At first it amused him to wander about the capital at night and see the streets illuminated by the bright conversation and light talk of his subjects but he soon tired of this, and often in the throne room, when his ministers and advisers assembled for a conference, the flash and glow from their foreheads was so annoying that Ruggedo was forced to wear his dark spectacles. Seeing what people say and hearing what they say are entirely different matters and the monarch of Menankypoo longed for the sound of a friendly voice. Even an unfriendly one would have been welcome. There were no magic appliances in the castle and after he had examined all the jewels and counted all the gold pieces in the treasury, tried on each of his regal robes and reviewed the Yellow Guardsmen a dozen times at least, Ruggedo sank down on his throne and yawning terrifically wondered what to do next. With all the riches and resources of Menankypoo at his disposal it seemed a shame to sit still and do nothing.
“Do you realize that with an army like ours, we could conquer every kingdom around here?” he wrote on his tablet one morning when he and Taka, the fat chancellor of Menankypoo, were breakfasting in the garden.
“How would your Majesty like to take a little walk along the sea wall?” The Gnome King, spelling out this question on the fat forehead of his chancellor, saw Taka wink at Kapoosa and make a slight pushing gesture.
“Hah, if I grow troublesome, they mean to shove me into the sea, as they probably shoved their former ruler,” thought the crafty gnome, and shaking his head in a vigorous ‘No” at Taka, he said no more of conquering. After all, it was better to be a dumb king in Menankypoo than a dumb and despised peddler in Oz. But every day the silence in the yellow castle grew more oppressive, and Ruggedo spent much of his time wandering along the sea shore by himself thinking of old times and battles. One morning, after an unusually long walk, he dropped down on a boulder to rest. The coast at this point was particularly rough and rugged and back of him rose a sheer wall of irregular rocks. Looking idly at the jagged mass, Ruggedo noticed a yellow cross on one of the stones. Tucking up his satin cloak, he scrambled upward and discovered that the rock thus marked was really a door. Extremely interested and excited, Ruggedo pressed his shoulder against the rock and pushed with all his might. But all his might was not very mighty and the door refused to budge. Then, suddenly remembering his magic, Ruggedo pushed the rock right on the yellow cross. Instantly and noiselessly it swung inward and Ruggedo, not expecting it to open so quickly, plunged headlong into a dim, damp cavern. A yellow lantern suspended by a chain from the ceiling cast a weird and wavering light over the rocky interior and under the lantern hung a crooked yellow sign:
THIS IS THE CAVE OF KADJ THE CONJURER.
Ruggedo, from his exceedingly uncomfortable position on the floor, had just succeeded in reading the sign when the door, with a whirr and a bang that blew out the lantern, slammed shut, leaving him in utter darkness.
CHAPTER 3
A Bright Idea Strikes the King
NOW gnomes, like cats and owls, can see in the dark, and Ruggedo’s red eyes flashed fearsomely around the conjurer’s cave. His first glance told him that Kadj was not at home. Panting with relief, for it is extremely dangerous to burst unawares upon strange magicians, Ruggedo rose and began tiptoeing cautiously about. The stone floor was covered with heavy rugs, the walls hung with jewelled swords and daggers, mystic maps and magic charts, while in every corner and available space stood monstrous metal chests studded with gems. There were no chairs nor tables but strewn about were quantities of soft cushions, and a bubbling green pool in the center filled the air with strange, uneasy murmurs. As the Gnome King reached the farthest end of the rocky room, a fire sprang up in the grate, and burning without wood or coal sent its long, flickering blue and yellow lights into every corner of the cavern.
“If I can just steal some magic and get off before this fellow returns everything will be fine,”
decided Ruggedo, with a greedy glance at the conjurer’s chests. Rushing over to the nearest one he tried to lift The lid. But the chest was locked by some magic and secret process. So were they all, and after trying each one in turn the gnome, in furious disappointment, jumped five times into the air and kicked a red cushion into the fireplace. But this did not help matters and only filled the cave with smoke. So, quieting down, Ruggedo began to examine the walls for secret cupboards or shelves and soon he discovered a small door under a bright piece of tapestry.
SURE CURE FOR EVERYTHING
said a notice on the door. Without a moment’s hesitation Ruggedo turned the knob.
“There may be something in here to restore my speech,” thought the excited little fellow, tugging frantically at the knob. Unlike the chests, it opened quite easily and down fell a blunt axe, striking Ruggedo such a blow on the forehead that he sailed through the air and fell with a terrific plunk into the green pond. Three times he sank under the bubbling waves, but the third time up he managed to grasp the rocky edge of the pool and pull himself out.
“Blazes and bluing!” blubbered the monarch of Menankypoo through his chattering teeth. “Willygoats and wildcats! If I had that conjurer I’d wring his neck-I’d-” His voice grew louder and louder, higher and higher, and finally died away in a frightened squeak. “Why, I’m shouting out loud!” sputtered the startled gnome, his eyes bulging with astonishment. “I can talk! I can sing! I can hear myself think!”
Flinging away his pencil Ruggedo began to laugh, cheer and yell at the top of his new found voice. There was a large lump on his forehead from the axe, and he was still wet and shivering from his plunge in the pool, but scarcely noticing these discomforts the delighted old elf ran shouting around the cave till his breath and his legs gave out together and he sank down exhausted on a heap of cushions. There he became calmer. Reflecting that any more noise might bring the owner of the cave he stopped shouting, but he could not refrain from whispering happily to himselfjust to see whether the enchantment of The silence stone had really been dispelled by the blow of the axe and the waters of the green pool. His voice, not heard for five long years, seemed perfectly beautiful to him and we cannot blame the little rascal for holding long and flowery conversations with himself.
Finally, fully convinced of his cure, Ruggedo hurried to the door of the cave. Clever as Kadj had proved himself to be, the Gnome King did not wish to run the risk of any more enchantments and was anxious to leave before the conjurer’s return. He had not decided upon any plan, but having regained his speech he felt that it was but a question of time before he would regain his old kingdom and revenge himself upon Ozma and her councillors. But entering the conjurer’s cave was one thing, leaving it quite another; and though Ruggedo pushed, pulled and pounded, though he tried long incantations and mysterious passes, the rock door refused to open. Horrors! What good was it to have his speech restored if he was to be sealed up in a hidden cavern at the mercy of a strange and powerful sorcerer? In a panic the Gnome King raced round and round the rocky prison, banging into The great chests, kicking the conjurer’s cushions right and left and hammering frantically on the stony walls.
He had circled the cave twice in his search for a hidden door or crevice and was leaning wearily against the painted panel beside the fireplace, when he heard a sharp and mysterious ticking. He put his ear inquiringly to The panel and as the ticking grew louder gave the panel a good hard push. Immediately and noiselessly it moved aside, revealing a huge and singular looking person in yellow.
Thinking it was Kadj himself Ruggedo jumped back as far as he could and with chattering knees stood looking up at the great fellow. He was dressed in the stately manner of The Menankypoos, but his head was of wood and his face was the face of a clock. As Ruggedo continued to gaze up at him the Clock Man, with a broad wink, stepped out of the narrow aperture and walking over to the mirror above the fireplace regarded himself long and critically. By this time Ruggedo’s curiosity had got the better of his fright and pattering after the Clock Man he tugged excitedly at his cloak.
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p; “I see by your dress and bearing that you are a subject of Menankypoo. I, for the present, am its king, and as we are both caught in this miserable cave let us put our heads together and see what can be done.” The Clock Man, who was polishing his glass face with a silk handkerchief, turned round at Ruggedo’s question and studied the gnome closely and curiously. Then he sat down upon a near-by chest, put his finger tips together and closed his eyes. It was exactly five minutes before twelve by his clock face, and Ruggedo, expecting him to speak in the same sign language as his other subjects, waited anxiously for his forehead to light up. But nothing of the kind happened and four minutes ticked off in silence. Only the great size of the fellow kept Ruggedo from jumping on his foot or kicking him violently in the shins. Pacing impatiently up and down, the tempery little gnome finally sprang up on a chest opposite.
“Are you deaf?” he screeched angrily. “Are you dumb? Can’t you even make signs?”
At Ruggedo’s rude cries the Clock Man stood up and a little door in his forehead flew open. A yellow bird perched in the doorway gave twelve shrill cuckoos and then with a whirr and a bang whizzed straight at the Gnome King, striking him with such force and suddenness that he fell over like a toy soldier shot with a cork gun. Bounding up in a fury, Ruggedo was just in time to see the yellow bird dart back to its little compartment, the door shut, and the Clock Man stifle a well-bred yawn. Not only was he a Clock Man, mind you, but a Cuckoo Clock Man! Snatching off his crown, Ruggedo was on the point of hurling it at the creature’s head, when a slip of yellow paper the bird had left on the chest attracted his attention. Muttering and sputtering, Ruggedo picked up the paper and read what was written there.
“I am Clocker, the Wise Man of Menankypoo, banished to the conjurer’s cave for putting bright ideas into the head of the former king. As my rescuer, I thank you, and will give you the same good counsel I gave to my former master. My first advice is: ‘Hold your tongue!’ How does this strike your Majesty?”
For a moment Ruggedo stared at the paper, too dumbfounded for words. Then, throwing caution to the winds, he rushed at the Cuckoo Clock Man and began to thump and hammer him with both fists.
“How dare You address me in this outrageous fashion, you old false alarm, you? I’ll have you baked, boiled and beheaded for this!” shouted the enraged little gnome.
Clocker did not seem greatly alarmed by these dreadful threats, and grasping Ruggedo by the collar held him out at arm’s length. Then, giving him a couple of good shakes, he dropped him hard on the floor and taking a book out of his pocket sat down on The chest and calmly began to read. Considerably subdued and blinking from the shock of his fall, Ruggedo sat thoughtfully on the floor and for several moments there was not a sound in the cave except the whirr and tick of the Wise Man’s works. “After all,” reflected Ruggedo at last, “nothing is to be gained by quarrelling, especially with a fellow three times my size.” So, rising stiffly, he put on his crown and swallowing his anger began to address the Wise Man in long wheedling sentences.
“As we are both prisoners in this wretched cavern, let us be friends and try to find some way to escape together,” began the Gnome King in a low voice.
The Cuckoo Clock Man looked inquiringly over his book and then nodded so pleasantly that Ruggedo went on to tell him the whole history of his life, how he had lost his own kingdom and had been banished and enchanted, how he had come to be monarch of Menankypoo, entered the conjurer’s cave and miraculously regained his speech. Now, concluded the Gnome King, he was not only anxious to regain his own kingdom but to gain, as well, ascendancy over the whole Land of Oz and revenge himself upon Ozma and everyone in the Emerald City. The first thing, naturally, was to escape from the cave. How, queried the wizened little elf, were they to do that? Remembering the shock of Clocker’s last retort, Ruggedo sprang behind a chest and peered anxiously around the corner at the Wise Man.
Ruggedo’s story had taken some time to tell and it was now a quarter past twelve, so, almost as soon as the gnome put his question, the Clock Man spoke, or rather struck again. This time the cuckoo screamed only once and quite politely carried the yellow paper down to the Gnome King. As Ruggedo read Clocker’s second message, his face grew red with annoyance, but as he was absolutely dependent upon the Wise Man for help, he managed with an effort to control himself.
“Keep your temper and I will help you,” said the yellow slip, “and tell you more than the time. Unlike most wise men, who talk continuously and say nothing, I speak every fifteen minutes. First, pick up your writing pad and pencil and, above everything, hold your tongue. If the Menankypoos discover that you can speak they will throw you into the sea. If we leave the cave together they will throw us both into the sea. Therefore you must leave the cave alone and act exactly as you did before you came here. When you reach the castle, collect as much of the gold and as many of the jewels as we can carry and hide them in a safe place. I will stay here and think up some way for us to leave Menankypoo and reach Oz. Kadj is away visiting his daughter, Cinderbutton, the witch, and will not return for a month, and as I do not require food I will be quite comfortable in the cave. On a hook by the fireplace you will find the conjurer’s es-cape. Put on the cape, jump into the fire and you will instantly find yourself outside. Return to-morrow and I will have something interesting to tell you. But remember, speak one word, and all will be lost!”
Sitting on the floor Ruggedo read the message over twice. “A fire escape!” he shuddered uneasily. “Perhaps this is a trick of the Clock Man to get rid of me. Perhaps I shall be burned to a crisp!” But on the whole the Wise Man’s advice seemed sensible, and finally deciding to take a chance Ruggedo came out from behind the chest, nodded to Clocker to show that he understood and began to look around for his tablet and pencil. When he had found them he shook hands with The Wise Man and stepped over to the fireplace. There, sure enough, was a long red cape hanging from a hook beside the mantel. Wrapping himself in its voluminous folds and feeling exceedingly frightened, Ruggedo jumped boldly into the fire. The last thing he saw in the Conjurer’s Cave was the Wise Man of Menankypoo looking at him warningly, his fingers to his lips.
Then, lightly as a balloon and without the slightest discomfort or inconvenience the Gnome King floated up Through the flames and in less than a second found himself on the rocks outside. The cape itself had vanished and with a gasp of relief Ruggedo realized that he was safe and also free again. Noting carefully the location of the cavern so that he could return again and resolved under no circumstance to utter a sound, he started on a run for his castle. Halfway there, happening to glance casually.. out to sea, he forgot all his good intentions.
“Rubyation!” yelled the gnome, clapping his hands to his head. “What does this mean?”
A great ship with red sails was bearing swiftly down upon Menankypoo and even at that
distance Ruggedo could see That her decks swarmed with armed men.
“Pirates!” quavered the Gnome King, jumping behind a rock. “P-pirates!” And for once in his wicked and wrong little life, Ruggedo was right.
Chapter 4
The Fall of Menankypoo
RUGGEDO’S first thought should have been for his subjects but as usual Ruggedo was thinking of himself. Instead of hurrying off to warn the easygoing citizens of Menankypoo of this awful and impending peril, the gnome cowered behind the rocks and watched the pirates land. This they did in quiet and orderly fashion in the ship’s small boats, until sixty of the villainous barelegged rascals had lined up on the beach. Then, grim and silent they moved toward the city, their scimitars flashing wickedly in the afternoon sunshine. It was almost dark when the pirates reappeared and the Gnome King, stiff and numb from his long wait behind the rocks, saw that they were driving the whole population of Menankypoo before them. Guardsmen, courtiers, men, women and children, even the little Menankypoodles, scampered in wild confusion before the invaders out to the very end of the sea wall.
“Sixty against six hundred,” m
arveled Ruggedo, shaking his head. “What fighters these fellows must be. Brine and brimstone! There goes Kapoosa!” And there, indeed, went the Major Dumbo, down with a mighty splash into the sea, where he sank with well-bred resignation and dignity to the bottom. With more interest than sympathy the bad little gnome watched the pirates pushing his former subjects into the water. “Serves them right for being so dumb,” muttered Ruggedo ill-naturedly, as the last of the Yellow Guardsmen sank beneath the waves. “A good soaking will be good for the lazy creatures.
“Now, whether or not Ruggedo was right in his conjectures I cannot say, but the water would certainly do them no harm, for as I said awhile back, it is impossible to hurt or destroy beings as magically constructed as the Menankypoos. Not knowing how to swim or rise to the surface, however, they clustered dumbly together at the bottom of the sea among the fishes, discussing anxiously the sudden and disastrous calamity that had overtaken them. Soon the waves for miles around were lighted with the electric flashes from their conversation. For a time the pirates amused themselves watching the lights play like phosphorescence on top of the water; then with blood curdling yells and screeches they jumped down from the sea wall and soon the silent City of Menankypoo rang with the shouts; cheers and revelry of its conquerors. Now, Ruggedo had no desire to share the fate of his subjects and while a gnome cannot be destroyed by water, he did not intend to spend his time at the bottom of the Nonestic Ocean.
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