The Journey Begins
For several hours Pigasus flew without slackening his pace. Then,
as several suspicious little yawns and sighs floated past his keen
upstanding ears, he solemnly slanted downward. If he had chosen it on
purpose he could not have found a more comfortable place for Dorothy
to spend the night. They had already crossed the border and penetrated
far into the Land of the Winkies, and were now landing in the quiet
garden of a prosperous Winkie farmer. Set in the center of a dancing
bed of yellow daffodils and tulips stood a small summer house, and with
Dorothy rubbing her eyes sleepily, Pigasus trotted briskly into the
rustic cottage. The door was invitingly open and the moon lit up its
cozy one-roomed interior. Snorting with satisfaction, Pigasus pattered
over to a broad couch piled high with yellow cushions and, rolling
drowsily from his back, Dorothy burrowed contentedly into the center of
them, falling asleep before the pig reached his own bed, a soft woolly
rug on the hearth.
Pigasus slept lightly but well, and waking around six began to gaze
rather anxiously at the round yellow farm buildings just visible from
the door. The pink pig had had several unfortunate experiences with
farmers. They had a way of looking at his plump body that seemed
to reduce him at once to slices of bacon and sides of ham. One
enterprising fellow had actually caught him and shut him up in an
untidy pen. From this foolish prison Pigasus had escaped by spreading
his wings and flying away, but the mere mention of farmer gave him the
shivers. So now, moving impatiently about the little room, he waited
for Dorothy to awaken, and as she continued to slumber on, he flew
up over the mantel and swept a large yellow jug to the floor with
his wing. The crash of the falling jar aroused Dorothy at once, and
without stopping to explain, Pigasus suggested that they start off, and
Dorothy, not even noticing the broken jug, readily consented.
"We'll probably find a much better place to have breakfast as we fly
along," murmured Pigasus as Dorothy seated herself between his wings,
holding her small basket of supplies in her lap.
"Would it do any harm to stop at the farm
And enquire about Ozma and spread the alarm?"
asked Dorothy, who had rather counted on a cheerful breakfast at the
farm house.
"No, it wouldn't do any harm," answered Pigasus, rising in a straight
line from the tulip bed and winging rapidly over the yellow fields and
fences, "but neither would it do any good. Farmers never know what's
happening or going to happen. I tell you, though, we'll ask the first
person we meet."
"Who would we meet in the air but a bird?
Now really Pigasus, that's simply absurd."
"Some of the smartest people I know are birds," insisted the pig
stoutly. "Take Roger, for instance, he knows more than most of us have
forgotten. But look! A brook, a quiet wood! Stop! Listen! Look! For I
crave food!" Making a swift downward curve, Pigasus landed cleverly by
a rippling stream edged by some tall butternut trees. There were yellow
raspberries along the bank and the berries, with some of the sandwiches
Dorothy had brought with her, washed down by cool water from the brook
made a splendid breakfast.
"I wonder whether they'll have the tableaux and pageant without me,"
sighed Dorothy, biting slowly into a sardine sandwich, "and how'll they
manage the circus without you, Piggins, or the picnic supper without
Ozma, or the magic and fireworks without the Wizard."
"They've probably forgotten all about today's doings," mumbled Pigasus,
nosing busily among the leaves for ripe butternuts. "They'll probably
spend the time bumping their noses on the floor when that fat Emperor
comes waddling through the palace, and bending the right knee every
time his white horse sneezes or coughs. Pah!" Choking with indignation,
Pigasus began gobbling up so many butternuts, Dorothy feared he would
never be able to fly or walk again.
"Let's stay on the ground for awhile," she proposed, eyeing him rather
nervously as she packed the remaining sandwiches neatly back in the
basket. "I believe there's a path beyond those trees. Maybe it leads
to a town or village where we may meet someone who can tell us what we
want to know."
"You don't expect to find out where Ozma and the others are
hidden--straight off, do you?" Rubbing his back lazily against one of
the butternut trees, Pigasus looked quizzically at his earnest little
companion.
"No, I don't really expect that," said Dorothy, slipping the basket
over her arm, "but it would be pretty nice if we met somebody who even
remembered them, after all we've been through."
"I can hardly remember them myself unless you are sitting on my
back," admitted the pink pig, trotting soberly along at her side.
"This Emperor's magic must be strong medicine. Hello! Here comes a
fisherman." Pigasus pricked up both ears and his wings. "Shall I
question him or will you?"
Without bothering to answer, Dorothy ran eagerly toward the tall Winkie
who was coming leisurely along the path. He carried a basket and had
a fishing rod over his shoulder, and though his clothes were rough,
Dorothy could tell by his manner and bearing that he was a person of
some importance.
"Oh, please, Mr. Winkie," cried the little girl as he nodded politely
and would have passed them without stopping, "could you tell us who is
King here?"
"King?" answered the fisherman, taking his pipe out of his mouth
and looking kindly down at his small questioner. "Why, no one in
particular, my dear, but of course, we Winkies and the inhabitants
of the three other countries of Oz are governed from the capital by
Emperor Skamperoo, a great fellow, our Emp, and have you seen his white
horse?"
"Yes, I've seen it," said Dorothy, shutting her mouth rather grimly.
"But I thought Ozma was Queen?" wheezed Pigasus out of breath from
running after Dorothy and too many butternuts.
"Ozma? What a curious name," mused the fisherman, looking pensively
at the winged pig. "What gave you the idea that Ozma was our ruler?
Perhaps you are strangers here?"
"Well, it would seem so," puffed Pigasus, sitting down and panting a
little from sheer discouragement.
"Oh, you'll get used to us," laughed the fisherman with a breezy
wave. "Fine country, this; sorry I can't show you 'round, but as I've
promised my wife some fish for dinner, I'll have to be moving along.
Good day to you. Good day, little girl!"
"Good day," echoed Dorothy in a rather flat voice, as the fisherman,
lifting his hat, strode briskly into the wood. "You see!" she groaned.
"Even here everyone is bewitched. Oh, Piggins, what'll we do? No one in
Oz will help or believe us."
"Goose-tea and turnips! What if they don't!" Pigasus shook his head
impatiently. "There are other countries, aren't there? Take Ev, for
instance, or Rinkitink, or the Rose Kingdom. Why, there are lots of
places whose rulers will remember Ozma, my poor old friend Jinnicky and
the others. Come along, my girl, we've only just started.
"While people roar for the Emperor
We'll seek our rightful ruler
From coast to coast from door to door
Though foes grow cruel and crueller!
"What we need is some magic," finished Pigasus shrewdly. "Know a good
place to look for some?"
"The Gnome King has plenty of magic," reflected Dorothy, leaning
thoughtfully against a tree, "and Ozma and I really helped put him on
the throne, so surely he'll help us."
"Well, maybe, but I don't set great store by gnomes. They're tricky,
nevertheless we'll go to Ev and everywhere else till we restore this
country to its proper rulers." Pigasus looked so impressive with his
chest and cheeks puffed out with purpose, Dorothy gave him a quick hug.
"Down with the Emperor!" snorted Pigasus, though almost suffocated by
Dorothy's embrace. "And up with you, my patriotic young Princess."
"Now you make me feel like a real one. I'd almost forgotten I was a
Princess," smiled Dorothy, climbing obediently on his back. "I believe
everything will be better from now on."
"Well, it could be a lot worse," chuckled Pigasus, and flapping
his wings in a business-like manner, he rose gracefully into the
air and headed for the east. Rolling hills dotted with castles,
villages and towns, valleys, farm lands and forests flashed in an
ever-changing pleasant panorama below. At noon they came down beside
the Winkie River, finished up the rest of the sandwiches for lunch,
and then looked eagerly around for someone else to question. But the
yellow-bearded ferryman who presently came into sight poling his
old-fashioned raft across the turbulent river knew no more of Ozma and
the other rulers of Oz than the fisherman. But he told them many long
and boring stories of Skamperoo and his white horse Chalk. Dorothy
and Pigasus had to make such an effort to listen politely they were
relieved when he finally shoved off and began poling himself back to
the other side.
"Have you any idea how far we've come?" asked Pigasus, rolling over and
over in the cool grass as Dorothy made a face at the ferryman's back.
"Yes," said Dorothy, dropping full length beside him. "This river is in
about the center of the Winkie Kingdom, so we are easily half way. We
could reach the Deadly Desert by night, fly over tomorrow morning, and
either go North to Ev or stop at the underground castle of the Gnome
King. Even if Kalico won't lend us his army, he might lend us some
magic."
"Speaking of armies, they must have whisked the soldier with the green
whiskers off with the others. I don't remember seeing him after he
left the banquet hall, do you? Which just goes to show this Skamperoo
must be a stranger in Oz, for who else would have been afraid of our
precious old army? Why, he wouldn't even tread on a caterpillar. By
the way, has Kalico any magic that might tell us where to look for our
vanished friends and rulers?"
"I'm not sure of that," Dorothy told him dubiously, "but he has a
wizard, and Ruggedo who was King before Kalico had many magic treasures
and powers. He could make floors and walls spin round and round, open
yawning caverns at your feet or drop rocks down on your head without
even moving."
"Sounds lovely," sniffed Pigasus, coming to his feet with a short
grunt. "Say, haven't we trouble enough at home without going to
look for it? Do you really propose to visit this tricky little metal
monarch?"
"But Kalico is not nearly so bad as Ruggedo." Dorothy sat up and
smoothed her dress earnestly.
"Well, just as you wish," Pigasus shrugged his wings, "with me, people
are like eggs, either good, or bad. There's no such thing as a nearly
good egg, it's got to be completely good or it's just as bad as a bad
egg. D'ye see? And if this Gnome King is only as good as a nearly fresh
egg, I wouldn't trust him with my second best tooth brush. My idea
would be to go to the ruler of Ev."
"That's Evardo, a boy King. Ozma helped him, too," Dorothy explained
importantly. "But I tell you, Piggins, let's not decide till we cross
the Deadly Desert. Something might turn up before then. You never can
tell."
"No," agreed the pig, shaking his head sagely. "In Oz, you never can.
Suppose we continue a ways on foot? My wings are a bit stiff and we
really should be on the lookout for a friendly house or castle where we
could have supper and spend the night. I could eat a peck of spinach
or a bushel of apples right now, so hop up, my dear, and I'll stretch
a leg for the good of the coz and Oz!" Chattering away like the good
fellow he was, Pigasus trotted briskly across the fields and presently
came to a deep rustling forest. "Shall we fly over or walk through?"
questioned the pig, sniffing appreciatively the cool air drifting out
to them.
"Let's go through it, in a wood
There might be witches, some are good,
A good witch with her magic powers
Could solve this mystery of ours!"
"But suppose we meet a bad one," muttered Pigasus, stepping gingerly
into the forest and picking his way with great care between the giant
trees.
"Then we'll say goodbye and simply fly," laughed Dorothy, snapping her
fingers joyfully.
"Yes, but flying would not be so easy in here," objected Pigasus with a
troubled glance aloft, "these branches are interlocked so closely I'd
stick in a tree like a kite."
"Oh, we probably won't meet anyone," said Dorothy. Slipping off his
back, she walked along beside him, one arm flung cozily around his
neck. She was rather tired of making verses and thought she could think
better if her head were not continually buzzing with rhymes. After the
hot sunny meadows the cool shade of the forest was very welcome, but as
they advanced farther and farther into the shadows, it grew so dark and
grim the two began to look at each other in real alarm.
"Must be a squall or thunder shower brewing," observed Pigasus in a
faint voice.
"Yes, it couldn't be night time so soon," agreed Dorothy, looking
fearfully over her shoulder. The crackling of twigs as some large
animal made its way through the brush sounded like gun fire, and while
they were trying to make up their minds whether to run back or push
forward, a long hollow roar sent them scittering forward practically as
one. Missing trees by mere inches, they pelted at breakneck speed into
the dense and even gloomier stretch of woodland ahead.
"B-b-b-better climb on my back," directed Pigasus, halting at last from
lack of breath rather than inclination.
"But where are you? I can't even see you!" wailed Dorothy, feeling
about wildly.
"Here, here," grunted the frantic pig, making short dashes in four or
five directions and finally bumping violently into the groping little
girl.
Snatching at a wing, Dorothy pulled herself thankfully up and clasped
both arms round his neck. In a tense and breathless silence they
waited for it to grow lighter. They could not see even an inch before
their noses now, and the darkness and silence grew more oppressive and
unbearable every minute.
"J--j-j-just a cloud passing over," croaked Pigasus, trying to keep his
teeth from chattering. "J-j-j--j-j-j--say, what's that? Dorothy, do you
hear anything? F--f-footsteps--not four, TWO. Someone's coming. Hello,
there. Who are you? Watch out now, we're here."
"I see you," answered a flat, matter-of-fact voice.
"Oh! He sees us yet we can't see him,
I'm frightened deaf and dumb,
Oh, try to fly, Pigasus, why
Oh why'd we ever come?"
"That's what I'd like to know," went on the voice sternly. "Now, then,
will you come quietly or must I drag you along?"