The Elegant Elephant of Oz
Fortunately the doors of Randy's castle were high and wide, and the
rooms so large and spacious, even a guest as large as this elephant
could quite easily be accommodated. Still irritated by the Gatekeeper's
insolence, Kabumpo followed the young ruler to the throne room where he
sank stiffly to his haunches and waited in outraged silence for Randy
to speak. Randy, however, was so surprised and happy to see his old
friend and comrade, he could not utter a word. But the Elegant Elephant
could not long withstand the honest delight and affection beaming from
the young King's eyes, and under that kindly glow his wrath melted away
like fog in the sunshine.
"Well! Well!" he rumbled testily, "how do I look?"
"Elegant!" breathed Randy, stepping back to have a better view.
"Elegant as ever. You've worn your best robe and jewels, haven't you?"
"Always wear my best when I call on a King," said Kabumpo, smoothing
down his embroidered collar complacently with his trunk.
"And I believe you've grown a foot," went on Randy, standing on tiptoe
to pat Kabumpo on the shoulder.
"A foot," roared the Elegant Elephant, throwing back his head. "Oh,
come now, I couldn't have grown a foot without noticing it, and I still
have but four--here, count 'em! Say, who in hay bales gave you that
black eye?"
"YOU did." Randy fairly sputtered with mirth at Kabumpo's discomfited
expression. "I was just wishing someone would hit me in the nose, when
along came that rock and NOW look at me!"
"Yes," put in Uncle Hoochafoo, regarding Kabumpo severely through his
monocle. "Now look at him!"
"Well, why didn't you tell that wart of a doorkeeper I was expected?"
demanded Kabumpo explosively.
"The King of Regalia does not hold conversation with his doorkeeper,"
explained Randy's uncle, giving the Elegant Elephant a very sour look.
"Oh, he doesn't!" Kabumpo lurched grandly to his feet. "Well, it's time
somebody told him about the Elegant Elephant of Oz and how he should be
received and welcomed. Let me tell you, sirrah--trumpets blow when I
come and go in Pumperdink!"
"Then why did you ever leave there?" inquired the Duke coldly.
"Oh, Uncle, don't you remember, we were to review the Purple Guard at
five? YOU go," urged Randy, fearful lest the tempery old Duke would
still further insult the even more tempery old elephant. "Honestly, I
feel a cold coming on." Randy coughed plaintively, at the same time
winking at Kabumpo.
"Very well, I'll go," agreed his uncle stiffly. "But do not forget
there is a dinner for the Grape Growers at seven, a concert of the
Goat Herdsmen at eight, maneuvers of our Highland Guards in the Royal
Barracks at nine and--"
"Yes, yes! All right!" Randy fairly pushed his royal relative toward
the door.
"An ancient pest if I ever saw one," grumbled Kabumpo as the Grand Duke
disappeared with a very grim expression. "Great gooselberries! Do we
have to do all those dumb things? Why, it's six years since I've seen
you, Randy, and I kinda thought we'd have a cozy time all to ourselves."
"I never have any time to myself," sighed the young monarch wistfully.
"I do nothing but lay cornerstones and raise flags and stand around at
Royal Courts and Receptions. Everybody bows and bows. Why, it's got so
I even bow to myself when I look in the glass, and NOW--" Randy raised
his arms indignantly. "Now Uncle Hoochafoo says I must marry."
"Marry!" trumpeted Kabumpo, twinkling his eyes angrily. "What nonsense!
Why, you are nowhere near old enough to marry. You were only about ten
when I met you and that makes you sixteen now, though I must say you
don't look it!"
"Oh, no one in Oz looks his age," grinned Randy, "and you know I'd been
ten for about four years before I knew you, Kabumpo, so that makes me
twenty or so, doesn't it?"
"I don't care what it makes you," rumbled Kabumpo, "it makes me mad.
And to think I actually helped get you into all this boring business.
My ears and trunk, Kingling, it's up to me to get you out of it."
"How?" demanded Randy, folding his arms and leaning despondently
against the mantel. "How does one stop being a King, Kabumpo?"
"Why, by stopping," announced the Elegant Elephant, spreading his ears
to their fullest extent. "By taking a vacation, my fine young sprig. By
departing and going hence for a suitable season. Do you suppose I came
all the way from Pumperdink to hear Goatherds tootling on bells and
Highlanders tramping round a barracks? I came to see you, my boy, and
nobody else." Kabumpo paused to blow his trunk explosively on a violet
silk handkerchief. "And after that I thought we'd go and visit the Red
Jinn."
"Oh, Kabumpo, could we?" Randy's face brightened and then as quickly
fell. "I don't believe Uncle Hoochafoo will let me go," he finished
dolefully.
"A King does not ask whether or not he may go, he GOES," stated the
Elegant Elephant, beginning to sway like a ship under full sail. "But
to avoid all arguments we'll not start till later. Could you be ready
by midnight, young one?"
"Oh, I'm ready now," declared Randy, picking up his cloak from the
floor and snatching a sword from its bracket on the wall. "Why ever did
you wait so long, Kabumpo? You promised to visit me six months after I
was crowned."
"Well, you know how it is at a court." The Elegant Elephant sighed
and settled back on his haunches again. "If it isn't one thing
it's another, but here I am at last. So--order up your dinner and
a few bales of hay and a barrel of cider for me. I crave rest and
refreshment."
"And what about the Grape Growers, the Goatherds and Highlanders?"
worried Randy.
"Oh, them!" exclaimed Kabumpo inelegantly. "Here!" Seizing a pen from
the royal desk, he scribbled a defiant message on a handy piece of
parchment.
"No admittance under extreme penalty of the Law. Do not disturb! By
special order of His Majesty, King Randywell Handywell of Brandenburg
and Bompadoo."
"See, I remembered all your names, and I've used them all!" Opening
the door with his trunk, Kabumpo impaled the notice on the knob, then
quietly closed the door and turned the key in the lock. And only
once did they open it, and then to admit ten flustered footmen with
Randy's dinner and Kabumpo's cider and hay. To imperious raps, taps
and numerous notes thrust under the door by the young King's agitated
uncle, they paid no attention whatever. They were too busy talking over
old times and the exciting days when they had journeyed all over Oz,
and with the help of Jinnicky, the little Red Jinn, saved the Royal
Family of Pumperdink from the Witch of Follensby Forest.
Pumperdink, as most of you know, is in the north central part of the
Gilliken Country of Oz, and ruled by King Pompus and Queen Posy.
Their son, Prince Pompadore, has much to say about affairs in that
Kingdom, but it is to Kabumpo, his Elegant Elephant, that Pompus turned
oftenest for counsel and comfort. Given to the King by a celebrated
Blue Emperor, Kabumpo has proved himself so wise and sagacious, Pompus
depends on him for almost everything. It is Kabumpo who advises His
Majesty when to have his hair cut and put aside his woolen underwear,
when to go to the dentist, when to turn in his old four-horse chariot
for a twelve-horse model, when to save money--when to spend it, how
to get on with neighboring Kings and how to get on without them. In
fact, so heavy are the duties and responsibilities of this remarkable
elephant, 'tis a wonder, even after six years, he managed this visit to
Randy.
Randy's first meeting with Kabumpo had been more or less by chance.
Sent out disguised as a poor mountain boy to pass the seven severe
tests of Kingship required of Regalian Rulers, Randy had happened to
come first to the Kingdom of Pumperdink and had been hailed before the
King as a vagrant. The Elegant Elephant, taking an instant fancy to
the boy, had insisted that he be allowed to stay on as his own royal
attendant, and in this comical capacity Randy's adventures had begun.
For scarcely had he been in the palace of Pumperdink a week, before
Kettywig, the King's brother, and the Witch of Follensby Forest,
plotting to steal the crown, caused the whole royal family to disappear
by some strange and fiery magic. Barely missing the same fate, Randy
and Kabumpo managed to escape. On their way through the forest they
met a Soothsayer who told them to seek out the Red Jinn. Now no one in
Oz had ever heard of this singular personage, but after many delays
and hair-raising experiences, Randy and Kabumpo finally arrived at his
splendid red glass castle. Jinnicky, it turned out, was the Wizard of
Ev, and a merry and strange person he was. Jinnicky's whole body is
encased in a shiny red jar into which he can retire like a turtle at
will, and the little Wizard's disposition is so gay and jolly everyone
around him feels the same way. Not only did he welcome his visitors,
but set off immediately to help the Royal Family of Pumperdink out of
their misfortunes and enchantment. Once in Pumperdink, Randy, with the
help of the Red Jinn's magic looking-glasses, was able to trace the
lost King and his family and release them from the witch's spell. But
before that, and while he was traveling here and there with Kabumpo and
Jinnicky, the little Prince was fulfilling all the tests and conditions
required by the ancient laws of Regalia of their Kings. In other words,
he had made three true friends, served a strange King, saved a Queen,
showed bravery in battle, overcome a fabulous monster, disenchanted
a Princess, and received from a Wizard an important magic treasure.
And now, looking back on those brave, bright days, he could not help
thinking that earning his crown had been more fun than wearing it.
"I wish we could do it all over again," he mused, as Kabumpo, after
recalling their visit to Nandywog, the little giant, tossed off the
last of the cider.
"But think where we're going now," gurgled Kabumpo, setting down the
barrel with a resounding thud. "If something strange or exciting does
not happen on the way there or back, or in Jinnicky's castle itself,
I do not know my Oz and Evistery. Can't you just see Jinnicky's face
when we arrive? I wonder if Alibabble is still Grand Advizier and if
the magic dinner bell is still working. Yes! Yes? Who's there?" Kabumpo
raised his voice irritably as a persistent whistling came through the
keyhole.
"It's Dawkins," explained an anxious voice from the other side of the
door. "The Duke says as it's high time His Highness was in bed, Your
Highness!"
"Oh, be off with you. Go dive in the feathers yourself. His Highness is
going to sleep in here on the floor." Kabumpo stood so close and spoke
so violently through the keyhole, Dawkins was blown back against the
opposite wall. For a time footsteps pattered up and down the corridor,
then finally deciding the young King was to have his own way at last,
the footmen and courtiers and even Uncle Hoochafoo took themselves off.
But not till everything was absolutely quiet and still and everyone in
the castle asleep did Kabumpo and Randy venture forth. Then, stepping
softly as his own tremendous shadow, the Elegant Elephant with the
young King on his back slipped through the silent halls and deserted
courtyard, past the snoring sentries and keeper of the gate and on out
into the foresty Highlands beyond the palace wall. Here in the bright
white light of a smiling moon they took the highway to the north, for
the castle of the Red Jinn lies to the north by northeast of Regalia
and Oz.
"How'll we cross the Deadly Desert?" murmured Randy, drowsily clutching
the few belongings he had tied up in an old silver table-cloth. In it
he had his oldest suit, some clean underwear, his tooth brush and his
trusty sword.
"Never cross a desert till you come to it," advised Kabumpo. "And we've
crossed it before, you know."
"Yes, I know." Smiling to himself, Randy dropped his head on his
bundle, and lulled by the agreeable motion of his gigantic bearer, soon
fell asleep, to dream pleasantly of Alibabble and of Ginger, slave of
the Red Jinn's dinner bell.