Sorceress expects us, we must not keep her waiting."
So they all clambered out of the sofas and followed the Captain toward
the palace--even the Saw-Horse taking his place in the queer procession.
Upon her throne of finely wrought gold sat Glinda, and she could
scarcely repress a smile as her peculiar visitors entered and bowed
before her. Both the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman she knew and
liked; but the awkward Pumpkinhead and Highly Magnified Woggle-Bug
were creatures she had never seen before, and they seemed even more
curious than the others. As for the Saw-Horse, he looked to be nothing
more than an animated chunk of wood; and he bowed so stiffly that his
head bumped against the floor, causing a ripple of laughter among the
soldiers, in which Glinda frankly joined.
"I beg to announce to your glorious highness," began the Scarecrow, in
a solemn voice, "that my Emerald City has been overrun by a crowd of
impudent girls with knitting-needles, who have enslaved all the men,
robbed the streets and public buildings of all their emerald jewels,
and usurped my throne."
"I know it," said Glinda.
"They also threatened to destroy me, as well as all the good friends
and allies you see before you," continued the Scarecrow; "and had we
not managed to escape their clutches our days would long since have
ended."
"I know it," repeated Glinda.
"Therefore I have come to beg your assistance," resumed the Scarecrow,
"for I believe you are always glad to succor the unfortunate and
oppressed."
"That is true," replied the Sorceress, slowly. "But the Emerald City is
now ruled by General Jinjur, who has caused herself to be proclaimed
Queen. What right have I to oppose her?"
"Why, she stole the throne from me," said the Scarecrow.
"And how came you to possess the throne?" asked Glinda.
"I got it from the Wizard of Oz, and by the choice of the people,"
returned the Scarecrow, uneasy at such questioning.
"And where did the Wizard get it?" she continued, gravely.
"I am told he took it from Pastoria, the former King," said the
Scarecrow, becoming confused under the intent look of the Sorceress.
"Then," declared Glinda, "the throne of the Emerald City belongs
neither to you nor to Jinjur, but to this Pastoria from whom the Wizard
usurped it."
"That is true," acknowledged the Scarecrow, humbly; "but Pastoria is
now dead and gone, and some one must rule in his place."
"Pastoria had a daughter, who is the rightful heir to the throne of the
Emerald City. Did you know that?" questioned the Sorceress.
"No," replied the Scarecrow. "But if the girl still lives I will not
stand in her way. It will satisfy me as well to have Jinjur turned out,
as an impostor, as to regain the throne myself. In fact, it isn't much
fun to be King, especially if one has good brains. I have known for
some time that I am fitted to occupy a far more exalted position. But
where is this girl who owns the throne, and what is her name?"
"Her name is Ozma," answered Glinda. "But where she is I have tried in
vain to discover. For the Wizard of Oz, when he stole the throne from
Ozma's father, hid the girl in some secret place; and by means of a
magical trick with which I am not familiar he also managed to prevent
her being discovered--even by so experienced a Sorceress as myself."
"That is strange," interrupted the Woggle-Bug, pompously. "I have
been informed that the Wonderful Wizard of Oz was nothing more than a
humbug!"
"Nonsense!" exclaimed the Scarecrow, much provoked by this speech.
"Didn't he give me a wonderful set of brains?"
"There's no humbug about my heart," announced the Tin Woodman, glaring
indignantly at the Woggle-Bug.
"Perhaps I was misinformed," stammered the Insect, shrinking back; "I
never knew the Wizard personally."
"Well, we did," retorted the Scarecrow, "and he was a very great
Wizard, I assure you. It is true he was guilty of some slight
impostures, but unless he was a great Wizard how--let me ask--could he
have hidden this girl Ozma so securely that no one can find her?"
"I--I give it up!" replied the Woggle-Bug, meekly.
"That is the most sensible speech you've made," said the Tin Woodman.
"I must really make another effort to discover where this girl is
hidden," resumed the Sorceress, thoughtfully. "I have in my library a
book in which is inscribed every action of the Wizard while he was in
our land of Oz--or, at least, every action that could be observed by
my spies. This book I will read carefully tonight, and try to single
out the acts that may guide us in discovering the lost Ozma. In the
meantime, pray amuse yourselves in my palace and command my servants as
if they were your own. I will grant you another audience tomorrow."
With this gracious speech Glinda dismissed the adventurers, and they
wandered away through the beautiful gardens, where they passed several
hours enjoying all the delightful things with which the Queen of the
Southland had surrounded her royal palace.
On the following morning they again appeared before Glinda, who said to
them:
"I have searched carefully through the records of the Wizard's
actions, and among them I can find but three that appear to have been
suspicious. He ate beans with a knife, made three secret visits to old
Mombi, and limped slightly on his left foot."
"Ah! that last is certainly suspicious!" exclaimed the Pumpkinhead.
"Not necessarily," said the Scarecrow; "he may have had corns. Now, it
seems to me his eating beans with a knife is more suspicious."
"Perhaps it is a polite custom in Omaha, from which great country the
Wizard originally came," suggested the Tin Woodman.
"It may be," admitted the Scarecrow.
"But why," asked Glinda, "did he make three secret visits to old Mombi?"
"Ah! Why, indeed!" echoed the Woggle-Bug, impressively.
"We know that the Wizard taught the old woman many of his tricks of
magic," continued Glinda; "and this he would not have done had she not
assisted him in some way. So we may suspect with good reason that Mombi
aided him to hide the girl Ozma, who was the real heir to the throne
of the Emerald City, and a constant danger to the usurper. For, if the
people knew that she lived, they would quickly make her their Queen and
restore her to her rightful position."
"An able argument!" cried the Scarecrow. "I have no doubt that Mombi
was mixed up in this wicked business. But how does that knowledge help
us?"
"We must find Mombi," replied Glinda, "and force her to tell where the
girl is hidden."
"Mombi is now with Queen Jinjur, in the Emerald City," said Tip. "It
was she who threw so many obstacles in our pathway, and made Jinjur
threaten to destroy my friends and give me back into the old witch's
power."
"Then," decided Glinda, "I will march with my army to the Emerald
City, and take Mombi prisoner. After that we can, perhaps, force her to
tell the truth about Ozma."
"She is a terrible old woman!" remarked Tip, with a shudder at the
thought of Mombi's black kettle; "and obstinate, too."
"I am quite obstinate myself," returned the Sorceress, with a sweet
smile; "so I do not fear Mombi in the least. Today I will make all
necessary preparations, and we will march upon the Emerald City at
daybreak tomorrow."
[Illustration: "She is a terrible old woman."]
[Illustration: Jinjur]
[Illustration:
The Tin-Woodman
Plucks a Rose
]
[Illustration]
The Army of Glinda the Good looked very grand and imposing when it
assembled at daybreak before the palace gates. The uniforms of the
girl soldiers were pretty and of gay colors, and their silver-tipped
spears were bright and glistening, the long shafts being inlaid with
mother-of-pearl. All the officers wore sharp, gleaming swords, and
shields edged with peacock-feathers; and it really seemed that no foe
could by any possibility defeat such a brilliant army.
The Sorceress rode in a beautiful palanquin which was like the body of
a coach, having doors and windows with silken curtains; but instead
of wheels, which a coach has, the palanquin rested upon two long,
horizontal bars, which were borne upon the shoulders of twelve servants.
The Scarecrow and his comrades decided to ride in the Gump, in order
to keep up with the swift march of the army; so, as soon as Glinda had
started and her soldiers had marched away to the inspiring strains of
music played by the royal band, our friends climbed into the sofas
and followed. The Gump flew along slowly at a point directly over the
palanquin in which rode the Sorceress.
[Illustration]
"Be careful," said the Tin Woodman to the Scarecrow, who was leaning
far over the side to look at the army below. "You might fall."
"It wouldn't matter," remarked the educated Woggle-Bug; "he can't get
broke so long as he is stuffed with money."
"Didn't I ask you--" began Tip, in a reproachful voice.
"You did!" said the Woggle-Bug, promptly. "And I beg your pardon. I
will really try to restrain myself."
"You'd better," declared the boy. "That is, if you wish to travel in
our company."
"Ah! I couldn't bear to part with you now," murmured the Insect,
feelingly; so Tip let the subject drop.
The army moved steadily on, but night had fallen before they came
to the walls of the Emerald City. By the dim light of the new moon,
however, Glinda's forces silently surrounded the city and pitched their
tents of scarlet silk upon the greensward. The tent of the Sorceress
was larger than the others, and was composed of pure white silk, with
scarlet banners flying above it. A tent was also pitched for the
Scarecrow's party; and when these preparations had been made, with
military precision and quickness, the army retired to rest.
Great was the amazement of Queen Jinjur next morning when her soldiers
came running to inform her of the vast army surrounding them. She at
once climbed to a high tower of the royal palace and saw banners waving
in every direction and the great white tent of Glinda standing directly
before the gates.
[Illustration]
"We are surely lost!" cried Jinjur, in despair; "for how can our
knitting-needles avail against the long spears and terrible swords of
our foes?"
"The best thing we can do," said one of the girls, "is to surrender as
quickly as possible, before we get hurt."
"Not so," returned Jinjur, more bravely. "The enemy is still outside
the walls, so we must try to gain time by engaging them in parley. Go
you with a flag of truce to Glinda and ask her why she has dared to
invade my dominions, and what are her demands."
So the girl passed through the gates, bearing a white flag to show she
was on a mission of peace, and came to Glinda's tent.
"Tell your Queen," said the Sorceress to the girl, "that she must
deliver up to me old Mombi, to be my prisoner. If this is done I will
not molest her farther."
Now when this message was delivered to the Queen it filled her with
dismay, for Mombi was her chief counsellor, and Jinjur was terribly
afraid of the old hag. But she sent for Mombi, and told her what Glinda
had said.
"I see trouble ahead for all of us," muttered the old witch, after
glancing into a magic mirror she carried in her pocket. "But we may
even yet escape by deceiving this sorceress, clever as she thinks
herself."
"Don't you think it will be safer for me to deliver you into her
hands?" asked Jinjur, nervously.
"If you do, it will cost you the throne of the Emerald City!" answered
the witch, positively. "But, if you will let me have my own way, I can
save us both very easily."
"Then do as you please," replied Jinjur, "for it is so aristocratic to
be a Queen that I do not wish to be obliged to return home again, to
make beds and wash dishes for my mother."
So Mombi called Jellia Jamb to her, and performed a certain magical
rite with which she was familiar. As a result of the enchantment Jellia
took on the form and features of Mombi, while the old witch grew to
resemble the girl so closely that it seemed impossible anyone could
guess the deception.
"Now," said old Mombi to the Queen, "let your soldiers deliver up this
girl to Glinda. She will think she has the real Mombi in her power, and
so will return immediately to her own country in the South."
[Illustration]
Therefore Jellia, hobbling along like an aged woman, was led from the
city gates and taken before Glinda.
"Here is the person you demanded," said one of the guards, "and our
Queen now begs you will go away, as you promised, and leave us in
peace."
"That I will surely do," replied Glinda, much pleased; "if this is
really the person she seems to be."
"It is certainly old Mombi," said the guard, who believed she was
speaking the truth; and then Jinjur's soldiers returned within the
city's gates.
The Sorceress quickly summoned the Scarecrow and his friends to her
tent, and began to question the supposed Mombi about the lost girl
Ozma. But Jellia knew nothing at all of this affair, and presently she
grew so nervous under the questioning that she gave way and began to
weep, to Glinda's great astonishment.
"Here is some foolish trickery!" said the Sorceress, her eyes flashing
with anger. "This is not Mombi at all, but some other person who has
been made to resemble her! Tell me," she demanded, turning to the
trembling girl, "what is your name?"
This Jellia dared not tell, having been threatened with death by the
witch if she confessed the fraud. But Glinda, sweet and fair though she
was, understood magic better than any other person in the Land of Oz.
So, by uttering a few potent words and making a peculiar gesture, she
quickly transformed the girl into her proper shape, while at the same
time old Mombi, far away in Jinjur's palace, suddenly resumed her own
crooked form and evil features.
"Why, it's Jellia Jamb!" cried the Scarecrow, recognizing in the girl
one of his old friends.
"It's our interpreter!" said the Pumpkinhead, smiling pleasantly.
Then Jellia was forced to tell of the trick Mombi had played, and she
also begged Glinda's protection, which the Sorceress readily granted.
But Glinda was now really angry, and sent word to Jinjur that the
fraud was discovered and she must deliver up the real Mombi or suffer
terrible consequences. Jinjur was prepared for this message, for the
witch well understood, when her natural form was thrust upon her, that
Glinda had discovered her trickery. But the wicked old creature had
already thought up a new deception, and had made Jinjur promise to
carry it out. So the Queen said to Glinda's messenger:
[Illustration]
"Tell your mistress that I cannot find Mombi anywhere; but that Glinda
is welcome to enter the city and search herself for the old woman. She
may also bring her friends with her, if she likes; but if she does not
find Mombi by sundown, the Sorceress must promise to go away peaceably
and bother us no more."
Glinda agreed to these terms, well knowing that Mombi was somewhere
within the city walls. So Jinjur caused the gates to be thrown open,
and Glinda marched in at the head of a company of soldiers, followed by
the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman, while Jack Pumpkinhead rode astride
the Saw-Horse, and the Educated, Highly Magnified Woggle-Bug sauntered
behind in a dignified manner. Tip walked by the side of the Sorceress,
for Glinda had conceived a great liking for the boy.
Of course old Mombi had no intention of being found by Glinda; so,
while her enemies were marching up the street, the witch transformed
herself into a red rose growing upon a bush in the garden of the
palace. It was a clever idea, and a trick Glinda did not suspect; so
several precious hours were spent in a vain search for Mombi.
As sundown approached the Sorceress realized she had been defeated by
the superior cunning of the aged witch; so she gave the command to her
people to march out of the city and back to their tents.
The Scarecrow and his comrades happened to be searching in the garden
of the palace just then, and they turned with disappointment to obey
Glinda's command. But before they left the garden the Tin Woodman,
who was fond of flowers, chanced to espy a big red rose growing upon
a bush; so he plucked the flower and fastened it securely in the tin
button-hole of his tin bosom.
As he did this he fancied he heard a low moan proceed from the rose;
but he paid no attention to the sound, and Mombi was thus carried out
of the city and into Glinda's camp without anyone having a suspicion
that they had succeeded in their quest.
[Illustration]
[Illustration:
The Transformation
of Old Mombi
]
The Witch was at first frightened at finding herself captured by the
enemy; but soon she decided that she was exactly as safe in the Tin
Woodman's button-hole as growing upon the bush. For no one knew the
rose and Mombi to be one, and now that she was without the gates of the
City her chances of escaping altogether from Glinda were much improved.
"But there is no hurry," thought Mombi. "I will wait awhile and enjoy
the humiliation of this Sorceress when she finds I have outwitted her."
So throughout the night the rose lay quietly on the Woodman's bosom,
and in the morning, when Glinda summoned our friends to a consultation,
Nick Chopper carried his pretty flower with him to the white silk tent.
[Illustration]
"For some reason," said Glinda, "we have failed to find this cunning
old Mombi; so I fear our expedition will prove a failure. And for that
I am sorry, because without our assistance little Ozma will never be
rescued and restored to her rightful position as Queen of the Emerald
City."
"Do not let us give up so easily," said the Pumpkinhead. "Let us do
something else."
"Something else must really be done," replied Glinda, with a smile;
"yet I cannot understand how I have been defeated so easily by an old
Witch who knows far less of magic than I do myself."
"While we are on the ground I believe it would be wise for us to
conquer the Emerald City for Princess Ozma, and find the girl
afterward," said the Scarecrow. "And while the girl remains hidden I
will gladly rule in her place, for I understand the business of ruling
much better than Jinjur does."
"But I have promised not to molest Jinjur," objected Glinda.
"Suppose you all return with me to my kingdom--or Empire, rather," said
the Tin Woodman, politely including the entire party in a royal wave of
his arm. "It will give me great pleasure to entertain you in my castle,
where there is room enough and to spare. And if any of you wish to be
nickel-plated, my valet will do it free of all expense."
While the Woodman was speaking Glinda's eyes had been noting the rose
in his button-hole, and now she imagined she saw the big red leaves of
the flower tremble slightly. This quickly aroused her suspicions, and
in a moment more the Sorceress had decided that the seeming rose was
nothing else than a transformation of old Mombi. At the same instant
Mombi knew she was discovered and must quickly plan an escape, and
as transformations were easy to her she immediately took the form of
a Shadow and glided along the wall of the tent toward the entrance,
thinking thus to disappear.
But Glinda had not only equal cunning, but far more experience than
the Witch. So the Sorceress reached the opening of the tent before the
Shadow, and with a wave of her hand closed the entrance so securely
that Mombi could not find a crack big enough to creep through. The
Scarecrow and his friends were greatly surprised at Glinda's actions;
for none of them had noted the Shadow. But the Sorceress said to them:
"Remain perfectly quiet, all of you! For the old Witch is even now with
us in this tent, and I hope to capture her."
These words so alarmed Mombi that she quickly transformed herself from
a shadow to a Black Ant, in which shape she crawled along the ground,
seeking a crack or crevice in which to hide her tiny body.
Fortunately, the ground where the tent had been pitched, being just
before the city gates, was hard and smooth; and while the Ant still
crawled about, Glinda discovered it and ran quickly forward to effect
its capture. But, just as her hand was descending, the Witch, now
fairly frantic with fear, made her last transformation, and in the form
of a huge Griffin sprang through the wall of the tent--tearing the silk
asunder in her rush--and in a moment had darted away with the speed of
a whirlwind.
Glinda did not hesitate to follow. She sprang upon the back of the
Saw-Horse and cried:
"Now you shall prove that you have a right to be alive! Run--run--run!"
The Saw-Horse ran. Like a flash he followed the Griffin, his wooden
legs moving so fast that they twinkled like the rays of a star. Before
our friends could recover from their surprise both the Griffin and the
Saw-Horse had dashed out of sight.
"Come! Let us follow!" cried the Scarecrow.
They ran to the place where the Gump was lying and quickly tumbled
aboard.
"Fly!" commanded Tip, eagerly.
"Where to?" asked the Gump, in its calm voice.
"I don't know," returned Tip, who was very nervous at the delay; "but
if you will mount into the air I think we can discover which way Glinda
has gone."
[Illustration]
"Very well," returned the Gump, quietly; and it spread its great wings
and mounted high into the air.
Far away, across the meadows, they could now see two tiny specks,
speeding one after the other; and they knew these specks must be the
Griffin and the Saw-Horse. So Tip called the Gump's attention to them
and bade the creature try to overtake the Witch and the Sorceress. But,
swift as was the Gump's flight, the pursued and pursuer moved more
swiftly yet, and within a few moments were blotted out against the dim
horizon.
"Let us continue to follow them, nevertheless," said the Scarecrow;
"for the Land of Oz is of small extent, and sooner or later they must
both come to a halt."
Old Mombi had thought herself very wise to choose the form of a
Griffin, for its legs were exceedingly fleet and its strength more
enduring than that of other animals. But she had not reckoned on the
untiring energy of the Saw-Horse, whose wooden limbs could run for days
without slacking their speed. Therefore, after an hour's hard running,
the Griffin's breath began to fail, and it panted and gasped painfully,
and moved more slowly than before. Then it reached the edge of the
desert and began racing across the deep sands. But its tired feet sank
far into the sand, and in a few minutes the Griffin fell forward,
completely exhausted, and lay still upon the desert waste.
Glinda came up a moment later, riding the still vigorous Saw-Horse; and
having unwound a slender golden thread from her girdle the Sorceress
threw it over the head of the panting and helpless Griffin, and so
destroyed the magical power of Mombi's transformation.
For the animal, with one fierce shudder, disappeared from view, while
in its place was discovered the form of the old Witch, glaring savagely
at the serene and beautiful face of the Sorceress.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration:
Princess Ozma of Oz
]
"You are my prisoner, and it is useless for you to struggle any
longer," said Glinda, in her soft, sweet voice. "Lie still a moment,
and rest yourself, and then I will carry you back to my tent."
"Why do you seek me?" asked Mombi, still scarce able to speak plainly
for lack of breath. "What have I done to you, to be so persecuted?"
"You have done nothing to me," answered the gentle Sorceress; "but I
suspect you have been guilty of several wicked actions; and if I find
it is true that you have so abused your knowledge of magic, I intend to
punish you severely."
"I defy you!" croaked the old hag. "You dare not harm me!"
Just then the Gump flew up to them and alighted upon the desert sands
beside Glinda. Our friends were delighted to find that Mombi had
finally been captured, and after a hurried consultation it was decided
they should all return to the camp in the Gump. So the Saw-Horse was
tossed aboard, and then Glinda, still holding an end of the golden
thread that was around Mombi's neck, forced her prisoner to climb into
the sofas. The others now followed, and Tip gave the word to the Gump
to return.
The journey was made in safety, Mombi sitting in her place with a grim
and sullen air; for the old hag was absolutely helpless so long as the
magical thread encircled her throat. The army hailed Glinda's return
with loud cheers, and the party of friends soon gathered again in the
royal tent, which had been neatly repaired during their absence.