“Were you the Black Knight who challenged Sir Hokus to combat the day he rode out to win the Princess of Corabia?” asked Ozma. Without meeting her eye, the Sultan nodded.
“And did you, by yellow and forbidden magic, send Sir Hokus to Pokes and change Marygolden to a statue and give her into the keeping of the Shah of Subterranea?” Again the Sultan nodded, and suddenly catching sight of Confido nestling in the Princess’ arms, gave a shriek of rage and jealousy.
“Wretch!” shrilled the Sultan. “Perfidious puppy, you have betrayed me!” Then, realizing he was in the power of a Fairy powerful enough to destroy him utterly, he grew still and rigid and gazed unhappily at the floor.
“What shall be done to this wicked person?” sighed Ozma, looking thoughtfully at the rulers of Corumbia and Corabia. “You who have suffered through his treachery shall pronounce his sentence.” At this the Sultan trembled so violently that his heavy gold necklaces and anklets rattled like a prisoner’s chains.
“Humph!” exclaimed the Corabian monarch, looking over at the King of Corumbia. “What say you, neighbor?”
“Well,” puffed the King of Corumbia, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, “this villain has robbed us of five hundred years, but, on the other hand, doubtless saved us from that many toothaches and hair-cuts. Suppose we ask Queen Ozma to take away all his magic powers and appliances, force him to return all that he has stolen, and for five hundred years to stay within the boundaries of his own country?”
“Good enough,” agreed the King of Corabia, and while Speedy and Peter Pun and some of the others who thought the Sultan had got off far too easily looked a bit disappointed, Ozma with a few magic
passes rendered all of the Sultan’s spells and wizardry useless. Then, as his presence spoiled the view and good spirits of an otherwise cheerful and charming company, she instantly transported him back to Samandra where he is doubtless complaining to Tuzzle or bullying the Grand Bozzywoz at this very moment. Confido and Camy without a quiver saw their former master vanish away. Then, with a satisfied sniff, Confido dozed off in the lap of the Princess, dreaming of all the gold bowls and collars he should require of the two Kings as a reward. At high noon the marriage of Marygolden was solemnized with much merriment and magnificence. Speedy, in a suit of silver satin, with knee breeches and silver buckles on his shoes, looked, if not as tall, quite as fine as the bridegroom himself. Stampedro and Camy were decked out in enormous collars of roses in honor of the bride, and with so many Royalties present it was an affair long talked of and remembered by those lucky enough to be present. Sir Hokus, recalling his threatened wedding in Marshland, smiled with satisfaction and happiness, for here, surely, was all the music, gaiety, beauty, and pomp a Knight could ask for, and a bride so fair and lovely that he wished himself a thousand times braver and more handsome than he was. Ozma and Dorothy, cheered by the prospect of an early visit from the royal couple, found themselves growing as fond of the Yellow Knight as they had ever been of Sir Hokus; for in spite of his youth and gaiety he was really the same gentle, thoughtful, delightful person he had been always.
Speedy, looking down the long table lined with fine, friendly faces, realized that it was going to be hard to say good-bye. The boy from America had been knighted by both Kings and each had earnestly begged him to live always in the Land of Oz, but when the last song had been sung and the last toast to the bride had been given, Speedy leaned over and spoke a few words to Ozma. He found he could not say good-bye at all and wanted to slip away unnoticed and remember the bluff, merry company just as it was now.
“Tell them I’ll come back,” he whispered to Ozma. “Be sure to tell them that, but now I must be going home.” Ozma, with an understanding nod, touched her magic belt. One by one, like figures in a dream, the courtly company faded out and next thing Speedy knew he was curled up on the old leather sofa in Uncle Billy’s workshop.
“Why, hello!” said the inventor, looking up from a smoking test tube. “So there you are! I thought you’d be back soon. I knew nothing serious could happen to a nephew of mine.
“Did you, Uncle Billy, now, did you?” Vastly complimented, Speedy jumped up and gave him a regular bear hug. “But listen,” he crowed excitedly. “Nothing serious did happen, but boy haven’t I had neat fun?” And with the words tumbling out faster than water from a sieve, Speedy recounted the whole thrilling story of his adventures in the Skyrocket and afterward.
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 24 Page 14