Betsy and Ozma, delighted at the splendid victory, now came hurrying over and while the Hungry Tiger guarded the two rascals in the tree, Reddy took off his wig, and told Fizzenpop the story of their adventures, proudly displaying the three magic rubies of Rash.
At sight of the rubies, the delight and astonishment of the Grand Vizier knew no bounds, and after embracing Reddy a dozen times and prostrating himself twice before each of the others, the old statesman rushed back to the palace.
Next instant the tower bells were tolling out a joyful welcome to the Rightful Ruler of Rash
and, Fizzenpop, himself, in his best turban and tunic was reading a proclamation from the pink balcony stating that Evered, the Scarlet Prince had returned and the rule of Irashi the Rough was over forever.
“How about a little lunch?” proposed the Hungry Tiger, putting his paws over his ears to drown out the roars and cheers of the populace.
Overjoyed at Irashi’s downfall, the citizens of Rash were celebrating the victory as noisily as possible. “And what are we going to do with these two handsome rogues? I’ve a notion to eat them up!” the Hungry Tiger roared, glaring ferociously at the trembling pair in the tree.
“Well, they certainly deserve it,” exclaimed Betsy, looking severely at Irashi and Ippty. “Don’t you think so Carter?”
The kind hearted Vegetable Man pulled his corn ear in embarrassment. “Let Ozma and Reddy decide,” murmured Carter in a low voice. “They’re not an earthly bit of use to anyone, but perhaps they’ll reform,” he finished uncomfortably. At Carter’s words, the airman gave a sudden bounce, and a gleam of purpose came into his round eye.
“Tie them up,” advised Atmos, “especially that prickly fingered one. Then, after lunch we can decide what is to be done.”
“All right,” agreed Reddy, and to be sure that they would not escape, he put on his big wig. Then, picking the two Rashers out of the tree as if they had been toy soldiers, he wound them round and round with rope that Carter obligingly fetched from the castle. Ippty’s pen and pencily fingers he bound up securely in strips of his handkerchief, which, grown to giant size, was large as a sheet. Then, with the two culprits tramping gloomily before them, the conquerors marched gaily to the pink palace where a splendid repast already awaited them.
The Hungry Tiger’s eyes shone with joy as he looked down the long table. One entire end had been reserved for him.
“Isn’t this better than Rash prisoners?” whispered Fizzenpop, leading him kindly to his place and waving to the rare steaks and roasts he had provided.
With a troubled glance at Ozma, the Hungry Tiger nodded. He hoped that Fizzenpop would not tell the others why he had come to Rash. But Betsy and Ozma were talking so busily, they never even heard the Grand Vizier’s remark. “And if Ippty and Irashi are disposed of, I have nothing to fear,” thought the tiger uneasily.
Reddy, still in his shabby clothes, but wearing the splendid ruby crown of Rash, seated himself at the head of the table and, with Ozma on his right and Betsy on his left, presided in a truly royal manner. Carter and Atmos did not eat at all, but their jokes and questions kept the whole company in a roar of merriment.
“It is seldom,” observed old Fizzenpop, gazing fondly at the little Prince, “it is seldom that a city is captured without one broken bone.”
“I am glad I did not break mine,” said the airman, patting his chest proudly.
“Yours?” gasped Betsy, “Why Atmos, have you any bones?”
“One,” admitted the airman, feeling his side experimentally. “It’s a floating rib, and I never know just where it will be. Every airman has a floating rib,” confided Atmos blandly. “It helps them to
float.”
“Well, I think you are one of the most interesting persons I have ever met,” cried Reddy, jumping to his feet. “And Carter’s the other. Oh I do wish you would all stay in Rash. Won’t you please stay? Betsy and Ozma can take turns being Queen, Carter can be royal gardener and the Hungry Tiger and Atmos can be anything they want.”
“Thanks,” murmured the airman, “but what about my lecture? Besides,” he looked bashfully from one to the other, “I’m engaged to an Heiress and must return to the sky. But someday, when you have a few years to spare, I hope you’ll all visit me and we’ll go on a regular sky-lark.”
“Oh, I’d love to,” cried Betsy Bobbin.
“You talk as if you were leaving us,” objected the Hungry Tiger, raising himself with an effort. He had eaten a tremendous luncheon and could scarcely keep his eyes open.
“I am,” declared the airman solemnly, pushing back his chair. And before the others half realized what he was about, the huge fellow had seized Ippty and Irashi and vanished through the doorway.
CHAPTER 20
Safe in the Emerald City
WAIT! Wait!” begged Ozma, jumping up and hurrying after him. “Atmos Fere, Atmos dear, don’t you remember you promised to carry us across the desert and back to Oz?” By this time they had all run out into the garden, but Atmos did not even seem to hear their pleas. With Ippty and Irashi under one arm, he was feverishly kicking off his iron boots.
“These villains,” puffed Atmos, holding up his unhappy victims, “are as Carter said, of no use on the earth at all, but they will be very useful to me in the sky. Not as good specimens as I could have wished for, but I will take them back with me, to prove that there are really people at the bottom of the air. After the lecture, I shall drop them on some lonely island where they can do no further mischief,” declared Atmos calmly.
“Hurrah!” roared the Hungry Tiger, overjoyed that his secret would now be kept safely.
“After the lecture,” gasped Ozma faintly, “But that will be years and years by skytime?”
“Years and years,” acknowledged Atmos, with a grin, and freeing himself from one boot soared a hundred feet into the air. “Look out below!” he called warningly, “Here comes the other one.”
They had just time to dodge aside when the other iron boot came crashing to earth. “Goodbye!” shouted the airman in a faraway voice, “Goodbye, little Princess, I’ll see you again, some time!”
“Goodbye!” called Ozma, sadly. Standing on tip-toe, the whole company strained their eyes to catch a last glimpse of their strange fellow adventurer. But Atmos and the two wicked Rashers had already disappeared above the clouds.
“Oh!” wailed Ozma suddenly, “How are we going to cross the Deadly Desert now?”
“Don’t cross it,” begged Reddy again, “Stay here. Please, stay here!”
“Maybe Dorothy or the Wizard will look in the Magic Picture,” suggested Betsy hopefully. “Watch out Carter, you’re taking root again.”
With a little exclamation of annoyance, the Vegetable Man jerked himself loose and began to comfort the Princess of Oz.
“It was really the best thing that could have happened,” he assured her eagerly. “With Irashi and Ippty out of the way, Reddy can rule his Kingdom in peace, and while those two rogues will not really suffer, they will be kept out of mischief for years to come.
“That’s so,” mused Ozma, thoughtfully, “and I’m rather glad Atmos has some proof. He was such an old dear, when you got to know him.”
“You may have my big wig if you wish,” offered Reddy, generously, “but I’m afraid, even as a giant, you could not step across the desert.”
“No,” sighed Ozma, “I suppose not. Besides, every ruler should have at least one magic possession. With the Rash rubies and the giant’s wig you ought to be able to rule for many years without any trouble.”
“How about the rubies?” asked Carter. “Wouldn’t the ruby that protected us from the Gnome King protect us from the burning sands? Why, maybe it was that ruby that helped us to cross the desert in the first place. I had it then, you know!”
“I thought it was the quick sandals,” said Betsy. “Maybe the ruby would not work on sand Carter and-”
“I have thought of something!” cried Fizzenpop, who was a
nxious for Reddy to keep all of his magic treasures. “It would be unwise for her Majesty to risk crossing the desert with only the ruby to help her, but with our marvelous canes nothing could harm her at all.”
“Canes?” murmured Ozma.
“Hurry canes,” smiled the Grand Vizier. “With our patent action, triply guaranteed hurry canes you can all cross the Deadly Desert and safely return to Oz.”
“Oh, Fizzenpop!” exclaimed Reddy, in delight, “Why didn’t I think of that?”
The Hungry Tiger rolled up his eyes and shuddered, but the others, who had never ridden a Rash hurry cane, were charmed with the Grand Vizier’s suggestion. That evening, after Reddy had shown Ozma and the others all over his pretty pink Kingdom, and after the populace had given three cheers for the Rescuers of Rash, Fizzenpop took five hurry canes from the umbrella stand. Five, because at the last minute, Reddy insisted upon going to the Emerald City, too.
Giving Fizzenpop the giant wig, but keeping the Rash rubies himself, and promising to return in a month, Reddy mounted his hurry cane. Then, at a signal from the little Prince, each traveller clapped the head upon his cane and in five furious flashes they were off for Oz, and five minutes later, a little shocked and breathless, dropped down in the Emerald City itself.
Knowing that dear delightful place as you do, you can imagine the welcome accorded the travellers. There were feasts and processions and story tellings and parties enough to satisfy even the Hungry Tiger. For days nothing was talked of, but the marvelous adventures of Betsy Bobbin and the little Princess of Oz. Carter Green was so sought after and invited about, he could not have taken root, even had he wanted to. The little Prince Evered has since returned to his own country, but often comes over to spend a pleasant evening in the castle, bringing along his big wig, to entertain the Scarecrow.
As for the Hungry Tiger, he never drops off to sleep without thanking his stars he is not a kitten, and if at times he looks a little hollow-eyed and wan, he is on the whole happier than ever, for he has learned that it is better to have a stomach-ache than a heart-ache and the heart-aches he had in Rash, missing his friends, cured him forever of the desire to eat a live man.
In the pink palace of Rash the iron boots of Atmos are still shown to visitors, to prove that an airman really visited that country, and on clear nights old Fizzenpop, with a telescope, tries to catch a glimpse of his wicked countrymen.
THE END
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
L. Frank Baum - Oz 20 Page 13