L. Frank Baum - Oz 24

by The Yellow Knight Of Oz

  “I knew you’d get away from that old scalawag,” chuckled the jester. “We’ve been watching for you. Seen Hokus since he pokused the spearmen?”

  “No,” admitted Speedy, settling with a tired groan into the saddle between his two friends. “But I know where the magic date seed is hidden!”

  “You do!” cried Peter, and Marygolden looked at him in round-eyed admiration, while Stampedro pricked up both ears and began to prance sideways.

  “Uh-huh!” wheezed Speedy, still out of breath from his long run. “Do you think you could carry us back to your horse chestnut tree, Stampedro?” The horse hastily shook his head for “yes,” and as Speedy, between jounces and bounces, told all that had happened, he galloped headlong through the Sultan’s orange groves away toward the enchanted forest of Oz.

  “Wasn’t it lucky I happened to mention the date seed while I was looking through that magic telescope? Won’t Sir Hokus be surprised? Curses! I hope the Sultan hasn’t caught him, though.”

  “Yon Knight knows his Sultans, never fear. But why have you brought the Sultan’s dog?’ inquired Peter, looking inquisitively at Confido, whom he now spied for the first time.

  “That,” smiled Speedy mysteriously, “is my secret.”

  “But isn’t he perfectly precious? Can I hold him?” begged Marygolden, turning round to have a better view.

  “Yes, but hold him tight,” cautioned Speedy, and bade Stampedro stop while he transferred the little dog to Marygolden’s arms. “He’s a girl’s dog anyway,” he announced condescendingly, “and you can have him if you wish.”

  “Oh, Speedy!” Hugging Confido with one arm and putting the other around Speedy to keep from falling off, Marygolden fairly squealed with delight, and Stampedro, with an impatient snort, bounded forward. Dusk had deepened into night, and long afterward Speedy remembered that thrilling gallop through the shadowy forest with only the faint moonlight and an occasional star to show them a path between the trees. But Stampedro, without one false turn or unnecessary step, brought them at last to the great horse chestnut tree.

  “Here we are! And better still, I can talk again,” he cried, shaking his head until all the gold tassels on his armor danced in the wind.

  “Hurray!” shouted Speedy. “That’s more like!” And patting Stampedro’s curving neck, he slid to the ground and hurried over to the hollow tree.

  “Will’st alight, maiden?” said Peter Pun, tumbling after Speedy, and reaching up to help Marygolden. “Will’st alight in the dark, and shed the radiance of your beauty upon the gloomy scene?” Marygolden laughingly gave Peter her hand, and soon all three were peering into the hollow tree. Speedy, on his hands and knees, was feeling around with his flashlight for the magic stone.

  “It’s here!” he cried, springing up so suddenly that he bumped his head. “It’s here, and here it is!” Stepping out of the hollow tree, he placed the shining yellow stone in the palm of his hand and held it out to the others. Stampedro, who had dropped to his knees so that he could see into the tree better, bounded up with an excited little whinny.

  “Well, now that we have it, what shall we do with it, Smallfellow?”

  “Why all we have to do is touch all the people who are enchanted,” explained Peter Pun, hopping round and round on one foot. “Touch that oak behind you, Speedy. I swear it winked at me just now.

  “But we can’t go through the whole forest touching trees,” objected Speedy. “Besides, we might miss some.

  “Well, what are we going to do?’ asked the

  jester impatiently.”

  “That’s up to Confido,” announced Speedy calmly. “Didn’t you hear the Sultan say to-day that Confido knew everything? Like as not he knows the secret of all these transformations. That’s why I brought him along, for now he can talk as well as listen, and tell us all he knows.” “By the ears of my mother’s cow!” sputtered Peter Pun, staring admiringly at Speedy. “You’re a quick one!” Shrugging his shoulders carelessly but secretly thinking Peter was right, Speedy now turned to Confido.

  “Will you tell us how we can release the King of the Golden City and his subjects?” he asked coaxingly. “Surely you do not want them to be imprisoned in this forest forever. Will you tell us how the Sultan’s evil spell may be broken?”

  “Woof!” barked the little dog sulkily. “Woof! Woof!”

  “Why, he cannot talk at all!” wailed Peter Pun, in bitter disappointment.

  “Oh, yes he can,” insisted Speedy. “He just won’t.”

  “Speak, dog, or I will flatten you under my foot!” trumpeted Stampedro, flashing his great eyes at the proud little Peke.

  “Let me ask him?” begged Marygolden, as Peter and Speedy reached angrily for the Imperial

  Puppy.

  “Darling,” crooned the Princess, “you’re going to be mine forever, and never have to listen to that savage old Sultan again. You shall have as many saucers of cream and chicken hearts as you wish and do just as you want, always. Couldn’t you tell me the little secret of the magic dates?” Cuddling the little dog under her chin, Marygolden looked pleadingly into his eyes. Now if there was one dish Confido relished above all others it was chicken hearts. Then, too, he had grown terribly tired of the whispering old Sultan and his eternal secrets, and now that he was to belong to this pretty girl, he decided there would be no harm in telling all he knew.

  “Yes, I could tell you,” drawled the little dog in his condescending voice, “for I perceive that you are of royal blood. But these others—!” Sneezing violently to show his contempt for Peter and Speedy, Confido climbed on Marygolden’s shoulder and whispered five words in her left ear.

  CHAPTER 17

  The Restoration of Corumbia

  WHAT did he say?” begged Speedy, hurrying up to the Princess.

  “First plant the date seed!” Solemnly Marygolden repeated the little dog’s instructions.

  “That’s easy enough,” observed Speedy, and taking out his knife cut a small hole in the ground and dropped the yellow stone in. Covering the stone with earth, he jumped up expectantly.

  “What next?” Confido looked coldly through the boy and again whispered confidently to Marygolden.

  “Pluck the six dates when they grow,” directed the Princess, “for if any of the magic dates are lost, all will be restored by planting the seed of any one of them,” A little patch of moonlight fell on the

  spot where the five watchers stood waiting for the magic seed to sprout. Speedy, growing impatient, took out his flashlight and knelt directly over the raised mound of earth. Before he could straighten up, there came a rip, tear, and rustle, and as Peter, Marygolden, and Stampedro started back, the heavy fronded head of a date palm, followed by the straight stout trunk of the tree itself, burst through the soil, and catching Speedy on the top shot up, up, and out of sight. In vain they all tried to catch a glimpse of their adventurous young comrade, but it was no use, for the palm soared above the tallest oaks in the forest.

  “Now see what you’ve done!” panted Stampedro, glaring at Confido, but Peter Pun held up his hand warningly.

  “Hark!” whispered the jester softly. “Hark! Troubles never come singly. Methinks we are pursued.” True enough, heavy steps came thudding toward them, and the snap and crackle of twigs brushed by some heavy body.

  “Mount up! Mount up and we’ll be off!” wheezed the Yellow Knight’s horse. ” ‘Tis the Sultan, no doubt, and all his men! Up with you! Up with you!”

  “And leave Speedy here all by himself?” wailed Marygolden, putting both arms round the

  palm tree.

  “Let us not fly until we see what manner of creature pursues,” murmured Peter, peering fearfully into the shadows. “Hah, ‘tis a camel,” he continued, as a long neck was thrust into the rim of moonlight, “a camel, and like as not the Sultan.”

  “It’s Sir Hokus!” trilled Marygolden. “It’s our very own Good Knight of Oz.”

  “What ho, everybody! Everybody, what HO!” blustered Sir
Hokus, as Camy, with a great rattling and tossing of saddle sacks, trotted into the circle around the palm tree. “And what dost thou here? All the way from the Sultan’s castle I’ve followed the tracks of Stampedro, and at last I have found you all.” With a weary sigh, he looked from one to the other. Then, suddenly missing Speedy, he peered anxiously over the Camel’s hump. “Where’s the boy?” he asked sharply. Without answering they pointed up at the palm tree. Then Marygolden and Peter together told how Speedy had escaped from Samandra, had cleverly stolen Confido and had discovered the whereabouts of the magic date seed and, following the little dog’s directions, had been carried aloft with the magic palm.

  “How now, and we’ll soon end this,” grunted Sir Hokus, and tumbling without ceremony off Camy’s back, he lifted his battle-axe. “I’ll fell this monstrous tree.

  “Stop! Stop! That were indeed a fell deed.

  If he fell all that way, He’d be smashed, ‘lack-a-day!”

  “If you take my advice,” yawned the little dog, curling up more cozily in Marygolden’s arms, “you’ll do nothing.” This brought a burst of indignation from Speedy’s comrades, but as they stood arguing, the palm tree began to grow down, sliding silently into the earth like a great greased pole. As the leaves at the top came into view, and before they touched the ground, Speedy leapt from the center and

  the palm leaves were instantly swallowed up in the earth.

  “I’ve got them,” panted the boy, triumphantly waving a bunch of ripe dates. ‘All six! Say, when did you come?” Rushing over to Sir Hokus, he clapped him joyfully on the back. “Say, now that we’re all together nothing can molest us again!”

  “Right!” boomed Sir Hokus. “And with a lad like yourself to help, we’ll soon have the King in his castle. A clever move to bring the little dog. Odds bodikens! You’ll be knighted for this!”

  “But what happened to you?” breathed Speedy. “And is this really the Comfortable Camel of

  Oz?”

  “At your service,” mumbled Camy, beginning to nibble at the twigs and smiling kindly between mouthfuls as Sir Hokus introduced Speedy, Marygolden, and Stampedro. “But I hope never to find myself in Samandra again. What a dumb place, and what a place to be dumb!”

  “I agree with you,” whinnied Stampedro, pawing the earth at the very thought. “But tell us, Sir Knight, how you came off so successfully.”

  “Easily enough,” exclaimed Sir Hokus, leaning heavily on his lance. “Guided by my nose, which has ever been as keen as my sword, I soon located the Sultan’s Camel Quarters. Knocking Samandrans right and left” (he gave a little pantomime ofjust how this had been done) “I called loudly for Camy, who immediately answered my hail. Though he could not talk I recognized his voice and soon had him loose. Then I headed straight for this forest, picking up the footprints of Stampedro soon after I left the castle, and came hot-foot after you.

  “You mean I came hot-foot,” chuckled the Comfortable Camel, winking at Peter Pun.

  “Have it your own way,” smiled Sir Hokus. “But here we all are, and now that we have the magic dates, let us proceed with the disenchantment of this King and his subjects. Then if yon villainous Sultan rides after us, there’ll be plenty of good men to fight.”

  “That’s an idea,” breathed Speedy. “I forgot about the Sultan. Now tell us, Confido, what do we do next?”

  “It’s long past my bedtime,” sniffed the pampered little Peke. “I don’t see any cushions to sleep on, and why should I bother my head about this silly King and his subjects? He never did anything for me!” At this heartless speech Stampedro put back his ears, showed his teeth and had to be held by Sir Hokus to keep him from biting a piece out of the Imperial Puppy. And though Speedy and Peter Pun coaxed and commanded, Confido answered all their questions with yawns, and finally closing his eyes pretended to snore. Then Marygolden, giving him a little shake, began to whisper in his ear.

  “This King will no doubt reward you handsomely,” promised the Princess recklessly. “He’ll give you golden bowls, and collars, and anything you wish, if you release him from this cruel enchantment.”

  “That’s so,” muttered Confido, opening his eyes and wriggling his nose. “I hadn’t thought of that. And since you have asked me, Princess, here goes. Take the smallest date,” he directed, in his insolent little voice, “eat the date and bury the seed as you did before.”

  “What?” cried Speedy impatiently. “All that to do over again?” Confido nodded. Speedy was

  not at all fond of ripe dates, but he was so curious to see what would happen that he swallowed it down without a murmur and buried the seed, this time a brilliant red stone, beneath a tall oak. Then, breathless and expectant, the little company of rescuers stood back to watch and listen.

  Of all his wonderful experiences, Speedy remembered the scene in the enchanted forest best. It seemed, while it was happening, like some strange, bewildering dream. For suddenly the murmur and whisper of the leaves became the murmur and whisper of many voices. The great oak dwindled and changed to a King so tall, straight, and handsome that a little cry of admiration burst from Speedy’s lips. Oaks and pines all around them melted into Knights, hale, hearty, and splendid, with gleaming lances and shining armor. From the horse chestnut trees, stamping, prancing steeds charged in a glittering array, tossing their heads, whinnying, neighing, and calling joyfully for their riders. Stampedro was off in an instant, bounding here and there among the Knights, but finding nowhere the one he was seeking. Saplings, while Speedy and Marygolden gasped and marvelled, became laughing troops of merry children, old bent trees turned into councilors and wise men of the Court. Bushes became pages and seneschals bearing flaming torches. The willows by the river were the Queen and her ladies, in great green ruffs like Marygolden had worn, in velvet and lace and the long trailing dresses of long ago. One would have thought that not a tree would remain standing in the whole forest, but the enchanted ones were hardly missed. A sage bush became a sage, in fact. The lyre bush that had so puzzled Sir Hokus, was the King’s minstrel, and striking his small harp he began instantly to sing. The trumpet vines became trumpeters, and while the little band of adventurers gazed in rapture and delight, the King found the Queen, and putting his arm around her, raised his hand for silence. “Columbians!” cried the King in his grave, deep voice. “By some unexplained miracle we have been released from our wearisome enchantment. Is my son, the Yellow Knight of Oz in this company?” There was a tense silence and everyone looked expectantly around, but the Yellow Knight neither spoke nor answered. “I know,” cried the Queen, suddenly clapping her hands. “The Prince awaits us in the castle!” “To the castle! On to the castle!” roared the Corumbians, swarming round Their Majesties.

  “All the King’s horses and all the King’s men, And all the King’s court are together again!”

  mused Peter Pun, and breaking away from Sir Hokus and Speedy, he hurried over to the King and flung both arms about his knees. The King seemed as rejoiced to see Peter as the jester was to see him, and lifting him up embraced him heartily. Then Peter, for the moment serious and strangely dignified, turned from the King and called loudly. “Under yonder oak stand the liberators of us all: Speedy, a boy from far-off America, Sir Hokus of Pokes from the Emerald City, an enchanted Princess, the Comfortable Camel of Oz, and our own Stampedro!”

  “Don’t forget me,” barked Confido temperishly. “I’m about the most important person here!” But in the cheering and confusion following Peter’s announcement, no one even heard the little dog. Marygolden, Speedy, and Sir Hokus were tossed up on the shoulders of the crowd and borne triumphantly to the Golden Castle. Two Knights led Gamy, and two more walked beside Stampedro, and the flare of the torches, the blare of the trumpets, and neighing of the war horses made it a noisy and memorable march. As they entered the tumbledown and mined courtyard, the page boys on the tower again blew upon their golden horns,

  “The salute to my son!” exclaimed the King of Corumbia breathlessly. �
��My son, the Yellow

  Knight, must be somewhere near.” Scarcely noting the ruin and decay in his palace, the King rushed inside. A little silence fell upon the company as by the light of the torches they looked upon the wild and weedy castle. Softly the Queen began to weep, hiding her face in her long green veil. Seeing this, Speedy slid quickly from the shoulder of the Knight who carried him.