075
6076
6077
6078
6079
6080
6081
6082
6083
6084
6085
6086
6087
6088
6089
6090
6091
6092
6093
6094
6095
6096
6097
6098
6099
6100
6101
6102
6103
6104
6105
6106
6107
6108
6109
6110
6111
6112
6113
6114
6115
6116
6117
6118
6119
6120
6121
6122
6123
6124
6125
6126
6127
6128
6129
6130
6131
6132
6133
6134
6135
6136
6137
6138
6139
6140
6141
6142
6143
6144
6145
6146
6147
6148
6149
6150
6151
6152
6153
6154
6155
6156
6157
6158
6159
6160
6161
6162
6163
6164
6165
6166
6167
6168
6169
6170
6171
6172
6173
6174
6175
6176
6177
6178
6179
6180
6181
6182
6183
6184
6185
6186
6187
6188
6189
6190
6191
6192
6193
6194
6195
6196
6197
6198
6199
6200
6201
6202
6203
6204
6205
6206
6207
6208
6209
6210
6211
6212
6213
6214
6215
6216
6217
6218
6219
6220
6221
6222
6223
6224
6225
6226
6227
6228
6229
6230
6231
6232
6233
6234
6235
6236
6237
6238
6239
6240
6241
6242
6243
6244
6245
6246
6247
6248
6249
6250
6251
6252
6253
6254
6255
6256
6257
6258
6259
6260
6261
6262
6263
6264
6265
6266
6267
6268
6269
6270
6271
6272
6273
6274
6275
6276
6277
6278
6279
6280
6281
6282
6283
6284
6285
6286
6287
6288
6289
6290
6291
6292
6293
6294
6295
6296
6297
6298
6299
6300
6301
6302
6303
6304
6305
6306
6307
6308
6309
6310
6311
6312
6313
6314
6315
6316
6317
6318
6319
6320
6321
6322
6323
6324
6325
6326
6327
6328
6329
6330
6331
6332
6333
6334
6335
6336
6337
6338
6339
6340
6341
6342
6343
6344
6345
6346
6347
6348
6349
6350
6351
6352
6353
6354
6355
6356
6357
6358
6359
6360
6361
6362
6363
6364
6365
6366
6367
6368
6369
6370
6371
6372
6373
6374
6375
6376
6377
6378
6379
6380
6381
6382
6383
6384
6385
6386
6387
6388
6389
6390
6391
6392
6393
6394
6395
6396
6397
6398
6399
6400
6401
6402
6403
6404
6405
6406
6407
6408
6409
6410
6411
6412
6413
6414
6415
6416
6417
6418
6419
6420
6421
6422
6423
6424
6425
6426
6427
6428
6429
6430
6431
6432
6433
6434
6435
6436
6437
6438
6439
6440
6441
6442
6443
6444
6445
6446
6447
6448
6449
6450
6451
6452
6453
6454
6455
6456
6457
6458
6459
6460
6461
6462
6463
6464
6465
6466
6467
6468
6469
6470
6471
6472
6473
6474
6475
6476
6477
6478
6479
6480
6481
6482
6483
6484
6485
6486
6487
6488
6489
6490
6491
6492
6493
6494
6495
6496
6497
6498
6499
6500
6501
6502
6503
6504
6505
6506
6507
6508
6509
6510
6511
6512
6513
6514
6515
6516
6517
6518
6519
6520
6521
6522
6523
6524
6525
6526
6527
6528
6529
6530
6531
6532
6533
6534
6535
6536
6537
6538
6539
6540
6541
6542
6543
6544
6545
6546
6547
6548
6549
6550
6551
6552
6553
6554
6555
6556
6557
6558
6559
6560
6561
6562
6563
6564
6565
6566
6567
6568
6569
6570
6571
6572
6573
6574
6575
6576
6577
6578
6579
6580
6581
6582
6583
6584
6585
6586
6587
6588
6589
6590
6591
6592
6593
6594
6595
6596
6597
6598
6599
6600
6601
6602
6603
6604
6605
6606
6607
6608
6609
6610
6611
6612
6613
6614
6615
6616
6617
6618
6619
6620
6621
6622
6623
6624
6625
6626
6627
6628
6629
6630
6631
6632
6633
6634
6635
6636
6637
6638
6639
6640
6641
6642
6643
6644
6645
6646
6647
6648
6649
6650
6651
6652
6653
6654
6655
6656
6657
6658
6659
6660
6661
6662
6663
6664
6665
6666
6667
6668
6669
6670
6671
6672
6673
6674
6675
6676
6677
6678
6679
6680
6681
6682
6683
6684
6685
6686
6687
6688
6689
6690
6691
6692
6693
6694
6695
6696
6697
6698
6699
6700
6701
6702
6703
6704
6705
6706
6707
6708
6709
6710
6711
6712
6713
6714
6715
6716
6717
6718
6719
6720
6721
6722
6723
6724
6725
6726
6727
6728
6729
6730
6731
6732
6733
6734
6735
6736
6737
6738
6739
6740
6741
6742
6743
6744
6745
6746
6747
6748
6749
6750
6751
6752
6753
6754
6755
6756
6757
6758
6759
6760
6761
6762
6763
6764
6765
6766
6767
6768
6769
6770
6771
6772
6773
6774
6775
6776
6777
6778
6779
6780
6781
6782
6783
6784
6785
6786
6787
6788
6789
6790
6791
6792
6793
6794
6795
6796
6797
6798
6799
6800
6801
6802
6803
6804
6805
6806
6807
6808
6809
6810
6811
6812
6813
6814
6815
6816
6817
6818
6819
6820
6821
6822
6823
6824
6825
6826
6827
6828
6829
6830
6831
6832
6833
6834
6835
6836
6837
6838
6839
6840
6841
6842
6843
6844
6845
6846
6847
6848
6849
6850
6851
6852
6853
6854
6855
6856
6857
6858
|
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN"
"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<head>
<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Tik-Tok of Oz, by L. Frank Baum</title>
<style type="text/css">
/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */
<!--
p { margin-top: .75em;
text-align: justify;
margin-bottom: .75em;
text-indent: 1em;
line-height: 115%;
}
h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 {
text-align: center; /* all headings centered */
}
td {font-size: 120%;
}
body{margin-left: 8%;
margin-right: 8%;
}
.center {margin-top: 1.5em;
margin-bottom: 1.5em;
text-align: center;
text-indent: 0em;}
// -->
/* XML end ]]>*/
</style>
</head>
<body>
<pre>
The Project Gutenberg Etext of Tik-Tok of Oz, by L. Frank Baum
#8 in our series by L. Frank Baum
Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the
copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing
this or any other Project Gutenberg file.
We encourage you to keep this file, exactly as it is, on your own disk,
thereby keeping an electronic path open for future readers.
Please do not remove this.
This header should be the first thing seen when anyone starts to
view the etext. Do not change or edit it without written permission.
The words are carefully chosen to provide users with the information
they need to understand what they may and may not do with the etext.
To encourage this, we have moved most of the information to the end,
rather than having it all here at the beginning.
**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts**
**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971**
*****These Etexts Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!*****
Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get etexts, and
further information, is included below. We need your donations.
The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a 501(c)(3)
organization with EIN [Employee Identification Number] 64-6221541
Find out about how to make a donation at the bottom of this file.
Title: Tik-Tok of Oz
Author: L. Frank Baum
Edition: 11
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
Release Date: June, 1997 [Etext #956]
[This file was last updated on February 21, 2002]
The Project Gutenberg Etext of Tik-Tok of Oz, by L. Frank Baum
*****This file should be named 08woz11.txt or 08woz11.zip*****
Corrected EDITIONS of our etexts get a new NUMBER, 08woz12.txt
VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 08woz11a.txt
This Etext was prepared for Project Gutenberg by Anthony Matonac.
Proofreading and corrections by Paul Selkirk, January 2002.
Project Gutenberg Etexts are often created from several printed
editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US
unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we usually do not
keep etexts in compliance with any particular paper edition.
The "legal small print" and other information about this book
may now be found at the end of this file. Please read this
important information, as it gives you specific rights and
tells you about restrictions in how the file may be used.
</pre>
<h1>TIK-TOK OF OZ</h1>
<h2>by L. FRANK BAUM</h2>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="center">To Louis F. Gottschalk, <br />
Whose sweet and dainty melodies<br />
breathe the true spirit of fairyland, <br />
this book is affectionately dedicated</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<h2>To My Readers</h2>
<p>The very marked success of my last year's fairy book, "The
Patchwork Girl of Oz," convinces me that my readers like the Oz
stories "best of all," as one little girl wrote me. So here, my
dears, is a new Oz story in which is introduced Ann Soforth, the
Queen of Oogaboo, whom Tik-Tok assisted in conquering our old
acquaintance, the Nome King. It also tells of Betsy Bobbin and how,
after many adventures, she finally reached the marvelous Land of
Oz.</p>
<p>There is a play called "The Tik-Tok Man of Oz," but it is not
like this story of "Tik-Tok of Oz," although some of the
adventures recorded in this book, as well as those in several
other Oz books, are included in the play. Those who have seen the
play and those who have read the other Oz books will find in this
story a lot of strange characters and adventures that they have
never heard of before. </p>
<p>In the letters I receive from children there has been an
urgent appeal for me to write a story that will take Trot and
Cap'n Bill to the Land of Oz, where they will meet Dorothy and
Ozma. Also they think Button-Bright ought to get acquainted with
Ojo the Lucky. As you know, I am obliged to talk these matters
over with Dorothy by means of the "wireless," for that is the
only way I can communicate with the Land of Oz. When I asked her
about this idea, she replied: "Why, haven't you heard?" I said
"No." "Well," came the message over the wireless, "I'll tell you
all about it, by and by, and then you can make a book of that
story for the children to read."</p>
<p>So, if Dorothy keeps her word and I am permitted to write another
Oz book, you will probably discover how all these characters came
together in the famous Emerald City. Meantime, I want to tell all
my little friends--whose numbers are increasing by many thousands
every year—that I am very grateful for the favor they have shown
my books and for the delightful little letters I am constantly
receiving. I am almost sure that I have as many friends among the
children of America as any story writer alive; and this, of
course, makes me very proud and happy. </p>
<p>L. Frank Baum.<br />
<br />
"OZCOT" <br />
at HOLLYWOOD <br />
in CALIFORNIA, <br />
1914.
</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<h3>CONTENTS</h3>
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="6" border="0">
<tr>
<td align="right">CHAPTER</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">I</td>
<td><a href="#CH1">Ann's Army</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">II</td>
<td><a href="#CH2">Out of Oogaboo</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">III</td>
<td><a href="#CH3">Magic Mystifies the Marchers</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">IV</td>
<td><a href="#CH4">Betsy Braves the Billows</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">V</td>
<td><a href="#CH5">The Roses Repulse the Refugees</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">VI</td>
<td><a href="#CH6">Shaggy Seeks his Stray Brother</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">VII</td>
<td><a href="#CH7">Polychrome's Pitiful Plight</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">VIII</td>
<td><a href="#CH8">Tik-Tok Tackles a Tough Task</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">IX</td>
<td><a href="#CH9">Ruggedo's Rage is Rash and Reckless</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">X</td>
<td><a href="#CH10">A Terrible Tumble Through a Tube</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">XI</td>
<td><a href="#CH11">The Famous Fellowship of Fairies</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">XII</td>
<td><a href="#CH12">The Lovely Lady of Light</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">XIII</td>
<td><a href="#CH13">The Jinjin's Just Judgment</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">XIV</td>
<td><a href="#CH14">The Long-Eared Hearer Learns by Listening</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">XV</td>
<td><a href="#CH15">The Dragon Defies Danger</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">XVI</td>
<td><a href="#CH16">The Naughty Nome</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">XVII</td>
<td><a href="#CH17">A Tragic Transformation</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">XVIII</td>
<td><a href="#CH18">A Clever Conquest</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">XIX</td>
<td><a href="#CH19">King Kaliko</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">XX</td>
<td><a href="#CH20">Quox Quietly Quits</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">XXI</td>
<td><a href="#CH21">A Bashful Brother</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">XXII</td>
<td><a href="#CH22">Kindly Kisses</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">XXIII</td>
<td><a href="#CH23">Ruggedo Reforms</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">XXIV</td>
<td><a href="#CH24">Dorothy is Delighted</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">XXV</td>
<td><a href="#CH25">The Land of Love</a></td>
</tr>
</table>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<h1>TIK-TOK of OZ</h1>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<h2><a name="CH1" id="CH1">Chapter One</a></h2>
<h3>Ann's Army</h3>
<p>"I won't!" cried Ann; "I won't sweep the floor. It is beneath my
dignity." </p>
<p>"Some one must sweep it," replied Ann's younger sister, Salye;
"else we shall soon he wading in dust. And you are the eldest,
and the head of the family."</p>
<p>"I'm Queen of Oogaboo," said Ann, proudly. "But," she added with
a sigh, "my kingdom is the smallest and the poorest in all the
Land of Oz." </p>
<p>This was quite true. Away up in the mountains, in a far corner
of the beautiful fairyland of Oz, lies a small valley which is
named Oogaboo, and in this valley lived a few people who were
usually happy and contented and never cared to wander over the
mountain pass into the more settled parts of the land. They knew
that all of Oz, including their own territory, was ruled by a
beautiful Princess named Ozma, who lived in the splendid Emerald
City; yet the simple folk of Oogaboo never visited Ozma. They had
a royal family of their own--not especially to rule over them,
but just as a matter of pride. Ozma permitted the various parts
of her country to have their Kings and Queens and Emperors and
the like, but all were ruled over by the lovely girl Queen of the
Emerald City.</p>
<p>The King of Oogaboo used to be a man named Jol Jemkiph Soforth,
who for many years did all the drudgery of deciding disputes and
telling his people when to plant cabbages and pickle onions. But
the King's wife had a sharp tongue and small respect for the
King, her husband; therefore one night King Jol crept over the
pass into the Land of Oz and disappeared from Oogaboo for good
and all. The Queen waited a few years for him to return and then
started in search of him, leaving her eldest daughter, Ann
Soforth, to act as Queen. </p>
<p>Now, Ann had not forgotten when her birthday came, for that
meant a party and feasting and dancing, but she had quite
forgotten how many years the birthdays marked. In a land where
people live always, this is not considered a cause for regret, so
we may justly say that Queen Ann of Oogaboo was old enough to
make jelly--and let it go at that.
</p>
<p>But she didn't make jelly, or do any more of the housework than
she could help. She was an ambitious woman and constantly
resented the fact that her kingdom was so tiny and her people so
stupid and unenterprising. Often she wondered what had become of
her father and mother, out beyond the pass, in the wonderful Land
of Oz, and the fact that they did not return to Oogaboo led Ann
to suspect that they bad found a better place to live. So, when
Salye refused to sweep the floor of the living room in the
palace, and Ann would not sweep it, either, she said to her
sister: </p>
<p>"I'm going away. This absurd Kingdom of Oogaboo tires me."</p>
<p>"Go, if you want to," answered Salye; "but you are very foolish
to leave this place." </p>
<p>"Why?" asked Ann.</p>
<p>"Because in the Land of Oz, which is Ozma's country, you will be
a nobody, while here you are a Queen." </p>
<p>"Oh, yes! Queen over eighteen men, twenty-seven women and
forty-four children!" returned Ann bitterly.</p>
<p>"Well, there are certainly more people than that in the great
Land of Oz," laughed Salye. "Why don't you raise an army and
conquer them, and be Queen of all Oz?" she asked, trying to taunt
Ann and so to anger her. Then she made a face at her sister and
went into the back yard to swing in the hammock. </p>
<p>Her jeering words, however, had given Queen Ann an idea. She
reflected that Oz was reported to be a peaceful country and Ozma
a mere girl who ruled with gentleness to all and was obeyed
because her people loved her. Even in Oogaboo the story was told
that Ozma's sole army consisted of twenty-seven fine officers, who
wore beautiful uniforms but carried no weapons, because there was
no one to fight. Once there had been a private soldier, besides
the officers, but Ozma had made him a Captain-General and taken
away his gun for fear it might accidentally hurt some one.</p>
<p>The more Ann thought about the matter the more she was convinced
it would be easy to conquer the Land of Oz and set herself up as
Ruler in Ozma's place, if she but had an Army to do it with.
Afterward she could go out into the world and conquer other
lands, and then perhaps she could find a way to the moon, and
conquer that. She had a warlike spirit that preferred trouble to
idleness. </p>
<p>It all depended on an Army, Ann decided. She carefully counted
in her mind all the men of her kingdom. Yes; there were exactly
eighteen of them, all told. That would not make a very big Army,
but by surprising Ozma's unarmed officers her men might easily
subdue them. "Gentle people are always afraid of those that
bluster," Ann told herself. "I don't wish to shed any blood, for
that would shock my nerves and I might faint; but if we threaten
and flash our weapons I am sure the people of Oz will fall upon
their knees before me and surrender."</p>
<p>This argument, which she repeated to herself more than once,
finally determined the Queen of Oogaboo to undertake the
audacious venture. </p>
<p>"Whatever happens," she reflected, "can make me no more
unhappy than my staying shut up in this miserable valley and
sweeping floors and quarreling with Sister Salye; so I will
venture all, and win what I may."</p>
<p>That very day she started out to organize her Army. </p>
<p>The first man she came to was Jo Apple, so called because he
had an apple orchard.</p>
<p>"Jo," said Ann, "I am going to conquer the world, and I want you to join my Army." </p>
<p>"Don't ask me to do such a fool thing, for I must politely
refuse Your Majesty," said Jo Apple."</p>
<p>"I have no intention of asking you. I shall command you, as Queen
of Oogaboo, to join," said Ann.</p>
<p>"In that case, I suppose I must obey," the man remarked, in a
sad voice. "But I pray you to consider that I am a very important
citizen, and for that reason am entitled to an office of high rank."</p>
<p>"You shall be a General," promised Ann. </p>
<p>"With gold epaulets and a sword?" he asked.</p>
<p>"Of course," said the Queen.</p>
<p>Then she went to the next man, whose name was Jo Bunn, as he
owned an orchard where graham-buns and wheat-buns, in great
variety, both hot and cold, grew on the trees.</p>
<p>"Jo," said Ann, "I am going to conquer the world, and I command
you to join my Army."</p>
<p>"Impossible!" he exclaimed. "The bun crop has to be picked."</p>
<p>"Let your wife and children do the picking," said Ann. </p>
<p>"But I'm a man of great importance, Your Majesty," he protested.</p>
<p>"For that reason you shall be one of my Generals, and wear a
cocked hat with gold braid, and curl your mustaches and clank a
long sword," she promised.</p>
<p>So he consented, although sorely against his will, and the
Queen walked on to the next cottage. Here lived Jo Cone, so
called because the trees in his orchard bore crops of excellent
ice-cream cones.</p>
<p>"Jo," said Ann, "I am going to conquer the world, and you must
join my Army."</p>
<p>"Excuse me, please," said Jo Cone. "I am a bad fighter. My
good wife conquered me years ago, for she can fight better than
I. Take her, Your Majesty, instead of me, and I'll bless you for
the favor."</p>
<p>"This must be an army of men—fierce, ferocious warriors,"
declared Ann, looking sternly upon the mild little man.</p>
<p>"And you will leave my wife here in Oogaboo?" he asked.</p>
<p>"Yes; and make you a General."</p>
<p>"I'll go," said Jo Cone, and Ann went on to the cottage of Jo
Clock, who had an orchard of clock-trees. This man at first
insisted that he would not join the army, but Queen Ann's promise
to make him a General finally won his consent.</p>
<p>"How many Generals are there in your army?" he asked.</p>
<p>"Four, so far," replied Ann.</p>
<p>"And how big will the army he?" was his next question.</p>
<p>"I intend to make every one of the eighteen men in Oogaboo join it," she said.</p>
<p>"Then four Generals are enough," announced Jo Clock. "I advise
you to make the rest of them Colonels." </p>
<p>Ann tried to follow his advice. The next four men she
visited—who were Jo Plum, Jo Egg, Jo Banjo and Jo Cheese, named
after the trees in their orchards—she made Colonels of her Army;
but the fifth one, Jo Nails, said Colonels and Generals were
getting to be altogether too common in the Army of Oogaboo and he
preferred to be a Major. So Jo Nails, Jo Cake, Jo Ham and Jo
Stockings were all four made Majors, while the next four—Jo
Sandwich, Jo Padlocks, Jo Sundae and Jo Buttons—were appointed
Captains of the Army.</p>
<p>But now Queen Ann was in a quandary. There remained but two other
men in all Oogaboo, and if she made these two Lieutenants, while
there were four Captains, four Majors, four Colonels and four
Generals, there was likely to be jealousy in her army, and
perhaps mutiny and desertions.</p>
<p>One of these men, however, was Jo Candy, and he would not go
at all. No promises could tempt him, nor could threats move him.
He said he must remain at home to harvest his crop of
jackson-balls, lemon-drops, bonbons and chocolate-creams. Also he
had large fields of cracker-jack and buttered popcorn to be mowed
and threshed, and he was determined not to disappoint the
children of Oogaboo by going away to conquer the world and so let
the candy crop spoil.</p>
<p>Finding Jo Candy so obstinate, Queen Ann let him have his own way
and continued her journey to the house of the eighteenth and last
man in Oogaboo, who was a young fellow named Jo Files. This Files
had twelve trees which bore steel files of various sorts; but
also he had nine book-trees, on which grew a choice selection of
story-books. In case you have never seen books growing upon
trees, I will explain that those in Jo Files' orchard were
enclosed in broad green husks which, when fully ripe, turned to a
deep red color. Then the books were picked and husked and were
ready to read. If they were picked too soon, the stories were
found to be confused and uninteresting and the spelling bad.
However, if allowed to ripen perfectly, the stories were fine
reading and the spelling and grammar excellent.</p>
<p>Files freely gave his books to all who wanted them, but the
people of Oogaboo cared little for books and so he had to read
most of them himself, before they spoiled. For, as you probably
know, as soon as the books were read the words disappeared and
the leaves withered and faded—which is the worst fault of all
books which grow upon trees.</p>
<p>When Queen Ann spoke to this young man Files, who was both
intelligent and ambitious, he said he thought it would be great
fun to conquer the world. But he called her attention to the fact
that he was far superior to the other men of her army. Therefore,
he would not be one of her Generals or Colonels or Majors or
Captains, but claimed the honor of being sole Private.</p>
<p>Ann did not like this idea at all.</p>
<p>"I hate to have a Private Soldier in my army, she said; "they're
so common. I am told that Princess Ozma once had a private
soldier, but she made him her Captain-General, which is good
evidence that the private was unnecessary.</p>
<p>"Ozma's army doesn't fight," returned Files; "but your army
must fight like fury in order to conquer the world. I have read
in my books that it is always the private soldiers who do the
fighting, for no officer is ever brave enough to face the foe.
Also, it stands to reason that your officers must have some one
to command and to issue their orders to; therefore I'll be the
one. I long to slash and slay the enemy and become a hero. Then,
when we return to Oogaboo, I'll take all the marbles away from
the children and melt them up and make a marble statue of myself
for all to look upon and admire."</p>
<p>Ann was much pleased with Private Files. He seemed indeed to be
such a warrior as she needed in her enterprise, and her hopes of
success took a sudden bound when Files told her he knew where a
gun-tree grew and would go there at once and pick the ripest and
biggest musket the tree bore.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<h2><a name="CH2" id="CH2">Chapter Two</a></h2>
<h3>Out of Oogaboo</h3>
<p>Three days later the Grand Army of Oogaboo assembled in the
square in front of the royal palace. The sixteen officers were
attired in gorgeous uniforms and carried sharp, glittering
swords. The Private had picked his gun and, although it was not a
very big weapon, Files tried to look fierce and succeeded so well
that all his commanding officers were secretly afraid of him.</p>
<p>The women were there, protesting that Queen Ann Soforth bad no
right to take their husbands and fathers from them; but Ann
commanded them to keep silent, and that was the hardest order to
obey they had ever received.</p>
<p>The Queen appeared before her Army dressed in an imposing uniform
of green, covered with gold braid. She wore a green soldier-cap
with a purple plume in it and looked so royal and dignified that
everyone in Oogaboo except the Army was glad she was going. The
Army was sorry she was not going alone.</p>
<p>"Form ranks!" she cried in her shrill voice.</p>
<p>Salye leaned out of the palace window and laughed.</p>
<p>"I believe your Army can run better than it can fight," she observed.</p>
<p>"Of course," replied General Bunn, proudly. "We're not looking
for trouble, you know, but for plunder. The more plunder and the
less fighting we get, the better we shall like our work."</p>
<p>"For my part," said Files, "I prefer war and carnage to
anything. The only way to become a hero is to conquer, and the
story-books all say that the easiest way to conquer is to fight."</p>
<p>"That's the idea, my brave man!" agreed Ann. "To fight is to
conquer and to conquer is to secure plunder and to secure plunder
is to become a hero. With such noble determination to back me,
the world is mine! Good-bye, Salye. When we return we shall be
rich and famous. Come, Generals; let us march."</p>
<p>At this the Generals straightened up and threw out their
chests. Then they swung their glittering swords in rapid circles
and cried to the Colonels:</p>
<p>"For-ward March!" </p>
<p>Then the Colonels shouted to the Majors: "Forward March!" and
the Majors yelled to the Captains: "For-ward March!" and the
Captains screamed to the Private:</p>
<p>"For-ward March!" </p>
<p>So Files shouldered his gun and began to march, and all the
officers followed after him. Queen Ann came last of all,
rejoicing in her noble army and wondering why she had not decided
long ago to conquer the world.</p>
<p>In this order the procession marched out of Oogaboo and took the
narrow mountain pass which led into the lovely Fairyland of Oz.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<h2><a name="CH3" id="CH3">Chapter Three</a></h2>
<h3>Magic Mystifies the Marchers</h3>
<p>Princess Ozma was all unaware that the Army of Oogaboo, led by
their ambitious Queen, was determined to conquer her Kingdom. The
beautiful girl Ruler of Oz was busy with the welfare of her
subjects and had no time to think of Ann Soforth and her disloyal
plans. But there was one who constantly guarded the peace and
happiness of the Land of Oz and this was the Official Sorceress
of the Kingdom, Glinda the Good. </p>
<p>In her magnificent castle, which stands far north of the
Emerald City where Ozma holds her court, Glinda owns a wonderful
magic Record Book, in which is printed every event that takes
place anywhere, just as soon as it happens.</p>
<p>The smallest things and the biggest things are all recorded in
this book. If a child stamps its foot in anger, Glinda reads
about it; if a city burns down, Glinda finds the fact noted in
her book. </p>
<p>The Sorceress always reads her Record Book every day, and so
it was she knew that Ann Soforth, Queen of Oogaboo, had foolishly
assembled an army of sixteen officers and one private soldier,
with which she intended to invade and conquer the Land of Oz.</p>
<p>There was no danger but that Ozma, supported by the magic arts of
Glinda the Good and the powerful Wizard of Oz—both her firm
friends—could easily defeat a far more imposing army than Ann's;
but it would be a shame to have the peace of Oz interrupted by
any sort of quarreling or fighting. So Glinda did not even
mention the matter to Ozma, or to anyone else. She merely went
into a great chamber of her castle, known as the Magic Room,
where she performed a magical ceremony which caused the mountain
pass that led from Oogaboo to make several turns and twists. The
result was that when Ann and her army came to the end of the pass
they were not in the Land of Oz at all, but in an adjoining
territory that was quite distinct from Ozma's domain and
separated from Oz by an invisible barrier. </p>
<p>As the Oogaboo people emerged into this country, the pass they
had traversed disappeared behind them and it was not likely they
would ever find their way back into the valley of Oogaboo. They
were greatly puzzled, indeed, by their surroundings and did not
know which way to go. None of them had ever visited Oz, so it
took them some time to discover they were not in Oz at all, but
in an unknown country.
</p>
<p>"Never mind," said Ann, trying to conceal her disappointment; "we
have started out to conquer the world, and here is part of it. In
time, as we pursue our victorious journey, we will doubtless come
to Oz; but, until we get there, we may as well conquer whatever
land we find ourselves in." </p>
<p>"Have we conquered this place, Your Majesty?" anxiously inquired Major Cake.</p>
<p>"Most certainly," said Ann. "We have met no people, as yet, but
when we do, we will inform them that they are our slaves." </p>
<p>"And afterward we will plunder them of all their possessions,"
added General Apple.</p>
<p>"They may not possess anything," objected Private Files; "but I
hope they will fight us, just the same. A peaceful conquest
wouldn't be any fun at all." </p>
<p>"Don't worry," said the Queen. "We can fight, whether our foes
do or not; and perhaps we would find it more comfortable to have
the enemy surrender promptly."</p>
<p>It was a barren country and not very pleasant to travel in.
Moreover, there was little for them to eat, and as the officers
became hungry they became fretful. Many would have deserted had
they been able to find their way home, but as the Oogaboo people
were now hopelessly lost in a strange country they considered it
more safe to keep together than to separate. </p>
<p>Queen Ann's temper, never very agreeable, became sharp and
irritable as she and her army tramped over the rocky roads
without encountering either people or plunder. She scolded her
officers until they became surly, and a few of them were disloyal
enough to ask her to hold her tongue. Others began to reproach
her for leading them into difficulties and in the space of three
unhappy days every man was mourning for his orchard in the pretty
valley of Oogaboo.</p>
<p>Files, however, proved a different sort. The more difficulties he
encountered the more cheerful he became, and the sighs of the
officers were answered by the merry whistle of the Private. His
pleasant disposition did much to encourage Queen Ann and before
long she consulted the Private Soldier more often than she did
his superiors. </p>
<p>It was on the third day of their pilgrimage that they
encountered their first adventure. Toward evening the sky was
suddenly darkened and Major Nails exclaimed:</p>
<p>"A fog is coming toward us." </p>
<p>"I do not think it is a fog," replied Files, looking with
interest at the approaching cloud. "It seems to me more like the
breath of a Rak."</p>
<p>"What is a Rak?" asked Ann, looking about fearfully. </p>
<p>"A terrible beast with a horrible appetite," answered the
soldier, growing a little paler than usual. "I have never seen a
Rak, to be sure, but I have read of them in the story-books that
grew in my orchard, and if this is indeed one of those fearful
monsters, we are not likely to conquer the world."</p>
<p>Hearing this, the officers became quite worried and gathered
closer about their soldier. </p>
<p>"What is the thing like?" asked one.</p>
<p>"The only picture of a Rak that I ever saw in a book was rather
blurred," said Files, "because the book was not quite ripe when
it was picked. But the creature can fly in the air and run like a
deer and swim like a fish. Inside its body is a glowing furnace
of fire, and the Rak breathes in air and breathes out smoke,
which darkens the sky for miles around, wherever it goes. It is
bigger than a hundred men and feeds on any living thing." </p>
<p>The officers now began to groan and to tremble, but Files
tried to cheer them, saying:</p>
<p>"It may not be a Rak, after all, that we see approaching us, and
you must not forget that we people of Oogaboo, which is part of
the fairyland of Oz, cannot be killed." </p>
<p>"Nevertheless," said Captain Buttons, "if the Rak catches us,
and chews us up into small pieces, and swallows us—what will
happen then?"</p>
<p>"Then each small piece will still be alive," declared Files. </p>
<p>"I cannot see how that would help us," wailed Colonel Banjo.
"A hamburger steak is a hamburger steak, whether it is alive or not!"</p>
<p>"I tell you, this may not be a Rak," persisted Files. "We will
know, when the cloud gets nearer, whether it is the breath of a
Rak or not. If it has no smell at all, it is probably a fog; but
If it has an odor of salt and pepper, it is a Rak and we must
prepare for a desperate fight." </p>
<p>They all eyed the dark cloud fearfully. Before long it reached
the frightened group and began to envelop them. Every nose
sniffed the cloud —and every one detected in it the odor of salt
and pepper.</p>
<p>"The Rak!" shouted Private Files, and with a howl of despair the
sixteen officers fell to the ground, writhing and moaning in
anguish. Queen Ann sat down upon a rock and faced the cloud more
bravely, although her heart was beating fast. As for Files, he
calmly loaded his gun and stood ready to fight the foe, as a
soldier should. </p>
<p>They were now in absolute darkness, for the cloud which
covered the sky and the setting sun was black as ink. Then
through the gloom appeared two round, glowing balls of red, and
Files at once decided these must be the monster's eyes.</p>
<p>He raised his gun, took aim and fired. </p>
<p>There were several bullets in the gun, all gathered from an
excellent bullet-tree in Oogaboo, and they were big and hard.
They flew toward the monster and struck it, and with a wild,
weird cry the Rak came fluttering down and its huge body fell
plump upon the forms of the sixteen officers, who thereupon
screamed louder than before.</p>
<p>"Badness me!" moaned the Rak. "See what you've done with that
dangerous gun of yours!" </p>
<p>"I can't see," replied Files, "for the cloud formed by your
breath darkens my sight!"</p>
<p>"Don't tell me it was an accident," continued the Rak,
reproachfully, as it still flapped its wings in a helpless
manner. "Don't claim you didn't know the gun was loaded, I beg of you!" </p>
<p>"I don't intend to," replied Files. "Did the bullets hurt you very badly?"</p>
<p>"One has broken my jaw, so that I can't open my mouth. You will
notice that my voice sounds rather harsh and husky, because I
have to talk with my teeth set close together. Another bullet
broke my left wing, so that I can't fly; and still another broke
my right leg, so that I can't walk. It was the most careless shot
I ever heard of!" </p>
<p>"Can't you manage to lift your body off from my commanding
officers?" inquired Files. "From their cries I'm afraid your
great weight is crushing them."</p>
<p>"I hope it is," growled the Rak. "I want to crush them, if
possible, for I have a bad disposition. If only I could open my
mouth, I'd eat all of you, although my appetite is poorly this
warm weather." </p>
<p>With this the Rak began to roll its immense body sidewise, so
as to crush the officers more easily; but in doing this it rolled
completely off from them and the entire sixteen scrambled to
their feet and made off as fast as they could run.</p>
<p>Private Files could not see them go but he knew from the sound of
their voices that they had escaped, so he ceased to worry about
them. </p>
<p>"Pardon me if I now bid you good-bye," he said to the Rak.
"The parting is caused by our desire to continue our journey. If
you die, do not blame me, for I was obliged to shoot you as a
matter of self-protection."</p>
<p>"I shall not die," answered the monster, "for I bear a charmed
life. But I beg you not to leave me!" </p>
<p>"Why not?" asked Files.</p>
<p>"Because my broken jaw will heal in about an hour, and then I
shall be able to eat you. My wing will heal in a day and my leg
will heal in a week, when I shall be as well as ever. Having shot
me, and so caused me all this annoyance, it is only fair and just
that you remain here and allow me to eat you as soon as I can
open my jaws." </p>
<p>"I beg to differ with you," returned the soldier firmly. "I
have made an engagement with Queen Ann of Oogaboo to help her
conquer the world, and I cannot break my word for the sake of
being eaten by a Rak."</p>
<p>"Oh; that's different," said the monster. "If you've an
engagement, don't let me detain you." </p>
<p>So Files felt around in the dark and grasped the hand of the
trembling Queen, whom he led away from the flapping, sighing Rak.
They stumbled over the stones for a way but presently began to
see dimly the path ahead of them, as they got farther and farther
away from the dreadful spot where the wounded monster lay. By and
by they reached a little hill and could see the last rays of the
sun flooding a pretty valley beyond, for now they had passed
beyond the cloudy breath of the Rak. Here were huddled the
sixteen officers, still frightened and panting from their run.
They had halted only because it was impossible for them to run
any farther.</p>
<p>Queen Ann gave them a severe scolding for their cowardice, at the
same time praising Files for his courage. </p>
<p>"We are wiser than he, however," muttered General Clock, "for
by running away we are now able to assist Your Majesty in
conquering the world; whereas, had Files been eaten by the Rak,
he would have deserted your Army."</p>
<p>After a brief rest they descended into the valley, and as soon as
they were out of sight of the Rak the spirits of the entire party
rose quickly. Just at dusk they came to a brook, on the banks of
which Queen Ann commanded them to make camp for the night. </p>
<p>Each officer carried in his pocket a tiny white tent. This,
when placed upon the ground, quickly grew in size until it was
large enough to permit the owner to enter it and sleep within its
canvas walls. Files was obliged to carry a knapsack, in which was
not only his own tent but an elaborate pavilion for Queen Ann,
besides a bed and chair and a magic table. This table, when set
upon the ground in Ann's pavilion, became of large size, and in a
drawer of the table was contained the Queen's supply of extra
clothing, her manicure and toilet articles and other necessary
things. The royal bed was the only one in the camp, the officers
and private sleeping in hammocks attached to their tent
poles.</p>
<p>There was also in the knapsack a flag bearing the royal emblem of
Oogaboo, and this flag Files flew upon its staff every night, to
show that the country they were in had been conquered by the
Queen of Oogaboo. So far, no one but themselves had seen the
flag, but Ann was pleased to see it flutter in the breeze and
considered herself already a famous conqueror.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<h2><a name="CH4" id="CH4">Chapter Four</a></h2>
<h3>Betsy Braves the Billows</h3>
<p>The waves dashed and the lightning flashed and the thunder rolled
and the ship struck a rock. Betsy Bobbin was running across the
deck and the shock sent her flying through the air until she fell
with a splash into the dark blue water. The same shock caught
Hank, a thin little, sad-faced mule, and tumbled him also into
the sea, far from the ship's side. </p>
<p>When Betsy came up, gasping for breath because the wet plunge
had surprised her, she reached out in the dark and grabbed a
bunch of hair. At first she thought it was the end of a rope, but
presently she heard a dismal "Hee-haw!" and knew she was holding
fast to the end of Hank's tail.</p>
<p>Suddenly the sea was lighted up by a vivid glare. The ship, now
in the far distance, caught fire, blew up and sank beneath the
waves. </p>
<p>Betsy shuddered at the sight, but just then her eye caught a
mass of wreckage floating near her and she let go the mule's tail
and seized the rude raft, pulling herself up so that she rode
upon it in safety. Hank also saw the raft and swam to it, but he
was so clumsy he never would have been able to climb upon it had
not Betsy helped him to get aboard.</p>
<p>They had to crowd close together, for their support was only a
hatch-cover torn from the ship's deck; but it floated them fairly
well and both the girl and the mule knew it would keep them from
drowning. </p>
<p>The storm was not over, by any means, when the ship went down.
Blinding bolts of lightning shot from cloud to cloud and the
clamor of deep thunderclaps echoed far over the sea. The waves
tossed the little raft here and there as a child tosses a rubber
ball and Betsy had a solemn feeling that for hundreds of watery
miles in every direction there was no living thing besides
herself and the small donkey.</p>
<p>Perhaps Hank had the same thought, for he gently rubbed his nose
against the frightened girl and said "Hee-haw!" in his softest
voice, as if to comfort her. </p>
<p>"You'll protect me, Hank dear, won't you?" she cried
helplessly, and the mule said "Hee-haw!" again, in tones that
meant a promise.</p>
<p>On board the ship, during the days that preceded the wreck, when
the sea was calm, Betsy and Hank had become good friends; so,
while the girl might have preferred a more powerful protector in
this dreadful emergency, she felt that the mule would do all in a
mule's power to guard her safety. </p>
<p>All night they floated, and when the storm had worn itself out
and passed away with a few distant growls, and the waves had
grown smaller and easier to ride, Betsy stretched herself out on
the wet raft and fell asleep.</p>
<p>Hank did not sleep a wink. Perhaps he felt it his duty to guard
Betsy. Anyhow, he crouched on the raft beside the tired sleeping
girl and watched patiently until the first light of dawn swept
over the sea. </p>
<p>The light wakened Betsy Bobbin. She sat up, rubbed her eyes
and stared across the water.</p>
<p>"Oh, Hank; there's land ahead!" she exclaimed. </p>
<p>"Hee-haw!" answered Hank in his plaintive voice.</p>
<p>The raft was floating swiftly toward a very beautiful country and
as they drew near Betsy could see banks of lovely flowers showing
brightly between leafy trees. But no people were to be seen at all.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<h2><a name="CH5" id="CH5">Chapter Five</a></h2>
<h3>The Roses Repulse the Refugees</h3>
<p>Gently the raft grated on the sandy beach. Then Betsy easily
waded ashore, the mule following closely behind her. The sun was
now shining and the air was warm and laden with the fragrance of roses. </p>
<p>"I'd like some breakfast, Hank," remarked the girl, feeling
more cheerful now that she was on dry land; "but we can't eat the
flowers, although they do smell mighty good."</p>
<p>"Hee-haw!" replied Hank and trotted up a little pathway to the
top of the bank.</p>
<p>Betsy followed and from the eminence looked around her. A
little way off stood a splendid big greenhouse, its thousands of
crystal panes glittering in the sunlight.</p>
<p>"There ought to be people somewhere 'round," observed Betsy
thoughtfully; "gardeners, or somebody. Let's go and see, Hank.
I'm getting hungrier ev'ry minute." </p>
<p>So they walked toward the great greenhouse and came to its
entrance without meeting with anyone at all. A door stood ajar,
so Hank went in first, thinking if there was any danger he could
back out and warn his companion. But Betsy was close at his heels
and the moment she entered was lost in amazement at the wonderful
sight she saw.</p>
<p>The greenhouse was filled with magnificent rosebushes, all
growing in big pots. On the central stem of each bush bloomed a
splendid Rose, gorgeously colored and deliciously fragrant, and
in the center of each Rose was the face of a lovely girl.</p>
<p>As Betsy and Hank entered, the heads of the Roses were
drooping and their eyelids were closed in slumber; but the mule
was so amazed that he uttered a loud "Hee-haw!" and at the sound
of his harsh voice the rose leaves fluttered, the Roses raised
their heads and a hundred startled eyes were instantly fixed upon
the intruders.</p>
<p>"I—I beg your pardon!" stammered Betsy, blushing and confused.</p>
<p>"O-o-o-h!" cried the Roses, in a sort of sighing chorus; and
one of them added: "What a horrid noise!"</p>
<p>"Why, that was only Hank," said Betsy, and as if to prove the
truth of her words the mule uttered another loud "Hee-haw!"</p>
<p>At this all the Roses turned on their stems as far as they
were able and trembled as if some one were shaking their bushes.
A dainty Moss Rose gasped: "Dear me! How dreadfully
dreadful!"</p>
<p>"It isn't dreadful at all," said Betsy, somewhat indignant. "When
you get used to Hank's voice it will put you to sleep." </p>
<p>The Roses now looked at the mule less fearfully and one of them asked:</p>
<p>"Is that savage beast named Hank?" </p>
<p>"Yes; Hank's my comrade, faithful and true," answered the girl,
twining her arms around the little mule's neck and hugging him
tight. "Aren't you, Hank?"</p>
<p>Hank could only say in reply: "Hee-haw!" and at his bray the
Roses shivered again.</p>
<p>"Please go away!" begged one. "Can't you see you're
frightening us out of a week's growth?"</p>
<p>"Go away!" echoed Betsy. "Why, we've no place to go. We've just
been wrecked."</p>
<p>"Wrecked?" asked the Roses in a surprised chorus.</p>
<p>"Yes; we were on a big ship and the storm came and wrecked it,"
explained the girl. "But Hank and I caught hold of a raft and
floated ashore to this place, and—we're tired and hungry. What
country is this, please?" </p>
<p>"This is the Rose Kingdom," replied the Moss Rose, haughtily,
"and it is devoted to the culture of the rarest and fairest Roses grown."</p>
<p>"I believe it," said Betsy, admiring the pretty blossoms. </p>
<p>"But only Roses are allowed here," continued a delicate Tea
Rose, bending her brows in a frown; "therefore you must go away
before the Royal Gardener finds you and casts you back into the sea."</p>
<p>"Oh! Is there a Royal Gardener, then?" inquired Betsy. </p>
<p>"To be sure."</p>
<p>"And is he a Rose, also?" </p>
<p>"Of course not; he's a man—a wonderful man," was the reply.</p>
<p>"Well, I'm not afraid of a man," declared the girl, much
relieved, and even as she spoke the Royal Gardener popped into
the greenhouse—a spading fork in one hand and a watering pot in the other. </p>
<p>He was a funny little man, dressed in a rosecolored costume,
with ribbons at his knees and elbows, and a bunch of ribbons in
his hair. His eyes were small and twinkling, his nose sharp and
his face puckered and deeply lined.</p>
<p>"O-ho!" he exclaimed, astonished to find strangers in his
greenhouse, and when Hank gave a loud bray the Gardener threw the
watering pot over the mule's head and danced around with his
fork, in such agitation that presently he fell over the handle of
the implement and sprawled at full length upon the ground.</p>
<p>Betsy laughed and pulled the watering pot off from Hank's
head. The little mule was angry at the treatment he had received
and backed toward the Gardener threateningly.</p>
<p>"Look out for his heels!" called Betsy warningly and the Gardener
scrambled to his feet and hastily hid behind the Roses.</p>
<p>"You are breaking the Law!" he shouted, sticking out his head
to glare at the girl and the mule.</p>
<p>"What Law?" asked Betsy.</p>
<p>"The Law of the Rose Kingdom. No strangers are allowed in
these domains."</p>
<p>"Not when they're shipwrecked?" she inquired. </p>
<p>"The Law doesn't except shipwrecks," replied the Royal
Gardener, and he was about to say more when suddenly there was a
crash of glass and a man came tumbling through the roof of the
greenhouse and fell plump to the ground.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<h2><a name="CH6" id="CH6">Chapter Six</a></h2>
<h3>Shaggy Seeks his Stray Brother</h3>
<p>This sudden arrival was a queer looking man, dressed all in
garments so shaggy that Betsy at first thought he must he some
animal. But the stranger ended his fall in a sitting position and
then the girl saw it was really a man. He held an apple in his
hand, which he had evidently been eating when he fell, and so
little was he jarred or flustered by the accident that he
continued to munch this apple as he calmly looked around him.</p>
<p>"Good gracious!" exclaimed Betsy, approaching him. "Who are you,
and where did you come from?" </p>
<p>"Me? Oh, I'm Shaggy Man," said he, taking another bite of the
apple. "Just dropped in for a short call. Excuse my seeming haste."</p>
<p>"Why, I s'pose you couldn't help the haste," said Betsy.</p>
<p>"No. I climbed an apple tree, outside; branch gave way and—here I am."</p>
<p>As he spoke the Shaggy Man finished his apple, gave the core to
Hank—who ate it greedily —and then stood up to bow politely to
Betsy and the Roses. </p>
<p>The Royal Gardener had been frightened nearly into fits by the
crash of glass and the fall of the shaggy stranger into the bower
of Roses, but now he peeped out from behind a bush and cried in
his squeaky voice:</p>
<p>"You're breaking the Law! You're breaking the Law!" </p>
<p>Shaggy stared at him solemnly.</p>
<p>"Is the glass the Law in this country?" he asked.</p>
<p>"Breaking the glass is breaking the Law," squeaked the
Gardener, angrily. "Also, to intrude in any part of the Rose
Kingdom is breaking the Law."</p>
<p>"How do you know?" asked Shaggy. </p>
<p>"Why, it's printed in a book," said the Gardener, coming
forward and taking a small book from his pocket. "Page thirteen.
Here it is: 'If any stranger enters the Rose Kingdom he shall at
once be condemned by the Ruler and put to death.' So you see,
strangers," he continued triumphantly, "it's death for you all
and your time has come!"</p>
<p>But just here Hank interposed. He had been stealthily backing
toward the Royal Gardener, whom he disliked, and now the mule's
heels shot out and struck the little man in the middle. He
doubled up like the letter "U" and flew out of the door so
swiftly—never touching the ground —that he was gone before
Betsy had time to wink. </p>
<p>But the mule's attack frightened the girl.</p>
<p>"Come," she whispered, approaching the Shaggy Man and taking his
hand; "let's go somewhere else. They'll surely kill us if we stay here!" </p>
<p>"Don't worry, my dear," replied Shaggy, patting the child's
head. "I'm not afraid of anything, so long as I have the Love
Magnet."</p>
<p>"The Love Magnet! Why, what is that?" asked Betsy. </p>
<p>"It's a charming little enchantment that wins the heart of
everyone who looks upon it," was the reply. "The Love Magnet used
to hang over the gateway to the Emerald City, in the Land of Oz;
but when I started on this journey our beloved Ruler, Ozma of Oz,
allowed me to take it with me."</p>
<p>"Oh!" cried Betsy, staring hard at him; "are you really from the
wonderful Land of Oz?" </p>
<p>"Yes. Ever been there, my dear?"</p>
<p>"No; but I've heard about it. And do you know Princess Ozma?"</p>
<p>"Very well indeed."</p>
<p>"And—and Princess Dorothy?"</p>
<p>"Dorothy's an old chum of mine," declared Shaggy.</p>
<p>"Dear me!" exclaimed Betsy. "And why did you ever leave such a
beautiful land as Oz?" </p>
<p>"On an errand," said Shaggy, looking sad and solemn. "I'm
trying to find my dear little brother."</p>
<p>"Oh! Is he lost?" questioned Betsy, feeling very sorry for the
poor man.</p>
<p>"Been lost these ten years," replied Shaggy, taking out a
handkerchief and wiping a tear from his eye. "I didn't know it
until lately, when I saw it recorded in the magic Record Book of
the Sorceress Glinda, in the Land of Oz. So now I'm trying to
find him."</p>
<p>"Where was he lost?" asked the girl sympathetically. </p>
<p>"Back in Colorado, where I used to live before I went to Oz.
Brother was a miner, and dug gold out of a mine. One day he went
into his mine and never came out. They searched for him, but he
was not there. Disappeared entirely," Shaggy ended miserably.</p>
<p>"For goodness sake! What do you s'pose became of him?" she asked.</p>
<p>"There is only one explanation," replied Shaggy, taking
another apple from his pocket and eating it to relieve his
misery. "The Nome King probably got him."</p>
<p>"The Nome King! Who is he?" </p>
<p>"Why, he's sometimes called the Metal Monarch, and his name is
Ruggedo. Lives in some underground cavern. Claims to own all the
metals hidden in the earth. Don't ask my why."</p>
<p>"Why?" </p>
<p>"Cause I don't know. But this Ruggedo gets wild with anger if
anyone digs gold out of the earth, and my private opinion is that
he captured brother and carried him off to his underground
kingdom. No—don't ask me why. I see you're dying to ask me why.
But I don't know."</p>
<p>"But—dear me!—in that case you will never find your lost
brother!" exclaimed the girl. </p>
<p>"Maybe not; but it's my duty to try," answered Shaggy. "I've
wandered so far without finding him, but that only proves he is
not where I've been looking. What I seek now is the hidden
passage to the underground cavern of the terrible Metal Monarch."</p>
<p>"Well," said Betsy doubtfully, "it strikes me that if you ever
manage to get there the Metal Monarch will make you, too, his prisoner." </p>
<p>"Nonsense!" answered Shaggy, carelessly. "You mustn't forget the Love Magnet."</p>
<p>"What about it?" she asked. </p>
<p>"When the fierce Metal Monarch sees the Love Magnet, he will
love me dearly and do anything I ask."</p>
<p>"It must be wonderful," said Betsy, with awe. </p>
<p>"It is," the man assured her. "Shall I show it to you?"</p>
<p>"Oh, do!" she cried; so Shaggy searched in his shaggy pocket and
drew out a small silver magnet, shaped like a horseshoe. </p>
<p>The moment Betsy saw it she began to like the Shaggy Man
better than before. Hank also saw the Magnet and crept up to
Shaggy to rub his head lovingly against the man's knee.</p>
<p>But they were interrupted by the Royal Gardener, who stuck his
head into the greenhouse and shouted angrily: </p>
<p>"You are all condemned to death! Your only chance to escape is
to leave here instantly."</p>
<p>This startled little Betsy, but the Shaggy Man merely waved the
Magnet toward the Gardener, who, seeing it, rushed forward and
threw himself at Shaggy's feet, murmuring in honeyed words: </p>
<p>"Oh, you lovely, lovely man! How fond I am of you! Every shag
and bobtail that decorates you is dear to me—all I have is
yours! But for goodness' sake get out of here before you die the death."</p>
<p>"I'm not going to die," declared Shaggy Man. </p>
<p>"You must. It's the Law," exclaimed the Gardener, beginning to
weep real tears. "It breaks my heart to tell you this bad news,
but the Law says that all strangers must be condemned by the
Ruler to die the death."</p>
<p>"No Ruler has condemned us yet," said Betsy.</p>
<p>"Of course not," added Shaggy. "We haven't even seen the Ruler
of the Rose Kingdom."</p>
<p>"Well, to tell the truth," said the Gardener, in a perplexed tone
of voice, "we haven't any real Ruler, just now. You see, all our
Rulers grow on bushes in the Royal Gardens, and the last one we
had got mildewed and withered before his time. So we had to plant
him, and at this time there is no one growing on the Royal Bushes
who is ripe enough to pick." </p>
<p>"How do you know?" asked Betsy.</p>
<p>"Why, I'm the Royal Gardener. Plenty of royalties are growing, I
admit; but just now they are all green. Until one ripens, I am
supposed to rule the Rose Kingdom myself, and see that its Laws
are obeyed. Therefore, much as I love you, Shaggy, I must put you
to death." </p>
<p>"Wait a minute," pleaded Betsy. "I'd like to see those Royal
Gardens before I die."</p>
<p>"So would I," added Shaggy Man. "Take us there, Gardener." </p>
<p>"Oh, I can't do that," objected the Gardener. But Shaggy again
showed him the Love Magnet and after one glance at it the
Gardener could no longer resist.</p>
<p>He led Shaggy, Betsy and Hank to the end of the great greenhouse
and carefully unlocked a small door. Passing through this they
came into the splendid Royal Garden of the Rose Kingdom. </p>
<p>It was all surrounded by a tall hedge and within the enclosure
grew several enormous rosebushes having thick green leaves of the
texture of velvet. Upon these bushes grew the members of the
Royal Family of the Rose Kingdom—men, women and children in all
stages of maturity. They all seemed to have a light green hue, as
if unripe or not fully developed, their flesh and clothing being
alike green. They stood perfectly lifeless upon their branches,
which swayed softly in the breeze, and their wide open eyes
stared straight ahead, unseeing and unintelligent.</p>
<p>While examining these curious growing people, Betsy passed behind
a big central bush and at once uttered an exclamation of surprise
and pleasure. For there, blooming in perfect color and shape,
stood a Royal Princess, whose beauty was amazing. </p>
<p>"Why, she's ripe!" cried Betsy, pushing aside some of the
broad leaves to observe her more clearly.</p>
<p>"Well, perhaps so," admitted the Gardener, who had come to the
girl's side; "but she's a girl, and so we can't use her for a Ruler." </p>
<p>"No, indeed!" came a chorus of soft voices, and looking around
Betsy discovered that all the Roses had followed them from the
greenhouse and were now grouped before the entrance.</p>
<p>"You see," explained the Gardener, "the subjects of Rose Kingdom
don't want a girl Ruler. They want a King." </p>
<p>"A King! We want a King!" repeated the chorus of Roses.</p>
<p>"Isn't she Royal?" inquired Shaggy, admiring the lovely Princess.</p>
<p>"Of course, for she grows on a Royal Bush. This Princess is
named Ozga, as she is a distant cousin of Ozma of Oz; and, were
she but a man, we would joyfully hail her as our Ruler."</p>
<p>The Gardener then turned away to talk with his Roses and Betsy
whispered to her companion: "Let's pick her, Shaggy." </p>
<p>"All right," said he. "If she's royal, she has the right to
rule this Kingdom, and if we pick her she will surely protect us
and prevent our being hurt, or driven away."</p>
<p>So Betsy and Shaggy each took an arm of the beautiful Rose
Princess and a little twist of her feet set her free of the
branch upon which she grew. Very gracefully she stepped down from
the bush to the ground, where she bowed low to Betsy and Shaggy
and said in a delightfully sweet voice: "I thank you." </p>
<p>But at the sound of these words the Gardener and the Roses
turned and discovered that the Princess had been picked, and was
now alive. Over every face flashed an expression of resentment
and anger, and one of the Roses cried aloud.</p>
<p>"Audacious mortals! What have you done?" </p>
<p>"Picked a Princess for you, that's all," replied Betsy, cheerfully.</p>
<p>"But we won't have her! We want a King!" exclaimed a Jacque Rose,
and another added with a voice of scorn: "No girl shall rule over us!" </p>
<p>The newly-picked Princess looked from one to another of her
rebellious subjects in astonishment. A grieved look came over her
exquisite features.</p>
<p>"Have I no welcome here, pretty subjects?" she asked gently.
"Have I not come from my Royal Bush to be your Ruler?" </p>
<p>"You were picked by mortals, without our consent," replied the
Moss Rose, coldly; "so we refuse to allow you to rule us."</p>
<p>"Turn her out, Gardener, with the others!" cried the Tea Rose.</p>
<p>"Just a second, please!" called Shaggy, taking the Love Magnet
from his pocket. "I guess this will win their love, Princess.
Here—take it in your hand and let the roses see it."</p>
<p>Princess Ozga took the Magnet and held it poised before the eyes
of her subjects; but the Roses regarded it with calm disdain.</p>
<p>"Why, what's the matter?" demanded Shaggy in surprise. "The
Magnet never failed to work before!"</p>
<p>"I know," said Betsy, nodding her head wisely. "These Roses have
no hearts." </p>
<p>"That's it," agreed the Gardener. "They're pretty, and sweet,
and alive; but still they are Roses. Their stems have thorns, but
no hearts."</p>
<p>The Princess sighed and handed the Magnet to the Shaggy Man. </p>
<p>"What shall I do?" she asked sorrowfully.</p>
<p>"Turn her out, Gardener, with the others!" commanded the Roses.
"We will have no Ruler until a man-rose—a King—is ripe enough to pick." </p>
<p>"Very well," said the Gardener meekly. "You must excuse me, my
dear Shaggy, for opposing your wishes, but you and the others,
including Ozga, must get out of Rose Kingdom immediately, if not before."</p>
<p>"Don't you love me, Gardy?" asked Shaggy, carelessly displaying the Magnet. </p>
<p>"I do. I dote on thee!" answered the Gardener earnestly; "but
no true man will neglect his duty for the sake of love. My duty
is to drive you out, so—out you go!"</p>
<p>With this he seized a garden fork and began jabbing it at the
strangers, in order to force them to leave. Hank the mule was not
afraid of the fork and when he got his heels near to the Gardener
the man fell back to avoid a kick. </p>
<p>But now the Roses crowded around the outcasts and it was soon
discovered that beneath their draperies of green leaves were many
sharp thorns which were more dangerous than Hank's heels. Neither
Betsy nor Ozga nor Shaggy nor the mule cared to brave those
thorns and when they pressed away from them they found themselves
slowly driven through the garden door into the greenhouse. From
there they were forced out at the entrance and so through the
territory of the flower-strewn Rose Kingdom, which was not of
very great extent.</p>
<p>The Rose Princess was sobbing bitterly; Betsy was indignant and
angry; Hank uttered defiant "Hee-haws" and the Shaggy Man
whistled softly to himself. </p>
<p>The boundary of the Rose Kingdom was a deep gulf, but there
was a drawbridge in one place and this the Royal Gardener let
down until the outcasts had passed over it. Then he drew it up
again and returned with his Roses to the greenhouse, leaving the
four queerly assorted comrades to wander into the bleak and
unknown country that lay beyond.</p>
<p>"I don't mind, much," remarked Shaggy, as he led the way over the
stony, barren ground. "I've got to search for my long-lost little
brother, anyhow, so it won't matter where I go." </p>
<p>"Hank and I will help you find your brother," said Betsy in
her most cheerful voice. "I'm so far away from home now that I
don't s'pose I'll ever find my way back; and, to tell the truth,
it's more fun traveling around and having adventures than
sticking at home. Don't you think so, Hank?"</p>
<p>"Hee-haw!" said Hank, and the Shaggy Man thanked them both. </p>
<p>"For my part," said Princess Ozga of Roseland, with a gentle
sigh, "I must remain forever exiled from my Kingdom. So I, too,
will be glad to help the Shaggy Man find his lost brother."</p>
<p>"That's very kind of you, ma'am," said Shaggy. "But unless I can
find the underground cavern of Ruggedo, the Metal Monarch, I
shall never find poor brother." </p>
<p>(This King was formerly named "Roquat," but after he drank of
the "Waters of Oblivion" he forgot his own name and had to take another.)</p>
<p>"Doesn't anyone know where it is?" inquired Betsy. </p>
<p>"Some one must know, of course," was Shaggy's reply. "But we
are not the ones. The only way to succeed is for us to keep going
until we find a person who can direct us to Ruggedo's cavern."</p>
<p>"We may find it ourselves, without any help," suggested Betsy.
"Who knows?" </p>
<p>"No one knows that, except the person who's writing this
story," said Shaggy. "But we won't find anything—not even
supper—unless we travel on. Here's a path. Let's take it and see
where it leads to."</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<h2><a name="CH7" id="CH7">Chapter Seven</a></h2>
<h3>Polychrome's Pitiful Plight </h3>
<p>The Rain King got too much water in his basin and spilled some
over the brim. That made it rain in a certain part of the
country—a real hard shower, for a time—and sent the Rainbow
scampering to the place to show the gorgeous colors of his
glorious bow as soon as the mist of rain had passed and the sky
was clear.</p>
<p>The coming of the Rainbow is always a joyous event to earth folk,
yet few have ever seen it close by. Usually the Rainbow is so far
distant that you can observe its splendid hues but dimly, and
that is why we seldom catch sight of the dancing Daughters of the Rainbow. </p>
<p>In the barren country where the rain had just fallen there
appeared to be no human beings at all; but the Rainbow appeared,
just the same, and dancing gayly upon its arch were the Rainbow's
Daughters, led by the fairylike Polychrome, who is so dainty and
beautiful that no girl has ever quite equalled her in loveliness.</p>
<p>Polychrome was in a merry mood and danced down the arch of the
bow to the ground, daring her sisters to follow her. Laughing and
gleeful, they also touched the ground with their twinkling feet;
but all the Daughters of the Rainbow knew that this was a
dangerous pastime, so they quickly climbed upon their bow again.</p>
<p>All but Polychrome. Though the sweetest and merriest of them
all, she was likewise the most reckless. Moreover, it was an
unusual sensation to pat the cold, damp earth with her rosy toes.
Before she realized it the bow had lifted and disappeared in the
billowy blue sky, and here was Polychrome standing helpless upon
a rock, her gauzy draperies floating about her like brilliant
cobwebs and not a soul—fairy or mortal—to help her regain her lost bow!</p>
<p>"Dear me!" she exclaimed, a frown passing across her pretty face,
"I'm caught again. This is the second time my carelessness has
left me on earth while my sisters returned to our Sky Palaces.
The first time I enjoyed some pleasant adventures, but this is a
lonely, forsaken country and I shall be very unhappy until my
Rainbow comes again and I can climb aboard. Let me think what is
best to be done." </p>
<p>She crouched low upon the flat rock, drew her draperies about
her and bowed her head.</p>
<p>It was in this position that Betsy Bobbin spied Polychrome as she
came along the stony path, followed by Hank, the Princess and
Shaggy. At once the girl ran up to the radiant Daughter of the
Rainbow and exclaimed:</p>
<p>"Oh, what a lovely, lovely creature!"</p>
<p>Polychrome raised her golden head. There were tears in her blue eyes.</p>
<p>"I'm the most miserable girl in the whole world!" she sobbed.</p>
<p>The others gathered around her.</p>
<p>"Tell us your troubles, pretty one," urged the Princess.</p>
<p>"I—I've lost my bow!" wailed Polychrome.</p>
<p>"Take me, my dear," said Shaggy Man in a sympathetic tone,
thinking she meant "beau" instead of "bow."</p>
<p>"I don't want you!" cried Polychrome, stamping her foot
imperiously; "I want my Rainbow." </p>
<p>"Oh; that's different," said Shaggy. "But try to forget it.
When I was young I used to cry for the Rainbow myself, but I
couldn't have it. Looks as if you couldn't have it, either; so
please don't cry."</p>
<p>Polychrome looked at him reproachfully. </p>
<p>"I don't like you," she said.</p>
<p>"No?" replied Shaggy, drawing the Love Magnet from his pocket;
"not a little bit?—just a wee speck of a like?"</p>
<p>"Yes, yes!" said Polychrome, clasping her hands in ecstasy as
she gazed at the enchanted talisman; "I love you, Shaggy Man!"</p>
<p>"Of course you do," said he calmly; "but I don't take any credit
for it. It's the Love Magnet's powerful charm. But you seem quite
alone and friendless, little Rainbow. Don't you want to join our
party until you find your father and sisters again?" </p>
<p>"Where are you going?" she asked.</p>
<p>"We don't just know that," said Betsy, taking her hand; "but
we're trying to find Shaggy's longlost brother, who has been
captured by the terrible Metal Monarch. Won't you come with us,
and help us?" </p>
<p>Polychrome looked from one to another of the queer party of
travelers and a bewitching smile suddenly lighted her face.</p>
<p>"A donkey, a mortal maid, a Rose Princess and a Shaggy Man!" she
exclaimed. "Surely you need help, if you intend to face Ruggedo."</p>
<p>"Do you know him, then?" inquired Betsy.</p>
<p>"No, indeed. Ruggedo's caverns are beneath the earth's surface,
where no Rainbow can ever penetrate. But I've heard of the Metal
Monarch. He is also called the Nome King, you know, and he has
made trouble for a good many people—mortals and fairies—in his
time," said Polychrome.</p>
<p>"Do you fear him, then?" asked the Princess, anxiously.</p>
<p>"No one can harm a Daughter of the Rainbow," said Polychrome
proudly. "I'm a sky fairy."</p>
<p>"Then," said Betsy, quickly, "you will be able to tell us the
way to Ruggedo's cavern."</p>
<p>"No," returned Polychrome, shaking her head, "that is one thing I
cannot do. But I will gladly go with you and help you search for the place." </p>
<p>This promise delighted all the wanderers and after the Shaggy
Man had found the path again they began moving along it in a more
happy mood. The Rainbow's Daughter danced lightly over the rocky
trail, no longer sad, but with her beautiful features wreathed in
smiles. Shaggy came next, walking steadily and now and then
supporting the Rose Princess, who followed him. Betsy and Hank
brought up the rear, and if she tired with walking the girl got
upon Hank's back and let the stout little donkey carry her for a while.</p>
<p>At nightfall they came to some trees that grew beside a tiny
brook and here they made camp and rested until morning. Then away
they tramped, finding berries and fruits here and there which
satisfied the hunger of Betsy, Shaggy and Hank, so that they were
well content with their lot.</p>
<p>It surprised Betsy to see the Rose Princess partake of their
food, for she considered her a fairy; but when she mentioned this
to Polychrome, the Rainbow's Daughter explained that when Ozga
was driven out of her Rose Kingdom she ceased to be a fairy and
would never again be more than a mere mortal. Polychrome,
however, was a fairy wherever she happened to be, and if she
sipped a few dewdrops by moonlight for refreshment no one ever
saw her do it.</p>
<p>As they continued their wandering journey, direction meant very
little to them, for they were hopelessly lost in this strange
country. Shaggy said it would be best to go toward the mountains,
as the natural entrance to Ruggedo's underground cavern was
likely to be hidden in some rocky, deserted place; but mountains
seemed all around them except in the one direction that they had
come from, which led to the Rose Kingdom and the sea. Therefore
it mattered little which way they traveled.</p>
<p>By and by they espied a faint trail that looked like a path
and after following this for some time they reached a crossroads.
Here were many paths, leading in various directions, and there
was a signpost so old that there were now no words upon the sign.
At one side was an old well, with a chain windlass for drawing
water, yet there was no house or other building anywhere in sight.</p>
<p>While the party halted, puzzled which way to proceed, the mule
approached the well and tried to look into it. </p>
<p>"He's thirsty," said Betsy.</p>
<p>"It's a dry well," remarked Shaggy. "Probably there has been no
water in it for many years. But, come; let us decide which way to travel." </p>
<p>No one seemed able to decide that. They sat down in a group
and tried to consider which road might be the best to take. Hank,
however, could not keep away from the well and finally he reared
up on his hind legs, got his head over the edge and uttered a
loud "Hee-haw!" Betsy watched her animal friend curiously.</p>
<p>"I wonder if he sees anything down there?" she said.</p>
<p>At this, Shaggy rose and went over to the well to investigate,
and Betsy went with him. The Princess and Polychrome, who had
become fast friends, linked arms and sauntered down one of the
roads, to find an easy path.</p>
<p>"Really," said Shaggy, "there does seem to be something at the
bottom of this old well." </p>
<p>"Can't we pull it up, and see what it is?" asked the girl.</p>
<p>There was no bucket at the end of the windlass chain, but there
was a big hook that at one time was used to hold a bucket. Shaggy
let down this hook, dragged it around on the bottom and then
pulled it up. An old hoopskirt came with it, and Betsy laughed
and threw it away. The thing frightened Hank, who had never seen
a hoopskirt before, and he kept a good distance away from it.</p>
<p>Several other objects the Shaggy Man captured with the hook
and drew up, but none of these was important.</p>
<p>"This well seems to have been the dump for all the old rubbish in
the country," he said, letting down the hook once more. "I guess
I've captured everything now. No—the hook has caught again. Help
me, Betsy! Whatever this thing is, it's heavy." </p>
<p>She ran up and helped him turn the windlass and after much
effort a confused mass of copper came in sight.</p>
<p>"Good gracious!" exclaimed Shaggy. "Here is a surprise, indeed!"</p>
<p>"What is it?" inquired Betsy, clinging to the windlass and
panting for breath.</p>
<p>For answer the Shaggy Man grasped the bundle of copper and dumped
it upon the ground, free of the well. Then he turned it over with
his foot, spread it out, and to Betsy's astonishment the thing
proved to be a copper man. </p>
<p>"Just as I thought," said Shaggy, looking hard at the object.
"But unless there are two copper men in the world this is the
most astonishing thing I ever came across."</p>
<p>At this moment the Rainbow's Daughter and the Rose Princess
approached them, and Polychrome said:</p>
<p>"What have you found, Shaggy One?"</p>
<p>"Either an old friend, or a stranger," he replied.</p>
<p>"Oh, here's a sign on his back!" cried Betsy, who had knelt
down to examine the man. "Dear me; how funny! Listen to
this."</p>
<p>Then she read the following words, engraved upon the copper
plates of the man's body: </p>
<p class="center">SMITH TINKER'S <br />
Patent Double-Action, Extra-Responsive,<br />
Thought-Creating, Perfect-Talking<br />
MECHANICAL MAN <br />
Fitted with our Special Clockwork Attachment.<br />
Thinks, Speaks, Acts, and Does Everything but Live.</p>
<p>"Isn't he wonderful!" exclaimed the Princess.</p>
<p>"Yes; but here's more," said Betsy, reading from another engraved plate:</p>
<p class="center">DIRECTIONS FOR USING:<br />
<br />
For THINKING:—Wind the Clockwork<br />
Man under his left arm, (marked No. 1). <br />
For SPEAKING:—Wind the Clockwork <br />
Man under his right arm, (marked No. 2). <br />
For WALKING and ACTION:—Wind Clockwork<br />
Man in the middle of his back, (marked No. 3).<br />
<br />
N. B.—This Mechanism is guaranteed to <br />
work perfectly for a thousand years.</p>
<p>"If he's guaranteed for a thousand years," said Polychrome,
"he ought to work yet."</p>
<p>"Of course," replied Shaggy. "Let's wind him up." </p>
<p>In order to do this they were obliged to set the copper man
upon his feet, in an upright position, and this was no easy task.
He was inclined to topple over, and had to be propped again and
again. The girls assisted Shaggy, and at last TikTok seemed to be
balanced and stood alone upon his broad feet.</p>
<p>"Yes," said Shaggy, looking at the copper man carefully, "this
must be, indeed, my old friend Tik-Tok, whom I left ticking
merrily in the Land of Oz. But how he came to this lonely place,
and got into that old well, is surely a mystery." </p>
<p>"If we wind him, perhaps he will tell us," suggested Betsy.
"Here's the key, hanging to a hook on his back. What part of him
shall I wind up first?"</p>
<p>"His thoughts, of course," said Polychrome, "for it requires
thought to speak or move intelligently."</p>
<p>So Betsy wound him under his left arm, and at once little
flashes of light began to show in the top of his head, which was
proof that he had begun to think.</p>
<p>"Now, then," said Shaggy, "wind up his phonograph." </p>
<p>"What's that?" she asked.</p>
<p>"Why, his talking-machine. His thoughts may be interesting, but
they don't tell us anything." </p>
<p>So Betsy wound the copper man under his right arm, and then
from the interior of his copper body came in jerky tones the
words: "Ma-ny thanks!"</p>
<p>"Hurrah!" cried Shaggy, joyfully, and he slapped Tik-Tok upon the
back in such a hearty manner that the copper man lost his balance
and tumbled to the ground in a heap. But the clock-work that
enabled him to speak had been wound up and he kept saying:
"Pick-me-up! Pick-me-up! Pick-me-up!" until they had again raised
him and balanced him upon his feet, when he added politely:
"Ma-ny thanks!" </p>
<p>"He won't be self-supporting until we wind up his action,"
remarked Shaggy; so Betsy wound it, as tight as she could—for
the key turned rather hard—and then Tik-Tok lifted his feet,
marched around in a circle and ended by stopping before the group
and making them all a low bow.</p>
<p>"How in the world did you happen to be in that well, when I left
you safe in Oz?" inquired Shaggy. </p>
<p>"It is a long sto-ry," replied Tik-Tok, "but I'll tell it in a
few words. Af-ter you had gone in search of your broth-er, Oz-ma
saw you wandering in strange lands when-ev-er she looked in her
mag-ic pic-ture, and she also saw your broth-er in the Nome
King's cavern; so she sent me to tell you where to find your
broth-er and told me to help you if I could. The Sor-cer-ess,
Glin-da the Good, trans-port-ed me to this place in the wink of
an eye; but here I met the Nome King him-self—old Rug-ge-do, who
is called in these parts the Met-al Mon-arch. Rug-ge-do knew what
I had come for, and he was so an-gry that he threw me down the
well. Af-ter my works ran down I was help-less un-til you came
a-long and pulled me out a-gain. Ma-ny thanks."</p>
<p>"This is, indeed, good news," said Shaggy. "I suspected that my
brother was the prisoner of Ruggedo; but now I know it. Tell us,
Tik-Tok, how shall we get to the Nome King's underground cavern?"</p>
<p>"The best way is to walk," said Tik-Tok. "We might crawl, or
jump, or roll o-ver and o-ver until we get there; but the best
way is to walk."</p>
<p>"I know; but which road shall we take?" </p>
<p>"My ma-chin-er-y is-n't made to tell that," replied Tik-Tok.</p>
<p>"There is more than one entrance to the underground cavern," said
Polychrome; "but old Ruggedo has cleverly concealed every
opening, so that earth dwellers can not intrude in his domain. If
we find our way underground at all, it will be by chance."</p>
<p>"Then," said Betsy, "let us select any road, haphazard, and
see where it leads us."</p>
<p>"That seems sensible," declared the Princess. "It may require a
lot of time for us to find Ruggedo, but we have more time than
anything else." </p>
<p>"If you keep me wound up," said Tik-Tok, "I will last a
thou-sand years."</p>
<p>"Then the only question to decide is which way to go," added
Shaggy, looking first at one road and then at another. </p>
<p>But while they stood hesitating, a peculiar sound reached
their ears—a sound like the tramping of many feet.</p>
<p>"What's coming?" cried Betsy; and then she ran to the left-hand
road and glanced along the path. "Why, it's an army!" she
exclaimed. "What shall we do, hide or run?"</p>
<p>"Stand still," commanded Shaggy. "I'm not afraid of an army.
If they prove to be friendly, they can help us; if they are
enemies, I'll show them the Love Magnet."</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<h2><a name="CH8" id="CH8">Chapter Eight</a></h2>
<h3>Tik-Tok Tackles a Tough Task</h3>
<p>While Shaggy and his companions stood huddled in a group at
one side, the Army of Oogaboo was approaching along the pathway,
the tramp of their feet being now and then accompanied by a
dismal groan as one of the officers stepped on a sharp stone or
knocked his funnybone against his neighbor's sword-handle.
</p>
<p>Then out from among the trees marched Private Files, bearing the
banner of Oogaboo, which fluttered from a long pole. This pole he
stuck in the ground just in front of the well and then he cried
in a loud voice. </p>
<p>"I hereby conquer this territory in the name of Queen Ann
Soforth of Oogaboo, and all the inhabitants of the land I
proclaim her slaves!"</p>
<p>Some of the officers now stuck their heads out of the bushes and asked:</p>
<p>"Is the coast clear, Private Files?"</p>
<p>"There is no coast here," was the reply, "but all's well." </p>
<p>"I hope there's water in it," said General Cone, mustering
courage to advance to the well; but just then he caught a glimpse
of Tik-Tok and Shaggy and at once fell upon his knees, trembling
and frightened and cried out:</p>
<p>"Mercy, kind enemies! Mercy! Spare us, and we will be your slaves forever!"</p>
<p>The other officers, who had now advanced into the clearing,
likewise fell upon their knees and begged for mercy.</p>
<p>Files turned around and, seeing the strangers for the first time,
examined them with much curiosity. Then, discovering that three
of the party were girls, he lifted his cap and made a polite bow.</p>
<p>"What's all this?" demanded a harsh voice, as Queen Ann
reached the place and beheld her kneeling army.</p>
<p>"Permit us to introduce ourselves," replied Shaggy, stepping
forward. "This is Tik-Tok, the Clockwork Man—who works better
than some meat people. And here is Princess Ozga of Roseland,
just now unfortunately exiled from her Kingdom of Roses. I next
present Polychrome, a sky fairy, who lost her Bow by an accident
and can't find her way home. The small girl here is Betsy Bobbin,
from some unknown earthly paradise called Oklahoma, and with her
you see Mr. Hank, a mule with a long tail and a short temper.</p>
<p>"Puh!" said Ann, scornfully; "a pretty lot of vagabonds you
are, indeed; all lost or strayed, I suppose, and not worth a
Queen's plundering. I'm sorry I've conquered you."</p>
<p>"But you haven't conquered us yet," called Betsy indignantly.</p>
<p>"No," agreed Files, "that is a fact. But if my officers will
kindly command me to conquer you, I will do so at once, after
which we can stop arguing and converse more at our ease."</p>
<p>The officers had by this time risen from their knees and brushed
the dust from their trousers. To them the enemy did not look very
fierce, so the Generals and Colonels and Majors and Captains
gained courage to face them and began strutting in their most
haughty manner. </p>
<p>"You must understand," said Ann, "that I am the Queen of
Oogaboo, and this is my invincible Army. We are busy conquering
the world, and since you seem to be a part of the world, and are
obstructing our journey, it is necessary for us to conquer you
unworthy though you may be of such high honor."</p>
<p>"That's all right," replied Shaggy. "Conquer us as often as you
like. We don't mind." </p>
<p>"But we won't be anybody's slaves," added Betsy, positively.</p>
<p>"We'll see about that," retorted the Queen, angrily. "Advance,
Private Files, and bind the enemy hand and foot!" </p>
<p>But Private Files looked at pretty Betsy and fascinating
Polychrome and the beautiful Rose Princess and shook his head.</p>
<p>"It would be impolite, and I won't do it," he asserted. </p>
<p>"You must!" cried Ann. "It is your duty to obey orders."</p>
<p>"I haven't received any orders from my officers," objected the Private.</p>
<p>But the Generals now shouted: "Forward, and bind the
prisoners!" and the Colonels and Majors and Captains repeated the
command, yelling it as loud as they could.</p>
<p>All this noise annoyed Hank, who had been eyeing the Army of
Oogaboo with strong disfavor. The mule now dashed forward and
began backing upon the officers and kicking fierce and dangerous
heels at them. The attack was so sudden that the officers
scattered like dust in a whirlwind, dropping their swords as they
ran and trying to seek refuge behind the trees and bushes. </p>
<p>Betsy laughed joyously at the comical rout of the "noble
army," and Polychrome danced with glee. But Ann was furious at
this ignoble defeat of her gallant forces by one small mule.</p>
<p>"Private Files, I command you to do your duty!" she cried again,
and then she herself ducked to escape the mule's heels—for Hank
made no distinction in favor of a lady who was an open enemy.
Betsy grabbed her champion by the forelock, however, and so held
him fast, and when the officers saw that the mule was restrained
from further attacks they crept fearfully back and picked up
their discarded swords. </p>
<p>"Private Files, seize and bind these prisoners!" screamed the Queen.</p>
<p>"No," said Files, throwing down his gun and removing the knapsack
which was strapped to his back, "I resign my position as the Army
of Oogaboo. I enlisted to fight the enemy and become a hero, but
if you want some one to bind harmless girls you will have to hire
another Private."</p>
<p>Then he walked over to the others and shook hands with Shaggy and Tik-Tok.</p>
<p>"Treason!" shrieked Ann, and all the officers echoed her cry.</p>
<p>"Nonsense," said Files. "I've the right to resign if I want to."</p>
<p>"Indeed you haven't!" retorted the Queen. "If you resign it will
break up my Army, and then I cannot conquer the world." She now
turned to the officers and said: "I must ask you to do me a
favor. I know it is undignified in officers to fight, but unless
you immediately capture Private Files and force him to obey my
orders there will be no plunder for any of us. Also it is likely
you will all suffer the pangs of hunger, and when we meet a
powerful foe you are liable to be captured and made slaves."</p>
<p>The prospect of this awful fate so frightened the officers
that they drew their swords and rushed upon Files, who stood
beside Shaggy, in a truly ferocious manner. The next instant,
however, they halted and again fell upon their knees; for there,
before them, was the glistening Love Magnet, held in the hand of
the smiling Shaggy Man, and the sight of this magic talisman at
once won the heart of every Oogabooite. Even Ann saw the Love
Magnet, and forgetting all enmity and anger threw herself upon
Shaggy and embraced him lovingly.</p>
<p>Quite disconcerted by this unexpected effect of the Magnet,
Shaggy disengaged himself from the Queen's encircling arms and
quickly hid the talisman in his pocket. The adventurers from
Oogaboo were now his firm friends, and there was no more talk
about conquering and binding any of his party. </p>
<p>"If you insist on conquering anyone," said Shaggy, "you may
march with me to the underground Kingdom of Ruggedo. To conquer
the world, as you have set out to do, you must conquer everyone
under its surface as well as those upon its surface, and no one
in all the world needs conquering so much as Ruggedo."</p>
<p>"Who is he?" asked Ann. </p>
<p>"The Metal Monarch, King of the Nomes."</p>
<p>"Is he rich?" inquired Major Stockings in an anxious voice. </p>
<p>"Of course," answered Shaggy. "He owns all the metal that lies
underground—gold, silver, copper, brass and tin. He has an idea
he also owns all the metals above ground, for he says all metal
was once a part of his kingdom. So, by conquering the Metal
Monarch, you will win all the riches in the world."</p>
<p>"Ah!" exclaimed General Apple, heaving a deep sigh, "that would
be plunder worth our while. Let's conquer him, Your Majesty."</p>
<p>The Queen looked reproachfully at Files, who was sitting next
to the lovely Princess and whispering in her ear.</p>
<p>"Alas," said Ann, "I have no longer an Army. I have plenty of
brave officers, indeed, but no private soldier for them to
command. Therefore I cannot conquer Ruggedo and win all his
wealth." </p>
<p>"Why don't you make one of your officers the Private?" asked
Shaggy; but at once every officer began to protest and the Queen
of Oogaboo shook her head as she replied:</p>
<p>"That is impossible. A private soldier must be a terrible
fighter, and my officers are unable to fight. They are
exceptionally brave in commanding others to fight, but could not
themselves meet the enemy and conquer." </p>
<p>"Very true, Your Majesty," said Colonel Plum, eagerly. "There
are many kinds of bravery and one cannot be expected to possess
them all. I myself am brave as a lion in all ways until it comes
to fighting, but then my nature revolts. Fighting is unkind and
liable to be injurious to others; so, being a gentleman, I never fight."</p>
<p>"Nor I!" shouted each of the other officers. </p>
<p>"You see," said Ann, "how helpless I am. Had not Private Files
proved himself a traitor and a deserter, I would gladly have
conquered this Ruggedo; but an Army without a private soldier is
like a bee without a stinger."</p>
<p>"I am not a traitor, Your Majesty," protested Files. "I resigned
in a proper manner, not liking the job. But there are plenty of
people to take my place. Why not make Shaggy Man the private
soldier?"</p>
<p>"He might be killed," said Ann, looking tenderly at Shaggy,
"for he is mortal, and able to die. If anything happened to him,
it would break my heart."</p>
<p>"It would hurt me worse than that," declared Shaggy. "You must
admit, Your Majesty, that I am commander of this expedition, for
it is my brother we are seeking, rather than plunder. But I and
my companions would like the assistance of your Army, and if you
help us to conquer Ruggedo and to rescue my brother from
captivity we will allow you to keep all the gold and jewels and
other plunder you may find."</p>
<p>This prospect was so tempting that the officers began
whispering together and presently Colonel Cheese said: "Your
Majesty, by combining our brains we have just evolved a most
brilliant idea. We will make the Clockwork Man the private soldier!"</p>
<p>"Who? Me?" asked Tik-Tok. "Not for a sin-gle sec-ond! I can-not
fight, and you must not for-get that it was Rug-ge-do who threw
me in the well."</p>
<p>"At that time you had no gun," said Polychrome. "But if you
join the Army of Oogaboo you will carry the gun that Mr. Files used."</p>
<p>"A sol-dier must be a-ble to run as well as to fight," protested
Tik-Tok, "and if my works run down, as they of-ten do, I could
nei-ther run nor fight."</p>
<p>"I'll keep you wound up, Tik-Tok," promised Betsy.</p>
<p>"Why, it isn't a bad idea," said Shaggy. "TikTok will make an
ideal soldier, for nothing can injure him except a sledge hammer.
And, since a Private soldier seems to be necessary to this Army,
Tik-Tok is the only one of our party fitted to undertake the job."</p>
<p>"What must I do?" asked Tik-Tok.</p>
<p>"Obey orders," replied Ann. "When the officers command you to do
anything, you must do it; that is all."</p>
<p>"And that's enough, too," said Files.</p>
<p>"Do I get a salary?" inquired Tik-Tok.</p>
<p>"You get your share of the plunder," answered the Queen.</p>
<p>"Yes," remarked Files, "one-half of the plunder goes to Queen
Ann, the other half is divided among the officers, and the
Private gets the rest." </p>
<p>"That will be sat-is-fac-tor-y," said Tik-Tok, picking up the
gun and examining it wonderingly, for he had never before seen
such a weapon.</p>
<p>Then Ann strapped the knapsack to Tik-Tok's copper back and said:
"Now we are ready to march to Ruggedo's Kingdom and conquer it.
Officers, give the command to march."</p>
<p>"Fall-in!" yelled the Generals, drawing their swords.</p>
<p>"Fall-in!" cried the Colonels, drawing their swords. </p>
<p>"Fall-in!" shouted the Majors, drawing their swords.</p>
<p>"Fall-in!" bawled the Captains, drawing their swords. </p>
<p>Tik-Tok looked at them and then around him in surprise.</p>
<p>"Fall in what? The well?" he asked.</p>
<p>"No," said Queen Ann, "you must fall in marching order."</p>
<p>"Can-not I march without fall-ing in-to it?" asked the Clockwork Man.</p>
<p>"Shoulder your gun and stand ready to march," advised Files;
so Tik-Tok held the gun straight and stood still."</p>
<p>"What next?" he asked.</p>
<p>The Queen turned to Shaggy.</p>
<p>"Which road leads to the Metal Monarch's cavern?"</p>
<p>"We don't know, Your Majesty," was the reply.</p>
<p>"But this is absurd!" said Ann with a frown. "If we can't get to
Ruggedo, it is certain that we can't conquer him."</p>
<p>"You are right," admitted Shaggy; "but I did not say we could
not get to him. We have only to discover the way, and that was
the matter we were considering when you and your magnificent
Army arrived here."</p>
<p>"Well, then, get busy and discover it," snapped the Queen.</p>
<p>That was no easy task. They all stood looking from one road to
another in perplexity. The paths radiated from the little
clearing like the rays of the midday sun, and each path seemed
like all the others. </p>
<p>Files and the Rose Princess, who had by this time become good
friends, advanced a little way along one of the roads and found
that it was bordered by pretty wild flowers.</p>
<p>"Why don't you ask the flowers to tell you the way?" he said to
his companion. </p>
<p>"The flowers?" returned the Princess, surprised at the question.</p>
<p>"Of course," said Files. "The field-flowers must be
second-cousins to a Rose Princess, and I believe if you ask them
they will tell you." </p>
<p>She looked more closely at the flowers. There were hundreds of
white daisies, golden buttercups, bluebells and daffodils growing
by the roadside, and each flower-head was firmly set upon its
slender but stout stem. There were even a few wild roses
scattered here and there and perhaps it was the sight of these
that gave the Princess courage to ask the important question.</p>
<p>She dropped to her knees, facing the flowers, and extended both
her arms pleadingly toward them. </p>
<p>"Tell me, pretty cousins," she said in her sweet, gentle
voice, "which way will lead us to the Kingdom of Ruggedo, the
Nome King?"</p>
<p>At once all the stems bent gracefully to the right and the flower
heads nodded once—twice—thrice in that direction.</p>
<p>"That's it!" cried Files joyfully. "Now we know the way."</p>
<p>Ozga rose to her feet and looked wonderingly at the
field-flowers, which had now resumed their upright position. </p>
<p>"Was it the wind, do you think?" she asked in a low whisper.</p>
<p>"No, indeed," replied Files. "There is not a breath of wind
stirring. But these lovely blossoms are indeed your cousins and
answered your question at once, as I knew they would."</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<h2><a name="CH9" id="CH9">Chapter Nine</a></h2>
<h3>Ruggedo's Rage is Rash and Reckless</h3>
<p>The way taken by the adventurers led up hill and down dale and wound
here and there in a fashion that seemed aimless. But always it drew
nearer to a range of low mountains and Files said more than once that
he was certain the entrance to Ruggedo's cavern would be found among
these rugged hills.</p>
<p>In this he was quite correct. Far underneath the nearest mountain was
a gorgeous chamber hollowed from the solid rock, the walls and roof of
which glittered with thousands of magnificent jewels. Here, on a
throne of virgin gold, sat the famous Nome King, dressed in splendid
robes and wearing a superb crown cut from a single blood-red ruby.</p>
<p>Ruggedo, the Monarch of all the Metals and Precious Stones of the
Underground World, was a round little man with a flowing white beard,
a red face, bright eyes and a scowl that covered all his forehead. One
would think, to look at him, that he ought to be jolly; one might
think, considering his enormous wealth, that he ought to be happy; but
this was not the case. The Metal Monarch was surly and cross because
mortals had dug so much treasure out of the earth and kept it above
ground, where all the power of Ruggedo and his nomes was unable to
recover it. He hated not only the mortals but also the fairies who
live upon the earth or above it, and instead of being content with the
riches he still possessed he was unhappy because he did not own all
the gold and jewels in the world.</p>
<p>Ruggedo had been nodding, half asleep, in his chair when suddenly he
sat upright, uttered a roar of rage and began pounding upon a huge
gong that stood beside him.</p>
<p>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 at the sound of the King's gong and whispered fearfully
to one another that something unpleasant was sure to happen; but none
dared pause in his task,</p>
<p>The heavy curtains of cloth-of-gold were pushed aside and Kaliko, the
King's High Chamberlain, entered the royal presence.</p>
<p>"What's up, Your Majesty?" he asked, with a wide yawn, for he had just
wakened.</p>
<p>"Up?" roared Ruggedo, stamping his foot viciously. "Those foolish
mortals are up, that's what! And they want to come down."</p>
<p>"Down here?" inquired Kaliko.</p>
<p>"Yes!"</p>
<p>"How do you know?" continued the Chamberlain, yawning again.</p>
<p>"I feel it in my bones," said Ruggedo. "I can always feel it when
those hateful earth-crawlers draw near to my Kingdom. I am positive,
Kaliko, that mortals are this very minute on their way here to annoy
me—and I hate mortals more than I do catnip tea!"</p>
<p>"Well, what's to be done?" demanded the nome.</p>
<p>"Look through your spyglass, and see where the invaders are,"
commanded the King.</p>
<p>So Kaliko went to a tube in the wall of rock and put his eye to it.
The tube ran from the cavern up to the side of the mountain and turned
several curves and corners, but as it was a magic spyglass Kaliko was
able to see through it just as easily as if it had been straight.</p>
<p>"Ho—hum," said he. "I see 'em, Your Majesty."</p>
<p>"What do they look like?" inquired the Monarch.</p>
<p>"That's a hard question to answer, for a queerer assortment of
creatures I never yet beheld," replied the nome. "However, such a
collection of curiosities may prove dangerous. There's a copper man,
worked by machinery—"</p>
<p>"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 a well."</p>
<p>"Then some one must have pulled him out again," said Kaliko. "And
there's a little girl—"</p>
<p>"Dorothy?" asked Ruggedo, jumping up in fear.</p>
<p>"No; some other girl. In fact, there are several girls, of various
sizes; but Dorothy is not with them, nor is Ozma."</p>
<p>"That's good!" exclaimed the King, sighing in relief.</p>
<p>Kaliko still had his eye to the spyglass.</p>
<p>"I see," said he, "an army of men from Oogaboo. They are all officers
and carry swords. And there is a Shaggy Man—who seems very
harmless—and a little donkey with big ears."</p>
<p>"Pooh!" cried Ruggedo, snapping his fingers in scorn. "I've no fear of
such a mob as that. A dozen of my nomes can destroy them all in a
jiffy."</p>
<p>"I'm not so sure of that," said Kaliko. "The people of Oogaboo are
hard to destroy, and I believe the Rose Princess is a fairy. As for
Polychrome, you know very well that the Rainbow's Daughter cannot be
injured by a nome."</p>
<p>"Polychrome! Is she among them?" asked the King.</p>
<p>"Yes; I have just recognized her."</p>
<p>"Then these people are coming here on no peaceful errand," declared
Ruggedo, scowling fiercely. "In fact, no one ever comes here on a
peaceful errand. I hate everybody, and everybody hates me!"</p>
<p>"Very true," said Kaliko.</p>
<p>"I must in some way prevent these people from reaching my dominions.
Where are they now?"</p>
<p>"Just now they are crossing the Rubber Country, Your Majesty."</p>
<p>"Good! Are your magnetic rubber wires in working order?"</p>
<p>"I think so," replied Kaliko. "Is it your Royal Will that we have some
fun with these invaders?"</p>
<p>"It is," answered Ruggedo. "I want to teach them a lesson they will
never forget."</p>
<p>Now, Shaggy had no idea that he was in a Rubber Country, nor had any
of his companions. They noticed that everything around them was of a
dull gray color and that the path upon which they walked was soft and
springy, yet they had no suspicion that the rocks and trees were
rubber and even the path they trod was made of rubber.</p>
<p>Presently they came to a brook where sparkling water dashed through a
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 in that manner
cross the water to the farther bank.</p>
<p>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
and the stepping stones and, without making a pause, placed his foot
upon the first stone.</p>
<p>The result was astonishing. First he sank down in the soft rubber,
which then rebounded and sent Tik-Tok soaring high in the air, where
he turned a succession of flip-flops and alighted upon a rubber rock
far in the rear of the party.</p>
<p>General Apple did not see Tik-Tok bound, so quickly had he
disappeared; therefore he also stepped upon the stone (which you will
guess was connected with Kaliko's magnetic rubber wire) and instantly
shot upward like an arrow. General Cone came next and met with a 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.</p>
<p>There was Tik-Tok, still bounding from one rubber rock to another,
each time rising a less distance from the ground. And there was
General Apple, bounding away in another direction, his three-cornered
hat jammed over his eyes and his long sword thumping him upon the arms
and head as it swung this way and that. And there, also, appeared
General Cone, who had struck a rubber rock headforemost and was so
crumpled up that his round body looked more like a bouncing-ball than
the form of a man.</p>
<p>Betsy laughed merrily at the strange sight and Polychrome echoed her
laughter. But Ozga was grave and wondering, while Queen Ann became
angry at seeing the chief officers of the Army of Oogaboo bounding
around in so undignified a manner. She shouted to them to stop, but
they were unable to obey, even though they would have been glad to do
so. Finally, however, they all ceased bounding and managed to get upon
their feet and rejoin the Army.</p>
<p>"Why did you do that?" demanded Ann, who seemed greatly provoked.</p>
<p>"Don't ask them why," said Shaggy earnestly. "I knew you would ask
them why, but you ought not to do it. The reason is plain. Those
stones are rubber; therefore they are not stones. Those rocks around
us are rubber, and therefore they are not rocks. Even this path is not
a path; it's rubber. Unless we are very careful, your Majesty, we are
all likely to get the bounce, just as your poor officers and Tik-Tok
did."</p>
<p>"Then let's be careful," remarked Files, who was full of wisdom; but
Polychrome wanted to test the quality of the rubber, so she began
dancing. Every step sent her higher and higher into the air, so that
she resembled a big butterfly fluttering lightly. Presently she made a
great bound and bounded way across the stream, landing lightly and
steadily on the other side.</p>
<p>"There is no rubber over here," she called to them. "Suppose you all
try to bound over the stream, without touching the stepping-stones."</p>
<p>Ann and her officers were reluctant to undertake such a risky
adventure, but Betsy at once grasped the value of the suggestion and
began jumping up and down until she found herself bounding almost as
high as Polychrome had done. Then she suddenly leaned forward and the
next bound took her easily across the brook, where she alighted by the
side of the Rainbow's Daughter.</p>
<p>"Come on, Hank!" called the girl, and the 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 a splash into the
middle of the water.</p>
<p>"Hee-haw!" he wailed, struggling toward the far bank. Betsy rushed
forward to help him out, but when the mule stood safely beside her she
was amazed to find he was not wet at all.</p>
<p>"It's dry water," said Polychrome, dipping her hand into the stream
and showing how the water fell from it and left it perfectly dry.</p>
<p>"In that case," returned Betsy, "they can all walk through the water."</p>
<p>She called to Ozga and Shaggy to wade across, assuring them the water
was shallow and would not 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 through the dry water, and in
a few minutes all had assembled on the bank and renewed their journey
along the path that led to the Nome King's dominions.</p>
<p>When Kaliko again looked through his magic spyglass he exclaimed:</p>
<p>"Bad luck, Your Majesty! All the invaders have passed the Rubber
Country and now are fast approaching the entrance to your caverns."</p>
<p>Ruggedo raved and stormed at the news and his anger was so great that
several times, as he strode up and down his jeweled cavern, he paused
to kick Kaliko upon his shins, which were so sensitive that the poor
nome howled with pain. Finally the King said:</p>
<p>"There's no help for it; we must drop these audacious invaders down
the Hollow Tube."</p>
<p>Kaliko gave a jump, at this, and looked at his master wonderingly.</p>
<p>"If you do that, Your Majesty," he said, "you will make Tititi-Hoochoo
very angry."</p>
<p>"Never mind that," retorted Ruggedo. "Tititi-Hoochoo lives on the
other side of the world, so what do I care for his anger?"</p>
<p>Kaliko shuddered and uttered a little groan.</p>
<p>"Remember his terrible powers," he pleaded, "and remember that he
warned you, the last time you slid people through the Hollow Tube,
that if you did it again he would take vengeance upon you."</p>
<p>The Metal Monarch walked up and down in silence, thinking deeply.</p>
<p>"Of two dangers," said he, "it is wise to choose the least. What do
you suppose these invaders want?"</p>
<p>"Let the Long-Eared Hearer listen to them," suggested Kaliko.</p>
<p>"Call him here at once!" commanded Ruggedo eagerly.</p>
<p>So in a few minutes there entered the cavern a nome with enormous
ears, who bowed low before the King.</p>
<p>"Strangers are approaching," said Ruggedo, "and I wish to know their
errand. Listen carefully to their talk and tell me why they are coming
here, and what for."</p>
<p>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 at the delay. At last the Long-Eared Hearer spoke:</p>
<p>"Shaggy Man is coming here to rescue his brother from captivity," said
he.</p>
<p>"Ha, the Ugly One!" exclaimed Ruggedo. "Well, Shaggy Man may have his
ugly brother, for all I care. He's too lazy to work and is always
getting in my way. Where is the Ugly One now, Kaliko?"</p>
<p>"The last time Your Majesty stumbled over the prisoner you commanded
me to send him to the Metal Forest, which I did. I suppose he is still
there."</p>
<p>"Very good. The invaders will have a hard time finding the Metal
Forest," said the King, with a grin of malicious delight, "for half
the time I can't find it myself. Yet I created the forest and made
every tree, out of gold and silver, so as to keep the precious metals
in a safe place and out of the reach of mortals. But tell me, Hearer,
do the strangers want anything else?"</p>
<p>"Yes, indeed they do!" returned the nome. "The Army of Oogaboo is
determined to capture all the rich metals and rare jewels in your
kingdom, and the officers and their Queen have arranged to divide the
spoils and carry them away."</p>
<p>When he heard this Ruggedo uttered a 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 of the Hearer and pulled and twisted them cruelly; but
Kaliko grabbed up the King's sceptre and rapped him over the knuckles
with it, so that Ruggedo let go the ears and began to chase his Royal
Chamberlain around the throne.</p>
<p>The Hearer took advantage of this opportunity to slip away from the
cavern and escape, and after the 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.</p>
<p>"You'd better save your strength to fight the enemy," suggested
Kaliko. "There will be a terrible battle when the Army of Oogaboo gets
here."</p>
<p>"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!"</p>
<p>"And defy Tititi-Hoochoo?" asked Kaliko.</p>
<p>"Yes. Go at once to my Chief Magician and order him to turn the path
toward the Hollow Tube, and to make the tip of the Tube invisible, so
they'll all fall into it."</p>
<p>Kaliko went away shaking his head, for he thought Ruggedo was making a
great mistake. He found the Magician and had the path twisted so that
it led directly to the opening of the Hollow Tube, and this opening he
made invisible.</p>
<p>Having obeyed the orders of his master, the Royal Chamberlain went to
his private room and began to write letters of recommendation of
himself, stating that he was an honest man, a good servant and a small
eater.</p>
<p>"Pretty soon," he said to himself, "I shall have to look for another
job, for it is certain that Ruggedo has ruined himself by this
reckless defiance of the mighty Tititi-Hoochoo. And in seeking a job
nothing is so effective as a letter of recommendation."</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<h2><a name="CH10" id="CH10">Chapter Ten</a></h2>
<h3>A Terrible Tumble Through a Tube</h3>
<p>I suppose that Polychrome, and perhaps Queen Ann and her Army, might
have been able to dispel the enchantment of Ruggedo's Chief Magician
had they known that danger lay in their pathway; for the Rainbow's
Daughter was a fairy and as Oogaboo is a part of the Land of Oz its
inhabitants cannot easily be deceived by such common magic as the 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 a contented manner when Tik-Tok, who marched ahead,
suddenly disappeared.</p>
<p>The officers thought he must have turned a corner, so they kept on
their way and all of them likewise disappeared—one after another.
Queen Ann was rather surprised at this, and in hastening forward to
learn the reason she also vanished from sight.</p>
<p>Betsy Bobbin had tired her feet by walking, so she was now riding upon
the back of the stout little mule, facing backward and talking to
Shaggy and Polychrome, who were just behind. Suddenly Hank pitched
forward and began falling and Betsy would have tumbled over his head
had she not grabbed the mule's shaggy neck with both arms and held on
for dear life.</p>
<p>All around was darkness, and they were not falling directly downward
but seemed to be sliding along a steep incline. Hank's hoofs were
resting upon some smooth substance over which he slid with the
swiftness of the wind. Once Betsy's heels flew up and struck a similar
substance overhead. They were, indeed, descending the "Hollow Tube"
that led to the other side of the world.</p>
<p>"Stop, Hank—stop!" cried the girl; but Hank only uttered a plaintive
"Hee-haw!" for it was impossible for him to obey.</p>
<p>After several minutes had passed and no harm had befallen them, Betsy
gained courage. She could see nothing at all, nor could she hear
anything except the rush of air past her ears as they plunged downward
along the Tube. Whether she and Hank were alone, or the others were
with them, she could not tell. But had some one been able to take a
flash-light photograph of the Tube at that time a most curious picture
would have resulted. There was Tik-Tok, flat upon his back and sliding
headforemost down the incline. And there were the Officers of the Army
of Oogaboo, all tangled up in a confused crowd, flapping their arms
and trying to shield their faces from the 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 a
sitting position and went flying along with a dash and abandon that
thoroughly bewildered the poor lady, who had no idea what had happened
to her. Then, a little distance away, but unseen by the others in the
inky darkness, slid Betsy and Hank, while behind them were Shaggy and
Polychrome and finally Files and the Princess.</p>
<p>When first they tumbled into the Tube all were too dazed to think
clearly, but the trip was a long one, because the cavity led straight
through the earth to a place just opposite the Nome King's dominions,
and long before the adventurers got to the end they had begun to
recover their wits.</p>
<p>"This is awful, Hank!" cried Betsy in a loud voice, and Queen Ann
heard her and called out: "Are you safe, Betsy?"</p>
<p>"Mercy, no!" answered the little girl. "How could anyone be safe when
she's going about sixty miles a minute?" Then, after a pause, she
added: "But where do you s'pose we're going to, Your Maj'sty?"</p>
<p>"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."</p>
<p>"Why?" said Betsy.</p>
<p>"No one can tell where we are going until we get there," replied
Shaggy, and then he yelled "Ouch!" for Polychrome had overtaken him
and was now sitting on his head.</p>
<p>The Rainbow's Daughter laughed merrily, and so infectious was this
joyous laugh that Betsy echoed it and Hank said "Hee haw!" in a mild
and sympathetic tone of voice.</p>
<p>"I'd like to know where and when we'll arrive, just the same,"
exclaimed the little girl.</p>
<p>"Be patient and you'll find out, my dear," said Polychrome. "But isn't
this an odd experience? Here am I, whose home is in the skies, making
a journey through the center of the earth—where I never expected to
be!"</p>
<p>"How do you know we're in the center of the earth?" asked Betsy, her
voice trembling a little through nervousness.</p>
<p>"Why, we can t be anywhere else," replied Polychrome. "I have often
heard of this passage, which was once built by a Magician who was a
great traveler. He thought it would save him the bother of going
around the earth's surface, but he tumbled through the Tube so fast
that he shot out at the other end and hit a star in the sky, which at
once exploded."</p>
<p>"The star exploded?" asked Betsy wonderingly.</p>
<p>"Yes; the Magician hit it so hard."</p>
<p>"And what became of the Magician?" inquired the girl.</p>
<p>"No one knows that," answered Polychrome. "But I don't think it
matters much."</p>
<p>"It matters a good deal, if we also hit the stars when we come out,"
said Queen Ann, with a moan.</p>
<p>"Don't worry," advised Polychrome. "I believe the Magician was going
the other way, and probably he went much faster than we are going."</p>
<p>"It's fast enough to suit me," remarked Shaggy, gently removing
Polychrome's heel from his left eye. "Couldn't you manage to fall all
by yourself, my dear?"</p>
<p>"I'll try," laughed the Rainbow's Daughter.</p>
<p>All this time they were swiftly falling through the Tube, and it was
not so easy for them to talk as you may imagine when you read their
words. But although they were so helpless and altogether in the dark
as to their fate, the fact that they were able to converse at all
cheered them, considerably.</p>
<p>Files and Ozga were also conversing as they clung tightly to one
another, and the young fellow bravely strove to reassure the Princess,
although he was terribly frightened, both on her account and on his
own.</p>
<p>An hour, under such trying circumstances, is a very long time, and for
more than an hour they continued their fearful journey. Then, just as
they began to fear the Tube would never end, Tik-Tok popped out into
broad daylight and, after making a graceful circle in the air, fell
with a splash into a great marble fountain.</p>
<p>Out came the officers, in quick succession, tumbling heels over head
and striking the ground in many undignified attitudes.</p>
<p>"For the love of sassafras!" exclaimed a Peculiar Person who was
hoeing pink violets in a garden. "What can all this mean?"</p>
<p>For answer, Queen Ann sailed up from the Tube, took a ride through the
air as high as the treetops, and alighted squarely on top of the
Peculiar Person's head, smashing a jeweled crown over his eyes and
tumbling him to the ground.</p>
<p>The mule was heavier and had Betsy clinging to his back, so he did not
go so high up. Fortunately for his little rider he struck the ground
upon his four feet. Betsy was jarred a trifle but not hurt and when
she looked around her she saw the Queen and the Peculiar Person
struggling together upon the ground, where the man was trying to choke
Ann and she had both hands in his bushy hair and was pulling with all
her might. Some of the officers, when they got upon their feet,
hastened to separate the combatants and sought to restrain the
Peculiar Person so that he could not attack their Queen again.</p>
<p>By this time, Shaggy, Polychrome, Ozga and Files had all arrived and
were curiously examining the strange country in which they found
themselves and which they knew to be exactly on the opposite side of
the world from the place where they had fallen into the Tube. It was a
lovely place, indeed, and seemed to be the garden of some great
Prince, for through the vistas of trees and shrubbery could be seen
the towers of an immense castle. But as yet the only inhabitant to
greet them was the Peculiar Person just mentioned, who had shaken off
the grasp of the officers without effort and was now trying to pull
the battered crown from off his eyes.</p>
<p>Shaggy, who was always polite, helped him to do this and when the man
was free and could see again he looked at his visitors with evident
amazement.</p>
<p>"Well, well, well!" he exclaimed. "Where did you come from and how did
you get here?"</p>
<p>Betsy tried to answer him, for Queen Ann was surly and silent.</p>
<p>"I can't say, exac'ly where we came from, cause I don't know the name
of the place," said the girl, "but the way we got here was through the
Hollow Tube."</p>
<p>"Don't call it a 'hollow' Tube, please," exclaimed the Peculiar Person
in an irritated tone of voice. "If it's a tube, it's sure to be
hollow."</p>
<p>"Why?" asked Betsy.</p>
<p>"Because all tubes are made that way. But this Tube is private
property and everyone is forbidden to fall into it."</p>
<p>"We didn't do it on purpose," explained Betsy, and Polychrome added:
"I am quite sure that Ruggedo, the Nome King, pushed us down that
Tube."</p>
<p>"Ha! Ruggedo! Did you say Ruggedo?" cried the man, becoming much
excited.</p>
<p>"That is what she said," replied Shaggy, "and I believe she is right.
We were on our way to conquer the Nome King when suddenly we fell into
the Tube."</p>
<p>"Then you are enemies of Ruggedo?" inquired the peculiar Person.</p>
<p>"Not exac'ly enemies," said Betsy, a little puzzled by the question,
"'cause we don't know him at all; but we started out to conquer him,
which isn't as friendly as it might be."</p>
<p>"True," agreed the man. He looked thoughtfully from one to another of
them for a while and then he turned his head over his shoulder and
said: "Never mind the fire and pincers, my good brothers. It will be
best to take these strangers to the Private Citizen."</p>
<p>"Very well, Tubekins," responded a Voice, deep and powerful, that
seemed to come out of the air, for the speaker was invisible.</p>
<p>All our friends gave a jump, at this. Even Polychrome was so startled
that her gauze draperies fluttered like a banner in a breeze. Shaggy
shook his head and sighed; Queen Ann looked very unhappy; the officers
clung to each other, trembling violently.</p>
<p>But soon they gained courage to look more closely at the Peculiar
Person. As he was a type of all the inhabitants of this extraordinary
land whom they afterward met, I will try to tell you what he looked
like.</p>
<p>His face was beautiful, but lacked expression. His eyes were large and
blue in color and his teeth finely formed and white as snow. His hair
was black and bushy and seemed inclined to curl at the ends. So far no
one could find any fault with his appearance. He wore a robe of
scarlet, which did not cover his arms and extended no lower than his
bare knees. On the bosom of the robe was embroidered a terrible
dragon's head, as horrible to look at as the man was beautiful. His
arms and legs were left bare and the skin of one arm was bright yellow
and the skin of the other arm a vivid green. He had one blue leg and
one pink one, while both his feet—which showed through the open
sandals he wore—were jet black.</p>
<p>Betsy could not decide whether these gorgeous colors were dyes or the
natural tints of the skin, but while she was thinking it over the man
who had been called "Tubekins" said:</p>
<p>"Follow me to the Residence—all of you!"</p>
<p>But just then a Voice exclaimed: "Here's another of them, Tubekins,
lying in the water of the fountain."</p>
<p>"Gracious!" cried Betsy; "it must be Tik-Tok, and he'll drown."</p>
<p>"Water is a bad thing for his clockworks, anyway," agreed Shaggy, as
with one accord they all started for the fountain. But before they
could reach it, invisible hands raised Tik-Tok from the marble basin
and set him upon his feet beside it, water dripping from every joint
of his copper body.</p>
<p>"Ma—ny tha—tha—tha—thanks!" he said; and then his copper jaws
clicked together and he could say no more. He next made an attempt to
walk but after several awkward trials found he could not move his
joints.</p>
<p>Peals of jeering laughter from persons unseen greeted Tik-Tok's
failure, and the new arrivals in this strange land found it very
uncomfortable to realize that there were many creatures around them
who were invisible, yet could be heard plainly.</p>
<p>"Shall I wind him up?" asked Betsy, feeling very sorry for Tik-Tok.</p>
<p>"I think his machinery is wound; but he needs oiling," replied Shaggy.</p>
<p>At once an oil-can appeared before him, held on a level with his eyes
by some unseen hand. Shaggy took the can and tried to oil Tik-Tok's
joints. As if to assist him, a strong current of warm air was directed
against the copper man which quickly dried him. Soon he was able to
say "Ma-ny thanks!" quite smoothly and his joints worked fairly well.</p>
<p>"Come!" commanded Tubekins, and turning his back upon them he walked
up the path toward the castle.</p>
<p>"Shall we go?" asked Queen Ann, uncertainly; but just then she
received a shove that almost pitched her forward on her head; so she
decided to go. The officers who hesitated received several energetic
kicks, but could not see who delivered them; therefore they also
decided—very wisely—to go. The others followed willingly enough, for
unless they ventured upon another terrible journey through the Tube
they must make the best of the unknown country they were in, and the
best seemed to be to obey orders.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<h2><a name="CH11" id="CH11">Chapter Eleven</a></h2>
<h3>The Famous Fellowship of Fairies</h3>
<p>After a short walk through very beautiful gardens they came to the
castle and followed Tubekins through the entrance and into a great
domed chamber, where he commanded them to be seated.</p>
<p>From the crown which he wore, Betsy had thought this man must be the
King of the country they were in, yet after he had seated all the
strangers upon benches that were ranged in a semicircle before a high
throne, Tubekins bowed humbly before the vacant throne and in a flash
became invisible and disappeared.</p>
<p>The hall was an immense place, but there seemed to be no one in it
beside themselves. Presently, however, they heard a low cough near
them, and here and there was the faint rustling of a robe and a slight
patter as of footsteps. Then suddenly there rang out the clear tone of
a bell and at the sound all was changed.</p>
<p>Gazing around the hall in bewilderment they saw that it was filled
with hundreds of men and women, all with beautiful faces and staring
blue eyes and all wearing scarlet robes and jeweled crowns upon their
heads. In fact, these people seemed exact duplicates of Tubekins and
it was difficult to find any mark by which to tell them apart.</p>
<p>"My! what a lot of Kings and Queens!" whispered Betsy to Polychrome,
who sat beside her and appeared much interested in the scene but not a
bit worried.</p>
<p>"It is certainly a strange sight," was Polychrome's reply; "but I
cannot see how there can be more than one King, or Queen, in any one
country, for were these all rulers, no one could tell who was Master."</p>
<p>One of the Kings who stood near and overheard this remark turned to
her and said: "One who is Master of himself is always a King, if only
to himself. In this favored land all Kings and Queens are equal, and
it is our privilege to bow before one supreme Ruler—the Private
Citizen."</p>
<p>"Who's he?" inquired Betsy.</p>
<p>As if to answer her, the clear tones of the bell again rang out and
instantly there appeared seated in the throne the man who was lord and
master of all these royal ones. This fact was evident when with one
accord they fell upon their knees and touched their foreheads to the
floor.</p>
<p>The Private Citizen was not unlike the others, except that his eyes
were black instead of blue and in the centers of the black irises
glowed red sparks that seemed like coals of fire. But his features
were very beautiful and dignified and his manner composed and stately.
Instead of the prevalent scarlet robe, he wore one of white, and the
same dragon's head that decorated the others was embroidered upon its
bosom.</p>
<p>"What charge lies against these people, Tubekins?" he asked in quiet,
even tones.</p>
<p>"They came through the forbidden Tube, O Mighty Citizen," was the
reply.</p>
<p>"You see, it was this way," said Betsy. "We were marching to the Nome
King, to conquer him and set Shaggy's brother free, when on a
sudden—"</p>
<p>"Who are you?" demanded the Private Citizen sternly.</p>
<p>"Me? Oh, I'm Betsy Bobbin, and—"</p>
<p>"Who is the leader of this party?" asked the Citizen.</p>
<p>"Sir, I am Queen Ann of Oogaboo, and—"</p>
<p>"Then keep quiet," said the Citizen. "Who is the leader?"</p>
<p>No one answered for a moment. Then General Bunn stood up.</p>
<p>"Sit down!" commanded the Citizen. "I can see that sixteen of you are
merely officers, and of no account."</p>
<p>"But we have an Army," said General Clock, blusteringly, for he didn't
like to be told he was of no account.</p>
<p>"Where is your Army?" asked the Citizen.</p>
<p>"It's me," said Tik-Tok, his voice sounding a little rusty. "I'm the
on-ly Pri-vate Sol-dier in the par-ty."</p>
<p>Hearing this, the Citizen rose and bowed respectfully to the Clockwork
Man.</p>
<p>"Pardon me for not realizing your importance before," said he. "Will
you oblige me by taking a seat beside me on my throne?"</p>
<p>Tik-Tok rose and walked over to the throne, all the Kings and Queens
making way for him. Then with clanking steps he mounted the platform
and sat on the broad seat beside the Citizen.</p>
<p>Ann was greatly provoked at this mark of favor shown to the humble
Clockwork Man, but Shaggy seemed much pleased that his old friend's
importance had been recognized by the ruler of this remarkable
country. The Citizen now began to question Tik-Tok, who told in his
mechanical voice about Shaggy's quest of his lost brother, and how
Ozma of Oz had sent the Clockwork Man to assist him, and how they had
fallen in with Queen Ann and her people from Oogaboo. Also he told how
Betsy and Hank and Polychrome and the Rose Princess had happened to
join their party.</p>
<p>"And you intended to conquer Ruggedo, the Metal Monarch and King of
the Nomes?" asked the Citizen.</p>
<p>"Yes. That seemed the on-ly thing for us to do," was Tik-Tok's reply.
"But he was too cle-ver for us. When we got close to his cav-ern he
made our path lead to the Tube, and made the op-en-ing in-vis-i-ble,
so that we all fell in-to it be-fore we knew it was there. It was an
eas-y way to get rid of us and now Rug-gedo is safe and we are far
a-way in a strange land."</p>
<p>The Citizen was silent a moment and seemed to be thinking. Then he
said:</p>
<p>"Most noble Private Soldier, I must inform you that by the laws of our
country anyone who comes through the Forbidden Tube must be tortured
for nine days and ten nights and then thrown back into the Tube. But
it is wise to disregard laws when they conflict with justice, and it
seems that you and your followers did not disobey our laws willingly,
being forced into the Tube by Ruggedo. Therefore the Nome King is
alone to blame, and he alone must be punished."</p>
<p>"That suits me," said Tik-Tok. "But Rug-ge-do is on the o-ther side of
the world where he is a-way out of your reach."</p>
<p>The Citizen drew himself up proudly.</p>
<p>"Do you imagine anything in the world or upon it can be out of the
reach of the Great Jinjin?" he asked.</p>
<p>"Oh! Are you, then, the Great Jinjin?" inquired Tik-Tok.</p>
<p>"I am."</p>
<p>"Then your name is Ti-ti-ti-Hoo-choo?"</p>
<p>"It is."</p>
<p>Queen Ann gave a scream and began to tremble. Shaggy was so disturbed
that he took out a handkerchief and wiped the perspiration from his
brow. Polychrome looked sober and uneasy for the first time, while
Files put his arms around the Rose Princess as if to protect her. As
for the officers, the name of the great Jinjin set them moaning and
weeping at a great rate and every one fell upon his knees before the
throne, begging for mercy. Betsy was worried at seeing her companions
so disturbed, but did not know what it was all about. Only Tik-Tok was
unmoved at the discovery.</p>
<p>"Then," said he, "if you are Ti-ti-ti-Hoo-choo, and think Rug-ge-do is
to blame, I am sure that some-thing queer will hap-pen to the King of
the Nomes."</p>
<p>"I wonder what 'twill be," said Betsy.</p>
<p>The Private Citizen—otherwise known as Tititi-Hoochoo, the Great
Jinjin—looked at the little girl steadily.</p>
<p>"I will presently decide what is to happen to Ruggedo," said he in a
hard, stern voice. Then, turning to the throng of Kings and Queens, he
continued: "Tik-Tok has spoken truly, for his machinery will not allow
him to lie, nor will it allow his thoughts to think falsely. Therefore
these people are not our enemies and must be treated with
consideration and justice. Take them to your palaces and entertain
them as guests until to-morrow, when I command that they be brought
again to my Residence. By then I shall have formed my plans."</p>
<p>No sooner had Tititi-Hoochoo spoken than he disappeared from sight.
Immediately after, most of the Kings and Queens likewise disappeared.
But several of them remained visible and approached the strangers with
great respect. One of the lovely Queens said to Betsy:</p>
<p>"I trust you will honor me by being my guest. I am Erma, Queen of
Light."</p>
<p>"May Hank come with me?" asked the girl.</p>
<p>"The King of Animals will care for your mule," was the reply. "But do
not fear for him, for he will be treated royally. All of your party
will be reunited on the morrow."</p>
<p>"I—I'd like to have some one with me," said Betsy, pleadingly.</p>
<p>Queen Erma looked around and smiled upon Polychrome.</p>
<p>"Will the Rainbow's Daughter be an agreeable companion?" she asked.</p>
<p>"Oh, yes!" exclaimed the girl.</p>
<p>So Polychrome and Betsy became guests of the Queen of Light, while
other beautiful Kings and Queens took charge of the others of the
party.</p>
<p>The two girls followed Erma out of the hall and through the gardens of
the Residence to a village of pretty dwellings. None of these was so
large or imposing as the castle of the Private Citizen, but all were
handsome enough to be called palaces—as, in fact, they really were.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<h2><a name="CH12" id="CH12">Chapter Twelve</a></h2>
<h3>The Lovely Lady of Light</h3>
<p>The palace of the Queen of Light stood on a little eminence and was a
mass of crystal windows, surmounted by a vast crystal dome. When they
entered the portals Erma was greeted by six lovely maidens, evidently
of high degree, who at once aroused Betsy's admiration. Each bore a
wand in her hand, tipped with an emblem of light, and their costumes
were also emblematic of the lights they represented. Erma introduced
them to her guests and each made a graceful and courteous
acknowledgment.</p>
<p>First was Sunlight, radiantly beautiful and very fair; the second was
Moonlight, a soft, dreamy damsel with nut-brown hair; next came
Starlight, equally lovely but inclined to be retiring and shy. These
three were dressed in shimmering robes of silvery white. The fourth
was Daylight, a brilliant damsel with laughing eyes and frank manners,
who wore a variety of colors. Then came Firelight, clothed in a fleecy
flame-colored robe that wavered around her shapely form in a very
attractive manner. The sixth maiden, Electra, was the most beautiful
of all, and Betsy thought from the first that both Sunlight and
Daylight regarded Electra with envy and were a little jealous of her.</p>
<p>But all were cordial in their greetings to the strangers and seemed to
regard the Queen of Light with much affection, for they fluttered
around her in a flashing, radiant group as she led the way to her
regal drawing-room.</p>
<p>This apartment was richly and cosily furnished, the upholstery being
of many tints, and both Betsy and Polychrome enjoyed resting
themselves upon the downy divans after their strenuous adventures of
the day.</p>
<p>The Queen sat down to chat with her guests, who noticed that Daylight
was the only maiden now seated beside Erma. The others had retired to
another part of the room, where they sat modestly with entwined arms
and did not intrude themselves at all.</p>
<p>The Queen told the strangers all about this beautiful land, which is
one of the chief residences of fairies who minister to the needs of
mankind. So many important fairies lived there that, to avoid rivalry,
they had elected as their Ruler the only important personage in the
country who had no duties to mankind to perform and was, in effect, a
Private Citizen. This Ruler, or Jinjin, as was his title, bore the
name of Tititi-Hoochoo, and the most singular thing about him was that
he had no heart. But instead of this he possessed a high degree of
Reason and Justice and while he showed no mercy in his judgments he
never punished unjustly or without reason. To wrong-doers
Tititi-Hoochoo was as terrible as he was heartless, but those who were
innocent of evil had nothing to fear from him.</p>
<p>All the Kings and Queens of this fairyland paid reverence to Jinjin,
for as they expected to be obeyed by others they were willing to obey
the one in authority over them.</p>
<p>The inhabitants of the Land of Oz had heard many tales of this
fearfully just Jinjin, whose punishments were always equal to the
faults committed. Polychrome also knew of him, although this was the
first time she had ever seen him face to face. But to Betsy the story
was all new, and she was greatly interested in Tititi-Hoochoo, whom
she no longer feared.</p>
<p>Time sped swiftly during their talk and suddenly Betsy noticed that
Moonlight was sitting beside the Queen of Light, instead of Daylight.</p>
<p>"But tell me, please," she pleaded, "why do you all wear a dragon's
head embroidered on your gowns?"</p>
<p>Erma's pleasant face became grave as she answered:</p>
<p>"The Dragon, as you must know, was the first living creature ever
made; therefore the Dragon is the oldest and wisest of living things.
By good fortune the Original Dragon, who still lives, is a resident of
this land and supplies us with wisdom whenever we are in need of it.
He is old as the world and remembers everything that has happened
since the world was created."</p>
<p>"Did he ever have any children?" inquired the girl.</p>
<p>"Yes, many of them. Some wandered into other lands, where men, not
understanding them, made war upon them; but many still reside in this
country. None, however, is as wise as the Original Dragon, for whom we
have great respect. As he was the first resident here, we wear the
emblem of the dragon's head to show that we are the favored people who
alone have the right to inhabit this fairyland, which in beauty almost
equals the Fairyland of Oz, and in power quite surpasses it."</p>
<p>"I understand about the dragon, now," said Polychrome, nodding her
lovely head. Betsy did not quite understand, but she was at present
interested in observing the changing lights. As Daylight had given way
to Moonlight, so now Starlight sat at the right hand of Erma the
Queen, and with her coming a spirit of peace and content seemed to
fill the room. Polychrome, being herself a fairy, had many questions
to ask about the various Kings and Queens who lived in this far-away,
secluded place, and before Erma had finished answering them a rosy
glow filled the room and Firelight took her place beside the Queen.</p>
<p>Betsy liked Firelight, but to gaze upon her warm and glowing features
made the little girl sleepy, and presently she began to nod. Thereupon
Erma rose and took Betsy's hand gently in her own.</p>
<p>"Come," said she; "the feast time has arrived and the feast is
spread."</p>
<p>"That's nice," exclaimed the small mortal. "Now that I think of it,
I'm awful hungry. But p'raps I can't eat your fairy food."</p>
<p>The Queen smiled and led her to a doorway. As she pushed aside a heavy
drapery a flood of silvery light greeted them, and Betsy saw before
her a splendid banquet hall, with a table spread with snowy linen and
crystal and silver. At one side was a broad, throne-like seat for Erma
and beside her now sat the brilliant maid Electra. Polychrome was
placed on the Queen's right hand and Betsy upon her left. The other
five messengers of light now waited upon them, and each person was
supplied with just the food she liked best. Polychrome found her dish
of dewdrops, all fresh and sparkling, while Betsy was so lavishly
served that she decided she had never in her life eaten a dinner half
so good.</p>
<p>"I s'pose," she said to the Queen, "that Miss Electra is the youngest
of all these girls."</p>
<p>"Why do you suppose that?" inquired Erma, with a smile.</p>
<p>"'Cause electric'ty is the newest light we know of. Didn't Mr. Edison
discover it?"</p>
<p>"Perhaps he was the first mortal to discover it," replied the Queen.
"But electricity was a part of the world from its creation, and
therefore my Electra is as old as Daylight or Moonlight, and equally
beneficent to mortals and fairies alike."</p>
<p>Betsy was thoughtful for a time. Then she remarked, as she looked at
the six messengers of light:</p>
<p>"We couldn't very well do without any of 'em; could we?"</p>
<p>Erma laughed softly. "I couldn't, I'm sure," she replied, "and I think
mortals would miss any one of my maidens, as well. Daylight cannot
take the place of Sunlight, which gives us strength and energy.
Moonlight is of value when Daylight, worn out with her long watch,
retires to rest. If the moon in its course is hidden behind the
earth's rim, and my sweet Moonlight cannot cheer us, Starlight takes
her place, for the skies always lend her power. Without Firelight we
should miss much of our warmth and comfort, as well as much cheer when
the walls of houses encompass us. But always, when other lights
forsake us, our glorious Electra is ready to flood us with bright
rays. As Queen of Light, I love all my maidens, for I know them to be
faithful and true."</p>
<p>"I love 'em too!" declared Betsy. "But sometimes, when I'm real
sleepy, I can get along without any light at all."</p>
<p>"Are you sleepy now?" inquired Erma, for the feast had ended.</p>
<p>"A little," admitted the girl.</p>
<p>So Electra showed her to a pretty chamber where there was a soft,
white bed, and waited patiently until Betsy had undressed and put on a
shimmery silken nightrobe that lay beside her pillow. Then the
light-maid bade her good night and opened the door.</p>
<p>When she closed it after her Betsy was in darkness. In six winks the
little girl was fast asleep.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<h2><a name="CH13" id="CH13">Chapter Thirteen</a></h2>
<h3>The Jinjin's Just Judgment</h3>
<p>All the adventurers were reunited next morning when they were brought
from various palaces to the Residence of Tititi-Hoochoo and ushered
into the great Hall of State.</p>
<p>As before, no one was visible except our friends and their escorts
until the first bell sounded. Then in a flash the room was seen to be
filled with the beautiful Kings and Queens of the land. The second
bell marked the appearance in the throne of the mighty Jinjin, whose
handsome countenance was as composed and expressionless as ever.</p>
<p>All bowed low to the Ruler. Their voices softly murmured: "We greet
the Private Citizen, mightiest of Rulers, whose word is Law and whose
Law is just."</p>
<p>Tititi-Hoochoo bowed in acknowledgment. Then, looking around the
brilliant assemblage, and at the little group of adventurers before
him, he said:</p>
<p>"An unusual thing has happened. Inhabitants of other lands than ours,
who are different from ourselves in many ways, have been thrust upon
us through the Forbidden Tube, which one of our people foolishly made
years ago and was properly punished for his folly. But these strangers
had no desire to come here and were wickedly thrust into the Tube by a
cruel King on the other side of the world, named Ruggedo. This King is
an immortal, but he is not good. His magic powers hurt mankind more
than they benefit them. Because he had unjustly kept the Shaggy Man's
brother a prisoner, this little band of honest people, consisting of
both mortals and immortals, determined to conquer Ruggedo and to
punish him. Fearing they might succeed in this, the Nome King misled
them so that they fell into the Tube.</p>
<p>"Now, this same Ruggedo has been warned by me, many times, that if
ever he used this Forbidden Tube in any way he would be severely
punished. I find, by referring to the Fairy Records, that this King's
servant, a nome named Kaliko, begged his master not to do such a wrong
act as to drop these people into the Tube and send them tumbling into
our country. But Ruggedo defied me and my orders.</p>
<p>"Therefore these strangers are innocent of any wrong. It is only
Ruggedo who deserves punishment, and I will punish him." He paused a
moment and then continued in the same cold, merciless voice:</p>
<p>"These strangers must return through the Tube to their own side of the
world; but I will make their fall more easy and pleasant than it was
before. Also I shall send with them an Instrument of Vengeance, who in
my name will drive Ruggedo from his underground caverns, take away his
magic powers and make him a homeless wanderer on the face of the
earth—a place he detests."</p>
<p>There was a little murmur of horror from the Kings and Queens at the
severity of this punishment, but no one uttered a protest, for all
realized that the sentence was just.</p>
<p>"In selecting my Instrument of Vengeance," went on Tititi-Hoochoo, "I
have realized that this will be an unpleasant mission. Therefore no
one of us who is blameless should be forced to undertake it. In this
wonderful land it is seldom one is guilty of wrong, even in the
slightest degree, and on examining the Records I found no King or
Queen had erred. Nor had any among their followers or servants done
any wrong. But finally I came to the Dragon Family, which we highly
respect, and then it was that I discovered the error of Quox.</p>
<p>"Quox, as you well know, is a young dragon who has not yet acquired
the wisdom of his race. Because of this lack, he has been
disrespectful toward his most ancient ancestor, the Original Dragon,
telling him once to mind his own business and again saying that the
Ancient One had grown foolish with age. We are aware that dragons are
not the same as fairies and cannot be altogether guided by our laws,
yet such disrespect as Quox has shown should not be unnoticed by us.
Therefore I have selected Quox as my royal Instrument of Vengeance and
he shall go through the Tube with these people and inflict upon
Ruggedo the punishment I have decreed."</p>
<p>All had listened quietly to this speech and now the Kings and Queens
bowed gravely to signify their approval of the Jinjin's judgment.</p>
<p>Tititi-Hoochoo turned to Tubekins.</p>
<p>"I command you," said he, "to escort these strangers to the Tube and
see that they all enter it."</p>
<p>The King of the Tube, who had first discovered our friends and brought
them to the Private Citizen, stepped forward and bowed. As he did so,
the Jinjin and all the Kings and Queens suddenly disappeared and only
Tubekins remained visible.</p>
<p>"All right," said Betsy, with a sigh; "I don't mind going back so very
much, 'cause the Jinjin promised to make it easy for us."</p>
<p>Indeed, Queen Ann and her officers were the only ones who looked
solemn and seemed to fear the return journey. One thing that bothered
Ann was her failure to conquer this land of Tititi-Hoochoo. As they
followed their guide through the gardens to the mouth of the Tube she
said to Shaggy:</p>
<p>"How can I conquer the world, if I go away and leave this rich country
unconquered?"</p>
<p>"You can't," he replied. "Don't ask me why, please, for if you don't
know I can't inform you."</p>
<p>"Why not?" said Ann; but Shaggy paid no attention to the question.</p>
<p>This end of the Tube had a silver rim and around it was a gold railing
to which was attached a sign that read.</p>
<p class="center">"IF YOU ARE OUT, STAY THERE.<br />
IF YOU ARE IN, DON'T COME OUT."</p>
<p>On a little silver plate just inside the Tube was engraved the words:</p>
<p class="center">"Burrowed and built by <br />
Hiergargo the Magician, <br />
In the Year of the World <br />
1 9 6 2 5 4 7 8 <br />
For his own exclusive uses."</p>
<p>"He was some builder, I must say," remarked Betsy, when she had read
the inscription; "but if he had known about that star I guess he'd
have spent his time playing solitaire."</p>
<p>"Well, what are we waiting for?" inquired Shaggy, who was impatient to
start.</p>
<p>"Quox," replied Tubekins. "But I think I hear him coming."</p>
<p>"Is the young dragon invisible?" asked Ann, who had never seen a live
dragon and was a little fearful of meeting one.</p>
<p>"No, indeed," replied the King of the Tube. "You'll see him in a
minute; but before you part company I'm sure you'll wish he was
invisible."</p>
<p>"Is he dangerous, then?" questioned Files.</p>
<p>"Not at all. But Quox tires me dreadfully," said Tubekins, "and I
prefer his room to his company."</p>
<p>At that instant a scraping sound was heard, drawing nearer and nearer
until from between two big bushes appeared a huge dragon, who
approached the party, nodded his head and said: "Good morning."</p>
<p>Had Quox been at all bashful I am sure he would have felt
uncomfortable at the astonished stare of every eye in the
group—except Tubekins, of course, who was not astonished because he
had seen Quox so often.</p>
<p>Betsy had thought a "young" dragon must be a small dragon, yet here
was one so enormous that the girl decided he must be full grown, if
not overgrown. His body was a lovely sky-blue in color and it was
thickly set with glittering silver scales, each one as big as a
serving-tray. Around his neck was a pink ribbon with a bow just under
his left ear, and below the ribbon appeared a chain of pearls to which
was attached a golden locket about as large around as the end of a
bass drum. This locket was set with many large and beautiful jewels.</p>
<p>The head and face of Quox were not especially ugly, when you consider
that he was a dragon; but his eyes were so large that it took him a
long time to wink and his teeth seemed very sharp and terrible when
they showed, which they did whenever the beast smiled. Also his
nostrils were quite large and wide, and those who stood near him were
liable to smell brimstone—especially when he breathed out fire, as it
is the nature of dragons to do. To the end of his long tail was
attached a big electric light.</p>
<p>Perhaps the most singular thing about the dragon's appearance at this
time was the fact that he had a row of seats attached to his back, one
seat for each member of the party. These seats were double, with
curved backs, so that two could sit in them, and there were twelve of
these double seats, all strapped firmly around the dragon's thick body
and placed one behind the other, in a row that extended from his
shoulders nearly to his tail.</p>
<p>"Aha!" exclaimed Tubekins; "I see that Tititi-Hoochoo has transformed
Quox into a carryall."</p>
<p>"I'm glad of that," said Betsy. "I hope, Mr. Dragon, you won't mind
our riding on your back."</p>
<p>"Not a bit," replied Quox. "I'm in disgrace just now, you know, and
the only way to redeem my good name is to obey the orders of the
Jinjin. If he makes me a beast of burden, it is only a part of my
punishment, and I must bear it like a dragon. I don't blame you people
at all, and I hope you'll enjoy the ride. Hop on, please. All aboard
for the other side of the world!"</p>
<p>Silently they took their places. Hank sat in the front seat with
Betsy, so that he could rest his front hoofs upon the dragon's head.
Behind them were Shaggy and Polychrome, then Files and the Princess,
and Queen Ann and Tik-Tok. The officers rode in the rear seats. When
all had mounted to their places the dragon looked very like one of
those sightseeing wagons so common in big cities—only he had legs
instead of wheels.</p>
<p>"All ready?" asked Quox, and when they said they were he crawled to
the mouth of the Tube and put his head in.</p>
<p>"Good-bye, and good luck to you!" called Tubekins; but no one thought
to reply, because just then the dragon slid his great body into the
Tube and the journey to the other side of the world had begun.</p>
<p>At first they went so fast that they could scarcely catch their
breaths, but presently Quox slowed up and said with a sort of cackling
laugh:</p>
<p>"My scales! but that is some tumble. I think I shall take it easy and
fall slower, or I'm likely to get dizzy. Is it very far to the other
side of the world?"</p>
<p>"Haven't you ever been through this Tube before?" inquired Shaggy.</p>
<p>"Never. Nor has anyone else in our country; at least, not since I was
born."</p>
<p>"How long ago was that?" asked Betsy.</p>
<p>"That I was born? Oh, not very long ago. I'm only a mere child. If I
had not been sent on this journey, I would have celebrated my three
thousand and fifty-sixth birthday next Thursday. Mother was going to
make me a birthday cake with three thousand and fifty-six candles on
it; but now, of course, there will be no celebration, for I fear I
shall not get home in time for it."</p>
<p>"Three thousand and fifty-six years!" cried Betsy. "Why, I had no idea
anything could live that long!"</p>
<p>"My respected Ancestor, whom I would call a stupid old humbug if I had
not reformed, is so old that I am a mere baby compared with him," said
Quox. "He dates from the beginning of the world, and insists on
telling us stories of things that happened fifty thousand years ago,
which are of no interest at all to youngsters like me. In fact,
Grandpa isn't up to date. He lives altogether in the past, so I can't
see any good reason for his being alive to-day.... Are you people able
to see your way, or shall I turn on more light?"</p>
<p>"Oh, we can see very nicely, thank you; only there's nothing to see
but ourselves," answered Betsy.</p>
<p>This was true. The dragon's big eyes were like headlights on an
automobile and illuminated the Tube far ahead of them. Also he curled
his tail upward so that the electric light on the end of it enabled
them to see one another quite clearly. But the Tube itself was only
dark metal, smooth as glass but exactly the same from one of its ends
to the other. Therefore there was no scenery of interest to beguile
the journey.</p>
<p>They were now falling so gently that the trip was proving entirely
comfortable, as the Jinjin had promised it would be; but this meant a
longer journey and the only way they could make time pass was to
engage in conversation. The dragon seemed a willing and persistent
talker and he was of so much interest to them that they encouraged him
to chatter. His voice was a little gruff but not unpleasant when one
became used to it.</p>
<p>"My only fear," said he presently, "is that this constant sliding over
the surface of the Tube will dull my claws. You see, this hole isn't
straight down, but on a steep slant, and so instead of tumbling freely
through the air I must skate along the Tube. Fortunately, there is a
file in my tool-kit, and if my claws get dull they can be sharpened
again."</p>
<p>"Why do you want sharp claws?" asked Betsy.</p>
<p>"They are my natural weapons, and you must not forget that I have been
sent to conquer Ruggedo."</p>
<p>"Oh, you needn't mind about that," remarked Queen Ann, in her most
haughty manner; "for when we get to Ruggedo I and my invincible Army
can conquer him without your assistance."</p>
<p>"Very good," returned the dragon, cheerfully. "That will save me a lot
of bother—if you succeed. But I think I shall file my claws, just the
same."</p>
<p>He gave a long sigh, as he said this, and a sheet of flame, several
feet in length, shot from his mouth. Betsy shuddered and Hank said
"Hee-haw!" while some of the officers screamed in terror. But the
dragon did not notice that he had done anything unusual.</p>
<p>"Is there fire inside of you?" asked Shaggy.</p>
<p>"Of course," answered Quox. "What sort of a dragon would I be if my
fire went out?"</p>
<p>"What keeps it going?" Betsy inquired.</p>
<p>"I've no idea. I only know it's there," said Quox. "The fire keeps me
alive and enables me to move; also to think and speak."</p>
<p>"Ah! You are ver-y much like my-self," said Tik-Tok. "The on-ly
dif-fer-ence is that I move by clock-work, while you move by fire."</p>
<p>"I don't see a particle of likeness between us, I must confess,"
retorted Quox, gruffly. "You are not a live thing; you're a dummy."</p>
<p>"But I can do things, you must ad-mit," said Tik-Tok.</p>
<p>"Yes, when you are wound up," sneered the dragon. "But if you run
down, you are helpless."</p>
<p>"What would happen to you, Quox, if you ran out of gasoline?" inquired
Shaggy, who did not like this attack upon his friend.</p>
<p>"I don't use gasoline."</p>
<p>"Well, suppose you ran out of fire."</p>
<p>"What's the use of supposing that?" asked Quox. "My
great-great-great-grandfather has lived since the world began, and he
has never once run out of fire to keep him going. But I will confide
to you that as he gets older he shows more smoke and less fire. As for
Tik-Tok, he's well enough in his way, but he's merely copper. And the
Metal Monarch knows copper through and through. I wouldn't be
surprised if Ruggedo melted Tik-Tok in one of his furnaces and made
copper pennies of him."</p>
<p>"In that case, I would still keep going," remarked Tik-Tok, calmly.</p>
<p>"Pennies do," said Betsy regretfully.</p>
<p>"This is all nonsense," said the Queen, with irritation. "Tik-Tok is
my great Army—all but the officers—and I believe he will be able to
conquer Ruggedo with ease. What do you think, Polychrome?"</p>
<p>"You might let him try," answered the Rainbow's Daughter, with her
sweet ringing laugh, that sounded like the tinkling of tiny bells.
"And if Tik-Tok fails, you have still the big fire-breathing dragon to
fall back on."</p>
<p>"Ah!" said the dragon, another sheet of flame gushing from his mouth
and nostrils; "it's a wise little girl, this Polychrome. Anyone would
know she is a fairy."</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<h2><a name="CH14" id="CH14">Chapter Fourteen</a></h2>
<h3>The Long-Eared Hearer Learns by Listening</h3>
<p>During this time Ruggedo, the Metal Monarch and King of the Nomes, was
trying to amuse himself in his splendid jeweled cavern. It was hard
work for Ruggedo to find amusement to-day, for all the nomes were
behaving well and there was no one to scold or to punish. The King had
thrown his sceptre at Kaliko six times, without hitting him once. Not
that Kaliko had done anything wrong. On the contrary, he had obeyed
the King in every way but one: he would not stand still, when
commanded to do so, and let the heavy sceptre strike him.</p>
<p>We can hardly blame Kaliko for this, and even the cruel Ruggedo
forgave him; for he knew very well that if he mashed his Royal
Chamberlain he could never find another so intelligent and obedient.
Kaliko could make the nomes work when their King could not, for the
nomes hated Ruggedo and there were so many thousands of the quaint
little underground people that they could easily have rebelled and
defied the King had they dared to do so. Sometimes, when Ruggedo
abused them worse than usual, they grew sullen and threw down their
hammers and picks. Then, however hard the King scolded or whipped
them, they would not work until Kaliko came and begged them to. For
Kaliko was one of themselves and was as much abused by the King as any
nome in the vast series of caverns.</p>
<p>But to-day all the little people were working industriously at their
tasks and Ruggedo, having nothing to do, was greatly bored. He sent
for the Long-Eared Hearer and asked him to listen carefully and report
what was going on in the big world.</p>
<p>"It seems," said the Hearer, after listening for awhile, "that the
women in America have clubs."</p>
<p>"Are there spikes in them?" asked Ruggedo, yawning.</p>
<p>"I cannot hear any spikes, Your Majesty," was the reply.</p>
<p>"Then their clubs are not as good as my sceptre. What else do you
hear?"</p>
<p>"There's a war."</p>
<p>"Bah! there's always a war. What else?"</p>
<p>For a time the Hearer was silent, bending forward and spreading out
his big ears to catch the slightest sound. Then suddenly he said:</p>
<p>"Here is an interesting thing, Your Majesty. These people are arguing
as to who shall conquer the Metal Monarch, seize his treasure and
drive him from his dominions."</p>
<p>"What people?" demanded Ruggedo, sitting up straight in his throne.</p>
<p>"The ones you threw down the Hollow Tube."</p>
<p>"Where are they now?"</p>
<p>"In the same Tube, and coming back this way," said the Hearer.</p>
<p>Ruggedo got out of his throne and began to pace up and down the
cavern.</p>
<p>"I wonder what can be done to stop them," he mused.</p>
<p>"Well," said the Hearer, "if you could turn the Tube upside down, they
would be falling the other way, Your Majesty."</p>
<p>Ruggedo glared at him wickedly, for it was impossible to turn the Tube
upside down and he believed the Hearer was slyly poking fun at him.
Presently he asked:</p>
<p>"How far away are those people now?"</p>
<p>"About nine thousand three hundred and six miles, seventeen furlongs,
eight feet and four inches—as nearly as I can judge from the sound of
their voices," replied the Hearer.</p>
<p>"Aha! Then it will be some time before they arrive," said Ruggedo,
"and when they get here I shall be ready to receive them."</p>
<p>He rushed to his gong and pounded upon it so fiercely that Kaliko came
bounding into the cavern with one shoe off and one shoe on, for he was
just dressing himself after a swim in the hot bubbling lake of the
Underground Kingdom.</p>
<p>"Kaliko, those invaders whom we threw down the Tube are coming back
again!" he exclaimed.</p>
<p>"I thought they would," said the Royal Chamberlain, pulling on the
other shoe. "Tititi-Hoochoo would not allow them to remain in his
kingdom, of course, and so I've been expecting them back for some
time. That was a very foolish action of yours, Rug."</p>
<p>"What, to throw them down the Tube?"</p>
<p>"Yes. Tititi-Hoochoo has forbidden us to throw even rubbish into the
Tube."</p>
<p>"Pooh! what do I care for the Jinjin?" asked Ruggedo scornfully. "He
never leaves his own kingdom, which is on the other side of the
world."</p>
<p>"True; but he might send some one through the Tube to punish you,"
suggested Kaliko.</p>
<p>"I'd like to see him do it! Who could conquer my thousands of nomes?"</p>
<p>"Why, they've been conquered before, if I remember aright," answered
Kaliko with a grin. "Once I saw you running from a little girl named
Dorothy, and her friends, as if you were really afraid."</p>
<p>"Well, I was afraid, that time," admitted the Nome King, with a deep
sigh, "for Dorothy had a Yellow Hen that laid eggs!"</p>
<p>The King shuddered as he said "eggs," and Kaliko also shuddered, and
so did the Long-Eared Hearer; for eggs are the only things that the
nomes greatly dread. The reason for this is that eggs belong on the
earth's surface, where birds and fowl of all sorts live, and there is
something about a hen's egg, especially, that fills a nome with
horror. If by chance the inside of an egg touches one of these
underground people, he withers up and blows away and that is the end
of him—unless he manages quickly to speak a magical word which only a
few of the nomes know. Therefore Ruggedo and his followers had very
good cause to shudder at the mere mention of eggs.</p>
<p>"But Dorothy," said the King, "is not with this band of invaders; nor
is the Yellow Hen. As for Tititi-Hoochoo, he has no means of knowing
that we are afraid of eggs."</p>
<p>"You mustn't be too sure of that," Kaliko warned him. "Tititi-Hoochoo
knows a great many things, being a fairy, and his powers are far
superior to any we can boast."</p>
<p>Ruggedo shrugged impatiently and turned to the Hearer.</p>
<p>"Listen," said he, "and tell me if you hear any eggs coming through
the Tube."</p>
<p>The Long-Eared one listened and then shook his head. But Kaliko
laughed at the King.</p>
<p>"No one can hear an egg, Your Majesty," said he. "The only way to
discover the truth is to look through the Magic Spyglass."</p>
<p>"That's it!" cried the King. "Why didn't I think of it before? Look at
once, Kaliko!"</p>
<p>So Kaliko went to the Spyglass and by uttering a mumbled charm he
caused the other end of it to twist around, so that it pointed down
the opening of the Tube. Then he put his eye to the glass and was able
to gaze along all the turns and windings of the Magic Spyglass and
then deep into the Tube, to where our friends were at that time
falling.</p>
<p>"Dear me!" he exclaimed. "Here comes a dragon."</p>
<p>"A big one?" asked Ruggedo.</p>
<p>"A monster. He has an electric light on the end of his tail, so I can
see him very plainly. And the other people are all riding upon his
back."</p>
<p>"How about the eggs?" inquired the King.</p>
<p>Kaliko looked again.</p>
<p>"I can see no eggs at all," said he; "but I imagine that the dragon is
as dangerous as eggs. Probably Tititi-Hoochoo has sent him here to
punish you for dropping those strangers into the Forbidden Tube. I
warned you not to do it, Your Majesty."</p>
<p>This news made the Nome King anxious. For a few minutes he paced up
and down, stroking his long beard and thinking with all his might.
After this he turned to Kaliko and said:</p>
<p>"All the harm a dragon can do is to scratch with his claws and bite
with his teeth."</p>
<p>"That is not all, but it's quite enough," returned Kaliko earnestly.
"On the other hand, no one can hurt a dragon, because he's the
toughest creature alive. One flop of his huge tail could smash a
hundred nomes to pancakes, and with teeth and claws he could tear even
you or me into small bits, so that it would be almost impossible to
put us together again. Once, a few hundred years ago, while wandering
through some deserted caverns, I came upon a small piece of a nome
lying on the rocky floor. I asked the piece of nome what had happened
to it. Fortunately the mouth was a part of this piece—the mouth and
the left eye—so it was able to tell me that a fierce dragon was the
cause. It had attacked the poor nome and scattered him in every
direction, and as there was no friend near to collect his pieces and
put him together, they had been separated for a great many years. So
you see, Your Majesty, it is not in good taste to sneer at a dragon."</p>
<p>The King had listened attentively to Kaliko. Said he:</p>
<p>"It will only be necessary to chain this dragon which Tititi-Hoochoo
has sent here, in order to prevent his reaching us with his claws and
teeth."</p>
<p>"He also breathes flames," Kaliko reminded him.</p>
<p>"My nomes are not afraid of fire, nor am I," said Ruggedo.</p>
<p>"Well, how about the Army of Oogaboo?"</p>
<p>"Sixteen cowardly officers and Tik-Tok! Why, I could defeat them
single-handed; but I won't try to. I'll summon my army of nomes to
drive the invaders out of my territory, and if we catch any of them I
intend to stick needles into them until they hop with pain."</p>
<p>"I hope you won't hurt any of the girls," said Kaliko.</p>
<p>"I'll hurt 'em all!" roared the angry Metal Monarch. "And that braying
Mule I'll make into hoof-soup, and feed it to my nomes, that it may
add to their strength."</p>
<p>"Why not be good to the strangers and release your prisoner, the
Shaggy Man's brother?" suggested Kaliko.</p>
<p>"Never!"</p>
<p>"It may save you a lot of annoyance. And you don't want the Ugly One."</p>
<p>"I don't want him; that's true. But I won't allow anybody to order me
around. I'm King of the Nomes and I'm the Metal Monarch, and I shall
do as I please and what I please and when I please!"</p>
<p>With this speech Ruggedo threw his sceptre at Kaliko's head, aiming it
so well that the Royal Chamberlain had to fall flat upon the floor in
order to escape it. But the Hearer did not see the sceptre coming and
it swept past his head so closely that it broke off the tip of one of
his long ears. He gave a dreadful yell that quite startled Ruggedo,
and the King was sorry for the accident because those long ears of the
Hearer were really valuable to him.</p>
<p>So the Nome King forgot to be angry with Kaliko and ordered his
Chamberlain to summon General Guph and the army of nomes and have them
properly armed. They were then to march to the mouth of the Tube,
where they could seize the travelers as soon as they appeared.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<h2><a name="CH15" id="CH15">Chapter Fifteen</a></h2>
<h3>The Dragon Defies Danger</h3>
<p>Although the journey through the Tube was longer, this time, than
before, it was so much more comfortable that none of our friends
minded it at all. They talked together most of the time and as they
found the dragon good-natured and fond of the sound of his own voice
they soon became well acquainted with him and accepted him as a
companion.</p>
<p>"You see," said Shaggy, in his frank way, "Quox is on our side, and
therefore the dragon is a good fellow. If he happened to be an enemy,
instead of a friend, I am sure I should dislike him very much, for his
breath smells of brimstone, he is very conceited and he is so strong
and fierce that he would prove a dangerous foe."</p>
<p>"Yes, indeed," returned Quox, who had listened to this speech with
pleasure; "I suppose I am about as terrible as any living thing. I am
glad you find me conceited, for that proves I know my good qualities.
As for my breath smelling of brimstone, I really can't help it, and I
once met a man whose breath smelled of onions, which I consider far
worse."</p>
<p>"I don't," said Betsy; "I love onions."</p>
<p>"And I love brimstone," declared the dragon, "so don't let us quarrel
over one another's peculiarities."</p>
<p>Saying this, he breathed a long breath and shot a flame fifty feet
from his mouth. The brimstone made Betsy cough, but she remembered
about the onions and said nothing.</p>
<p>They had no idea how far they had gone through the center of the
earth, nor when to expect the trip to end. At one time the little girl
remarked:</p>
<p>"I wonder when we'll reach the bottom of this hole. And isn't it
funny, Shaggy Man, that what is the bottom to us now, was the top when
we fell the other way?"</p>
<p>"What puzzles me," said Files, "is that we are able to fall both
ways."</p>
<p>"That," announced Tik-Tok, "is be-cause the world is round."</p>
<p>"Exactly," responded Shaggy. "The machinery in your head is in fine
working order, Tik-Tok. You know, Betsy, that there is such a thing as
the Attraction of Gravitation, which draws everything toward the
center of the earth. That is why we fall out of bed, and why
everything clings to the surface of the earth."</p>
<p>"Then why doesn't everyone go on down to the center of the earth?"
inquired the little girl.</p>
<p>"I was afraid you were going to ask me that," replied Shaggy in a sad
tone. "The reason, my dear, is that the earth is so solid that other
solid things can't get through it. But when there's a hole, as there
is in this case, we drop right down to the center of the world."</p>
<p>"Why don't we stop there?" asked Betsy.</p>
<p>"Because we go so fast that we acquire speed enough to carry us right
up to the other end."</p>
<p>"I don't understand that, and it makes my head ache to try to figure
it out," she said after some thought. "One thing draws us to the
center and another thing pushes us away from it. But—"</p>
<p>"Don't ask me why, please," interrupted the Shaggy Man. "If you can't
understand it, let it go at that."</p>
<p>"Do you understand it?" she inquired.</p>
<p>"All the magic isn't in fairyland," he said gravely. "There's lots of
magic in all Nature, and you may see it as well in the United States,
where you and I once lived, as you can here."</p>
<p>"I never did," she replied.</p>
<p>"Because you were so used to it all that you didn't realize it was
magic. Is anything more wonderful than to see a flower grow and
blossom, or to get light out of the electricity in the air? The cows
that manufacture milk for us must have machinery fully as remarkable
as that in Tik-Tok's copper body, and perhaps you've noticed that—"</p>
<p>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 into the open air a hundred feet or more and sailed so far
away from the slanting hole that when he landed it was on the peak of
a mountain and just over the entrance to the many underground caverns
of the Nome King.</p>
<p>Some of the officers tumbled off their seats when Quox struck the
ground, but most of the dragon's passengers only felt a slight jar.
All were glad to be on solid earth again and they at once dismounted
and began to look about them. Queerly enough, as soon as they had left
the dragon, the seats that were strapped to the monster's back
disappeared, and this probably happened because there was no further
use for them and because Quox looked far more dignified in just his
silver scales. Of course he still wore the forty yards of ribbon
around his neck, as well as the great locket, but these only made him
look "dressed up," as Betsy remarked.</p>
<p>Now the army of nomes had gathered thickly around the mouth of the
Tube, in order to be ready to capture the band of invaders as soon as
they popped out. There were, indeed, hundreds of nomes assembled, and
they were led by Guph, their most famous General. But they did not
expect the dragon to fly so high, and he shot out of the Tube so
suddenly that it took them by surprise. When the nomes had rubbed the
astonishment out of their eyes and regained their wits, they
discovered the dragon quietly seated on the mountainside far above
their heads, while the other strangers were standing in a group and
calmly looking down upon them.</p>
<p>General Guph was very angry at the escape, which was no one's fault
but his own.</p>
<p>"Come down here and be captured!" he shouted, waving his sword at
them.</p>
<p>"Come up here and capture us—if you dare!" replied Queen Ann, who was
winding up the clockwork of her Private Soldier, so he could fight
more briskly.</p>
<p>Guph's first answer was a roar of rage at the defiance; then he turned
and issued a command to his nomes. These were all armed with sharp
spears and with one accord they raised these spears and threw them
straight at their foes, so that they rushed through the air in a
perfect cloud of flying weapons.</p>
<p>Some damage might have been done had not the dragon quickly crawled
before the others, his body being so big that it shielded every one of
them, including Hank. The spears rattled against the silver scales of
Quox and then fell harmlessly to the ground. They were magic spears,
of course, and all straightway bounded back into the hands of those
who had thrown them, but even Guph could see that it was useless to
repeat the attack.</p>
<p>It was now Queen Ann's turn to attack, so the Generals yelled
"For—ward march!" and the Colonels and Majors and Captains repeated
the command and the valiant Army of Oogaboo, which seemed to be
composed mainly of Tik-Tok, marched forward in single column toward
the nomes, while Betsy and Polychrome cheered and Hank gave a loud
"Hee-haw!" and Shaggy shouted "Hooray!" and Queen Ann screamed: "At
'em, Tik-Tok—at 'em!"</p>
<p>The nomes did not await the Clockwork Man's attack but in a twinkling
disappeared into the underground caverns. They made a great mistake in
being so hasty, for Tik-Tok had not taken a dozen steps before he
stubbed his copper toe on a rock and fell flat to the ground, where he
cried: "Pick me up! Pick me up! Pick me up!" until Shaggy and Files
ran forward and raised him to his feet again.</p>
<p>The dragon chuckled softly to himself as he scratched his left ear
with his hind claw, but no one was paying much attention to Quox just
then.</p>
<p>It was evident to Ann and her officers that there could be no fighting
unless the enemy was present, and in order to find the enemy they must
boldly enter the underground Kingdom of the nomes. So bold a step
demanded a council of war.</p>
<p>"Don't you think I'd better drop in on Ruggedo and obey the orders of
the Jinjin?" asked Quox.</p>
<p>"By no means!" returned Queen Ann. "We have 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."</p>
<p>"That seems to me something of a job," said the dragon, closing his
eyes sleepily. "But go ahead, if you like, and I'll wait here for you.
Don't be in any hurry on my account. To one who lives thousands of
years the delay of a few days means nothing at all, and I shall
probably sleep until the time comes for me to act."</p>
<p>Ann was provoked at this speech.</p>
<p>"You may as well go back to Tititi-Hoochoo now," she said, "for the
Nome King is as good as conquered already."</p>
<p>But Quox shook his head. "No," said he; "I'll wait."</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<h2><a name="CH16" id="CH16">Chapter Sixteen</a></h2>
<h3>The Naughty Nome</h3>
<p>Shaggy Man had said nothing during the conversation between Queen Ann
and Quox, for the simple reason that he did not consider the matter
worth an argument. Safe within his pocket reposed the Love Magnet,
which had never failed to win every heart. The nomes, he knew, were
not like the heartless Roses and therefore could be won to his side as
soon as he exhibited the magic talisman.</p>
<p>Shaggy's chief anxiety had been to reach Ruggedo's Kingdom and now
that the entrance lay before him he was confident he would be able to
rescue his lost brother. Let Ann and the dragon quarrel as to who
should conquer the nomes, if they liked; Shaggy would let them try,
and if they failed he had the means of conquest in his own pocket.</p>
<p>But Ann was positive she could not 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 to do and what to
say.</p>
<p>"Please do not shoot your gun except as a last resort," she added,
"for I do not wish to be cruel or to shed any blood—unless it is
absolutely necessary."</p>
<p>"All right," replied Tik-Tok; "but I do not think Rug-ge-do would
bleed if I filled him full of holes and put him in a ci-der press."</p>
<p>Then the officers fell in line, the four Generals abreast and then the
four Colonels and the four Majors and the four Captains. They drew
their glittering swords and commanded Tik-Tok to march, which he did.
Twice he fell down, being tripped by the rough rocks, but when he
struck the smooth path he got along better. Into the gloomy mouth of
the cavern entrance he stepped without hesitation, and after him
proudly pranced the officers and Queen Ann. The others held back a
little, waiting to see what would happen.</p>
<p>Of course the Nome King knew they were coming and was prepared to
receive them. Just within the rocky passage that led to the jeweled
throne-room was a deep pit, which was usually covered. Ruggedo had
ordered the cover removed and it now stood open, scarcely visible in
the gloom.</p>
<p>The pit was so large around that it nearly filled the passage and
there was barely room for one to walk around it by pressing close to
the rock walls. This Tik-Tok did, for his copper eyes saw the pit
clearly and he avoided it; but the officers marched straight into the
hole and tumbled in a heap on the bottom. An instant later Queen Ann
also walked into the pit, for she had her chin in the air and was
careless where she placed her feet. Then one of the nomes pulled a
lever which replaced the cover on the pit and made the officers of
Oogaboo and their Queen fast prisoners.</p>
<p>As for Tik-Tok, he kept straight on to the cavern where Ruggedo sat in
his throne and there he faced the Nome King and said:</p>
<p>"I here-by con-quer you in the name of Queen Ann So-forth of
Oo-ga-boo, whose Ar-my I am, and I de-clare that you are her
pris-on-er!"</p>
<p>Ruggedo laughed at him.</p>
<p>"Where is this famous Queen?" he asked.</p>
<p>"She'll be here in a min-ute," said Tik-Tok. "Per-haps she stopped to
tie her shoe-string."</p>
<p>"Now, see here, Tik-Tok," began the Nome King, in a stern voice, "I've
had enough of this nonsense. Your Queen and her officers are all
prisoners, having fallen into my power, so perhaps you'll tell me what
you mean to do."</p>
<p>"My or-ders were to con-quer you," replied Tik-Tok, "and my
ma-chin-er-y has done the best it knows how to car-ry out those
or-ders."</p>
<p>Ruggedo pounded on his gong and Kaliko appeared, followed closely by
General Guph.</p>
<p>"Take this copper man into the shops and set him to work hammering
gold," commanded the King. "Being run by machinery he ought to be a
steady worker. He ought never to have been made, but since he exists I
shall hereafter put him to good use."</p>
<p>"If you try to cap-ture me," said Tik-Tok, "I shall fight."</p>
<p>"Don't do that!" exclaimed General Guph, earnestly, "for it will be
useless to resist and you might hurt some one."</p>
<p>But Tik-Tok raised his gun and took aim and not knowing what damage
the gun might do the nomes were afraid to face it.</p>
<p>While he was thus defying the Nome King and his high officials, Betsy
Bobbin rode calmly into the royal cavern, seated upon the back of Hank
the mule. The little girl had grown tired of waiting for "something to
happen" and so had come to see if Ruggedo had been conquered.</p>
<p>"Nails and nuggets!" roared the King; "how dare you bring that beast
here and enter my presence unannounced?"</p>
<p>"There wasn't anybody to announce me," replied Betsy. "I guess your
folks were all busy. Are you conquered yet?"</p>
<p>"No!" shouted the King, almost beside himself with rage.</p>
<p>"Then please give me something to eat, for I'm awful hungry," said the
girl. "You see, this conquering business is a good deal like waiting
for a circus parade; it takes a long time to get around and don't
amount to much anyhow."</p>
<p>The nomes were so much astonished at this speech that for a time they
could only glare at her silently, not finding words to reply. The King
finally recovered the use of his tongue and said:</p>
<p>"Earth-crawler! this insolence to my majesty shall be your
death-warrant. You are an ordinary mortal, and to stop a mortal from
living is so easy a thing to do that I will not keep you waiting half
so long as you did for my conquest."</p>
<p>"I'd rather you wouldn't stop me from living," remarked Betsy, getting
off Hank's back and standing beside him. "And it would be a pretty
cheap King who killed a visitor while she was hungry. If you'll give
me something to eat, I'll talk this killing business over with you
afterward; only, I warn you now that I don't approve of it, and never
will."</p>
<p>Her coolness and lack of fear impressed the Nome King, although he
bore an intense hatred toward all mortals.</p>
<p>"What do you wish to eat?" he asked gruffly.</p>
<p>"Oh, a ham-sandwich would do, or perhaps a couple of hard-boiled
eggs—"</p>
<p>"Eggs!" shrieked the three nomes who were present, shuddering till
their teeth chattered.</p>
<p>"What's the matter?" asked Betsy wonderingly. "Are eggs as high here
as they are at home?"</p>
<p>"Guph," said the King in an agitated voice, turning to his General,
"let us destroy this rash mortal at once! Seize her and take her to
the Slimy Cave and lock her in."</p>
<p>Guph glanced at Tik-Tok, whose gun was still pointed, but just then
Kaliko stole softly behind the copper man and kicked his knee-joints
so that they suddenly bent forward and tumbled Tik-Tok to the floor,
his gun falling from his grasp.</p>
<p>Then Guph, seeing Tik-Tok helpless, made a grab at Betsy. At the same
time Hank's heels shot out and caught the General just where his belt
was buckled. He rose into the air swift as a cannon-ball, struck the
Nome King fairly and flattened his Majesty against the wall of rock on
the opposite side of the cavern. Together they fell to the floor in a
dazed and crumpled condition, seeing which Kaliko whispered to Betsy:</p>
<p>"Come with me—quick!—and I will save you."</p>
<p>She looked into Kaliko's face inquiringly and thought he seemed honest
and good-natured, so she decided to follow him. He led her and the
mule through several passages and into a small cavern very nicely and
comfortably furnished.</p>
<p>"This is my own room," said he, "but you are quite welcome to use it.
Wait here a minute and I'll get you something to eat."</p>
<p>When Kaliko returned he brought a tray containing some broiled
mushrooms, a loaf of mineral bread and some petroleum-butter. The
butter Betsy could not eat, but the bread was good and the mushrooms
delicious.</p>
<p>"Here's the door key," said Kaliko, "and you'd better lock yourself
in."</p>
<p>"Won't you let Polychrome and the Rose Princess come here, too?" she
asked.</p>
<p>"I'll see. Where are they?"</p>
<p>"I don't know. I left them outside," said Betsy.</p>
<p>"Well, if you hear three raps on the door, open it," said Kaliko; "but
don't let anyone in unless they give the three raps."</p>
<p>"All right," promised Betsy, and when Kaliko left the cosy cavern she
closed and locked the door.</p>
<p>In the meantime Ann and her officers, finding themselves prisoners in
the pit, had shouted and screamed until they were tired out, but no
one had come to their assistance. It was very dark and damp in the pit
and they could not climb out because the walls were higher than their
heads and the cover was on. The Queen was first angry and then annoyed
and then discouraged; but the officers were only afraid. Every one of
the poor fellows heartily wished he was back in Oogaboo caring for his
orchard, and some were so unhappy that they began to reproach Ann for
causing them all this trouble and danger.</p>
<p>Finally the Queen sat down on the bottom of the pit and leaned her
back against the wall. By good luck her sharp elbow touched a secret
spring in the wall and a big flat rock swung inward. Ann fell over
backward, but the next instant she jumped up and cried to the others:</p>
<p>"A passage! A passage! Follow me, my brave men, and we may yet
escape."</p>
<p>Then she began to crawl through the passage, which was as dark and
dank as the pit, and the officers followed her in single file. They
crawled, and they crawled, and they kept on crawling, for the passage
was not big enough to allow them to stand upright. It turned this way
and twisted that, sometimes like a corkscrew and sometimes zigzag, but
seldom ran for long in a straight line.</p>
<p>"It will never end—never!" moaned the officers, who were rubbing all
the skin off their knees on the rough rocks.</p>
<p>"It must end," retorted Ann courageously, "or it never would have been
made. We don't know where it will lead us to, but any place is better
than that loathsome pit."</p>
<p>So she crawled on, and the officers crawled on, and while they were
crawling through this awful underground passage Polychrome and Shaggy
and Files and the Rose Princess, who were standing outside the
entrance to Ruggedo's domains, were wondering what had become of them.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<h2><a name="CH17" id="CH17">Chapter Seventeen</a></h2>
<h3>A Tragic Transformation</h3>
<p>"Don't let us worry," said Shaggy to his companions, "for it may take
the Queen some time to conquer the Metal Monarch, as Tik-Tok has to do
everything in his slow, mechanical way."</p>
<p>"Do you suppose they are likely to fail?" asked the Rose Princess.</p>
<p>"I do, indeed," replied Shaggy. "This Nome King is really a powerful
fellow and has a legion of nomes to assist him, whereas our bold Queen
commands a Clockwork Man and a band of faint-hearted officers."</p>
<p>"She ought to have let Quox do the conquering," said Polychrome,
dancing lightly upon a point of rock and fluttering her beautiful
draperies. "But perhaps the dragon was wise to let her go first, for
when she fails to conquer Ruggedo she may become more modest in her
ambitions."</p>
<p>"Where is the dragon now?" inquired Ozga.</p>
<p>"Up there on the rocks," replied Files. "Look, my dear; you may see
him from here. He said he would take a little nap while we were mixing
up with Ruggedo, and he added that after we had gotten into trouble he
would wake up and conquer the Nome King in a jiffy, as his master the
Jinjin has ordered him to do."</p>
<p>"Quox means well," said Shaggy, "but I do not think we shall need his
services; for just as soon as I am satisfied that Queen Ann and her
army have failed to conquer Ruggedo, I shall enter the caverns and
show the King my Love Magnet. That he cannot resist; therefore the
conquest will be made with ease."</p>
<p>This speech of Shaggy Man's was overheard by the Long-Eared Hearer,
who was at that moment standing by Ruggedo's side. For when the King
and Guph had recovered from Hank's kick and had picked themselves up,
their first act was to turn Tik-Tok on his back and put a heavy
diamond on top of him, so that he could not get up again. Then they
carefully put his gun in a corner of the cavern and the King sent Guph
to fetch the Long-Eared Hearer.</p>
<p>The Hearer was still angry at Ruggedo for breaking his ear, but he
acknowledged the Nome King to be his master and was ready to obey his
commands. Therefore he repeated Shaggy's speech to the King, who at
once realized that his Kingdom was in grave danger. For Ruggedo knew
of the Love Magnet and its powers and was horrified at the thought
that Shaggy might show him the magic talisman and turn all the hatred
in his heart into love. Ruggedo was proud of his hatred and abhorred
love of any sort.</p>
<p>"Really," said he, "I'd rather he conquered and lose my wealth and my
Kingdom than gaze at that awful Love Magnet. What can I do to prevent
the Shaggy Man from taking it out of his pocket?"</p>
<p>Kaliko returned to the cavern in time to overhear this question, and
being a loyal nome and eager to serve his King, he answered by saying:</p>
<p>"If we can manage to bind the Shaggy Man's arms, tight to his body, he
could not get the Love Magnet out of his pocket."</p>
<p>"True!" cried the King in delight at this easy solution of the
problem. "Get at once a dozen nomes, with ropes, and place them in the
passage where they can seize and bind Shaggy as soon as he enters."</p>
<p>This Kaliko did, and meanwhile the watchers outside the entrance were
growing more and more uneasy about their friends.</p>
<p>"I don't worry so much about the Oogaboo people," said Polychrome, who
had grown sober with waiting, and perhaps a little nervous, "for they
could not be killed, even though Ruggedo might cause them much
suffering and perhaps destroy them utterly. But we should not have
allowed Betsy and Hank to go alone into the caverns. The little girl
is mortal and possesses no magic powers whatever, so if Ruggedo
captures her she will be wholly at his mercy."</p>
<p>"That is indeed true," replied Shaggy. "I wouldn't like to have
anything happen to dear little Betsy, so I believe I'll go in right
away and put an end to all this worry."</p>
<p>"We may as well go with you," asserted Files, "for by means of the
Love Magnet, you can soon bring the Nome King to reason."</p>
<p>So it was decided to wait no longer. Shaggy walked through the
entrance first, and after him came the others. They had no thought of
danger to themselves, and Shaggy, who was going along with his hands
thrust into his pockets, was much surprised when a rope shot out from
the darkness and twined around his body, pinning down his arms so
securely that he could not even withdraw his hands from the pockets.
Then appeared several grinning nomes, who speedily tied knots in the
ropes and then led the prisoner along the passage to the cavern. No
attention was paid to the others, but Files and the Princess followed
on after Shaggy, determined not to desert their friend and hoping that
an opportunity might arise to rescue him.</p>
<p>As for Polychrome, as soon as she saw that trouble had overtaken
Shaggy she turned and ran lightly back through the passage and out of
the entrance. Then she easily leaped from rock to rock until she
paused beside the great dragon, who lay fast asleep.</p>
<p>"Wake up, Quox!" she cried. "It is time for you to act."</p>
<p>But Quox did not wake up. He lay as one in a trance, absolutely
motionless, with his enormous eyes tight closed. The eyelids had big
silver scales on them, like all the rest of his body.</p>
<p>Polychrome might have thought Quox was dead had she not known that
dragons do not die easily or had she not observed his huge body
swelling as he breathed. She picked up a piece of rock and pounded
against his eyelids with it, saying:</p>
<p>"Wake up, Quox—wake up!" But he would not waken.</p>
<p>"Dear me, how unfortunate!" sighed the lovely Rainbow's Daughter. "I
wonder what is the best and surest way to waken a dragon. All our
friends may be captured and destroyed while this great beast lies
asleep."</p>
<p>She walked around Quox two or three times, trying to discover some
tender place on his body where a thump or a punch might he felt; but
he lay extended along the rocks with his chin flat upon the ground and
his legs drawn underneath his body, and all that one could see was his
thick sky-blue skin—thicker than that of a rhinoceros—and his silver
scales.</p>
<p>Then, despairing at last of wakening the beast, and worried over the
fate of her friends, Polychrome again ran down to the entrance and
hurried along the passage into the Nome King's cavern.</p>
<p>Here she found Ruggedo lolling in his throne and smoking a long pipe.
Beside him stood General Guph and Kaliko, and ranged before the King
were the Rose Princess, Files and the Shaggy Man. Tik-Tok still lay
upon the floor, weighted down by the big diamond.</p>
<p>Ruggedo was now in a more contented frame of mind. One by one he had
met the invaders and easily captured them. The dreaded Love Magnet was
indeed in Shaggy's pocket, only a few feet away from the King, but
Shaggy was powerless to show it and unless Ruggedo's eyes beheld the
talisman it could not affect him. As for Betsy Bobbin and her mule, he
believed Kaliko had placed them in the Slimy Cave, while Ann and her
officers he thought safely imprisoned in the pit. Ruggedo had no fear
of Files or Ozga, but to be on the safe side he had ordered golden
handcuffs placed upon their wrists. These did not cause them any great
annoyance but prevented them from making an attack, had they been
inclined to do so.</p>
<p>The Nome King, thinking himself wholly master of the situation, was
laughing and jeering at his prisoners when Polychrome, exquisitely
beautiful and dancing like a ray of light, entered the cavern.</p>
<p>"Oho!" cried the King; "a Rainbow under ground, eh?" and then he
stared hard at Polychrome, and still harder, and then he sat up and
pulled the wrinkles out of his robe and arranged his whiskers. "On my
word," said he, "you are a very captivating creature; moreover, I
perceive you are a fairy."</p>
<p>"I am Polychrome, the Rainbow's Daughter," she said proudly.</p>
<p>"Well," replied Ruggedo, "I like you. The others I hate. I hate
everybody—but you! Wouldn't you like to live always in this beautiful
cavern, Polychrome? See! the jewels that stud the walls have every
tint and color of your Rainbow—and they are not so elusive. I'll have
fresh dewdrops gathered for your feasting every day and you shall be
Queen of all my nomes and pull Kaliko's nose whenever you like."</p>
<p>"No, thank you," laughed Polychrome. "My home is in the sky, and I'm
only on a visit to this solid, sordid earth. But tell me, Ruggedo, why
my friends have been wound with cords and bound with chains?"</p>
<p>"They threatened me," answered Ruggedo. "The fools did not know how
powerful I am."</p>
<p>"Then, since they are now helpless, why not release them and send them
back to the earth's surface?"</p>
<p>"Because I hate 'em and mean to make 'em suffer for their invasion.
But I'll make a bargain with you, sweet Polly. Remain here and live
with me and I'll set all these people free. You shall be my daughter
or my wife or my aunt or grandmother—whichever you like—only stay
here to brighten my gloomy kingdom and make me happy!"</p>
<p>Polychrome looked at him wonderingly. Then she turned to Shaggy and
asked:</p>
<p>"Are you sure he hasn't seen the Love Magnet?"</p>
<p>"I'm positive," answered Shaggy. "But you seem to be something of a
Love Magnet yourself, Polychrome."</p>
<p>She laughed again and said to Ruggedo: "Not even to rescue my friends
would I live in your kingdom. Nor could I endure for long the society
of such a wicked monster as you."</p>
<p>"You forget," retorted the King, scowling darkly, "that you also are
in my power."</p>
<p>"Not so, Ruggedo. The Rainbow's Daughter is beyond the reach of your
spite or malice."</p>
<p>"Seize her!" suddenly shouted the King, and General Guph sprang
forward to obey. Polychrome stood quite still, yet when Guph attempted
to clutch her his hands met in air, and now the Rainbow's Daughter was
in another part of the room, as smiling and composed as before.</p>
<p>Several times Guph endeavored to capture her and Ruggedo even came
down from his throne to assist his General; but never could they lay
hands upon the lovely sky fairy, who flitted here and there with the
swiftness of light and constantly defied them with her merry laughter
as she evaded their efforts.</p>
<p>So after a time they abandoned the chase and Ruggedo returned to his
throne and wiped the perspiration from his face with a finely-woven
handkerchief of cloth-of-gold.</p>
<p>"Well," said Polychrome, "what do you intend to do now?"</p>
<p>"I'm going to have some fun, to repay me for all my bother," replied
the Nome King. Then he said to Kaliko: "Summon the executioners."</p>
<p>Kaliko at once withdrew and presently returned with a score of nomes,
all of whom were nearly as evil looking as their hated master. They
bore great golden pincers, and prods of silver, and clamps and chains
and various wicked-looking instruments, all made of precious metals
and set with diamonds and rubies.</p>
<p>"Now, Pang," said Ruggedo, addressing the leader of the executioners,
"fetch the Army of Oogaboo and their Queen from the pit and torture
them here in my presence—as well as in the presence of their friends.
It will be great sport."</p>
<p>"I hear Your Majesty, and I obey Your Majesty," answered Pang, and
went with his nomes into the passage. In a few minutes he returned and
bowed to Ruggedo.</p>
<p>"They're all gone," said he.</p>
<p>"Gone!" exclaimed the Nome King. "Gone where?"</p>
<p>"They left no address, Your Majesty; but they are not in the pit."</p>
<p>"Picks and puddles!" roared the King; "who took the cover off?"</p>
<p>"No one," said Pang. "The cover was there, but the prisoners were not
under it."</p>
<p>"In that case," snarled the King, trying to control his
disappointment, "go to the Slimy Cave and fetch hither the girl and
the donkey. And while we are torturing them Kaliko must take a hundred
nomes and search for the escaped prisoners—the Queen of Oogaboo and
her officers. If he does not find them, I will torture Kaliko."</p>
<p>Kaliko went away looking sad and disturbed, for he knew the King was
cruel and unjust enough to carry out this threat. Pang and the
executioners also went away, in another direction, but when they came
back Betsy Bobbin was not with them, nor was Hank.</p>
<p>"There is no one in the Slimy Cave, Your Majesty," reported Pang.</p>
<p>"Jumping jellycakes!" screamed the King. "Another escape? Are you sure
you found the right cave?"</p>
<p>"There is but one Slimy Cave, and there is no one in it," returned
Pang positively.</p>
<p>Ruggedo was beginning to be alarmed as well as angry. However, these
disappointments but made him the more vindictive and he cast an evil
look at the other prisoners and said:</p>
<p>"Never mind the girl and the donkey. Here are four, at least, who
cannot escape my vengeance. Let me see; I believe I'll change my mind
about Tik-Tok. Have the gold crucible heated to a white, seething
heat, and then we'll dump the copper man into it and melt him up."</p>
<p>"But, Your Majesty," protested Kaliko, who had returned to the room
after sending a hundred nomes to search for the Oogaboo people, "you
must remember that Tik-Tok is a very curious and interesting machine.
It would be a shame to deprive the world of such a clever
contrivance."</p>
<p>"Say another word, and you'll go into the furnace with him!" roared
the King. "I'm getting tired of you, Kaliko, and the first thing you
know I'll turn you into a potato and make Saratoga-chips of you! The
next to consider," he added more mildly, "is the Shaggy Man. As he
owns the Love Magnet, I think I'll transform him into a dove, and then
we can practice shooting at him with Tik-Tok's gun. Now, this is a
very interesting ceremony and I beg you all to watch me closely and
see that I've nothing up my sleeve."</p>
<p>He came out of his throne to stand before the Shaggy Man, and then he
waved his hands, palms downward, in seven semicircles over his
victim's head, saying in a low but clear tone of voice the magic
wugwa:</p>
<p>"Adi, edi, idi, odi, udi, oo-i-oo! Idu, ido, idi, ide, ida, woo!"</p>
<p>The effect of this well-known sorcery was instantaneous. Instead of
the Shaggy Man, a pretty dove lay fluttering upon the floor, its wings
confined by tiny cords wound around them. Ruggedo gave an order to
Pang, who cut the cords with a pair of scissors. Being freed, the dove
quickly flew upward and alighted on the shoulder of the Rose Princess,
who stroked it tenderly.</p>
<p>"Very good! Very good!" cried Ruggedo, rubbing his hands gleefully
together. "One enemy is out of my way, and now for the others."</p>
<p>(Perhaps my readers should be warned not to attempt the above
transformation; for, although the exact magical formula has been
described, it is unlawful in all civilized countries for anyone to
transform a person into a dove by muttering the words Ruggedo used.
There were no laws to prevent the Nome King from performing this
transformation, but if it should be attempted in any other country,
and the magic worked, the magician would be severely punished.)</p>
<p>When Polychrome saw Shaggy Man transformed into a dove and realized
that Ruggedo was about do something as dreadful to the Princess and
Files, and that Tik-Tok would soon be melted in a crucible, she turned
and ran from the cavern, through the passage and back to the place
where Quox lay asleep.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<h2><a name="CH18" id="CH18">Chapter Eighteen</a></h2>
<h3>A Clever Conquest</h3>
<p>The great dragon still had his eyes closed and was even snoring in a
manner that resembled distant thunder; but Polychrome was now
desperate, because any further delay meant the destruction of her
friends. She seized the pearl necklace, to which was attached the
great locket, and jerked it with all her strength.</p>
<p>The result was encouraging. Quox stopped snoring and his eyelids
flickered. So Polychrome jerked again—and again—till slowly the
great lids raised and the dragon looked at her steadily. Said he, in a
sleepy tone:</p>
<p>"What's the matter, little Rainbow?"</p>
<p>"Come quick!" exclaimed Polychrome. "Ruggedo has captured all our
friends and is about to destroy them."</p>
<p>"Well, well," said Quox, "I suspected that would happen. Step a little
out of my path, my dear, and I'll make a rush for the Nome King's
cavern."</p>
<p>She fell back a few steps and Quox raised himself on his stout legs,
whisked his long tail and in an instant had slid down the rocks and
made a dive through the entrance.</p>
<p>Along the passage he swept, nearly filling it with his immense body,
and now he poked his head into the jeweled cavern of Ruggedo.</p>
<p>But the King had long since made arrangements to capture the dragon,
whenever he might appear. No sooner did Quox stick his head into the
room than a thick chain fell from above and encircled his neck. Then
the ends of the chain were drawn tight—for in an adjoining cavern a
thousand nomes were pulling on them—and so the dragon could advance
no further toward the King. He could not use his teeth or his claws
and as his body was still in the passage he had not even room to
strike his foes with his terrible tail.</p>
<p>Ruggedo was delighted with the success of his stratagem. He had just
transformed the Rose Princess into a fiddle and was about to transform
Files into a fiddle bow, when the dragon appeared to interrupt him. So
he called out:</p>
<p>"Welcome, my dear Quox, to my royal entertainment. Since you are here,
you shall witness some very neat magic, and after I have finished with
Files and Tik-Tok I mean to transform you into a tiny lizard—one of
the chameleon sort—and you shall live in my cavern and amuse me."</p>
<p>"Pardon me for contradicting Your Majesty," returned Quox in a quiet
voice, "but I don't believe you'll perform any more magic."</p>
<p>"Eh? Why not?" asked the King in surprise.</p>
<p>"There's a reason," said Quox. "Do you see this ribbon around my
neck?"</p>
<p>"Yes; and I'm astonished that a dignified dragon should wear such a
silly thing."</p>
<p>"Do you see it plainly?" persisted the dragon, with a little chuckle
of amusement.</p>
<p>"I do," declared Ruggedo.</p>
<p>"Then you no longer possess any magical powers, and are as helpless as
a clam," asserted Quox. "My great master, Tititi-Hoochoo, the Jinjin,
enchanted this ribbon in such a way that whenever Your Majesty looked
upon it all knowledge of magic would desert you instantly, nor will
any magical formula you can remember ever perform your bidding."</p>
<p>"Pooh! I don't believe a word of it!" cried Ruggedo, half frightened,
nevertheless. Then he turned toward Files and tried to transform him
into a fiddle bow. But he could not remember the right words or the
right pass of the hands and after several trials he finally gave up
the attempt.</p>
<p>By this time the Nome King was so alarmed that he was secretly shaking
in his shoes.</p>
<p>"I told you not to anger Tititi-Hoochoo," grumbled Kaliko, "and now
you see the result of your disobedience."</p>
<p>Ruggedo promptly threw his sceptre at his Royal Chamberlain, who
dodged it with his usual cleverness, and then he said with an attempt
to swagger:</p>
<p>"Never mind; I don't need magic to enable me to destroy these
invaders; fire and the sword will do the business and I am still King
of the Nomes and lord and master of my Underground Kingdom!"</p>
<p>"Again I beg to differ with Your Majesty," said Quox. "The Great
Jinjin commands you to depart instantly from this Kingdom and seek the
earth's surface, where you will wander for all time to come, without a
home or country, without a friend or follower, and without any more
riches than you can carry with you in your pockets. The Great Jinjin
is so generous that he will allow you to fill your pockets with jewels
or gold, but you must take nothing more."</p>
<p>Ruggedo now stared at the dragon in amazement.</p>
<p>"Does Tititi-Hoochoo condemn me to such a fate?" he asked in a hoarse
voice.</p>
<p>"He does," said Quox.</p>
<p>"And just for throwing a few strangers down the Forbidden Tube?"</p>
<p>"Just for that," repeated Quox in a stern, gruff voice.</p>
<p>"Well, I won't do it. And your crazy old Jinjin can't make me do it,
either!" declared Ruggedo. "I intend to remain here, King of the
Nomes, until the end of the world, and I defy your Tititi-Hoochoo and
all his fairies—as well as his clumsy messenger, whom I have been
obliged to chain up!"</p>
<p>The dragon smiled again, but it was not the sort of smile that made
Ruggedo feel very happy. Instead, there was something so cold and
merciless in the dragon's expression that the condemned Nome King
trembled and was sick at heart.</p>
<p>There was little comfort for Ruggedo in the fact that the dragon was
now chained, although he had boasted of it. He glared at the immense
head of Quox as if fascinated and there was fear in the old King's
eyes as he watched his enemy's movements.</p>
<p>For the dragon was now moving; not abruptly, but as if he had
something to do and was about to do it. Very deliberately he raised
one claw, touched the catch of the great jeweled locket that was
suspended around his neck, and at once it opened wide.</p>
<p>Nothing much happened at first; half a dozen hen's eggs rolled out
upon the floor and then the locket closed with a sharp click. But the
effect upon the nomes of this simple thing was astounding. General
Guph, Kaliko, Pang and his band of executioners were all standing
close to the door that led to the vast series of underground caverns
which constituted the dominions of the nomes, and as soon as they saw
the eggs they raised a chorus of frantic screams and rushed through
the door, slamming it in Ruggedo's face and placing a heavy bronze bar
across it.</p>
<p>Ruggedo, dancing with terror and uttering loud cries, now leaped upon
the seat of his throne to escape the eggs, which had rolled steadily
toward him. Perhaps these eggs, sent by the wise and crafty
Tititi-Hoochoo, were in some way enchanted, for they all rolled
directly after Ruggedo and when they reached the throne where he had
taken refuge they began rolling up the legs to the seat.</p>
<p>This was too much for the King to bear. His horror of eggs was real
and absolute and he made a leap from the throne to the center of the
room and then ran to a far corner.</p>
<p>The eggs followed, rolling slowly but steadily in his direction.
Ruggedo threw his sceptre at them, and then his ruby crown, and then
he drew off his heavy golden sandals and hurled these at the advancing
eggs. But the eggs dodged every missile and continued to draw nearer.
The King stood trembling, his eyes staring in terror, until they were
but half a yard distant; then with an agile leap he jumped clear over
them and made a rush for the passage that led to the outer entrance.</p>
<p>Of course the dragon was in his way, being chained in the passage with
his head in the cavern, but when he saw the King making toward him he
crouched as low as he could and dropped his chin to the floor, leaving
a small space between his body and the roof of the passage.</p>
<p>Ruggedo did not hesitate an instant. Impelled by fear, he leaped to
the dragon's nose and then scrambled to his back, where he succeeded
in squeezing himself through the opening. After the head was passed
there was more room and he slid along the dragon's scales to his tail
and then ran as fast as his legs would carry him to the entrance. Not
pausing here, so great was his fright, the King dashed on down the
mountain path, but before he had gone very far he stumbled and fell.</p>
<p>When he picked himself up he observed that no one was following him,
and while he recovered his breath he happened to think of the decree
of the Jinjin—that he should be driven from his Kingdom and made a
wanderer on the face of the earth. Well, here he was, driven from his
cavern in truth; driven by those dreadful eggs; but he would go back
and defy them; he would not submit to losing his precious Kingdom and
his tyrannical powers, all because Tititi-Hoochoo had said he must.</p>
<p>So, although still afraid, Ruggedo nerved himself to creep back along
the path to the entrance, and when he arrived there he saw the six
eggs lying in a row just before the arched opening.</p>
<p>At first he paused a safe distance away to consider the case, for the
eggs were now motionless. While he was wondering what could be done,
he remembered there was a magical charm which would destroy eggs and
render them harmless to nomes. There were nine passes to be made and
six verses of incantation to be recited; but Ruggedo knew them all.
Now that he had ample time to be exact, he carefully went through the
entire ceremony.</p>
<p>But nothing happened. The eggs did not disappear, as he had expected;
so he repeated the charm a second time. When that also failed, he
remembered, with a moan of despair, that his magic power had been
taken away from him and in the future he could do no more than any
common mortal.</p>
<p>And there were the eggs, forever barring him from the Kingdom which he
had ruled so long with absolute sway! He threw rocks at them, but
could not hit a single egg. He raved and scolded and tore his hair and
beard, and danced in helpless passion, but that did nothing to avert
the just judgment of the Jinjin, which Ruggedo's own evil deeds had
brought upon him.</p>
<p>From this time on he was an outcast—a wanderer upon the face of the
earth—and he had even forgotten to fill his pockets with gold and
jewels before he fled from his former Kingdom!</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<h2><a name="CH19" id="CH19">Chapter Nineteen</a></h2>
<h3>King Kaliko</h3>
<p>After the King had made good his escape Files said to the dragon, in a
sad voice:</p>
<p>"Alas! why did you not come before? Because you were sleeping instead
of conquering, the lovely Rose Princess has become a fiddle without a
bow, while poor Shaggy sits there a cooing dove!"</p>
<p>"Don't worry," replied Quox. "Tititi-Hoochoo knows his business, and I
have my orders from the Great Jinjin himself. Bring the fiddle here
and touch it lightly to my pink ribbon."</p>
<p>Files obeyed and at the moment of contact with the ribbon the Nome
King's charm was broken and the Rose Princess herself stood before
them as sweet and smiling as ever.</p>
<p>The dove, perched on the back of the throne, had seen and heard all
this, so without being told what to do it flew straight to the dragon
and alighted on the ribbon. Next instant Shaggy was himself again and
Quox said to him grumblingly:</p>
<p>"Please get off my left toe, Shaggy Man, and be more particular where
you step."</p>
<p>"I beg your pardon!" replied Shaggy, very glad to resume his natural
form. Then he ran to lift the heavy diamond off Tik-Tok's chest and to
assist the Clockwork Man to his feet.</p>
<p>"Ma-ny thanks!" said Tik-Tok. "Where is the wicked King who want-ed to
melt me in a cru-ci-ble?"</p>
<p>"He has gone, and gone for good," answered Polychrome, who had managed
to squeeze into the room beside the dragon and had witnessed the
occurrences with much interest. "But I wonder where Betsy Bobbin and
Hank can be, and if any harm has befallen them."</p>
<p>"We must search the cavern until we find them," declared Shaggy; but
when he went to the door leading to the other caverns he found it shut
and barred.</p>
<p>"I've a pretty strong push in my forehead," said Quox, "and I believe
I can break down that door, even though it's made of solid gold."</p>
<p>"But you are a prisoner, and the chains that hold you are fastened in
some other room, so that we cannot release you," Files said anxiously.</p>
<p>"Oh, never mind that," returned the dragon. "I have remained a
prisoner only because I wished to be one," and with this he stepped
forward and burst the stout chains as easily as if they had been
threads.</p>
<p>But when he tried to push in the heavy metal door, even his mighty
strength failed, and after several attempts he gave it up and squatted
himself in a corner to think of a better way.</p>
<p>"I'll o-pen the door," asserted Tik-Tok, and going to the King's big
gong he pounded upon it until the noise was almost deafening.</p>
<p>Kaliko, in the next cavern, was wondering what had happened to Ruggedo
and if he had escaped the eggs and outwitted the dragon. But when he
heard the sound of the gong, which had so often called him into the
King's presence, he decided that Ruggedo had been victorious; so he
took away the bar, threw open the door and entered the royal cavern.</p>
<p>Great was his astonishment to find the King gone and the enchantments
removed from the Princess and Shaggy. But the eggs were also gone and
so Kaliko advanced to the dragon, whom he knew to be Tititi-Hoochoo's
messenger, and bowed humbly before the beast.</p>
<p>"What is your will?" he inquired.</p>
<p>"Where is Betsy?" demanded the dragon.</p>
<p>"Safe in my own private room," said Kaliko.</p>
<p>"Go and get her!" commanded Quox.</p>
<p>So Kaliko went to Betsy's room and gave three raps upon the door. The
little girl had been asleep, but she heard the raps and opened the
door.</p>
<p>"You may come out now," said Kaliko. "The King has fled in disgrace
and your friends are asking for you."</p>
<p>So Betsy and Hank returned with the Royal Chamberlain to the throne
cavern, where she was received with great joy by her friends. They
told her what had happened to Ruggedo and she told them how kind
Kaliko had been to her. Quox did not have much to say until the
conversation was ended, but then he turned to Kaliko and asked:</p>
<p>"Do you suppose you could rule your nomes better than Ruggedo has
done?"</p>
<p>"Me?" stammered the Chamberlain, greatly surprised by the question.
"Well, I couldn't be a worse King, I'm sure."</p>
<p>"Would the nomes obey you?" inquired the dragon.</p>
<p>"Of course," said Kaliko. "They like me better than ever they did
Ruggedo."</p>
<p>"Then hereafter you shall be the Metal Monarch, King of the Nomes, and
Tititi-Hoochoo expects you to rule your Kingdom wisely and well," said
Quox.</p>
<p>"Hooray!" cried Betsy; "I'm glad of that. King Kaliko, I salute Your
Majesty and wish you joy in your gloomy old Kingdom!"</p>
<p>"We all wish him joy," said Polychrome; and then the others made haste
to congratulate the new King.</p>
<p>"Will you release my dear brother?" asked Shaggy.</p>
<p>"The Ugly One? Very willingly," replied Kaliko. "I begged Ruggedo long
ago to send him away, but he would not do so. I also offered to help
your brother to escape, but he would not go."</p>
<p>"He's so conscientious!" said Shaggy, highly pleased. "All of our
family have noble natures. But is my dear brother well?" he added
anxiously.</p>
<p>"He eats and sleeps very steadily," replied the new King.</p>
<p>"I hope he doesn't work too hard," said Shaggy.</p>
<p>"He doesn't work at all. In fact, there is nothing he can do in these
dominions as well as our nomes, whose numbers are so great that it
worries us to keep them all busy. So your brother has only to amuse
himself."</p>
<p>"Why, it's more like visiting, than being a prisoner," asserted Betsy.</p>
<p>"Not exactly," returned Kaliko. "A prisoner cannot go where or when he
pleases, and is not his own master."</p>
<p>"Where is my brother now?" inquired Shaggy.</p>
<p>"In the Metal Forest."</p>
<p>"Where is that?"</p>
<p>"The Metal Forest is in the Great Domed Cavern, the largest in all our
dominions," replied Kaliko. "It is almost like being out of doors, it
is so big, and Ruggedo made the wonderful forest to amuse himself, as
well as to tire out his hard-working nomes. All the trees are gold and
silver and the ground is strewn with precious stones, so it is a sort
of treasury."</p>
<p>"Let us go there at once and rescue my dear brother," pleaded Shaggy
earnestly.</p>
<p>Kaliko hesitated.</p>
<p>"I don't believe I can find the way," said he. "Ruggedo made three
secret passages to the Metal Forest, but he changes the location of
these passages every week, so that no one can get to the Metal Forest
without his permission. However, if we look sharp, we may be able to
discover one of these secret ways."</p>
<p>"That reminds me to ask what has become of Queen Ann and the Officers
of Oogaboo," said Files.</p>
<p>"I'm sure I can't say," replied Kaliko.</p>
<p>"Do you suppose Ruggedo destroyed them?"</p>
<p>"Oh, no; I'm quite sure he didn't. They fell into the big pit in the
passage, and we put the cover on to keep them there; but when the
executioners went to look for them they had all disappeared from the
pit and we could find no trace of them."</p>
<p>"That's funny," remarked Betsy thoughtfully. "I don't believe Ann knew
any magic, or she'd have worked it before. But to disappear like that
seems like magic; now, doesn't it?"</p>
<p>They agreed that it did, but no one could explain the mystery.</p>
<p>"However," said Shaggy, "they are gone, that is certain, so we cannot
help them or be helped by them. And the important thing just now is to
rescue my dear brother from captivity."</p>
<p>"Why do they call him the Ugly One?" asked Betsy.</p>
<p>"I do not know," confessed Shaggy. "I can not remember his looks very
well, it is so long since I have seen him; but all of our family are
noted for their handsome faces."</p>
<p>Betsy laughed and Shaggy seemed rather hurt; but Polychrome relieved
his embarrassment by saying softly: "One can be ugly in looks, but
lovely in disposition."</p>
<p>"Our first task," said Shaggy, a little comforted by this remark, "is
to find one of those secret passages to the Metal Forest."</p>
<p>"True," agreed Kaliko. "So I think I will assemble the chief nomes of
my kingdom in this throne room and tell them that I am their new King.
Then I can ask them to assist us in searching for the secret passages."</p>
<p>"That's a good idea," said the dragon, who seemed to be getting sleepy
again.</p>
<p>Kaliko went to the big gong and pounded on it just as Ruggedo used to
do; but no one answered the summons.</p>
<p>"Of course not," said he, jumping up from the throne, where he had
seated himself. "That is my call, and I am still the Royal
Chamberlain, and will be until I appoint another in my place."</p>
<p>So he ran out of the room and found Guph and told him to answer the
summons of the King's gong. Having returned to the royal cavern,
Kaliko first pounded the gong and then sat in the throne, wearing
Ruggedo's discarded ruby crown and holding in his hand the sceptre
which Ruggedo had so often thrown at his head.</p>
<p>When Guph entered he was amazed.</p>
<p>"Better get out of that throne before old Ruggedo comes back," he said
warningly.</p>
<p>"He isn't coming back, and I am now the King of the Nomes, in his
stead," announced Kaliko.</p>
<p>"All of which is quite true," asserted the dragon, and all of those
who stood around the throne bowed respectfully to the new King.</p>
<p>Seeing this, Guph also bowed, for he was glad to be rid of such a hard
master as Ruggedo. Then Kaliko, in quite a kingly way, informed Guph
that he was appointed the Royal Chamberlain, and promised not to throw
the sceptre at his head unless he deserved it.</p>
<p>All this being pleasantly arranged, the new Chamberlain went away to
tell the news to all the nomes of the underground Kingdom, every one
of whom would be delighted with the change in Kings.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<h2><a name="CH20" id="CH20">Chapter Twenty</a></h2>
<h3>Quox Quietly Quits</h3>
<p>When the chief nomes assembled before their new King they joyfully
saluted him and promised to obey his commands. But, when Kaliko
questioned them, none knew the way to the Metal Forest, although all
had assisted in its making. So the King instructed them to search
carefully for one of the passages and to bring him the news as soon as
they had found it.</p>
<p>Meantime Quox had managed to back out of the rocky corridor and so
regain the open air and his old station on the mountain-side, and
there he lay upon the rocks, sound asleep, until the next day. The
others of the party were all given as good rooms as the caverns of the
nomes afforded, for King Kaliko felt that he was indebted to them for
his promotion and was anxious to be as hospitable as he could.</p>
<p>Much wonderment had been caused by the absolute disappearance of the
sixteen officers of Oogaboo and their Queen. Not a nome had seen them,
nor were they discovered during the search for the passages leading to
the Metal Forest. Perhaps no one was unhappy over their loss, but all
were curious to know what had become of them.</p>
<p>On the next day, when our friends went to visit the dragon, Quox said
to them: "I must now bid you good-bye, for my mission here is finished
and I must depart for the other side of the world, where I belong."</p>
<p>"Will you go through the Tube again?" asked Betsy.</p>
<p>"To be sure. But it will be a lonely trip this time, with no one to
talk to, and I cannot invite any of you to go with me. Therefore, as
soon as I slide into the hole I shall go to sleep, and when I pop out
at the other end I will wake up at home."</p>
<p>They thanked the dragon for befriending them and wished him a pleasant
journey. Also they sent their thanks to the great Jinjin, whose just
condemnation of Ruggedo had served their interests so well. Then Quox
yawned and stretched himself and ambled over to the Tube, into which
he slid headforemost and disappeared.</p>
<p>They really felt as if they had lost a friend, for the dragon had been
both kind and sociable during their brief acquaintance with him; but
they knew it was his duty to return to his own country. So they went
back to the caverns to renew the search for the hidden passages that
led to the forest, but for three days all efforts to find them proved
in vain.</p>
<p>It was Polychrome's custom to go every day to the mountain and watch
for her father, the Rainbow, for she was growing tired with wandering
upon the earth and longed to rejoin her sisters in their sky palaces.
And on the third day, while she sat motionless upon a point of rock,
whom should she see slyly creeping up the mountain but Ruggedo!</p>
<p>The former King looked very forlorn. His clothes were soiled and torn
and he had no sandals upon his feet or hat upon his head. Having left
his crown and sceptre behind when he fled, the old nome no longer
seemed kingly, but more like a beggerman.</p>
<p>Several times had Ruggedo crept up to the mouth of the caverns, only
to find the six eggs still on guard. He knew quite well that he must
accept his fate and become a homeless wanderer, but his chief regret
now was that he had neglected to fill his pockets with gold and
jewels. He was aware that a wanderer with wealth at his command would
fare much better than one who was a pauper, so he still loitered
around the caverns wherein he knew so much treasure was stored, hoping
for a chance to fill his pockets.</p>
<p>That was how he came to recollect the Metal Forest.</p>
<p>"Aha!" said he to himself, "I alone know the way to that Forest, and
once there I can fill my pockets with the finest jewels in all the
world."</p>
<p>He glanced at his pockets and was grieved to find them so small.
Perhaps they might be enlarged, so that they would hold more. He knew
of a poor woman who lived in a cottage at the foot of the mountain, so
he went to her and begged her to sew pockets all over his robe, paying
her with the gift of a diamond ring which he had worn upon his finger.
The woman was delighted to possess so valuable a ring and she sewed as
many pockets on Ruggedo's robe as she possibly could.</p>
<p>Then he returned up the mountain and, after gazing cautiously around
to make sure he was not observed, he touched a spring in a rock and it
swung slowly backward, disclosing a broad passageway. This he entered,
swinging the rock in place behind him.</p>
<p>However, Ruggedo had failed to look as carefully as he might have
done, for Polychrome was seated only a little distance off and her
clear eyes marked exactly the manner in which Ruggedo had released the
hidden spring. So she rose and hurried into the cavern, where she told
Kaliko and her friends of her discovery.</p>
<p>"I've no doubt that that is a way to the Metal Forest," exclaimed
Shaggy. "Come, let us follow Ruggedo at once and rescue my poor
brother!"</p>
<p>They agreed to this and King Kaliko called together a band of nomes to
assist them by carrying torches to light their way.</p>
<p>"The Metal Forest has a brilliant light of its own," said he, "but the
passage across the valley is likely to be dark."</p>
<p>Polychrome easily found the rock and touched the spring, so in less
than an hour after Ruggedo had entered they were all in the passage
and following swiftly after the former King.</p>
<p>"He means to rob the Forest, I'm sure," said Kaliko; "but he will find
he is no longer of any account in this Kingdom and I will have my
nomes throw him out."</p>
<p>"Then please throw him as hard as you can," said Betsy, "for he
deserves it. I don't mind an honest, out-an'-out enemy, who fights
square; but changing girls into fiddles and ordering 'em put into
Slimy Caves is mean and tricky, and Ruggedo doesn't deserve any
sympathy. But you'll have to let him take as much treasure as he can
get in his pockets, Kaliko."</p>
<p>"Yes, the Jinjin said so; but we won't miss it much. There is more
treasure in the Metal Forest than a million nomes could carry in their
pockets."</p>
<p>It was not difficult to walk through this passage, especially when the
torches lighted the way, so they made good progress. But it proved to
be a long distance and Betsy had tired herself with walking and was
seated upon the back of the mule when the passage made a sharp turn
and a wonderful and glorious light burst upon them. The next moment
they were all standing upon the edge of the marvelous Metal Forest.</p>
<p>It lay under another mountain and occupied a great domed cavern, the
roof of which was higher than a church steeple. In this space the
industrious nomes had built, during many years of labor, the most
beautiful forest in the world. The trees—trunks, branches and
leaves—were all of solid gold, while the bushes and underbrush were
formed of filigree silver, virgin pure. The trees towered as high as
natural live oaks do and were of exquisite workmanship.</p>
<p>On the ground were thickly strewn precious gems of every hue and size,
while here and there among the trees were paths pebbled with cut
diamonds of the clearest water. Taken all together, more treasure was
gathered in this Metal Forest than is contained in all the rest of the
world—if we except the land of Oz, where perhaps its value is
equalled in the famous Emerald City.</p>
<p>Our friends were so amazed at the sight that for a while they stood
gazing in silent wonder. Then Shaggy exclaimed.</p>
<p>"My brother! My dear lost brother! Is he indeed a prisoner in this
place?"</p>
<p>"Yes," replied Kaliko. "The Ugly One has been here for two or three
years, to my positive knowledge."</p>
<p>"But what could he find to eat?" inquired Betsy. "It's an awfully
swell place to live in, but one can't breakfast on rubies and
di'monds, or even gold."</p>
<p>"One doesn't need to, my dear," Kaliko assured her. "The Metal Forest
does not fill all of this great cavern, by any means. Beyond these
gold and silver trees are other trees of the real sort, which bear
foods very nice to eat. Let us walk in that direction, for I am quite
sure we will find Shaggy's brother in that part of the cavern, rather
than in this."</p>
<p>So they began to tramp over the diamond-pebbled paths, and at every
step they were more and more bewildered by the wondrous beauty of the
golden trees with their glittering foliage.</p>
<p>Suddenly they heard a scream. Jewels scattered in every direction as
some one hidden among the bushes scampered away before them. Then a
loud voice cried: "Halt!" and there was the sound of a struggle.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<h2><a name="CH21" id="CH21">Chapter Twenty-One</a></h2>
<h3>A Bashful Brother</h3>
<p>With fast beating hearts they all rushed forward and, beyond a group
of stately metal trees, came full upon a most astonishing scene.</p>
<p>There was Ruggedo in the hands of the officers of Oogaboo, a dozen of
whom were clinging to the old nome and holding him fast in spite of
his efforts to escape. There also was Queen Ann, looking grimly upon
the scene of strife; but when she observed her former companions
approaching she turned away in a shamefaced manner.</p>
<p>For Ann and her officers were indeed a sight to behold. Her Majesty's
clothing, once so rich and gorgeous, was now worn and torn into shreds
by her long crawl through the tunnel, which, by the way, had led her
directly into the Metal Forest. It was, indeed, one of the three
secret passages, and by far the most difficult of the three. Ann had
not only torn her pretty skirt and jacket, but her crown had become
bent and battered and even her shoes were so cut and slashed that they
were ready to fall from her feet.</p>
<p>The officers had fared somewhat worse than their leader, for holes
were worn in the knees of their trousers, while sharp points of rock
in the roof and sides of the tunnel had made rags of every inch of
their once brilliant uniforms. A more tattered and woeful army never
came out of a battle, than these harmless victims of the rocky
passage. But it had seemed their only means of escape from the cruel
Nome King; so they had crawled on, regardless of their sufferings.</p>
<p>When they reached the Metal Forest their eyes beheld more plunder than
they had ever dreamed of; yet they were prisoners in this huge dome
and could not escape with the riches heaped about them. Perhaps a more
unhappy and homesick lot of "conquerors" never existed than this band
from Oogaboo.</p>
<p>After several days of wandering in their marvelous prison they were
frightened by the discovery that Ruggedo had come among them. Rendered
desperate by their sad condition, the officers exhibited courage for
the first time since they left home and, ignorant of the fact that
Ruggedo was no longer King of the nomes, they threw themselves upon
him and had just succeeded in capturing him when their fellow
adventurers reached the spot.</p>
<p>"Goodness gracious!" cried Betsy. "What has happened to you all?"</p>
<p>Ann came forward to greet them, sorrowful and indignant.</p>
<p>"We were obliged to escape from the pit through a small tunnel, which
was lined with sharp and jagged rocks," said she, "and not only was
our clothing torn to rags but our flesh is so bruised and sore that we
are stiff and lame in every joint. To add to our troubles we find we
are still prisoners; but now that we have succeeded in capturing the
wicked Metal Monarch we shall force him to grant us our liberty."</p>
<p>"Ruggedo is no longer Metal Monarch, or King of the nomes," Files
informed her. "He has been deposed and cast out of his kingdom by
Quox; but here is the new King, whose name is Kaliko, and I am pleased
to assure Your Majesty that he is our friend."</p>
<p>"Glad to meet Your Majesty, I'm sure," said Kaliko, bowing as
courteously as if the Queen still wore splendid raiment.</p>
<p>The officers, having heard this explanation, now set Ruggedo free;
but, as he had no place to go, he stood by and faced his former
servant, who was now King in his place, in a humble and pleading
manner.</p>
<p>"What are you doing here?" asked Kaliko sternly.</p>
<p>"Why, I was promised as much treasure as I could carry in my pockets,"
replied Ruggedo; "so I came here to get it, not wishing to disturb
Your Majesty."</p>
<p>"You were commanded to leave the country of the nomes forever!"
declared Kaliko.</p>
<p>"I know; and I'll go as soon as I have filled my pockets," said
Ruggedo, meekly.</p>
<p>"Then fill them, and be gone," returned the new King.</p>
<p>Ruggedo obeyed. Stooping down, he began gathering up jewels by the
handful and stuffing them into his many pockets. They were heavy
things, these diamonds and rubies and emeralds and amethysts and the
like, so before long Ruggedo was staggering with the weight he bore,
while the pockets were not yet filled. When he could no longer stoop
over without falling, Betsy and Polychrome and the Rose Princess came
to his assistance, picking up the finest gems and tucking them into
his pockets.</p>
<p>At last these were all filled and Ruggedo presented a comical sight,
for surely no man ever before had so many pockets, or any at all
filled with such a choice collection of precious stones. He neglected
to thank the young ladies for their kindness, but gave them a surly
nod of farewell and staggered down the path by the way he had come.
They let him depart in silence, for with all he had taken, the masses
of jewels upon the ground seemed scarcely to have been disturbed, so
numerous were they. Also they hoped they had seen the last of the
degraded King.</p>
<p>"I'm awful glad he's gone," said Betsy, sighing deeply. "If he doesn't
get reckless and spend his wealth foolishly, he's got enough to start
a bank when he gets to Oklahoma."</p>
<p>"But my brother—my dear brother! Where is he?" inquired Shaggy
anxiously. "Have you seen him, Queen Ann?"</p>
<p>"What does your brother look like?" asked the Queen.</p>
<p>Shaggy hesitated to reply, but Betsy said: "He's called the Ugly One.
Perhaps you'll know him by that."</p>
<p>"The only person we have seen in this cavern," said Ann, "has run away
from us whenever we approached him. He hides over yonder, among the
trees that are not gold, and we have never been able to catch sight of
his face. So I can not tell whether he is ugly or not."</p>
<p>"That must be my dear brother!" exclaimed Shaggy.</p>
<p>"Yes, it must be," assented Kaliko. "No one else inhabits this
splendid dome, so there can be no mistake."</p>
<p>"But why does he hide among those green trees, instead of enjoying all
these glittery golden ones?" asked Betsy.</p>
<p>"Because he finds food among the natural trees," replied Kaliko, "and
I remember that he has built a little house there, to sleep in. As for
these glittery golden trees, I will admit they are very pretty at
first sight. One cannot fail to admire them, as well as the rich
jewels scattered beneath them; but if one has to look at them always,
they become pretty tame."</p>
<p>"I believe that is true," declared Shaggy. "My dear brother is very
wise to prefer real trees to the imitation ones. But come; let us go
there and find him."</p>
<p>Shaggy started for the green grove at once, and the others followed
him, being curious to witness the final rescue of his long-sought,
long-lost brother.</p>
<p>Not far from the edge of the grove they came upon a small hut,
cleverly made of twigs and golden branches woven together. As they
approached the place they caught a glimpse of a form that darted into
the hut and slammed the door tight shut after him.</p>
<p>Shaggy Man ran to the door and cried aloud:</p>
<p>"Brother! Brother!"</p>
<p>"Who calls," demanded a sad, hollow voice from within.</p>
<p>"It is Shaggy—your own loving brother—who has been searching for you
a long time and has now come to rescue you."</p>
<p>"Too late!" replied the gloomy voice. "No one can rescue me now."</p>
<p>"Oh, but you are mistaken about that," said Shaggy. "There is a new
King of the nomes, named Kaliko, in Ruggedo's place, and he has
promised you shall go free."</p>
<p>"Free! I dare not go free!" said the Ugly One, in a voice of despair.</p>
<p>"Why not, Brother?" asked Shaggy, anxiously.</p>
<p>"Do you know what they have done to me?" came the answer through the
closed door.</p>
<p>"No. Tell me, Brother, what have they done?"</p>
<p>"When Ruggedo first captured me I was very handsome. Don't you
remember, Shaggy?"</p>
<p>"Not very well, Brother; you were so young when I left home. But I
remember that mother thought you were beautiful."</p>
<p>"She was right! I am sure she was right," wailed the prisoner. "But
Ruggedo wanted to injure me—to make me ugly in the eyes of all the
world—so he performed a wicked enchantment. I went to bed
beautiful—or you might say handsome—to be very modest I will merely
claim that I was good-looking—and I wakened the next morning the
homeliest man in all the world! I am so repulsive that when I look in
a mirror I frighten myself."</p>
<p>"Poor Brother!" said Shaggy softly, and all the others were silent
from sympathy.</p>
<p>"I was so ashamed of my looks," continued the voice of Shaggy's
brother, "that I tried to hide; but the cruel King Ruggedo forced me
to appear before all the legion of nomes, to whom he said: 'Behold the
Ugly One!' But when the nomes saw my face they all fell to laughing
and jeering, which prevented them from working at their tasks. Seeing
this, Ruggedo became angry and pushed me into a tunnel, closing the
rock entrance so that I could not get out. I followed the length of
the tunnel until I reached this huge dome, where the marvelous Metal
Forest stands, and here I have remained ever since."</p>
<p>"Poor Brother!" repeated Shaggy. "But I beg you now to come forth and
face us, who are your friends. None here will laugh or jeer, however
unhandsome you may be."</p>
<p>"No, indeed," they all added pleadingly.</p>
<p>But the Ugly One refused the invitation.</p>
<p>"I cannot," said he; "indeed, I cannot face strangers, ugly as I am."</p>
<p>Shaggy Man turned to the group surrounding him.</p>
<p>"What shall I do?" he asked in sorrowful tones. "I cannot leave my
dear brother here, and he refuses to come out of that house and face
us."</p>
<p>"I'll tell you," replied Betsy. "Let him put on a mask."</p>
<p>"The very idea I was seeking!" exclaimed Shaggy joyfully; and then he
called out: "Brother, put a mask over your face, and then none of us
can see what your features are like."</p>
<p>"I have no mask," answered the Ugly One.</p>
<p>"Look here," said Betsy; "he can use my handkerchief."</p>
<p>Shaggy looked at the little square of cloth and shook his head.</p>
<p>"It isn't big enough," he objected; "I'm sure it isn't big enough to
hide a man's face. But he can use mine."</p>
<p>Saying this he took from his pocket his own handkerchief and went to
the door of the hut.</p>
<p>"Here, my Brother," he called, "take this handkerchief and make a mask
of it. I will also pass you my knife, so that you may cut holes for
the eyes, and then you must tie it over your face."</p>
<p>The door slowly opened, just far enough for the Ugly One to thrust out
his hand and take the handkerchief and the knife. Then it closed
again.</p>
<p>"Don't forget a hole for your nose," cried Betsy. "You must breathe,
you know."</p>
<p>For a time there was silence. Queen Ann and her army sat down upon the
ground to rest. Betsy sat on Hank's back. Polychrome danced lightly up
and down the jeweled paths while Files and the Princess wandered
through the groves arm in arm. Tik-Tok, who never tired, stood
motionless.</p>
<p>By and by a noise sounded from within the hut.</p>
<p>"Are you ready?" asked Shaggy.</p>
<p>"Yes, Brother," came the reply and the door was thrown open to allow
the Ugly One to step forth.</p>
<p>Betsy might have laughed aloud had she not remembered how sensitive to
ridicule Shaggy's brother was, for the handkerchief with which he had
masked his features was a red one covered with big white polka dots.
In this two holes had been cut—in front of the eyes—while two
smaller ones before the nostrils allowed the man to breathe freely.
The cloth was then tightly drawn over the Ugly One's face and knotted
at the back of his neck.</p>
<p>He was dressed in clothes that had once been good, but now were sadly
worn and frayed. His silk stockings had holes in them, and his shoes
were stub-toed and needed blackening. "But what can you expect,"
whispered Betsy, "when the poor man has been a prisoner for so many
years?"</p>
<p>Shaggy had darted forward, and embraced his newly found brother with
both his arms. The brother also embraced Shaggy, who then led him
forward and introduced him to all the assembled company.</p>
<p>"This is the new Nome King," he said when he came to Kaliko. "He is
our friend, and has granted you your freedom."</p>
<p>"That is a kindly deed," replied Ugly in a sad voice, "but I dread to
go back to the world in this direful condition. Unless I remain
forever masked, my dreadful face would curdle all the milk and stop
all the clocks."</p>
<p>"Can't the enchantment be broken in some way?" inquired Betsy.</p>
<p>Shaggy looked anxiously at Kaliko, who shook his head.</p>
<p>"I am sure I can't break the enchantment," he said. "Ruggedo was fond
of magic, and learned a good many enchantments that we nomes know
nothing of."</p>
<p>"Perhaps Ruggedo himself might break his own enchantment," suggested
Ann; "but unfortunately we have allowed the old King to escape."</p>
<p>"Never mind, my dear Brother," said Shaggy consolingly; "I am very
happy to have found you again, although I may never see your face. So
let us make the most of this joyful reunion."</p>
<p>The Ugly One was affected to tears by this tender speech, and the
tears began to wet the red handkerchief; so Shaggy gently wiped them
away with his coat sleeve.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<h2><a name="CH22" id="CH22">Chapter Twenty-Two</a></h2>
<h3>Kindly Kisses</h3>
<p>"Won't you be dreadful sorry to leave this lovely place?" Betsy asked
the Ugly One.</p>
<p>"No, indeed," said he. "Jewels and gold are cold and heartless things,
and I am sure I would presently have died of loneliness had I not
found the natural forest at the edge of the artificial one. Anyhow,
without these real trees I should soon have starved to death."</p>
<p>Betsy looked around at the quaint trees.</p>
<p>"I don't just understand that," she admitted. "What could you find to
eat here."</p>
<p>"The best food in the world," Ugly answered. "Do you see that grove at
your left?" he added, pointing it out; "well, such trees as those do
not grow in your country, or in any other place but this cavern. I
have named them 'Hotel Trees,' because they bear a certain kind of
table d'hote fruit called 'Three-Course Nuts.'"</p>
<p>"That's funny!" said Betsy. "What are the 'Three-Course Nuts' like?"</p>
<p>"Something like cocoanuts, to look at," explained the Ugly One. "All
you have to do is to pick one of them and then sit down and eat your
dinner. You first unscrew the top part and find a cupfull of good
soup. After you've eaten that, you unscrew the middle part and find a
hollow filled with meat and potatoes, vegetables and a fine salad. Eat
that, and unscrew the next section, and you come to the dessert in the
bottom of the nut. That is, pie and cake, cheese and crackers, and
nuts and raisins. The Three-Course Nuts are not all exactly alike in
flavor or in contents, but they are all good and in each one may be
found a complete three-course dinner."</p>
<p>"But how about breakfasts?" inquired Betsy.</p>
<p>"Why, there are Breakfast Trees for that, which grow over there at the
right. They bear nuts, like the others, only the nuts contain coffee
or chocolate, instead of soup; oatmeal instead of meat-and-potatoes,
and fruits instead of dessert. Sad as has been my life in this
wonderful prison, I must admit that no one could live more luxuriously
in the best hotel in the world than I have lived here; but I will be
glad to get into the open air again and see the good old sun and the
silvery moon and the soft green grass and the flowers that are kissed
by the morning dew. Ah, how much more lovely are those blessed things
than the glitter of gems or the cold gleam of gold!"</p>
<p>"Of course," said Betsy. "I once knew a little boy who wanted to catch
the measles, because all the little boys in his neighborhood but him
had 'em, and he was really unhappy 'cause he couldn't catch 'em, try
as he would. So I'm pretty certain that the things we want, and can't
have, are not good for us. Isn't that true, Shaggy?"</p>
<p>"Not always, my dear," he gravely replied. "If we didn't want
anything, we would never get anything, good or bad. I think our
longings are natural, and if we act as nature prompts us we can't go
far wrong."</p>
<p>"For my part," said Queen Ann, "I think the world would be a dreary
place without the gold and jewels."</p>
<p>"All things are good in their way," said Shaggy; "but we may have too
much of any good thing. And I have noticed that the value of anything
depends upon how scarce it is, and how difficult it is to obtain."</p>
<p>"Pardon me for interrupting you," said King Kaliko, coming to their
side, "but now that we have rescued Shaggy's brother I would like to
return to my royal cavern. Being the King of the Nomes, it is my duty
to look after my restless subjects and see that they behave
themselves."</p>
<p>So they all turned and began walking through the Metal Forest to the
other side of the great domed cave, where they had first entered it.
Shaggy and his brother walked side by side and both seemed rejoiced
that they were together after their long separation. Betsy didn't dare
look at the polka dot handkerchief, for fear she would laugh aloud; so
she walked behind the two brothers and led Hank by holding fast to his
left ear.</p>
<p>When at last they reached the place where the passage led to the outer
world, Queen Ann said, in a hesitating way that was unusual with her:</p>
<p>"I have not conquered this Nome Country, nor do I expect to do so; but
I would like to gather a few of these pretty jewels before I leave
this place."</p>
<p>"Help yourself, ma'am," said King Kaliko, and at once the officers of
the Army took advantage of his royal permission and began filling
their pockets, while Ann tied a lot of diamonds in a big handkerchief.</p>
<p>This accomplished, they all entered the passage, the nomes going first
to light the way with their torches. They had not proceeded far when
Betsy exclaimed:</p>
<p>"Why, there are jewels here, too!"</p>
<p>All eyes were turned upon the ground and they found a regular trail of
jewels strewn along the rock floor.</p>
<p>"This is queer!" said Kaliko, much surprised. "I must send some of my
nomes to gather up these gems and replace them in the Metal Forest,
where they belong. I wonder how they came to be here?"</p>
<p>All the way along the passage they found this trail of jewels, but
when they neared the end the mystery was explained. For there,
squatted upon the floor with his back to the rock wall, sat old
Ruggedo, puffing and blowing as if he was all tired out. Then they
realized it was he who had scattered the jewels, from his many
pockets, which one by one had burst with the weight of their contents
as he had stumbled along the passage.</p>
<p>"But I don't mind," said Ruggedo, with a deep sigh. "I now realize
that I could not have carried such a weighty load very far, even had I
managed to escape from this passage with it. The woman who sewed the
pockets on my robe used poor thread, for which I shall thank her."</p>
<p>"Have you any jewels left?" inquired Betsy.</p>
<p>He glanced into some of the remaining pockets.</p>
<p>"A few," said he, "but they will be sufficient to supply my wants, and
I no longer have any desire to be rich. If some of you will kindly
help me to rise, I'll get out of here and leave you, for I know you
all despise me and prefer my room to my company."</p>
<p>Shaggy and Kaliko raised the old King to his feet, when he was
confronted by Shaggy's brother, whom he now noticed for the first
time. The queer and unexpected appearance of the Ugly One so startled
Ruggedo that he gave a wild cry and began to tremble, as if he had
seen a ghost.</p>
<p>"Wh—wh—who is this?" he faltered.</p>
<p>"I am that helpless prisoner whom your cruel magic transformed from a
handsome man into an ugly one!" answered Shaggy's brother, in a voice
of stern reproach.</p>
<p>"Really, Ruggedo," said Betsy, "you ought to be ashamed of that mean
trick."</p>
<p>"I am, my dear," admitted Ruggedo, who was now as meek and humble as
formerly he had been cruel and vindictive.</p>
<p>"Then," returned the girl, "you'd better do some more magic and give
the poor man his own face again."</p>
<p>"I wish I could," answered the old King; "but you must remember that
Tititi-Hoochoo has deprived me of all my magic powers. However, I
never took the trouble to learn just how to break the charm I cast
over Shaggy's brother, for I intended he should always remain ugly."</p>
<p>"Every charm," remarked pretty Polychrome, "has its antidote; and, if
you knew this charm of ugliness, Ruggedo, you must have known how to
dispel it."</p>
<p>He shook his head.</p>
<p>"If I did, I—I've forgotten," he stammered regretfully.</p>
<p>"Try to think!" pleaded Shaggy, anxiously. "Please try to think!"</p>
<p>Ruggedo ruffled his hair with both hands, sighed, slapped his chest,
rubbed his ear, and stared stupidly around the group.</p>
<p>"I've a faint recollection that there was one thing that would break
the charm," said he; "but misfortune has so addled my brain that I
can't remember what it was."</p>
<p>"See here, Ruggedo," said Betsy, sharply, "we've treated you pretty
well, so far, but we won't stand for any nonsense, and if you know
what's good for yourself you'll think of that charm!"</p>
<p>"Why?" he demanded, turning to look wonderingly at the little girl.</p>
<p>"Because it means so much to Shaggy's brother. He's dreadfully ashamed
of himself, the way he is now, and you're to blame for it. Fact is,
Ruggedo, you've done so much wickedness in your life that it won't
hurt you to do a kind act now."</p>
<p>Ruggedo blinked at her, and sighed again, and then tried very hard to
think.</p>
<p>"I seem to remember, dimly," said he, "that a certain kind of a kiss
will break the charm of ugliness."</p>
<p>"What kind of a kiss?"</p>
<p>"What kind? Why, it was—it was—it was either the kiss of a Mortal
Maid; or—or—the kiss of a Mortal Maid who had once been a Fairy;
or—or the kiss of one who is still a Fairy. I can't remember which.
But of course no maid, mortal or fairy, would ever consent to kiss a
person so ugly—so dreadfully, fearfully, terribly ugly—as Shaggy's
brother."</p>
<p>"I'm not so sure of that," said Betsy, with admirable courage; "I'm a
Mortal Maid, and if it is my kiss that will break this awful charm,
I—I'll do it!"</p>
<p>"Oh, you really couldn't," protested Ugly. "I would be obliged to
remove my mask, and when you saw my face, nothing could induce you to
kiss me, generous as you are."</p>
<p>"Well, as for that," said the little girl, "I needn't see your face at
all. Here's my plan: You stay in this dark passage, and we'll send
away the nomes with their torches. Then you'll take off the
handkerchief, and I—I'll kiss you."</p>
<p>"This is awfully kind of you, Betsy!" said Shaggy, gratefully.</p>
<p>"Well, it surely won't kill me," she replied; "and, if it makes you
and your brother happy, I'm willing to take some chances."</p>
<p>So Kaliko ordered the torch-bearers to leave the passage, which they
did by going through the rock opening. Queen Ann and her army also
went out; but the others were so interested in Betsy's experiment that
they remained grouped at the mouth of the passageway. When the big
rock swung into place, closing tight the opening, they were left in
total darkness.</p>
<p>"Now, then," called Betsy in a cheerful voice, "have you got that
handkerchief off your face, Ugly?"</p>
<p>"Yes," he replied.</p>
<p>"Well, where are you, then?" she asked, reaching out her arms.</p>
<p>"Here," said he.</p>
<p>"You'll have to stoop down, you know."</p>
<p>He found her hands and clasping them in his own stooped until his face
was near to that of the little girl. The others heard a clear,
smacking kiss, and then Betsy exclaimed:</p>
<p>"There! I've done it, and it didn't hurt a bit!"</p>
<p>"Tell me, dear brother; is the charm broken?" asked Shaggy.</p>
<p>"I do not know," was the reply. "It may be, or it may not be. I cannot
tell."</p>
<p>"Has anyone a match?" inquired Betsy.</p>
<p>"I have several," said Shaggy.</p>
<p>"Then let Ruggedo strike one of them and look at your brother's face,
while we all turn our backs. Ruggedo made your brother ugly, so I
guess he can stand the horror of looking at him, if the charm isn't
broken."</p>
<p>Agreeing to this, Ruggedo took the match and lighted it. He gave one
look and then blew out the match.</p>
<p>"Ugly as ever!" he said with a shudder. "So it wasn't the kiss of a
Mortal Maid, after all."</p>
<p>"Let me try," proposed the Rose Princess, in her sweet voice. "I am a
Mortal Maid who was once a Fairy. Perhaps my kiss will break the
charm."</p>
<p>Files did not wholly approve of this, but he was too generous to
interfere. So the Rose Princess felt her way through the darkness to
Shaggy's brother and kissed him.</p>
<p>Ruggedo struck another match, while they all turned away.</p>
<p>"No," announced the former King; "that didn't break the charm, either.
It must be the kiss of a Fairy that is required—or else my memory has
failed me altogether."</p>
<p>"Polly," said Betsy, pleadingly, "won't you try?"</p>
<p>"Of course I will!" answered Polychrome, with a merry laugh. "I've
never kissed a mortal man in all the thousands of years I have
existed, but I'll do it to please our faithful Shaggy Man, whose
unselfish affection for his ugly brother deserves to be rewarded."</p>
<p>Even as Polychrome was speaking she tripped lightly to the side of the
Ugly One and quickly touched his cheek with her lips.</p>
<p>"Oh, thank you—thank you!" he fervently cried. "I've changed, this
time, I know. I can feel it! I'm different. Shaggy—dear Shaggy—I am
myself again!"</p>
<p>Files, who was near the opening, touched the spring that released the
big rock and it suddenly swung backward and let in a flood of
daylight.</p>
<p>Everyone stood motionless, staring hard at Shaggy's brother, who, no
longer masked by the polka-dot handkerchief, met their gaze with a
glad smile.</p>
<p>"Well," said Shaggy Man, breaking the silence at last and drawing a
long, deep breath of satisfaction, "you are no longer the Ugly One, my
dear brother; but, to be entirely frank with you, the face that
belongs to you is no more handsome than it ought to be."</p>
<p>"I think he's rather good looking," remarked Betsy, gazing at the man
critically.</p>
<p>"In comparison with what he was," said King Kaliko, "he is really
beautiful. You, who never beheld his ugliness, may not understand
that; but it was my misfortune to look at the Ugly One many times, and
I say again that, in comparison with what he was, the man is now
beautiful."</p>
<p>"All right," returned Betsy, briskly, "we'll take your word for it,
Kaliko. And now let us get out of this tunnel and into the world
again."</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<h2><a name="CH23" id="CH23">Chapter Twenty-Three</a></h2>
<h3>Ruggedo Reforms</h3>
<p>It did not take them long to regain the royal cavern of the Nome King,
where Kaliko ordered served to them the nicest refreshments the place
afforded.</p>
<p>Ruggedo had come trailing along after the rest of the party and while
no one paid any attention to the old King they did not offer any
objection to his presence or command him to leave them. He looked
fearfully to see if the eggs were still guarding the entrance, but
they had now disappeared; so he crept into the cavern after the others
and humbly squatted down in a corner of the room.</p>
<p>There Betsy discovered him. All of the little girl's companions were
now so happy at the success of Shaggy's quest for his brother, and the
laughter and merriment seemed so general, that Betsy's heart softened
toward the friendless old man who had once been their bitter enemy,
and she carried to him some of the food and drink. Ruggedo's eyes
filled with tears at this unexpected kindness. He took the child's
hand in his own and pressed it gratefully.</p>
<p>"Look here, Kaliko," said Betsy, addressing the new King, "what's the
use of being hard on Ruggedo? All his magic power is gone, so he can't
do any more harm, and I'm sure he's sorry he acted so badly to
everybody."</p>
<p>"Are you?" asked Kaliko, looking down at his former master.</p>
<p>"I am," said Ruggedo. "The girl speaks truly. I'm sorry and I'm
harmless. I don't want to wander through the wide world, on top of the
ground, for I'm a nome. No nome can ever be happy any place but
underground."</p>
<p>"That being the case," said Kaliko, "I will let you stay here as long
as you behave yourself; but, if you try to act badly again, I shall
drive you out, as Tititi-Hoochoo has commanded, and you'll have to
wander."</p>
<p>"Never fear. I'll behave," promised Ruggedo. "It is hard work being a
King, and harder still to be a good King. But now that I am a common
nome I am sure I can lead a blameless life."</p>
<p>They were all pleased to hear this and to know that Ruggedo had really
reformed.</p>
<p>"I hope he'll keep his word," whispered Betsy to Shaggy; "but if he
gets bad again we will be far away from the Nome Kingdom and Kaliko
will have to 'tend to the old nome himself."</p>
<p>Polychrome had been a little restless during the last hour or two. The
lovely Daughter of the Rainbow knew that she had now done all in her
power to assist her earth friends, and so she began to long for her
sky home.</p>
<p>"I think," she said, after listening intently, "that it is beginning
to rain. The Rain King is my uncle, you know, and perhaps he has read
my thoughts and is going to help me. Anyway I must take a look at the
sky and make sure."</p>
<p>So she jumped up and ran through the passage to the outer entrance,
and they all followed after her and grouped themselves on a ledge of
the mountain-side. Sure enough, dark clouds had filled the sky and a
slow, drizzling rain had set in.</p>
<p>"It can't last for long," said Shaggy, looking upward, "and when it
stops we shall lose the sweet little fairy we have learned to love.
Alas," he continued, after a moment, "the clouds are already breaking
in the west, and—see!—isn't that the Rainbow coming?"</p>
<p>Betsy didn't look at the sky; she looked at Polychrome, whose happy,
smiling face surely foretold the coming of her father to take her to
the Cloud Palaces. A moment later a gleam of sunshine flooded the
mountain and a gorgeous Rainbow appeared.</p>
<p>With a cry of gladness Polychrome sprang upon a point of rock and held
out her arms. Straightway the Rainbow descended until its end was at
her very feet, when with a graceful leap she sprang upon it and was at
once clasped in the arms of her radiant sisters, the Daughters of the
Rainbow. But Polychrome released herself to lean over the edge of the
glowing arch and nod, and smile and throw a dozen kisses to her late
comrades.</p>
<p>"Good-bye!" she called, and they all shouted "Good-bye!" in return and
waved their hands to their pretty friend.</p>
<p>Slowly the magnificent bow lifted and melted into the sky, until the
eyes of the earnest watchers saw only fleecy clouds flitting across
the blue.</p>
<p>"I'm dreadful sorry to see Polychrome go," said Betsy, who felt like
crying; "but I s'pose she'll be a good deal happier with her sisters
in the sky palaces."</p>
<p>"To be sure," returned Shaggy, nodding gravely. "It's her home, you
know, and those poor wanderers who, like ourselves, have no home, can
realize what that means to her."</p>
<p>"Once," said Betsy, "I, too, had a home. Now, I've only—only—dear
old Hank!"</p>
<p>She twined her arms around her shaggy friend who was not human, and he
said: "Hee-haw!" in a tone that showed he understood her mood. And the
shaggy friend who was human stroked the child's head tenderly and
said: "You're wrong about that, Betsy, dear. I will never desert you."</p>
<p>"Nor I!" exclaimed Shaggy's brother, in earnest tones.</p>
<p>The little girl looked up at them gratefully, and her eyes smiled
through their tears.</p>
<p>"All right," she said. "It's raining again, so let's go back into the
cavern."</p>
<p>Rather soberly, for all loved Polychrome and would miss her, they
reentered the dominions of the Nome King.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<h2><a name="CH24" id="CH24">Chapter Twenty-Four</a></h2>
<h3>Dorothy is Delighted</h3>
<p>"Well," said Queen Ann, when all were again seated in Kaliko's royal
cavern, "I wonder what we shall do next. If I could find my way back
to Oogaboo I'd take my army home at once, for I'm sick and tired of
these dreadful hardships."</p>
<p>"Don't you want to conquer the world?" asked Betsy.</p>
<p>"No; I've changed my mind about that," admitted the Queen. "The world
is too big for one person to conquer and I was happier with my own
people in Oogaboo. I wish—Oh, how earnestly I wish—that I was back
there this minute!"</p>
<p>"So do I!" yelled every officer in a fervent tone.</p>
<p>Now, it is time for the reader to know that in the far-away Land of Oz
the lovely Ruler, Ozma, had been following the adventures of her
Shaggy Man, and Tik-Tok, and all the others they had met. Day by day
Ozma, with the wonderful Wizard of Oz seated beside her, had gazed
upon a Magic Picture in a radium frame, which occupied one side of the
Ruler's cosy boudoir in the palace of the Emerald City. The singular
thing about this Magic Picture was that it showed whatever scene Ozma
wished to see, with the figures all in motion, just as it was taking
place. So Ozma and the Wizard had watched every action of the
adventurers from the time Shaggy had met shipwrecked Betsy and Hank in
the Rose Kingdom, at which time the Rose Princess, a distant cousin of
Ozma, had been exiled by her heartless subjects.</p>
<p>When Ann and her people so earnestly wished to return to Oogaboo, Ozma
was sorry for them and remembered that Oogaboo was a corner of the
Land of Oz. She turned to her attendant and asked:</p>
<p>"Can not your magic take these unhappy people to their old home,
Wizard?"</p>
<p>"It can, Your Highness," replied the little Wizard.</p>
<p>"I think the poor Queen has suffered enough in her misguided effort to
conquer the world," said Ozma, smiling at the absurdity of the
undertaking, "so no doubt she will hereafter be contented in her own
little Kingdom. Please send her there, Wizard, and with her the
officers and Files."</p>
<p>"How about the Rose Princess?" asked the Wizard.</p>
<p>"Send her to Oogaboo with Files," answered Ozma. "They have become
such good friends that I am sure it would make them unhappy to
separate them."</p>
<p>"Very well," said the Wizard, and without any fuss or mystery whatever
he performed a magical rite that was simple and effective. Therefore
those seated in the Nome King's cavern were both startled and amazed
when all the people of Oogaboo suddenly disappeared from the room, and
with them the Rose Princess. At first they could not understand it at
all; but presently Shaggy suspected the truth, and believing that Ozma
was now taking an interest in the party he drew from his pocket a tiny
instrument which he placed against his ear.</p>
<p>Ozma, observing this action in her Magic Picture, at once caught up a
similar instrument from a table beside her and held it to her own ear.
The two instruments recorded the same delicate vibrations of sound and
formed a wireless telephone, an invention of the Wizard. Those
separated by any distance were thus enabled to converse together with
perfect ease and without any wire connection.</p>
<p>"Do you hear me, Shaggy Man?" asked Ozma.</p>
<p>"Yes, Your Highness," he replied.</p>
<p>"I have sent the people of Oogaboo back to their own little valley,"
announced the Ruler of Oz; "so do not worry over their disappearance."</p>
<p>"That was very kind of you," said Shaggy. "But Your Highness must
permit me to report that my own mission here is now ended. I have
found my lost brother, and he is now beside me, freed from the
enchantment of ugliness which Ruggedo cast upon him. Tik-Tok has
served me and my comrades faithfully, as you requested him to do, and
I hope you will now transport the Clockwork Man back to your fairyland
of Oz."</p>
<p>"I will do that," replied Ozma. "But how about yourself, Shaggy?"</p>
<p>"I have been very happy in Oz," he said, "but my duty to others forces
me to exile myself from that delightful land. I must take care of my
new-found brother, for one thing, and I have a new comrade in a dear
little girl named Betsy Bobbin, who has no home to go to, and no other
friends but me and a small donkey named Hank. I have promised Betsy
never to desert her as long as she needs a friend, and so I must give
up the delights of the Land of Oz forever."</p>
<p>He said this with a sigh of regret, and Ozma made no reply but laid
the tiny instrument on her table, thus cutting off all further
communication with the Shaggy Man. But the lovely Ruler of Oz still
watched her magic picture, with a thoughtful expression upon her face,
and the little Wizard of Oz watched Ozma and smiled softly to himself.</p>
<p>In the cavern of the Nome King Shaggy replaced the wireless telephone
in his pocket and turning to Betsy said in as cheerful a voice as he
could muster:</p>
<p>"Well, little comrade, what shall we do next?"</p>
<p>"I don't know, I'm sure," she answered with a puzzled face. "I'm kind
of sorry our adventures are over, for I enjoyed them, and now that
Queen Ann and her people are gone, and Polychrome is gone, and—dear
me!—where's Tik-Tok, Shaggy?"</p>
<p>"He also has disappeared," said Shaggy, looking around the cavern and
nodding wisely. "By this time he is in Ozma's palace in the Land of
Oz, which is his home."</p>
<p>"Isn't it your home, too?" asked Betsy.</p>
<p>"It used to be, my dear; but now my home is wherever you and my
brother are. We are wanderers, you know, but if we stick together I am
sure we shall have a good time."</p>
<p>"Then," said the girl, "let us get out of this stuffy, underground
cavern and go in search of new adventures. I'm sure it has stopped
raining."</p>
<p>"I'm ready," said Shaggy, and then they bade good-bye to King Kaliko,
and thanked him for his assistance, and went out to the mouth of the
passage.</p>
<p>The sky was now clear and a brilliant blue in color; the sun shone
brightly and even this rugged, rocky country seemed delightful after
their confinement underground. There were but four of them now—Betsy
and Hank, and Shaggy and his brother—and the little party made their
way down the mountain and followed a faint path that led toward the
southwest.</p>
<p>During this time Ozma had been holding a conference with the Wizard,
and later with Tik-Tok, whom the magic of the Wizard had quickly
transported to Ozma's palace. Tik-Tok had only words of praise for
Betsy Bobbin, "who," he said, "is al-most as nice as Dor-o-thy
her-self."</p>
<p>"Let us send for Dorothy," said Ozma, and summoning her favorite maid,
who was named Jellia Jamb, she asked her to request Princess Dorothy
to attend her at once. So a few moments later Dorothy entered Ozma's
room and greeted her and the Wizard and Tik-Tok with the same gentle
smile and simple manner that had won for the little girl the love of
everyone she met.</p>
<p>"Did you want to see me, Ozma?" she asked.</p>
<p>"Yes, dear. I am puzzled how to act, and I want your advice."</p>
<p>"I don't b'lieve it's worth much," replied Dorothy, "but I'll do the
best I can. What is it all about, Ozma?"</p>
<p>"You all know," said the girl Ruler, addressing her three friends,
"what a serious thing it is to admit any mortals into this fairyland
of Oz. It is true I have invited several mortals to make their home
here, and all of them have proved true and loyal subjects. Indeed, no
one of you three was a native of Oz. Dorothy and the Wizard came here
from the United States, and Tik-Tok came from the Land of Ev. But of
course he is not a mortal. Shaggy is another American, and he is the
cause of all my worry, for our dear Shaggy will not return here and
desert the new friends he has found in his recent adventures, because
he believes they need his services."</p>
<p>"Shaggy Man was always kind-hearted," remarked Dorothy. "But who are
these new friends he has found?"</p>
<p>"One is his brother, who for many years has been a prisoner of the
Nome King, our old enemy Ruggedo. This brother seems a kindly, honest
fellow, but he has done nothing to entitle him to a home in the Land
of Oz."</p>
<p>"Who else?" asked Dorothy.</p>
<p>"I have told you about Betsy Bobbin, the little girl who was
shipwrecked—in much the same way you once were—and has since been
following the Shaggy Man in his search for his lost brother. You
remember her, do you not?"</p>
<p>"Oh, yes!" exclaimed Dorothy. "I've often watched her and Hank in the
Magic Picture, you know. She's a dear little girl, and old Hank is a
darling! Where are they now?"</p>
<p>"Look and see," replied Ozma with a smile at her friend's enthusiasm.</p>
<p>Dorothy turned to the Picture, which showed Betsy and Hank, with
Shaggy and his brother, trudging along the rocky paths of a barren
country.</p>
<p>"Seems to me," she said, musingly, "that they're a good way from any
place to sleep, or any nice things to eat."</p>
<p>"You are right," said Tik-Tok. "I have been in that coun-try, and it
is a wil-der-ness."</p>
<p>"It is the country of the nomes," explained the Wizard, "who are so
mischievous that no one cares to live near them. I'm afraid Shaggy and
his friends will endure many hardships before they get out of that
rocky place, unless—"</p>
<p>He turned to Ozma and smiled.</p>
<p>"Unless I ask you to transport them all here?" she asked.</p>
<p>"Yes, your Highness."</p>
<p>"Could your magic do that?" inquired Dorothy.</p>
<p>"I think so," said the Wizard.</p>
<p>"Well," said Dorothy, "as far as Betsy and Hank are concerned, I'd
like to have them here in Oz. It would be such fun to have a girl
playmate of my own age, you see. And Hank is such a dear little mule!"</p>
<p>Ozma laughed at the wistful expression in the girl's eyes, and then
she drew Dorothy to her and kissed her.</p>
<p>"Am I not your friend and playmate?" she asked.</p>
<p>Dorothy flushed.</p>
<p>"You know how dearly I love you, Ozma!" she cried. "But you're so busy
ruling all this Land of Oz that we can't always be together."</p>
<p>"I know, dear. My first duty is to my subjects, and I think it would
be a delight to us all to have Betsy with us. There's a pretty suite
of rooms just opposite your own where she can live, and I'll build a
golden stall for Hank in the stable where the Sawhorse lives. Then
we'll introduce the mule to the Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger,
and I'm sure they will soon become firm friends. But I cannot very
well admit Betsy and Hank into Oz unless I also admit Shaggy's
brother."</p>
<p>"And, unless you admit Shaggy's brother, you will keep out poor
Shaggy, whom we are all very fond of," said the Wizard.</p>
<p>"Well, why not ad-mit him?" demanded Tik-Tok.</p>
<p>"The Land of Oz is not a refuge for all mortals in distress,"
explained Ozma. "I do not wish to be unkind to Shaggy Man, but his
brother has no claim on me."</p>
<p>"The Land of Oz isn't crowded," suggested Dorothy.</p>
<p>"Then you advise me to admit Shaggy's brother?" inquired Ozma.</p>
<p>"Well, we can't afford to lose our Shaggy Man, can we?"</p>
<p>"No, indeed!" returned Ozma. "What do you say, Wizard?"</p>
<p>"I'm getting my magic ready to transport them all."</p>
<p>"And you, Tik-Tok?"</p>
<p>"Shag-gy's broth-er is a good fel-low, and we can't spare Shag-gy."</p>
<p>"So, then; the question is settled," decided Ozma. "Perform your
magic, Wizard!"</p>
<p>He did so, placing a silver plate upon a small standard and pouring
upon the plate a small quantity of pink powder which was contained in
a crystal vial. Then he muttered a rather difficult incantation which
the sorceress Glinda the Good had taught him, and it all ended in a
puff of perfumed smoke from the silver plate. This smoke was so
pungent that it made both Ozma and Dorothy rub their eyes for a
moment.</p>
<p>"You must pardon these disagreeable fumes," said the Wizard. "I assure
you the smoke is a very necessary part of my wizardry."</p>
<p>"Look!" cried Dorothy, pointing to the Magic Picture; "they're gone!
All of them are gone."</p>
<p>Indeed, the picture now showed the same rocky landscape as before, but
the three people and the mule had disappeared from it.</p>
<p>"They are gone," said the Wizard, polishing the silver plate and
wrapping it in a fine cloth, "because they are here."</p>
<p>At that moment Jellia Jamb entered the room.</p>
<p>"Your Highness," she said to Ozma, "the Shaggy Man and another man are
in the waiting room and ask to pay their respects to you. Shaggy is
crying like a baby, but he says they are tears of joy."</p>
<p>"Send them here at once, Jellia!" commanded Ozma.</p>
<p>"Also," continued the maid, "a girl and a small-sized mule have
mysteriously arrived, but they don't seem to know where they are or
how they came here. Shall I send them here, too?"</p>
<p>"Oh, no!" exclaimed Dorothy, eagerly jumping up from her chair; "I'll
go to meet Betsy myself, for she'll feel awful strange in this big
palace."</p>
<p>And she ran down the stairs two at a time to greet her new friend,
Betsy Bobbin.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<h2><a name="CH25" id="CH25">Chapter Twenty-Five</a></h2>
<h3>The Land of Love</h3>
<p>"Well, is 'hee-haw' all you are able to say?" inquired the Sawhorse,
as he examined Hank with his knot eyes and slowly wagged the branch
that served him for a tail.</p>
<p>They were in a beautiful stable in the rear of Ozma's palace, where
the wooden Sawhorse—very much alive—lived in a gold-paneled stall,
and where there were rooms for the Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger,
which were filled with soft cushions for them to lie upon and golden
troughs for them to eat from.</p>
<p>Beside the stall of the Sawhorse had been placed another for Hank, the
mule. This was not quite so beautiful as the other, for the Sawhorse
was Ozma's favorite steed; but Hank had a supply of cushions for a bed
(which the Sawhorse did not need because he never slept) and all this
luxury was so strange to the little mule that he could only stand
still and regard his surroundings and his queer companions with wonder
and amazement.</p>
<p>The Cowardly Lion, looking very dignified, was stretched out upon the
marble floor of the stable, eyeing Hank with a calm and critical gaze,
while near by crouched the huge Hungry Tiger, who seemed equally
interested in the new animal that had just arrived. The Sawhorse,
standing stiffly before Hank, repeated his question:</p>
<p>"Is 'hee-haw' all you are able to say?"</p>
<p>Hank moved his ears in an embarrassed manner.</p>
<p>"I have never said anything else, until now," he replied; and then he
began to tremble with fright to hear himself talk.</p>
<p>"I can well understand that," remarked the Lion, wagging his great
head with a swaying motion. "Strange things happen in this Land of Oz,
as they do everywhere else. I believe you came here from the cold,
civilized, outside world, did you not?"</p>
<p>"I did," replied Hank. "One minute I was outside of Oz—and the next
minute I was inside! That was enough to give me a nervous shock, as
you may guess; but to find myself able to talk, as Betsy does, is a
marvel that staggers me."</p>
<p>"That is because you are in the Land of Oz," said the Sawhorse. "All
animals talk, in this favored country, and you must admit it is more
sociable than to bray your dreadful 'hee-haw,' which nobody can
understand."</p>
<p>"Mules understand it very well," declared Hank.</p>
<p>"Oh, indeed! Then there must be other mules in your outside world,"
said the Tiger, yawning sleepily.</p>
<p>"There are a great many in America," said Hank. "Are you the only
Tiger in Oz?"</p>
<p>"No," acknowledged the Tiger, "I have many relatives living in the
Jungle Country; but I am the only Tiger living in the Emerald City."</p>
<p>"There are other Lions, too," said the Sawhorse; "but I am the only
horse, of any description, in this favored Land."</p>
<p>"That is why this Land is favored," said the Tiger. "You must
understand, friend Hank, that the Sawhorse puts on airs because he is
shod with plates of gold, and because our beloved Ruler, Ozma of Oz,
likes to ride upon his back."</p>
<p>"Betsy rides upon my back," declared Hank proudly.</p>
<p>"Who is Betsy?"</p>
<p>"The dearest, sweetest girl in all the world!"</p>
<p>The Sawhorse gave an angry snort and stamped his golden feet. The
Tiger crouched and growled. Slowly the great Lion rose to his feet,
his mane bristling.</p>
<p>"Friend Hank," said he, "either you are mistaken in judgment or you
are willfully trying to deceive us. The dearest, sweetest girl in the
world is our Dorothy, and I will fight anyone—animal or human—who
dares to deny it!"</p>
<p>"So will I!" snarled the Tiger, showing two rows of enormous white
teeth.</p>
<p>"You are all wrong!" asserted the Sawhorse in a voice of scorn. "No
girl living can compare with my mistress, Ozma of Oz!"</p>
<p>Hank slowly turned around until his heels were toward the others. Then
he said stubbornly:</p>
<p>"I am not mistaken in my statement, nor will I admit there can be a
sweeter girl alive than Betsy Bobbin. If you want to fight, come
on—I'm ready for you!"</p>
<p>While they hesitated, eyeing Hank's heels doubtfully, a merry peal of
laughter startled the animals and turning their heads they beheld
three lovely girls standing just within the richly carved entrance to
the stable. In the center was Ozma, her arms encircling the waists of
Dorothy and Betsy, who stood on either side of her. Ozma was nearly
half a head taller than the two other girls, who were almost of one
size. Unobserved, they had listened to the talk of the animals, which
was a very strange experience indeed to little Betsy Bobbin.</p>
<p>"You foolish beasts!" exclaimed the Ruler of Oz, in a gentle but
chiding voice. "Why should you fight to defend us, who are all three
loving friends and in no sense rivals? Answer me!" she continued, as
they bowed their heads sheepishly.</p>
<p>"I have the right to express my opinion, your Highness," pleaded the
Lion.</p>
<p>"And so have the others," replied Ozma. "I am glad you and the Hungry
Tiger love Dorothy best, for she was your first friend and companion.
Also I am pleased that my Sawhorse loves me best, for together we have
endured both joy and sorrow. Hank has proved his faith and loyalty by
defending his own little mistress; and so you are all right in one
way, but wrong in another. Our Land of Oz is a Land of Love, and here
friendship outranks every other quality. Unless you can all be
friends, you cannot retain our love."</p>
<p>They accepted this rebuke very meekly.</p>
<p>"All right," said the Sawhorse, quite cheerfully; "shake hoofs, friend
Mule."</p>
<p>Hank touched his hoof to that of the wooden horse.</p>
<p>"Let us be friends and rub noses," said the Tiger. So Hank modestly
rubbed noses with the big beast.</p>
<p>The Lion merely nodded and said, as he crouched before the mule:</p>
<p>"Any friend of a friend of our beloved Ruler is a friend of the
Cowardly Lion. That seems to cover your case. If ever you need help or
advice, friend Hank, call on me."</p>
<p>"Why, this is as it should be," said Ozma, highly pleased to see them
so fully reconciled. Then she turned to her companions: "Come, my
dears, let us resume our walk."</p>
<p>As they turned away Betsy said wonderingly:</p>
<p>"Do all the animals in Oz talk as we do?"</p>
<p>"Almost all," answered Dorothy. "There's a Yellow Hen here, and she
can talk, and so can her chickens; and there's a Pink Kitten upstairs
in my room who talks very nicely; but I've a little fuzzy black dog,
named Toto, who has been with me in Oz a long time, and he's never
said a single word but 'Bow-wow!'"</p>
<p>"Do you know why?" asked Ozma.</p>
<p>"Why, he's a Kansas dog; so I s'pose he's different from these fairy
animals," replied Dorothy.</p>
<p>"Hank isn't a fairy animal, any more than Toto," said Ozma, "yet as
soon as he came under the spell of our fairyland he found he could
talk. It was the same way with Billina, the Yellow Hen whom you
brought here at one time. The same spell has affected Toto, I assure
you; but he's a wise little dog and while he knows everything that is
said to him he prefers not to talk."</p>
<p>"Goodness me!" exclaimed Dorothy. "I never s'pected Toto was fooling
me all this time." Then she drew a small silver whistle from her
pocket and blew a shrill note upon it. A moment later there was a
sound of scurrying footsteps, and a shaggy black dog came running up
the path.</p>
<p>Dorothy knelt down before him and shaking her finger just above his
nose she said:</p>
<p>"Toto, haven't I always been good to you?"</p>
<p>Toto looked up at her with his bright black eyes and wagged his tail.</p>
<p>"Bow-wow!" he said, and Betsy knew at once that meant yes, as well as
Dorothy and Ozma knew it, for there was no mistaking the tone of
Toto's voice.</p>
<p>"That's a dog answer," said Dorothy. "How would you like it, Toto, if
I said nothing to you but 'bow-wow'?"</p>
<p>Toto's tail was wagging furiously now, but otherwise he was silent.</p>
<p>"Really, Dorothy," said Betsy, "he can talk with his bark and his tail
just as well as we can. Don't you understand such dog language?"</p>
<p>"Of course I do," replied Dorothy. "But Toto's got to be more
sociable. See here, sir!" she continued, addressing the dog, "I've
just learned, for the first time, that you can say words—if you want
to. Don't you want to, Toto?"</p>
<p>"Woof!" said Toto, and that meant "no."</p>
<p>"Not just one word, Toto, to prove you're as any other animal in Oz?"</p>
<p>"Woof!"</p>
<p>"Just one word, Toto—and then you may run away."</p>
<p>He looked at her steadily a moment.</p>
<p>"All right. Here I go!" he said, and darted away as swift as an arrow.</p>
<p>Dorothy clapped her hands in delight, while Betsy and Ozma both
laughed heartily at her pleasure and the success of her experiment.
Arm in arm they sauntered away through the beautiful gardens of the
palace, where magnificent flowers bloomed in abundance and fountains
shot their silvery sprays far into the air. And by and by, as they
turned a corner, they came upon Shaggy Man and his brother, who were
seated together upon a golden bench.</p>
<p>The two arose to bow respectfully as the Ruler of Oz approached them.</p>
<p>"How are you enjoying our Land of Oz?" Ozma asked the stranger.</p>
<p>"I am very happy here, Your Highness," replied Shaggy's brother. "Also
I am very grateful to you for permitting me to live in this delightful
place."</p>
<p>"You must thank Shaggy for that," said Ozma. "Being his brother, I
have made you welcome here."</p>
<p>"When you know Brother better," said Shaggy earnestly, "you will be
glad he has become one of your loyal subjects. I am just getting
acquainted with him myself and I find much in his character to
admire."</p>
<p>Leaving the brothers, Ozma and the girls continued their walk.
Presently Betsy exclaimed:</p>
<p>"Shaggy's brother can't ever be as happy in Oz as I am. Do you know,
Dorothy, I didn't believe any girl could ever have such a good
time—anywhere—as I'm having now?"</p>
<p>"I know," answered Dorothy. "I've felt that way myself, lots of
times."</p>
<p>"I wish," continued Betsy, dreamily, "that every little girl in the
world could live in the Land of Oz; and every little boy, too!"</p>
<p>Ozma laughed at this.</p>
<p>"It is quite fortunate for us, Betsy, that your wish cannot be
granted," said she, "for all that army of girls and boys would crowd
us so that we would have to move away."</p>
<p>"Yes," agreed Betsy, after a little thought, "I guess that's true."</p>
<h3>THE END</h3>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<h3>The Wonderful Oz Books by L. Frank Baum</h3>
<p> <br />
<b>THE WIZARD OF OZ <br />
THE LAND OF OZ <br />
OZMA OF OZ <br />
DOROTHY AND THE WIZARD IN OZ <br />
THE ROAD TO OZ <br />
THE EMERALD CITY OF OZ <br />
THE PATCHWORK GIRL OF OZ <br />
TIK-TOK OF OZ <br />
THE SCARECROW OF OZ <br />
RINKITINK IN OZ <br />
THE LOST PRINCESS OF OZ <br />
THE TIN WOODMAN OF OZ <br />
THE MAGIC OF OZ <br />
GLINDA OF OZ</b></p>
<pre>
The Project Gutenberg Etext of Tik-Tok of Oz, by L. Frank Baum
*****This file should be named 08woz11.txt or 08woz11.zip*****
Corrected EDITIONS of our etexts get a new NUMBER, 08woz11.txt
VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 08woz10a.txt
This Etext was prepared for Project Gutenberg by Anthony Matonac.
Proofreading and corrections by Paul Selkirk, January 2002.
More information about this book is at the top of this file.
We are now trying to release all our etexts one year in advance
of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing.
Please be encouraged to tell us about any error or corrections,
even years after the official publication date.
Please note neither this listing nor its contents are final til
midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement.
The official release date of all Project Gutenberg Etexts is at
Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A
preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment
and editing by those who wish to do so.
Most people start at our Web sites at:
http://gutenberg.net or
http://promo.net/pg
These Web sites include award-winning information about Project
Gutenberg, including how to donate, how to help produce our new
etexts, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter (free!).
Those of you who want to download any Etext before announcement
can get to them as follows, and just download by date. This is
also a good way to get them instantly upon announcement, as the
indexes our cataloguers produce obviously take a while after an
announcement goes out in the Project Gutenberg Newsletter.
http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext03 or
ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext03
Or /etext02, 01, 00, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90
Just search by the first five letters of the filename you want,
as it appears in our Newsletters.
Information about Project Gutenberg (one page)
We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The
time it takes us, a rather conservative estimate, is fifty hours
to get any eBook selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright
searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. Our
projected audience is one hundred million readers. If the value
per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2
million dollars per hour in 2002 as we release over 100 new text
files per month: 1240 more eBooks in 2001 for a total of 4000+
We are already on our way to trying for 2000 more eBooks in 2002
If they reach just 1-2% of the world's population then the total
will reach over half a trillion eBooks given away by year's end.
The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away 1 Trillion eBooks!
This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers,
which is only about 4% of the present number of computer users.
Here is the briefest record of our progress (* means estimated):
eBooks Year Month
1 1971 July
10 1991 January
100 1994 January
1000 1997 August
1500 1998 October
2000 1999 December
2500 2000 December
3000 2001 November
4000 2001 October/November
6000 2002 December*
9000 2003 November*
10000 2004 January*
The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been created
to secure a future for Project Gutenberg into the next millennium.
We need your donations more than ever!
As of February, 2002, contributions are being solicited from people
and organizations in: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut,
Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois,
Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts,
Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio,
Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South
Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West
Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
We have filed in all 50 states now, but these are the only ones
that have responded.
As the requirements for other states are met, additions to this list
will be made and fund raising will begin in the additional states.
Please feel free to ask to check the status of your state.
In answer to various questions we have received on this:
We are constantly working on finishing the paperwork to legally
request donations in all 50 states. If your state is not listed and
you would like to know if we have added it since the list you have,
just ask.
While we cannot solicit donations from people in states where we are
not yet registered, we know of no prohibition against accepting
donations from donors in these states who approach us with an offer to
donate.
International donations are accepted, but we don't know ANYTHING about
how to make them tax-deductible, or even if they CAN be made
deductible, and don't have the staff to handle it even if there are
ways.
The most recent list of states, along with all methods for donations
(including credit card donations and international donations), may be
found online at http://www.gutenberg.net/donation.html
Donations by check or money order may be sent to:
Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
PMB 113
1739 University Ave.
Oxford, MS 38655-4109
Contact us if you want to arrange for a wire transfer or payment
method other than by check or money order.
The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been approved by
the US Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization with EIN
[Employee Identification Number] 64-622154. Donations are
tax-deductible to the maximum extent permitted by law. As fund-raising
requirements for other states are met, additions to this list will be
made and fund-raising will begin in the additional states.
We need your donations more than ever!
You can get up to date donation information at:
http://www.gutenberg.net/donation.html
***
If you can't reach Project Gutenberg,
you can always email directly to:
Michael S. Hart [hart@pobox.com]
Prof. Hart will answer or forward your message.
We would prefer to send you information by email.
**The Legal Small Print**
(Three Pages)
***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS**START***
Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers.
They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with
your copy of this etext, even if you got it for free from
someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our
fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement
disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how
you may distribute copies of this etext if you want to.
*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS ETEXT
By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm
etext, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept
this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive
a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this etext by
sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person
you got it from. If you received this etext on a physical
medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request.
ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM ETEXTS
This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etext, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etexts,
is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor Michael S. Hart
through the Project Gutenberg Association (the "Project").
Among other things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright
on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and
distribute it in the United States without permission and
without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth
below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this etext
under the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark.
Please do not use the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark to market
any commercial products without permission.
To create these etexts, the Project expends considerable
efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain
works. Despite these efforts, the Project's etexts and any
medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other
things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or
corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other
intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged
disk or other etext medium, a computer virus, or computer
codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment.
LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES
But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below,
[1] Michael Hart and the Foundation (and any other party you may
receive this etext from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etext) disclaims
all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including
legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR
UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT,
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE
OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE
POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
If you discover a Defect in this etext within 90 days of
receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any)
you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that
time to the person you received it from. If you received it
on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and
such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement
copy. If you received it electronically, such person may
choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to
receive it electronically.
THIS ETEXT IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER
WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS
TO THE ETEXT OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or
the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the
above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you
may have other legal rights.
INDEMNITY
You will indemnify and hold Michael Hart, the Foundation,
and its trustees and agents, and any volunteers associated
with the production and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm
texts harmless, from all liability, cost and expense, including
legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the
following that you do or cause: [1] distribution of this etext,
[2] alteration, modification, or addition to the etext,
or [3] any Defect.
DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm"
You may distribute copies of this etext electronically, or by
disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this
"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg,
or:
[1] Only give exact copies of it. Among other things, this
requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the
etext or this "small print!" statement. You may however,
if you wish, distribute this etext in machine readable
binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form,
including any form resulting from conversion by word
processing or hypertext software, but only so long as
*EITHER*:
[*] The etext, when displayed, is clearly readable, and
does *not* contain characters other than those
intended by the author of the work, although tilde
(~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may
be used to convey punctuation intended by the
author, and additional characters may be used to
indicate hypertext links; OR
[*] The etext may be readily converted by the reader at
no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent
form by the program that displays the etext (as is
the case, for instance, with most word processors);
OR
[*] You provide, or agree to also provide on request at
no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the
etext in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC
or other equivalent proprietary form).
[2] Honor the etext refund and replacement provisions of this
"Small Print!" statement.
[3] Pay a trademark license fee to the Foundation of 20% of the
gross profits you derive calculated using the method you
already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you
don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are
payable to "Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation"
the 60 days following each date you prepare (or were
legally required to prepare) your annual (or equivalent
periodic) tax return. Please contact us beforehand to
let us know your plans and to work out the details.
WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO?
Project Gutenberg is dedicated to increasing the number of
public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed
in machine readable form.
The Project gratefully accepts contributions of money, time,
public domain materials, or royalty free copyright licenses.
Money should be paid to the:
"Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
If you are interested in contributing scanning equipment or
software or other items, please contact Michael Hart at:
hart@pobox.com
[Portions of this header are copyright (C) 2001 by Michael S. Hart
and may be reprinted only when these Etexts are free of all fees.]
[Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be used in any sales
of Project Gutenberg Etexts or other materials be they hardware or
software or any other related product without express permission.]
*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.10/04/01*END*
End of the Project Gutenberg Etext of Tik-Tok of Oz, by L. Frank Baum
</pre>
</body>
</html>
|
