Produced by Chris Curnow, Joseph Cooper, Matthew Wheaton
and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at
http://www.pgdp.net
GLINDA OF OZ
In which are related the Exciting Experiences of Princess Ozma
of Oz, and Dorothy, in their hazardous journey to the home of
the Flatheads, and to the Magic Isle of the Skeezers, and how
they were rescued from dire peril by the sorcery of Glinda the
Good.
BY
L. FRANK BAUM
"Royal Historian of Oz"
ILLUSTRATED BY JOHN R. NEILL
This Book is Dedicated to
My Son Robert Stanton Baum
TO OUR READERS
Glinda the Good, lovely Sorceress of the Land of Oz and friend of
Princess Ozma and Dorothy, has lots of personal acquaintances who want
to know more about her. So, in the new Oz story, Mr. L. Frank Baum,
Royal Historian of Oz, has written a whole book about how Glinda and
the Wizard worked with all their might to save the Princess and
Dorothy from the dire dangers which threatened them when they went
among the warring tribes of the Flatheads and Skeezers.
The wicked Queen Coo-ee-oh, a vain and evil witch, was really to blame
for all the trouble. She surely succeeded in getting every one on the
magic, glass-domed island of the Skeezers into amazing difficulties.
When Mr. Baum tells you how worried everybody in the Land of Oz felt
about the Princess Ozma and Dorothy and what wonderful sorcery Glinda
had to perform to save them, you'll be thrilled with excitement and
admiration. He reveals the most hidden mysteries of magic.
Mr. Baum did his best to answer all the letters from his small
earth-friends before he had to leave them, but he couldn't answer
quite all, for there were very many. In May, nineteen hundred
nineteen, he went away to take his stories to the little child-souls
who had lived here too long ago to read the Oz stories for themselves.
We are sorry he could not stay here and we are sad to tell you this is
his last complete story. But he left some unfinished notes about the
Princess Ozma and Dorothy and the Oz people and we promise that some
day we will put them all together like a picture puzzle and give you
more stories of the wonderful Land of Oz.
Cordially, your friends,
The Publishers.
LIST OF CHAPTERS
1 The Call of Duty
2 Ozma and Dorothy
3 The Mist Maidens
4 The Magic Tent
5 The Magic Stairway
6 Flathead Mountain
7 The Magic Isle
8 Queen Coo-ee-oh
9 Lady Aurex
10 Under Water
11 The Conquest of the Skeezers
12 The Diamond Swan
13 The Alarm Bell
14 Ozma's Counsellors
15 The Great Sorceress
16 The Enchanted Fishes
17 Under the Great Dome
18 The Cleverness of Ervic
19 Red Reera, the Yookoohoo
20 A Puzzling Problem
21 The Three Adepts
22 The Sunken Island
23 The Magic Words
24 Glinda's Triumph
[Illustration: Glinda of Oz]
CHAPTER 1
The Call to Duty
Glinda, the good Sorceress of Oz, sat in the grand court of her
palace, surrounded by her maids of honor--a hundred of the most
beautiful girls of the Fairyland of Oz. The palace court was built of
rare marbles, exquisitely polished. Fountains tinkled musically here
and there; the vast colonnade, open to the south, allowed the maidens,
as they raised their heads from their embroideries, to gaze upon a
vista of rose-hued fields and groves of trees bearing fruits or laden
with sweet-scented flowers. At times one of the girls would start a
song, the others joining in the chorus, or one would rise and dance,
gracefully swaying to the music of a harp played by a companion. And
then Glinda smiled, glad to see her maids mixing play with work.
Presently among the fields an object was seen moving, threading the
broad path that led to the castle gate. Some of the girls looked upon
this object enviously; the Sorceress merely gave it a glance and
nodded her stately head as if pleased, for it meant the coming of her
friend and mistress--the only one in all the land that Glinda bowed
to.
Then up the path trotted a wooden animal attached to a red wagon, and
as the quaint steed halted at the gate there descended from the wagon
two young girls, Ozma, Ruler of Oz, and her companion, Princess
Dorothy. Both were dressed in simple white muslin gowns, and as they
ran up the marble steps of the palace they laughed and chatted as
gaily as if they were not the most important persons in the world's
loveliest fairyland.
The maids of honor had risen and stood with bowed heads to greet the
royal Ozma, while Glinda came forward with outstretched arms to greet
her guests.
"We've just come on a visit, you know," said Ozma. "Both Dorothy and I
were wondering how we should pass the day when we happened to think
we'd not been to your Quadling Country for weeks, so we took the
Sawhorse and rode straight here."
"And we came so fast," added Dorothy, "that our hair is blown all
fuzzy, for the Sawhorse makes a wind of his own. Usually it's a day's
journey from the Em'rald City, but I don't s'pose we were two hours on
the way."
"You are most welcome," said Glinda the Sorceress, and led them
through the court to her magnificent reception hall. Ozma took the arm
of her hostess, but Dorothy lagged behind, kissing some of the maids
she knew best, talking with others, and making them all feel that she
was their friend. When at last she joined Glinda and Ozma in the
reception hall, she found them talking earnestly about the
condition of the people, and how to make them more happy and
contented--although they were already the happiest and most contented
folks in all the world.
This interested Ozma, of course, but it didn't interest Dorothy very
much, so the little girl ran over to a big table on which was lying
open Glinda's Great Book of Records.
This Book is one of the greatest treasures in Oz, and the Sorceress
prizes it more highly than any of her magical possessions. That is the
reason it is firmly attached to the big marble table by means of
golden chains, and whenever Glinda leaves home she locks the Great
Book together with five jeweled padlocks, and carries the keys safely
hidden in her bosom.
I do not suppose there is any magical thing in any fairyland to
compare with the Record Book, on the pages of which are constantly
being printed a record of every event that happens in any part of the
world, at exactly the moment it happens. And the records are always
truthful, although sometimes they do not give as many details as one
could wish. But then, lots of things happen, and so the records have
to be brief or even Glinda's Great Book could not hold them all.
Glinda looked at the records several times each day, and Dorothy,
whenever she visited the Sorceress, loved to look in the Book and see
what was happening everywhere. Not much was recorded about the Land of
Oz, which is usually peaceful and uneventful, but today Dorothy found
something which interested her. Indeed, the printed letters were
appearing on the page even while she looked.
"This is funny!" she exclaimed. "Did you know, Ozma, that there were
people in your Land of Oz called Skeezers?"
"Yes," replied Ozma, coming to her side, "I know that on Professor
Wogglebug's Map of the Land of Oz there is a place marked 'Skeezer,'
but what the Skeezers are like I do not know. No one I know has ever
seen them or heard of them. The Skeezer Country is 'way at the upper
edge of the Gillikin Country, with the sandy, impassable desert on one
side and the mountains of Oogaboo on another side. That is a part of
the Land of Oz of which I know very little."
"I guess no one else knows much about it either, unless it's the
Skeezers themselves," remarked Dorothy. "But the Book says: 'The
Skeezers of Oz have declared war on the Flatheads of Oz, and there is
likely to be fighting and much trouble as the result.'"
"Is that all the Book says?" asked Ozma.
"Every word," said Dorothy, and Ozma and Glinda both looked at the
Record and seemed surprised and perplexed.
"Tell me, Glinda," said Ozma, "who are the Flatheads?"
"I cannot, your Majesty," confessed the Sorceress. "Until now I never
have heard of them, nor have I ever heard the Skeezers mentioned. In
the faraway corners of Oz are hidden many curious tribes of people,
and those who never leave their own countries and never are visited by
those from our favored part of Oz, naturally are unknown to me.
However, if you so desire, I can learn through my arts of sorcery
something of the Skeezers and the Flatheads."
"I wish you would," answered Ozma seriously. "You see, Glinda, if
these are Oz people they are my subjects and I cannot allow any wars
or troubles in the Land I rule, if I can possibly help it."
"Very well, your Majesty," said the Sorceress, "I will try to get some
information to guide you. Please excuse me for a time, while I retire
to my Room of Magic and Sorcery."
"May I go with you?" asked Dorothy, eagerly.
"No, Princess," was the reply. "It would spoil the charm to have
anyone present."
So Glinda locked herself in her own Room of Magic and Dorothy and Ozma
waited patiently for her to come out again.
In about an hour Glinda appeared, looking grave and thoughtful.
"Your Majesty," she said to Ozma, "the Skeezers live on a Magic Isle
in a great lake. For that reason--because the Skeezers deal in
magic--I can learn little about them."
"Why, I didn't know there was a lake in that part of Oz," exclaimed
Ozma. "The map shows a river running through the Skeezer Country, but
no lake."
"That is because the person who made the map never had visited that
part of the country," explained the Sorceress. "The lake surely is
there, and in the lake is an island--a Magic Isle--and on that island
live the people called the Skeezers."
"What are they like?" inquired the Ruler of Oz.
"My magic cannot tell me that," confessed Glinda, "for the magic of
the Skeezers prevents anyone outside of their domain knowing anything
about them."
"The Flatheads must know, if they're going to fight the Skeezers,"
suggested Dorothy.
"Perhaps so," Glinda replied, "but I can get little information
concerning the Flatheads, either. They are people who inhabit a
mountain just south of the Lake of the Skeezers. The mountain has
steep sides and a broad, hollow top, like a basin, and in this basin
the Flatheads have their dwellings. They also are magic-workers and
usually keep to themselves and allow no one from outside to visit
them. I have learned that the Flatheads number about one hundred
people--men, women and children--while the Skeezers number just one
hundred and one."
"What did they quarrel about, and why do they wish to fight one
another?" was Ozma's next question.
"I cannot tell your Majesty that," said Glinda.
"But see here!" cried Dorothy, "it's against the law for anyone but
Glinda and the Wizard to work magic in the Land of Oz, so if these two
strange people are magic-makers they are breaking the law and ought to
be punished!"
Ozma smiled upon her little friend.
"Those who do not know me or my laws," she said, "cannot be expected
to obey my laws. If we know nothing of the Skeezers or the Flatheads,
it is likely that they know nothing of us."
"But they _ought_ to know, Ozma, and _we_ ought to know. Who's going
to tell them, and how are we going to make them behave?"
"That," returned Ozma, "is what I am now considering. What would you
advise, Glinda?"
The Sorceress took a little time to consider this question, before she
made reply. Then she said:
"Had you not learned of the existence of the Flatheads and the
Skeezers, through my Book of Records, you would never have worried
about them or their quarrels. So, if you pay no attention to these
peoples, you may never hear of them again."
"But that wouldn't be right," declared Ozma. "I am Ruler of all the
Land of Oz, which includes the Gillikin Country, the Quadling
Country, the Winkie Country and the Munchkin Country, as well as the
Emerald City, and being the Princess of this fairyland it is my duty
to make all my people--wherever they may be--happy and content and to
settle their disputes and keep them from quarreling. So, while the
Skeezers and Flatheads may not know me or that I am their lawful
Ruler, I now know that they inhabit my kingdom and are my subjects, so
I would not be doing my duty if I kept away from them and allowed them
to fight."
"That's a fact, Ozma," commented Dorothy. "You've got to go up to the
Gillikin Country and make these people behave themselves and make up
their quarrels. But how are you going to do it?"
"That is what is puzzling me also, your Majesty," said the Sorceress.
"It may be dangerous for you to go into those strange countries, where
the people are possibly fierce and warlike."
"I am not afraid," said Ozma, with a smile.
"'Tisn't a question of being 'fraid," argued Dorothy. "Of course we
know you're a fairy, and can't be killed or hurt, and we know you've a
lot of magic of your own to help you. But, Ozma dear, in spite of all
this you've been in trouble before, on account of wicked enemies, and
it isn't right for the Ruler of all Oz to put herself in danger."
"Perhaps I shall be in no danger at all," returned Ozma, with a little
laugh. "You mustn't _imagine_ danger, Dorothy, for one should only
imagine nice things, and we do not know that the Skeezers and
Flatheads are wicked people or my enemies. Perhaps they would be good
and listen to reason."
"Dorothy is right, your Majesty," asserted the Sorceress. "It is true
we know nothing of these faraway subjects, except that they intend to
fight one another, and have a certain amount of magic power at their
command. Such folks do not like to submit to interference and they are
more likely to resent your coming among them than to receive you
kindly and graciously, as is your due."
"If you had an army to take with you," added Dorothy, "it wouldn't be
so bad; but there isn't such a thing as an army in all Oz."
"I have one soldier," said Ozma.
"Yes, the soldier with the green whiskers; but he's dreadful 'fraid of
his gun and never loads it. I'm sure he'd run rather than fight. And
one soldier, even if he were brave, couldn't do much against two
hundred and one Flatheads and Skeezers."
"What then, my friends, would you suggest?" inquired Ozma.
"I advise you to send the Wizard of Oz to them, and let him inform
them that it is against the laws of Oz to fight, and that you command
them to settle their differences and become friends," proposed Glinda.
"Let the Wizard tell them they will be punished if they refuse to obey
the commands of the Princess of all the Land of Oz."
Ozma shook her head, to indicate that the advice was not to her
satisfaction.
"If they refuse, what then?" she asked. "I should be obliged to carry
out my threat and punish them, and that would be an unpleasant and
difficult thing to do. I am sure it would be better for me to go
peacefully, without an army and armed only with my authority as Ruler,
and plead with them to obey me. Then, if they prove obstinate I could
resort to other means to win their obedience."
"It's a ticklish thing, anyhow you look at it," sighed Dorothy. "I'm
sorry now that I noticed the Record in the Great Book."
"But can't you realize, my dear, that I must do my duty, now that I am
aware of this trouble?" asked Ozma. "I am fully determined to go at
once to the Magic Isle of the Skeezers and to the enchanted mountain
of the Flatheads, and prevent war and strife between their
inhabitants. The only question to decide is whether it is better for
me to go alone, or to assemble a party of my friends and loyal
supporters to accompany me."
"If you go I want to go, too," declared Dorothy. "Whatever happens
it's going to be fun--'cause all excitement is fun--and I wouldn't
miss it for the world!"
Neither Ozma nor Glinda paid any attention to this statement, for they
were gravely considering the serious aspect of this proposed
adventure.
"There are plenty of friends who would like to go with you," said the
Sorceress, "but none of them would afford your Majesty any protection
in case you were in danger. You are yourself the most powerful fairy
in Oz, although both I and the Wizard have more varied arts of magic
at our command. However, you have one art that no other in all the
world can equal--the art of winning hearts and making people love to
bow to your gracious presence. For that reason I believe you can
accomplish more good alone than with a large number of subjects in
your train."
"I believe that also," agreed the Princess. "I shall be quite able to
take care of myself, you know, but might not be able to protect others
so well. I do not look for opposition, however. I shall speak to these
people in kindly words and settle their dispute--whatever it may
be--in a just manner."
"Aren't you going to take _me_?" pleaded Dorothy. "You'll need _some_
companion, Ozma."
The Princess smiled upon her little friend.
"I see no reason why you should not accompany me," was her reply.
"Two girls are not very warlike and they will not suspect us of being
on any errand but a kindly and peaceful one. But, in order to prevent
war and strife between these angry peoples, we must go to them at
once. Let us return immediately to the Emerald City and prepare to
start on our journey early tomorrow morning."
Glinda was not quite satisfied with this plan, but could not think of
any better way to meet the problem. She knew that Ozma, with all her
gentleness and sweet disposition, was accustomed to abide by any
decision she had made and could not easily be turned from her purpose.
Moreover she could see no great danger to the fairy Ruler of Oz in the
undertaking, even though the unknown people she was to visit proved
obstinate. But Dorothy was not a fairy; she was a little girl who had
come from Kansas to live in the Land of Oz. Dorothy might encounter
dangers that to Ozma would be as nothing but to an "Earth child" would
be very serious.
The very fact that Dorothy lived in Oz, and had been made a Princess
by her friend Ozma, prevented her from being killed or suffering any
great bodily pain as long as she lived in that fairyland. She could
not grow big, either, and would always remain the same little girl
who had come to Oz, unless in some way she left that fairyland or was
spirited away from it. But Dorothy was a mortal, nevertheless, and
might possibly be destroyed, or hidden where none of her friends could
ever find her. She could, for instance, be cut into pieces, and the
pieces, while still alive and free from pain, could be widely
scattered; or she might be buried deep underground, or "destroyed" in
other ways by evil magicians, were she not properly protected. These
facts Glinda was considering while she paced with stately tread her
marble hall.
Finally the good Sorceress paused and drew a ring from her finger,
handing it to Dorothy.
"Wear this ring constantly until your return," she said to the girl.
"If serious danger threatens you, turn the ring around on your finger
once to the right and another turn to the left. That will ring the
alarm bell in my palace and I will at once come to your rescue. But do
not use the ring unless you are actually in danger of destruction.
While you remain with Princess Ozma I believe she will be able to
protect you from all lesser ills."
"Thank you, Glinda," responded Dorothy gratefully, as she placed the
ring on her finger. "I'm going to wear my Magic Belt which I took from
the Nome King, too, so I guess I'll be safe from anything the Skeezers
and Flatheads try to do to me."
Ozma had many arrangements to make before she could leave her throne
and her palace in the Emerald City, even for a trip of a few days, so
she bade good-bye to Glinda and with Dorothy climbed into the Red
Wagon. A word to the wooden Sawhorse started that astonishing creature
on the return journey, and so swiftly did he run that Dorothy was
unable to talk or do anything but hold tight to her seat all the way
back to the Emerald City.