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Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..31c819d --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #56079 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/56079) diff --git a/old/56079-h.zip b/old/56079-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 051a21b..0000000 --- a/old/56079-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/56079-h/56079-h.htm b/old/56079-h/56079-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 9b04ec5..0000000 --- a/old/56079-h/56079-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,4988 +0,0 @@ -<!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" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> - <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=us-ascii" /> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> - <title> - The Project Gutenberg eBook of Handy Mandy in Oz, by Ruth Plumly Thompson. - </title> - <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> - - <style type="text/css"> - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - - h1 { - text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ - clear: both; -} - -h2 -{ - text-align: center; - font-weight: normal; - line-height: 1.5; -} - -p { - margin-top: .51em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .49em; -} - -.ph4 { text-align: right; text-indent: 0em; } -.ph3 { text-align: center; text-indent: 0em; } -.ph3 { font-size: medium; margin: .83em auto; } -.ph4 { font-size: medium; margin: .83em auto; } - -hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%; } - -.center {text-align: center;} - -.right {text-align: right;} - -div.titlepage { - text-align: center; - page-break-before: always; - page-break-after: always; -} - -div.titlepage p { - text-align: center; - text-indent: 0em; - font-weight: bold; - line-height: 1.5; - margin-top: 3em; -} - - -table { - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; -} - - .tdl {text-align: left;} - .tdr {text-align: right;} - .tdc {text-align: center;} - -.blockquot { - margin-left: 5%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - -.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} - - -/* Images */ - -.image-center -{ - text-align: center; - margin: 1em auto; -} - - -/* Poetry */ - -.poetry .stanza -{ - margin: 1em auto; -} - -.poetry .verse -{ - padding-left: 3em; -} - - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Handy Mandy in Oz, by -Ruth Plumly Thompson and L. Frank Baum - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: Handy Mandy in Oz - -Author: Ruth Plumly Thompson - L. Frank Baum - -Illustrator: John R. Neil - -Release Date: November 29, 2017 [EBook #56079] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HANDY MANDY IN OZ *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/cover.jpg" width="252" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus1.jpg" width="500" height="308" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus2.jpg" width="368" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus3.jpg" width="302" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/tp.jpg" width="264" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="titlepage"> - - -<h1>HANDY MANDY IN OZ</h1> - -<p><i>By</i><br /> -RUTH PLUMLY THOMPSON<br /> -Founded on and continuing the Famous Oz Stories</p> - -<p><i>By</i><br /> -L. FRANK BAUM<br /> -"Royal Historian of Oz"</p> - -<p><i>Illustrated by</i><br /> -JOHN R. NEILL</p> - -<p>The Reilly & Lee Co.<br /> -CHICAGO</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus4.jpg" width="253" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>COPYRIGHT 1937</p> - -<p>By<br /> -THE REILLY & LEE Co.</p> - -<p>ALL RIGHTS RESERVED</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Printed in the u. s. a.</span></p> - -<p>[Transcriber's Note: Extensive research did not uncover any<br /> -evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]</p> - -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><i>Hello there!</i></p> - - -<p>Another spring, another book and another old Wizard in Oz! -Imagine! And with Ruggedo mixed up in the story there's bound to be -fun and excitement.</p> - -<p>Now I do hope you like Handy Mandy and Nox. I'm very fond of -the Royal Ox, myself. He rather reminds me of Kabumpo, while Kerry -is as nice a young King as I've met in an Oz age. But tell me what -YOU think. No one, not even Ozma, receives as fine letters as you all -write me, and I can hardly wait to hear all this year's news and those -interesting Ozzy suggestions. My news comes from the palace of the -Red Jinn, today. It seems that he and Kabumpo are really going to pay -that long-promised visit to Randy in Regalia. My—y, I'll have to look -into this. Meanwhile, best and merriest wishes and a high old happy-go-lucky -year to you!</p> - -<p class="ph4">RUTH PLUMLY THOMPSON.</p> - -<p>254 S. Farragut Terrace,<br /> -West Philadelphia, Pa.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus5.jpg" width="378" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p class="ph3">This book is lovingly dedicated to all<br /> -the boys and girls who have written<br /> -me letters! Yes, here's to YOU and<br /> -cheers to you!</p> - -<p class="ph3">RUTH PLUMLY THOMPSON</p> - -<p class="ph3">April, 1937</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<h2>Handy Mandy in Oz</h2> - - -<p>On many a day had Handy, the Goat Girl of Mern, pursued her goats -up and down the rocky eminences of her native mountain. And -never—NEVER—in her fourteen or so years' experience had she -been blown up by a mountain spring. But there comes, in every one's -experience a day which is unlike every other day, and so it was with -the Goat Girl. As she was pursuing What-a-butter, her favorite goat, -there was a sudden crash, a whish, and up flew the slab of rock on -which she was standing, up and away.</p> - -<p>The adventures into which she was carried by this simple though awefull -beginning take a whole book to relate. How she met Nox the Royal Ox of -Keretaria, how together they went in search of little King Kerry, how -at last they rescued him and found themselves feted guests of Ozma of -Oz, all these things you must read for yourselves.</p> - -<p>Read what the University of Washington Chapbooks have to say about -the famous Oz series. They <i>have taught American children to look for -the elements of wonder in the life around them, to realize that even -smoke and machinery may be transformed into fairy lore if only we have -sufficient energy and vision to penetrate to their significance and -transform them to our use.... Some day we may have better fairytales -but that will not be until America is a better country. (Edward Wagenknecht.)</i></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus6.jpg" width="264" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<h2>CONTENTS</h2> - -<table> -<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_1">1 </a></td><td>Mandy Leaves the Mountain</td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_2">2 </a></td><td>The End of the Ride</td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_3">3 </a></td><td>The King of Keretaria</td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_4">4 </a></td><td>The Message in the Horn</td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_5">5 </a></td><td>Out of Keretaria!</td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_6">6 </a></td><td>Turn Town!</td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_7">7 </a></td><td>A Horn of Plenty</td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_8">8 </a></td><td>Handy Mandy Learns about Oz!</td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_9">9 </a></td><td>The Magic Hammer</td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_10">10 </a></td><td>The King of the Silver Mountain</td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_11">11 </a></td><td>Down to the Prisoners' Pit!</td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_12">12 </a></td><td>Prisoners of the Wizard</td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_13">13 </a></td><td>In the Emerald City of Oz</td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_14">14 </a></td><td>The Robbery Is Discovered</td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_15">15 </a></td><td>The Pilgrim Returns to the Mountain</td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_16">16 </a></td><td>The Wizard's Bargain!</td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_17">17 </a></td><td>Out of the Prison Pit</td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_18">18 </a></td><td>Wutz and the Gnome King Leave for the Capital!</td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_19">19 </a></td><td>At the Bottom of the Mountain!</td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_20">20 </a></td><td>Just in Time!</td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_21">21 </a></td><td>The Hammer Elf Explains</td></tr> - -</table> - - - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><a name="CHAPTER_1" id="CHAPTER_1"></a></p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus7.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt=""/> -</div> - -<h2>CHAPTER 1<br /> - -<small>Mandy Leaves the Mountain</small></h2> - - -<p>"What-a-BUTTER! What-a-BUTTER!" High and clear above the peaks of Mt. -Mern floated the voice of the Goat Girl calling the finest, fattest -but most troublesome of her flock. All the other goats were winding -obediently down toward the village that perched precariously on the -edge of the mountain. But of What-a-butter there was not a single sign -nor whisker.</p> - -<p>"Serves me right for spoiling the contrary creature," panted Mandy, -pushing back her thick yellow braids with her second best hand. "Always -wants her own way, that goat—so she does. What-a-butter, I say -WHAT-A-BUTTER—come down here this instant." But only the tantalizing -tinkle of the goat's silver bell came to answer her, for What-a-butter -was climbing up, not down, and there was nothing for Mandy to do but go -after her.</p> - -<p>Muttering dire threats which she was much too soft hearted ever to -carry out, the rosy cheeked mountain lass scrambled over crags and -stones, pulling herself up steep precipices, the goat always managing -to keep a few jumps ahead, till soon they were almost at the top of the -mountain!</p> - -<p>Here, stopping on a jutting rock to catch her breath and remove the -burrs from her stockings, Mandy heard a dreadful roar and felt an -ominous rumbling beneath her feet. What-a-butter on a narrow ledge just -above heard it too, and cocked her head anxiously on one side. Perhaps -she had best jump down to Mandy. After all, the great silly girl did -feed and pet her, and from the sound of things a storm was brewing. -If there was one thing the goat feared more than another, it was a -thunder-storm, so, rolling her eyes as innocently as if she had not -dragged Mandy all over the mountain she stretched her nose down toward -her weary mistress.</p> - -<p>"Bah—ah-ah-ahhhhhhhhhh!" bleated What-a-butter affectionately.</p> - -<p>"Oh 'Bah' yourself!" fumed Mandy, making an angry snatch for the Nanny -Goat's beard. "Pets and children are all alike—never appreciate a body -till they have a stomach ache, or a thunder-storm is coming. Now then, -m'lass, be quick with you!"</p> - -<p>Holding out her strong arms, Mandy made ready to catch the goat as it -jumped off the ledge. But before What-a-butter could stir, there was -a perfectly awful crash and explosion and up shot the slab of rock on -which Mandy was standing, up—UP and out of sight entirely. Where the -mountain girl had been, a crystal column of water spurted viciously -into the air, so high the bulging eyes of the goat could see no end to -it. Rearing up on her hind legs, What-a-butter turned round and round -in a frantic effort to catch a glimpse of her vanishing Mistress. -Then thinking suddenly what would happen should the torrent turn and -fall upon her, the goat sprang off the ledge and ran madly down the -mountain, bleating like a whole herd of Banshees.</p> - -<p>And Mandy, as you can well believe, was as frightened as What-a-butter -and with twice as much reason. The first upheaval, as the rock left the -earth, flung her flat on her nose. Grasping the edges of the slab with -all hands, Mandy hung on for dear life and as a stinging shower of icy -water sprayed her from head to foot, wondered what under the earth was -happening to her. Thorns and thistles! Could the thunder-storm really -have come UP instead of down? Certainly it was raining up, and what -ever was carrying her aloft with such terrible force and relentlessness?</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus8.jpg" width="492" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>How could the Goat Girl know that a turbulent spring pent up for -thousands of years in the center of Mt. Mern had suddenly burst its -way to freedom! And you have no idea of the tremendous power in a -mountain spring once it uncoils and lets itself go. Mandy's rock might -just as well have been shot into the air by a magic cannon. First it -tore upward as if it meant to knock a hole in the sky, then, still -travelling at incalculable speed, began to arch and take a horizontal -course over the mountains, hills and valleys west of Mern. All poor -Mandy knew was that she was hurtling through space at break-neck speed -with nothing to save or stop her. The long yellow braids of the Goat -Girl streamed out like pennants, while her striped skirt and voluminous -petticoats snapped and fluttered like banners in the wind.</p> - -<p>"What-a-butter! Oh What-a-butter!" moaned Mandy, gazing wildly -over the edge of the rock. But pshaw, what was the use of calling? -What-a-butter, even if she heard, could not fly after her through -the air, and when she herself came down not even her own goat would -recognize her. At this depressing thought, Mandy dropped her head on -her arms and began to weep bitterly, for she was quite sure she would -never see her friends—her home—or her goats again.</p> - -<p>But the rough and frugal life on Mt. Mern had made the Goat Girl both -brave and resourceful, so she soon dried her tears and as the rock -still showed no signs of slowing up nor dashing down, she began to take -heart and even a desperate sort of interest in her experience. Slowly -and cautiously she pulled herself to a sitting position and still -clutching the edges of the rock, dared to look down at the countries -and towns flashing away below.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus9.jpg" width="500" height="339" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"After all," sniffed the reckless maiden, "nothing very dreadful has -happened yet. I've always wanted to travel and now I AM travelling. Not -many people have flown through the air on a rock—why it's really a -rocket!" decided Mandy, with a nervous giggle. "And that, I suppose, -makes me the first rocket rider in the country, and the LAST, too," she -finished soberly as she measured with her eye the distance she would -plunge when her rock started earthward. "Now if we'd just come down in -that blue lake, below, I might have a chance. Perhaps I should jump?"</p> - -<p>But by the time Mandy made up her mind to jump the lake was far behind -and nothing but a great desert of smoking sand stretched beneath her.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><a name="CHAPTER_2" id="CHAPTER_2"></a></p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus10.jpg" width="500" height="329" alt=""/> -</div> - -<h2>CHAPTER 2<br /> - -<small>The End of the Ride</small></h2> - - -<p>The sky, from the rosy pink of late afternoon, had faded to a -depressing grey, and Mandy could not help thinking longingly of the -appetizing little supper she had set out for herself before going up -to call the goats. Who would eat it now or even know she was flying -through the air like a comet? No one, she concluded drearily, for Mandy -was an orphan and lived all by herself in a small cottage on Mt. Mern, -high above the village of Fistikins. In a day or two, some of her -friends in the village might search the cottage and find her gone, but -NOW, now there was nothing to do but sit tight and hope for the best.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus11.jpg" width="412" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>Mandy's next glance down was more encouraging. Instead of the dangerous -looking desert, she was sailing over misty blue hills and valleys -dotted with many small towns and villages. High as she was, she could -even hear the church bells tolling the hour, and this made Mandy feel -more lost and lonely than ever. All these people below were safely at -home and about to eat their suppers while she was flying high and far -from everything she knew and loved best.</p> - -<p>Hungrily the Goat Girl cast her eyes over the rock she was riding, -thinking to find a small sprig of mountain berries or even a blade of -grass to nibble. At first glance, the rock seemed bare and barren, then -sticking up out of a narrow crevice Mandy spied a tiny blue flower. -"Poor little posy, it's as far from home as I am," murmured the Goat -Girl, and carefully breaking the stem, she lifted the blue flower to -her nose. Its faint fragrance was vaguely comforting and Mandy had just -begun to count the petals, when the rock gave a sickening lurch and -started to pitch down so fast Mandy's braids snapped like jumping ropes -and her skirts bellied out like a parachute in a gale.</p> - -<p>"NOW for it," gasped the Goat Girl closing her eyes and clenching her -teeth. "OH! My poor little shins!" Mandy's shins were both stout and -sturdy, but even so we cannot blame Mandy for pitying them. Stouter -shins than hers would have splintered at such a fall. Hardly knowing -what she was doing, Mandy began to pull the petals from the blue -flower, calling in an agonized voice as she pulled each one the names -of her goats and friends. She had just come to Speckle, the smallest -member of her flock, when the end came.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus12.jpg" width="256" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>Kimmeny Jimmeny! Was this ALL? Opening one eye, the Goat Girl looked -fearfully about her. She was sitting on top of a haystack, no, not -a haystack, but a heap of soft blue flower petals as soft as down. -Opening the other eye she saw the rock, on which she had travelled so -far, bump over a golden fence and fall with a satisfied splash into a -shimmering lake. But what lay beyond the lake made Mandy forget all her -troubles and fairly moan with surprise and pleasure.</p> - -<p>"A CASTLE!" exulted the Goat Girl, putting one hand above her heart. -"Oh! I've always wanted to see a castle and now I AM." And this castle, -let me tell you, was well worth anyone's seeing, a castle of lacy blue -marble carved, and decorated with precious stones, in a way to astonish -the eyes of a simple mountain lass. From the tallest tower, a silken -pennant floated lazily in the evening breeze.</p> - -<p>"K-E-R-E-T-A-R-I-A," Mandy spelled out slowly. Sliding off the heap of -flower petals she stood for a long delicious moment lost in admiration. -Then, giving herself a businesslike shake to be sure she was not broken -or bent by her amazing flight and tumble, Mandy turned to examine the -rest of her surroundings.</p> - -<p>When she looked at the spot on which she had fallen the stack of blue -petals had disappeared, but there, twinkling up cheerfully, was the -blue flower as much at home as if it had grown there in the first -place. Thoroughly puzzled, Mandy picked the little flower a second time -and slipped it into the pocket of her apron.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus13.jpg" width="500" height="337" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>Even without the mystery of the blue flower it was astonishing enough -to find herself in the stately park of this gorgeous blue castle. There -was a tree lined avenue and velvety lawns splashed with star shaped -flower beds stretched in every direction. Only the small patch of land -on which she was standing was bare and uncultivated. And evidently -someone was at work here, for a great white ox, with golden horns, -yoked to a gold plow stood with his back to Mandy, dozing cozily in the -pleasant dusk.</p> - -<p>At sight of the ox, Mandy gave a little sigh of relief and content. -Long ago an old mountain woman had given her this sensible piece of -advice. "When you do not know what to do next, do the first useful -piece of work that comes to hand." Now here, right at hand, was a -useful piece of work, and while she was trying to figure out the whole -puzzle of the flying rock and strange blue flower, she might just as -well be ploughing. Then when the owner of the castle saw her working so -industriously, he might invite her to supper. So, grasping the tail of -the ancient plow, Mandy clicked her tongue in a cheerful signal for the -ox to start.</p> - -<p>The white ox, who had not seen nor heard the Goat Girl till this minute -turned his head in a lordly fashion and gave her a long haughty look. -Not really believing what he saw, he took another look, and then, with -a bellow of fright and outrage went charging across the park pulling -the startled Goat Girl behind him. Mandy might have let go, but she -just did not think of it, and with pounding heart and flying braids -held fast to the pitching plough as it tore through flower beds, ripped -up lawns and cut fearful furrows in the pebbled paths. Clouds of earth, -stones and whole plants uprooted ruthlessly from their beds showered -round her ears, and as they reached the palace, a hard metal object -hit her squarely between the eyes. Putting up a hand, Mandy caught the -flying missile and mechanically slipped it into her pocket, and the -next instant the ox lunging through an open French window dragged her -into the magnificently furnished throne room of the castle. Not only -into the throne room, mind you, but into the lap of royalty itself!</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><a name="CHAPTER_3" id="CHAPTER_3"></a></p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus14.jpg" width="500" height="328" alt=""/> -</div> - -<h2>CHAPTER 3<br /> - -<small>The King of Keretaria</small></h2> - - -<p>The white ox in his mad dash across the throne room had run violently -into a marble pillar, hurling Mandy straight into the arms of a very -tall, very stern, and very blue looking monarch. Pages and courtiers -tripped and fell left and right in a scramble to get out of the way, -while the ox, snorting and trembling, looked balefully over his -shoulder at the Goat Girl.</p> - -<p>"Whu-what is—the—meaning of—this out-rageous in-trusion?" panted -the King. "Unhand me, woman! Remove your finger from my eye and -your arms—your ARMS! Hi! Hi! Hi!" The King's sentence ended in -three frightened squeaks. "Is it a girl or an octopus?" he puffed, -heaving up his chest in an endeavor to dislodge Mandy. "Hi! Hi! Hi! -Are you going to allow this clumping savage to insult my Majesty in -this—er—high-handed manner?"</p> - -<p>As the Goat Girl, by this time scarlet from anger and mortification, -jumped off the King's lap, three very high officials of the Court of -Keretaria darted forward.</p> - -<p>"The High Qui-questioner! The Imperial Persuader! And the Lord High -Upper Dupper of the Realm!" bawled a page. Having delivered himself -of this impressive announcement the page bolted back of a curtain and -from there peered with astonished eyes at the visitor. Everyone in the -grand blue throne room looked frightened and ready to run at a moment's -notice. Wondering what could be the matter with them all, Mandy with -many misgivings watched the counselors of Keretaria advance in a -threatening row.</p> - -<p>"Now then—not a move!" thundered the High Qui-questioner, tapping -her sharply on the shoulder with a golden staff shaped like a huge -interrogation point. "It is my duty to question all strangers who ride, -fall, fly or break into our Kingdom, and you," the Haughty Nobleman -gave Mandy a cold blue stare, "YOU are stranger than any stranger who -has ever come to Keretaria."</p> - -<p>"It is my duty to persuade you to do as his Majesty commands," stated -the Imperial Persuader, raising his gold spiked club.</p> - -<p>"And it is MY duty to put you in your place," sniffed the Lord High -Upper Dupper rattling a bunch of keys that hung from his belt.</p> - -<p>"Well if you ask me," puffed the Ox, rolling his eyes wildly round at -the Goat Girl, "her place is in a museum and the sooner you lock her -upper dupper, the better." Now Mandy was so astonished to hear the Ox -actually speaking, she gave a loud cry and flung up her hands, every -single seven of them.</p> - -<p>"Help! Help!" yelped the Courtiers, scurrying like mice into corners -and corridors. Only the white Ox, the King and his Counselors kept -their places.</p> - -<p>"How DARE you come into a King's presence armed in this barbarous -fashion?" gasped the High Qui-questioner, taking a step toward the Goat -Girl, but too frightened to touch her.</p> - -<p>"PIGS!" cried Mandy, suddenly losing her temper. "Can I help my seven -arms? All of us on Mt. Mern have seven arms and hands and you with -your skinny two seem far funnier than I. I am Mandy, the Goat Girl, as -anyone in his senses can see."</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus15.jpg" width="500" height="336" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"The girl is right," observed the Ox, gazing more attentively at Mandy -and now speaking quite calmly, "she can no more help those seven arms -than you can help those seven warts on your nose, Questo. I tell you -this maiden is a real curiosity and if you three Hi-boys will cease -rattling your teeth and your clubs, perhaps she will explain why she -has come to Keretaria. I myself shall call her Handy Mandy."</p> - -<p>"Why, the beast has more sense than its masters," thought the Goat Girl -in surprise.</p> - -<p>"Well," rumbled the King ungraciously, "if you have anything to say -before we lock you up, SAY IT, but do not wave your arms about, PLEASE."</p> - -<p>Swallowing nervously, clasping four of her hands behind her back and -stuffing the other three into convenient pockets in her apron, Mandy -began to speak. "I was driving my goats home from the mountain, Your -Majesty, when the rock on which I was standing exploded suddenly into -the air, flew like a bird over hill, valley, and desert and dropped me -into your garden—"</p> - -<p>"And not a bruise nor a bump to show for it," grunted the Imperial -Persuader elevating his nose to show he was not taken in by such a -tale. In spite of his suspicious glance, Mandy decided to say nothing -of the blue flower that had so miraculously softened her fall.</p> - -<p>"And since when have rocks flown through the air?" inquired the Lord -High Upper Dupper sarcastically.</p> - -<p>"Ahem—in the garden," continued Mandy undaunted by the two -interruptions, "I saw this great white ox and thinking to do a bit of -honest work for my supper, grasped the plough, but—"</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus16.jpg" width="255" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"That was a little oxident," murmured the great beast in a jovial -voice, "for, catching sight of a seven-armed maiden all at once and -without warning, I took to my heels and landed her in her present -unpleasant predicament. Is that not so, m'lass?"</p> - -<p>Looking at the Ox with round eyes, Mandy nodded.</p> - -<p>"But she still has not explained all these arms," complained the -Imperial Persuader. "Whoever heard of a seven-handed maiden?"</p> - -<p>"I have!" asserted Mandy stoutly. "And what, pray, is there to explain? -This iron hand—" the Goat Girl raised it slowly and thoughtfully as -she spoke, "I use for ironing, lifting hot pots from the stove and all -horrid sort of hard work; this leather hand I keep for beating rugs, -dusting, sweeping, and so on; this wooden hand I use for churning and -digging in the garden; these two red rubber hands for dishwashing and -scrubbing, and my two fine white hands I keep for holding and braiding -my hair." With all seven hands extended before her, Mandy smiled -engagingly up at the King.</p> - -<p>"Undoubtedly a witch," whispered the Imperial Persuader darkly, as -the King in spite of himself gazed curiously down at his seven-armed -visitor.</p> - -<p>"A dangerous character, Your Majesty," hissed the High Qui-questioner, -shaking his head disapprovingly.</p> - -<p>"To the dungeons with her!" rasped the Lord High Upper Dupper, rattling -his keys like castanets.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus17.jpg" width="500" height="348" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"WHAT?" bawled the white Ox, stamping all of his gold shod feet in -rapid succession. "You mean to consign this marvel of skill and -efficiency to a dungeon? What a set of dunces you are! Come, Handy, I -myself, will take you for a slave. Out of my way, DOLTS!" Swaggering a -bit, and with the golden plough still clanking and bumping behind him, -the Ox ambled at a dignified pace toward the door. Mandy, though she -did not relish the idea of becoming his slave, was greatly relieved at -the interest the Ox was taking in her case, but before following him, -she looked inquiringly up at the King.</p> - -<p>"Yes, GO!" commanded His Majesty harshly, "I hereby give you into the -care and service of Nox, the Royal Ox of Keretaria. Harm one hair of -his head, and you will pay for it with your life and perish, I promise -you, most ignominiously."</p> - -<p>"Mercy—ercy," muttered Mandy tiptoeing nervously after her new master, -"doesn't the fellow know any short words? How queer everything is on -this side of the mountain, people with only two arms, animals talking -and giving orders to Kings. Suppose the goats at home started bossing -the villagers?" And what would the villagers think of her strange -flight and reception in Keretaria? Well, from what she herself had seen -of Royalty, decided the Goat Girl, she much preferred her goats or even -the company of this haughty white Ox. Stepping briskly beside him, -Mandy resolved to humor the creature till she saw a bit more of the -country or found some safe way back to her mountain.</p> - -<p>Nox swinging along at his own indolent gait paid no further attention -to the Goat Girl, but when they reached his royal quarters, which -to Mandy looked more like a castle than a stable, he began bawling -so fiercely for the stable boys she decided uncomfortably that being -his slave might prove both unpleasant and dangerous. However, when -six little boys dressed in blue overalls and aprons ran out, the -Royal Ox addressed them quite kindly. The first, without waiting for -instructions unhitched the plough and lifted the yoke from the royal -shoulders.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus18.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Prepare Kerry's quarters for my new slave," directed Nox, turning to -the second and third. "You others, bring dinner for two, and mind you -fetch Handy Mandy everything they have at the King's table." With a -playful lunge Nox started them smartly on their way, then moved grandly -into the huge stone stable and along to his own luxurious gold-paved -stall.</p> - -<p>"My—y!" exclaimed the Goat Girl, sinking breathlessly to a three -legged stool, "how grand and elegant you are here! My—y, I wish -What-a-butter could see this!"</p> - -<p>"One of your goats?" murmured Nox, burying his nose in the huge marble -bowl he used for a drinking trough.</p> - -<p>Mandy nodded. "I wish she were here now!" she added with a rapturous -little sigh.</p> - -<p>"Well, I don't." Deliberately the Royal Ox licked the water from his -lips. "Do you suppose I'd allow a miserable goat in my sapphire trimmed -stall?"</p> - -<p>"Miserable!" squealed Mandy, springing off the stool. "What-a-butter's -the smartest goat on the mountain; she wouldn't give two bleats and a -BAH for an old Hoopadoop like YOU!"</p> - -<p>"Hoopadoop!" repeated the Ox in a dazed whisper. "Do you mean to stand -there and call the Royal Ox of Keretaria a Hoopadoop?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," said Mandy firmly but backing off a bit as she spoke. "What -makes you think you're so much better than a goat even if you do talk, -put on airs and have golden horns?"</p> - -<p>"Well," and to Mandy's surprise and relief, Nox cleared his throat and -grinned quite amiably, "after all I AM the Royal Ox, you know, more -precious to the King than all his court and subjects. Everyone jumps at -my least command, so why shouldn't I put on a few airs? Besides do you -think it's polite to call me an old Hoopadoop when I've just saved you -from a dungeon?"</p> - -<p>"No," admitted Mandy, resuming her seat thoughtfully, "I don't suppose -it is. Maybe you <i>are</i> as good as a goat," she added with a little -burst of generosity.</p> - -<p>"Oh, thank you! Thank you very much!" Through half closed eyes the -Royal Ox looked quizzically at the Goat Girl. "I believe we shall get -on famously, m'lass, famously. The truth is, you amuse me no end and so -long as you amuse me everything will be smooth as silk. But of course, -if you bore me, I will bore you. Oh, positively!" Lowering his head Nox -shook his horns playfully.</p> - -<p>"Now I shouldn't try that, if I were you," advised Mandy, raising her -iron hand and cracking the fingers warningly. "For if you do, I might -throw things!"</p> - -<p>"Ha ha! I believe you would." The enormous beast, charmed by so much -spirit and independence fairly beamed upon his new slave. "I take it -you are pretty good at throwing things."</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus19.jpg" width="500" height="342" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Yes, and at catching them, too." Reaching up, Mandy took seven of the -dozen brushes off the shelf above her head. Tossing them all into the -air with three of her hands, she caught them easily with the other -four. Then dragging her stool closer, she began brushing the coat of -her royal charge so hard and vigorously he blinked with pleasure and -astonishment. "Will you have your tail plain, curled or plaited?" asked -Mandy in a businesslike voice.</p> - -<p>"Er—er—plain, thank you." With admiration and some alarm, Nox -regarded the whirling arms of the Goat Girl, but the four little stable -boys, appearing at that moment, stared at her in glassy eyed fright and -consternation. For Nox they had brought a tray heaped high with corn -and oats and another with fresh sliced apples. For Mandy there were two -trays of gold dishes containing a sample of everything from the royal -table. Dropping her brushes Mandy seized all the trays at once in her -various hands, which so frightened the stable boys they took to their -heels yelling at the tops of their voices.</p> - -<p>Winking at the Royal Ox, Mandy set his supper on the gold stand meant -for that purpose, then dropping to the floor before her own two trays -began her first dinner in a strange land. And WHAT a strange land, -mused Mandy helping herself from the gold dishes with first one hand -and then another.</p> - -<p>"Well, m'lass?" inquired Nox, daintily nibbling his oats and apples. -"Is this not better than bread and water in a dungeon cell?" Too full -for utterance, Mandy rapturously nodded.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><a name="CHAPTER_4" id="CHAPTER_4"></a></p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus20.jpg" width="500" height="330" alt=""/> -</div> - -<h2>CHAPTER 4<br /> - -<small>The Message in the Horn</small></h2> - - -<p>After the Goat Girl had finished her supper and the stable boys had -hurried off with the trays, Nox showed his new slave to her quarters. -Handy Mandy, who had expected nothing better than a heap of straw in -the corner of an empty stall, decided that for a slave, she was faring -pretty well. A small but complete apartment had been built in the wing -next to Nox's stall, with not only a comfortable bedroom and bath, but -a small sitting room as well. The bed was a huge gold four poster with -blue silk sheets and comforters. Never in her hard and simple life had -Handy dreamed of such elegance!</p> - -<p>"Here, try the chairs," urged Nox, trotting almost briskly into the -sitting room. This, Mandy was only too willing to do, and the pretty -little room with its book shelves, lamps and pictures seemed to the -honest Goat Girl much more desirable than the palace.</p> - -<p>"All belonged to Kerry," mumbled the Royal Ox, settling himself largely -on a white rug beside her.</p> - -<p>"Was Kerry one of your slaves?" asked Mandy, rocking herself cheerfully -to and fro with all her hands resting quietly in her lap.</p> - -<p>"SLAVE!" The Ox spoke sharply. "I should say not. Kerry was a King! Our -own little King up to a few years ago, and what a lad he was—what a -lad!"</p> - -<p>"Was?" exclaimed Mandy. "Why—what happened to him?"</p> - -<p>"He disappeared," Nox told her sadly. "Nobody knows how—or where, just -disappeared, my girl, on a hunting trip, and this blue nosed scoundrel -who claims to be his uncle, came to rule over Keretaria. Since then," -Nox lowered his voice cautiously, "everything is different—and -changed. The people are treated no better than dogs. DOGS!" repeated -the Royal Ox bitterly. "Of course this fellow cannot interfere with me -nor take any chances for there is a prophecy on the west wall of the -castle that has stood for a thousand years."</p> - -<p>"What does it say?" asked Mandy, leaning forward and clasping the arms -of the rocker with all hands.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus21.jpg" width="320" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>Impressively Nox repeated the prophecy: "So long as the Royal Ox of -Keretaria is in good health and spirits, so long and no longer shall -the present King rule over the Land."</p> - -<p>"But who wrote it?" Mandy's rocker stopped with a surprised squeak.</p> - -<p>"Nobody knows," answered Nox soberly, "but it has come true dozens and -dozens of times. Each time a new King is crowned in Keretaria a new Ox -appears mysteriously at the Royal coronation. If anything happens to -the Royal Ox the King also is destroyed!"</p> - -<p>"My—y!" The Goat Girl now rocked very fast indeed. "So that's the -reason they take such good care of you, old Toggins. But tell me, where -do all of you Royal Oxen come from in the first place? And how is it -you can speak? None of the beasts on Mount Mern can say a word."</p> - -<p>"Oh, that—" the Royal Ox lifted his head lazily. "Keretaria is in the -wonderful Land of Oz, my dear Handy, and all Oz creatures can talk, -even the mice and squirrels. But what part of Oz we white oxen really -come from, I myself cannot rightly say. I seem to remember a great blue -forest and many happy days there. Then one evening a silver cloth was -thrown over my head and I fell into a deep and immediate slumber. When -I awakened, I was here in Keretaria and on that same day little King -Kerry was crowned King of the Realm. From the attendants and courtiers -I soon learned of the strange prophecy, but the young boy King was so -devoted to me—and I to him, I did not miss the forest or my former -freedom.</p> - -<p>"To be near me, Kerry had this apartment built in the stable and spent -more than half of his time in my company. My life being easy and -pleasant, I gave little thought to the past or to the future, but spent -all my energies enjoying the present. Once in a while just for the -looks of the thing, I appeared in Royal Processions, and each day at -sundown I was yoked for an hour to the golden plough and required to -stand for an hour in the royal garden. But I never did any real work or -ploughing, till you, my reckless Handy, came along today."</p> - -<p>"But what about the little King?" begged the Goat Girl, as Nox lapsed -into a thoughtful silence and seemed to have forgotten all about her.</p> - -<p>"He disappeared, just as I told you." The Royal Ox rolled his big -eyes mournfully upward. "On this day, as on many others, I carried -him on my back to the edge of the wood. There, mounting his favorite -steed, he rode away with the Royal Huntsmen for an hour's sport. As -I was returning to the castle someone struck me a terrific blow that -felled me to the earth, where I lay for several hours in complete -unconsciousness. Whoever struck me down evidently thought I was -finished, for when I finally did regain my senses, I was buried beneath -a heap of loose earth and leaves. Still dazed and hardly knowing what -I was about, I struggled out and staggered back to the courtyard. One -of my horns had been bent during the encounter and my expression was -so wild and distracted no one recognized me as BOZ, the Royal Ox of -Little King Kerry. The whole castle was in an uproar, for a new King -had taken possession of the throne and thinking, of course, I was -the next and new Royal Ox, this rascally imposter named me NOX. The -Keretarians, without daring to inquire what had become of their former -ruler, crowned me with daisies and laurel and hurried to do the bidding -of their new ruler."</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus22.jpg" width="468" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"WHY—the big <i>cowards</i>!" said Handy Mandy, clenching all of her fists, -"And do you mean to tell me nothing has been heard of the little King -since then?"</p> - -<p>"Nothing." The Royal Ox moved his head drearily from side to side. "The -people think the Royal Prophecy has been fulfilled again and what can -they DO? A farmer's boy brought word that Boz, the Royal Ox, had been -struck down and spirited away, so naturally they felt sure that Kerry -also had been destroyed or taken prisoner."</p> - -<p>"Then no one suspects you are really Boz and not NOX?" questioned the -Goat Girl, now on the very edge of her chair. "Oh, my—y, but don't you -see, if you are still the same Ox who came to Keretaria with King Kerry -and you are still all right, he must be all right, too. That is, if the -prophecy means <i>anything</i>."</p> - -<p>"Sh—hh!" warned Nox, looking about nervously. "Someone might hear you. -That is what keeps me here," he went on seriously. "I felt if I stayed -quietly in my place, Kerry would some day return, claim his own throne -and drive this miserable tyrant out of the country."</p> - -<p>"Stay quietly here when the little fellow may be needing you!" cried -Handy aghast. "Oh, why don't you go look for him, you great big OX you! -Come on, what are we waiting for? Why I'll drag that old rascal off the -throne with my own hands," promised the Goat Girl indignantly waving -her arms.</p> - -<p>"Wait! Stop!" Nox sprang up with surprising lightness for one usually -so ponderous and slow. "Do you realize that I am treasured and watched -more closely than the crown jewels? At this very moment twenty -guardsmen stalk round and round the stable. I have as much chance of -leaving Keretaria as a goldfish has of flying through a forest."</p> - -<p>As if to prove his words a tall soldier in a blue shako thrust his head -suddenly through the window from the outside. "Is everything in order -and as you wish, your Highness?" puffed the Guard, looking suspiciously -at the Goat Girl's revolving arms.</p> - -<p>"Everything is lovely," murmured the Ox in a sleepy voice. "My slave -here is doing her exercises and when she finishes she will polish my -horns." At his warning wink, Handy Mandy dropped all her arms at her -side.</p> - -<p>"Well! Well! A pleasant evening to you," mumbled the soldier, -withdrawing his head after another disapproving look at the Goat Girl. -For a moment after he had disappeared neither spoke, then Handy Mandy, -snatching a silk cover from one of the pillows fell to polishing Nox's -left horn for very dear life.</p> - -<p>"I can always think faster when I'm working," she observed earnestly.</p> - -<p>"Think away," replied the Ox, closing his eyes so as not to see the -numerous hands flashing past his nose. "But be careful what you say and -do. If you rouse the suspicions of old King Kerr, you'll be flung into -a dungeon in spite of all my influence."</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus23.jpg" width="500" height="348" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Now don't you be worrying about me," chortled Handy with a little wink -and nod. "I've been taking care of myself and a flock of goats for ten -years! Say, this is a bend, for sure." The Goat Girl ran her rubber -fingers curiously along the curve in the Ox's left horn and then, with -one of her sudden and kind-hearted impulses, tried to straighten the -quirk with a quick twist of her wrist. Imagine, then, if you can, her -horror and surprise when the golden horn came off in her hand.</p> - -<p>"Oh my goats and my goodness!" shuddered Handy hopping from one foot -to the other. "What'll I do? Where's some glue? Oh My—igh—igh! I'm -mighty sorry!"</p> - -<p>"Sorry!" gulped the Royal Ox, glaring at the Goat Girl with rolling -eyes and lashing tail. But before he could lunge forward as he -certainly intended to do, Handy gave a little scream of excitement. -"Oh look," she panted, pointing all thirty-five fingers at the base of -Nox's horn, "Oh, my dear—ear, it screws on—there are regular grooves. -Wait—I'll have it back in a jiffy."</p> - -<p>Nox, who couldn't possibly see the top of his own head, merely gave a -grunt, but Handy Mandy, lifting the horn in her wooden hand, screamed -again and then began to shake the horn violently. At her second shake, -two silver balls tumbled out and rolled away into a corner. Scrambling -after them, with Nox now as interested as she, the Goat Girl recovered -them both and dropped breathlessly on a sofa.</p> - -<p>On closer examination Handy discovered the balls would open as easily -as cardboard Easter eggs, and with Nox's head resting heavily on her -shoulder she gave the first a quick turn. It came apart at once and in -the hollow center lay a small folded paper. Spreading it out on her -knees, Handy read in a hoarse whisper: "Go to the Silver Mountain of -OZ."</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus24.jpg" width="457" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Silver Mountain? Do you know where that is?" exclaimed the Goat Girl, -looking wildly round at Nox.</p> - -<p>"No, but I'll wager my head it has something to do with Kerry! Quick, -m'lass, open the other ball."</p> - -<p>With the trembling fingers of her good white hand the Goat Girl obeyed. -Inside the second sphere lay a small silver key. After they had -examined this and read the message all over again, Handy carefully -tucked the two articles back in the silver balls and returned the balls -to the golden horn. Then, hastily screwing the horn back on its base, -the two began whispering earnestly together.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus25.jpg" width="500" height="340" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Mean to say you never knew your horn came off?" questioned Handy, -clasping and unclasping her hands. "Mean to say you never heard of this -Silver Mountain?"</p> - -<p>"No to both questions," answered the Ox with an anxious little sigh. -"But now that we <i>do</i> know, we must start off at once to search for -it and see for ourselves whether Kerry is imprisoned there by his -enemies. Though how we'll escape these guards or ever get away with -half the Kingdom watching, I cannot imagine!"</p> - -<p>"Never fear, we'll manage," promised Handy easily. "Why with your horns -and my hands it will take an army to stop us. Now get your rest, Ox -dear, and in the morn's morning we'll be journeying."</p> - -<p>"You're right," breathed the Ox, starting obediently toward his stall. -"I more than half believe you."</p> - -<p>"Good night, then," called the Goat Girl softly. "Don't talk in your -sleep and give our plans away."</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><a name="CHAPTER_5" id="CHAPTER_5"></a></p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus26.jpg" width="500" height="326" alt=""/> -</div> - -<h2>CHAPTER 5<br /> - -<small>Out of Keretaria!</small></h2> - - -<p>Nox was asleep on a heap of white flower petals in the corner of his -stall, asleep and dreaming of the Silver Mountain of Oz, when a sharp -tap on the shoulder rudely awakened him.</p> - -<p>"Come!" whispered an urgent voice. "Time to start! Come, I've managed -everything." Lurching to his feet and still in a daze, the Royal Ox -looked askance and with no great favor at the Goat Girl.</p> - -<p>"Why, it's not even light!" he moaned feebly.</p> - -<p>"Of course not," admitted Handy Mandy guardedly, "but I poked my nose -out the door a moment ago and saw all the guards were a bit drowsyish, -so I tapped them on the head with this." Handy Mandy raised her iron -hand and with a little grimace beckoned for Nox to hurry. "Come along -now, and we can be out of here before they know what's what or who."</p> - -<p>So Nox, with a regretful look round his comfortable stall and a sigh -for his morning bath and breakfast, moved quietly after her. While the -Royal Creature had spent most of his time during the past two years -thinking of ways to rescue his young Master, now that he was actually -starting out he was filled with doubt and dismay. How could they ever -find this Silver Mountain and overcome the enemies that most certainly -would beset them?</p> - -<p>The sight of the twenty guards lying in a stiff row somewhat reassured -the downhearted beast and in the dim light of early morning he looked -thoughtfully up at the sturdy mountain lass stepping so resolutely -beside him. In each hand Handy carried a different weapon, and resting -on her broad shoulders was a rake, an axe, one guard's gun, another -guard's sword, a spade and a long handled broom. Noting his astonished -glance, the Goat Girl grinned and with her one free hand touched her -fingers to her lips. So, silently and without exchanging a word, the -two crossed the stable yard, the Royal Park, hurried through a little -wood, and came out on a dusty blue Highway.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus27.jpg" width="500" height="328" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"NOW!" said Handy, looking up and down the road to make sure no one was -coming, "now we can talk and decide which direction to take."</p> - -<p>"How can we do that," objected Nox, panting a little from the -unaccustomed exertion before breakfast, "when neither of us knows -where this Silver Mountain is?"</p> - -<p>"Well, we have tongues, haven't we? And can ask, can't we?" Handy Mandy -rattled her weapons impatiently. "But before we worry about the Silver -Mountain we must get out of Keretaria. Which is the quickest way to the -border?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, North," answered Nox promptly. "Keretaria is in the upper part of -the Munchkin Country of Oz and once we cross the Northern branch of the -Munchkin River, we'll be entirely out of the country."</p> - -<p>"Fine! Then we'll go North. And what lies beyond the Munchkin River?" -inquired the Goat Girl, shifting the axe to her left shoulder.</p> - -<p>"I've never crossed myself," admitted Nox, moving along in his slow and -dignified manner, "but I have heard there are many mountains and if we -go far enough the Purple Land of the Gillikins."</p> - -<p>"Sounds interesting," decided Handy Mandy, "and who knows, among all -those mountains we may find the one we are looking for! By the way, am -I to call you Boz, Nox or Goldie Horns? But I believe I'll call you -Nox, for somehow I like Nox the Ox best."</p> - -<p>"Anything you say," yawned her companion, switching his tail -negligently, "but I shall always call YOU, Handy Mandy. It suits you, -m'lass, and you need no longer consider yourself a slave."</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus28.jpg" width="386" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Ho, ho, I never did," roared the Goat Girl, glancing cheerfully -down at her lordly companion. "That was just a joke, wasn't it? You -know, everything in this Land of Oz is extremely funny and peculiar. -Two-armed natives, animals talking, Kings disappearing and mysterious -messages and prophecies."</p> - -<p>"People always think a new country strange!" observed the Ox -philosophically. "To us it seems quite right and natural. But I daresay -if I were to find myself on Mt. Mern I'd consider everything there -very odd and upsetting; rocks flying through the air, for instance, -and landing one soft and light as a daisy in a strange King's garden."</p> - -<p>"But all of our rocks don't fly, in fact I never knew one to do such a -thing before. And no wonder I landed as soft as a daisy—there was a -blue daisy under me or I'd have been splintered to smithereens!"</p> - -<p>"Daisy?" Nox licked his lips hungrily. "You never said anything about a -daisy."</p> - -<p>"Oh, I never tell all I know," confided Handy, "especially to -Hi-qui-cockadoodlums like the King and his Counselors. But there was -a daisy—growing on the rock and I picked it. As I started to fall I -began pulling off the petals, and when I landed I came down on a high, -huge pile of them, a heap as high as a haystack," continued Handy Mandy -dreamily. "So I slid off the stack and turned to look at the castle, -and when I looked again, the petals were gone, but there was the daisy -itself growing up as pert as you please in this strange garden. So what -did I do but pick it again and here it is!" Triumphantly Handy pulled -the blue flower from her pocket.</p> - -<p>"My, what a dear little daisy!" murmured the Ox. "How delicious it -would taste."</p> - -<p>"No! NO!" cried Handy, as Nox rolled his long tongue out toward the -flower. "It's too pretty to eat."</p> - -<p>"Nothing's too pretty to eat," replied the Ox plaintively. "Funny it -hasn't wilted, though."</p> - -<p>"Well, I believe it's magic," stated the Goat Girl, with a positive -little shake of her head. As she returned the daisy to her pocket, -Handy felt the hard metal object that had hit her in the forehead when -she and Nox ploughed through the King's garden.</p> - -<p>"Look! What do you suppose this is?" she queried, tapping the Ox -sharply on the shoulder, for he was walking sleepily along with his -eyes closed. "This is what we dug up when we rushed through the garden, -you know."</p> - -<p>"How should I know?" grunted the Ox indifferently, opening one eye. -"Just a silver hammer, isn't it? Maybe we can trade it for a good -breakfast when we cross the river."</p> - -<p>"My—y—how you talk!" scolded Handy. "We're not going to trade it at -all. See, there's an initial on it. A big W. Now what would W stand -for?"</p> - -<p>"Who, what, which, where, oh why worry?" mumbled the Ox, plodding -resignedly along beside her.</p> - -<p>"Well, anyway, it will make a splendid potato masher," concluded the -Goat Girl, returning the hammer to her pocket.</p> - -<p>"Yes, if we had any potatoes." The Ox sighed heavily as he spoke, -looking off into the distance with such a mournful eye Handy Mandy -laughed a little all to herself.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus29.jpg" width="469" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Oh cheer up," sniffed the Goat Girl, "you're not starved yet. And -hurry up, too, the sun's going higher every moment and we'd better pass -those farms before the people waken."</p> - -<p>It was against Nox's nature to hurry, but realizing the wisdom of the -Goat Girl's advice, he broke into an awkward gallop. In spite of his -great weight, the Royal creature was light as a daisy on his feet, and -except for the faint rattle of Handy's weapons they made little noise -as they ran past the dome-shaped blue houses and barns of the Munchkin -farmers.</p> - -<p>"Couldn't we stop for a few greens?" puffed Nox, looking longingly over -the fence at a field of cabbages.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus30.jpg" width="500" height="326" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Not here, dear—ear!" Red faced and breathless, the Goat Girl ran on. -"Wait till we cross this river—iver."</p> - -<p>"But I'm not used to this—sort—of—thing," complained Nox peevishly. -"Running races before breakfast on an empty stomach. No bath—no -brush—no rub down!"</p> - -<p>"Well, here's your brush," gasped Handy, picking her way through a -dense thicket as the highway ended in a small wood, "and yonder's your -bath, Mister. My—y, what a blue river!"</p> - -<p>"Everything's blue in the Munchkin Country of Oz," Nox told her -sulkily, as sharp briers and thorns reached out to scratch his satiny -hide.</p> - -<p>"Even the Royal Ox of Keretaria," hinted Handy with a sly wink. "Oh the -river's blue and the houses are blue and even the wind blew—Hoo Hoo! -Come on."</p> - -<p>"Don't try to be funny," with heaving sides, the Ox stopped on the edge -of the gleaming blue stream. "Don't try to be funny, I beg."</p> - -<p>"Oh, I don't have to try, I am!" laughed Handy, flinging the axe, the -rake, the spade, the sword, the gun and the broomstick across the river.</p> - -<p>"Wait!" snorted the Ox, as Handy, having got rid of her load, raised -all of her hands above her head and prepared to dive in. "Wait, can you -swim?"</p> - -<p>"I don't know, but I'll soon find out," cried Handy, and before Nox -could prevent it, the Goat Girl leapt off the bank and disappeared -beneath the blue waters of the Munchkin River. For once, Nox forgot his -dignity and Royal station and plunged frantically after his reckless -companion. Swimming around with his head under water, he finally -located Handy Mandy and gripping her yellow plaits firmly in his teeth, -dragged her to the opposite bank. The Goat Girl was so full of water, -she had little to say and lay soggily on the grass while Nox looked -down at her with mingled admiration and concern.</p> - -<p>"Never do such a thing again," he wheezed severely as Handy finally sat -up and began wringing the water from her voluminous skirts. "Swimming -is an art and must be learned and practiced. But for oat's sake, why -didn't you flap all those arms when you hit the water?" he finished -irritably.</p> - -<p>"Oh, is that what you're supposed to do? This way?" Before Nox could -step a step, the Goat Girl had jumped into the river again. This time -instead of going down she splashed and whirled her seven arms so fast -and furiously she just managed to keep her head above water. But Nox, -now thoroughly annoyed and without giving her a chance to get far from -shore, waded in and determinedly dragged her back to dry land.</p> - -<p>"What in skyblue onions are you trying to do?" he sputtered angrily, -"Drown yourself?"</p> - -<p>"No, I'm trying to swim," coughed the Goat Girl, struggling to get -away from the angry Ox. "Do you suppose I'm going to let this Munchkin -River get the best of me?"</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus31.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Yes, and while you are swimming or rather practicing your swimming -some of these Keretarians will come and capture us," gurgled Nox. "Are -we escaping or are we swimming—quick now, make up your mind."</p> - -<p>Nox's earnest words brought Handy quickly to her senses and as the -Royal Ox let go her skirts, she snatched up her weapons and without -waiting to wring out her clothes started briskly across the meadows.</p> - -<p>"Never mind, you'll be a fine swimmer some day," said Nox, trotting -more amiably beside her. The cool river water had refreshed the Royal -creature and Handy Mandy's determination and courage made him a little -ashamed of his own complaints. "Takes a little practice, that's all."</p> - -<p>"Practice!" repeated Handy, dripping water from every plait and pore. -"Well just wait till we come to the next river, I'll show you! But -LOOK, here are more blue houses, so we must still be in the Munchkin -Country."</p> - -<p>"Yes, but we're out of Keretaria," Nox reminded her cheerfully. "What's -that signpost say, my girl?"</p> - -<p>Hurrying forward, Handy squinted up at the rough board nailed to a blue -spruce and then began to clench and unclench her one free fist.</p> - -<p class="ph3">"TURN HERE!"</p> - -<p>directed the sign. "Turn here and go straight back where you came from."</p> - -<p>"Well, I'll be buttered!" cried the Goat Girl, throwing down every one -of her weapons. "I'll be churned and buttered."</p> - -<p>"But what had we butter do?" muttered the Royal Ox, so taken aback by -the saucy message that even his tongue was twisted.</p> - -<p>"Why, we'll go straight on, of course," declared Handy Mandy, tossing -her yellow plaits defiantly. "Who are whoever they are to tell us our -business?" And recovering her weapons one by one, the Goat Girl tramped -down the crooked lane directly ahead of them, the Royal Ox with lifted -nose and horns, stepping warily behind her.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><a name="CHAPTER_6" id="CHAPTER_6"></a></p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus32.jpg" width="500" height="337" alt=""/> -</div> - -<h2>CHAPTER 6<br /> - -<small>Turn Town!</small></h2> - - -<p>Determined as she was, Handy found it impossible to go straight on, -for the lane curved and twisted this way and that, ending finally in a -perfect corkscrew turn. The trees on both sides were now so dense Handy -and the Royal Ox could not have left the road even had they wished to -do so.</p> - -<p>"We're going round and round and getting nowhere," said Nox in an -abused voice. "Of all the roads in Oz why did we have to pick this -one?"</p> - -<p>"Because it dared us, I suppose. Hi—Yi!" exclaimed Handy, leaning -against a tree to rest. "I'm dizzy as a bat and hungry as a goat."</p> - -<p>"Too bad you're not a goat," murmured Nox, who had stopped to nibble -the lower branches of a maple. "These leaves are quite tender."</p> - -<p>"Well, I may come to them," sighed Handy, looking at him enviously. -"But shall we go on? I think one more turn will bring us out of here."</p> - -<p>Handy was right for one more round brought them to the end of corkscrew -lane, but only to find themselves facing a high, forbidding wall. There -was a gate and turnstile in the wall, and beyond the Goat Girl caught -a glimpse of a confused whirling village where everything seemed to -be turning round or over. "It's just because I'm so dizzy," thought -Handy, clutching her head with her one free hand. But Nox, peering over -her shoulder gave a loud and indignant bellow as a house on the corner -of the street nearest them turned completely over and began spinning -merrily on its chimney, while the fence running round the bakery shop -next door started really to run around, kicking up its posts with great -glee and abandon.</p> - -<p>"Hu—what kind of silly place is this?" rumbled the Ox backing hastily -away. But Handy Mandy had seen a whole row of little pies in the -bakeshop window and motioning vigorously for Nox to follow, stepped -over the stile and through the movable gate. It was too much of a -squeeze for Nox, but determined not to be left behind, he jumped neatly -over. A revolving sign on one of the large public buildings caught -their attention at once, but as the building was going one way and the -sign another, it was several minutes before they could discover what it -said.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus33.jpg" width="500" height="323" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"TURN TOWN!" read the Goat Girl in some surprise. "So that's where -we are! And would you loo—ook, every house on every street is going -round or over. Mercy—ercy on us and where do you suppose the people -are?"</p> - -<p>"Turning over and over in their beds I take it, it is still quite -early, you know," whispered the Royal Ox, speaking cautiously out of -the corner of his mouth. "But come on, the streets are not turning, and -perhaps if we hurry we can go through before they waken and turn on us. -Hurry—hurry—what are you waiting for?"</p> - -<p>"Food," sighed Handy wistfully. "I thought I might catch us a few pies, -Old Toggins. Here, watch my stuff and I'll bring us each some."</p> - -<p>Nox looked sharply up and down the street as the Goat Girl set down -her axe, rake, spade, gun, broom and sword, and started off toward the -bakery.</p> - -<p>Not only the fence but the shop itself was turning now. Handy quite -cleverly waited till the gate came opposite her and dashed through, but -the open door of the shop kept going by so rapidly she was knocked down -several times before she finally darted inside. As she disappeared Nox -gave an uneasy snort, but cheered up as the shop window came past and -he saw Handy with a pie in every hand, smile at him reassuringly. But -alas, the whirling floor of the shop was too much for the Goat Girl -and as she started out there was a clatter of broken china and falling -furniture.</p> - -<p>"Great Gazoo, what's she done now?" moaned Nox as Handy leaped through -the door and fell sprawling in the little garden. She still had six of -the pies clutched in her various hands, but as she jumped up and raced -through the garden gate, windows all up and down the street were flung -open. From the right side up ones and the down side down ones kinky -black heads came popping out by the hundred.</p> - -<p>"Turn out! Turn out! Topsies turn out!" yelled the excited citizens, -their voices going higher and higher. "Thieves, robbers, tramps and -Stand-Stillians!"</p> - -<p>"Here," gasped the Goat Girl reaching Nox in one bound. "Eat these -quick and destroy the evidence." Stuffing one of the tarts into her own -mouth, Handy made a wry face. "Ugh, TURNIPS!" choked the Goat Girl, -dropping the other five in huge disgust. "Whoever heard of turnip -turnovers?"</p> - -<p>"I'll eat them," offered Nox, lapping up the little pies in his stride, -"but run—hurry, here come the natives!" But before Handy could snatch -up her weapons, the Topsies, hurling out of windows and doors, came -whirling down upon them.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus34.jpg" width="500" height="316" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>Startled though she was, the Goat Girl could not disguise her interest -and curiosity. With one arm round Nox's neck and the other six -stretched stiffly before her to keep back the screeching crowd, she -stared with round and fascinated eyes. And, no wonder! The Topsies were -about as tall as children, but where their feet should have been, they -had sharp horny pegs. Another peg of the same description sprung from -each kinky head. With their plump hands the small black and blue men -and women spun themselves along by cords attached to their round little -middles and they kept reversing themselves, spinning first on one end -and then another in a manner very upsetting and confusing to their -visitors. The hum made by the Topsies' spinning and their loud raucous -cries filled the early morning air, and as Handy tried to push her way -through the crowd, several butted her with their sharp pegs.</p> - -<p>"Ouch! Stop that!" bellowed Nox, who had been butted too. "Keep still, -m'lass, and sooner or later these little pests will run down."</p> - -<p>"Turn them out! Turn them in! Turn them round! Turn them over!" -shrieked the Topsies hysterically. In the midst of the dreadful -confusion, a Topsy taller than all the rest came zooming down the -middle of the street.</p> - -<p>"Look! STAND-STILLIANS!" shouted a round little spinster waving both -arms. "Travelers with legs instead of pegs. Robbers! Thieves! And -tramps, your Topjesty."</p> - -<p>"Yes, and they have broken into my shop and stolen all my turnip -turnovers," screamed the Topsy Baker, spinning round in indignant -circles. "Aha, you wait, here comes Tip-Topper. Now you'll catch it -you, you Turnover snatchers, you!"</p> - -<p>"Now you'll catch it!" shrilled all the rest of the Topsies, spinning -faster and faster till Handy and Nox were dizzy just from looking at -them.</p> - -<p>Except for his size and a flag fluttering from the peg on his head, -Tip-Topper looked just like his subjects.</p> - -<p>"Spin! Spin!" he whistled angrily. "What do you mean standing still in -the middle of Turn Town? Don't you realize you are breaking every one -of our rotary laws? Why are you here—did you come to do us a good turn -or a bad?"</p> - -<p>"Turn 'em down! Turn 'em out! Turn 'em over! Turn 'em round!" insisted -the townsmen shrilly.</p> - -<p>Between the revolving houses and the spinning Topsies, Handy Mandy -scarcely knew which foot she was standing on. As for Nox, he gave a -great groan and closing his eyes, left everything to his companion. -Handy put two hands over her ears and raising all the others, addressed -Tip-Topper in a firm and reasonable manner.</p> - -<p>"Tell your people to stand back," directed the Goat Girl calmly. "All -we wish is to pass quietly through your city and never return. NEVER!" -she repeated emphatically. It was hard to speak to a person who kept -going round and round, but at every third turn Handy managed to catch -Tip-Topper's eye and at last he seemed to catch her idea.</p> - -<p>"Very well, then, GO!" he commanded haughtily. "And at once!" But -when Handy, without stopping to pick up her weapons, started forward, -perfect shrieks of anger rose on all sides.</p> - -<p>"Not that way! Not that way. Turn! Turn! Turn!" yelled the Topsies. -And getting back of Handy and the Royal Ox, they tried to push them -round by main force.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus35.jpg" width="500" height="323" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Stop! Stop! It's no use," panted Tip-Topper, as Nox letting out a -frightful bellow, laid seven Topsies by the pegs with his left hind -foot, and Handy with a sweep of her arms swept down ten more. "They're -all made wrong. Fetch the Turn Coat, drive them to the turning point -and we'll turn them to Topsies in two shakes of a tent pole."</p> - -<p>"M—mmmmm! M—mmmmm! Did you hear what I heard?" Nox peered desperately -around at Handy, who was now spinning dizzily herself, as she was -flung and pushed from one group to another. "Could they really turn us -to Topsies?"</p> - -<p>"I don't know! I don't know! Oh my head, my HEAD!" moaned the Goat -Girl, clutching it with all hands. "It's going round and round—"</p> - -<p>"Fine! Fine! That's the way!" cheered the Topsies heartily. "You'll be -spinning circles before you know it and have beautiful wool like the -rest of us."</p> - -<p>"Wool!" gasped Handy, who was extremely proud of her shining yellow -braids. "Oh, I wool not, that's just too much! Stand back you little -buzzards and I'll show you a turn or two myself."</p> - -<p>"Go ahead," said Turn Uppins, who seemed next in importance to -Tip-Topper himself. "It's your turn anyway. Stand back Topsies, and let -this waddling whangus show us what she can do."</p> - -<p>At a signal from their leader the Turn Towners fell back a pace and -spinning in a loud agitated circle, impatiently waited for the Goat -Girl to take her turn. First Handy shook her head to dispel the -dizziness, then with a loud screech, she flung her arms and heels into -the air in such a succession of hand springs that even the Topsies were -impressed. The seventh brought her back to the Royal Ox and in the -center of a now cheering and admiring circle, she turned fifty more so -fast that she looked like an animated cartwheel with arms and leg's for -spokes. A loud buzz of applause went up as Handy finally fell over from -sheer exhaustion, but then they began pointing accusing fingers at Nox.</p> - -<p>"Look! Look at the stupid Gumflumox, why he hasn't turned a single -hair."</p> - -<p>"How about turning on them," raged Nox, "and tossing a few dozen on my -horns? Hop on my back, m'lass, and we'll make a run for it."</p> - -<p>"No! No! There are too many, we'll be perfectly punctured," worried -Handy, as seven Topsies prodded the Royal Ox sharply in the flank. "We -might run right into that turning point, too. Wait! Wait! I'll think -of something. We don't want to spin on here forever, whatever happens! -Whew—hewey, what a dust the little pests kick up. I'd give my best -hand for a drink, I'm choking with thirst. Oh! Oh! I wish I were in a -river right this minute." Steadying herself by holding to Nox's right -horn, Handy faced the angry multitude.</p> - -<p>"Turn! Turn! Take your turn!" shouted the Topsies incessantly. "Can't -you even turn your head old four-leg!"</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus36.jpg" width="257" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Of course he can," shouted Handy Mandy, clapping six of her hands -for silence. "Not only his head, but his horns. Watch this, my -friends!" The Goat Girl gave the horn she was leaning on a sharp twist.</p> - -<p>"Not that one. Not that one!" fumed the Ox anxiously. "Quick, the -other—it's the other one, I tell you! Oh, my hide, hair, and Heavens! -Ulp! Gurgle Ooooop!"</p> - -<p>And "Oooop gurgle ULP!" it was with everyone, for at Handy Mandy's -second turn, Nox's horn came completely off and as the goat girl held -it up for the Topsies to see, out spurted a perfect torrent of water -that flooded the whole city till every Turner and Topsy-turvy house in -it was awash or afloat. In wild and astonished voices the kinky headed -little citizens called out to each other as they bobbed up and down -like corks on the raging tide. And just as wet and surprised as the -Topsies, the Goat Girl and Nox were swept along by the impetuous flood.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><a name="CHAPTER_7" id="CHAPTER_7"></a></p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus37.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt=""/> -</div> - -<h2>CHAPTER 7<br /> - -<small>A Horn of Plenty</small></h2> - - -<p>After the first awful ducking, Handy, without losing a second began -to practice her swimming. Striking out with strength and purpose and -her seven good arms she managed to keep abreast of Nox, who was moving -easily along in the center of the torrent. Bothersome as the Topsies -had been, the Goat Girl could not help feeling sorry for the little -Turn Towners. At first, she feared they would all go down. But they -just spun round like water bugs on the surface and, while they made -no progress, seemed in little danger of drowning. In fact they could -no more sink than corks or kindling. So, busy with her own struggles, -Handy dismissed them from her mind and tried to figure out the reason -for the sudden and overwhelming rush of water that had deluged the city.</p> - -<p>At any rate it was fine to be rid of the Topsies, she reflected -philosophically, and when the flood did recede, Turn Town would be good -as new and twice as clean. The current was racing along so swiftly -now, the last Topsy had long since disappeared, leaving only herself -and Nox in the broad tumbling expanse of water. Nox had not uttered -a word since his first outcry when the flood had overtaken them, but -he looked so glum and disagreeable that Handy, thrashing along beside -him, wondered what would be the best way to start a conversation. As it -happened, the Royal beast saved her the trouble by starting one himself.</p> - -<p>"Well," he snorted bitterly. "I see you still have it."</p> - -<p>"WHAT?" gulped the Goat Girl, forgetting to use her arms for a moment -and in consequence, shipping about a bucket of water. "Ulp—gulp—have -what?"</p> - -<p>"My horn. HORN!" gurgled Nox, glaring at her angrily over a wave. "And -if in the future you will keep your hands, all of them, off my horns, -it will be the better for us." This seemed to Handy a very unjust and -unreasonable attitude for Nox to take, but she was too occupied keeping -afloat to stop and argue the matter.</p> - -<p>"Swim closer and I'll screw it back," she offered, obligingly holding -up the wooden hand in which she still clutched the right half of the -royal headgear. But at this, poor Nox was deluged by a robust stream -that still poured from the golden horn. Hastily plunging it under the -surface again, Handy watched her fellow adventurer emerge sputtering -and furious from the depths.</p> - -<p>"Well of all the stupid tricks!" gasped the Ox, swimming rapidly away -from her. "Stop—keep off—don't you dare come near me."</p> - -<p>"But see here," panted Handy, going after him in real exasperation. -"After all it is your horn, and am I to blame if there is a river -inside? What do you want me to do, throw it away?"</p> - -<p>"No! No!" bellowed the Ox, stopping short and looking frantically -over his shoulder. "If you throw it away I'll look like a fool, if -you keep holding it we'll spend the rest of our lives swimming round -in this torrent—if you screw it back on my head—it will probably -give me water on the brain. Oh—blub glub! what shall we do? THINK of -something, can't you, before we both drown in your stupid old river?"</p> - -<p>"My river!" Handy Mandy was so indignant that for a moment she was -perfectly speechless.</p> - -<p>"Yes, your river!" roared Nox, treading water angrily. "Didn't you wish -for a river just before you jerked off my horn. Well, this is it and I -hope you like it."</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus38.jpg" width="500" height="346" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Why Nox, how clever of you to guess," bubbled the Goat Girl, a great -light breaking over her wet head. "I remember now, I was thirsty and -wished for a drink, then a whole river, and lo! a river was here."</p> - -<p>"You mean HIGH it was here," raged Nox, beginning to swim again.</p> - -<p>"But look," cried Handy, beating and slapping the water exultantly -with her many hands. "If that is so, all we have to do is to wish it -away again. I'm still holding the horn and there's magic in it, old -Toddywax—MAGIC! I here and now wish this river AWAY."</p> - -<p>Handy yelled her wish in a booming voice that almost split the Ox's -ear-drums and both were so sure the wish would be granted they stopped -swimming, so both had a fine ducking as the river continued to rush -merrily and unconcernedly over their heads.</p> - -<p>"Bosh! It wasn't magic after all. My—y, if I ever get out of here, -I'll never go swimming again as long as I live," sobbed Handy, pushing -her arms and legs wearily through the water.</p> - -<p>"Oh, I think I'll just sink and be done with it," moaned the Ox, -churning breathlessly along beside her.</p> - -<p>"You think you'll sink!" exclaimed Handy, popping her head up -indignantly. "Don't you dare sink and leave me here all alone. Besides, -we set out to find that little King and we're going to find him! -Where's your sporting blood?"</p> - -<p>"Watered!" gurgled the Royal Ox in a faint voice. "Goodbye, m'lass, -you probably did it all for the best!" It seemed to the Goat Girl that -Nox was really sinking so, flinging out her leather hand, she grasped -him firmly by his left horn. Then, acting quickly, and before he could -object, Handy pushed his head under water and quickly screwed his right -horn in place.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus39.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"I wish this dumb river would go straight back where it came from," -quavered Handy as Nox bellowing and bubbling backed indignantly away. -And THIS time the river went. So suddenly and completely the Goat Girl -and the Ox were dropped forty feet to the bottom of a rocky gorge -through which the torrent had been tumbling. For a long moment they lay -where they had fallen, then stiffly they arose and peered anxiously -around them. Handy, thanks to her voluminous petticoats, was saved from -serious injury and Nox, who had landed in a patch of brush was not -dangerously hurt, either. But they both were so shocked, shaken and -worn out from their long swim they were perfectly content to stay where -they were.</p> - -<p>"You see," sighed Handy, wringing out her skirts with four hands and -smoothing back her hair with the other three. "The magic is in the horn -and only works when you are wearing it. As soon as I screwed it back -and made the wish everything was all right."</p> - -<p>"Oh, was it?" Scowling round at his scratched flanks and skinned shins, -the Royal Ox shook his head dubiously.</p> - -<p>"And just think," continued the Goat Girl brightly. "If your horn -really is a wishing horn, as soon as we decide where we want to go, all -we have to do is wish ourselves there."</p> - -<p>"No! No! Absolutely no more of that," squealed Nox, lashing his tail -and flashing his eyes dangerously. "Your last wish nearly killed me, -and if any more wishing is to be done, I'll attend to it myself."</p> - -<p>"But how can you unscrew, or even touch your own horn all by yourself?" -inquired Handy reasonably. "You see, you need my hands, and I need -your horns." Throwing back her head, Handy burst into a loud chuckle, -thinking how comical she would look if she actually wore Nox's golden -headgear.</p> - -<p>"Oh, why not go on the way we started?" said the Ox querulously. "I'd -rather travel on my feet than my horns any day, and had you noticed, -Handy, that these rocks are purple? Your river has carried us clear -into the Gillikin Country where there are mountains galore and even a -silver one for all we know."</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus40.jpg" width="491" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Yes, but is there anything to eat?" asked the Goat Girl in a hollow -voice. "If those rude little Topsies had just given us some breakfast."</p> - -<p>"I expect all they eat is spinach or turnips," sniffed Nox, "and you -would not have cared for either. Well, at any rate we're even. You -certainly turned the tide on them, m'lass." Nox, who was beginning -to feel more cheerful, began to shake all over. "I'll wager my tail -they'll be more polite to travellers in the future."</p> - -<p>"Well, as it all turned out so well, let's make another wish," proposed -Handy Mandy practically. "Let's wish ourselves out of here. No use -scrambling over all these rocks, when all we have to do is to wish -ourselves to the spot where your little King happens to be."</p> - -<p>"M-m-mm, M-m-m!" mused Nox, half closing his eyes. "Nothing is as easy -as that, and I cannot help feeling—"</p> - -<p>"Neither can I," said Handy, and stepping briskly up to the royal -Ox, she gave his right horn a determined twist, at the same time -saying softly: "I wish myself and Nox with Kerry, the rightful ruler -of Keretaria." Nox twitched his ears nervously as his horn came off -in the Goat Girl's best white hand and Handy herself, with all her -arms outspread as if she were a bird about to take flight, waited -in rapturous expectation for her wish to take effect. But this time -nothing at all happened. Neither she nor the Ox moved an inch.</p> - -<p>"There you are, I told you it wouldn't work," grumbled Nox, looking at -her crossly. "It's probably not magic at all."</p> - -<p>"Oh yes it is," insisted Handy, screwing up her eye and peering down -into the hollow interior. "It gave us a river when we asked for it and -you can't get away from that."</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus41.jpg" width="500" height="274" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"We certainly had a hard enough time getting away from it," agreed her -companion. "Come now, be a good girl, screw back that horn and let's be -starting on."</p> - -<p>"But I just cannot understand why it grants some wishes and not -others," muttered Handy discontentedly. "When I was thirsty and wished -for a river, I got a river—A-HA! I have it. This horn gives you -things but does not take you places. Now let's see, what do we need the -most?"</p> - -<p>"Breakfast," suggested the Ox in an interested voice. "Oats and apples -for me, eggs, rolls and coffee for you. But for GOAT'S sake be careful -how you wish, m'lass. We don't want too much even of a good thing, and -one can drown in coffee or smother in oats. Remember the river and be -exact as to size and quantity."</p> - -<p>"My—y, this wishing is dreadfully complicated." Rubbing her forehead -with one hand after the other, Handy Mandy prepared to order breakfast. -First she screwed the right horn back on the head of the Ox, then -pursing her lips firmly, she spoke: "I wish for Nox, two measures of -oats and apples, for myself, two plates of eggs and rolls and one cup -of coffee." Turning the horn round till it came off once more, the Goat -Girl almost held her breath as the two breakfasts were set promptly and -noiselessly down on the rock at her feet.</p> - -<p>"Now you're getting the idea!" Happily Nox advanced upon his breakfast.</p> - -<p>"Say, isn't this simply manubious?" cried Handy, snapping her -thirty-five fingers for sheer joy. "Why, Nox, your horn is a real horn -of plenty!"</p> - -<p>"And plenty of trouble if you don't watch your wishes," mumbled her -partner, already up to his ears in oats.</p> - -<p>"Oh, I'll be careful, never fear," promised Handy, screwing the horn -back on its base and falling upon her breakfast with a right good will -and appetite. "Won't the eyes of the villagers at home stick out when I -tell them about this?"</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus42.jpg" width="410" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Yes, provided you ever GET home," observed the Ox, who seemed always -to take a dark view of the future. But Handy Mandy, popping the last -of the biscuits into her mouth, scarcely heard him. Now that they need -no longer worry about provisions for the journey, she felt that they -would safely reach the Silver Mountain wherever it might be, rescue the -little King from his enemies and restore him to his throne. Then after -seeing all she wished of the marvelous country of Oz, she would return -to Mt. Mern and startle the country folk with the amazing story of her -travels.</p> - -<p>"Come along," she called gaily. "Let's climb out of here." With some -astonishment they watched the empty containers and dishes vanish -away, and then saying very little but thinking a great deal, the two -adventurers began to scramble up the rocky sides of the gorge.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><a name="CHAPTER_8" id="CHAPTER_8"></a></p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus43.jpg" width="500" height="338" alt=""/> -</div> - -<h2>CHAPTER 8<br /> - -<small>Handy Mandy Learns about Oz!</small></h2> - - -<p>Handy, who had climbed up and down mountains all her life, reached the -top of the gorge first and with her various hands tugged Nox up the -last steep incline.</p> - -<p>"So—this is the Gillikin Country!" panted the Goat Girl, staring away -over the heather covered Highlands. "Now about the natives, do they -spin, bounce or tumble?"</p> - -<p>"That, I really couldn't say," gasped Nox, leaning against a tree to -regain his wind, "but as you can see, my girl, all the hills, trees and -vegetation shade from violet to purple. Lovely color, purple!"</p> - -<p>"I suppose purple would appeal to a Royal Ox like you." Resting her -hands on her hips, Handy Mandy squinted critically about her. "Now as -for me, I prefer the more cheerful colors, red, yellow or green, for -instance."</p> - -<p>"Then you'd like the Quadling and Winkie Countries," murmured Nox, -nibbling languidly at the tops of the heather, "or the Emerald City. We -have all color countries in Oz and a body can take his choice."</p> - -<p>"Oh, we'll just take them as they come," decided the Goat Girl -sensibly, "or at least, till we find your young Master and this Silver -Mountain. But tell me, Nox, is each country in Oz a different color and -is there really an Emerald City?" Moving slowly through the heather the -Royal Ox nodded his lordly head.</p> - -<p>"Take that stick," he directed, coming to a ponderous stop, "and I'll -show you how Oz looks. See, on that level bit of sand there, just draw -an oblong." Quite interested, Handy marked out an oblong with the point -of the stick. "Connect the corners," breathed the Ox, lifting his -forefoot complacently, "and what have you?"</p> - -<p>"Four triangles," answered the Goat Girl promptly.</p> - -<p>"Put a circle in the center where all the triangles meet." Nox fairly -radiated pride and importance as his geozophy lesson progressed.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus44.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Then what?" demanded Handy, the stick upraised in her rubber hand.</p> - -<p>"That's all!" Tossing back his horns, the Ox surveyed his pupil -triumphantly. "Simple, isn't it? That triangle on the west is the blue -Munchkin Country we have just left, the triangle to the north is the -purple Gillikin Country we are just entering. Over there on the east, -we have the Yellow empire of the Winkies and to the south the red -lands of the Quadlings. In the circle is the Emerald City of Oz, and -surrounding the whole Kingdom is a deadly desert of burning sand."</p> - -<p>"My—y!" marveled the Goat Girl, clasping all her hands but one behind -her back, "the desert I crossed when I fell in Keretaria?"</p> - -<p>"Of course," answered Nox, snapping lazily at a purple dragon fly. -"Mt. Mern must lie to the west of Oz, on the other side of the deadly -desert. There are many countries beyond the desert, but I know very -little about them as there are only Oz maps in the castle at home."</p> - -<p>"Then I suppose the King of Keretaria is King of the Munchkins?" said -Handy, looking thoughtfully down at her map.</p> - -<p>"Oh, my, no!" The Royal Ox positively chuckled at such an idea. -"Keretaria is just one of the small countries of the West. Cheeriobed -is King of the Munchkins and he lives in the Sapphire City seventy -leagues below our southernmost borderline. Glinda, the Good Sorceress, -rules all the small Kingdoms in the Quadling Country, the Tin Woodman -of Oz is Emperor of the Winkies and Jo King governs the Gillikins. -Besides these, there are Kings, Queens and Princes galore, but most -important of all is Ozma, the young Fairy who lives in the Emerald -City, for Ozma is supreme sovereign of the entire Kingdom of Oz."</p> - -<p>"Dear—ear what a lot to remember," groaned the Goat Girl. "And all -these other Kings and Queens have to do what Ozma says? However does -she keep track of them all? I'll bet they're worse than a flock of -goats."</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus45.jpg" width="500" height="313" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Oh, she manages," said the Ox, beginning to move slowly forward. -"Being a fairy and having a wizard right in her own castle, Ozma knows -what is going on without even turning her head."</p> - -<p>"Even where we are going?" exclaimed Handy Mandy indignantly. -"Hi—yi—what a little busy-body. I just know I won't like her."</p> - -<p>"Well, in that case she will just have to give up her throne and throw -her crown out of the window, I suppose! Better have a care, m'lass, -you're speaking of a powerful fairy, you know." Nox looked so stern -as he went plowing through the heather, Handy began to feel a little -uneasy herself.</p> - -<p>"But how could a fairy in the center of Oz see way off here?" she -demanded scornfully.</p> - -<p>"Magic, that's how!" explained Nox, looking very calm and superior. -"In her castle Ozma has a magic picture that shows her everything she -wishes to see."</p> - -<p>"I don't believe it," scoffed the Goat Girl, swinging all her arms -recklessly, "and besides, why would she wish to see us and this -particular piece of country at this particular minute?"</p> - -<p>"I'm sure I don't know," said the Royal Ox haughtily. "But I do say, be -careful. There, what did I tell you!" Framed in the woodwork of a small -summer-house they were approaching was a large poster.</p> - -<p>"You are now in the Land of Oz," stated the poster, pleasantly enough. -"Be good to us and we'll be good to you. Keep our laws and practice -no magic, either for good or evil. By order of Her Imperial Highness, -Queen Ozma of Oz." Below was the bright green seal of Oz and a picture -of its pretty dark haired ruler.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus46.jpg" width="260" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Why she's nothing but a little girl!" cried Handy, positively aghast -at such a state of affairs. "How could a little mite like that rule a -whole country and be so bossy?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, hush!" begged Nox, rolling his eyes anxiously. "Mite or not, Ozma -is a mighty powerful and important fairy."</p> - -<p>"Well, we're pretty important ourselves," sniffed the Goat Girl, -squinting at the poster with all her arms akimbo. "And besides," Handy -lifted her chin defiantly, "we've broken the law already when we used -your gold horn of plenty. 'Practice no magic.' Hoh! What does she -expect us to do with good magic right at hand—starve? But, ho ho! We -can get around that, old Toggins. After all, we are not practicing -magic, we don't have to practice it—our magic is perfect, so put that -in your pipe and smoke it Miss Ozma to Bozma." Snatching up a rock in -each of her seven hands, Handy flung them hilariously over a clump of -prune trees. (Yes, prunes already wrinkled grow in the Land of Oz.) -There was an uncomfortable little silence after Handy's rash outburst, -then a perfect tempest of shrieks and screeches.</p> - -<p>"Now, see what you've done," gulped the Ox, switching his tail -nervously. "Quick, quick, jump on my back and we'll rush by. These -chaps look dangerous."</p> - -<p>"Why, they have HOOK noses!" sputtered Handy, too startled to move, as -a band of kilted Highlanders came racing down toward them. The noses -of these singular Hill-men were long and thin, curving out and up far -above their foreheads. On these hooks hung dangerous looking rings -almost as large as barrel hoops. While Handy was wondering what they -could be for, the nearest Hooker pulled a ring from his nose and flung -it with all his might at her head.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus47.jpg" width="500" height="320" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Up. UP!" bellowed Nox, pawing the ground in his agitation. "Are you -going to stand there till you are pegged like a top?" The iron ring -missed Handy by mere inches and grasping Nox's horn she pulled herself -to his back. There were about sixty of the hook noses, and swinging -to the left, Nox tried to skirt the war-like tribe, but they were too -quick for him, and spreading out in a long line they began hurling -their wicked whizzing weapons. One caught neatly on the horn of the -Royal Ox, another hit Handy a horrid blow on the knee, and as Nox, -snorting and furious turned to run, a dozen more came whanging down -about their ears. Dodging left and right, Handy Mandy leaned forward -and began to unscrew Nox's right horn.</p> - -<p>"'Be good to us and we'll be good to you!' HOH! Like fun you will!" -muttered the Goat Girl, catching six of the flying missiles in her -clever hands and tossing them back with all her might. "Take that and -these and them and THOSE!" Pulling off the Ox's horn with the only -hand she had left, she added desperately, "I wish a barrel of molasses -over the head of each Hook Nose in this band. Cats, Bats and Billy -Goats! They've GOT me!" And they had, too, for just as Handy finished -her wish, down flashed an iron ring pinioning her arms tightly to her -sides. Still grasping the precious horn, Handy dug her heels into Nox.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus48.jpg" width="500" height="297" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Hurt?" grunted the Ox, leaping forward.</p> - -<p>"Not hurt, just hooked and humiliated, can't move a muscle," raged the -Goat Girl. "But ha ha! Neither can they! LOOK!" Nox, who had been -bellowing too hard to hear Handy's wish or miss his horn glanced back -hurriedly.</p> - -<p>"Why! What's come over them?" he wheezed in astonishment. "Who snuffed -them out with barrels and what's that sticky fluid running all around?"</p> - -<p>"Molasses," Handy told him with extreme satisfaction as she tried -vainly to wriggle out of her ring. "I wished barrels of molasses on -their heads and we'd better dash on while they're stopped and stuck -with it."</p> - -<p>"Then you've been breaking the law again," reproached Nox, dodging in -and out and around their frantic enemies.</p> - -<p>"Well, as between broken heads and broken laws, I choose the -laws. Besides, look what they did to me!" exclaimed the Goat Girl -indignantly. "I may never get this hoop off or be able to lift a hand -again. Nice people you have in Oz, I must say."</p> - -<p>"If you hadn't hit them with stones, they wouldn't have hit us with -hoops," Nox reminded her sternly, at the same time breaking into a -gallop to put as much distance as possible between himself and the -troublesome Gillikins. A few had managed to lift the barrels from their -heads, but most of them were rolling over and over on the ground, half -choked with rage and molasses.</p> - -<p>"When we stop I think I can help you," promised Nox, looking anxiously -at Handy, who was now quite purple in the face from her struggles with -the hoop. "Just forget it, can't you, and think of the interesting -people we are meeting. I'll wager you have no hook noses on Mt. Mern!"</p> - -<p>"I should say NOT!" sputtered the Goat Girl in disgust, and then -realizing she was making no progress with the ring, sensibly gave up -the attempt to free herself. Somewhat comforted by the thought that -the Hook Noses were probably as uncomfortable as she was, Handy kept a -sharp lookout for natives. If they ran into any more she wanted to be -sure of seeing them first.</p> - -<p>But the rocky hills and glades were entirely deserted and at every step -the way became more mountainous and lonely. Nox, panting and wheezing -from the long pull, slackened his pace to a walk. Handy Mandy with some -difficulty managed to dismount, and the Ox slipping his horn under the -offending ring, gently forced it upward till the Goat Girl was able -to wiggle free. Then together they climbed up the flinty inclines—up -and up till they came to a wide ledge and a sparkling waterfall. Here -they had a drink without having to wish for one, Nox sticking his head -right into the water and Handy cupping three pairs of her hands to hold -enough to satisfy her thirst.</p> - -<p>"Ho hum," sighed the Ox, "I wonder how much farther we'll have to go -before we can find anyone who can direct us to this Silver Mountain? -I'm sure I saw some castles when we were below."</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus49.jpg" width="385" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"So did I," said Handy, screwing his right horn back with a -businesslike flourish. "My—y, seems a long time since we started from -Keretaria. Do you suppose they have missed us yet?"</p> - -<p>"Probably," yawned the Ox, scratching his back against a rock, while -Handy, suddenly deciding she needed another drink, stepped close to the -waterfall. But instead of quenching her thirst, the Goat Girl spilled -water all over her feet.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus50.jpg" width="253" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Nox! Nox!" she screamed, jerking all her thumbs in his direction. -"Come! Look here! There's a big hollow behind this waterfall—a high -wall of rock with a door in it! I can see it!"</p> - -<p>"Well," sniffed the Ox, rubbing his back luxuriously, "does it say -'come in'? Must we try every door we come to?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," Handy Mandy told him firmly, "we must! Where there's a door -there's bound to be a door-keeper or at least someone who might tell us -where we are. Now then, I'll jump through the waterfall first and knock -on the door. There wouldn't be room for you on the ledge until the door -is open."</p> - -<p>"Sounds risky!" objected the Royal Ox, putting back his ears. "What -kind of people would live behind a waterfall? Ask yourself that." But -the Goat Girl, without stopping to ask herself anything, had already -plunged through the misty sheet of water, and gasping and spluttering -was hammering on the door with all seven of her fists.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><a name="CHAPTER_9" id="CHAPTER_9"></a></p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus51.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt=""/> -</div> - -<h2>CHAPTER 9<br /> - -<small>The Magic Hammer</small></h2> - - -<p>There was no answer to Handy's loud knocks, and pausing to catch her -breath and blow on her fingers, the Goat Girl wondered what to try -next. Then, in spite of Nox's warning bellow, she began to shove and -push the wet planks with her shoulder. But that did no good either, -so she felt in her pocket for something to use as a wedge. Almost at -once her fingers closed on the silver hammer they had ploughed up in -Keretaria. While the hammer would not do for a wedge, it would at -least save her knuckles, so, lifting it high above her head, Handy -Mandy brought it down with a resounding whack. A shower of silver -sparks followed the hammer blow, and Nox, peering through the waterfall -saw a gnarled and crooked elf with a purple beard dancing madly round -the startled girl.</p> - -<div class="poetry"><div class="stanza"> -<div class="verse">"<i>I am the elf of the hammer, who</i></div> -<div class="verse"><i>Must do whatever you ask me to</i>,"</div> -</div></div> - -<p>sang the elf between his high leaps and prances.</p> - -<p>"Then open this door," directed Handy, spinning round in a circle -herself to get a good look at the little fellow. "My—y, how funny Oz -is! Magic horns, Topsies, Hook Noses and now <i>you</i>! Don't tell me a -little body like you can really open this great heavy door?"</p> - -<div class="poetry"><div class="stanza"> -<div class="verse">"<i>Pick up the hammer and doubt no more—</i></div> -<div class="verse"><i>Himself, the elf, will now open the door.</i>"</div> -</div></div> - -<p>In a daze Handy Mandy picked up the hammer and put it back in her -pocket, and Nox, thunderstruck by the whole proceeding thrust his head -through the waterfall just in time to see the knobby little gnome push -the door open with one thump of his brown fist. Quick as a flash Handy -was on the other side.</p> - -<p>"Come on! Come on!" she called hoarsely to Nox. "Can't you see it's -closing? Oh mercy—ercy, do you want to leave me here all alone?"</p> - -<p>"Yes!" snorted Nox in an exasperated voice, but jumping as he snorted. -"I'd like nothing better." As he came to 'better,' he landed on the -other side of the waterfall and skidded through the open door into the -mountain. He had just time to tuck in his tail, when the door with an -ominous creak slammed shut.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus52.jpg" width="500" height="331" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"<i>Now</i>, see what you've done!" gasped Nox, eyeing the gloomy interior -with distaste and foreboding. "I—thought—you—were going to be a help -to me and all—puff—splutter—you do is get me into trouble! What sort -of place is this anyway?"</p> - -<p>"A c-c-ave," quavered Handy, wrapping all her arms tightly round -herself. "My—y, it's so high—igh, I can hardly see the top. Where's -that elf?"</p> - -<p>"Gone!" sighed the Ox, taking a cautious step forward. "But I expect -he'll come back at the first tap of that hammer. All very puzzling if -you ask me."</p> - -<p>"Well, shall I call him back?" asked Handy uneasily. "It's kinda lonely -in here and maybe Himself could tell us where we are."</p> - -<p>"Better wait till we need him," advised the Ox. "After all, we know we -are in a cave, seems to be of silver rock, too. Just cast your eye at -those stalactites, m'lass."</p> - -<p>"So that's what you call 'em," the Goat Girl glanced curiously up at -the silver icicles hanging in jagged points from the ceiling. "We have -caves on Mt. Mern, but nothing like this." She looked apprehensively -round the silent cavern, from which a perfect honeycomb of passageways -branched off in all directions. "A fine place to get lost, I'd call -it," she shivered, moving as close as she could to her companion. "What -makes this lavender light? I see no lamps."</p> - -<p>"Jewels!" confided the Ox in a hushed voice. "See, there are hundreds -of amethysts embedded in those rocks, each glowing like—"</p> - -<p>"An eye!" finished Handy nervously. "And all watching us, I dare say. -My—y, do you suppose anyone lives here? But they must—" Unwinding her -arms, Handy suddenly began snapping all thirty-five of her fingers. -"Nox, Nox!" she cried excitedly. "I've just thought of something!"</p> - -<p>"Can't you think without shouting?" asked the Ox, flashing his eyes -suspiciously from left to right.</p> - -<p>"No," said Handy triumphantly, "for this is something to shout about. -Look, old Toggins, if this is a silver cave, why wouldn't a Silver -Mountain be on top? All we have to do is open that door and start -climbing again."</p> - -<p>"As I remember there was a sheer precipice back of the waterfall, how -could we climb that? No, no! The best thing for us to do is to travel -down one of the passageways and hope it will bring us out on the side -of the mountain itself."</p> - -<p>"Yes, but which one?" demanded the Goat Girl. "There are about a -hundred it seems to me."</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus53.jpg" width="257" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Let's try that first one to the right," proposed the Ox judiciously. -Their voices echoed and reverberated back and forth so uncannily in the -big hollow cavern that almost without realizing it they began to talk -in whispers and tread as softly as thieves in the night. Half-way to -their destination they stopped, rigid with horror and consternation. -Thumping footsteps were coming toward them from the labyrinth on the -left.</p> - -<p>"Someone does live here, after all," said the Goat Girl. "Someone who -weighs a ton. Hark to that!"</p> - -<p>"Watch yourself!" warned Nox, planting all four feet and making ready -to charge if the cave dweller proved unfriendly.</p> - -<p>"Oh, my aunt—a GIANT!" With a shrill scream Handy flung all her arms -round Nox's neck and buried her face in his shoulder. Poor Nox, nearly -strangled by the Goat Girl's embrace could neither move nor speak and -could scarcely breathe. With rolling eyes and quaking legs he watched -the monster approach. The Giant's body, almost ten times the size of a -grizzly bear, was encased in a tight purple uniform with bells instead -of buttons that jingled whenever he moved. He wore a huge silver -helmet, and his neck, almost a foot long, kept darting up and down as -he shot his head in this direction and that.</p> - -<p>"Ho! THERE you are!" he roared, suddenly catching sight of the two -travellers trembling together in the center of the cavern. "How -dare you enter the cave of the King of the Silver Mountain without -invitation or permission?"</p> - -<p>"Then this really IS the Silver Mountain!" marveled Handy, twisting her -apron nervously in her wooden fingers.</p> - -<p>"Of course!" yelled the giant, thumping the floor with an enormous -silver club. "And I, Snorpus the Mighty, am Keeper of the Hidden -Door. I am OUTKEEPER for this whole mountain," he boasted truculently -expanding his chest and looking complacently down at the two midgets at -his feet. But something in his manner began to reassure the Goat Girl.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus54.jpg" width="447" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"I'll bet he's dumb as he's big," she confided hurriedly to Nox. Then -raising her voice and all of her arms, she called up loudly, "Then you -must indeed be strong and sturdy!"</p> - -<p>"Oh, I AM!" bawled the Giant, twirling his silver moustache and fixing -Handy for a moment with his glittering eye. "Snorpus the Door Keeper -is strong as an OX!" There was something very peculiar about the eye -of the Giant. It seemed to revolve on a moving belt, peering out as it -passed through the four wide open lids set at intervals round the top -of his head, so that half the time he was looking the other way.</p> - -<p>"Did you ever see an ox?" inquired Handy politely as the eye of Snorpus -again flashed by.</p> - -<p>"No, but I'd like to," admitted the Giant, shooting his head out to the -side.</p> - -<p>"Well, this is an ox," cried Handy, tapping the anxious beast at her -side with a rubber hand. "And if you are strong as an ox you are strong -as Nox and nothing much can stop you."</p> - -<p>"How strong is he?" asked Snorpus, lowering himself stiffly to one knee -in order to get a look at what he had first supposed to be a small and -insignificant animal.</p> - -<p>"So strong," explained the Goat Girl impressively, as she pointed with -all hands to the side of the cave, "that if he so much as bumped into -that wall yonder, this whole cavern would collapse like a pack of -cards."</p> - -<p>"Then I hope he'll be very careful," faltered Snorpus, taking out a -huge silk handkerchief to mop his forehead. "It would annoy the King -frightfully if you destroyed his cavern, and I might even lose my head -and position here."</p> - -<p>"Oh, he'll be careful," promised Handy Mandy generously. "He, being an -ox, and you being strong as an ox, makes us all friends, doesn't it?"</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus55.jpg" width="500" height="341" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"I—I suppose so," muttered Snorpus, tapping his knee uncertainly with -his club. "But just the same, I am still the outkeeper and must do my -duty at all hazards. AT ALL HAZARDS!" he shouted, standing up to give -himself courage and puffing out his cheeks like a porpoise.</p> - -<p>"But you have done your duty," bellowed Nox in a voice even louder than -the door keeper's. "If we were outside the mountain it would be your -plain duty to keep us there, but since we are already inside, you have -nothing more to do with us. Isn't that so?" Lowering his head, Nox made -a little lunge at the Giant's shins. And backing away, Snorpus gave the -pair several long puzzled looks.</p> - -<p>"Well, then," he decided finally, "if I have nothing more to do with -you, you had best come along to the King."</p> - -<p>"That is exactly what we wish to do," answered the Goat Girl promptly.</p> - -<p>"My, you <i>are</i> brave, aren't you?" The Giant's eye flashed for a moment -in real admiration upon Handy Mandy, then, picking up his club, he -began clumping away to the left.</p> - -<p>"Now I wonder what he meant by that?" puffed Nox, for they both had to -run to even keep the Giant in sight.</p> - -<p>"I don't know," gasped Handy, "but never mind what he means. We still -have your golden horn and the silver hammer and will manage somehow. -But imagine getting right inside the Silver Mountain and never knowing -it!"</p> - -<p>"Yes, and we may go out the same way," predicted the Royal Ox gloomily, -following the Giant down the wide glittering corridor. "I never did -like these tunnely places or people."</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus56.jpg" width="500" height="347" alt=""/> -</div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><a name="CHAPTER_10" id="CHAPTER_10"></a></p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus57.jpg" width="500" height="338" alt=""/> -</div> - -<h2>CHAPTER 10<br /> - -<small>The King of the Silver Mountain</small></h2> - - -<p>"I hear water," worried Handy as Snorpus suddenly vanished round a bend -in the corridor. "Oh, dear—ear, I do hope we won't have to go swimming -again."</p> - -<p>"Then mind your manners!" warned the Royal Ox, giving his horns a -little shake. "Remember it is safer to keep on the right side of Kings -and Giants, and if we are to learn anything about Kerry we must be -extremely patient and polite."</p> - -<p>A loud gasp interrupted Nox's speech, for Handy Mandy, well in the -lead, had also stepped round the bend. Hastening to catch up with her, -the Ox, too, gave an involuntary exclamation of wonder and astonishment.</p> - -<p>The silver corridor had brought them into a second cavern, smaller than -the entrance cave, but so light and lacy, so bright and beautiful, for -once Handy Mandy stood perfectly speechless. The silver sides of the -dome-shaped grotto had been carved to show all the historical figures -and characters of ancient Oz. Wizards, giants, knights, witches, -huntsmen, robbers, kings, queens and their patient subjects marched in -a splendid procession round the walls. Sparkling lavender sand covered -the floor and a lake of shimmering quicksilver took up the entire -center, lapping the shore with its swift soundless waves. On a small -island of purest amethyst in the middle of this lake the King of the -Silver Mountain reclined at ease. His back was toward the newcomers and -he seemed lost in some deep and entirely satisfactory contemplation.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus58.jpg" width="500" height="246" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"A king, if I ever saw one," breathed Nox moistly in Handy's ear. -With a wordless nod the Goat Girl agreed, for in this long, indolent -yet majestic figure Handy felt she was seeing royalty for the first -time. The unusual height of the silver monarch was at once apparent -and his tight-fitting suit of deepest purple, without ornament save for -his jeweled belt and sword, set off his handsome figure to the best -advantage. His hair, of an astonishing thickness, was as silver as his -cavern. When he turned his head, as he presently did at a little cough -from Snorpus, Handy saw that his eyes were of a clear and piercing -violet. Quietly and without hurry, the Silver King rose and, picking -up his filigreed crown, set it firmly on his head. Then, retrieving a -long-stemmed pipe from a crevice in the rock, he established himself in -a seat carved from the amethyst and looked inquiringly across at his -visitors.</p> - -<p>"So," he whistled, his eyes sparkling with lively interest as they -rested for a long moment on the Goat Girl. "Two very, VERY clever -travellers."</p> - -<p>"Why do you say that?" blurted out Handy, and was instantly overcome at -her own boldness in speaking to so grand a person.</p> - -<p>"The fact that you are here in this cavern proves you are clever," -answered the King, leaning over to fill his pipe in the quicksilver -lake. "You have opened the door in the mountain that does not open; -passed the impassable guardian and keeper of that door—SNORPUS!!" The -King's pleasant voice changed so quick and cruelly, Handy almost lost -her balance. "What have you to say for yourself, you lazy Bozwokel?" -roared His Majesty, his eyes flashing flinty sparks of purple. "I'll -have you potted for this, potted and reduced to a smithering smith, do -you hear?"</p> - -<p>Poor Snorpus, who could not have helped hearing the King's booming -sentence, dropped to his knees and began pleading, explaining and -blubbering all in the same breath. Even Nox, startled as he was, tried -to put in a good word for him. But the muttering monarch, paying no -attention to any of them, had lifted his silver pipe to his lips and an -enormous bubble was rising from the bowl. Handy, with chattering teeth, -watched the bubble grow larger and larger, float off the pipe and hover -over the unlucky head of the Giant. As Snorpus tried in vain to dodge, -the bubble broke with the sound like a doomsday bell, enveloping him -in a cloudy mist. When it cleared away, the Giant was indeed reduced, -coming now scarcely to Handy's shoulder.</p> - -<p>"How about it, shall we run?" whispered the Goat Girl as the King began -to blow another bubble. "Boy, do I feel a draft!"</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus59.jpg" width="253" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"But he's not mad at us!" answered the Ox, ducking nervously as the -second bubble soared over their heads. "Wait! Be patient, remember -the little King." As Nox finished speaking the bubble sailed off -and away down one of the silver corridors leading away from the -royal cavern. Presently they heard a bell ringing in the distance -as the bubble broke, and before you could say Pop Robinson seventy -silver-jacketed little bell boys came trotting into the cave.</p> - -<p>"Take this poor failure to Nifflepok and see that he is potted," -directed the King sternly, setting down his bubble pipe. "Have Timano -guard the mountain door and see that I am not disturbed. Important -matters have come up this morning, important matters!"</p> - -<p>"Yes! Yes! Your Highness! It shall be done, Your Excellency!" mumbled -the bell boys, pushing poor Snorpus ahead of them.</p> - -<p>"Watch yourselves! Watch yourselves!" warned the little Giant as he was -rudely hustled out of the royal presence.</p> - -<p>"Now," smiled the Silver King, positively beaming upon his visitors, -"now we can proceed with our conversation. Sorry to trouble you with -this small matter, but discipline, as the old army officers will tell -you, discipline must be maintained."</p> - -<p>"Humph!" sniffed Handy Mandy under her breath, looking with dislike -and disillusion at the royal figure on the rocks. "The Giant was right, -you're a fellow who'll bear watching." Fortunately her words did not -carry, and lazily glancing at them through his long purple lashes the -Silver King continued his speech.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus60.jpg" width="378" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Since you have so easily entered my mountain," he observed blandly, -"I assume you have some powerful magic treasure or appliance in your -possession. Am I right?" At the sudden forward lurch of the Royal Ox -and Handy Mandy's surprised expression, the King gave a satisfied -little nod. "Fine!" he chuckled, rubbing his hands together briskly. -"And now, let us waste no more time. WHO sent you? WHAT have you to -offer? As you doubtless know, the Wizard of Wutz pays well for magic -treasures and formulas."</p> - -<p>"Wizard!" choked Handy Mandy, carelessly clapping her iron hand to her -forehead and knocking herself over backward. "Wizard!" she repeated, -dazedly picking herself up. "But I thought you were a King?"</p> - -<p>"I am both!" stated the owner of the cavern proudly. "I am King of the -Silver Mountain and also the Wizard of Wutz, second in importance only -to Glinda and the Wizard of Oz. And, ha! ha! it won't be long before I -am the ONLY wizard, the sole, supreme and only Wizard of Oz! Not long! -Not long!" Again the Silver King rubbed his hands exultantly together. -"I have my secret agents in every Kingdom in this country and even in -the Emerald City of Oz," he told them impressively. "I already have the -Record Book of Glinda, the Good Sorceress, and many more of the magic -treasures of Oz, and soon I will have them all—ALL! My agents are -clever and I have trained them well."</p> - -<p>"But I thought magic was against the law!" cried Nox with an outraged -snort. "I understood no one was allowed to practice magic but Ozma, -Glinda and the Wizard of Oz!"</p> - -<p>"Then why are you here?" demanded Wutz sternly. "YOU have been -practicing magic or you could not have entered this mountain. Come, -now, let us stop all this nonsense and get down to silver tacks and -business. What have you to offer? Who sent you—Three, Six, Nine, Five -or Eleven?"</p> - -<p>As you can imagine, this was perfect jargon to Nox and the Goat Girl, -but Handy Mandy, convinced by this time that the Silver King was both -sly and dangerous, resolved to fall in with his little supposition and -see what would come of it.</p> - -<p>"Nine sent us," she answered boldly, while Nox looked across at her in -perfect stupefaction.</p> - -<p>"You don't say! I rather thought you came from the Munchkin Country," -mused the Wizard. "Something in the way the Ox talked, though you, -yourself, are not a native Ozian?"</p> - -<p>"No!" Handy said noncommittally, and rather pleased she had chosen -Nine, since this number had something to do with the Munchkins.</p> - -<p>"Did Nine say anything about the silver hammer?" asked the King, -twinkling his eyes at the Goat Girl.</p> - -<p>"He told us nothing," stated Handy quite truthfully, this time.</p> - -<p>"That's Nine for you," fumed the King discontentedly. "He's the slowest -and most unsatisfactory agent I have. Two years searching for that -hammer and no report yet. I've a good notion to kick him out and put -little King Kerry back on the throne. A bargain's a bargain and I've -kept my part. Besides, I've got to have that hammer before I can make -myself supreme ruler in Oz. Why, it's the second most important magic -in the four Kingdoms!" At this surprising statement Handy pricked up -her ears.</p> - -<p>"What did you say about Kerry?" panted Nox, almost stepping into the -quicksilver lake at mention of the little King.</p> - -<p>"Nothing. I was talking about Nine," scowled the Wizard. "If that -fellow does not show some action soon, I'll—I'll—" The King clenched -his fists and looked so terribly angry that Handy was afraid he was -going to blow bubbles again. But instead he glared across the lake and -demanded impatiently, "Well, if you didn't bring the silver hammer, -what did you bring?"</p> - -<p>"A magic flower," explained the Goat Girl hurriedly, and before Nox -could give away the fact that they did have the silver hammer. She -could guess from the expression in his eye that he was about to offer -the hammer in exchange for Kerry.</p> - -<p>"A flower!" bawled Wutz, his face turning from red to purple. "My -caves are full of flowers, frosted silver lilies, long-stemmed sterling -roses, daisies and violets with jeweled centers. I can grow any kind of -flower I wish. How dare you take up my time with a flower! PAH! Go back -and tell Nine he had better look out—he's flirting with dismissal and -destruction."</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus61.jpg" width="500" height="322" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"But this flower saves you from injury when you fall," stammered Handy, -heartily wishing she had never got herself into such a controversy.</p> - -<p>"Fall!" sneered the Silver King, simply bounding off his throne. "I -NEVER fall!" and had hardly finished speaking before he caught his toe -on a jutting amethyst and pitched headlong to the rocks. Horrified, and -without waiting for the irate monarch to regain his feet, Handy and -Nox began to run toward one of the outgoing corridors, the Goat Girl -colliding as she ran with a plump little dignitary in a jeweled robe -and high hat.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus62.jpg" width="500" height="322" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Your Highness! Your Highness!" puffed the little fat man, stopping -long enough to glare at Handy Mandy. "At last our efforts are to be -crowned with success! Five has but this moment arrived with—with—"</p> - -<p>"With what?" demanded the King, springing lightly as a cat to his feet. -"With a jug," exulted the little fat man, tossing his high hat into -the air. "With a jug that was Rug and the magic picture of Queen Ozma -herself."</p> - -<p>"Ah, SPLENDID!" beamed the monarch, who could turn his smiles and -rages on and off like electric lights. "That will be a lesson to those -Emerald City-ites!" Then suddenly remembering Handy and Nox and his -undignified fall, he shouted shrilly:</p> - -<p>"Stop those imposters! Stop them, Nifflepok, and lock them up in the -prison pits till I have time to demolish them. Hah! We'll pot the Ox's -tongue, make soup of his tail, saddles and boots of his hide and use -his head for a hat rack. As for that seven-armed monstrosity, she shall -work in the polishing caves for the rest of her stupid life."</p> - -<p>"I'll polish your nose first!" promised Handy, shaking all her fists at -the King.</p> - -<p>"Better come quiet," warned Nifflepok, looking so worried Handy felt a -little sorry for him. "Wutz'll blow bubbles if you make him too mad, -and that'll be much worse than being locked up, you know."</p> - -<p>"Oh, let's go with the Little High-Hat," groaned Nox, blinking his eyes -at Handy to remind her they still had his horns and the silver hammer. -"For my part, I'd like a little peace and quiet."</p> - -<p>"Take 'em away! Take 'em away!" ordered the King, stamping up and down -his rocky island. "Send in Five! Send in Five at once!"</p> - -<p>"Come along, then," said Nifflepok, being careful to keep out of the -way of Nox's horns. "Come, give me your hand, maiden. Not that one! Not -THAT one!" he howled dismally as the Goat Girl clasped his outstretched -fingers in her iron hand. "Let go! Let go!"</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus63.jpg" width="500" height="342" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Let's go! Let's go!" chuckled Handy Mandy mischievously. And squealing -with pain the little Minister hurried them down a long dim passageway.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><a name="CHAPTER_11" id="CHAPTER_11"></a></p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus64.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt=""/> -</div> - -<h2>CHAPTER 11<br /> - -<small>Down to the Prisoners' Pit!</small></h2> - - -<p>"Oh! Oh! Give me another hand and I'll do my best to help you," -sputtered Nifflepok, as Handy Mandy ruthlessly continued to squeeze his -fingers.</p> - -<p>"We'll help ourselves, thank you," retorted the Goat Girl tartly. -Then relenting a little, she relaxed her hold, for she could not help -pitying Nifflepok and all the subjects of this cruel King. "Where are -these prison pits?" she asked impatiently, for she was anxious to be -alone with Nox. "If you are going to lock us up, do hurry along with -it."</p> - -<p>"Yes, yes, absolutely yes!" moaned Nifflepok, glancing nervously -over his shoulder to be sure the white Ox was not going to tread on -his heels. "You'll be there in no time, no time at all," he assured -them earnestly. "Step over here, please." Moving a sliding door in -the wall of the corridor, the King's assistant waved them toward a -smooth wheelless silver carriage. It looked to Handy a lot like an -old-fashioned sleigh, and as there were seats in front and a space in -back large enough for the Ox, she let go Nifflepok's hand and quite -willingly climbed aboard. Nox, grunting a little, stepped over the side -and settled himself behind her.</p> - -<p>"Well, goodbye," sniffed Nifflepok, rubbing his bruised fingers -tenderly. "You'll find everything you need below, not that you'll -be needing anything," he added mournfully as he pulled out a silver -switch. "Goodbye, I'm sorry for you!" he shouted as the car with a -lurch that almost loosened Handy's teeth shot down a sliding runway to -the deep pits of darkness below.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus65.jpg" width="260" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>Now, you and I, who are used to scenic railways and have enjoyed the -thrills of chute the chutes for years, would have been less startled -by the wild dizzy leaps, the swoops, curves and climbs, and the -sickening drops of the Silver King's chariot. But neither the Goat Girl -nor the Royal Ox had ever heard of a scenic railway, much less ridden -in one, and the underground car of the Silver Monarch was more like -a chute the chutes than anything else. Sometimes the two travellers -were in complete darkness, at other times they whirled by the narrow, -well-lighted ledges of a queer cave city, where the subjects of the -Mountain King lived in cell-like apertures in the silver rock like the -cliff dwellers of old. Then without warning the car would plunge to -the work caverns below, past the gloomy shafts of the silver mines, or -dart up to the living quarters and grottos of the King himself, caves -so lavishly furnished and glowing with jewels, Handy let out little -shrieks of astonishment. In the King's subterranean gardens, silver -swallows bathed in the silver fountains, silver maples rustled their -lacy branches in the lavender-scented breezes, silver-petalled flowers -with jeweled centers grew as riotously as daisies and buttercups in the -upstairs world.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus66.jpg" width="500" height="321" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>The mountaineers themselves, working listless with pick and shovel in -the mines, or walking soberly along the ledges beside their little -cliff dwellings, seemed undersized and unhappy to the Goat Girl. Not -that she caught more than a flying glimpse of them as the silver car -tore by. In fact, she was so frantically busy holding on to the front -rail of the car with all her various hands and catching her breath -after each dizzy swoop, that her mind was in a perfect whirl. The -groans and snorts of Nox were far from reassuring, but afraid to look -back lest she herself be flung out, Handy clung desperately to the rail -wondering when the wild ride would end and where under the mountain -the silver car was taking them. The last words of Nifflepok rang -unpleasantly in her ears and as they raced by a cave marked "Potters -Den" the Goat Girl positively shuddered. Here, set out in vast silver -pots and buried to their chins in the silver earth, were scores of the -King's pale-faced prisoners. A grim-looking gardener was watering them -from a milk can, and from the hungry way they lapped up the few drops -that fell to them, Handy concluded that this was probably their only -food.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus67.jpg" width="500" height="279" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"First I shot over a mountain, and now I'm shooting through one!" -moaned the distracted Goat Girl, trying to collect her spinning -thoughts and faculties. "Oh, my—y, we're going to pot for sure. Oh, -this time we are really done for!"</p> - -<p>Then all at once Handy's good common sense began to assert itself. And -as their strange chariot with a sudden increase of speed and power -again dashed down into the darkness, she snatched the precious blue -flower from her pocket and at the exact moment the silver car turned -over and flung them into space, Handy began pulling the petals from the -flower and letting them drift down ahead of her own rapidly falling -body. It was just light enough for her to see Nox, with bristling -horns and quivering nostrils, fall past, when she herself started to -turn so many and such dizzy somersaults she lost all count of time and -distance.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><a name="CHAPTER_12" id="CHAPTER_12"></a></p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus68.jpg" width="500" height="322" alt=""/> -</div> - -<h2>CHAPTER 12<br /> - -<small>Prisoners of the Wizard</small></h2> - - -<p>What seemed to be hours later, though in reality it was only a few -moments, the two luckless prisoners found themselves side by side on a -heap of soft blue flower petals. They were in a small circular pit with -one amethyst burning dimly in the grating that covered the top. The -Goat Girl had no recollection of her final landing and gazing up at the -grilled ceiling wondered dully how they had come through without being -cut to pieces.</p> - -<p>"It tilted," wheezed the Royal Ox, answering the unspoken question in -Handy's eyes, "just tilted and slid us down. A fortunate thing you -kept that magic flower, m'lass. Ha—rumph!" Weakly and still trembling -in every limb, Nox tried to rise, but his legs gave way beneath him -and for a good fifteen minutes he and the Goat Girl rested on the -flower petals saying never a word. The tapping of footsteps in the -corridor brought Handy quickly to her feet and as Nox managed to heave -himself upright, the blue petals vanished, leaving only a tiny flower -on the floor. Handy had just time to stuff it into her pocket when -an invisible door in the side of the pit opened and twelve depressed -workmen in silver cloth caps and overalls stepped inside. They -carried brooms, mops and dust pans and stood staring in dismay at the -seven-armed Goat Girl and angry-looking Ox.</p> - -<p>"We—we were sent to brush up!" stuttered the first workman, touching -his cap uneasily. "But—there—seems—"</p> - -<p>"To be nothing to brush!" finished Handy sarcastically. "Sorry to -disappoint you. Now get OUT!" ordered the Goat Girl furiously, and -seizing buckets, brooms and mops from their nerveless fingers, Handy -pummeled them left and right with her seven hands.</p> - -<p>"Get out and don't come back till Christmas," she panted, as the -workmen, tumbling over one another, clawed open the door and banged it -to behind them. The knob was on the other side of the pit and not even -the edges of the door were now visible.</p> - -<p>"What a place!" groaned Handy Mandy, leaning dejectedly against the -side of their prison. "What a King! And he looked so nice!" grieved the -Goat Girl, sliding down to a sitting position and holding her head in -all of her hands.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus69.jpg" width="426" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Never mind," said the Ox, settling on the floor beside her. "He hasn't -gotten the best of us yet. It was pretty clever of you to remember that -flower, but what I can't understand, is why you did not tell him at -once that we <i>did</i> have this silver hammer he is so anxious to possess? -Then we could have traded the hammer for the release of Kerry."</p> - -<p>"I don't trust him," answered the Goat Girl somberly. "Why I wouldn't -trust that Wizard as far as a goat can butt. Didn't you hear him say -the hammer was the second most important magic in Oz? Didn't you hear -him say he was stealing and planning to steal the best magic from all -the four Kingdoms to make himself supreme ruler of Oz? Well, now that -Five has brought him this jug-a-rug or whatever it is and Ozma's own -magic picture he's probably well on the way to realizing his ambitions. -But he's not going to get our silver hammer. I found it, and I'm going -to keep it, for it's far safer with me than with him. Do you suppose -we're going to help an old Bozzywog like that? What good would it do -to put Kerry back on his throne if Wutz is to be Ruler of Oz? He'd -probably pot all the Kings and keep everything for himself."</p> - -<p>"Very probably," agreed Nox, wagging his head mournfully. "But what -are we to do? Are we an army to fight a mountain full of silver moles -and minions, are we magicians to risk our necks with this wizard? -Besides," Nox's face grew thin and anxious, "if Wutz has treated Kerry -the way he has treated us, the boy needs us right now and this very -minute."</p> - -<p>"But didn't you hear him say he'd put Kerry back on the throne if Nine -did not soon find the hammer?" put in Handy patiently. "That proves the -little King is still here, and safe. Of course we must find him and get -him out of this miserable mountain, but we're not going to give Wutz -our hammer or any help at all, and he can put that in his silver pipe -and blow bubbles till he bursts," said Handy vindictively. "Now the -thing to do is to rest and eat, and then set ourselves to find the way -out of this pit and this mountain. Wutz and Nifflepok think we're all -swept away by this time. Besides, they'll be too busy talking with Five -to bother us. So first to eat and then to think!" proposed Handy in a -businesslike manner.</p> - -<p>"Perhaps you're right," sighed the Ox, "but I'll not have an easy -moment till we're out of this magic mountain. That ride!" Nox lashed -his tail and rolled his eyes at the mere thought of their dash down the -underground railway. "Did you ever experience anything like it in your -life?"</p> - -<p>"Well," grinned Handy, "it's one way of seeing the country, I suppose. -But let's not look back, old Toggins, let's look ahead. Remember we -still have the Dwarf of the Hammer on our side and when we are ready to -leave he'll surely show us the way."</p> - -<p>"Not before I put a few gores in that Wizard's pants and plans," -rumbled Nox belligerently. "I'll teach him to take liberties with the -Royal Ox of Keretaria."</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus70.jpg" width="500" height="338" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Hi—yigh! That's the old Oz spirit!" cheered Handy, reaching out -to touch his golden horn. "Horn, dear, just serve two dinners, and -no fooling." Unscrewing Nox's horn of plenty as she spoke, the Goat -Girl held it quietly in her wooden hand. And there was certainly no -fooling about the two splendid dinners the horn delivered in answer -to Handy's wish. Never had she eaten a more appetizing repast and half -of the prison pit was taken up by the fresh hay, fruit and grains -brought to satisfy the hunger of the Royal Ox. So, forgetting for a -time their awful danger and their disagreeable imprisonment, the two -adventurers refreshed themselves, and after the dishes and containers -had disappeared, settled down to evolve some plan to outwit the Wizard -of Wutz.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><a name="CHAPTER_13" id="CHAPTER_13"></a></p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus71.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt=""/> -</div> - -<h2>CHAPTER 13<br /> - -<small>In the Emerald City of Oz</small></h2> - - -<p>Ten days before the Goat Girl left Mt. Mern, a weary and footsore -pilgrim arrived in the Emerald City. At least, he gave that impression -to all who saw him shuffling with his long staff and beggar's cup along -the shining streets of the capital. The man's head was clean shaven -and his small cap, coarse belted robe and sandals marked him as a monk -of some old and ancient order. He nodded gently to each person he -passed, and seemed, in spite of his many years and wrinkles, innocent -and harmless as a child. The splendor and magnificence of the capital -astonished and bewildered the old gentleman and in a sort of stupefied -disbelief he stared at the emerald studded streets and houses, and -gazed up at the lofty peaks and spires of the royal palace. And this -was not strange, for of all the fairy cities out of the world, the -Emerald City of Oz is the most dazzling and beautiful. But its citizens -are kindly and simple, for all that, and many stopped to drop emeralds -in the pilgrim's cup and ask him if there was anything else that he -needed. To all he mumbled in a strange and indistinguishable tongue and -seeing that he was bound for the palace, and sure that Ozma herself -would know best how to deal with him, the Emerald City-ites let him go -his way unmolested.</p> - -<p>The afternoon was warm and pleasant, and Ozma and some of her favorites -were having a lazy game of croquet in the royal garden. The click of -the gold mallets as they tapped the gold balls presently attracted the -attention of the old wayfarer, who paused to peer curiously over the -hedge. The simple summer dresses of the girls in the garden seemed out -of all keeping with their majestic surroundings. Except for Ozma's -frock, which was longer, the emerald crown on her dark curls, and the -golden circlets worn by her three companions, they might have been any -four little girls playing croquet in a garden. But all around were the -unmistakable signs of rank and royalty. At ease under a lime tree stood -a tall soldier with green whiskers leaning on his gun. Three footmen -in satin uniforms stood stiffly beside an emerald topped tea table, -ready at a moment's notice to serve Ozade and frosted cake. On a gold -bench nearby, a straw stuffed scarecrow was quietly reading the paper, -and walking arm in arm down a little path talking composedly together -were an energetic little man with a bald head and a curious fellow who -seemed to be constructed entirely of copper. To all who are familiar -with the quaint and merry folk at Ozma's court, there would be nothing -odd about a live scarecrow or a mechanical man, and most of us would -have recognized Ozma's companions at once as Dorothy, Betsy and Trot, -three mortal girls who long ago came to live in the royal palace.</p> - -<p>It was Dorothy who had discovered the Scarecrow on her first visit -to Oz, lifting him down from his pole and traveling in his gay and -carefree company all the way to the Emerald City. In those days the -Wizard of Oz had been ruler of the country, he himself having flown -in a balloon from Omaha. Astonished by the circus tricks of this -little fellow, the Ozians believing him to be a real wizard, made him -their sovereign, and under his wise rule and direction, built the now -famous City of Emeralds. The sight of Dorothy had made the humbug -wizard homesick, and after presenting the Scarecrow with a fine set of -brains, he flew off to America in a balloon of his own construction, -leaving the straw man to rule in his place. Afterward, when Ozma was -disenchanted and proved to be the rightful ruler of Oz, the Scarecrow -had cheerfully resigned. But he still spends most of his time in the -palace and is one of Ozma's most trusted friends and counselors. Later -the Wizard himself returned to Oz and this time took up the study of -magic with such zeal and earnestness he was soon famous from one end -of the country to the other. This made him exceedingly valuable to the -young fairy ruler, and he, like the Scarecrow, is an old and honored -member of Ozma's cabinet.</p> - -<p>It was the Wizard who was now talking so earnestly to Tik Tok. The -Metal Man was another of Dorothy's discoveries. She met Tik Tok -on her second visit to Oz and brought him to the Emerald City for -safe keeping. Tik Tok, made by the firm of Smith and Tinker, is a -completely mechanical man and a loyal and dependable citizen when he is -properly wound up and oiled. Betsy and Trot, like Dorothy, arrived more -or less by wind, wave and accident in the Land of Oz. They liked it so -well and proved so gay and amusing, Ozma begged them to stay with her -and Dorothy in the green castle and help rule the many merry Kingdoms -that make up her wonderful empire. This they were only too happy to do, -so here they are, Princesses in their own right and living in the most -gorgeous City out of the world.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus72.jpg" width="500" height="338" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>Besides the celebrities in the garden, there are numerous other -important people at Ozma's court. For instance, there is Herby, the -Medicine Man, whose chest is really a medicine chest full of pills, -cures and ointments. Then there is Scraps, a lively girl made from a -patchwork quilt by a wizard's wife, and brought to life by the wizard; -and there's Pigasus, a flying pig. There's a doubtful dromedary, a -cowardly lion, a hungry tiger, and Dorothy's little dog Toto; a glass -cat belonging to Scraps, a wooden saw horse belonging to Ozma, an Iffin -whom Jack Pumpkinhead discovered near the Land of Barons, and a dozen -more unique and unusual characters.</p> - -<p>The old pilgrim seemed to find the group in the garden surprising -enough, for he watched them closely and silently for almost ten -minutes, cupping his hand behind his ear in an endeavor to catch what -the Wizard was saying.</p> - -<p>"It is just as I have told you," the little Wizard was remarking -earnestly to Tik Tok. "The great record book of Glinda has vanished -from her castle without trace or reason and even with my powerful -searchlight and looking glasses I have been unable to discover any -signs of it. Word of the theft came yesterday by pigeon post."</p> - -<p>"Some-one has sto-len it for no good pur-pose," answered the Metal -Man solemnly. But the old man leaning over the hedge heard none of -this, for the two were conversing in low and guarded tones. So after a -long puzzled look at the Scarecrow the pilgrim took up his staff and -shuffled along the gold pebbled path to the palace itself. A pompous -footman in gold and green came to answer his timid knock at the door.</p> - -<p>"What name, please, what business, and why in the wood does a fellow -like you come begging at the door of a castle?" inquired the footman in -a loud displeased voice.</p> - -<p>"There, there, Puffup," admonished a rosy-cheeked maid in a ribboned -cap and apron, peering around the wide shoulders of the footman. "Don't -be so shouting proud. You've frightened the old gentleman half out of -his wits. Can't you see he is tired and hungry and probably in need of -a lunch?" At the little maid's kind speech, the pilgrim bowed at least -a dozen times, nodding his head energetically to show that she was -perfectly right in her conjecture. "Come along with you," urged Jellia -Jamb, giving him a friendly wink.</p> - -<p>Edging nervously past the muttering footman, the old beggar followed -Jellia into the castle's spacious and splendid dining hall. "Wait right -here and I'll bring you some cake and apple sauce, an omelette and a -pot of tea," promised the obliging girl. "How will that be?" Jellia -Jamb, who was Ozma's own personal maid and a privileged character -around the castle, grinned cheerfully at her ancient visitor, and -though the old monk pretended not to understand a word that she said, -he nevertheless seated himself at the table and with round eyes watched -her skip through the swinging door into the pantry.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus73.jpg" width="387" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>No sooner had Jellia disappeared, than the old rascal sprang nimbly to -his feet and began to peer eagerly all around him. Passing hurriedly -over a rich gold service on the sideboard, he pounced upon an earthen -jug on a crystal stand and tucking it under his robe, slipped silently -as a shadow out of the dining hall, up the green carpeted stairs and -straight into the private sitting room of Ozma of Oz. Once there, and -without losing a moment, he walked to the west wall, took down a large -gold framed picture, blew upon it with a small glass tube, till it -was no larger than a cake of chocolate—and thrust it into an inner -pocket. Then, holding his robe high above his skinny shins and with -the jug clasped tightly in his arms, he galloped down the stairs and -out an open window into the garden, reaching a large clump of snowball -bushes without encountering anyone. Hiding himself well in the bushes, -he tore off the monk's robe, turned it inside out, dragged a white wig -from his sock and presently emerged as dignified and plausible an old -grandmother as any one would wish to see. The other side of his monk's -robe was green and made up in a style much affected by old ladies in -the capital, so that now he attracted no attention whatever. The jug in -a large string bag dangled carelessly from his wrist, and smiling and -nodding amiably he hurried through the garden, passed rapidly down one -street and another, through the high city gates, on and on, till he was -far out in the country walking faster and faster and less like a monk -or an old lady at every step.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus74.jpg" width="500" height="324" alt=""/> -</div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><a name="CHAPTER_14" id="CHAPTER_14"></a></p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus75.jpg" width="500" height="342" alt=""/> -</div> - -<h2>CHAPTER 14<br /> - -<small>The Robbery Is Discovered!</small></h2> - - -<p>"Prunes and peppermints!" ejaculated the Scarecrow, springing up from -his bench as Jellia Jamb, with streaming eyes and cap ribbons, came -flying across the garden.</p> - -<p>"Peanuts and pretzels!" Dorothy, about to hit the pole and win the -game, dropped her mallet at Jellia's fire siren screeches, while Ozma -and the others swung round in amazement as the little waiting maid, -sobbing and panting, rushed into their midst.</p> - -<p>"Oh, that beggar! Oh, that pilgrim! That old Monk, or whatever he was!" -wailed Jellia, wiping her eyes on the corner of her apron. "He's gone -and stolen the jug, I mean Rug, and Oz knows what will become of us!"</p> - -<p>"There, there, my girl. Stop crying! Begin at the beginning and tell us -just what happened," begged the Scarecrow, patting Jellia clumsily on -the shoulder.</p> - -<p>"But this is serious, very serious," muttered the Wizard, who had at -once realized the importance of the little maid's news. "If Ruggedo is -released from that jug and enchantment, he'll be up to his old tricks -in no time and doing anything in his power to hurt and destroy us."</p> - -<p>"But who could have known we turned Ruggedo into a jug, or where the -jug was kept? And why would anyone steal an old earthenware pitcher -when there are so many other rare and beautiful objects in the palace?" -Ozma, looking anxious and troubled, seated herself on the bench beside -the Scarecrow.</p> - -<p>"The same person who knew the value of Glinda's record book and stole -that," answered the Wizard gloomily. "Dark forces are at work in Oz, my -dear, dark forces. Just how did this rascal look, Jellia?"</p> - -<p>"Like an old monk with a beggar's cup," said the little maid with a -sorrowful sniff. "He seemed so poor and hungry I went off to get him -something to eat and no sooner was my back turned than he grabbed the -jug and ran off—though he shuffled slowly enough when he came into the -palace."</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus76.jpg" width="500" height="339" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Disguised, of course," observed the Scarecrow, raising one eyebrow, -"and no more a monk than I am. But what was he monkeying round here -for? And what could he want with that jug, even if he knew it was the -old Gnome King? Really, you know, you shouldn't let perfect strangers -into the palace, Jellia."</p> - -<p>"Just what I was telling her," wheezed Puffup, breathlessly adding -himself to the group on the lawn, "and I hopes this will be a lesson to -you, Miss."</p> - -<p>"If we just knew where the old villain came from," worried the Wizard, -tapping his fingers absently on Tik Tok's copper arm.</p> - -<p>"Or where he was going," finished Dorothy, pushing back her crown.</p> - -<p>"Why not look in the ma-gic pic-ture?" proposed the Machine Man calmly. -"The pic-ture would show us where he is now."</p> - -<p>"Of course it would!" Ozma rewarded Tik Tok with a bright smile, and -jumping up, the little Fairy hurried across the garden and into the -palace with the others just a few steps behind her. But when they -reached the small sitting room where the magic picture was hung, of -course it was not there, and now in real distress and consternation -they all sat down to discuss the mysterious forces working against them.</p> - -<p>"I thought Ruggedo was the only enemy I had left," sighed Ozma, leaning -wearily back in her satin tufted arm chair. "I thought when we turned -the Gnome King to a jug, all our troubles would be over."</p> - -<p>"Who-ev-er stole the jug knows that Rug-ge-do was once the pow-er-ful -me-tal mon-arch who tried a-gain and a-gain to con-quer Oz," rasped Tik -Tok in his slow and precise fashion.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus77.jpg" width="309" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Right!" agreed the Wizard, striding up and down with his hands clasped -behind his back. "And whoever stole that jug and the magic picture -plans to disenchant the Gnome King and learn from him the best way to -destroy us. But that will be pretty difficult," asserted the little -Wizard, thrusting out his chin. "That transformation was one of the -best you ever made, my dear Ozma, one of the best. It will take a -pretty smart wizard to turn that jug back to Rug again."</p> - -<p>"Whoever stole the jug and Ozma's magic picture WAS pretty smart," -Betsy Bobbin reminded him seriously. "And without the picture how're we -going to find out who it is? Can't you do something, Wiz dear, or do we -just have to sit around and wait to be conquered?"</p> - -<p>"I shall go to my laboratory at once," decided the Wizard importantly, -"and there by some magic means I'll try to discover who is at the -bottom of all this wretched plotting and thievery. Lock up the magic -treasures in your safe, Ozma, especially the Gnome King's magic belt, -and have them guarded day and night." Briskly the little Wizard rushed -out of the room, returning in a moment to repeat gloomily, "DAY and -NIGHT!"</p> - -<p>"And I'll go and drill the army," declared the Scarecrow, stepping -recklessly out an open French window and falling flat, but undaunted, -in a flower bed below.</p> - -<p>"And I'd better call Tige and the Cowardly Lion," said Dorothy, who had -always found the lion a splendid fighter in spite of his cowardice, and -the Hungry Tiger, ready at the drop of a handkerchief to protect his -royal patrons with tooth and claw. "They can sit right here beside the -safe and I'd just like to see anyone get by them!"</p> - -<p>"Maybe it will be someone they cannot see," shivered Betsy, peering out -into the darkening garden.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus78.jpg" width="500" height="340" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Oh, my, isn't it too exciting!" Trot, bouncing up and down on a small -sofa, leaned over to touch Ozma on the knee. "It reminds me of the time -Ugu the Shoemaker stole all the magic treasures in Oz. Remember?"</p> - -<p>Ozma, looking at the space where her magic picture had hung, nodded her -head sorrowfully, saddened and sobered by the thought that she still -had dangerous and unscrupulous enemies in Oz.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><a name="CHAPTER_15" id="CHAPTER_15"></a></p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus79.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt=""/> -</div> - -<h2>CHAPTER 15<br /> - -<small>The Pilgrim Returns to the Mountain</small></h2> - - -<p>Travelling northward by foot and as quickly as he could, Number Five -had come to the Silver King's Mountain just a few moments after Nox -and Handy Mandy. Now, dressed in the silver armor and helmet worn by -all the Wizard's M-Men, he waited in great agitation for the wizard to -appear. Nifflepok had at once taken Five to the den where Wutz carried -on all his magic experiments and kept his valuable treasures, and quite -sure none of the other agents had been as successful as he, Five paced -impatiently up and down, fancying himself already co-ruler with the -wizard in Oz.</p> - -<p>"So, there you are at last!" Entering from an invisible door in the -back of his work shop, Wutz stared coldly at Five. "Well, what trash is -that you have stolen?" was asked, finally. The wizard always pretended -the discoveries of his agents were of little use and importance. And -when Five, completely taken aback and crestfallen, began to explain the -wonderful properties of the magic picture and the fact that the old jug -had once been the powerful King of the Gnomes, the Silver Monarch cut -him short. "Yes, yes, but just see what Seven has brought," he told him -gloatingly. "Seven, by a trick known only to himself, has stolen and -transported to our mountain the great record book of Glinda the Good -Sorceress!" Following the direction of the King's imperious finger, -Five gazed jealously at a huge volume chained with golden chains to its -marble stand. "In that book," went on the wizard quickly, "everything -that ever happened in Oz is recorded, not only everything that has -happened, but everything that is happening. You can see the entries -appearing at this very minute on the open page."</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus80.jpg" width="500" height="328" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"I see, I see!" Five scarcely glanced at the record book. "But this -magic picture shows you any person you desire to look at. With this -picture and the help of the powerful Gnome King, now disguised as a -jug, we can soon make ourselves rulers of Oz. All we need to do is -release Ruggedo from his enchantment. I have been told by people in the -Emerald City that Ruggedo is familiar with all the magic secrets of -Ozma and the Wizard of Oz, and is, besides, a skilful magician himself. -Once we have disenchanted him, everything will be easy."</p> - -<p>"We? We?" sneered Wutz, who secretly agreed with Five, but would not -give him the satisfaction of knowing it. "Well, put the picture there -on that stand so I can examine it. Show us this silly ruler of Oz who -sets herself above all other rulers," he ordered sharply. "Where is -she now and what is she doing?" Then, though the wizard and Five and -Nifflepok, who had come noiselessly into the workshop, gazed into the -canvas till their eyes stung and watered, not a single figure appeared -to enlighten them. "HAH! A hoax!" raged the Silver King, rushing at -Five and shaking him till his armor rattled. "How dare you fool me in -this dangerous manner?"</p> - -<p>"But it's not a hoax," screamed Five as soon as he could speak. "It -worked perfectly well in the castle."</p> - -<p>"Perhaps it was hurt when you reduced it to carry it here," put in -Nifflepok nervously. He was always trying to keep peace between the -cruel King and his subjects. "Perhaps it only obeys the commands of -Ozma, its rightful owner. And remember, you still have the jug and -the magic record book. The record book might even explain about the -picture," he suggested hopefully. "I thought so, it says here: 'The -magic picture and Rug, the jug, have been stolen from the castle of -Ozma of Oz by an agent of the Silver King.'"</p> - -<p>"There!" exclaimed Five, brushing himself off indignantly. "I told you -it was the one and only picture."</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus81.jpg" width="500" height="324" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Yes, but what good is it to me if it doesn't work?" scoffed the -wizard. "I'll not have you potted this time, Five, but next time don't -bring me damaged goods and old jugs, bring something of real value." As -Five, red faced and furious, jerked himself out of the King's presence, -Wutz turned joyfully to Nifflepok. "Getting on, old Tubbykins, we're -getting on! Without that magic picture Ozma will not be able to trace -her stolen property, and without the record book, Glinda will not -be able to help her. So who's to stop us from stealing everything? -Everything!" exulted Wutz, picking up the earthen jug and waving it -over his head.</p> - -<p>"But do you think it wise to treat our agents so shabbily?" sighed -Nifflepok. "They might betray us, you know."</p> - -<p>"Oh, no, they won't," sniffed the wizard, grinning broadly at his -anxious little assistant. "The way I treat them is perfectly all right, -keeps them on their toes, and with each trying to outdo the other we -get the best results."</p> - -<p>"Well, I hope you're right," Nifflepok still looked unconvinced. "But I -cannot help thinking—"</p> - -<p>"Out of your line, Niffy; just leave the thinking to me. Now fetch me -my magic blower, there's a good fellow, till I see what can be done -with this jug. It may take some time and doing to release this ugly -little gnome. By the way, did you pulverize those meddling Munchkins?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, yes!" Nifflepok nodded his head with a little shudder of distaste. -"I shot them down into the prisoner's pit just as your Majesty -commanded."</p> - -<p>"That's strange." The wizard in crossing the den to fetch a glass test -tube had paused for a moment beside the book of records. "It says -here, 'The Goat Girl from Mern and the Royal Ox are in the Silver -King's Mountain planning to release the little King of Keretaria.' So -that's what brought them here?" mused the wizard softly. "Now, then, -Nifflepok, something must have slipped up instead of down. If your -prisoners were powdered or pulverized, how could they be planning and -plotting?"</p> - -<p>"They must have some powerful magic to help them," muttered Nifflepok, -"or how could they have survived that fall?"</p> - -<p>"Better find out, my dear fellow. Go spy on those Munchkins, and -if their magic is important or worth while, come back and tell me. -And in the future be more careful how you carry out my orders and -instructions!" The wizard's voice was still low and pleasant, but his -eyes flashed so threateningly, Nifflepok rushed out of the royal work -den, flung himself in the silver car and went speeding down to the -prison pits at the bottom of the mountain.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus82.jpg" width="500" height="277" alt=""/> -</div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><a name="CHAPTER_16" id="CHAPTER_16"></a></p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus83.jpg" width="500" height="337" alt=""/> -</div> - -<h2>CHAPTER 16<br /> - -<small>The Wizard's Bargain!</small></h2> - - -<p>While Nifflepok had been interviewing Five, Handy and Nox had been -having a troublesome conference of their own. Each plan they devised -for finding the little King and escaping from the Silver King's -Mountain proved impractical. To summon the hammer elf to release them -from the prison pit would probably rouse the underground guards and -minions of the wizard, and give Wutz himself an opportunity to steal -the hammer. To tap the hammer lightly and ask the advice of Himself -had next seemed a good idea, but as Nox quickly pointed out, that, too, -was dangerous.</p> - -<p>"In a wizard's den like this, anything can happen," groaned the Ox, -looking around with a gloomy eye. "How do we know we are not being -watched at this very moment? If you so much as show that hammer, -somebody may pounce in here and snatch it away, which will leave us -with nothing to protect ourselves with in a last emergency—except that -blue flower, my horns and your hands."</p> - -<p>Handy did not like the sound of "last emergency," but even Handy -realized they would not escape from the mountain without some sort -of battle. To the free and sun-loving mountain girl every minute -underground was sheer torture. She longed for a breath of the pure -upper air, and the unreal light and pale faces of Wutz's underground -citizens and workers filled her with pity and loathing. "Of course, no -matter how long they leave us here, your horn of plenty will keep us -from starving, but if we don't soon find some way out, I believe I'll -explode!" she choked in a desperate voice.</p> - -<p>"Let's look at the message in that silver ball again," suggested Nox -unexpectedly. "Are you sure you read it all, m'lass? There might have -been directions on the other side."</p> - -<p>"I don't think so," said Handy, shaking her head. Then, because action -of any sort was a relief, she deftly twisted off Nox's left horn and -tilted the silver balls into one of her always handy palms. The first -ball when she opened it contained nothing further than the silver key. -In the center of the second lay the same folded paper, but this time -when Handy unfolded the paper there was a new message inside.</p> - -<p>"Wait!" cautioned the little slip of paper in small blue letters. "Do -nothing until the wizard appears."</p> - -<p>"Oh," breathed the Royal Ox, touching the paper gently with his nose. -"Someone is helping us."</p> - -<p>"Then I'd better keep this silver ball in my pocket," decided the -Goat Girl, "where I can easily get it. In a tight corner I might not -have a chance to unscrew your horn. Dear—ear, how puzzling it all -grows! So we're to hear from the wizard again. Whist! What was that?" -As Handy, with her wooden hand, slipped the first ball back into the -horn, with her leather hand screwed the horn back on Nox's head and -with one of her best white hands stuffed the second ball and message -into her pocket, they heard agitated footsteps pattering along the -outside corridor. After a tense moment, however, they died away, and -exchanging a relieved glance, Nox and Handy settled down to wait for -the wizard.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus84.jpg" width="500" height="339" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>The footsteps, as you have already guessed, belonged to Nifflepok. -Peering in at them through an invisible window, the King's messenger -had been just in time to see Handy shaking the silver balls from the -golden horn. Without waiting to see what use they would make of this -curious magic, Nifflepok rushed back to inform his master.</p> - -<p>"They are wizards!" he panted, bursting unceremoniously into the Silver -King's den. "The magic is in the ox's horn. With my own eyes I saw the -seven-armed maiden shaking silver balls from his horn."</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus85.jpg" width="500" height="342" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"What do <i>I</i> care about silver balls?" snarled Wutz, who was in a -terrible temper. "If I had them here I'd bounce you over the head -with them." The den was full of sulphurous smoke, but the earthenware -jug still stood unchanged on the table before him. "The magic in the -Emerald City is still better than mine," hissed the Silver Monarch, his -voice quivering with anger and disappointment. "I've tried every single -formula in my book of incantations, every straight and crooked pass in -the magician's manual, every powder and potion on my shelves, and this -ugly jug is still a jug and nothing but a jug! What are we going to -do?" he yelled furiously. "Think of something, you noddle-headed pig! I -must have the help of this little Gnome King, but how'm I going to get -him out of the jug?"</p> - -<p>"Perhaps, with a little more time," faltered Nifflepok, twisting his -high hat nervously in his hands.</p> - -<p>"Time! TIME!" exploded the wizard. "When did time ever break an -enchantment?" Snatching up a pair of silver pliers he flung them -wrathfully at his assistant. Nifflepok, fortunately for his head, -caught the dangerous missile in his hat, and darting behind a tall -cabinet, looked pleadingly out at his unreasonable Master. "Wait! -Wait!" he begged earnestly as Wutz with a menacing frown took up his -silver bubble pipe. "I HAVE thought of something. Make these Munchkins -break the Gnome King's enchantment. They have passed all the hazards -of our mountain unharmed. Undoubtedly the girl is a sorceress and the -Ox a powerful magician in disguise. Let them do this trifling service -for your Majesty in return for the useless captive we are holding for -Number Nine."</p> - -<p>"Hm—mmmm!" Deliberately the Silver Monarch put down his pipe. "That's -not a bad idea, Niffle, not a bad idea at all." Picking up the jug, -Wutz brushed rudely by his trembling little Minister and hurried out -of his workshop. A few minutes later, he stood bowing and smiling -before the two travelers in the prisoner's pit. But warned by the -message in the silver ball, his entrance through the invisible door -neither frightened nor impressed Handy Mandy or the Royal Ox.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus86.jpg" width="456" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"So here you are at last," exclaimed the Goat Girl, looking the Silver -Monarch sternly in the eye. "And about time, too. How dare you imprison -us in this miserable pit for no reason at all?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, yes, there is a reason," stated Wutz a little surprised at Handy's -defiance. "You broke into my mountain without invitation or permission -and as you are nothing but a pair of trespassers, you certainly -deserve imprisonment and even destruction."</p> - -<p>"Nonsense," snorted the Royal Ox, lurching forward heavily. "We came -here seeking a lost boy whom you are unlawfully holding captive. As -soon as you release the little King of Keretaria, we will take him and -leave this mountain!"</p> - -<p>"And the sooner you tell us where he is, the better!" added Handy, -snapping her thirty-five fingers under the Silver King's nose.</p> - -<p>"Ah, you think so?" sneered Wutz. "Well, nothing is ever given for -nothing in this mountain, but I may give you a chance to earn the boy's -release. Here in my hand is a jug, an ordinary enough looking jug. With -the magic you have in your possession, you must transform this jug to -its proper shape. If you succeed, you and the Ox and the Boy King of -Keretaria may leave my mountain unharmed. If you fail, ha ha!" The -heartless wizard threw back his head and laughed uproariously. "If you -fail, the walls of this pit will contract until you are—well, shall -we say—obliterated? To keep your part of the bargain and perform this -slight service I will give you <i>one half</i> hour. Here is the jug, and in -case you fail, GOOD-BYE!"</p> - -<p>"Good Gillikins!" whistled Nox, as the wizard strode through the -invisible door and left them alone. "What does that fool think we are, -wizards—magicians—necromancers?" Groaning and snorting, he began to -gallop round and round the hot little pit.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus87.jpg" width="500" height="345" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Look out! Look out! You'll break the jug," warned Handy, snatching it -up in her arms. "And for goat's sake stop that galloping! I'm dizzy -enough as it is."</p> - -<p>"But you heard what he said?" lowed the Ox, coming to a trembling stop -beside her. "What are we to do? We know nothing of magic or magic -transformations!" In their distress and excitement, they both forgot -there might be a message to help them in the silver ball, and Handy, -taking the jug in one of her white hands, surveyed it with horror and -curiosity.</p> - -<p>"It's so old and ugly now," said the Goat Girl slowly, "I'll bet it -was something old and ugly to begin with. Didn't Nifflepok mention -something about a jug that was a rug? Maybe it's a rug, though more -likely a rogue. Say, I wonder if I broke the jug whether that would not -break the enchantment?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, no, no, no! Don't do that!" begged Nox, rolling his eyes in -terror. "If you break the jug, the wizard will be furious, and how do -you know what will break the spell? Here, let me look at it." Passing -the jug rapidly from one hand to another, Handy started to place it -on the floor under Nox's nose with her seventh and last hand, when a -sudden and unexpected scream from the interior, made her drop it with a -loud crash to the silver stones.</p> - -<p>"Ouch! Oh, stop! How dare you bang me around in this hateful manner?" -Up from the flying fragments of earthenware at Handy's feet sprang a -fierce little gnome with a long ragged beard, shaking his fists and -howling like a child.</p> - -<p>"Oh, my—y! I've actually done it!" quavered the Goat Girl, falling -over against Nox. "Look! Look! Didn't I tell you it would be old and -ugly?" The gnome, at Handy's words suddenly stopped howling.</p> - -<p>"Where am I? Where am I? WHO am I?" he mumbled in a frightened voice.</p> - -<p>"Well, I don't know who you are, but I'm afraid you're in a pretty -bad place," said Handy, straightening up to have a better look at her -handiwork. "You're in the underground caverns of the King of the Silver -Mountain, if you must know."</p> - -<p>"Caverns!" beamed the gnome, his face breaking into a wide smile. -"What's the matter with caverns? I LOVE caverns, why I used to live in -one myself. And who did you say I was?"</p> - -<p>"We don't know who you are," explained Nox, in a cautious voice. "A -moment ago and before Handy took you in hand, you were nothing but a -jug."</p> - -<p>"A jug?" pondered the gnome pulling his beard thoughtfully. "You mean -to say I was a JUG?"</p> - -<p>"Maybe 'Was-a-jug's' your name," volunteered the Goat Girl, now quite -interested in her transformation.</p> - -<p>"No, not 'Was-a-jug' but something like a jug. Let me think—Bug, -hug, chug, mug, pug, rug-RUG? That's it, THAT'S my name, <i>Ruggedo</i>!" -shrieked the little gnome joyfully, "and now I know who I am!"</p> - -<p>"Well, who are you?" inquired the Ox, stretching his royal nose down -toward the whirling gnome.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus88.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"I, why, <i>I</i> am the most important King on the other side of the -desert!" shouted Ruggedo exultantly. "I am the one and only Metal -Monarch and Ruler of all the Gnomes! My caves and caverns under the -mountains of Ev sparkle with jewels and precious stones, mined by my -faithful workers, and my grand army of gnomes outnumbers any army in -OZ." Proudly the ragged little King thumped himself upon the chest.</p> - -<p>"Oh, my! Oh, me! Oh, mercy—ercy! If you're as powerful as all that, -maybe you'll help us!" cried the Goat Girl, clasping her hands eagerly.</p> - -<p>"Help you? Why should I help you?" The little Gnome stared scornfully -at the two occupants of the cave.</p> - -<p>"Because she broke your jug and enchantment, you ungrateful little -wretch!" snorted Nox, lowering his horns. "And you don't look like -a king to me, you just look like a plain ordinary wicked little -ragamuffin, a RUGAMUFFIN!" he bellowed angrily.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><a name="CHAPTER_17" id="CHAPTER_17"></a></p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus89.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt=""/> -</div> - -<h2>CHAPTER 17<br /> - -<small>Out of the Prison Pit</small></h2> - - -<p>Nox's angry words had a strange effect on the boastful Gnome King. -Leaning dejectedly against the side of the pit, he drew his hand -wearily across his forehead.</p> - -<p>"I remember now," he told them hoarsely. "I once was the Powerful Metal -Monarch, but that was before I fell into the hands of Ozma and that -wicked Wizard of Oz."</p> - -<p>"So it was Ozma who turned you to a jug!" exclaimed Handy with all her -hands on her hips.</p> - -<p>"Yes, and before that she deprived me of my Kingdom, ducked me in a -Truth Pond, marooned me for years on a desert island, struck me dumb, -and then, when she could think of nothing worse, turned me to this -jug!" screamed Ruggedo, kicking at the fragments of broken china at his -feet.</p> - -<p>"You and Ozma have been enemies for a long time, then?" observed the -Ox, looking at the Gnome with great disfavor.</p> - -<p>"Yes, yes, ever since that girl Dorothy stole my magic belt and gave -it to Ozma," raged Ruggedo, stamping furiously up and down. "And every -time I try to recover my own property, or capture those wretched girls -and the Emerald City, something goes wrong and they conquer ME! The -last time Ozma turned me to a jug!" cried Ruggedo, his voice rising to -a shrill whistle.</p> - -<p>"Well, what did you expect?" inquired Handy Mandy sharply. "That Ozma -would sit calmly on her throne and allow you to conquer her? My—y such -goings on!"</p> - -<p>"Oh, then you are friends of Ozma?" said the Gnome King suspiciously. -"But no, you could not be her friends or you would not have broken the -jug. Who ARE you? The Ox is usual enough, except for his golden horns, -but you"—Ruggedo's eyes grew round and anxious as he looked at the -seven-armed Goat Girl, "<i>YOU</i> are odd, aren't you?"</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus90.jpg" width="500" height="316" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"No, she's not odd!" snapped the Royal Ox severely. He had been through -so much with the sturdy mountain lass, he felt almost as if they were -related. "Handy is just seven times as smart and seven times as handy -as most people, that's all. And since her seven hands have served you -pretty well, try to keep a civil tongue in your head, will you?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, all right!" Ruggedo scuffing his foot, looked sulkily from one to -the other. "Much obliged, I'm sure. But what in rockets are we doing -in this miserable hole and what are we waiting for?"</p> - -<p>"For a fellow Metal Monarch and Wizard," answered a smooth voice, and -appearing as quietly as he had vanished, Wutz stood calmly before them. -"Come with me, Ruggedo, I have surprising news for you, comrade!" And -without so much as a nod or "thank you" to Nox and Handy Mandy, he -linked his arm through the Gnome's and drew him through the invisible -door, slamming it viciously behind him.</p> - -<p>"Hi—yi!" yelled Handy Mandy indignantly. "Come back here! Come back -here! A bargain's a bargain, you old cheat and villain! We've kept our -part and you shall keep yours! Where have you hidden the little King of -Keretaria? Let us out! Let us out, you false faced rascal!"</p> - -<p>Nox, as angry as Handy, charged forward, butting his head against the -exact spot where the wizard had disappeared. To his astonishment and -joy the whole section of wall swung outward and he and the Goat Girl, -rushing through, found themselves in a narrow dimly lit silver tunnel.</p> - -<p>"To think, to think we could have got out any time!" gulped the Royal -Ox in a vexed voice. "The door was invisible but not locked. Imagine -that, m'lass!"</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus91.jpg" width="360" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Oh, I've other things to do," puffed Handy, peering down the long -passageway to see whether she could catch a glimpse of the two Kings. -"No use trying to imagine anything about this mountain, it's just plain -bewitched and goblinish. But that wizard made us a promise and I'm -going to see that he keeps it. Come on!"</p> - -<p>"No! No!" said the Royal Ox, leaning weakly against the side of the -tunnel. "I couldn't bear to look at him again, at least, not just yet. -Wait! I may think of something else! WAIT!" bellowed Nox, as Handy, in -spite of his pleas, started off on a run. "There now, you've dropped -something out of your pocket."</p> - -<p>"That silver ball," muttered Handy, scooping it up without slackening -her pace.</p> - -<p>"The ball! The <i>BALL</i>?" exclaimed Nox, galloping breathlessly to catch -up with her. "Oh, what muddle heads, <i>WHAT</i> muddle heads! It told us to -wait for the wizard. Quick, see what it says now?"</p> - -<p>"Well, a lot of good it did waiting for that wizard," grumbled the Goat -Girl; but nevertheless, she stopped and opened the silver ball. Taking -out the folded paper, she held it up toward an amethyst gleaming dully -in the side of the tunnel.</p> - -<p class="ph3">"Follow me."</p> - -<p>directed the paper rather mysteriously.</p> - -<p>"But who does 'me' mean?" asked Handy, as Nox, still breathing heavily, -read the message over her shoulder. "I don't see any me, do you? Beans -and butternuts! If you hadn't stopped me I'd have caught those villains -by this time!"</p> - -<p>"And what good would that have done?" sniffed the Ox impatiently. -"Remember there are two of them now, and that little gnome is worse -than Wutz and twice as dangerous." Closing his eyes in an effort to -concentrate, Nox repeated over the message, "Follow me! Follow me! -Follow ME! Why of course, it's as plain as oats!" he snorted joyfully. -"'Me' means that ball. Put the message back in the ball, set the ball -down and then see what happens." And what happened, was amazing enough, -for the silver ball, once it was on the floor of the tunnel began to -roll rapidly along ahead of them, faster and faster and faster, till -Handy and Nox had all they could do to keep it in sight.</p> - -<p>"Where do you suppose it's taking us?" gasped the Goat Girl, thankful -that so far the tunnel had been more or less straight and fairly well -lighted.</p> - -<p>"To Kerry," said the Royal Ox positively. "Now watch that turn, m'lass. -What's ahead? It's growing so dark I can't even see my own shadow!"</p> - -<p>"It's a flight of steps," whispered Handy, gazing fearfully into the -deep well of a circular stairway winding down into the darkness. They -could hear the chink of the silver ball as it rolled from step to -step, so, taking her courage in all hands, the Goat Girl, herself, -began to descend. Nox, grunting and muttering lugubriously, came just -behind her. Steps were difficult enough for the Ox at any time, but -negotiating a flight of circular steps in pitch darkness was terrifying -and dangerous in the extreme.</p> - -<p>"Be careful!" warned Handy, looking up anxiously. "Don't slip, or -you'll break my heart."</p> - -<p>"More than that, I'm afraid," quavered the Royal Ox, setting his front -feet cautiously on the step below while he balanced his hind quarters -perilously on the one above.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus92.jpg" width="460" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><a name="CHAPTER_18" id="CHAPTER_18"></a></p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus93.jpg" width="500" height="328" alt=""/> -</div> - -<h2>CHAPTER 18<br /> - -<small>Wutz and the Gnome King Leave for the Capital!</small></h2> - - -<p>Meanwhile, Wutz and Ruggedo had shot up in the wizard's silver car and -were now in earnest conversation together.</p> - -<p>"How in suds did that girl break your enchantment?" asked Wutz, -dropping irritably to his silver workbench. "I was watching her every -minute through an invisible window and I didn't see her do a thing but -break the jug. Now why couldn't I have thought of that?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, what does it matter?" Ruggedo settled himself with a joyful little -wriggle beside the Silver Monarch. "What does it matter so long as I am -free and able to help you? So you really think you can make yourself -Ruler of Oz?" he went on, glancing enviously round the wizard's well -stocked den, with its tables full of magic apparatus and its shelves -and shelves of dusty volumes of wizard and witch works. Wutz had -confided his plans and intentions to Ruggedo on the ride up. "Say!" -exclaimed the Gnome King suddenly, "How did you get Glinda's record -book? That's the most important treasure in her castle!"</p> - -<p>"Of course!" Lazily the wizard reached for his silver pipe. "Well, it's -a long story, Rug, but I don't mind telling you that I have agents -working in every Kingdom of the country. Seven, who was assigned to the -Quadling Country, brought in the record book, smallifying it in order -to steal and carry it here, and restoring it to proper size when it -arrived. Six and Eleven have brought me useful magic from the Winkies -and Gillikins, but Five managed to steal Ozma's own magic picture, and -ha ha! since he couldn't find the Gnome King's belt, he brought me the -Gnome King himself! Pretty clever of him to discover you were a jug, -eh?"</p> - -<p>"Re-markable!" sighed Ruggedo, as Wutz paused to blow a silver bubble -which floated out of the work den, breaking somewhere outside with a -tinkling bell-like explosion.</p> - -<p>"Two glasses of melted silver," snapped the wizard to a smart looking -bell boy who came in answer to this singular summons. "Now," continued -Wutz, looking at the Gnome King through half closed eyes, "before I -attempt to capture the Emerald City, I must have one of two things; -either the silver hammer belonging to a witch of the West or the magic -belt that once belonged to you. So far, none of my agents has been able -to find the witch, locate the hammer, or discover where Ozma now keeps -your magic belt. But you, its rightful owner, must know exactly where -it is hidden?"</p> - -<p>Ruggedo, without saying anything, nodded briefly.</p> - -<p>"Well then," said Wutz, "if you will help me steal the magic belt, -which I understand is the most potent and powerful magic in Ev or Oz, I -will kick Kaliko off your throne, restore your own Kingdom and give you -besides any one of the four Oz Kingdoms you may fancy."</p> - -<p>"Oh, don't bother me with any of the Oz Kingdoms. I'm sick of the -place!" frowned the Gnome, wagging his beard vindictively. "All I -want is my own old Kingdom and my own magic belt! But I tell you what -I will do. I'll help you steal this belt, for I know exactly where it -is hidden, show you how it works so you can transform Ozma and all her -friends and counselors to rocks and rubble. BUT, when you are safely -established as supreme Wizard of Oz, you must return the belt to me."</p> - -<p>"Oh, naturally!" promised the wizard, chuckling to himself as he -thought how quickly he would turn Ruggedo to a rock once he was wearing -the famous belt. Taking a glass of melted silver from the tray the boy -had just set down, Wutz lifted it to his lips, and Ruggedo, his eyes -glittering with all their old spitefulness, raised his own glass to -drink to the wicked bargain.</p> - -<p>"Come," he sputtered, wiping his mouth on the back of his hand. "When -do we start? What magic have you to carry us to the capital and open -the emerald safe where the magic belt and other important treasures -of Ozma are hidden? But wait, perhaps we had better look in the magic -picture and see where Ozma and the Wizard of Oz are now?"</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus94.jpg" width="341" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"I am afraid we cannot do that," Wutz explained regretfully. "Seven -spoiled the canvas in some way when he reduced it to carry it here. -It doesn't show anything now and I've not had time to repair the -damage."</p> - -<p>"Pshaw, that's too bad," said Ruggedo, going over to touch the picture, -now hanging on the wizard's wall. "But the record book's still working, -I suppose?"</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus95.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Oh, yes," said the wizard, stepping up to the marble table and -glancing down at the open page. "And listen to this. It says," roared -the Silver King, holding his sides and simply rocking with wicked -merriment, "it says: 'The two metal monarchs are plotting the downfall -of the present ruler of Oz.'"</p> - -<p>"What else does it say?" inquired the Gnome King, who had had more -experience than his companion in dealing with the magicians of the -Emerald City.</p> - -<p>"It says, 'Ozma and her counselors have gone to the castle of Glinda -the Good,'" Wutz told him complacently closing and padlocking the big -volume.</p> - -<p>"Then we'd better start at once and before they return," declared -Ruggedo. "For as soon as we have my belt we can change them to rocks, -wherever they are. The most important thing is to get that belt before -they know we are after it. But how are we going to get to the Emerald -City and how're we going to open that safe?"</p> - -<p>"My silver blowpipe will reduce the safe to a heap of ashes without -injuring the contents," answered the wizard, "and reaching the capital -will be the simplest part of all!"</p> - -<p>Taking a silver tube from a high shelf, Wutz put it in his pocket and -reaching for his bubble pipe, he began to blow an enormous quicksilver -bubble round himself and the Gnome King. Slowly and with both Kings -inside, the bubble rose, passed in a silver mist out of the wizard's -den, up through the honeycomb of caves, caverns and grottos, on up—and -up, till it floated right out of the top of the Silver King's Mountain.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><a name="CHAPTER_19" id="CHAPTER_19"></a></p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus96.jpg" width="500" height="344" alt=""/> -</div> - -<h2>CHAPTER 19<br /> - -<small>At the Bottom of the Mountain!</small></h2> - - -<p>At the same moment the silver bubble carrying Wutz and Ruggedo burst -out of the top of the mountain, Handy Mandy and Nox reached the bottom, -arriving at last at the end of the winding stair. One amethyst burned -dimly on the small landing, and crowded uncomfortably together the two -prisoners found themselves facing a heavily barred door.</p> - -<p class="ph3">Private Lower of the Wizard of Wutz.<br /> -Keep Out!</p> - -<p>announced a surly sign. But Handy and Nox, their legs still quivering -from the long downward climb, were in no humor to be stopped by a sign.</p> - -<p>"Lower!" sniffed Handy Mandy disgustedly. "I should think it was, we -must be at the very bottom of this miserable mountain. Lower—indeed! -Well, I expect a lower is the opposite of a tower, come on!" Picking up -the silver ball, Handy squinted sharply at the door, giving it a quick -shove to see whether it was locked or fitted with an invisible moving -panel. But there was nothing remarkable about this door, and nothing -on it except a very small silver keyhole, which at once recalled to -the Goat Girl the key she had been carrying around ever since she left -Keretaria.</p> - -<p>"Oh, Nox, I believe the key in your horn will fit!" she cried -excitedly, and deftly removing the left prong of Nox's headgear she -shook out the ball. Then, while Nox fairly panting with impatience -looked on, Handy took the key from the ball and inserted it in the -silver lock. When it turned easily and smoothly she was almost afraid -to open the door. What would they find on the other side? What had the -wizard done to his helpless young captive? As Handy hesitated, Nox -rushed forward, banging the door open with his great shoulder.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus97.jpg" width="250" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Kerry! Kerry!" wailed the faithful Ox, and falling to his knees, -Nox began to snort and blubber in real earnest. Handy, hurrying -after him into the small stuffy cell, saw a handsome boy in hunting -costume standing motionless and silent as a statue in the center of -a great shimmering violet bubble. Without thinking or reasoning, or -even stopping to consult the Ox, the Goat Girl flung out all her arms -toward the solitary figure, her iron hand puncturing the bubble with a -deafening pop.</p> - -<p>"Why, hello Nox!" The Little King stepped calmly out of the misty -vapor, all that was left of the wizard's bubble. "Where's your other -horn? And who is this jolly looking girl?"</p> - -<p>WHO, indeed? There was so much to be told and explained, even with -Handy and Nox talking as fast as they could and taking turns, it took -almost an hour to tell the story of their journey from Keretaria to the -Silver Mountain and their awful experiences with the Wizard of Wutz.</p> - -<p>Kerry himself remembered nothing since he had started out on the -hunting expedition. He listened with angry exclamations and bounces -as Nox related the tale of King Kerr's treachery and the sad state of -affairs in Keretaria. "And I've been shut up in this bubble for two -years!" mourned the little King, looking round the dismal cell with a -shudder. "Why it makes my head ache just to think of it!"</p> - -<p>"Mine, too," agreed Handy, clapping Nox's left horn in place. "But -it's almost over now, my lad. If we can just find some way out of this -mountain, I'll settle old King Kerr and his High Boys, not to speak of -this woozling wizard!"</p> - -<p>Placing Kerry on Nox's back, Handy looked nervously out the door of -the Lower. At sight of the winding stair Nox gave a great groan and -shudder. "I'll never climb those steps again!" he declared, planting -his feet stubbornly. "Never! Where's that silver hammer, m'lass? Give -it a tap and see what the dwarf can do for us? Wutz and Ruggedo are too -busy with their wicked plans to bother us now."</p> - -<p>"I wouldn't be too sure of that," muttered the Goat Girl. Nevertheless, -she pulled out the hammer and tapped it lightly on the floor.</p> - -<p>"Well, what's wanted?" yawned Himself, appearing instantly and in the -exact spot the hammer had struck.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus98.jpg" width="500" height="329" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"We want to get out of here!" cried Kerry, so excited and delighted -with the purple bearded dwarf, he instantly forgot all his troubles. -With a crooked smile at the little King, Himself looked questioningly -at Handy, and at the Goat Girl's quick nod, rapped his knuckles on -the north wall of the Lower. At once, a small panel slipped aside, -revealing an elevator, its door invitingly open. Waving all her hands -to thank Himself, who was already beginning to disappear, Handy stepped -inside. Nox, with Kerry still perched on his back, just managed to -squeeze in, when the door snapped shut and the elevator sped upward -carrying its three passengers in double quicksilver time to the work -den of the wizard. Handy, a bit disappointed not to find herself on -top of the mountain, stepped out first. As Nox, with an awkward jump, -followed her, the door slammed sharply and the elevator dropped like a -plummet to the bottom of the mountain.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus99.jpg" width="500" height="339" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Oh, this must be where Wutz works all his magic transformations," -breathed Kerry, sliding off Nox's back and gazing around with deep -interest and curiosity. "I'll bet he blew a bubble round me right in -this very den. Wonder where he is now?" There was a slight cough at -Kerry's question and turning, they saw Nifflepok standing uncertainly -in the doorway.</p> - -<p>"Ah, so we meet again!" cried Handy, doubling up all her fists and -walking grimly toward the Silver King's fat Minister. "Where is that -rascally Master of yours? As you probably know by this time, we kept -our part of the bargain, but he still has to keep his."</p> - -<p>"Indeed, you are fortunate to have escaped with your lives," muttered -Wutz, taking off his hat and looking anxiously inside. "And I'm sorry -to tell you the Wizard of Wutz NEVER keeps his bargains. No matter how -hard we work or try to please him, sooner or later, we are all shelved -or potted!"</p> - -<p>"Then why work for such a villain?" snorted the Royal Ox gruffly. -"Where is he now?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, where is he now?" asked Kerry, who in spite of the terrible -stories he had heard, hoped to get a look at the wonderful wizard who -had enchanted him.</p> - -<p>"Gone!" answer Nifflepok, putting on his high hat and giving it a -couple of taps. "He's bubbled off with the Gnome King to conquer Oz, -and I expect by this time they've bewitched about half the inhabitants -of the Emerald City."</p> - -<p>"Oh, what a shame!" burst out Kerry.</p> - -<p>"Bubbled off? What do you mean by that?" The Goat Girl reached out with -all her arms to pull the Silver King's little Minister closer.</p> - -<p>"I mean, bubbled off," repeated Nifflepok, struggling to release -himself from Handy's clutches. "He blew a quicksilver bubble and he and -Ruggedo sailed away in it, if that's any plainer."</p> - -<p>"Oh, then we had better go right after them," snorted the Ox in an -anxious voice. "Show us out of this mountain, you little pudding, or -I'll toss you higher than a kite."</p> - -<p>"Oh, do let's do something!" begged Kerry, who, being young, was quite -daring and absolutely foolhardy. "We aren't going to let those dreadful -Kings conquer the country, are we, and not lift a hand?"</p> - -<p>"Well, I'm sure I'd lift all seven if it would do any good," mused -Handy Mandy in a depressed voice. "But how can we stop them? Wutz and -Rug have probably stolen all the magic in Ozma's palace by this time, -the thieving rascals!"</p> - -<p>"But surely YOU have some magic?" ventured Nifflepok, who had finally -jerked himself free. "Or you could never have disenchanted that gnome -or found the wizard's Lower and rescued this boy; and if you have—" -he warned, backing rapidly away, "if you have, you'd better use it -QUICK. When Wutz finishes conquering Oz, he's sure to remember you and -turn you to rocks and rubble. He's going to turn everyone to rocks and -rubble!" wailed Nifflepok, dashing out of the workshop.</p> - -<p>"Great Gazoo, what shall we do? I don't want to be a rock," snorted -Nox.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus100.jpg" width="249" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"And I won't be a rock!" stormed the little King. "It was bad enough -being shut up in a bubble and missing two whole years—oh, you won't -let him turn us to rocks, will you, Handy? And do let's help poor Ozma, -before it's too late!"</p> - -<p>Kerry looked up at her so pleadingly, Handy, against all her -inclinations and better judgment, pulled out the silver hammer again. -"The hammer will be better than the ball," she reasoned quickly, "for -the ball only seems to help Keretarians. Now then!" Lifting the hammer -in her iron hand, the Goat Girl brought it down sharply on the wizard's -marble table. Silver sparks flew up in every direction and out of the -very middle of the shower stepped the yawning dwarf.</p> - -<p>"Say, I'm trying to take a nap," grumbled Himself, stretching his arms -up sleepily. "What do you fellows want now?"</p> - -<p>"We want to go to the Emerald City of Oz and save Ozma from Wutz and -the Gnome King!" explained Handy in one breathless sentence.</p> - -<p>"My! All that?" Stifling another yawn, Himself grinned mischievously at -the Goat Girl. "Then stand in line, please." So Handy placed herself -in front of the Royal Ox and Kerry stepped behind him, and the dwarf, -seizing the hammer, brought it down with a terrible blow just behind -the little King. And what a blow it was you can readily understand, -when I tell you that its force carried the three travelers clear out of -the Silver King's Mountain and all the way to the Emerald City itself. -Flying along for a moment beside them, Himself slipped the hammer -back in the Goat Girl's hand, and then with another tremendous yawn, -disappeared.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><a name="CHAPTER_20" id="CHAPTER_20"></a></p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus101.jpg" width="500" height="339" alt=""/> -</div> - -<h2>CHAPTER 20<br /> - -<small>Just in Time!</small></h2> - - -<p>In Ozma's palace in the Emerald City, everything was very quiet and -still. Not surprising when you consider that the wizard of Wutz had -blown his patent stupefying powder down all the chimneys before he and -Ruggedo dared to enter. Then, mooring the silver bubble to one of the -castle spires, the two conspirators had slipped through an open window -and proceeded without delay or interference to the private sitting room -of the absent ruler. There Ruggedo with a spiteful laugh, thrust his -head right into the mouths of the Hungry Tiger and Cowardly Lion. Rigid -and helpless they sat before Ozma's safe, motionless and completely -stupefied, as were all of Ozma's other faithful servants and retainers. -Reducing the safe to a heap of green ashes was the work of but a -moment, then, pulling the Gnome King's belt from the sparkling heap of -treasures, Wutz sprang to his feet.</p> - -<p>"Quick! How does it work?" he cried, clasping the belt round his thin -waist. "We'll not have a second's safety till Ozma, Glinda, the Wizard -of Oz and all those girl Princesses are out of the way."</p> - -<p>"But first you must restore my Kingdom!" insisted Ruggedo, dancing up -and down. "Here give it to me. I'm used to it and can work faster. -First I'll wish Kaliko off my throne and myself back in my underground -castle, then—"</p> - -<p>"Oh, no, you won't!" declared Wutz, holding the bouncing Gnome King off -with one hand. "How do I know what you will do once you reach your own -Kingdom? Why—I might never see this belt again."</p> - -<p>"But I promise to send it back to you," hissed Ruggedo, his eyes -snapping real sparks.</p> - -<p>"I'd rather have the belt than the promise," said Wutz, shaking his -head stubbornly.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus102.jpg" width="254" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Give it to me, I say, GIVE it to me!" yelled Ruggedo, now in a perfect -rage. "How do I know what you will do when you know the trick of using -it? Why, you might even turn me to a rock to be rid of me."</p> - -<p>"What? Change my dearest friend and most powerful ally to a rock?" -exclaimed the Wizard with pretended horror. "By the left horn of my -silver cow, I promise to return this belt as soon as I am Ruler of -Oz!" Ruggedo longed to snatch his belt away from the scheming Silver -Monarch, but as he was neither big or strong enough to do this, there -was nothing for him to do but agree to the wizard's terms.</p> - -<p>"All right," he groaned dismally. "Listen, then—" But as Wutz bent his -head and the little gnome began to whisper hoarse directions in his -ear, there was a dreadful thump and clatter behind them.</p> - -<p>"STOP!" commanded the Goat Girl, the first to recover from the shock -of the landing, and dear knows Handy should have been used to sudden -landings by this time. "STOP!" Whirling round with a howl of fury, -Wutz sprang straight at her, but Handy, who still clutched the silver -hammer in her iron hand, was too quick for him and brought it down -with a resounding crack on the top of his head. "Take 'em away! Take -'em away!" cried Handy hysterically, as Wutz fell over backwards, and -Himself, appearing exactly where the hammer had struck, leaped off the -wizard's head to save himself from a fall.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus103.jpg" width="500" height="315" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"But first we must have that magic belt," chuckled the hammer elf. -Giving Ruggedo, who was struggling frantically to get his belt from -around the Silver King's waist, a quick push, Himself unbuckled the -clasps and tossed the magic girdle to the Goat Girl. Then grabbing the -howling gnome and senseless wizard, each by his neck, the efficient -dwarf vanished in a flash of lightning and a crash of thunder that -shook the castle to its foundations. Nox dropped to his knees. Kerry, -still stunned by the hammer blow that had carried them to the Emerald -City, and Handy, herself, with her arms still upraised, stared in dumb -astonishment at the quivering vacuum where the two Kings and Himself, -the elf, had been whirling a moment before.</p> - -<p>"Oh, Handy, HANDY, you've really done it!" shouted Kerry, finding his -voice at last. "Why, you've saved the whole of Ozma's Kingdom and -struck only one blow! But watch out—are those beasts alive or just -statues?"</p> - -<p>"Statues, I hope," grunted the Royal Ox, lurching dizzily to his feet. -"Well, here we are in the capital, m'lass, and I must say you have -handled everything beautifully, beautifully!"</p> - -<p>"Halt! Who goes there! Whoa! HO! Halt and Surrender!" piped a -frightened voice. "Here they are, your Majesty, the robbers themselves, -caught red-handed in the act of robbing our royal safe!"</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus104.jpg" width="500" height="278" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Red—white—and—blue handed, if you ask me!" cried the Patchwork -Girl, blinking her shoe button eyes at the red rubber hand with which -Handy grasped the Gnome King's belt, the white hand she had reached out -to hold on to Kerry, the iron hand still clutching the silver hammer. -All the rest of her hands the Goat Girl held stiffly before her. -Brushing aside the Soldier with the Green Whiskers, who promptly dived -behind a sofa, Scraps jerked the Gnome King's belt out of Handy's -rubber hand and gave her a shove that sent her flying over backwards. -"Take that, you Monster!" yelled Scraps.</p> - -<p>"Well," sputtered the Goat Girl, sprawling flat on her back, "here's -gratitude for you!"</p> - -<p>"How dare you call Handy a Monster?" bellowed Nox, charging angrily -after the Patchwork Girl.</p> - -<p>"Oh! Do be careful!" called Ozma with a little scream, as Nox almost -caught up with Scraps, and Kerry began to belabor the Soldier with -Green Whiskers over the head with a candlestick. "Oh! Oh! My poor Lion! -My poor Tiger! My SAFE! Why, I—just—can't believe it!" wailed the -little Fairy Ruler, staring sorrowfully down at the Goat Girl, who had -made no attempt to rise nor explain her embarrassing position.</p> - -<p>"Then don't believe it!" cried Kerry breathlessly. "For it isn't -true! This brave girl and Nox have got the best of Wutz and the Gnome -King and saved your whole bally Kingdom and here you've gone and had -her knocked down. Shame on you! Get away from me, you cotton stuffed -horror!" screamed the little King, as Scraps, eluding the Ox, made a -determined jump in his direction.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus105.jpg" width="305" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Quiet! QUIET!" The Scarecrow, who with Glinda, the Wizard, Dorothy, -Betsy and Trot, now came hurrying into the room, raised both arms and -looked around pleadingly. The whole royal party, traveling in Glinda's -swan chariot, had just arrived on the balcony outside, but Ozma, Scraps -and the Soldier with Green Whiskers had been first on the scene of -action.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus106.jpg" width="481" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"The boy is right," declared Glinda, crossing slowly to a green sofa. -"I can see by her face and hands—" Glinda smiled faintly—"that this -girl is both honest and industrious."</p> - -<p>"Thanks!" murmured Handy, as the Scarecrow, ever a gentleman, bounded -forward to assist her to her feet. The flimsy straw stuffed fellow lost -his balance in the attempt, but his little act of gallantry did much to -relieve an awkward moment.</p> - -<p>"You see," puffed the Scarecrow, seating Handy with a flourish, "for -the last ten days we've all been pretty much upset around here and -you'll have to excuse Scraps for jumping at conclusions."</p> - -<p>"Please do!" Ozma spoke pleasantly and seriously as she seated herself -in her small arm chair, leaning over to take the Gnome King's belt -from Scraps. "But if some of you kind people will just explain?" The -Little Fairy looked anxiously from the stupefied Tiger and Lion to her -pulverized safe, her eyes coming back to rest on the Goat Girl, the -great White Ox and the handsome young Munchkin.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><a name="CHAPTER_21" id="CHAPTER_21"></a></p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus107.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt=""/> -</div> - -<h2>CHAPTER 21<br /> - -<small>The Hammer Elf Explains</small></h2> - - -<p>"Go ahead and explain," said Handy, closing her eyes and leaning back -in her chair with all her hands hanging limply at her side. So Nox, a -bit haughtily and tossing his head proudly from time to time, began -at the beginning and told all that had happened since Handy Mandy had -flown from Mt. Mern. How the Goat Girl had found the magic in his horn, -how they had traveled together from Keretaria to the Silver Mountain -and there, in their search for the little King, discovered Wutz's plot -to make himself Supreme Wizard of Oz. And last of all he explained how -Handy, with the help of the silver hammer, had subdued the two wicked -Kings.</p> - -<p>"Well, it certainly was very kind of you to take all this trouble for -us—after you had already had so many worries of your own," sighed -Ozma, as Nox, finishing his story, gazed round the room with lordly -condescension.</p> - -<p>"Yes, wasn't it?" Handy opened her eyes and thoughtfully regarded -the little Ruler of Oz. "Still, I'm glad now that we did save you." -The Goat Girl's round pleasant face was suddenly wreathed in smiles. -"I didn't think I was going to like you, but I do," she admitted -cheerfully. "I believe you're about the best ruler Oz could have and -besides, you're pretty as a goat."</p> - -<p>"As a goat!" gasped the Wizard of Oz while Dorothy and the other girls -had all they could do to keep from laughing right out loud. But Ozma, -who was a very understanding little person, smiled kindly back at Handy -Mandy.</p> - -<p>"Goats <i>are</i> pretty," she agreed, nodding her head politely. "And since -you must miss your own goats very much, perhaps you would like me to -send you back to Mt. Mern after you've seen a bit of the capital?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, Handy wouldn't leave us!" snorted the Royal Ox, moving as close -to the Goat Girl as he could get. "We couldn't get along without Handy -Mandy, your Majesty."</p> - -<p>"Oh, please let her stay in Keretaria," begged the little King adding -his voice to that of his Royal Ox. "You will live with us in the -palace, won't you Handy?"</p> - -<p>"Well, if I just had my goats—" considered the seven-armed maiden. -"Mt. Mern would seem rather dull after Oz," she acknowledged pensively. -"But what about that old King who's still on Kerry's throne—and what -am I to do with this silver hammer—and what do you suppose Himself has -done with Wutz and Ruggedo?"</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus108.jpg" width="246" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Yes, what's to be done with Wutz?" echoed the Scarecrow wrinkling up -his cotton forehead. And now the little sitting room began fairly to -buzz with excited questions and suggestions, for there was still a lot -to be explained and settled. The Ozites could hardly keep their eyes -off the seven-armed Goat Girl, the handsome young ruler of Keretaria -and his Royal Ox. Dorothy longed to unscrew his horn and test its -magic power for herself, but Ozma, anxious to repair all the damage -done by the wicked wizard, now raised her scepter for silence.</p> - -<p>Clasping on the Gnome King's belt, Ozma first brought back her magic -picture and with a quick wish returned Glinda's book of records to her -castle in the South. Next, though she knew neither the extent nor the -nature of the wizard's other thefts she caused to be restored to their -rightful owners all the magic appliances in the Silver King's den. The -Scarecrow had already reported the stupefied condition of the other -occupants of the palace, so Ozma's next thought was to restore them -to their accustomed selves. No sooner was the Cowardly Lion released -than he crawled under a table, but the Hungry Tiger rushed out on the -balcony, growling and lashing his tail, as he thought of the indignity -he had suffered.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus109.jpg" width="500" height="339" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>After a short conference with Handy Mandy, Ozma freed all the potted -prisoners of the wicked wizard, and made Nifflepok King of the Silver -Mountain. She moved the cliff dwellings of the people to the outside -of the mountain so Wutz's pale subjects could enjoy with the rest of -the Gillikins, the bright sunshine and beneficent climate of Oz. The -Magic Mountain itself, with all its dark pits and jeweled caverns, -Ozma sealed up tightly and forever. The wizard's agents were turned -to moles, for they were already more like these boring little animals -than men. After each magic wish or transformation, the little group in -the royal sitting room would look in the magic picture, which Ozma had -immediately repaired. And in each case Handy felt that the ruler of Oz -had used both wisdom and good judgment. Nox, as they were watching the -wizard's agents turn to moles, gave a snort of surprise, for the first -figure shown was old King Kerr, who was really Number Nine. As the -wicked impostor changed quickly from a man to a mole and scurried off -the throne and away to bury himself in the blue forest, Nox and Handy -both heaved a sigh of relief and satisfaction.</p> - -<p>While Ozma was working on the magic safe, Handy, deciding to try a -little of her own magic, softly tapped the silver hammer on the arm -of her chair. At once, and to the delight and interest of everyone, -Himself, the elf, appeared astride the arm, holding a small cactus -plant in each hand.</p> - -<p>"I wish you in the future to obey the summons of her Majesty, Ozma of -Oz," smiled the Goat Girl, placing the silver hammer as she spoke, in -Ozma's lap. "This young fairy is more experienced in magic than I, and -will know how to use the hammer to best advantage."</p> - -<p>"Oh, all right! But I rather liked working for you," grinned Himself. -"And say, I tried to turn these rascals to plants but this was the best -I could do." Setting the two pots of cactus down on a small writing -desk, the hammer elf bowed first to Handy and then to Ozma. "Wait! -Don't go!" begged the little Fairy as Himself showed unmistakable signs -of disappearing. "Do tell us about this silver hammer and who owned it -first."</p> - -<p>"It belonged to Wunchie, a witch of the West, who's lived in the -Munchkin Mountains for about a thousand years, and used it to control -as many of the Munchkin Kings as she could," explained the dwarf -balancing himself cleverly on an ink well.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus110.jpg" width="500" height="345" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"Then I suppose Wunchie was responsible for the prophecy in Keretaria?" -surmised Nox, blinking his eyes at the hammer elf. The dwarf nodded -cheerfully. "Yes, Wunchie invented that prophecy," he told them, "and -placed her own white oxen in the country. Each time she had trouble -forcing the King to do as she wished, she tapped him and the ox on -the head with her hammer. But I took rather a fancy to you," admitted -Himself looking fondly at Nox. "So, when she ordered me to tap you off -and traded little King Kerry to Wutz for a basket of jumping beans and -put Wutz's agent on the throne of Keretaria, I decided to take a hand -myself. So I gave you only a light tap and at the same time, I stored -enough magic in your horns to help you find Kerry—and with the help of -this handy Goat Girl you DID find him!" beamed the hammer elf. "I knew -my magic was good. You can't work for a witch without learning good -magic. But now, since everything is turning out so splendidly, I'll -just go back to my tree stump. One, two—three, back—to—my—tree!"</p> - -<p>"But what became of the witch?" cried Ozma catching hold of the dwarf's -purple beard, for his head had already vanished.</p> - -<p>"Ha, ha! She exploded and popped off!" roared a voice from the place -where the elf's head had been. "I told her not to eat those jumping -beans! And after that, I buried her hammer in the garden of Keretaria -and there it stayed till Handy ploughed it up. Goodbye all!" And the -body of the hammer elf melted into nothing and was gone.</p> - -<p>"My—y, what a clever fellow!" chuckled Handy. "So, now Wutz and -Ruggedo are a couple of cactuses! Mm—mmm! Mmmm—mm! Unpleasant to the -last! Do you suppose anyone can ever disenchant them? For goatness -sake be careful!" begged Handy as Jellia, in answer to her Mistress's -ring, came to carry the plants to the conservatory. "Whatever you do, -don't drop 'em. And to think that the Wizard is potted himself! Well, -I'll never have a hand in breaking his enchantment!"</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus111.jpg" width="309" height="350" alt=""/> -</div> - -<p>"I never thought anyone could ever break Ruggedo's enchantment," -confessed Ozma. "When I changed him to a jug, I commanded him to keep -that shape till he was broken by the seventh hand of a traveling -Mernite. And at that time I did not even know there was such a place as -Mt. Mern or a clever Goat Girl like Handy."</p> - -<p>"But aren't you glad there was!" shouted the little Wizard of Oz -tossing up his hat and catching it on his nose. "Aren't we all glad to -know Handy Mandy, Nox and this jolly young King?"</p> - -<p>"Long live the Royal Ox and the Little King of Keretaria!" cried the -cheering Ozites. "Long live Handy Mandy, the seven-armed wonder of the -world and OZ!" And, of course, they will live long—everyone lives long -in Oz. But even if Handy lives to be a hundred, she will never forget -the grand banquet given that evening in her honor. Besides the famous -people she already knew, the Goat Girl was presented to all the other -celebrities at Ozma's court, and shaking hands with them heartily and -seven at a time, she had never been so flattered and fussed over in -her life. Nox and Kerry came in for their share of honors, too. There -was nothing the Ozians would not have done for their three new friends -and rescuers. Ozma, overwhelmed by Handy's generosity in giving her -the silver hammer, and already indebted to her for saving the Kingdom, -racked her brains for some wonderful gift to reward the brave mountain -lass. But it was Nox who solved the difficulty by confiding to Ozma -that Handy desired more than anything else a set of gloves for her -hands. It seemed she had never had enough gloves for more than two at -a time. So, smiling secretly to herself, Ozma gave the Goat Girl seven -sets of fine kid gloves and an emerald necklace that wound three times -round her sturdy neck. With the necklace, a complete new outfit and her -forty-nine gloves, Handy Mandy felt herself quite ready for high life -and royal society.</p> - -<p>"Though you really should wear a boxing glove on that iron hand," -whispered the Scarecrow, as Handy blushingly resumed her seat after -Ozma's speech of presentation. "Stay in the Emerald City and we will -make you a general in the army," promised the straw man earnestly. But -Handy shook her head with tears of merriment in her eyes. Though she -never quite forgave Scraps for pushing her over, she and the Scarecrow -were already as friendly and easy as an old pair of shoes. "Handy -Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday," the -straw man had nicknamed her because she had a hand for every day in the -week.</p> - -<p>Nox had insisted on Himself being invited to the banquet and the clever -elf added much to the pleasure and hilarity of that memorable occasion. -Indeed, many times afterward when she felt bored or lonely, Ozma would -summon Himself just to amuse and cheer her up. The silver hammer was -stored away with the other important magic treasures and is regarded -by many as the most powerful magic in the castle. Handy Mandy kept the -blue flower to help her on future journeys and after she and her two -friends had spent a happy week in the Emerald City, Ozma reluctantly -wished Kerry and Nox to Keretaria and the Goat Girl back to Mt. Mern.</p> - -<p>Here, for a month, Handy Mandy astonished the villagers with the story -of her travels, then gathering up her goats she took herself and them -back by a fast wishing pill the Wizard had given her—to the Kingdom of -Keretaria. As the Goat Girl's hands retained all of their strength and -willingness, and Nox's horns all their magic—even to giving wise and -useful messages, these two and little Kerry ruled the Kingdom between -them with such skill and cleverness everyone was enormously happy and -prosperous!</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img src="images/illus112.jpg" width="500" height="349" alt=""/> -</div> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Handy Mandy in Oz, by -Ruth Plumly Thompson and L. 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Frank Baum - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: Handy Mandy in Oz - -Author: Ruth Plumly Thompson - L. Frank Baum - -Illustrator: John R. Neil - -Release Date: November 29, 2017 [EBook #56079] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HANDY MANDY IN OZ *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - - HANDY MANDY IN OZ - - _By_ - RUTH PLUMLY THOMPSON - Founded on and continuing the Famous Oz Stories - - _By_ - L. FRANK BAUM - "Royal Historian of Oz" - - _Illustrated by_ - JOHN R. NEILL - - The Reilly & Lee Co. - - CHICAGO - - - COPYRIGHT 1937 - By - THE REILLY & LEE CO. - - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - - PRINTED IN THE U. S. A. - - [Transcriber's Note: Extensive research did not uncover any - evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] - - * * * * * - -_Hello there!_ - - -Another spring, another book and another old Wizard in Oz! -Imagine! And with Ruggedo mixed up in the story there's bound to be -fun and excitement. - -Now I do hope you like Handy Mandy and Nox. I'm very fond of -the Royal Ox, myself. He rather reminds me of Kabumpo, while Kerry -is as nice a young King as I've met in an Oz age. But tell me what -YOU think. No one, not even Ozma, receives as fine letters as you all -write me, and I can hardly wait to hear all this year's news and those -interesting Ozzy suggestions. My news comes from the palace of the -Red Jinn, today. It seems that he and Kabumpo are really going to pay -that long-promised visit to Randy in Regalia. My--y, I'll have to look -into this. Meanwhile, best and merriest wishes and a high old happy-go-lucky -year to you! - - RUTH PLUMLY THOMPSON. - - 254 S. Farragut Terrace, - West Philadelphia, Pa. - - * * * * * - - This book is lovingly dedicated to all - the boys and girls who have written - me letters! Yes, here's to YOU and - cheers to you! - - RUTH PLUMLY THOMPSON - - April, 1937 - - * * * * * - - Handy Mandy in Oz - - -On many a day had Handy, the Goat Girl of Mern, pursued her goats -up and down the rocky eminences of her native mountain. And -never--NEVER--in her fourteen or so years' experience had she -been blown up by a mountain spring. But there comes, in every one's -experience a day which is unlike every other day, and so it was with -the Goat Girl. As she was pursuing What-a-butter, her favorite goat, -there was a sudden crash, a whish, and up flew the slab of rock on -which she was standing, up and away. - -The adventures into which she was carried by this simple though awefull -beginning take a whole book to relate. How she met Nox the Royal Ox of -Keretaria, how together they went in search of little King Kerry, how -at last they rescued him and found themselves feted guests of Ozma of -Oz, all these things you must read for yourselves. - -Read what the University of Washington Chapbooks have to say about -the famous Oz series. They _have taught American children to look for -the elements of wonder in the life around them, to realize that even -smoke and machinery may be transformed into fairy lore if only we have -sufficient energy and vision to penetrate to their significance and -transform them to our use.... Some day we may have better fairytales -but that will not be until America is a better country._ - -(_Edward Wagenknecht._) - - - - - CONTENTS - - - 1 Mandy Leaves the Mountain - - 2 The End of the Ride - - 3 The King of Keretaria - - 4 The Message in the Horn - - 5 Out of Keretaria! - - 6 Turn Town! - - 7 A Horn of Plenty - - 8 Handy Mandy Learns about Oz! - - 9 The Magic Hammer - - 10 The King of the Silver Mountain - - 11 Down to the Prisoners' Pit! - - 12 Prisoners of the Wizard - - 13 In the Emerald City of Oz - - 14 The Robbery Is Discovered - - 15 The Pilgrim Returns to the Mountain - - 16 The Wizard's Bargain! - - 17 Out of the Prison Pit - - 18 Wutz and the Gnome King Leave for the Capital! - - 19 At the Bottom of the Mountain! - - 20 Just in Time! - - 21 The Hammer Elf Explains - - - - -CHAPTER 1 - -Mandy Leaves the Mountain - - -"What-a-BUTTER! What-a-BUTTER!" High and clear above the peaks of Mt. -Mern floated the voice of the Goat Girl calling the finest, fattest -but most troublesome of her flock. All the other goats were winding -obediently down toward the village that perched precariously on the -edge of the mountain. But of What-a-butter there was not a single sign -nor whisker. - -"Serves me right for spoiling the contrary creature," panted Mandy, -pushing back her thick yellow braids with her second best hand. "Always -wants her own way, that goat--so she does. What-a-butter, I say -WHAT-A-BUTTER--come down here this instant." But only the tantalizing -tinkle of the goat's silver bell came to answer her, for What-a-butter -was climbing up, not down, and there was nothing for Mandy to do but go -after her. - -Muttering dire threats which she was much too soft hearted ever to -carry out, the rosy cheeked mountain lass scrambled over crags and -stones, pulling herself up steep precipices, the goat always managing -to keep a few jumps ahead, till soon they were almost at the top of the -mountain! - -Here, stopping on a jutting rock to catch her breath and remove the -burrs from her stockings, Mandy heard a dreadful roar and felt an -ominous rumbling beneath her feet. What-a-butter on a narrow ledge just -above heard it too, and cocked her head anxiously on one side. Perhaps -she had best jump down to Mandy. After all, the great silly girl did -feed and pet her, and from the sound of things a storm was brewing. -If there was one thing the goat feared more than another, it was a -thunder-storm, so, rolling her eyes as innocently as if she had not -dragged Mandy all over the mountain she stretched her nose down toward -her weary mistress. - -"Bah--ah-ah-ahhhhhhhhhh!" bleated What-a-butter affectionately. - -"Oh 'Bah' yourself!" fumed Mandy, making an angry snatch for the Nanny -Goat's beard. "Pets and children are all alike--never appreciate a body -till they have a stomach ache, or a thunder-storm is coming. Now then, -m'lass, be quick with you!" - -Holding out her strong arms, Mandy made ready to catch the goat as it -jumped off the ledge. But before What-a-butter could stir, there was -a perfectly awful crash and explosion and up shot the slab of rock on -which Mandy was standing, up--UP and out of sight entirely. Where the -mountain girl had been, a crystal column of water spurted viciously -into the air, so high the bulging eyes of the goat could see no end to -it. Rearing up on her hind legs, What-a-butter turned round and round -in a frantic effort to catch a glimpse of her vanishing Mistress. -Then thinking suddenly what would happen should the torrent turn and -fall upon her, the goat sprang off the ledge and ran madly down the -mountain, bleating like a whole herd of Banshees. - -And Mandy, as you can well believe, was as frightened as What-a-butter -and with twice as much reason. The first upheaval, as the rock left the -earth, flung her flat on her nose. Grasping the edges of the slab with -all hands, Mandy hung on for dear life and as a stinging shower of icy -water sprayed her from head to foot, wondered what under the earth was -happening to her. Thorns and thistles! Could the thunder-storm really -have come UP instead of down? Certainly it was raining up, and what -ever was carrying her aloft with such terrible force and relentlessness? - -How could the Goat Girl know that a turbulent spring pent up for -thousands of years in the center of Mt. Mern had suddenly burst its -way to freedom! And you have no idea of the tremendous power in a -mountain spring once it uncoils and lets itself go. Mandy's rock might -just as well have been shot into the air by a magic cannon. First it -tore upward as if it meant to knock a hole in the sky, then, still -travelling at incalculable speed, began to arch and take a horizontal -course over the mountains, hills and valleys west of Mern. All poor -Mandy knew was that she was hurtling through space at break-neck speed -with nothing to save or stop her. The long yellow braids of the Goat -Girl streamed out like pennants, while her striped skirt and voluminous -petticoats snapped and fluttered like banners in the wind. - -"What-a-butter! Oh What-a-butter!" moaned Mandy, gazing wildly -over the edge of the rock. But pshaw, what was the use of calling? -What-a-butter, even if she heard, could not fly after her through -the air, and when she herself came down not even her own goat would -recognize her. At this depressing thought, Mandy dropped her head on -her arms and began to weep bitterly, for she was quite sure she would -never see her friends--her home--or her goats again. - -But the rough and frugal life on Mt. Mern had made the Goat Girl both -brave and resourceful, so she soon dried her tears and as the rock -still showed no signs of slowing up nor dashing down, she began to take -heart and even a desperate sort of interest in her experience. Slowly -and cautiously she pulled herself to a sitting position and still -clutching the edges of the rock, dared to look down at the countries -and towns flashing away below. - -"After all," sniffed the reckless maiden, "nothing very dreadful has -happened yet. I've always wanted to travel and now I AM travelling. Not -many people have flown through the air on a rock--why it's really a -rocket!" decided Mandy, with a nervous giggle. "And that, I suppose, -makes me the first rocket rider in the country, and the LAST, too," she -finished soberly as she measured with her eye the distance she would -plunge when her rock started earthward. "Now if we'd just come down in -that blue lake, below, I might have a chance. Perhaps I should jump?" - -But by the time Mandy made up her mind to jump the lake was far behind -and nothing but a great desert of smoking sand stretched beneath her. - - - - -CHAPTER 2 - -The End of the Ride - - -The sky, from the rosy pink of late afternoon, had faded to a -depressing grey, and Mandy could not help thinking longingly of the -appetizing little supper she had set out for herself before going up -to call the goats. Who would eat it now or even know she was flying -through the air like a comet? No one, she concluded drearily, for Mandy -was an orphan and lived all by herself in a small cottage on Mt. Mern, -high above the village of Fistikins. In a day or two, some of her -friends in the village might search the cottage and find her gone, but -NOW, now there was nothing to do but sit tight and hope for the best. - -Mandy's next glance down was more encouraging. Instead of the dangerous -looking desert, she was sailing over misty blue hills and valleys -dotted with many small towns and villages. High as she was, she could -even hear the church bells tolling the hour, and this made Mandy feel -more lost and lonely than ever. All these people below were safely at -home and about to eat their suppers while she was flying high and far -from everything she knew and loved best. - -Hungrily the Goat Girl cast her eyes over the rock she was riding, -thinking to find a small sprig of mountain berries or even a blade of -grass to nibble. At first glance, the rock seemed bare and barren, then -sticking up out of a narrow crevice Mandy spied a tiny blue flower. -"Poor little posy, it's as far from home as I am," murmured the Goat -Girl, and carefully breaking the stem, she lifted the blue flower to -her nose. Its faint fragrance was vaguely comforting and Mandy had just -begun to count the petals, when the rock gave a sickening lurch and -started to pitch down so fast Mandy's braids snapped like jumping ropes -and her skirts bellied out like a parachute in a gale. - -"NOW for it," gasped the Goat Girl closing her eyes and clenching her -teeth. "OH! My poor little shins!" Mandy's shins were both stout and -sturdy, but even so we cannot blame Mandy for pitying them. Stouter -shins than hers would have splintered at such a fall. Hardly knowing -what she was doing, Mandy began to pull the petals from the blue -flower, calling in an agonized voice as she pulled each one the names -of her goats and friends. She had just come to Speckle, the smallest -member of her flock, when the end came. - -Kimmeny Jimmeny! Was this ALL? Opening one eye, the Goat Girl looked -fearfully about her. She was sitting on top of a haystack, no, not -a haystack, but a heap of soft blue flower petals as soft as down. -Opening the other eye she saw the rock, on which she had travelled so -far, bump over a golden fence and fall with a satisfied splash into a -shimmering lake. But what lay beyond the lake made Mandy forget all her -troubles and fairly moan with surprise and pleasure. - -"A CASTLE!" exulted the Goat Girl, putting one hand above her heart. -"Oh! I've always wanted to see a castle and now I AM." And this castle, -let me tell you, was well worth anyone's seeing, a castle of lacy blue -marble carved, and decorated with precious stones, in a way to astonish -the eyes of a simple mountain lass. From the tallest tower, a silken -pennant floated lazily in the evening breeze. - -"K-E-R-E-T-A-R-I-A," Mandy spelled out slowly. Sliding off the heap of -flower petals she stood for a long delicious moment lost in admiration. -Then, giving herself a businesslike shake to be sure she was not broken -or bent by her amazing flight and tumble, Mandy turned to examine the -rest of her surroundings. - -When she looked at the spot on which she had fallen the stack of blue -petals had disappeared, but there, twinkling up cheerfully, was the -blue flower as much at home as if it had grown there in the first -place. Thoroughly puzzled, Mandy picked the little flower a second time -and slipped it into the pocket of her apron. - -Even without the mystery of the blue flower it was astonishing enough -to find herself in the stately park of this gorgeous blue castle. There -was a tree lined avenue and velvety lawns splashed with star shaped -flower beds stretched in every direction. Only the small patch of land -on which she was standing was bare and uncultivated. And evidently -someone was at work here, for a great white ox, with golden horns, -yoked to a gold plow stood with his back to Mandy, dozing cozily in the -pleasant dusk. - -At sight of the ox, Mandy gave a little sigh of relief and content. -Long ago an old mountain woman had given her this sensible piece of -advice. "When you do not know what to do next, do the first useful -piece of work that comes to hand." Now here, right at hand, was a -useful piece of work, and while she was trying to figure out the whole -puzzle of the flying rock and strange blue flower, she might just as -well be ploughing. Then when the owner of the castle saw her working so -industriously, he might invite her to supper. So, grasping the tail of -the ancient plow, Mandy clicked her tongue in a cheerful signal for the -ox to start. - -The white ox, who had not seen nor heard the Goat Girl till this minute -turned his head in a lordly fashion and gave her a long haughty look. -Not really believing what he saw, he took another look, and then, with -a bellow of fright and outrage went charging across the park pulling -the startled Goat Girl behind him. Mandy might have let go, but she -just did not think of it, and with pounding heart and flying braids -held fast to the pitching plough as it tore through flower beds, ripped -up lawns and cut fearful furrows in the pebbled paths. Clouds of earth, -stones and whole plants uprooted ruthlessly from their beds showered -round her ears, and as they reached the palace, a hard metal object -hit her squarely between the eyes. Putting up a hand, Mandy caught the -flying missile and mechanically slipped it into her pocket, and the -next instant the ox lunging through an open French window dragged her -into the magnificently furnished throne room of the castle. Not only -into the throne room, mind you, but into the lap of royalty itself! - - - - -CHAPTER 3 - -The King of Keretaria - - -The white ox in his mad dash across the throne room had run violently -into a marble pillar, hurling Mandy straight into the arms of a very -tall, very stern, and very blue looking monarch. Pages and courtiers -tripped and fell left and right in a scramble to get out of the way, -while the ox, snorting and trembling, looked balefully over his -shoulder at the Goat Girl. - -"Whu-what is--the--meaning of--this out-rageous in-trusion?" panted -the King. "Unhand me, woman! Remove your finger from my eye and -your arms--your ARMS! Hi! Hi! Hi!" The King's sentence ended in -three frightened squeaks. "Is it a girl or an octopus?" he puffed, -heaving up his chest in an endeavor to dislodge Mandy. "Hi! Hi! Hi! -Are you going to allow this clumping savage to insult my Majesty in -this--er--high-handed manner?" - -As the Goat Girl, by this time scarlet from anger and mortification, -jumped off the King's lap, three very high officials of the Court of -Keretaria darted forward. - -"The High Qui-questioner! The Imperial Persuader! And the Lord High -Upper Dupper of the Realm!" bawled a page. Having delivered himself -of this impressive announcement the page bolted back of a curtain and -from there peered with astonished eyes at the visitor. Everyone in the -grand blue throne room looked frightened and ready to run at a moment's -notice. Wondering what could be the matter with them all, Mandy with -many misgivings watched the counselors of Keretaria advance in a -threatening row. - -"Now then--not a move!" thundered the High Qui-questioner, tapping -her sharply on the shoulder with a golden staff shaped like a huge -interrogation point. "It is my duty to question all strangers who ride, -fall, fly or break into our Kingdom, and you," the Haughty Nobleman -gave Mandy a cold blue stare, "YOU are stranger than any stranger who -has ever come to Keretaria." - -"It is my duty to persuade you to do as his Majesty commands," stated -the Imperial Persuader, raising his gold spiked club. - -"And it is MY duty to put you in your place," sniffed the Lord High -Upper Dupper rattling a bunch of keys that hung from his belt. - -"Well if you ask me," puffed the Ox, rolling his eyes wildly round at -the Goat Girl, "her place is in a museum and the sooner you lock her -upper dupper, the better." Now Mandy was so astonished to hear the Ox -actually speaking, she gave a loud cry and flung up her hands, every -single seven of them. - -"Help! Help!" yelped the Courtiers, scurrying like mice into corners -and corridors. Only the white Ox, the King and his Counselors kept -their places. - -"How DARE you come into a King's presence armed in this barbarous -fashion?" gasped the High Qui-questioner, taking a step toward the Goat -Girl, but too frightened to touch her. - -"PIGS!" cried Mandy, suddenly losing her temper. "Can I help my seven -arms? All of us on Mt. Mern have seven arms and hands and you with -your skinny two seem far funnier than I. I am Mandy, the Goat Girl, as -anyone in his senses can see." - -"The girl is right," observed the Ox, gazing more attentively at Mandy -and now speaking quite calmly, "she can no more help those seven arms -than you can help those seven warts on your nose, Questo. I tell you -this maiden is a real curiosity and if you three Hi-boys will cease -rattling your teeth and your clubs, perhaps she will explain why she -has come to Keretaria. I myself shall call her Handy Mandy." - -"Why, the beast has more sense than its masters," thought the Goat Girl -in surprise. - -"Well," rumbled the King ungraciously, "if you have anything to say -before we lock you up, SAY IT, but do not wave your arms about, PLEASE." - -Swallowing nervously, clasping four of her hands behind her back and -stuffing the other three into convenient pockets in her apron, Mandy -began to speak. "I was driving my goats home from the mountain, Your -Majesty, when the rock on which I was standing exploded suddenly into -the air, flew like a bird over hill, valley, and desert and dropped me -into your garden--" - -"And not a bruise nor a bump to show for it," grunted the Imperial -Persuader elevating his nose to show he was not taken in by such a -tale. In spite of his suspicious glance, Mandy decided to say nothing -of the blue flower that had so miraculously softened her fall. - -"And since when have rocks flown through the air?" inquired the Lord -High Upper Dupper sarcastically. - -"Ahem--in the garden," continued Mandy undaunted by the two -interruptions, "I saw this great white ox and thinking to do a bit of -honest work for my supper, grasped the plough, but--" - -"That was a little oxident," murmured the great beast in a jovial -voice, "for, catching sight of a seven-armed maiden all at once and -without warning, I took to my heels and landed her in her present -unpleasant predicament. Is that not so, m'lass?" - -Looking at the Ox with round eyes, Mandy nodded. - -"But she still has not explained all these arms," complained the -Imperial Persuader. "Whoever heard of a seven-handed maiden?" - -"I have!" asserted Mandy stoutly. "And what, pray, is there to explain? -This iron hand--" the Goat Girl raised it slowly and thoughtfully as -she spoke, "I use for ironing, lifting hot pots from the stove and all -horrid sort of hard work; this leather hand I keep for beating rugs, -dusting, sweeping, and so on; this wooden hand I use for churning and -digging in the garden; these two red rubber hands for dishwashing and -scrubbing, and my two fine white hands I keep for holding and braiding -my hair." With all seven hands extended before her, Mandy smiled -engagingly up at the King. - -"Undoubtedly a witch," whispered the Imperial Persuader darkly, as -the King in spite of himself gazed curiously down at his seven-armed -visitor. - -"A dangerous character, Your Majesty," hissed the High Qui-questioner, -shaking his head disapprovingly. - -"To the dungeons with her!" rasped the Lord High Upper Dupper, rattling -his keys like castanets. - -"WHAT?" bawled the white Ox, stamping all of his gold shod feet in -rapid succession. "You mean to consign this marvel of skill and -efficiency to a dungeon? What a set of dunces you are! Come, Handy, I -myself, will take you for a slave. Out of my way, DOLTS!" Swaggering a -bit, and with the golden plough still clanking and bumping behind him, -the Ox ambled at a dignified pace toward the door. Mandy, though she -did not relish the idea of becoming his slave, was greatly relieved at -the interest the Ox was taking in her case, but before following him, -she looked inquiringly up at the King. - -"Yes, GO!" commanded His Majesty harshly, "I hereby give you into the -care and service of Nox, the Royal Ox of Keretaria. Harm one hair of -his head, and you will pay for it with your life and perish, I promise -you, most ignominiously." - -"Mercy--ercy," muttered Mandy tiptoeing nervously after her new master, -"doesn't the fellow know any short words? How queer everything is on -this side of the mountain, people with only two arms, animals talking -and giving orders to Kings. Suppose the goats at home started bossing -the villagers?" And what would the villagers think of her strange -flight and reception in Keretaria? Well, from what she herself had seen -of Royalty, decided the Goat Girl, she much preferred her goats or even -the company of this haughty white Ox. Stepping briskly beside him, -Mandy resolved to humor the creature till she saw a bit more of the -country or found some safe way back to her mountain. - -Nox swinging along at his own indolent gait paid no further attention -to the Goat Girl, but when they reached his royal quarters, which -to Mandy looked more like a castle than a stable, he began bawling -so fiercely for the stable boys she decided uncomfortably that being -his slave might prove both unpleasant and dangerous. However, when -six little boys dressed in blue overalls and aprons ran out, the -Royal Ox addressed them quite kindly. The first, without waiting for -instructions unhitched the plough and lifted the yoke from the royal -shoulders. - -"Prepare Kerry's quarters for my new slave," directed Nox, turning to -the second and third. "You others, bring dinner for two, and mind you -fetch Handy Mandy everything they have at the King's table." With a -playful lunge Nox started them smartly on their way, then moved grandly -into the huge stone stable and along to his own luxurious gold-paved -stall. - -"My--y!" exclaimed the Goat Girl, sinking breathlessly to a three -legged stool, "how grand and elegant you are here! My--y, I wish -What-a-butter could see this!" - -"One of your goats?" murmured Nox, burying his nose in the huge marble -bowl he used for a drinking trough. - -Mandy nodded. "I wish she were here now!" she added with a rapturous -little sigh. - -"Well, I don't." Deliberately the Royal Ox licked the water from his -lips. "Do you suppose I'd allow a miserable goat in my sapphire trimmed -stall?" - -"Miserable!" squealed Mandy, springing off the stool. "What-a-butter's -the smartest goat on the mountain; she wouldn't give two bleats and a -BAH for an old Hoopadoop like YOU!" - -"Hoopadoop!" repeated the Ox in a dazed whisper. "Do you mean to stand -there and call the Royal Ox of Keretaria a Hoopadoop?" - -"Yes," said Mandy firmly but backing off a bit as she spoke. "What -makes you think you're so much better than a goat even if you do talk, -put on airs and have golden horns?" - -"Well," and to Mandy's surprise and relief, Nox cleared his throat and -grinned quite amiably, "after all I AM the Royal Ox, you know, more -precious to the King than all his court and subjects. Everyone jumps at -my least command, so why shouldn't I put on a few airs? Besides do you -think it's polite to call me an old Hoopadoop when I've just saved you -from a dungeon?" - -"No," admitted Mandy, resuming her seat thoughtfully, "I don't suppose -it is. Maybe you _are_ as good as a goat," she added with a little -burst of generosity. - -"Oh, thank you! Thank you very much!" Through half closed eyes the -Royal Ox looked quizzically at the Goat Girl. "I believe we shall get -on famously, m'lass, famously. The truth is, you amuse me no end and so -long as you amuse me everything will be smooth as silk. But of course, -if you bore me, I will bore you. Oh, positively!" Lowering his head Nox -shook his horns playfully. - -"Now I shouldn't try that, if I were you," advised Mandy, raising her -iron hand and cracking the fingers warningly. "For if you do, I might -throw things!" - -"Ha ha! I believe you would." The enormous beast, charmed by so much -spirit and independence fairly beamed upon his new slave. "I take it -you are pretty good at throwing things." - -"Yes, and at catching them, too." Reaching up, Mandy took seven of the -dozen brushes off the shelf above her head. Tossing them all into the -air with three of her hands, she caught them easily with the other -four. Then dragging her stool closer, she began brushing the coat of -her royal charge so hard and vigorously he blinked with pleasure and -astonishment. "Will you have your tail plain, curled or plaited?" asked -Mandy in a businesslike voice. - -"Er--er--plain, thank you." With admiration and some alarm, Nox -regarded the whirling arms of the Goat Girl, but the four little stable -boys, appearing at that moment, stared at her in glassy eyed fright and -consternation. For Nox they had brought a tray heaped high with corn -and oats and another with fresh sliced apples. For Mandy there were two -trays of gold dishes containing a sample of everything from the royal -table. Dropping her brushes Mandy seized all the trays at once in her -various hands, which so frightened the stable boys they took to their -heels yelling at the tops of their voices. - -Winking at the Royal Ox, Mandy set his supper on the gold stand meant -for that purpose, then dropping to the floor before her own two trays -began her first dinner in a strange land. And WHAT a strange land, -mused Mandy helping herself from the gold dishes with first one hand -and then another. - -"Well, m'lass?" inquired Nox, daintily nibbling his oats and apples. -"Is this not better than bread and water in a dungeon cell?" Too full -for utterance, Mandy rapturously nodded. - - - - -CHAPTER 4 - -The Message in the Horn - - -After the Goat Girl had finished her supper and the stable boys had -hurried off with the trays, Nox showed his new slave to her quarters. -Handy Mandy, who had expected nothing better than a heap of straw in -the corner of an empty stall, decided that for a slave, she was faring -pretty well. A small but complete apartment had been built in the wing -next to Nox's stall, with not only a comfortable bedroom and bath, but -a small sitting room as well. The bed was a huge gold four poster with -blue silk sheets and comforters. Never in her hard and simple life had -Handy dreamed of such elegance! - -"Here, try the chairs," urged Nox, trotting almost briskly into the -sitting room. This, Mandy was only too willing to do, and the pretty -little room with its book shelves, lamps and pictures seemed to the -honest Goat Girl much more desirable than the palace. - -"All belonged to Kerry," mumbled the Royal Ox, settling himself largely -on a white rug beside her. - -"Was Kerry one of your slaves?" asked Mandy, rocking herself cheerfully -to and fro with all her hands resting quietly in her lap. - -"SLAVE!" The Ox spoke sharply. "I should say not. Kerry was a King! Our -own little King up to a few years ago, and what a lad he was--what a -lad!" - -"Was?" exclaimed Mandy. "Why--what happened to him?" - -"He disappeared," Nox told her sadly. "Nobody knows how--or where, just -disappeared, my girl, on a hunting trip, and this blue nosed scoundrel -who claims to be his uncle, came to rule over Keretaria. Since then," -Nox lowered his voice cautiously, "everything is different--and -changed. The people are treated no better than dogs. DOGS!" repeated -the Royal Ox bitterly. "Of course this fellow cannot interfere with me -nor take any chances for there is a prophecy on the west wall of the -castle that has stood for a thousand years." - -"What does it say?" asked Mandy, leaning forward and clasping the arms -of the rocker with all hands. - -Impressively Nox repeated the prophecy: "So long as the Royal Ox of -Keretaria is in good health and spirits, so long and no longer shall -the present King rule over the Land." - -"But who wrote it?" Mandy's rocker stopped with a surprised squeak. - -"Nobody knows," answered Nox soberly, "but it has come true dozens and -dozens of times. Each time a new King is crowned in Keretaria a new Ox -appears mysteriously at the Royal coronation. If anything happens to -the Royal Ox the King also is destroyed!" - -"My--y!" The Goat Girl now rocked very fast indeed. "So that's the -reason they take such good care of you, old Toggins. But tell me, where -do all of you Royal Oxen come from in the first place? And how is it -you can speak? None of the beasts on Mount Mern can say a word." - -"Oh, that--" the Royal Ox lifted his head lazily. "Keretaria is in the -wonderful Land of Oz, my dear Handy, and all Oz creatures can talk, -even the mice and squirrels. But what part of Oz we white oxen really -come from, I myself cannot rightly say. I seem to remember a great blue -forest and many happy days there. Then one evening a silver cloth was -thrown over my head and I fell into a deep and immediate slumber. When -I awakened, I was here in Keretaria and on that same day little King -Kerry was crowned King of the Realm. From the attendants and courtiers -I soon learned of the strange prophecy, but the young boy King was so -devoted to me--and I to him, I did not miss the forest or my former -freedom. - -"To be near me, Kerry had this apartment built in the stable and spent -more than half of his time in my company. My life being easy and -pleasant, I gave little thought to the past or to the future, but spent -all my energies enjoying the present. Once in a while just for the -looks of the thing, I appeared in Royal Processions, and each day at -sundown I was yoked for an hour to the golden plough and required to -stand for an hour in the royal garden. But I never did any real work or -ploughing, till you, my reckless Handy, came along today." - -"But what about the little King?" begged the Goat Girl, as Nox lapsed -into a thoughtful silence and seemed to have forgotten all about her. - -"He disappeared, just as I told you." The Royal Ox rolled his big -eyes mournfully upward. "On this day, as on many others, I carried -him on my back to the edge of the wood. There, mounting his favorite -steed, he rode away with the Royal Huntsmen for an hour's sport. As -I was returning to the castle someone struck me a terrific blow that -felled me to the earth, where I lay for several hours in complete -unconsciousness. Whoever struck me down evidently thought I was -finished, for when I finally did regain my senses, I was buried beneath -a heap of loose earth and leaves. Still dazed and hardly knowing what -I was about, I struggled out and staggered back to the courtyard. One -of my horns had been bent during the encounter and my expression was -so wild and distracted no one recognized me as BOZ, the Royal Ox of -Little King Kerry. The whole castle was in an uproar, for a new King -had taken possession of the throne and thinking, of course, I was -the next and new Royal Ox, this rascally imposter named me NOX. The -Keretarians, without daring to inquire what had become of their former -ruler, crowned me with daisies and laurel and hurried to do the bidding -of their new ruler." - -"WHY--the big _cowards_!" said Handy Mandy, clenching all of her fists, -"And do you mean to tell me nothing has been heard of the little King -since then?" - -"Nothing." The Royal Ox moved his head drearily from side to side. "The -people think the Royal Prophecy has been fulfilled again and what can -they DO? A farmer's boy brought word that Boz, the Royal Ox, had been -struck down and spirited away, so naturally they felt sure that Kerry -also had been destroyed or taken prisoner." - -"Then no one suspects you are really Boz and not NOX?" questioned the -Goat Girl, now on the very edge of her chair. "Oh, my--y, but don't you -see, if you are still the same Ox who came to Keretaria with King Kerry -and you are still all right, he must be all right, too. That is, if the -prophecy means _anything_." - -"Sh--hh!" warned Nox, looking about nervously. "Someone might hear you. -That is what keeps me here," he went on seriously. "I felt if I stayed -quietly in my place, Kerry would some day return, claim his own throne -and drive this miserable tyrant out of the country." - -"Stay quietly here when the little fellow may be needing you!" cried -Handy aghast. "Oh, why don't you go look for him, you great big OX you! -Come on, what are we waiting for? Why I'll drag that old rascal off the -throne with my own hands," promised the Goat Girl indignantly waving -her arms. - -"Wait! Stop!" Nox sprang up with surprising lightness for one usually -so ponderous and slow. "Do you realize that I am treasured and watched -more closely than the crown jewels? At this very moment twenty -guardsmen stalk round and round the stable. I have as much chance of -leaving Keretaria as a goldfish has of flying through a forest." - -As if to prove his words a tall soldier in a blue shako thrust his head -suddenly through the window from the outside. "Is everything in order -and as you wish, your Highness?" puffed the Guard, looking suspiciously -at the Goat Girl's revolving arms. - -"Everything is lovely," murmured the Ox in a sleepy voice. "My slave -here is doing her exercises and when she finishes she will polish my -horns." At his warning wink, Handy Mandy dropped all her arms at her -side. - -"Well! Well! A pleasant evening to you," mumbled the soldier, -withdrawing his head after another disapproving look at the Goat Girl. -For a moment after he had disappeared neither spoke, then Handy Mandy, -snatching a silk cover from one of the pillows fell to polishing Nox's -left horn for very dear life. - -"I can always think faster when I'm working," she observed earnestly. - -"Think away," replied the Ox, closing his eyes so as not to see the -numerous hands flashing past his nose. "But be careful what you say and -do. If you rouse the suspicions of old King Kerr, you'll be flung into -a dungeon in spite of all my influence." - -"Now don't you be worrying about me," chortled Handy with a little wink -and nod. "I've been taking care of myself and a flock of goats for ten -years! Say, this is a bend, for sure." The Goat Girl ran her rubber -fingers curiously along the curve in the Ox's left horn and then, with -one of her sudden and kind-hearted impulses, tried to straighten the -quirk with a quick twist of her wrist. Imagine, then, if you can, her -horror and surprise when the golden horn came off in her hand. - -"Oh my goats and my goodness!" shuddered Handy hopping from one foot -to the other. "What'll I do? Where's some glue? Oh My--igh--igh! I'm -mighty sorry!" - -"Sorry!" gulped the Royal Ox, glaring at the Goat Girl with rolling -eyes and lashing tail. But before he could lunge forward as he -certainly intended to do, Handy gave a little scream of excitement. -"Oh look," she panted, pointing all thirty-five fingers at the base of -Nox's horn, "Oh, my dear--ear, it screws on--there are regular grooves. -Wait--I'll have it back in a jiffy." - -Nox, who couldn't possibly see the top of his own head, merely gave a -grunt, but Handy Mandy, lifting the horn in her wooden hand, screamed -again and then began to shake the horn violently. At her second shake, -two silver balls tumbled out and rolled away into a corner. Scrambling -after them, with Nox now as interested as she, the Goat Girl recovered -them both and dropped breathlessly on a sofa. - -On closer examination Handy discovered the balls would open as easily -as cardboard Easter eggs, and with Nox's head resting heavily on her -shoulder she gave the first a quick turn. It came apart at once and in -the hollow center lay a small folded paper. Spreading it out on her -knees, Handy read in a hoarse whisper: "Go to the Silver Mountain of -OZ." - -"Silver Mountain? Do you know where that is?" exclaimed the Goat Girl, -looking wildly round at Nox. - -"No, but I'll wager my head it has something to do with Kerry! Quick, -m'lass, open the other ball." - -With the trembling fingers of her good white hand the Goat Girl obeyed. -Inside the second sphere lay a small silver key. After they had -examined this and read the message all over again, Handy carefully -tucked the two articles back in the silver balls and returned the balls -to the golden horn. Then, hastily screwing the horn back on its base, -the two began whispering earnestly together. - -"Mean to say you never knew your horn came off?" questioned Handy, -clasping and unclasping her hands. "Mean to say you never heard of this -Silver Mountain?" - -"No to both questions," answered the Ox with an anxious little sigh. -"But now that we _do_ know, we must start off at once to search for -it and see for ourselves whether Kerry is imprisoned there by his -enemies. Though how we'll escape these guards or ever get away with -half the Kingdom watching, I cannot imagine!" - -"Never fear, we'll manage," promised Handy easily. "Why with your horns -and my hands it will take an army to stop us. Now get your rest, Ox -dear, and in the morn's morning we'll be journeying." - -"You're right," breathed the Ox, starting obediently toward his stall. -"I more than half believe you." - -"Good night, then," called the Goat Girl softly. "Don't talk in your -sleep and give our plans away." - - - - -CHAPTER 5 - -Out of Keretaria! - - -Nox was asleep on a heap of white flower petals in the corner of his -stall, asleep and dreaming of the Silver Mountain of Oz, when a sharp -tap on the shoulder rudely awakened him. - -"Come!" whispered an urgent voice. "Time to start! Come, I've managed -everything." Lurching to his feet and still in a daze, the Royal Ox -looked askance and with no great favor at the Goat Girl. - -"Why, it's not even light!" he moaned feebly. - -"Of course not," admitted Handy Mandy guardedly, "but I poked my nose -out the door a moment ago and saw all the guards were a bit drowsyish, -so I tapped them on the head with this." Handy Mandy raised her iron -hand and with a little grimace beckoned for Nox to hurry. "Come along -now, and we can be out of here before they know what's what or who." - -So Nox, with a regretful look round his comfortable stall and a sigh -for his morning bath and breakfast, moved quietly after her. While the -Royal Creature had spent most of his time during the past two years -thinking of ways to rescue his young Master, now that he was actually -starting out he was filled with doubt and dismay. How could they ever -find this Silver Mountain and overcome the enemies that most certainly -would beset them? - -The sight of the twenty guards lying in a stiff row somewhat reassured -the downhearted beast and in the dim light of early morning he looked -thoughtfully up at the sturdy mountain lass stepping so resolutely -beside him. In each hand Handy carried a different weapon, and resting -on her broad shoulders was a rake, an axe, one guard's gun, another -guard's sword, a spade and a long handled broom. Noting his astonished -glance, the Goat Girl grinned and with her one free hand touched her -fingers to her lips. So, silently and without exchanging a word, the -two crossed the stable yard, the Royal Park, hurried through a little -wood, and came out on a dusty blue Highway. - -"NOW!" said Handy, looking up and down the road to make sure no one was -coming, "now we can talk and decide which direction to take." - -"How can we do that," objected Nox, panting a little from the -unaccustomed exertion before breakfast, "when neither of us knows -where this Silver Mountain is?" - -"Well, we have tongues, haven't we? And can ask, can't we?" Handy Mandy -rattled her weapons impatiently. "But before we worry about the Silver -Mountain we must get out of Keretaria. Which is the quickest way to the -border?" - -"Oh, North," answered Nox promptly. "Keretaria is in the upper part of -the Munchkin Country of Oz and once we cross the Northern branch of the -Munchkin River, we'll be entirely out of the country." - -"Fine! Then we'll go North. And what lies beyond the Munchkin River?" -inquired the Goat Girl, shifting the axe to her left shoulder. - -"I've never crossed myself," admitted Nox, moving along in his slow and -dignified manner, "but I have heard there are many mountains and if we -go far enough the Purple Land of the Gillikins." - -"Sounds interesting," decided Handy Mandy, "and who knows, among all -those mountains we may find the one we are looking for! By the way, am -I to call you Boz, Nox or Goldie Horns? But I believe I'll call you -Nox, for somehow I like Nox the Ox best." - -"Anything you say," yawned her companion, switching his tail -negligently, "but I shall always call YOU, Handy Mandy. It suits you, -m'lass, and you need no longer consider yourself a slave." - -"Ho, ho, I never did," roared the Goat Girl, glancing cheerfully -down at her lordly companion. "That was just a joke, wasn't it? You -know, everything in this Land of Oz is extremely funny and peculiar. -Two-armed natives, animals talking, Kings disappearing and mysterious -messages and prophecies." - -"People always think a new country strange!" observed the Ox -philosophically. "To us it seems quite right and natural. But I daresay -if I were to find myself on Mt. Mern I'd consider everything there -very odd and upsetting; rocks flying through the air, for instance, -and landing one soft and light as a daisy in a strange King's garden." - -"But all of our rocks don't fly, in fact I never knew one to do such a -thing before. And no wonder I landed as soft as a daisy--there was a -blue daisy under me or I'd have been splintered to smithereens!" - -"Daisy?" Nox licked his lips hungrily. "You never said anything about a -daisy." - -"Oh, I never tell all I know," confided Handy, "especially to -Hi-qui-cockadoodlums like the King and his Counselors. But there was -a daisy--growing on the rock and I picked it. As I started to fall I -began pulling off the petals, and when I landed I came down on a high, -huge pile of them, a heap as high as a haystack," continued Handy Mandy -dreamily. "So I slid off the stack and turned to look at the castle, -and when I looked again, the petals were gone, but there was the daisy -itself growing up as pert as you please in this strange garden. So what -did I do but pick it again and here it is!" Triumphantly Handy pulled -the blue flower from her pocket. - -"My, what a dear little daisy!" murmured the Ox. "How delicious it -would taste." - -"No! NO!" cried Handy, as Nox rolled his long tongue out toward the -flower. "It's too pretty to eat." - -"Nothing's too pretty to eat," replied the Ox plaintively. "Funny it -hasn't wilted, though." - -"Well, I believe it's magic," stated the Goat Girl, with a positive -little shake of her head. As she returned the daisy to her pocket, -Handy felt the hard metal object that had hit her in the forehead when -she and Nox ploughed through the King's garden. - -"Look! What do you suppose this is?" she queried, tapping the Ox -sharply on the shoulder, for he was walking sleepily along with his -eyes closed. "This is what we dug up when we rushed through the garden, -you know." - -"How should I know?" grunted the Ox indifferently, opening one eye. -"Just a silver hammer, isn't it? Maybe we can trade it for a good -breakfast when we cross the river." - -"My--y--how you talk!" scolded Handy. "We're not going to trade it at -all. See, there's an initial on it. A big W. Now what would W stand -for?" - -"Who, what, which, where, oh why worry?" mumbled the Ox, plodding -resignedly along beside her. - -"Well, anyway, it will make a splendid potato masher," concluded the -Goat Girl, returning the hammer to her pocket. - -"Yes, if we had any potatoes." The Ox sighed heavily as he spoke, -looking off into the distance with such a mournful eye Handy Mandy -laughed a little all to herself. - -"Oh cheer up," sniffed the Goat Girl, "you're not starved yet. And -hurry up, too, the sun's going higher every moment and we'd better pass -those farms before the people waken." - -It was against Nox's nature to hurry, but realizing the wisdom of the -Goat Girl's advice, he broke into an awkward gallop. In spite of his -great weight, the Royal creature was light as a daisy on his feet, and -except for the faint rattle of Handy's weapons they made little noise -as they ran past the dome-shaped blue houses and barns of the Munchkin -farmers. - -"Couldn't we stop for a few greens?" puffed Nox, looking longingly over -the fence at a field of cabbages. - -"Not here, dear--ear!" Red faced and breathless, the Goat Girl ran on. -"Wait till we cross this river--iver." - -"But I'm not used to this--sort--of--thing," complained Nox peevishly. -"Running races before breakfast on an empty stomach. No bath--no -brush--no rub down!" - -"Well, here's your brush," gasped Handy, picking her way through a -dense thicket as the highway ended in a small wood, "and yonder's your -bath, Mister. My--y, what a blue river!" - -"Everything's blue in the Munchkin Country of Oz," Nox told her -sulkily, as sharp briers and thorns reached out to scratch his satiny -hide. - -"Even the Royal Ox of Keretaria," hinted Handy with a sly wink. "Oh the -river's blue and the houses are blue and even the wind blew--Hoo Hoo! -Come on." - -"Don't try to be funny," with heaving sides, the Ox stopped on the edge -of the gleaming blue stream. "Don't try to be funny, I beg." - -"Oh, I don't have to try, I am!" laughed Handy, flinging the axe, the -rake, the spade, the sword, the gun and the broomstick across the river. - -"Wait!" snorted the Ox, as Handy, having got rid of her load, raised -all of her hands above her head and prepared to dive in. "Wait, can you -swim?" - -"I don't know, but I'll soon find out," cried Handy, and before Nox -could prevent it, the Goat Girl leapt off the bank and disappeared -beneath the blue waters of the Munchkin River. For once, Nox forgot his -dignity and Royal station and plunged frantically after his reckless -companion. Swimming around with his head under water, he finally -located Handy Mandy and gripping her yellow plaits firmly in his teeth, -dragged her to the opposite bank. The Goat Girl was so full of water, -she had little to say and lay soggily on the grass while Nox looked -down at her with mingled admiration and concern. - -"Never do such a thing again," he wheezed severely as Handy finally sat -up and began wringing the water from her voluminous skirts. "Swimming -is an art and must be learned and practiced. But for oat's sake, why -didn't you flap all those arms when you hit the water?" he finished -irritably. - -"Oh, is that what you're supposed to do? This way?" Before Nox could -step a step, the Goat Girl had jumped into the river again. This time -instead of going down she splashed and whirled her seven arms so fast -and furiously she just managed to keep her head above water. But Nox, -now thoroughly annoyed and without giving her a chance to get far from -shore, waded in and determinedly dragged her back to dry land. - -"What in skyblue onions are you trying to do?" he sputtered angrily, -"Drown yourself?" - -"No, I'm trying to swim," coughed the Goat Girl, struggling to get -away from the angry Ox. "Do you suppose I'm going to let this Munchkin -River get the best of me?" - -"Yes, and while you are swimming or rather practicing your swimming -some of these Keretarians will come and capture us," gurgled Nox. "Are -we escaping or are we swimming--quick now, make up your mind." - -Nox's earnest words brought Handy quickly to her senses and as the -Royal Ox let go her skirts, she snatched up her weapons and without -waiting to wring out her clothes started briskly across the meadows. - -"Never mind, you'll be a fine swimmer some day," said Nox, trotting -more amiably beside her. The cool river water had refreshed the Royal -creature and Handy Mandy's determination and courage made him a little -ashamed of his own complaints. "Takes a little practice, that's all." - -"Practice!" repeated Handy, dripping water from every plait and pore. -"Well just wait till we come to the next river, I'll show you! But -LOOK, here are more blue houses, so we must still be in the Munchkin -Country." - -"Yes, but we're out of Keretaria," Nox reminded her cheerfully. "What's -that signpost say, my girl?" - -Hurrying forward, Handy squinted up at the rough board nailed to a blue -spruce and then began to clench and unclench her one free fist. - - "TURN HERE!" - -directed the sign. "Turn here and go straight back where you came from." - -"Well, I'll be buttered!" cried the Goat Girl, throwing down every one -of her weapons. "I'll be churned and buttered." - -"But what had we butter do?" muttered the Royal Ox, so taken aback by -the saucy message that even his tongue was twisted. - -"Why, we'll go straight on, of course," declared Handy Mandy, tossing -her yellow plaits defiantly. "Who are whoever they are to tell us our -business?" And recovering her weapons one by one, the Goat Girl tramped -down the crooked lane directly ahead of them, the Royal Ox with lifted -nose and horns, stepping warily behind her. - - - - -CHAPTER 6 - -Turn Town! - - -Determined as she was, Handy found it impossible to go straight on, -for the lane curved and twisted this way and that, ending finally in a -perfect corkscrew turn. The trees on both sides were now so dense Handy -and the Royal Ox could not have left the road even had they wished to -do so. - -"We're going round and round and getting nowhere," said Nox in an -abused voice. "Of all the roads in Oz why did we have to pick this -one?" - -"Because it dared us, I suppose. Hi--Yi!" exclaimed Handy, leaning -against a tree to rest. "I'm dizzy as a bat and hungry as a goat." - -"Too bad you're not a goat," murmured Nox, who had stopped to nibble -the lower branches of a maple. "These leaves are quite tender." - -"Well, I may come to them," sighed Handy, looking at him enviously. -"But shall we go on? I think one more turn will bring us out of here." - -Handy was right for one more round brought them to the end of corkscrew -lane, but only to find themselves facing a high, forbidding wall. There -was a gate and turnstile in the wall, and beyond the Goat Girl caught -a glimpse of a confused whirling village where everything seemed to -be turning round or over. "It's just because I'm so dizzy," thought -Handy, clutching her head with her one free hand. But Nox, peering over -her shoulder gave a loud and indignant bellow as a house on the corner -of the street nearest them turned completely over and began spinning -merrily on its chimney, while the fence running round the bakery shop -next door started really to run around, kicking up its posts with great -glee and abandon. - -"Hu--what kind of silly place is this?" rumbled the Ox backing hastily -away. But Handy Mandy had seen a whole row of little pies in the -bakeshop window and motioning vigorously for Nox to follow, stepped -over the stile and through the movable gate. It was too much of a -squeeze for Nox, but determined not to be left behind, he jumped neatly -over. A revolving sign on one of the large public buildings caught -their attention at once, but as the building was going one way and the -sign another, it was several minutes before they could discover what it -said. - -"TURN TOWN!" read the Goat Girl in some surprise. "So that's where -we are! And would you loo--ook, every house on every street is going -round or over. Mercy--ercy on us and where do you suppose the people -are?" - -"Turning over and over in their beds I take it, it is still quite -early, you know," whispered the Royal Ox, speaking cautiously out of -the corner of his mouth. "But come on, the streets are not turning, and -perhaps if we hurry we can go through before they waken and turn on us. -Hurry--hurry--what are you waiting for?" - -"Food," sighed Handy wistfully. "I thought I might catch us a few pies, -Old Toggins. Here, watch my stuff and I'll bring us each some." - -Nox looked sharply up and down the street as the Goat Girl set down -her axe, rake, spade, gun, broom and sword, and started off toward the -bakery. - -Not only the fence but the shop itself was turning now. Handy quite -cleverly waited till the gate came opposite her and dashed through, but -the open door of the shop kept going by so rapidly she was knocked down -several times before she finally darted inside. As she disappeared Nox -gave an uneasy snort, but cheered up as the shop window came past and -he saw Handy with a pie in every hand, smile at him reassuringly. But -alas, the whirling floor of the shop was too much for the Goat Girl -and as she started out there was a clatter of broken china and falling -furniture. - -"Great Gazoo, what's she done now?" moaned Nox as Handy leaped through -the door and fell sprawling in the little garden. She still had six of -the pies clutched in her various hands, but as she jumped up and raced -through the garden gate, windows all up and down the street were flung -open. From the right side up ones and the down side down ones kinky -black heads came popping out by the hundred. - -"Turn out! Turn out! Topsies turn out!" yelled the excited citizens, -their voices going higher and higher. "Thieves, robbers, tramps and -Stand-Stillians!" - -"Here," gasped the Goat Girl reaching Nox in one bound. "Eat these -quick and destroy the evidence." Stuffing one of the tarts into her own -mouth, Handy made a wry face. "Ugh, TURNIPS!" choked the Goat Girl, -dropping the other five in huge disgust. "Whoever heard of turnip -turnovers?" - -"I'll eat them," offered Nox, lapping up the little pies in his stride, -"but run--hurry, here come the natives!" But before Handy could snatch -up her weapons, the Topsies, hurling out of windows and doors, came -whirling down upon them. - -Startled though she was, the Goat Girl could not disguise her interest -and curiosity. With one arm round Nox's neck and the other six -stretched stiffly before her to keep back the screeching crowd, she -stared with round and fascinated eyes. And, no wonder! The Topsies were -about as tall as children, but where their feet should have been, they -had sharp horny pegs. Another peg of the same description sprung from -each kinky head. With their plump hands the small black and blue men -and women spun themselves along by cords attached to their round little -middles and they kept reversing themselves, spinning first on one end -and then another in a manner very upsetting and confusing to their -visitors. The hum made by the Topsies' spinning and their loud raucous -cries filled the early morning air, and as Handy tried to push her way -through the crowd, several butted her with their sharp pegs. - -"Ouch! Stop that!" bellowed Nox, who had been butted too. "Keep still, -m'lass, and sooner or later these little pests will run down." - -"Turn them out! Turn them in! Turn them round! Turn them over!" -shrieked the Topsies hysterically. In the midst of the dreadful -confusion, a Topsy taller than all the rest came zooming down the -middle of the street. - -"Look! STAND-STILLIANS!" shouted a round little spinster waving both -arms. "Travelers with legs instead of pegs. Robbers! Thieves! And -tramps, your Topjesty." - -"Yes, and they have broken into my shop and stolen all my turnip -turnovers," screamed the Topsy Baker, spinning round in indignant -circles. "Aha, you wait, here comes Tip-Topper. Now you'll catch it -you, you Turnover snatchers, you!" - -"Now you'll catch it!" shrilled all the rest of the Topsies, spinning -faster and faster till Handy and Nox were dizzy just from looking at -them. - -Except for his size and a flag fluttering from the peg on his head, -Tip-Topper looked just like his subjects. - -"Spin! Spin!" he whistled angrily. "What do you mean standing still in -the middle of Turn Town? Don't you realize you are breaking every one -of our rotary laws? Why are you here--did you come to do us a good turn -or a bad?" - -"Turn 'em down! Turn 'em out! Turn 'em over! Turn 'em round!" insisted -the townsmen shrilly. - -Between the revolving houses and the spinning Topsies, Handy Mandy -scarcely knew which foot she was standing on. As for Nox, he gave a -great groan and closing his eyes, left everything to his companion. -Handy put two hands over her ears and raising all the others, addressed -Tip-Topper in a firm and reasonable manner. - -"Tell your people to stand back," directed the Goat Girl calmly. "All -we wish is to pass quietly through your city and never return. NEVER!" -she repeated emphatically. It was hard to speak to a person who kept -going round and round, but at every third turn Handy managed to catch -Tip-Topper's eye and at last he seemed to catch her idea. - -"Very well, then, GO!" he commanded haughtily. "And at once!" But -when Handy, without stopping to pick up her weapons, started forward, -perfect shrieks of anger rose on all sides. - -"Not that way! Not that way. Turn! Turn! Turn!" yelled the Topsies. -And getting back of Handy and the Royal Ox, they tried to push them -round by main force. - -"Stop! Stop! It's no use," panted Tip-Topper, as Nox letting out a -frightful bellow, laid seven Topsies by the pegs with his left hind -foot, and Handy with a sweep of her arms swept down ten more. "They're -all made wrong. Fetch the Turn Coat, drive them to the turning point -and we'll turn them to Topsies in two shakes of a tent pole." - -"M--mmmmm! M--mmmmm! Did you hear what I heard?" Nox peered desperately -around at Handy, who was now spinning dizzily herself, as she was -flung and pushed from one group to another. "Could they really turn us -to Topsies?" - -"I don't know! I don't know! Oh my head, my HEAD!" moaned the Goat -Girl, clutching it with all hands. "It's going round and round--" - -"Fine! Fine! That's the way!" cheered the Topsies heartily. "You'll be -spinning circles before you know it and have beautiful wool like the -rest of us." - -"Wool!" gasped Handy, who was extremely proud of her shining yellow -braids. "Oh, I wool not, that's just too much! Stand back you little -buzzards and I'll show you a turn or two myself." - -"Go ahead," said Turn Uppins, who seemed next in importance to -Tip-Topper himself. "It's your turn anyway. Stand back Topsies, and let -this waddling whangus show us what she can do." - -At a signal from their leader the Turn Towners fell back a pace and -spinning in a loud agitated circle, impatiently waited for the Goat -Girl to take her turn. First Handy shook her head to dispel the -dizziness, then with a loud screech, she flung her arms and heels into -the air in such a succession of hand springs that even the Topsies were -impressed. The seventh brought her back to the Royal Ox and in the -center of a now cheering and admiring circle, she turned fifty more so -fast that she looked like an animated cartwheel with arms and leg's for -spokes. A loud buzz of applause went up as Handy finally fell over from -sheer exhaustion, but then they began pointing accusing fingers at Nox. - -"Look! Look at the stupid Gumflumox, why he hasn't turned a single -hair." - -"How about turning on them," raged Nox, "and tossing a few dozen on my -horns? Hop on my back, m'lass, and we'll make a run for it." - -"No! No! There are too many, we'll be perfectly punctured," worried -Handy, as seven Topsies prodded the Royal Ox sharply in the flank. "We -might run right into that turning point, too. Wait! Wait! I'll think -of something. We don't want to spin on here forever, whatever happens! -Whew--hewey, what a dust the little pests kick up. I'd give my best -hand for a drink, I'm choking with thirst. Oh! Oh! I wish I were in a -river right this minute." Steadying herself by holding to Nox's right -horn, Handy faced the angry multitude. - -"Turn! Turn! Take your turn!" shouted the Topsies incessantly. "Can't -you even turn your head old four-leg!" - -"Of course he can," shouted Handy Mandy, clapping six of her hands -for silence. "Not only his head, but his horns. Watch this, my -friends!" The Goat Girl gave the horn she was leaning on a sharp twist. - -"Not that one. Not that one!" fumed the Ox anxiously. "Quick, the -other--it's the other one, I tell you! Oh, my hide, hair, and Heavens! -Ulp! Gurgle Ooooop!" - -And "Oooop gurgle ULP!" it was with everyone, for at Handy Mandy's -second turn, Nox's horn came completely off and as the goat girl held -it up for the Topsies to see, out spurted a perfect torrent of water -that flooded the whole city till every Turner and Topsy-turvy house in -it was awash or afloat. In wild and astonished voices the kinky headed -little citizens called out to each other as they bobbed up and down -like corks on the raging tide. And just as wet and surprised as the -Topsies, the Goat Girl and Nox were swept along by the impetuous flood. - - - - -CHAPTER 7 - -A Horn of Plenty - - -After the first awful ducking, Handy, without losing a second began -to practice her swimming. Striking out with strength and purpose and -her seven good arms she managed to keep abreast of Nox, who was moving -easily along in the center of the torrent. Bothersome as the Topsies -had been, the Goat Girl could not help feeling sorry for the little -Turn Towners. At first, she feared they would all go down. But they -just spun round like water bugs on the surface and, while they made -no progress, seemed in little danger of drowning. In fact they could -no more sink than corks or kindling. So, busy with her own struggles, -Handy dismissed them from her mind and tried to figure out the reason -for the sudden and overwhelming rush of water that had deluged the city. - -At any rate it was fine to be rid of the Topsies, she reflected -philosophically, and when the flood did recede, Turn Town would be good -as new and twice as clean. The current was racing along so swiftly -now, the last Topsy had long since disappeared, leaving only herself -and Nox in the broad tumbling expanse of water. Nox had not uttered -a word since his first outcry when the flood had overtaken them, but -he looked so glum and disagreeable that Handy, thrashing along beside -him, wondered what would be the best way to start a conversation. As it -happened, the Royal beast saved her the trouble by starting one himself. - -"Well," he snorted bitterly. "I see you still have it." - -"WHAT?" gulped the Goat Girl, forgetting to use her arms for a moment -and in consequence, shipping about a bucket of water. "Ulp--gulp--have -what?" - -"My horn. HORN!" gurgled Nox, glaring at her angrily over a wave. "And -if in the future you will keep your hands, all of them, off my horns, -it will be the better for us." This seemed to Handy a very unjust and -unreasonable attitude for Nox to take, but she was too occupied keeping -afloat to stop and argue the matter. - -"Swim closer and I'll screw it back," she offered, obligingly holding -up the wooden hand in which she still clutched the right half of the -royal headgear. But at this, poor Nox was deluged by a robust stream -that still poured from the golden horn. Hastily plunging it under the -surface again, Handy watched her fellow adventurer emerge sputtering -and furious from the depths. - -"Well of all the stupid tricks!" gasped the Ox, swimming rapidly away -from her. "Stop--keep off--don't you dare come near me." - -"But see here," panted Handy, going after him in real exasperation. -"After all it is your horn, and am I to blame if there is a river -inside? What do you want me to do, throw it away?" - -"No! No!" bellowed the Ox, stopping short and looking frantically -over his shoulder. "If you throw it away I'll look like a fool, if -you keep holding it we'll spend the rest of our lives swimming round -in this torrent--if you screw it back on my head--it will probably -give me water on the brain. Oh--blub glub! what shall we do? THINK of -something, can't you, before we both drown in your stupid old river?" - -"My river!" Handy Mandy was so indignant that for a moment she was -perfectly speechless. - -"Yes, your river!" roared Nox, treading water angrily. "Didn't you wish -for a river just before you jerked off my horn. Well, this is it and I -hope you like it." - -"Why Nox, how clever of you to guess," bubbled the Goat Girl, a great -light breaking over her wet head. "I remember now, I was thirsty and -wished for a drink, then a whole river, and lo! a river was here." - -"You mean HIGH it was here," raged Nox, beginning to swim again. - -"But look," cried Handy, beating and slapping the water exultantly -with her many hands. "If that is so, all we have to do is to wish it -away again. I'm still holding the horn and there's magic in it, old -Toddywax--MAGIC! I here and now wish this river AWAY." - -Handy yelled her wish in a booming voice that almost split the Ox's -ear-drums and both were so sure the wish would be granted they stopped -swimming, so both had a fine ducking as the river continued to rush -merrily and unconcernedly over their heads. - -"Bosh! It wasn't magic after all. My--y, if I ever get out of here, -I'll never go swimming again as long as I live," sobbed Handy, pushing -her arms and legs wearily through the water. - -"Oh, I think I'll just sink and be done with it," moaned the Ox, -churning breathlessly along beside her. - -"You think you'll sink!" exclaimed Handy, popping her head up -indignantly. "Don't you dare sink and leave me here all alone. Besides, -we set out to find that little King and we're going to find him! -Where's your sporting blood?" - -"Watered!" gurgled the Royal Ox in a faint voice. "Goodbye, m'lass, -you probably did it all for the best!" It seemed to the Goat Girl that -Nox was really sinking so, flinging out her leather hand, she grasped -him firmly by his left horn. Then, acting quickly, and before he could -object, Handy pushed his head under water and quickly screwed his right -horn in place. - -"I wish this dumb river would go straight back where it came from," -quavered Handy as Nox bellowing and bubbling backed indignantly away. -And THIS time the river went. So suddenly and completely the Goat Girl -and the Ox were dropped forty feet to the bottom of a rocky gorge -through which the torrent had been tumbling. For a long moment they lay -where they had fallen, then stiffly they arose and peered anxiously -around them. Handy, thanks to her voluminous petticoats, was saved from -serious injury and Nox, who had landed in a patch of brush was not -dangerously hurt, either. But they both were so shocked, shaken and -worn out from their long swim they were perfectly content to stay where -they were. - -"You see," sighed Handy, wringing out her skirts with four hands and -smoothing back her hair with the other three. "The magic is in the horn -and only works when you are wearing it. As soon as I screwed it back -and made the wish everything was all right." - -"Oh, was it?" Scowling round at his scratched flanks and skinned shins, -the Royal Ox shook his head dubiously. - -"And just think," continued the Goat Girl brightly. "If your horn -really is a wishing horn, as soon as we decide where we want to go, all -we have to do is wish ourselves there." - -"No! No! Absolutely no more of that," squealed Nox, lashing his tail -and flashing his eyes dangerously. "Your last wish nearly killed me, -and if any more wishing is to be done, I'll attend to it myself." - -"But how can you unscrew, or even touch your own horn all by yourself?" -inquired Handy reasonably. "You see, you need my hands, and I need -your horns." Throwing back her head, Handy burst into a loud chuckle, -thinking how comical she would look if she actually wore Nox's golden -headgear. - -"Oh, why not go on the way we started?" said the Ox querulously. "I'd -rather travel on my feet than my horns any day, and had you noticed, -Handy, that these rocks are purple? Your river has carried us clear -into the Gillikin Country where there are mountains galore and even a -silver one for all we know." - -"Yes, but is there anything to eat?" asked the Goat Girl in a hollow -voice. "If those rude little Topsies had just given us some breakfast." - -"I expect all they eat is spinach or turnips," sniffed Nox, "and you -would not have cared for either. Well, at any rate we're even. You -certainly turned the tide on them, m'lass." Nox, who was beginning -to feel more cheerful, began to shake all over. "I'll wager my tail -they'll be more polite to travellers in the future." - -"Well, as it all turned out so well, let's make another wish," proposed -Handy Mandy practically. "Let's wish ourselves out of here. No use -scrambling over all these rocks, when all we have to do is to wish -ourselves to the spot where your little King happens to be." - -"M-m-mm, M-m-m!" mused Nox, half closing his eyes. "Nothing is as easy -as that, and I cannot help feeling--" - -"Neither can I," said Handy, and stepping briskly up to the royal -Ox, she gave his right horn a determined twist, at the same time -saying softly: "I wish myself and Nox with Kerry, the rightful ruler -of Keretaria." Nox twitched his ears nervously as his horn came off -in the Goat Girl's best white hand and Handy herself, with all her -arms outspread as if she were a bird about to take flight, waited -in rapturous expectation for her wish to take effect. But this time -nothing at all happened. Neither she nor the Ox moved an inch. - -"There you are, I told you it wouldn't work," grumbled Nox, looking at -her crossly. "It's probably not magic at all." - -"Oh yes it is," insisted Handy, screwing up her eye and peering down -into the hollow interior. "It gave us a river when we asked for it and -you can't get away from that." - -"We certainly had a hard enough time getting away from it," agreed her -companion. "Come now, be a good girl, screw back that horn and let's be -starting on." - -"But I just cannot understand why it grants some wishes and not -others," muttered Handy discontentedly. "When I was thirsty and wished -for a river, I got a river--A-HA! I have it. This horn gives you -things but does not take you places. Now let's see, what do we need the -most?" - -"Breakfast," suggested the Ox in an interested voice. "Oats and apples -for me, eggs, rolls and coffee for you. But for GOAT'S sake be careful -how you wish, m'lass. We don't want too much even of a good thing, and -one can drown in coffee or smother in oats. Remember the river and be -exact as to size and quantity." - -"My--y, this wishing is dreadfully complicated." Rubbing her forehead -with one hand after the other, Handy Mandy prepared to order breakfast. -First she screwed the right horn back on the head of the Ox, then -pursing her lips firmly, she spoke: "I wish for Nox, two measures of -oats and apples, for myself, two plates of eggs and rolls and one cup -of coffee." Turning the horn round till it came off once more, the Goat -Girl almost held her breath as the two breakfasts were set promptly and -noiselessly down on the rock at her feet. - -"Now you're getting the idea!" Happily Nox advanced upon his breakfast. - -"Say, isn't this simply manubious?" cried Handy, snapping her -thirty-five fingers for sheer joy. "Why, Nox, your horn is a real horn -of plenty!" - -"And plenty of trouble if you don't watch your wishes," mumbled her -partner, already up to his ears in oats. - -"Oh, I'll be careful, never fear," promised Handy, screwing the horn -back on its base and falling upon her breakfast with a right good will -and appetite. "Won't the eyes of the villagers at home stick out when I -tell them about this?" - -"Yes, provided you ever GET home," observed the Ox, who seemed always -to take a dark view of the future. But Handy Mandy, popping the last -of the biscuits into her mouth, scarcely heard him. Now that they need -no longer worry about provisions for the journey, she felt that they -would safely reach the Silver Mountain wherever it might be, rescue the -little King from his enemies and restore him to his throne. Then after -seeing all she wished of the marvelous country of Oz, she would return -to Mt. Mern and startle the country folk with the amazing story of her -travels. - -"Come along," she called gaily. "Let's climb out of here." With some -astonishment they watched the empty containers and dishes vanish -away, and then saying very little but thinking a great deal, the two -adventurers began to scramble up the rocky sides of the gorge. - - - - -CHAPTER 8 - -Handy Mandy Learns about Oz! - - -Handy, who had climbed up and down mountains all her life, reached the -top of the gorge first and with her various hands tugged Nox up the -last steep incline. - -"So--this is the Gillikin Country!" panted the Goat Girl, staring away -over the heather covered Highlands. "Now about the natives, do they -spin, bounce or tumble?" - -"That, I really couldn't say," gasped Nox, leaning against a tree to -regain his wind, "but as you can see, my girl, all the hills, trees and -vegetation shade from violet to purple. Lovely color, purple!" - -"I suppose purple would appeal to a Royal Ox like you." Resting her -hands on her hips, Handy Mandy squinted critically about her. "Now as -for me, I prefer the more cheerful colors, red, yellow or green, for -instance." - -"Then you'd like the Quadling and Winkie Countries," murmured Nox, -nibbling languidly at the tops of the heather, "or the Emerald City. We -have all color countries in Oz and a body can take his choice." - -"Oh, we'll just take them as they come," decided the Goat Girl -sensibly, "or at least, till we find your young Master and this Silver -Mountain. But tell me, Nox, is each country in Oz a different color and -is there really an Emerald City?" Moving slowly through the heather the -Royal Ox nodded his lordly head. - -"Take that stick," he directed, coming to a ponderous stop, "and I'll -show you how Oz looks. See, on that level bit of sand there, just draw -an oblong." Quite interested, Handy marked out an oblong with the point -of the stick. "Connect the corners," breathed the Ox, lifting his -forefoot complacently, "and what have you?" - -"Four triangles," answered the Goat Girl promptly. - -"Put a circle in the center where all the triangles meet." Nox fairly -radiated pride and importance as his geozophy lesson progressed. - -"Then what?" demanded Handy, the stick upraised in her rubber hand. - -"That's all!" Tossing back his horns, the Ox surveyed his pupil -triumphantly. "Simple, isn't it? That triangle on the west is the blue -Munchkin Country we have just left, the triangle to the north is the -purple Gillikin Country we are just entering. Over there on the east, -we have the Yellow empire of the Winkies and to the south the red -lands of the Quadlings. In the circle is the Emerald City of Oz, and -surrounding the whole Kingdom is a deadly desert of burning sand." - -"My--y!" marveled the Goat Girl, clasping all her hands but one behind -her back, "the desert I crossed when I fell in Keretaria?" - -"Of course," answered Nox, snapping lazily at a purple dragon fly. -"Mt. Mern must lie to the west of Oz, on the other side of the deadly -desert. There are many countries beyond the desert, but I know very -little about them as there are only Oz maps in the castle at home." - -"Then I suppose the King of Keretaria is King of the Munchkins?" said -Handy, looking thoughtfully down at her map. - -"Oh, my, no!" The Royal Ox positively chuckled at such an idea. -"Keretaria is just one of the small countries of the West. Cheeriobed -is King of the Munchkins and he lives in the Sapphire City seventy -leagues below our southernmost borderline. Glinda, the Good Sorceress, -rules all the small Kingdoms in the Quadling Country, the Tin Woodman -of Oz is Emperor of the Winkies and Jo King governs the Gillikins. -Besides these, there are Kings, Queens and Princes galore, but most -important of all is Ozma, the young Fairy who lives in the Emerald -City, for Ozma is supreme sovereign of the entire Kingdom of Oz." - -"Dear--ear what a lot to remember," groaned the Goat Girl. "And all -these other Kings and Queens have to do what Ozma says? However does -she keep track of them all? I'll bet they're worse than a flock of -goats." - -"Oh, she manages," said the Ox, beginning to move slowly forward. -"Being a fairy and having a wizard right in her own castle, Ozma knows -what is going on without even turning her head." - -"Even where we are going?" exclaimed Handy Mandy indignantly. -"Hi--yi--what a little busy-body. I just know I won't like her." - -"Well, in that case she will just have to give up her throne and throw -her crown out of the window, I suppose! Better have a care, m'lass, -you're speaking of a powerful fairy, you know." Nox looked so stern -as he went plowing through the heather, Handy began to feel a little -uneasy herself. - -"But how could a fairy in the center of Oz see way off here?" she -demanded scornfully. - -"Magic, that's how!" explained Nox, looking very calm and superior. -"In her castle Ozma has a magic picture that shows her everything she -wishes to see." - -"I don't believe it," scoffed the Goat Girl, swinging all her arms -recklessly, "and besides, why would she wish to see us and this -particular piece of country at this particular minute?" - -"I'm sure I don't know," said the Royal Ox haughtily. "But I do say, be -careful. There, what did I tell you!" Framed in the woodwork of a small -summer-house they were approaching was a large poster. - -"You are now in the Land of Oz," stated the poster, pleasantly enough. -"Be good to us and we'll be good to you. Keep our laws and practice -no magic, either for good or evil. By order of Her Imperial Highness, -Queen Ozma of Oz." Below was the bright green seal of Oz and a picture -of its pretty dark haired ruler. - -"Why she's nothing but a little girl!" cried Handy, positively aghast -at such a state of affairs. "How could a little mite like that rule a -whole country and be so bossy?" - -"Oh, hush!" begged Nox, rolling his eyes anxiously. "Mite or not, Ozma -is a mighty powerful and important fairy." - -"Well, we're pretty important ourselves," sniffed the Goat Girl, -squinting at the poster with all her arms akimbo. "And besides," Handy -lifted her chin defiantly, "we've broken the law already when we used -your gold horn of plenty. 'Practice no magic.' Hoh! What does she -expect us to do with good magic right at hand--starve? But, ho ho! We -can get around that, old Toggins. After all, we are not practicing -magic, we don't have to practice it--our magic is perfect, so put that -in your pipe and smoke it Miss Ozma to Bozma." Snatching up a rock in -each of her seven hands, Handy flung them hilariously over a clump of -prune trees. (Yes, prunes already wrinkled grow in the Land of Oz.) -There was an uncomfortable little silence after Handy's rash outburst, -then a perfect tempest of shrieks and screeches. - -"Now, see what you've done," gulped the Ox, switching his tail -nervously. "Quick, quick, jump on my back and we'll rush by. These -chaps look dangerous." - -"Why, they have HOOK noses!" sputtered Handy, too startled to move, as -a band of kilted Highlanders came racing down toward them. The noses -of these singular Hill-men were long and thin, curving out and up far -above their foreheads. On these hooks hung dangerous looking rings -almost as large as barrel hoops. While Handy was wondering what they -could be for, the nearest Hooker pulled a ring from his nose and flung -it with all his might at her head. - -"Up. UP!" bellowed Nox, pawing the ground in his agitation. "Are you -going to stand there till you are pegged like a top?" The iron ring -missed Handy by mere inches and grasping Nox's horn she pulled herself -to his back. There were about sixty of the hook noses, and swinging -to the left, Nox tried to skirt the war-like tribe, but they were too -quick for him, and spreading out in a long line they began hurling -their wicked whizzing weapons. One caught neatly on the horn of the -Royal Ox, another hit Handy a horrid blow on the knee, and as Nox, -snorting and furious turned to run, a dozen more came whanging down -about their ears. Dodging left and right, Handy Mandy leaned forward -and began to unscrew Nox's right horn. - -"'Be good to us and we'll be good to you!' HOH! Like fun you will!" -muttered the Goat Girl, catching six of the flying missiles in her -clever hands and tossing them back with all her might. "Take that and -these and them and THOSE!" Pulling off the Ox's horn with the only -hand she had left, she added desperately, "I wish a barrel of molasses -over the head of each Hook Nose in this band. Cats, Bats and Billy -Goats! They've GOT me!" And they had, too, for just as Handy finished -her wish, down flashed an iron ring pinioning her arms tightly to her -sides. Still grasping the precious horn, Handy dug her heels into Nox. - -"Hurt?" grunted the Ox, leaping forward. - -"Not hurt, just hooked and humiliated, can't move a muscle," raged the -Goat Girl. "But ha ha! Neither can they! LOOK!" Nox, who had been -bellowing too hard to hear Handy's wish or miss his horn glanced back -hurriedly. - -"Why! What's come over them?" he wheezed in astonishment. "Who snuffed -them out with barrels and what's that sticky fluid running all around?" - -"Molasses," Handy told him with extreme satisfaction as she tried -vainly to wriggle out of her ring. "I wished barrels of molasses on -their heads and we'd better dash on while they're stopped and stuck -with it." - -"Then you've been breaking the law again," reproached Nox, dodging in -and out and around their frantic enemies. - -"Well, as between broken heads and broken laws, I choose the -laws. Besides, look what they did to me!" exclaimed the Goat Girl -indignantly. "I may never get this hoop off or be able to lift a hand -again. Nice people you have in Oz, I must say." - -"If you hadn't hit them with stones, they wouldn't have hit us with -hoops," Nox reminded her sternly, at the same time breaking into a -gallop to put as much distance as possible between himself and the -troublesome Gillikins. A few had managed to lift the barrels from their -heads, but most of them were rolling over and over on the ground, half -choked with rage and molasses. - -"When we stop I think I can help you," promised Nox, looking anxiously -at Handy, who was now quite purple in the face from her struggles with -the hoop. "Just forget it, can't you, and think of the interesting -people we are meeting. I'll wager you have no hook noses on Mt. Mern!" - -"I should say NOT!" sputtered the Goat Girl in disgust, and then -realizing she was making no progress with the ring, sensibly gave up -the attempt to free herself. Somewhat comforted by the thought that -the Hook Noses were probably as uncomfortable as she was, Handy kept a -sharp lookout for natives. If they ran into any more she wanted to be -sure of seeing them first. - -But the rocky hills and glades were entirely deserted and at every step -the way became more mountainous and lonely. Nox, panting and wheezing -from the long pull, slackened his pace to a walk. Handy Mandy with some -difficulty managed to dismount, and the Ox slipping his horn under the -offending ring, gently forced it upward till the Goat Girl was able -to wiggle free. Then together they climbed up the flinty inclines--up -and up till they came to a wide ledge and a sparkling waterfall. Here -they had a drink without having to wish for one, Nox sticking his head -right into the water and Handy cupping three pairs of her hands to hold -enough to satisfy her thirst. - -"Ho hum," sighed the Ox, "I wonder how much farther we'll have to go -before we can find anyone who can direct us to this Silver Mountain? -I'm sure I saw some castles when we were below." - -"So did I," said Handy, screwing his right horn back with a -businesslike flourish. "My--y, seems a long time since we started from -Keretaria. Do you suppose they have missed us yet?" - -"Probably," yawned the Ox, scratching his back against a rock, while -Handy, suddenly deciding she needed another drink, stepped close to the -waterfall. But instead of quenching her thirst, the Goat Girl spilled -water all over her feet. - -"Nox! Nox!" she screamed, jerking all her thumbs in his direction. -"Come! Look here! There's a big hollow behind this waterfall--a high -wall of rock with a door in it! I can see it!" - -"Well," sniffed the Ox, rubbing his back luxuriously, "does it say -'come in'? Must we try every door we come to?" - -"Yes," Handy Mandy told him firmly, "we must! Where there's a door -there's bound to be a door-keeper or at least someone who might tell us -where we are. Now then, I'll jump through the waterfall first and knock -on the door. There wouldn't be room for you on the ledge until the door -is open." - -"Sounds risky!" objected the Royal Ox, putting back his ears. "What -kind of people would live behind a waterfall? Ask yourself that." But -the Goat Girl, without stopping to ask herself anything, had already -plunged through the misty sheet of water, and gasping and spluttering -was hammering on the door with all seven of her fists. - - - - -CHAPTER 9 - -The Magic Hammer - - -There was no answer to Handy's loud knocks, and pausing to catch her -breath and blow on her fingers, the Goat Girl wondered what to try -next. Then, in spite of Nox's warning bellow, she began to shove and -push the wet planks with her shoulder. But that did no good either, -so she felt in her pocket for something to use as a wedge. Almost at -once her fingers closed on the silver hammer they had ploughed up in -Keretaria. While the hammer would not do for a wedge, it would at -least save her knuckles, so, lifting it high above her head, Handy -Mandy brought it down with a resounding whack. A shower of silver -sparks followed the hammer blow, and Nox, peering through the waterfall -saw a gnarled and crooked elf with a purple beard dancing madly round -the startled girl. - - "_I am the elf of the hammer, who - Must do whatever you ask me to_," - -sang the elf between his high leaps and prances. - -"Then open this door," directed Handy, spinning round in a circle -herself to get a good look at the little fellow. "My--y, how funny Oz -is! Magic horns, Topsies, Hook Noses and now _you_! Don't tell me a -little body like you can really open this great heavy door?" - - "_Pick up the hammer and doubt no more-- - Himself, the elf, will now open the door._" - -In a daze Handy Mandy picked up the hammer and put it back in her -pocket, and Nox, thunderstruck by the whole proceeding thrust his head -through the waterfall just in time to see the knobby little gnome push -the door open with one thump of his brown fist. Quick as a flash Handy -was on the other side. - -"Come on! Come on!" she called hoarsely to Nox. "Can't you see it's -closing? Oh mercy--ercy, do you want to leave me here all alone?" - -"Yes!" snorted Nox in an exasperated voice, but jumping as he snorted. -"I'd like nothing better." As he came to 'better,' he landed on the -other side of the waterfall and skidded through the open door into the -mountain. He had just time to tuck in his tail, when the door with an -ominous creak slammed shut. - -"_Now_, see what you've done!" gasped Nox, eyeing the gloomy interior -with distaste and foreboding. "I--thought--you--were going to be a help -to me and all--puff--splutter--you do is get me into trouble! What sort -of place is this anyway?" - -"A c-c-ave," quavered Handy, wrapping all her arms tightly round -herself. "My--y, it's so high--igh, I can hardly see the top. Where's -that elf?" - -"Gone!" sighed the Ox, taking a cautious step forward. "But I expect -he'll come back at the first tap of that hammer. All very puzzling if -you ask me." - -"Well, shall I call him back?" asked Handy uneasily. "It's kinda lonely -in here and maybe Himself could tell us where we are." - -"Better wait till we need him," advised the Ox. "After all, we know we -are in a cave, seems to be of silver rock, too. Just cast your eye at -those stalactites, m'lass." - -"So that's what you call 'em," the Goat Girl glanced curiously up at -the silver icicles hanging in jagged points from the ceiling. "We have -caves on Mt. Mern, but nothing like this." She looked apprehensively -round the silent cavern, from which a perfect honeycomb of passageways -branched off in all directions. "A fine place to get lost, I'd call -it," she shivered, moving as close as she could to her companion. "What -makes this lavender light? I see no lamps." - -"Jewels!" confided the Ox in a hushed voice. "See, there are hundreds -of amethysts embedded in those rocks, each glowing like--" - -"An eye!" finished Handy nervously. "And all watching us, I dare say. -My--y, do you suppose anyone lives here? But they must--" Unwinding her -arms, Handy suddenly began snapping all thirty-five of her fingers. -"Nox, Nox!" she cried excitedly. "I've just thought of something!" - -"Can't you think without shouting?" asked the Ox, flashing his eyes -suspiciously from left to right. - -"No," said Handy triumphantly, "for this is something to shout about. -Look, old Toggins, if this is a silver cave, why wouldn't a Silver -Mountain be on top? All we have to do is open that door and start -climbing again." - -"As I remember there was a sheer precipice back of the waterfall, how -could we climb that? No, no! The best thing for us to do is to travel -down one of the passageways and hope it will bring us out on the side -of the mountain itself." - -"Yes, but which one?" demanded the Goat Girl. "There are about a -hundred it seems to me." - -"Let's try that first one to the right," proposed the Ox judiciously. -Their voices echoed and reverberated back and forth so uncannily in the -big hollow cavern that almost without realizing it they began to talk -in whispers and tread as softly as thieves in the night. Half-way to -their destination they stopped, rigid with horror and consternation. -Thumping footsteps were coming toward them from the labyrinth on the -left. - -"Someone does live here, after all," said the Goat Girl. "Someone who -weighs a ton. Hark to that!" - -"Watch yourself!" warned Nox, planting all four feet and making ready -to charge if the cave dweller proved unfriendly. - -"Oh, my aunt--a GIANT!" With a shrill scream Handy flung all her arms -round Nox's neck and buried her face in his shoulder. Poor Nox, nearly -strangled by the Goat Girl's embrace could neither move nor speak and -could scarcely breathe. With rolling eyes and quaking legs he watched -the monster approach. The Giant's body, almost ten times the size of a -grizzly bear, was encased in a tight purple uniform with bells instead -of buttons that jingled whenever he moved. He wore a huge silver -helmet, and his neck, almost a foot long, kept darting up and down as -he shot his head in this direction and that. - -"Ho! THERE you are!" he roared, suddenly catching sight of the two -travellers trembling together in the center of the cavern. "How -dare you enter the cave of the King of the Silver Mountain without -invitation or permission?" - -"Then this really IS the Silver Mountain!" marveled Handy, twisting her -apron nervously in her wooden fingers. - -"Of course!" yelled the giant, thumping the floor with an enormous -silver club. "And I, Snorpus the Mighty, am Keeper of the Hidden -Door. I am OUTKEEPER for this whole mountain," he boasted truculently -expanding his chest and looking complacently down at the two midgets at -his feet. But something in his manner began to reassure the Goat Girl. - -"I'll bet he's dumb as he's big," she confided hurriedly to Nox. Then -raising her voice and all of her arms, she called up loudly, "Then you -must indeed be strong and sturdy!" - -"Oh, I AM!" bawled the Giant, twirling his silver moustache and fixing -Handy for a moment with his glittering eye. "Snorpus the Door Keeper -is strong as an OX!" There was something very peculiar about the eye -of the Giant. It seemed to revolve on a moving belt, peering out as it -passed through the four wide open lids set at intervals round the top -of his head, so that half the time he was looking the other way. - -"Did you ever see an ox?" inquired Handy politely as the eye of Snorpus -again flashed by. - -"No, but I'd like to," admitted the Giant, shooting his head out to the -side. - -"Well, this is an ox," cried Handy, tapping the anxious beast at her -side with a rubber hand. "And if you are strong as an ox you are strong -as Nox and nothing much can stop you." - -"How strong is he?" asked Snorpus, lowering himself stiffly to one knee -in order to get a look at what he had first supposed to be a small and -insignificant animal. - -"So strong," explained the Goat Girl impressively, as she pointed with -all hands to the side of the cave, "that if he so much as bumped into -that wall yonder, this whole cavern would collapse like a pack of -cards." - -"Then I hope he'll be very careful," faltered Snorpus, taking out a -huge silk handkerchief to mop his forehead. "It would annoy the King -frightfully if you destroyed his cavern, and I might even lose my head -and position here." - -"Oh, he'll be careful," promised Handy Mandy generously. "He, being an -ox, and you being strong as an ox, makes us all friends, doesn't it?" - -"I--I suppose so," muttered Snorpus, tapping his knee uncertainly with -his club. "But just the same, I am still the outkeeper and must do my -duty at all hazards. AT ALL HAZARDS!" he shouted, standing up to give -himself courage and puffing out his cheeks like a porpoise. - -"But you have done your duty," bellowed Nox in a voice even louder than -the door keeper's. "If we were outside the mountain it would be your -plain duty to keep us there, but since we are already inside, you have -nothing more to do with us. Isn't that so?" Lowering his head, Nox made -a little lunge at the Giant's shins. And backing away, Snorpus gave the -pair several long puzzled looks. - -"Well, then," he decided finally, "if I have nothing more to do with -you, you had best come along to the King." - -"That is exactly what we wish to do," answered the Goat Girl promptly. - -"My, you _are_ brave, aren't you?" The Giant's eye flashed for a moment -in real admiration upon Handy Mandy, then, picking up his club, he -began clumping away to the left. - -"Now I wonder what he meant by that?" puffed Nox, for they both had to -run to even keep the Giant in sight. - -"I don't know," gasped Handy, "but never mind what he means. We still -have your golden horn and the silver hammer and will manage somehow. -But imagine getting right inside the Silver Mountain and never knowing -it!" - -"Yes, and we may go out the same way," predicted the Royal Ox gloomily, -following the Giant down the wide glittering corridor. "I never did -like these tunnely places or people." - - - - -CHAPTER 10 - -The King of the Silver Mountain - - -"I hear water," worried Handy as Snorpus suddenly vanished round a bend -in the corridor. "Oh, dear--ear, I do hope we won't have to go swimming -again." - -"Then mind your manners!" warned the Royal Ox, giving his horns a -little shake. "Remember it is safer to keep on the right side of Kings -and Giants, and if we are to learn anything about Kerry we must be -extremely patient and polite." - -A loud gasp interrupted Nox's speech, for Handy Mandy, well in the -lead, had also stepped round the bend. Hastening to catch up with her, -the Ox, too, gave an involuntary exclamation of wonder and astonishment. - -The silver corridor had brought them into a second cavern, smaller than -the entrance cave, but so light and lacy, so bright and beautiful, for -once Handy Mandy stood perfectly speechless. The silver sides of the -dome-shaped grotto had been carved to show all the historical figures -and characters of ancient Oz. Wizards, giants, knights, witches, -huntsmen, robbers, kings, queens and their patient subjects marched in -a splendid procession round the walls. Sparkling lavender sand covered -the floor and a lake of shimmering quicksilver took up the entire -center, lapping the shore with its swift soundless waves. On a small -island of purest amethyst in the middle of this lake the King of the -Silver Mountain reclined at ease. His back was toward the newcomers and -he seemed lost in some deep and entirely satisfactory contemplation. - -"A king, if I ever saw one," breathed Nox moistly in Handy's ear. -With a wordless nod the Goat Girl agreed, for in this long, indolent -yet majestic figure Handy felt she was seeing royalty for the first -time. The unusual height of the silver monarch was at once apparent -and his tight-fitting suit of deepest purple, without ornament save for -his jeweled belt and sword, set off his handsome figure to the best -advantage. His hair, of an astonishing thickness, was as silver as his -cavern. When he turned his head, as he presently did at a little cough -from Snorpus, Handy saw that his eyes were of a clear and piercing -violet. Quietly and without hurry, the Silver King rose and, picking -up his filigreed crown, set it firmly on his head. Then, retrieving a -long-stemmed pipe from a crevice in the rock, he established himself in -a seat carved from the amethyst and looked inquiringly across at his -visitors. - -"So," he whistled, his eyes sparkling with lively interest as they -rested for a long moment on the Goat Girl. "Two very, VERY clever -travellers." - -"Why do you say that?" blurted out Handy, and was instantly overcome at -her own boldness in speaking to so grand a person. - -"The fact that you are here in this cavern proves you are clever," -answered the King, leaning over to fill his pipe in the quicksilver -lake. "You have opened the door in the mountain that does not open; -passed the impassable guardian and keeper of that door--SNORPUS!!" The -King's pleasant voice changed so quick and cruelly, Handy almost lost -her balance. "What have you to say for yourself, you lazy Bozwokel?" -roared His Majesty, his eyes flashing flinty sparks of purple. "I'll -have you potted for this, potted and reduced to a smithering smith, do -you hear?" - -Poor Snorpus, who could not have helped hearing the King's booming -sentence, dropped to his knees and began pleading, explaining and -blubbering all in the same breath. Even Nox, startled as he was, tried -to put in a good word for him. But the muttering monarch, paying no -attention to any of them, had lifted his silver pipe to his lips and an -enormous bubble was rising from the bowl. Handy, with chattering teeth, -watched the bubble grow larger and larger, float off the pipe and hover -over the unlucky head of the Giant. As Snorpus tried in vain to dodge, -the bubble broke with the sound like a doomsday bell, enveloping him -in a cloudy mist. When it cleared away, the Giant was indeed reduced, -coming now scarcely to Handy's shoulder. - -"How about it, shall we run?" whispered the Goat Girl as the King began -to blow another bubble. "Boy, do I feel a draft!" - -"But he's not mad at us!" answered the Ox, ducking nervously as the -second bubble soared over their heads. "Wait! Be patient, remember -the little King." As Nox finished speaking the bubble sailed off -and away down one of the silver corridors leading away from the -royal cavern. Presently they heard a bell ringing in the distance -as the bubble broke, and before you could say Pop Robinson seventy -silver-jacketed little bell boys came trotting into the cave. - -"Take this poor failure to Nifflepok and see that he is potted," -directed the King sternly, setting down his bubble pipe. "Have Timano -guard the mountain door and see that I am not disturbed. Important -matters have come up this morning, important matters!" - -"Yes! Yes! Your Highness! It shall be done, Your Excellency!" mumbled -the bell boys, pushing poor Snorpus ahead of them. - -"Watch yourselves! Watch yourselves!" warned the little Giant as he was -rudely hustled out of the royal presence. - -"Now," smiled the Silver King, positively beaming upon his visitors, -"now we can proceed with our conversation. Sorry to trouble you with -this small matter, but discipline, as the old army officers will tell -you, discipline must be maintained." - -"Humph!" sniffed Handy Mandy under her breath, looking with dislike -and disillusion at the royal figure on the rocks. "The Giant was right, -you're a fellow who'll bear watching." Fortunately her words did not -carry, and lazily glancing at them through his long purple lashes the -Silver King continued his speech. - -"Since you have so easily entered my mountain," he observed blandly, -"I assume you have some powerful magic treasure or appliance in your -possession. Am I right?" At the sudden forward lurch of the Royal Ox -and Handy Mandy's surprised expression, the King gave a satisfied -little nod. "Fine!" he chuckled, rubbing his hands together briskly. -"And now, let us waste no more time. WHO sent you? WHAT have you to -offer? As you doubtless know, the Wizard of Wutz pays well for magic -treasures and formulas." - -"Wizard!" choked Handy Mandy, carelessly clapping her iron hand to her -forehead and knocking herself over backward. "Wizard!" she repeated, -dazedly picking herself up. "But I thought you were a King?" - -"I am both!" stated the owner of the cavern proudly. "I am King of the -Silver Mountain and also the Wizard of Wutz, second in importance only -to Glinda and the Wizard of Oz. And, ha! ha! it won't be long before I -am the ONLY wizard, the sole, supreme and only Wizard of Oz! Not long! -Not long!" Again the Silver King rubbed his hands exultantly together. -"I have my secret agents in every Kingdom in this country and even in -the Emerald City of Oz," he told them impressively. "I already have the -Record Book of Glinda, the Good Sorceress, and many more of the magic -treasures of Oz, and soon I will have them all--ALL! My agents are -clever and I have trained them well." - -"But I thought magic was against the law!" cried Nox with an outraged -snort. "I understood no one was allowed to practice magic but Ozma, -Glinda and the Wizard of Oz!" - -"Then why are you here?" demanded Wutz sternly. "YOU have been -practicing magic or you could not have entered this mountain. Come, -now, let us stop all this nonsense and get down to silver tacks and -business. What have you to offer? Who sent you--Three, Six, Nine, Five -or Eleven?" - -As you can imagine, this was perfect jargon to Nox and the Goat Girl, -but Handy Mandy, convinced by this time that the Silver King was both -sly and dangerous, resolved to fall in with his little supposition and -see what would come of it. - -"Nine sent us," she answered boldly, while Nox looked across at her in -perfect stupefaction. - -"You don't say! I rather thought you came from the Munchkin Country," -mused the Wizard. "Something in the way the Ox talked, though you, -yourself, are not a native Ozian?" - -"No!" Handy said noncommittally, and rather pleased she had chosen -Nine, since this number had something to do with the Munchkins. - -"Did Nine say anything about the silver hammer?" asked the King, -twinkling his eyes at the Goat Girl. - -"He told us nothing," stated Handy quite truthfully, this time. - -"That's Nine for you," fumed the King discontentedly. "He's the slowest -and most unsatisfactory agent I have. Two years searching for that -hammer and no report yet. I've a good notion to kick him out and put -little King Kerry back on the throne. A bargain's a bargain and I've -kept my part. Besides, I've got to have that hammer before I can make -myself supreme ruler in Oz. Why, it's the second most important magic -in the four Kingdoms!" At this surprising statement Handy pricked up -her ears. - -"What did you say about Kerry?" panted Nox, almost stepping into the -quicksilver lake at mention of the little King. - -"Nothing. I was talking about Nine," scowled the Wizard. "If that -fellow does not show some action soon, I'll--I'll--" The King clenched -his fists and looked so terribly angry that Handy was afraid he was -going to blow bubbles again. But instead he glared across the lake and -demanded impatiently, "Well, if you didn't bring the silver hammer, -what did you bring?" - -"A magic flower," explained the Goat Girl hurriedly, and before Nox -could give away the fact that they did have the silver hammer. She -could guess from the expression in his eye that he was about to offer -the hammer in exchange for Kerry. - -"A flower!" bawled Wutz, his face turning from red to purple. "My -caves are full of flowers, frosted silver lilies, long-stemmed sterling -roses, daisies and violets with jeweled centers. I can grow any kind of -flower I wish. How dare you take up my time with a flower! PAH! Go back -and tell Nine he had better look out--he's flirting with dismissal and -destruction." - -"But this flower saves you from injury when you fall," stammered Handy, -heartily wishing she had never got herself into such a controversy. - -"Fall!" sneered the Silver King, simply bounding off his throne. "I -NEVER fall!" and had hardly finished speaking before he caught his toe -on a jutting amethyst and pitched headlong to the rocks. Horrified, and -without waiting for the irate monarch to regain his feet, Handy and -Nox began to run toward one of the outgoing corridors, the Goat Girl -colliding as she ran with a plump little dignitary in a jeweled robe -and high hat. - -"Your Highness! Your Highness!" puffed the little fat man, stopping -long enough to glare at Handy Mandy. "At last our efforts are to be -crowned with success! Five has but this moment arrived with--with--" - -"With what?" demanded the King, springing lightly as a cat to his feet. -"With a jug," exulted the little fat man, tossing his high hat into -the air. "With a jug that was Rug and the magic picture of Queen Ozma -herself." - -"Ah, SPLENDID!" beamed the monarch, who could turn his smiles and -rages on and off like electric lights. "That will be a lesson to those -Emerald City-ites!" Then suddenly remembering Handy and Nox and his -undignified fall, he shouted shrilly: - -"Stop those imposters! Stop them, Nifflepok, and lock them up in the -prison pits till I have time to demolish them. Hah! We'll pot the Ox's -tongue, make soup of his tail, saddles and boots of his hide and use -his head for a hat rack. As for that seven-armed monstrosity, she shall -work in the polishing caves for the rest of her stupid life." - -"I'll polish your nose first!" promised Handy, shaking all her fists at -the King. - -"Better come quiet," warned Nifflepok, looking so worried Handy felt a -little sorry for him. "Wutz'll blow bubbles if you make him too mad, -and that'll be much worse than being locked up, you know." - -"Oh, let's go with the Little High-Hat," groaned Nox, blinking his eyes -at Handy to remind her they still had his horns and the silver hammer. -"For my part, I'd like a little peace and quiet." - -"Take 'em away! Take 'em away!" ordered the King, stamping up and down -his rocky island. "Send in Five! Send in Five at once!" - -"Come along, then," said Nifflepok, being careful to keep out of the -way of Nox's horns. "Come, give me your hand, maiden. Not that one! Not -THAT one!" he howled dismally as the Goat Girl clasped his outstretched -fingers in her iron hand. "Let go! Let go!" - -"Let's go! Let's go!" chuckled Handy Mandy mischievously. And squealing -with pain the little Minister hurried them down a long dim passageway. - - - - -CHAPTER 11 - -Down to the Prisoners' Pit! - - -"Oh! Oh! Give me another hand and I'll do my best to help you," -sputtered Nifflepok, as Handy Mandy ruthlessly continued to squeeze his -fingers. - -"We'll help ourselves, thank you," retorted the Goat Girl tartly. -Then relenting a little, she relaxed her hold, for she could not help -pitying Nifflepok and all the subjects of this cruel King. "Where are -these prison pits?" she asked impatiently, for she was anxious to be -alone with Nox. "If you are going to lock us up, do hurry along with -it." - -"Yes, yes, absolutely yes!" moaned Nifflepok, glancing nervously -over his shoulder to be sure the white Ox was not going to tread on -his heels. "You'll be there in no time, no time at all," he assured -them earnestly. "Step over here, please." Moving a sliding door in -the wall of the corridor, the King's assistant waved them toward a -smooth wheelless silver carriage. It looked to Handy a lot like an -old-fashioned sleigh, and as there were seats in front and a space in -back large enough for the Ox, she let go Nifflepok's hand and quite -willingly climbed aboard. Nox, grunting a little, stepped over the side -and settled himself behind her. - -"Well, goodbye," sniffed Nifflepok, rubbing his bruised fingers -tenderly. "You'll find everything you need below, not that you'll -be needing anything," he added mournfully as he pulled out a silver -switch. "Goodbye, I'm sorry for you!" he shouted as the car with a -lurch that almost loosened Handy's teeth shot down a sliding runway to -the deep pits of darkness below. - -Now, you and I, who are used to scenic railways and have enjoyed the -thrills of chute the chutes for years, would have been less startled -by the wild dizzy leaps, the swoops, curves and climbs, and the -sickening drops of the Silver King's chariot. But neither the Goat Girl -nor the Royal Ox had ever heard of a scenic railway, much less ridden -in one, and the underground car of the Silver Monarch was more like -a chute the chutes than anything else. Sometimes the two travellers -were in complete darkness, at other times they whirled by the narrow, -well-lighted ledges of a queer cave city, where the subjects of the -Mountain King lived in cell-like apertures in the silver rock like the -cliff dwellers of old. Then without warning the car would plunge to -the work caverns below, past the gloomy shafts of the silver mines, or -dart up to the living quarters and grottos of the King himself, caves -so lavishly furnished and glowing with jewels, Handy let out little -shrieks of astonishment. In the King's subterranean gardens, silver -swallows bathed in the silver fountains, silver maples rustled their -lacy branches in the lavender-scented breezes, silver-petalled flowers -with jeweled centers grew as riotously as daisies and buttercups in the -upstairs world. - -The mountaineers themselves, working listless with pick and shovel in -the mines, or walking soberly along the ledges beside their little -cliff dwellings, seemed undersized and unhappy to the Goat Girl. Not -that she caught more than a flying glimpse of them as the silver car -tore by. In fact, she was so frantically busy holding on to the front -rail of the car with all her various hands and catching her breath -after each dizzy swoop, that her mind was in a perfect whirl. The -groans and snorts of Nox were far from reassuring, but afraid to look -back lest she herself be flung out, Handy clung desperately to the rail -wondering when the wild ride would end and where under the mountain -the silver car was taking them. The last words of Nifflepok rang -unpleasantly in her ears and as they raced by a cave marked "Potters -Den" the Goat Girl positively shuddered. Here, set out in vast silver -pots and buried to their chins in the silver earth, were scores of the -King's pale-faced prisoners. A grim-looking gardener was watering them -from a milk can, and from the hungry way they lapped up the few drops -that fell to them, Handy concluded that this was probably their only -food. - -"First I shot over a mountain, and now I'm shooting through one!" -moaned the distracted Goat Girl, trying to collect her spinning -thoughts and faculties. "Oh, my--y, we're going to pot for sure. Oh, -this time we are really done for!" - -Then all at once Handy's good common sense began to assert itself. And -as their strange chariot with a sudden increase of speed and power -again dashed down into the darkness, she snatched the precious blue -flower from her pocket and at the exact moment the silver car turned -over and flung them into space, Handy began pulling the petals from the -flower and letting them drift down ahead of her own rapidly falling -body. It was just light enough for her to see Nox, with bristling -horns and quivering nostrils, fall past, when she herself started to -turn so many and such dizzy somersaults she lost all count of time and -distance. - - - - -CHAPTER 12 - -Prisoners of the Wizard - - -What seemed to be hours later, though in reality it was only a few -moments, the two luckless prisoners found themselves side by side on a -heap of soft blue flower petals. They were in a small circular pit with -one amethyst burning dimly in the grating that covered the top. The -Goat Girl had no recollection of her final landing and gazing up at the -grilled ceiling wondered dully how they had come through without being -cut to pieces. - -"It tilted," wheezed the Royal Ox, answering the unspoken question in -Handy's eyes, "just tilted and slid us down. A fortunate thing you -kept that magic flower, m'lass. Ha--rumph!" Weakly and still trembling -in every limb, Nox tried to rise, but his legs gave way beneath him -and for a good fifteen minutes he and the Goat Girl rested on the -flower petals saying never a word. The tapping of footsteps in the -corridor brought Handy quickly to her feet and as Nox managed to heave -himself upright, the blue petals vanished, leaving only a tiny flower -on the floor. Handy had just time to stuff it into her pocket when -an invisible door in the side of the pit opened and twelve depressed -workmen in silver cloth caps and overalls stepped inside. They -carried brooms, mops and dust pans and stood staring in dismay at the -seven-armed Goat Girl and angry-looking Ox. - -"We--we were sent to brush up!" stuttered the first workman, touching -his cap uneasily. "But--there--seems--" - -"To be nothing to brush!" finished Handy sarcastically. "Sorry to -disappoint you. Now get OUT!" ordered the Goat Girl furiously, and -seizing buckets, brooms and mops from their nerveless fingers, Handy -pummeled them left and right with her seven hands. - -"Get out and don't come back till Christmas," she panted, as the -workmen, tumbling over one another, clawed open the door and banged it -to behind them. The knob was on the other side of the pit and not even -the edges of the door were now visible. - -"What a place!" groaned Handy Mandy, leaning dejectedly against the -side of their prison. "What a King! And he looked so nice!" grieved the -Goat Girl, sliding down to a sitting position and holding her head in -all of her hands. - -"Never mind," said the Ox, settling on the floor beside her. "He hasn't -gotten the best of us yet. It was pretty clever of you to remember that -flower, but what I can't understand, is why you did not tell him at -once that we _did_ have this silver hammer he is so anxious to possess? -Then we could have traded the hammer for the release of Kerry." - -"I don't trust him," answered the Goat Girl somberly. "Why I wouldn't -trust that Wizard as far as a goat can butt. Didn't you hear him say -the hammer was the second most important magic in Oz? Didn't you hear -him say he was stealing and planning to steal the best magic from all -the four Kingdoms to make himself supreme ruler of Oz? Well, now that -Five has brought him this jug-a-rug or whatever it is and Ozma's own -magic picture he's probably well on the way to realizing his ambitions. -But he's not going to get our silver hammer. I found it, and I'm going -to keep it, for it's far safer with me than with him. Do you suppose -we're going to help an old Bozzywog like that? What good would it do -to put Kerry back on his throne if Wutz is to be Ruler of Oz? He'd -probably pot all the Kings and keep everything for himself." - -"Very probably," agreed Nox, wagging his head mournfully. "But what -are we to do? Are we an army to fight a mountain full of silver moles -and minions, are we magicians to risk our necks with this wizard? -Besides," Nox's face grew thin and anxious, "if Wutz has treated Kerry -the way he has treated us, the boy needs us right now and this very -minute." - -"But didn't you hear him say he'd put Kerry back on the throne if Nine -did not soon find the hammer?" put in Handy patiently. "That proves the -little King is still here, and safe. Of course we must find him and get -him out of this miserable mountain, but we're not going to give Wutz -our hammer or any help at all, and he can put that in his silver pipe -and blow bubbles till he bursts," said Handy vindictively. "Now the -thing to do is to rest and eat, and then set ourselves to find the way -out of this pit and this mountain. Wutz and Nifflepok think we're all -swept away by this time. Besides, they'll be too busy talking with Five -to bother us. So first to eat and then to think!" proposed Handy in a -businesslike manner. - -"Perhaps you're right," sighed the Ox, "but I'll not have an easy -moment till we're out of this magic mountain. That ride!" Nox lashed -his tail and rolled his eyes at the mere thought of their dash down the -underground railway. "Did you ever experience anything like it in your -life?" - -"Well," grinned Handy, "it's one way of seeing the country, I suppose. -But let's not look back, old Toggins, let's look ahead. Remember we -still have the Dwarf of the Hammer on our side and when we are ready to -leave he'll surely show us the way." - -"Not before I put a few gores in that Wizard's pants and plans," -rumbled Nox belligerently. "I'll teach him to take liberties with the -Royal Ox of Keretaria." - -"Hi--yigh! That's the old Oz spirit!" cheered Handy, reaching out -to touch his golden horn. "Horn, dear, just serve two dinners, and -no fooling." Unscrewing Nox's horn of plenty as she spoke, the Goat -Girl held it quietly in her wooden hand. And there was certainly no -fooling about the two splendid dinners the horn delivered in answer -to Handy's wish. Never had she eaten a more appetizing repast and half -of the prison pit was taken up by the fresh hay, fruit and grains -brought to satisfy the hunger of the Royal Ox. So, forgetting for a -time their awful danger and their disagreeable imprisonment, the two -adventurers refreshed themselves, and after the dishes and containers -had disappeared, settled down to evolve some plan to outwit the Wizard -of Wutz. - - - - -CHAPTER 13 - -In the Emerald City of Oz - - -Ten days before the Goat Girl left Mt. Mern, a weary and footsore -pilgrim arrived in the Emerald City. At least, he gave that impression -to all who saw him shuffling with his long staff and beggar's cup along -the shining streets of the capital. The man's head was clean shaven -and his small cap, coarse belted robe and sandals marked him as a monk -of some old and ancient order. He nodded gently to each person he -passed, and seemed, in spite of his many years and wrinkles, innocent -and harmless as a child. The splendor and magnificence of the capital -astonished and bewildered the old gentleman and in a sort of stupefied -disbelief he stared at the emerald studded streets and houses, and -gazed up at the lofty peaks and spires of the royal palace. And this -was not strange, for of all the fairy cities out of the world, the -Emerald City of Oz is the most dazzling and beautiful. But its citizens -are kindly and simple, for all that, and many stopped to drop emeralds -in the pilgrim's cup and ask him if there was anything else that he -needed. To all he mumbled in a strange and indistinguishable tongue and -seeing that he was bound for the palace, and sure that Ozma herself -would know best how to deal with him, the Emerald City-ites let him go -his way unmolested. - -The afternoon was warm and pleasant, and Ozma and some of her favorites -were having a lazy game of croquet in the royal garden. The click of -the gold mallets as they tapped the gold balls presently attracted the -attention of the old wayfarer, who paused to peer curiously over the -hedge. The simple summer dresses of the girls in the garden seemed out -of all keeping with their majestic surroundings. Except for Ozma's -frock, which was longer, the emerald crown on her dark curls, and the -golden circlets worn by her three companions, they might have been any -four little girls playing croquet in a garden. But all around were the -unmistakable signs of rank and royalty. At ease under a lime tree stood -a tall soldier with green whiskers leaning on his gun. Three footmen -in satin uniforms stood stiffly beside an emerald topped tea table, -ready at a moment's notice to serve Ozade and frosted cake. On a gold -bench nearby, a straw stuffed scarecrow was quietly reading the paper, -and walking arm in arm down a little path talking composedly together -were an energetic little man with a bald head and a curious fellow who -seemed to be constructed entirely of copper. To all who are familiar -with the quaint and merry folk at Ozma's court, there would be nothing -odd about a live scarecrow or a mechanical man, and most of us would -have recognized Ozma's companions at once as Dorothy, Betsy and Trot, -three mortal girls who long ago came to live in the royal palace. - -It was Dorothy who had discovered the Scarecrow on her first visit -to Oz, lifting him down from his pole and traveling in his gay and -carefree company all the way to the Emerald City. In those days the -Wizard of Oz had been ruler of the country, he himself having flown -in a balloon from Omaha. Astonished by the circus tricks of this -little fellow, the Ozians believing him to be a real wizard, made him -their sovereign, and under his wise rule and direction, built the now -famous City of Emeralds. The sight of Dorothy had made the humbug -wizard homesick, and after presenting the Scarecrow with a fine set of -brains, he flew off to America in a balloon of his own construction, -leaving the straw man to rule in his place. Afterward, when Ozma was -disenchanted and proved to be the rightful ruler of Oz, the Scarecrow -had cheerfully resigned. But he still spends most of his time in the -palace and is one of Ozma's most trusted friends and counselors. Later -the Wizard himself returned to Oz and this time took up the study of -magic with such zeal and earnestness he was soon famous from one end -of the country to the other. This made him exceedingly valuable to the -young fairy ruler, and he, like the Scarecrow, is an old and honored -member of Ozma's cabinet. - -It was the Wizard who was now talking so earnestly to Tik Tok. The -Metal Man was another of Dorothy's discoveries. She met Tik Tok -on her second visit to Oz and brought him to the Emerald City for -safe keeping. Tik Tok, made by the firm of Smith and Tinker, is a -completely mechanical man and a loyal and dependable citizen when he is -properly wound up and oiled. Betsy and Trot, like Dorothy, arrived more -or less by wind, wave and accident in the Land of Oz. They liked it so -well and proved so gay and amusing, Ozma begged them to stay with her -and Dorothy in the green castle and help rule the many merry Kingdoms -that make up her wonderful empire. This they were only too happy to do, -so here they are, Princesses in their own right and living in the most -gorgeous City out of the world. - -Besides the celebrities in the garden, there are numerous other -important people at Ozma's court. For instance, there is Herby, the -Medicine Man, whose chest is really a medicine chest full of pills, -cures and ointments. Then there is Scraps, a lively girl made from a -patchwork quilt by a wizard's wife, and brought to life by the wizard; -and there's Pigasus, a flying pig. There's a doubtful dromedary, a -cowardly lion, a hungry tiger, and Dorothy's little dog Toto; a glass -cat belonging to Scraps, a wooden saw horse belonging to Ozma, an Iffin -whom Jack Pumpkinhead discovered near the Land of Barons, and a dozen -more unique and unusual characters. - -The old pilgrim seemed to find the group in the garden surprising -enough, for he watched them closely and silently for almost ten -minutes, cupping his hand behind his ear in an endeavor to catch what -the Wizard was saying. - -"It is just as I have told you," the little Wizard was remarking -earnestly to Tik Tok. "The great record book of Glinda has vanished -from her castle without trace or reason and even with my powerful -searchlight and looking glasses I have been unable to discover any -signs of it. Word of the theft came yesterday by pigeon post." - -"Some-one has sto-len it for no good pur-pose," answered the Metal -Man solemnly. But the old man leaning over the hedge heard none of -this, for the two were conversing in low and guarded tones. So after a -long puzzled look at the Scarecrow the pilgrim took up his staff and -shuffled along the gold pebbled path to the palace itself. A pompous -footman in gold and green came to answer his timid knock at the door. - -"What name, please, what business, and why in the wood does a fellow -like you come begging at the door of a castle?" inquired the footman in -a loud displeased voice. - -"There, there, Puffup," admonished a rosy-cheeked maid in a ribboned -cap and apron, peering around the wide shoulders of the footman. "Don't -be so shouting proud. You've frightened the old gentleman half out of -his wits. Can't you see he is tired and hungry and probably in need of -a lunch?" At the little maid's kind speech, the pilgrim bowed at least -a dozen times, nodding his head energetically to show that she was -perfectly right in her conjecture. "Come along with you," urged Jellia -Jamb, giving him a friendly wink. - -Edging nervously past the muttering footman, the old beggar followed -Jellia into the castle's spacious and splendid dining hall. "Wait right -here and I'll bring you some cake and apple sauce, an omelette and a -pot of tea," promised the obliging girl. "How will that be?" Jellia -Jamb, who was Ozma's own personal maid and a privileged character -around the castle, grinned cheerfully at her ancient visitor, and -though the old monk pretended not to understand a word that she said, -he nevertheless seated himself at the table and with round eyes watched -her skip through the swinging door into the pantry. - -No sooner had Jellia disappeared, than the old rascal sprang nimbly to -his feet and began to peer eagerly all around him. Passing hurriedly -over a rich gold service on the sideboard, he pounced upon an earthen -jug on a crystal stand and tucking it under his robe, slipped silently -as a shadow out of the dining hall, up the green carpeted stairs and -straight into the private sitting room of Ozma of Oz. Once there, and -without losing a moment, he walked to the west wall, took down a large -gold framed picture, blew upon it with a small glass tube, till it -was no larger than a cake of chocolate--and thrust it into an inner -pocket. Then, holding his robe high above his skinny shins and with -the jug clasped tightly in his arms, he galloped down the stairs and -out an open window into the garden, reaching a large clump of snowball -bushes without encountering anyone. Hiding himself well in the bushes, -he tore off the monk's robe, turned it inside out, dragged a white wig -from his sock and presently emerged as dignified and plausible an old -grandmother as any one would wish to see. The other side of his monk's -robe was green and made up in a style much affected by old ladies in -the capital, so that now he attracted no attention whatever. The jug in -a large string bag dangled carelessly from his wrist, and smiling and -nodding amiably he hurried through the garden, passed rapidly down one -street and another, through the high city gates, on and on, till he was -far out in the country walking faster and faster and less like a monk -or an old lady at every step. - - - - -CHAPTER 14 - -The Robbery Is Discovered! - - -"Prunes and peppermints!" ejaculated the Scarecrow, springing up from -his bench as Jellia Jamb, with streaming eyes and cap ribbons, came -flying across the garden. - -"Peanuts and pretzels!" Dorothy, about to hit the pole and win the -game, dropped her mallet at Jellia's fire siren screeches, while Ozma -and the others swung round in amazement as the little waiting maid, -sobbing and panting, rushed into their midst. - -"Oh, that beggar! Oh, that pilgrim! That old Monk, or whatever he was!" -wailed Jellia, wiping her eyes on the corner of her apron. "He's gone -and stolen the jug, I mean Rug, and Oz knows what will become of us!" - -"There, there, my girl. Stop crying! Begin at the beginning and tell us -just what happened," begged the Scarecrow, patting Jellia clumsily on -the shoulder. - -"But this is serious, very serious," muttered the Wizard, who had at -once realized the importance of the little maid's news. "If Ruggedo is -released from that jug and enchantment, he'll be up to his old tricks -in no time and doing anything in his power to hurt and destroy us." - -"But who could have known we turned Ruggedo into a jug, or where the -jug was kept? And why would anyone steal an old earthenware pitcher -when there are so many other rare and beautiful objects in the palace?" -Ozma, looking anxious and troubled, seated herself on the bench beside -the Scarecrow. - -"The same person who knew the value of Glinda's record book and stole -that," answered the Wizard gloomily. "Dark forces are at work in Oz, my -dear, dark forces. Just how did this rascal look, Jellia?" - -"Like an old monk with a beggar's cup," said the little maid with a -sorrowful sniff. "He seemed so poor and hungry I went off to get him -something to eat and no sooner was my back turned than he grabbed the -jug and ran off--though he shuffled slowly enough when he came into the -palace." - -"Disguised, of course," observed the Scarecrow, raising one eyebrow, -"and no more a monk than I am. But what was he monkeying round here -for? And what could he want with that jug, even if he knew it was the -old Gnome King? Really, you know, you shouldn't let perfect strangers -into the palace, Jellia." - -"Just what I was telling her," wheezed Puffup, breathlessly adding -himself to the group on the lawn, "and I hopes this will be a lesson to -you, Miss." - -"If we just knew where the old villain came from," worried the Wizard, -tapping his fingers absently on Tik Tok's copper arm. - -"Or where he was going," finished Dorothy, pushing back her crown. - -"Why not look in the ma-gic pic-ture?" proposed the Machine Man calmly. -"The pic-ture would show us where he is now." - -"Of course it would!" Ozma rewarded Tik Tok with a bright smile, and -jumping up, the little Fairy hurried across the garden and into the -palace with the others just a few steps behind her. But when they -reached the small sitting room where the magic picture was hung, of -course it was not there, and now in real distress and consternation -they all sat down to discuss the mysterious forces working against them. - -"I thought Ruggedo was the only enemy I had left," sighed Ozma, leaning -wearily back in her satin tufted arm chair. "I thought when we turned -the Gnome King to a jug, all our troubles would be over." - -"Who-ev-er stole the jug knows that Rug-ge-do was once the pow-er-ful -me-tal mon-arch who tried a-gain and a-gain to con-quer Oz," rasped Tik -Tok in his slow and precise fashion. - -"Right!" agreed the Wizard, striding up and down with his hands clasped -behind his back. "And whoever stole that jug and the magic picture -plans to disenchant the Gnome King and learn from him the best way to -destroy us. But that will be pretty difficult," asserted the little -Wizard, thrusting out his chin. "That transformation was one of the -best you ever made, my dear Ozma, one of the best. It will take a -pretty smart wizard to turn that jug back to Rug again." - -"Whoever stole the jug and Ozma's magic picture WAS pretty smart," -Betsy Bobbin reminded him seriously. "And without the picture how're we -going to find out who it is? Can't you do something, Wiz dear, or do we -just have to sit around and wait to be conquered?" - -"I shall go to my laboratory at once," decided the Wizard importantly, -"and there by some magic means I'll try to discover who is at the -bottom of all this wretched plotting and thievery. Lock up the magic -treasures in your safe, Ozma, especially the Gnome King's magic belt, -and have them guarded day and night." Briskly the little Wizard rushed -out of the room, returning in a moment to repeat gloomily, "DAY and -NIGHT!" - -"And I'll go and drill the army," declared the Scarecrow, stepping -recklessly out an open French window and falling flat, but undaunted, -in a flower bed below. - -"And I'd better call Tige and the Cowardly Lion," said Dorothy, who had -always found the lion a splendid fighter in spite of his cowardice, and -the Hungry Tiger, ready at the drop of a handkerchief to protect his -royal patrons with tooth and claw. "They can sit right here beside the -safe and I'd just like to see anyone get by them!" - -"Maybe it will be someone they cannot see," shivered Betsy, peering out -into the darkening garden. - -"Oh, my, isn't it too exciting!" Trot, bouncing up and down on a small -sofa, leaned over to touch Ozma on the knee. "It reminds me of the time -Ugu the Shoemaker stole all the magic treasures in Oz. Remember?" - -Ozma, looking at the space where her magic picture had hung, nodded her -head sorrowfully, saddened and sobered by the thought that she still -had dangerous and unscrupulous enemies in Oz. - - - - -CHAPTER 15 - -The Pilgrim Returns to the Mountain - - -Travelling northward by foot and as quickly as he could, Number Five -had come to the Silver King's Mountain just a few moments after Nox -and Handy Mandy. Now, dressed in the silver armor and helmet worn by -all the Wizard's M-Men, he waited in great agitation for the wizard to -appear. Nifflepok had at once taken Five to the den where Wutz carried -on all his magic experiments and kept his valuable treasures, and quite -sure none of the other agents had been as successful as he, Five paced -impatiently up and down, fancying himself already co-ruler with the -wizard in Oz. - -"So, there you are at last!" Entering from an invisible door in the -back of his work shop, Wutz stared coldly at Five. "Well, what trash is -that you have stolen?" was asked, finally. The wizard always pretended -the discoveries of his agents were of little use and importance. And -when Five, completely taken aback and crestfallen, began to explain the -wonderful properties of the magic picture and the fact that the old jug -had once been the powerful King of the Gnomes, the Silver Monarch cut -him short. "Yes, yes, but just see what Seven has brought," he told him -gloatingly. "Seven, by a trick known only to himself, has stolen and -transported to our mountain the great record book of Glinda the Good -Sorceress!" Following the direction of the King's imperious finger, -Five gazed jealously at a huge volume chained with golden chains to its -marble stand. "In that book," went on the wizard quickly, "everything -that ever happened in Oz is recorded, not only everything that has -happened, but everything that is happening. You can see the entries -appearing at this very minute on the open page." - -"I see, I see!" Five scarcely glanced at the record book. "But this -magic picture shows you any person you desire to look at. With this -picture and the help of the powerful Gnome King, now disguised as a -jug, we can soon make ourselves rulers of Oz. All we need to do is -release Ruggedo from his enchantment. I have been told by people in the -Emerald City that Ruggedo is familiar with all the magic secrets of -Ozma and the Wizard of Oz, and is, besides, a skilful magician himself. -Once we have disenchanted him, everything will be easy." - -"We? We?" sneered Wutz, who secretly agreed with Five, but would not -give him the satisfaction of knowing it. "Well, put the picture there -on that stand so I can examine it. Show us this silly ruler of Oz who -sets herself above all other rulers," he ordered sharply. "Where is -she now and what is she doing?" Then, though the wizard and Five and -Nifflepok, who had come noiselessly into the workshop, gazed into the -canvas till their eyes stung and watered, not a single figure appeared -to enlighten them. "HAH! A hoax!" raged the Silver King, rushing at -Five and shaking him till his armor rattled. "How dare you fool me in -this dangerous manner?" - -"But it's not a hoax," screamed Five as soon as he could speak. "It -worked perfectly well in the castle." - -"Perhaps it was hurt when you reduced it to carry it here," put in -Nifflepok nervously. He was always trying to keep peace between the -cruel King and his subjects. "Perhaps it only obeys the commands of -Ozma, its rightful owner. And remember, you still have the jug and -the magic record book. The record book might even explain about the -picture," he suggested hopefully. "I thought so, it says here: 'The -magic picture and Rug, the jug, have been stolen from the castle of -Ozma of Oz by an agent of the Silver King.'" - -"There!" exclaimed Five, brushing himself off indignantly. "I told you -it was the one and only picture." - -"Yes, but what good is it to me if it doesn't work?" scoffed the -wizard. "I'll not have you potted this time, Five, but next time don't -bring me damaged goods and old jugs, bring something of real value." As -Five, red faced and furious, jerked himself out of the King's presence, -Wutz turned joyfully to Nifflepok. "Getting on, old Tubbykins, we're -getting on! Without that magic picture Ozma will not be able to trace -her stolen property, and without the record book, Glinda will not -be able to help her. So who's to stop us from stealing everything? -Everything!" exulted Wutz, picking up the earthen jug and waving it -over his head. - -"But do you think it wise to treat our agents so shabbily?" sighed -Nifflepok. "They might betray us, you know." - -"Oh, no, they won't," sniffed the wizard, grinning broadly at his -anxious little assistant. "The way I treat them is perfectly all right, -keeps them on their toes, and with each trying to outdo the other we -get the best results." - -"Well, I hope you're right," Nifflepok still looked unconvinced. "But I -cannot help thinking--" - -"Out of your line, Niffy; just leave the thinking to me. Now fetch me -my magic blower, there's a good fellow, till I see what can be done -with this jug. It may take some time and doing to release this ugly -little gnome. By the way, did you pulverize those meddling Munchkins?" - -"Oh, yes!" Nifflepok nodded his head with a little shudder of distaste. -"I shot them down into the prisoner's pit just as your Majesty -commanded." - -"That's strange." The wizard in crossing the den to fetch a glass test -tube had paused for a moment beside the book of records. "It says -here, 'The Goat Girl from Mern and the Royal Ox are in the Silver -King's Mountain planning to release the little King of Keretaria.' So -that's what brought them here?" mused the wizard softly. "Now, then, -Nifflepok, something must have slipped up instead of down. If your -prisoners were powdered or pulverized, how could they be planning and -plotting?" - -"They must have some powerful magic to help them," muttered Nifflepok, -"or how could they have survived that fall?" - -"Better find out, my dear fellow. Go spy on those Munchkins, and -if their magic is important or worth while, come back and tell me. -And in the future be more careful how you carry out my orders and -instructions!" The wizard's voice was still low and pleasant, but his -eyes flashed so threateningly, Nifflepok rushed out of the royal work -den, flung himself in the silver car and went speeding down to the -prison pits at the bottom of the mountain. - - - - -CHAPTER 16 - -The Wizard's Bargain! - - -While Nifflepok had been interviewing Five, Handy and Nox had been -having a troublesome conference of their own. Each plan they devised -for finding the little King and escaping from the Silver King's -Mountain proved impractical. To summon the hammer elf to release them -from the prison pit would probably rouse the underground guards and -minions of the wizard, and give Wutz himself an opportunity to steal -the hammer. To tap the hammer lightly and ask the advice of Himself -had next seemed a good idea, but as Nox quickly pointed out, that, too, -was dangerous. - -"In a wizard's den like this, anything can happen," groaned the Ox, -looking around with a gloomy eye. "How do we know we are not being -watched at this very moment? If you so much as show that hammer, -somebody may pounce in here and snatch it away, which will leave us -with nothing to protect ourselves with in a last emergency--except that -blue flower, my horns and your hands." - -Handy did not like the sound of "last emergency," but even Handy -realized they would not escape from the mountain without some sort -of battle. To the free and sun-loving mountain girl every minute -underground was sheer torture. She longed for a breath of the pure -upper air, and the unreal light and pale faces of Wutz's underground -citizens and workers filled her with pity and loathing. "Of course, no -matter how long they leave us here, your horn of plenty will keep us -from starving, but if we don't soon find some way out, I believe I'll -explode!" she choked in a desperate voice. - -"Let's look at the message in that silver ball again," suggested Nox -unexpectedly. "Are you sure you read it all, m'lass? There might have -been directions on the other side." - -"I don't think so," said Handy, shaking her head. Then, because action -of any sort was a relief, she deftly twisted off Nox's left horn and -tilted the silver balls into one of her always handy palms. The first -ball when she opened it contained nothing further than the silver key. -In the center of the second lay the same folded paper, but this time -when Handy unfolded the paper there was a new message inside. - -"Wait!" cautioned the little slip of paper in small blue letters. "Do -nothing until the wizard appears." - -"Oh," breathed the Royal Ox, touching the paper gently with his nose. -"Someone is helping us." - -"Then I'd better keep this silver ball in my pocket," decided the -Goat Girl, "where I can easily get it. In a tight corner I might not -have a chance to unscrew your horn. Dear--ear, how puzzling it all -grows! So we're to hear from the wizard again. Whist! What was that?" -As Handy, with her wooden hand, slipped the first ball back into the -horn, with her leather hand screwed the horn back on Nox's head and -with one of her best white hands stuffed the second ball and message -into her pocket, they heard agitated footsteps pattering along the -outside corridor. After a tense moment, however, they died away, and -exchanging a relieved glance, Nox and Handy settled down to wait for -the wizard. - -The footsteps, as you have already guessed, belonged to Nifflepok. -Peering in at them through an invisible window, the King's messenger -had been just in time to see Handy shaking the silver balls from the -golden horn. Without waiting to see what use they would make of this -curious magic, Nifflepok rushed back to inform his master. - -"They are wizards!" he panted, bursting unceremoniously into the Silver -King's den. "The magic is in the ox's horn. With my own eyes I saw the -seven-armed maiden shaking silver balls from his horn." - -"What do _I_ care about silver balls?" snarled Wutz, who was in a -terrible temper. "If I had them here I'd bounce you over the head -with them." The den was full of sulphurous smoke, but the earthenware -jug still stood unchanged on the table before him. "The magic in the -Emerald City is still better than mine," hissed the Silver Monarch, his -voice quivering with anger and disappointment. "I've tried every single -formula in my book of incantations, every straight and crooked pass in -the magician's manual, every powder and potion on my shelves, and this -ugly jug is still a jug and nothing but a jug! What are we going to -do?" he yelled furiously. "Think of something, you noddle-headed pig! I -must have the help of this little Gnome King, but how'm I going to get -him out of the jug?" - -"Perhaps, with a little more time," faltered Nifflepok, twisting his -high hat nervously in his hands. - -"Time! TIME!" exploded the wizard. "When did time ever break an -enchantment?" Snatching up a pair of silver pliers he flung them -wrathfully at his assistant. Nifflepok, fortunately for his head, -caught the dangerous missile in his hat, and darting behind a tall -cabinet, looked pleadingly out at his unreasonable Master. "Wait! -Wait!" he begged earnestly as Wutz with a menacing frown took up his -silver bubble pipe. "I HAVE thought of something. Make these Munchkins -break the Gnome King's enchantment. They have passed all the hazards -of our mountain unharmed. Undoubtedly the girl is a sorceress and the -Ox a powerful magician in disguise. Let them do this trifling service -for your Majesty in return for the useless captive we are holding for -Number Nine." - -"Hm--mmmm!" Deliberately the Silver Monarch put down his pipe. "That's -not a bad idea, Niffle, not a bad idea at all." Picking up the jug, -Wutz brushed rudely by his trembling little Minister and hurried out -of his workshop. A few minutes later, he stood bowing and smiling -before the two travelers in the prisoner's pit. But warned by the -message in the silver ball, his entrance through the invisible door -neither frightened nor impressed Handy Mandy or the Royal Ox. - -"So here you are at last," exclaimed the Goat Girl, looking the Silver -Monarch sternly in the eye. "And about time, too. How dare you imprison -us in this miserable pit for no reason at all?" - -"Oh, yes, there is a reason," stated Wutz a little surprised at Handy's -defiance. "You broke into my mountain without invitation or permission -and as you are nothing but a pair of trespassers, you certainly -deserve imprisonment and even destruction." - -"Nonsense," snorted the Royal Ox, lurching forward heavily. "We came -here seeking a lost boy whom you are unlawfully holding captive. As -soon as you release the little King of Keretaria, we will take him and -leave this mountain!" - -"And the sooner you tell us where he is, the better!" added Handy, -snapping her thirty-five fingers under the Silver King's nose. - -"Ah, you think so?" sneered Wutz. "Well, nothing is ever given for -nothing in this mountain, but I may give you a chance to earn the boy's -release. Here in my hand is a jug, an ordinary enough looking jug. With -the magic you have in your possession, you must transform this jug to -its proper shape. If you succeed, you and the Ox and the Boy King of -Keretaria may leave my mountain unharmed. If you fail, ha ha!" The -heartless wizard threw back his head and laughed uproariously. "If you -fail, the walls of this pit will contract until you are--well, shall -we say--obliterated? To keep your part of the bargain and perform this -slight service I will give you _one half_ hour. Here is the jug, and in -case you fail, GOOD-BYE!" - -"Good Gillikins!" whistled Nox, as the wizard strode through the -invisible door and left them alone. "What does that fool think we are, -wizards--magicians--necromancers?" Groaning and snorting, he began to -gallop round and round the hot little pit. - -"Look out! Look out! You'll break the jug," warned Handy, snatching it -up in her arms. "And for goat's sake stop that galloping! I'm dizzy -enough as it is." - -"But you heard what he said?" lowed the Ox, coming to a trembling stop -beside her. "What are we to do? We know nothing of magic or magic -transformations!" In their distress and excitement, they both forgot -there might be a message to help them in the silver ball, and Handy, -taking the jug in one of her white hands, surveyed it with horror and -curiosity. - -"It's so old and ugly now," said the Goat Girl slowly, "I'll bet it -was something old and ugly to begin with. Didn't Nifflepok mention -something about a jug that was a rug? Maybe it's a rug, though more -likely a rogue. Say, I wonder if I broke the jug whether that would not -break the enchantment?" - -"Oh, no, no, no! Don't do that!" begged Nox, rolling his eyes in -terror. "If you break the jug, the wizard will be furious, and how do -you know what will break the spell? Here, let me look at it." Passing -the jug rapidly from one hand to another, Handy started to place it -on the floor under Nox's nose with her seventh and last hand, when a -sudden and unexpected scream from the interior, made her drop it with a -loud crash to the silver stones. - -"Ouch! Oh, stop! How dare you bang me around in this hateful manner?" -Up from the flying fragments of earthenware at Handy's feet sprang a -fierce little gnome with a long ragged beard, shaking his fists and -howling like a child. - -"Oh, my--y! I've actually done it!" quavered the Goat Girl, falling -over against Nox. "Look! Look! Didn't I tell you it would be old and -ugly?" The gnome, at Handy's words suddenly stopped howling. - -"Where am I? Where am I? WHO am I?" he mumbled in a frightened voice. - -"Well, I don't know who you are, but I'm afraid you're in a pretty -bad place," said Handy, straightening up to have a better look at her -handiwork. "You're in the underground caverns of the King of the Silver -Mountain, if you must know." - -"Caverns!" beamed the gnome, his face breaking into a wide smile. -"What's the matter with caverns? I LOVE caverns, why I used to live in -one myself. And who did you say I was?" - -"We don't know who you are," explained Nox, in a cautious voice. "A -moment ago and before Handy took you in hand, you were nothing but a -jug." - -"A jug?" pondered the gnome pulling his beard thoughtfully. "You mean -to say I was a JUG?" - -"Maybe 'Was-a-jug's' your name," volunteered the Goat Girl, now quite -interested in her transformation. - -"No, not 'Was-a-jug' but something like a jug. Let me think--Bug, -hug, chug, mug, pug, rug-RUG? That's it, THAT'S my name, _Ruggedo_!" -shrieked the little gnome joyfully, "and now I know who I am!" - -"Well, who are you?" inquired the Ox, stretching his royal nose down -toward the whirling gnome. - -"I, why, _I_ am the most important King on the other side of the -desert!" shouted Ruggedo exultantly. "I am the one and only Metal -Monarch and Ruler of all the Gnomes! My caves and caverns under the -mountains of Ev sparkle with jewels and precious stones, mined by my -faithful workers, and my grand army of gnomes outnumbers any army in -OZ." Proudly the ragged little King thumped himself upon the chest. - -"Oh, my! Oh, me! Oh, mercy--ercy! If you're as powerful as all that, -maybe you'll help us!" cried the Goat Girl, clasping her hands eagerly. - -"Help you? Why should I help you?" The little Gnome stared scornfully -at the two occupants of the cave. - -"Because she broke your jug and enchantment, you ungrateful little -wretch!" snorted Nox, lowering his horns. "And you don't look like -a king to me, you just look like a plain ordinary wicked little -ragamuffin, a RUGAMUFFIN!" he bellowed angrily. - - - - -CHAPTER 17 - -Out of the Prison Pit - - -Nox's angry words had a strange effect on the boastful Gnome King. -Leaning dejectedly against the side of the pit, he drew his hand -wearily across his forehead. - -"I remember now," he told them hoarsely. "I once was the Powerful Metal -Monarch, but that was before I fell into the hands of Ozma and that -wicked Wizard of Oz." - -"So it was Ozma who turned you to a jug!" exclaimed Handy with all her -hands on her hips. - -"Yes, and before that she deprived me of my Kingdom, ducked me in a -Truth Pond, marooned me for years on a desert island, struck me dumb, -and then, when she could think of nothing worse, turned me to this -jug!" screamed Ruggedo, kicking at the fragments of broken china at his -feet. - -"You and Ozma have been enemies for a long time, then?" observed the -Ox, looking at the Gnome with great disfavor. - -"Yes, yes, ever since that girl Dorothy stole my magic belt and gave -it to Ozma," raged Ruggedo, stamping furiously up and down. "And every -time I try to recover my own property, or capture those wretched girls -and the Emerald City, something goes wrong and they conquer ME! The -last time Ozma turned me to a jug!" cried Ruggedo, his voice rising to -a shrill whistle. - -"Well, what did you expect?" inquired Handy Mandy sharply. "That Ozma -would sit calmly on her throne and allow you to conquer her? My--y such -goings on!" - -"Oh, then you are friends of Ozma?" said the Gnome King suspiciously. -"But no, you could not be her friends or you would not have broken the -jug. Who ARE you? The Ox is usual enough, except for his golden horns, -but you"--Ruggedo's eyes grew round and anxious as he looked at the -seven-armed Goat Girl, "_YOU_ are odd, aren't you?" - -"No, she's not odd!" snapped the Royal Ox severely. He had been through -so much with the sturdy mountain lass, he felt almost as if they were -related. "Handy is just seven times as smart and seven times as handy -as most people, that's all. And since her seven hands have served you -pretty well, try to keep a civil tongue in your head, will you?" - -"Oh, all right!" Ruggedo scuffing his foot, looked sulkily from one to -the other. "Much obliged, I'm sure. But what in rockets are we doing -in this miserable hole and what are we waiting for?" - -"For a fellow Metal Monarch and Wizard," answered a smooth voice, and -appearing as quietly as he had vanished, Wutz stood calmly before them. -"Come with me, Ruggedo, I have surprising news for you, comrade!" And -without so much as a nod or "thank you" to Nox and Handy Mandy, he -linked his arm through the Gnome's and drew him through the invisible -door, slamming it viciously behind him. - -"Hi--yi!" yelled Handy Mandy indignantly. "Come back here! Come back -here! A bargain's a bargain, you old cheat and villain! We've kept our -part and you shall keep yours! Where have you hidden the little King of -Keretaria? Let us out! Let us out, you false faced rascal!" - -Nox, as angry as Handy, charged forward, butting his head against the -exact spot where the wizard had disappeared. To his astonishment and -joy the whole section of wall swung outward and he and the Goat Girl, -rushing through, found themselves in a narrow dimly lit silver tunnel. - -"To think, to think we could have got out any time!" gulped the Royal -Ox in a vexed voice. "The door was invisible but not locked. Imagine -that, m'lass!" - -"Oh, I've other things to do," puffed Handy, peering down the long -passageway to see whether she could catch a glimpse of the two Kings. -"No use trying to imagine anything about this mountain, it's just plain -bewitched and goblinish. But that wizard made us a promise and I'm -going to see that he keeps it. Come on!" - -"No! No!" said the Royal Ox, leaning weakly against the side of the -tunnel. "I couldn't bear to look at him again, at least, not just yet. -Wait! I may think of something else! WAIT!" bellowed Nox, as Handy, in -spite of his pleas, started off on a run. "There now, you've dropped -something out of your pocket." - -"That silver ball," muttered Handy, scooping it up without slackening -her pace. - -"The ball! The _BALL_?" exclaimed Nox, galloping breathlessly to catch -up with her. "Oh, what muddle heads, _WHAT_ muddle heads! It told us to -wait for the wizard. Quick, see what it says now?" - -"Well, a lot of good it did waiting for that wizard," grumbled the Goat -Girl; but nevertheless, she stopped and opened the silver ball. Taking -out the folded paper, she held it up toward an amethyst gleaming dully -in the side of the tunnel. - - "Follow me." - -directed the paper rather mysteriously. - -"But who does 'me' mean?" asked Handy, as Nox, still breathing heavily, -read the message over her shoulder. "I don't see any me, do you? Beans -and butternuts! If you hadn't stopped me I'd have caught those villains -by this time!" - -"And what good would that have done?" sniffed the Ox impatiently. -"Remember there are two of them now, and that little gnome is worse -than Wutz and twice as dangerous." Closing his eyes in an effort to -concentrate, Nox repeated over the message, "Follow me! Follow me! -Follow ME! Why of course, it's as plain as oats!" he snorted joyfully. -"'Me' means that ball. Put the message back in the ball, set the ball -down and then see what happens." And what happened, was amazing enough, -for the silver ball, once it was on the floor of the tunnel began to -roll rapidly along ahead of them, faster and faster and faster, till -Handy and Nox had all they could do to keep it in sight. - -"Where do you suppose it's taking us?" gasped the Goat Girl, thankful -that so far the tunnel had been more or less straight and fairly well -lighted. - -"To Kerry," said the Royal Ox positively. "Now watch that turn, m'lass. -What's ahead? It's growing so dark I can't even see my own shadow!" - -"It's a flight of steps," whispered Handy, gazing fearfully into the -deep well of a circular stairway winding down into the darkness. They -could hear the chink of the silver ball as it rolled from step to -step, so, taking her courage in all hands, the Goat Girl, herself, -began to descend. Nox, grunting and muttering lugubriously, came just -behind her. Steps were difficult enough for the Ox at any time, but -negotiating a flight of circular steps in pitch darkness was terrifying -and dangerous in the extreme. - -"Be careful!" warned Handy, looking up anxiously. "Don't slip, or -you'll break my heart." - -"More than that, I'm afraid," quavered the Royal Ox, setting his front -feet cautiously on the step below while he balanced his hind quarters -perilously on the one above. - - - - -CHAPTER 18 - -Wutz and the Gnome King Leave for the Capital! - - -Meanwhile, Wutz and Ruggedo had shot up in the wizard's silver car and -were now in earnest conversation together. - -"How in suds did that girl break your enchantment?" asked Wutz, -dropping irritably to his silver workbench. "I was watching her every -minute through an invisible window and I didn't see her do a thing but -break the jug. Now why couldn't I have thought of that?" - -"Oh, what does it matter?" Ruggedo settled himself with a joyful little -wriggle beside the Silver Monarch. "What does it matter so long as I am -free and able to help you? So you really think you can make yourself -Ruler of Oz?" he went on, glancing enviously round the wizard's well -stocked den, with its tables full of magic apparatus and its shelves -and shelves of dusty volumes of wizard and witch works. Wutz had -confided his plans and intentions to Ruggedo on the ride up. "Say!" -exclaimed the Gnome King suddenly, "How did you get Glinda's record -book? That's the most important treasure in her castle!" - -"Of course!" Lazily the wizard reached for his silver pipe. "Well, it's -a long story, Rug, but I don't mind telling you that I have agents -working in every Kingdom of the country. Seven, who was assigned to the -Quadling Country, brought in the record book, smallifying it in order -to steal and carry it here, and restoring it to proper size when it -arrived. Six and Eleven have brought me useful magic from the Winkies -and Gillikins, but Five managed to steal Ozma's own magic picture, and -ha ha! since he couldn't find the Gnome King's belt, he brought me the -Gnome King himself! Pretty clever of him to discover you were a jug, -eh?" - -"Re-markable!" sighed Ruggedo, as Wutz paused to blow a silver bubble -which floated out of the work den, breaking somewhere outside with a -tinkling bell-like explosion. - -"Two glasses of melted silver," snapped the wizard to a smart looking -bell boy who came in answer to this singular summons. "Now," continued -Wutz, looking at the Gnome King through half closed eyes, "before I -attempt to capture the Emerald City, I must have one of two things; -either the silver hammer belonging to a witch of the West or the magic -belt that once belonged to you. So far, none of my agents has been able -to find the witch, locate the hammer, or discover where Ozma now keeps -your magic belt. But you, its rightful owner, must know exactly where -it is hidden?" - -Ruggedo, without saying anything, nodded briefly. - -"Well then," said Wutz, "if you will help me steal the magic belt, -which I understand is the most potent and powerful magic in Ev or Oz, I -will kick Kaliko off your throne, restore your own Kingdom and give you -besides any one of the four Oz Kingdoms you may fancy." - -"Oh, don't bother me with any of the Oz Kingdoms. I'm sick of the -place!" frowned the Gnome, wagging his beard vindictively. "All I -want is my own old Kingdom and my own magic belt! But I tell you what -I will do. I'll help you steal this belt, for I know exactly where it -is hidden, show you how it works so you can transform Ozma and all her -friends and counselors to rocks and rubble. BUT, when you are safely -established as supreme Wizard of Oz, you must return the belt to me." - -"Oh, naturally!" promised the wizard, chuckling to himself as he -thought how quickly he would turn Ruggedo to a rock once he was wearing -the famous belt. Taking a glass of melted silver from the tray the boy -had just set down, Wutz lifted it to his lips, and Ruggedo, his eyes -glittering with all their old spitefulness, raised his own glass to -drink to the wicked bargain. - -"Come," he sputtered, wiping his mouth on the back of his hand. "When -do we start? What magic have you to carry us to the capital and open -the emerald safe where the magic belt and other important treasures -of Ozma are hidden? But wait, perhaps we had better look in the magic -picture and see where Ozma and the Wizard of Oz are now?" - -"I am afraid we cannot do that," Wutz explained regretfully. "Seven -spoiled the canvas in some way when he reduced it to carry it here. -It doesn't show anything now and I've not had time to repair the -damage." - -"Pshaw, that's too bad," said Ruggedo, going over to touch the picture, -now hanging on the wizard's wall. "But the record book's still working, -I suppose?" - -"Oh, yes," said the wizard, stepping up to the marble table and -glancing down at the open page. "And listen to this. It says," roared -the Silver King, holding his sides and simply rocking with wicked -merriment, "it says: 'The two metal monarchs are plotting the downfall -of the present ruler of Oz.'" - -"What else does it say?" inquired the Gnome King, who had had more -experience than his companion in dealing with the magicians of the -Emerald City. - -"It says, 'Ozma and her counselors have gone to the castle of Glinda -the Good,'" Wutz told him complacently closing and padlocking the big -volume. - -"Then we'd better start at once and before they return," declared -Ruggedo. "For as soon as we have my belt we can change them to rocks, -wherever they are. The most important thing is to get that belt before -they know we are after it. But how are we going to get to the Emerald -City and how're we going to open that safe?" - -"My silver blowpipe will reduce the safe to a heap of ashes without -injuring the contents," answered the wizard, "and reaching the capital -will be the simplest part of all!" - -Taking a silver tube from a high shelf, Wutz put it in his pocket and -reaching for his bubble pipe, he began to blow an enormous quicksilver -bubble round himself and the Gnome King. Slowly and with both Kings -inside, the bubble rose, passed in a silver mist out of the wizard's -den, up through the honeycomb of caves, caverns and grottos, on up--and -up, till it floated right out of the top of the Silver King's Mountain. - - - - -CHAPTER 19 - -At the Bottom of the Mountain! - - -At the same moment the silver bubble carrying Wutz and Ruggedo burst -out of the top of the mountain, Handy Mandy and Nox reached the bottom, -arriving at last at the end of the winding stair. One amethyst burned -dimly on the small landing, and crowded uncomfortably together the two -prisoners found themselves facing a heavily barred door. - - Private Lower of the Wizard of Wutz. - Keep Out! - -announced a surly sign. But Handy and Nox, their legs still quivering -from the long downward climb, were in no humor to be stopped by a sign. - -"Lower!" sniffed Handy Mandy disgustedly. "I should think it was, we -must be at the very bottom of this miserable mountain. Lower--indeed! -Well, I expect a lower is the opposite of a tower, come on!" Picking up -the silver ball, Handy squinted sharply at the door, giving it a quick -shove to see whether it was locked or fitted with an invisible moving -panel. But there was nothing remarkable about this door, and nothing -on it except a very small silver keyhole, which at once recalled to -the Goat Girl the key she had been carrying around ever since she left -Keretaria. - -"Oh, Nox, I believe the key in your horn will fit!" she cried -excitedly, and deftly removing the left prong of Nox's headgear she -shook out the ball. Then, while Nox fairly panting with impatience -looked on, Handy took the key from the ball and inserted it in the -silver lock. When it turned easily and smoothly she was almost afraid -to open the door. What would they find on the other side? What had the -wizard done to his helpless young captive? As Handy hesitated, Nox -rushed forward, banging the door open with his great shoulder. - -"Kerry! Kerry!" wailed the faithful Ox, and falling to his knees, -Nox began to snort and blubber in real earnest. Handy, hurrying -after him into the small stuffy cell, saw a handsome boy in hunting -costume standing motionless and silent as a statue in the center of -a great shimmering violet bubble. Without thinking or reasoning, or -even stopping to consult the Ox, the Goat Girl flung out all her arms -toward the solitary figure, her iron hand puncturing the bubble with a -deafening pop. - -"Why, hello Nox!" The Little King stepped calmly out of the misty -vapor, all that was left of the wizard's bubble. "Where's your other -horn? And who is this jolly looking girl?" - -WHO, indeed? There was so much to be told and explained, even with -Handy and Nox talking as fast as they could and taking turns, it took -almost an hour to tell the story of their journey from Keretaria to the -Silver Mountain and their awful experiences with the Wizard of Wutz. - -Kerry himself remembered nothing since he had started out on the -hunting expedition. He listened with angry exclamations and bounces -as Nox related the tale of King Kerr's treachery and the sad state of -affairs in Keretaria. "And I've been shut up in this bubble for two -years!" mourned the little King, looking round the dismal cell with a -shudder. "Why it makes my head ache just to think of it!" - -"Mine, too," agreed Handy, clapping Nox's left horn in place. "But -it's almost over now, my lad. If we can just find some way out of this -mountain, I'll settle old King Kerr and his High Boys, not to speak of -this woozling wizard!" - -Placing Kerry on Nox's back, Handy looked nervously out the door of -the Lower. At sight of the winding stair Nox gave a great groan and -shudder. "I'll never climb those steps again!" he declared, planting -his feet stubbornly. "Never! Where's that silver hammer, m'lass? Give -it a tap and see what the dwarf can do for us? Wutz and Ruggedo are too -busy with their wicked plans to bother us now." - -"I wouldn't be too sure of that," muttered the Goat Girl. Nevertheless, -she pulled out the hammer and tapped it lightly on the floor. - -"Well, what's wanted?" yawned Himself, appearing instantly and in the -exact spot the hammer had struck. - -"We want to get out of here!" cried Kerry, so excited and delighted -with the purple bearded dwarf, he instantly forgot all his troubles. -With a crooked smile at the little King, Himself looked questioningly -at Handy, and at the Goat Girl's quick nod, rapped his knuckles on -the north wall of the Lower. At once, a small panel slipped aside, -revealing an elevator, its door invitingly open. Waving all her hands -to thank Himself, who was already beginning to disappear, Handy stepped -inside. Nox, with Kerry still perched on his back, just managed to -squeeze in, when the door snapped shut and the elevator sped upward -carrying its three passengers in double quicksilver time to the work -den of the wizard. Handy, a bit disappointed not to find herself on -top of the mountain, stepped out first. As Nox, with an awkward jump, -followed her, the door slammed sharply and the elevator dropped like a -plummet to the bottom of the mountain. - -"Oh, this must be where Wutz works all his magic transformations," -breathed Kerry, sliding off Nox's back and gazing around with deep -interest and curiosity. "I'll bet he blew a bubble round me right in -this very den. Wonder where he is now?" There was a slight cough at -Kerry's question and turning, they saw Nifflepok standing uncertainly -in the doorway. - -"Ah, so we meet again!" cried Handy, doubling up all her fists and -walking grimly toward the Silver King's fat Minister. "Where is that -rascally Master of yours? As you probably know by this time, we kept -our part of the bargain, but he still has to keep his." - -"Indeed, you are fortunate to have escaped with your lives," muttered -Wutz, taking off his hat and looking anxiously inside. "And I'm sorry -to tell you the Wizard of Wutz NEVER keeps his bargains. No matter how -hard we work or try to please him, sooner or later, we are all shelved -or potted!" - -"Then why work for such a villain?" snorted the Royal Ox gruffly. -"Where is he now?" - -"Yes, where is he now?" asked Kerry, who in spite of the terrible -stories he had heard, hoped to get a look at the wonderful wizard who -had enchanted him. - -"Gone!" answer Nifflepok, putting on his high hat and giving it a -couple of taps. "He's bubbled off with the Gnome King to conquer Oz, -and I expect by this time they've bewitched about half the inhabitants -of the Emerald City." - -"Oh, what a shame!" burst out Kerry. - -"Bubbled off? What do you mean by that?" The Goat Girl reached out with -all her arms to pull the Silver King's little Minister closer. - -"I mean, bubbled off," repeated Nifflepok, struggling to release -himself from Handy's clutches. "He blew a quicksilver bubble and he and -Ruggedo sailed away in it, if that's any plainer." - -"Oh, then we had better go right after them," snorted the Ox in an -anxious voice. "Show us out of this mountain, you little pudding, or -I'll toss you higher than a kite." - -"Oh, do let's do something!" begged Kerry, who, being young, was quite -daring and absolutely foolhardy. "We aren't going to let those dreadful -Kings conquer the country, are we, and not lift a hand?" - -"Well, I'm sure I'd lift all seven if it would do any good," mused -Handy Mandy in a depressed voice. "But how can we stop them? Wutz and -Rug have probably stolen all the magic in Ozma's palace by this time, -the thieving rascals!" - -"But surely YOU have some magic?" ventured Nifflepok, who had finally -jerked himself free. "Or you could never have disenchanted that gnome -or found the wizard's Lower and rescued this boy; and if you have--" -he warned, backing rapidly away, "if you have, you'd better use it -QUICK. When Wutz finishes conquering Oz, he's sure to remember you and -turn you to rocks and rubble. He's going to turn everyone to rocks and -rubble!" wailed Nifflepok, dashing out of the workshop. - -"Great Gazoo, what shall we do? I don't want to be a rock," snorted -Nox. - -"And I won't be a rock!" stormed the little King. "It was bad enough -being shut up in a bubble and missing two whole years--oh, you won't -let him turn us to rocks, will you, Handy? And do let's help poor Ozma, -before it's too late!" - -Kerry looked up at her so pleadingly, Handy, against all her -inclinations and better judgment, pulled out the silver hammer again. -"The hammer will be better than the ball," she reasoned quickly, "for -the ball only seems to help Keretarians. Now then!" Lifting the hammer -in her iron hand, the Goat Girl brought it down sharply on the wizard's -marble table. Silver sparks flew up in every direction and out of the -very middle of the shower stepped the yawning dwarf. - -"Say, I'm trying to take a nap," grumbled Himself, stretching his arms -up sleepily. "What do you fellows want now?" - -"We want to go to the Emerald City of Oz and save Ozma from Wutz and -the Gnome King!" explained Handy in one breathless sentence. - -"My! All that?" Stifling another yawn, Himself grinned mischievously at -the Goat Girl. "Then stand in line, please." So Handy placed herself -in front of the Royal Ox and Kerry stepped behind him, and the dwarf, -seizing the hammer, brought it down with a terrible blow just behind -the little King. And what a blow it was you can readily understand, -when I tell you that its force carried the three travelers clear out of -the Silver King's Mountain and all the way to the Emerald City itself. -Flying along for a moment beside them, Himself slipped the hammer -back in the Goat Girl's hand, and then with another tremendous yawn, -disappeared. - - - - -CHAPTER 20 - -Just in Time! - - -In Ozma's palace in the Emerald City, everything was very quiet and -still. Not surprising when you consider that the wizard of Wutz had -blown his patent stupefying powder down all the chimneys before he and -Ruggedo dared to enter. Then, mooring the silver bubble to one of the -castle spires, the two conspirators had slipped through an open window -and proceeded without delay or interference to the private sitting room -of the absent ruler. There Ruggedo with a spiteful laugh, thrust his -head right into the mouths of the Hungry Tiger and Cowardly Lion. Rigid -and helpless they sat before Ozma's safe, motionless and completely -stupefied, as were all of Ozma's other faithful servants and retainers. -Reducing the safe to a heap of green ashes was the work of but a -moment, then, pulling the Gnome King's belt from the sparkling heap of -treasures, Wutz sprang to his feet. - -"Quick! How does it work?" he cried, clasping the belt round his thin -waist. "We'll not have a second's safety till Ozma, Glinda, the Wizard -of Oz and all those girl Princesses are out of the way." - -"But first you must restore my Kingdom!" insisted Ruggedo, dancing up -and down. "Here give it to me. I'm used to it and can work faster. -First I'll wish Kaliko off my throne and myself back in my underground -castle, then--" - -"Oh, no, you won't!" declared Wutz, holding the bouncing Gnome King off -with one hand. "How do I know what you will do once you reach your own -Kingdom? Why--I might never see this belt again." - -"But I promise to send it back to you," hissed Ruggedo, his eyes -snapping real sparks. - -"I'd rather have the belt than the promise," said Wutz, shaking his -head stubbornly. - -"Give it to me, I say, GIVE it to me!" yelled Ruggedo, now in a perfect -rage. "How do I know what you will do when you know the trick of using -it? Why, you might even turn me to a rock to be rid of me." - -"What? Change my dearest friend and most powerful ally to a rock?" -exclaimed the Wizard with pretended horror. "By the left horn of my -silver cow, I promise to return this belt as soon as I am Ruler of -Oz!" Ruggedo longed to snatch his belt away from the scheming Silver -Monarch, but as he was neither big or strong enough to do this, there -was nothing for him to do but agree to the wizard's terms. - -"All right," he groaned dismally. "Listen, then--" But as Wutz bent his -head and the little gnome began to whisper hoarse directions in his -ear, there was a dreadful thump and clatter behind them. - -"STOP!" commanded the Goat Girl, the first to recover from the shock -of the landing, and dear knows Handy should have been used to sudden -landings by this time. "STOP!" Whirling round with a howl of fury, -Wutz sprang straight at her, but Handy, who still clutched the silver -hammer in her iron hand, was too quick for him and brought it down -with a resounding crack on the top of his head. "Take 'em away! Take -'em away!" cried Handy hysterically, as Wutz fell over backwards, and -Himself, appearing exactly where the hammer had struck, leaped off the -wizard's head to save himself from a fall. - -"But first we must have that magic belt," chuckled the hammer elf. -Giving Ruggedo, who was struggling frantically to get his belt from -around the Silver King's waist, a quick push, Himself unbuckled the -clasps and tossed the magic girdle to the Goat Girl. Then grabbing the -howling gnome and senseless wizard, each by his neck, the efficient -dwarf vanished in a flash of lightning and a crash of thunder that -shook the castle to its foundations. Nox dropped to his knees. Kerry, -still stunned by the hammer blow that had carried them to the Emerald -City, and Handy, herself, with her arms still upraised, stared in dumb -astonishment at the quivering vacuum where the two Kings and Himself, -the elf, had been whirling a moment before. - -"Oh, Handy, HANDY, you've really done it!" shouted Kerry, finding his -voice at last. "Why, you've saved the whole of Ozma's Kingdom and -struck only one blow! But watch out--are those beasts alive or just -statues?" - -"Statues, I hope," grunted the Royal Ox, lurching dizzily to his feet. -"Well, here we are in the capital, m'lass, and I must say you have -handled everything beautifully, beautifully!" - -"Halt! Who goes there! Whoa! HO! Halt and Surrender!" piped a -frightened voice. "Here they are, your Majesty, the robbers themselves, -caught red-handed in the act of robbing our royal safe!" - -"Red--white--and--blue handed, if you ask me!" cried the Patchwork -Girl, blinking her shoe button eyes at the red rubber hand with which -Handy grasped the Gnome King's belt, the white hand she had reached out -to hold on to Kerry, the iron hand still clutching the silver hammer. -All the rest of her hands the Goat Girl held stiffly before her. -Brushing aside the Soldier with the Green Whiskers, who promptly dived -behind a sofa, Scraps jerked the Gnome King's belt out of Handy's -rubber hand and gave her a shove that sent her flying over backwards. -"Take that, you Monster!" yelled Scraps. - -"Well," sputtered the Goat Girl, sprawling flat on her back, "here's -gratitude for you!" - -"How dare you call Handy a Monster?" bellowed Nox, charging angrily -after the Patchwork Girl. - -"Oh! Do be careful!" called Ozma with a little scream, as Nox almost -caught up with Scraps, and Kerry began to belabor the Soldier with -Green Whiskers over the head with a candlestick. "Oh! Oh! My poor Lion! -My poor Tiger! My SAFE! Why, I--just--can't believe it!" wailed the -little Fairy Ruler, staring sorrowfully down at the Goat Girl, who had -made no attempt to rise nor explain her embarrassing position. - -"Then don't believe it!" cried Kerry breathlessly. "For it isn't -true! This brave girl and Nox have got the best of Wutz and the Gnome -King and saved your whole bally Kingdom and here you've gone and had -her knocked down. Shame on you! Get away from me, you cotton stuffed -horror!" screamed the little King, as Scraps, eluding the Ox, made a -determined jump in his direction. - -"Quiet! QUIET!" The Scarecrow, who with Glinda, the Wizard, Dorothy, -Betsy and Trot, now came hurrying into the room, raised both arms and -looked around pleadingly. The whole royal party, traveling in Glinda's -swan chariot, had just arrived on the balcony outside, but Ozma, Scraps -and the Soldier with Green Whiskers had been first on the scene of -action. - -"The boy is right," declared Glinda, crossing slowly to a green sofa. -"I can see by her face and hands--" Glinda smiled faintly--"that this -girl is both honest and industrious." - -"Thanks!" murmured Handy, as the Scarecrow, ever a gentleman, bounded -forward to assist her to her feet. The flimsy straw stuffed fellow lost -his balance in the attempt, but his little act of gallantry did much to -relieve an awkward moment. - -"You see," puffed the Scarecrow, seating Handy with a flourish, "for -the last ten days we've all been pretty much upset around here and -you'll have to excuse Scraps for jumping at conclusions." - -"Please do!" Ozma spoke pleasantly and seriously as she seated herself -in her small arm chair, leaning over to take the Gnome King's belt -from Scraps. "But if some of you kind people will just explain?" The -Little Fairy looked anxiously from the stupefied Tiger and Lion to her -pulverized safe, her eyes coming back to rest on the Goat Girl, the -great White Ox and the handsome young Munchkin. - - - - -CHAPTER 21 - -The Hammer Elf Explains - - -"Go ahead and explain," said Handy, closing her eyes and leaning back -in her chair with all her hands hanging limply at her side. So Nox, a -bit haughtily and tossing his head proudly from time to time, began -at the beginning and told all that had happened since Handy Mandy had -flown from Mt. Mern. How the Goat Girl had found the magic in his horn, -how they had traveled together from Keretaria to the Silver Mountain -and there, in their search for the little King, discovered Wutz's plot -to make himself Supreme Wizard of Oz. And last of all he explained how -Handy, with the help of the silver hammer, had subdued the two wicked -Kings. - -"Well, it certainly was very kind of you to take all this trouble for -us--after you had already had so many worries of your own," sighed -Ozma, as Nox, finishing his story, gazed round the room with lordly -condescension. - -"Yes, wasn't it?" Handy opened her eyes and thoughtfully regarded -the little Ruler of Oz. "Still, I'm glad now that we did save you." -The Goat Girl's round pleasant face was suddenly wreathed in smiles. -"I didn't think I was going to like you, but I do," she admitted -cheerfully. "I believe you're about the best ruler Oz could have and -besides, you're pretty as a goat." - -"As a goat!" gasped the Wizard of Oz while Dorothy and the other girls -had all they could do to keep from laughing right out loud. But Ozma, -who was a very understanding little person, smiled kindly back at Handy -Mandy. - -"Goats _are_ pretty," she agreed, nodding her head politely. "And since -you must miss your own goats very much, perhaps you would like me to -send you back to Mt. Mern after you've seen a bit of the capital?" - -"Oh, Handy wouldn't leave us!" snorted the Royal Ox, moving as close -to the Goat Girl as he could get. "We couldn't get along without Handy -Mandy, your Majesty." - -"Oh, please let her stay in Keretaria," begged the little King adding -his voice to that of his Royal Ox. "You will live with us in the -palace, won't you Handy?" - -"Well, if I just had my goats--" considered the seven-armed maiden. -"Mt. Mern would seem rather dull after Oz," she acknowledged pensively. -"But what about that old King who's still on Kerry's throne--and what -am I to do with this silver hammer--and what do you suppose Himself has -done with Wutz and Ruggedo?" - -"Yes, what's to be done with Wutz?" echoed the Scarecrow wrinkling up -his cotton forehead. And now the little sitting room began fairly to -buzz with excited questions and suggestions, for there was still a lot -to be explained and settled. The Ozites could hardly keep their eyes -off the seven-armed Goat Girl, the handsome young ruler of Keretaria -and his Royal Ox. Dorothy longed to unscrew his horn and test its -magic power for herself, but Ozma, anxious to repair all the damage -done by the wicked wizard, now raised her scepter for silence. - -Clasping on the Gnome King's belt, Ozma first brought back her magic -picture and with a quick wish returned Glinda's book of records to her -castle in the South. Next, though she knew neither the extent nor the -nature of the wizard's other thefts she caused to be restored to their -rightful owners all the magic appliances in the Silver King's den. The -Scarecrow had already reported the stupefied condition of the other -occupants of the palace, so Ozma's next thought was to restore them -to their accustomed selves. No sooner was the Cowardly Lion released -than he crawled under a table, but the Hungry Tiger rushed out on the -balcony, growling and lashing his tail, as he thought of the indignity -he had suffered. - -After a short conference with Handy Mandy, Ozma freed all the potted -prisoners of the wicked wizard, and made Nifflepok King of the Silver -Mountain. She moved the cliff dwellings of the people to the outside -of the mountain so Wutz's pale subjects could enjoy with the rest of -the Gillikins, the bright sunshine and beneficent climate of Oz. The -Magic Mountain itself, with all its dark pits and jeweled caverns, -Ozma sealed up tightly and forever. The wizard's agents were turned -to moles, for they were already more like these boring little animals -than men. After each magic wish or transformation, the little group in -the royal sitting room would look in the magic picture, which Ozma had -immediately repaired. And in each case Handy felt that the ruler of Oz -had used both wisdom and good judgment. Nox, as they were watching the -wizard's agents turn to moles, gave a snort of surprise, for the first -figure shown was old King Kerr, who was really Number Nine. As the -wicked impostor changed quickly from a man to a mole and scurried off -the throne and away to bury himself in the blue forest, Nox and Handy -both heaved a sigh of relief and satisfaction. - -While Ozma was working on the magic safe, Handy, deciding to try a -little of her own magic, softly tapped the silver hammer on the arm -of her chair. At once, and to the delight and interest of everyone, -Himself, the elf, appeared astride the arm, holding a small cactus -plant in each hand. - -"I wish you in the future to obey the summons of her Majesty, Ozma of -Oz," smiled the Goat Girl, placing the silver hammer as she spoke, in -Ozma's lap. "This young fairy is more experienced in magic than I, and -will know how to use the hammer to best advantage." - -"Oh, all right! But I rather liked working for you," grinned Himself. -"And say, I tried to turn these rascals to plants but this was the best -I could do." Setting the two pots of cactus down on a small writing -desk, the hammer elf bowed first to Handy and then to Ozma. "Wait! -Don't go!" begged the little Fairy as Himself showed unmistakable signs -of disappearing. "Do tell us about this silver hammer and who owned it -first." - -"It belonged to Wunchie, a witch of the West, who's lived in the -Munchkin Mountains for about a thousand years, and used it to control -as many of the Munchkin Kings as she could," explained the dwarf -balancing himself cleverly on an ink well. - -"Then I suppose Wunchie was responsible for the prophecy in Keretaria?" -surmised Nox, blinking his eyes at the hammer elf. The dwarf nodded -cheerfully. "Yes, Wunchie invented that prophecy," he told them, "and -placed her own white oxen in the country. Each time she had trouble -forcing the King to do as she wished, she tapped him and the ox on -the head with her hammer. But I took rather a fancy to you," admitted -Himself looking fondly at Nox. "So, when she ordered me to tap you off -and traded little King Kerry to Wutz for a basket of jumping beans and -put Wutz's agent on the throne of Keretaria, I decided to take a hand -myself. So I gave you only a light tap and at the same time, I stored -enough magic in your horns to help you find Kerry--and with the help of -this handy Goat Girl you DID find him!" beamed the hammer elf. "I knew -my magic was good. You can't work for a witch without learning good -magic. But now, since everything is turning out so splendidly, I'll -just go back to my tree stump. One, two--three, back--to--my--tree!" - -"But what became of the witch?" cried Ozma catching hold of the dwarf's -purple beard, for his head had already vanished. - -"Ha, ha! She exploded and popped off!" roared a voice from the place -where the elf's head had been. "I told her not to eat those jumping -beans! And after that, I buried her hammer in the garden of Keretaria -and there it stayed till Handy ploughed it up. Goodbye all!" And the -body of the hammer elf melted into nothing and was gone. - -"My--y, what a clever fellow!" chuckled Handy. "So, now Wutz and -Ruggedo are a couple of cactuses! Mm--mmm! Mmmm--mm! Unpleasant to the -last! Do you suppose anyone can ever disenchant them? For goatness -sake be careful!" begged Handy as Jellia, in answer to her Mistress's -ring, came to carry the plants to the conservatory. "Whatever you do, -don't drop 'em. And to think that the Wizard is potted himself! Well, -I'll never have a hand in breaking his enchantment!" - -"I never thought anyone could ever break Ruggedo's enchantment," -confessed Ozma. "When I changed him to a jug, I commanded him to keep -that shape till he was broken by the seventh hand of a traveling -Mernite. And at that time I did not even know there was such a place as -Mt. Mern or a clever Goat Girl like Handy." - -"But aren't you glad there was!" shouted the little Wizard of Oz -tossing up his hat and catching it on his nose. "Aren't we all glad to -know Handy Mandy, Nox and this jolly young King?" - -"Long live the Royal Ox and the Little King of Keretaria!" cried the -cheering Ozites. "Long live Handy Mandy, the seven-armed wonder of the -world and OZ!" And, of course, they will live long--everyone lives long -in Oz. But even if Handy lives to be a hundred, she will never forget -the grand banquet given that evening in her honor. Besides the famous -people she already knew, the Goat Girl was presented to all the other -celebrities at Ozma's court, and shaking hands with them heartily and -seven at a time, she had never been so flattered and fussed over in -her life. Nox and Kerry came in for their share of honors, too. There -was nothing the Ozians would not have done for their three new friends -and rescuers. Ozma, overwhelmed by Handy's generosity in giving her -the silver hammer, and already indebted to her for saving the Kingdom, -racked her brains for some wonderful gift to reward the brave mountain -lass. But it was Nox who solved the difficulty by confiding to Ozma -that Handy desired more than anything else a set of gloves for her -hands. It seemed she had never had enough gloves for more than two at -a time. So, smiling secretly to herself, Ozma gave the Goat Girl seven -sets of fine kid gloves and an emerald necklace that wound three times -round her sturdy neck. With the necklace, a complete new outfit and her -forty-nine gloves, Handy Mandy felt herself quite ready for high life -and royal society. - -"Though you really should wear a boxing glove on that iron hand," -whispered the Scarecrow, as Handy blushingly resumed her seat after -Ozma's speech of presentation. "Stay in the Emerald City and we will -make you a general in the army," promised the straw man earnestly. But -Handy shook her head with tears of merriment in her eyes. Though she -never quite forgave Scraps for pushing her over, she and the Scarecrow -were already as friendly and easy as an old pair of shoes. "Handy -Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday," the -straw man had nicknamed her because she had a hand for every day in the -week. - -Nox had insisted on Himself being invited to the banquet and the clever -elf added much to the pleasure and hilarity of that memorable occasion. -Indeed, many times afterward when she felt bored or lonely, Ozma would -summon Himself just to amuse and cheer her up. The silver hammer was -stored away with the other important magic treasures and is regarded -by many as the most powerful magic in the castle. Handy Mandy kept the -blue flower to help her on future journeys and after she and her two -friends had spent a happy week in the Emerald City, Ozma reluctantly -wished Kerry and Nox to Keretaria and the Goat Girl back to Mt. Mern. - -Here, for a month, Handy Mandy astonished the villagers with the story -of her travels, then gathering up her goats she took herself and them -back by a fast wishing pill the Wizard had given her--to the Kingdom of -Keretaria. As the Goat Girl's hands retained all of their strength and -willingness, and Nox's horns all their magic--even to giving wise and -useful messages, these two and little Kerry ruled the Kingdom between -them with such skill and cleverness everyone was enormously happy and -prosperous! - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Handy Mandy in Oz, by -Ruth Plumly Thompson and L. 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