Rulers East and North
It was noon time when they dropped down lightly in the gardens of
Ozma's castle. "Let's dance!" proposed Benny, blinking across the
vistas of velvet lawns, flowering arches and sparkling fountains.
"Why, Benny!" exclaimed Trot, "do you really feel like dancing?"
"Don't you?" questioned the stone man, smiling down at the little
girl with whom he had come through so many exciting adventures. Trot
nodded delightedly and, as the royal band grouped on the castle steps
to welcome them home broke into a lively tune, the whole company, still
in the ring they had formed in Cheeriobed's garden, danced 'round and
'round and 'round, High Boy cavorting hilariously in the center.
Benny could have danced tirelessly on for hours, but Cheeriobed and
Sir Hokus were soon out of breath. So Ozma clapped her hands and,
bidding them form in a long line, placed herself at the head and
marched merrily into the palace. There, drawn up to meet them were all
the celebrities they had not already met. Jack Pumpkin Head, stiffly
extending his arms, Tik Tok, clicking off short sentences of pleasure,
The Soldier with the Green Whiskers, bowing almost to the ground,
the Cowardly Lion and Dorothy's small dog, Toto, not to mention the
famous Saw Horse and so many more I could not begin to name them all.
Philador kept close to Trot, for he wanted to hear about each one and
the Scarecrow, taking Benny and the medicine man under his wing, saw
that they were everywhere introduced. Ozma herself, with the King of
the Ozure Isles on one arm and the Queen on the other, led the way to
the grand banquet hall. The Hungry Tiger, peering in from the castle
kitchen, where he had been anxiously awaiting their return, sprang out
joyously as they entered.
"This party's been ready since last night," he roared accusingly.
"Where have you been?" While High Boy dropped down a few pegs to
explain, the great company seated itself at the long green banquet
table. Soon dishes and silver began to clink merrily, footmen to rush
to and fro with delicious trays of goodies, while the Oz orchestra
struck up that good old favorite, "Oz and Ozma, forever." Benny, to his
great satisfaction, sat next to the Wizard of Oz, and between courses
the little man explained that he was a native of Omaha and had first
come to Oz in a circus balloon. The inhabitants had immediately taken
him for a wizard, so he had decided to stay and be a wizard. For many
years he had ruled over Oz, practicing the trick magic he had learned
in the circus and superintending the building of the Emerald City.
Later he returned to America and Ozma, the rightful ruler of the fairy
kingdom was disenchanted by Glinda and placed upon the throne. When the
Wizard returned to Oz, the little fairy made him Royal Wizard of the
realm and by hard study and constant practice he had become the most
famous magician in any country out of the world.
"So you think you can change me to a real man?" queried Benny, looking
admiringly at the famous wonder-worker.
"Certainly," replied the Wizard carelessly, tossing off a glass of
emeralade. "Whenever you wish!"
"Think it over carefully," cautioned the Scarecrow, who sat on the
other side. "Is it not better to be big and hard than small and weak,
like most natural beings? You're a very famous person as you are,"
he finished, flatteringly, "but as a meat man you will be quite like
everybody else. I was once a real person," he confided solemnly, "and
did not care for it at all. Take my advice and stay as you are, old
boulder!"
"Please do!" begged Trot from her place across the table. "You're _so_
strong and handsome and you can dance as well as anyone. You didn't
tread on my toe even once," declared the little girl stoutly. Benny
would have blushed at Trot's words, had such a thing been possible.
As it was, he smiled so happily that he did not look like a public
benefactor at all. The stone frown that was carved on Benny's forehead
had gradually melted away, and his expression was now so pleasant
and jolly, I am sure none of the worthy fathers of Boston would have
recognized their former citizen.
"It shall be as Trot wishes," said Benny, with a fond glance across the
table, and amid the cheers and claps of the celebrities, he agreed to
stay as he was.
"And live at our capital always," invited Ozma, from the head of the
table. "And Herby, too. He shall be our Court Physician," declared
Ozma, and coming 'round to where they sat, she touched them both on the
shoulder with her emerald scepter, to show they now belonged to her
court. Benny was too overcome to say a word, but Herby, with a great
jingling of pill boxes, arose and, with one hand on his medicine chest,
made a lengthy speech of thanks.
[Illustration: HERBY MADE A LENGTHY SPEECH]
"Every time he comes near, you can hear his pills rattle," observed
High Boy in a low voice to the Saw Horse. One end of the table had been
reserved for the palace pets and High Boy had the seat of honor at the
head. Next to him stood the Saw Horse, Ozma's little wooden, gold-shod
steed, taking in everything but the refreshments and making short sharp
answers to High Boy's remarks. High Boy secretly thought him a poor
looking creature, but as he wisely kept this thought to himself they
got along famously.
The Hungry Tiger's appetite amazed High Boy. After several bowls of
horse-radish, two bales of hay and a pail of yummy jummy, High Boy
himself could not eat another morsel. But the tiger kept sleepily and
competently on cleaning his plate. As soon as it was empty it was
hastily replenished with rare roasts and undone steak and mutton. The
Hungry Tiger, as many of you know, has lived in the Emerald City for
many years and is great company for the Cowardly Lion, who came to the
capital with Dorothy on her very first visit. This big beast, with long
sighs, and with tears in his voice, explained how dreadfully cowardly
he was and High Boy, to see if this really were so, trumpeted suddenly
in the Cowardly Lion's ear.
With a terrible squeal, the Cowardly Lion slid under the table and they
were just pulling him out, when the Tin Woodman arose and rapped loudly
for order. The Wizard had left the banquet hall a few minutes before
and, now returning, whispered a few words to Ozma. At once the little
fairy stood up and, facing the King and Queen of the Ozure Isles, began
to speak.
"Our Wizard," explained Ozma in her gentle voice, "has been trying
to discover the whereabouts of Cheeriobed's father. But all of his
questions have brought no change in the magic picture, showing that
Mombi has utterly destroyed the good King of the Munchkins. As Mombi
is no longer here to remedy what has been done and we ourselves are
powerless to remedy it either, I now pronounce you, Cheeriobed, and
you, Orin, King and Queen of the East, and rulers of all of the
Munchkins and the Sapphire City of Oz shall be your capital."
The applause brought forth by this announcement was simply deafening.
When it had subsided somewhat, the Scarecrow, jumping up, held out his
hand to Orin and then the King.
"May I be the first to congratulate Your Majesties?" cried the straw
man, impulsively. "I, myself, am a Munchkin and hereafter please
consider me a loyal friend and subject."
The King and Queen both assured him that they would be pleased to do
so and in a short address Cheeriobed promised to rule to the best
of his ability the great Empire of the East. Trot and Philador, who
sat side by side, heard Ozma's proclamation with great pleasure and
satisfaction.
"I hope you'll visit us often," whispered Philador. "You can ride on my
sea horse and wear my crown, and I'm going to ask my father to make you
a Princess, Trot." At this, Cheeriobed, who had overheard Philador's
remark, jumped up and announced that his first act as King of the
East would be to create Trot a Princess of the Ozure Isles with the
privilege of living in the Sapphire City at any time and for as long as
she wanted.
"That makes Trot twice a Princess," chuckled the Scarecrow to Benny, as
the little girl slipped the sapphire ring Cheeriobed held out to her in
place of a crown (which he promised to give her later) on her middle
finger.
"Hi! Hi! Three cheers for Princess Trot!" whinnied High Boy above all
the noise and clapping. When Ozma could make herself heard, she again
called for silence. Wondering what surprising announcement would come
next the company turned eagerly to their little ruler.
"As Orin is no longer Good Witch of the North and the Gillikens are
without a sovereign, I have decided to make Joe and Hyacinth rulers of
the North!" declared Ozma imperiously--"And--"
"We accept with pleasure!" interrupted High Boy, not only rising to
his feet but stretching up till he towered over them all. "We accept
this high honor Your Majesty has conferred upon us, and if you will
just excuse me, I'll dash off and tell the good news to Joe." Holding
his head so high that he bumped it on the top of the door, High Boy
clattered from the banquet hall to the great astonishment and amusement
of all. That is all except Trot and Philador. Rushing after the high
horse, they called loudly for him to stop. And when he saw the little
girl and boy waving from the top steps of the castle he did come and,
stretching up, let each of them embrace him heartily.
"I'm coming again to visit you," promised High Boy with a slight choke,
for he hated to say goodbye to his little friends. "I'll see you have
high positions at our court, too." Then shaking his head and stretching
up a bit higher he cantered off, neighing tremendously as he went.
"Hi! Hi! Everybody Hi! I am the highest horse in Oz! High horse to
Their Majesties, King and Queen of the North." Arm in arm Philador
and Trot returned to the banquet hall and, after the last speech had
been made and they had all drunk the health of the new sovereigns in
pale pink lemonade, the party broke up and they all went out into the
garden to play blind-man's buff.
As the royal family from the Ozure Isles did not return to their
capital for ten days, they had plenty of time to see all the wonderful
sights in the Emerald City and to grow as fond of dear little Ozma and
her gay court and courtiers as we are, ourselves!