[Illustration: WEAVING THE MAGIC CLOAK.]
QUEEN ZIXI OF IX
Or, the Story of the Magic Cloak
BY
L. FRANK BAUM
AUTHOR OF “THE WIZARD OF OZ”
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY
FREDERICK RICHARDSON
[Illustration: Cameo of Queen Zixi]
TORONTO
THE COPP, CLARK COMPANY
LIMITED
1905
Copyright, 1904, 1905, by
L. FRANK BAUM
All Rights Reserved
_Published October, 1905_
PRESS OF BRAUNWORTH & CO.
BOOKBINDERS AND PRINTERS, BROOKLYN, N. Y.
FULL PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS IN THREE COLORS
BY THE DE VINNE PRESS
TO MY SON
FRANK JOSLYN BAUM
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I.
The Weaving of the Magic Cloak 3
CHAPTER II.
The Book of Laws 17
CHAPTER III.
The Gift of the Magic Cloak 29
CHAPTER IV.
King Bud of Noland 43
CHAPTER V.
Princess Fluff 55
CHAPTER VI.
Bud Dispenses Justice 67
CHAPTER VII.
The Wings of Aunt Rivette 81
CHAPTER VIII.
The Royal Reception 93
CHAPTER IX.
Jikki has a Wish Granted 107
CHAPTER X.
The Counselors Wear the Magic Cloak 117
CHAPTER XI.
The Witch-Queen 137
CHAPTER XII.
Zixi Disguises Herself 149
CHAPTER XIII.
Tullydub Rescues the Kingdom 158
CHAPTER XIV.
The Rout of the Army of Ix 173
CHAPTER XV.
The Theft of the Magic Cloak 181
CHAPTER XVI.
The Plain Above the Clouds 198
CHAPTER XVII.
The Descent of the Roly-Rogues 205
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Conquest of Noland 214
CHAPTER XIX.
The Bravery of Aunt Rivette 227
CHAPTER XX.
In the Palace of the Witch-Queen 240
CHAPTER XXI.
The Search for the Magic Cloak 251
CHAPTER XXII.
Ruffles Carries the Silver Vial 271
CHAPTER XXIII.
The Destruction of the Monsters 279
CHAPTER XXIV.
The Sailorman’s Return 289
CHAPTER XXV.
The Fairy-Queen 298
QUEEN ZIXI OF IX;
OR, THE STORY OF THE MAGIC CLOAK.
Chapter I.
THE WEAVING OF THE MAGIC CLOAK.
The fairies assembled one moonlit night in a pretty clearing of the
ancient forest of Burzee.
The clearing was in the form of a circle, and all around stood giant oak
and fir trees, while in the center the grass grew green and soft as
velvet. If any mortal had ever penetrated so far into the great forest,
and could have looked upon the fairy circle by daylight, he might
perhaps have seen a tiny path worn in the grass by the feet of the
dancing elves. For here, during the full of the moon, the famous fairy
band, ruled by good Queen Lulea, loved to dance and make merry while the
silvery rays flooded the clearing and caused their gauzy wings to
sparkle with every color of the rainbow.
On this especial night, however, they were not dancing. For the queen
had seated herself upon a little green mound, and while her band
clustered about her she began to address the fairies in a tone of
discontent.
“I am tired of dancing, my dears,” said she. “Every evening since the
moon grew big and round we have come here to frisk about and laugh and
disport ourselves; and although those are good things to keep the heart
light, one may grow weary even of merrymaking. So I ask you to suggest
some new way to divert both me and yourselves during this night.”
“That is a hard task,” answered one pretty sprite, opening and folding
her wings slowly—as a lady toys with her fan. “We have lived through so
many ages that we long ago exhausted everything that might be considered
a novelty, and of all our recreations nothing gives us such continued
pleasure as dancing.”
“But I do not care to dance to-night!” replied Lulea, with a little
frown.
“We might create something, by virtue of our fairy powers,” suggested
one who reclined at the feet of the queen.
“Ah, that is just the idea!” exclaimed the dainty Lulea, with
brightening countenance. “Let us create something. But what?”
“I have heard,” remarked another member of the band, “of a thinking-cap
having been made by some fairies in America. And whatever mortal wore
this thinking-cap was able to conceive the most noble and beautiful
thoughts.”
“That was indeed a worthy creation,” cried the little queen. “What
became of the cap?”
“The man who received it was so afraid some one else would get it and be
able to think the same exquisite thoughts as himself that he hid it
safely away—so safely that he himself never could think afterward where
he had placed it.”
“How unfortunate! But we must not make another thinking-cap, lest it
meet a like fate. Cannot you suggest something, else?”
“I have heard,” said another, “of certain fairies who created a pair of
enchanted boots, which would always carry their mortal wearer away from
danger—and never into it.”
“What a great boon to those blundering mortals!” cried the queen. “And
whatever became of the boots?”
“They came at last into the possession of a great general who did not
know their powers. So he wore them into battle one day, and immediately
ran away, followed by all his men, and the fight was won by the enemy.”
“But did not the general escape danger?”
“Yes—at the expense of his reputation. So he retired to a farm and wore
out the boots tramping up and down a country road and trying to decide
why he had suddenly become such a coward.”
“The boots were worn by the wrong man, surely,” said the queen; “and
that is why they proved a curse rather than a blessing. But we want no
enchanted boots. Think of something else.”
“Suppose we weave a magic cloak,” proposed Espa, a sweet little fairy
who had not before spoken.
“A cloak? Indeed, we might easily weave that,” returned the queen. “But
what sort of magic powers must it possess?”
“Let its wearer have any wish instantly fulfilled,” said Espa, brightly.
[Illustration: “‘SUPPOSE WE WEAVE A MAGIC CLOAK.’”]
But at this there arose quite a murmur of protest on all sides, which
the queen immediately silenced with a wave of her royal hand.
“Our sister did not think of the probable consequences of what she
suggested,” declared Lulea, smiling into the downcast face of little
Espa, who seemed to feel rebuked by the disapproval of the others. “An
instant’s reflection would enable her to see that such power would give
the cloak’s mortal wearer as many privileges as we ourselves possess.
And I suppose you intended the magic cloak for a mortal wearer?” she
inquired.
“Yes,” answered Espa, shyly; “that was my intention.”
“But the idea is good, nevertheless,” continued the queen, “and I
propose we devote this evening to weaving the magic cloak. Only, its
magic shall give to its wearer the fulfilment of but one wish; and I am
quite sure that even that should prove a great boon to the helpless
mortals.”
“Suppose more than one person wears the cloak,” one of the band said;
“which then shall have the one wish fulfilled?”
The queen devoted a moment to thought, and then replied:
“Each possessor of the magic cloak may have one wish granted, provided
the cloak is not stolen from its last wearer. In that case the magic
power will not be exercised on behalf of the thief.”
“But should there not be a limit to the number of the cloak’s wearers?”
asked the fairy lying at the queen’s feet.
“I think not. If used properly our gift will prove of great value to
mortals. And if we find it is misused we can at any time take back the
cloak and revoke its magic power. So now, if we are all agreed upon this
novel amusement, let us set to work.”
At these words the fairies sprang up eagerly; and their queen, smiling
upon them, waved her wand toward the center of the clearing. At once a
beautiful fairy loom appeared in the space. It was not such a loom as
mortals use. It consisted of a large and a small ring of gold, supported
by a tall pole of jasper. The entire band danced around it thrice, the
fairies carrying in each hand a silver shuttle wound with glossy
filaments finer than the finest silk. And the threads on each shuttle
appeared a different hue from those of all the other shuttles.
At a sign from the queen they one and all approached the golden loom and
fastened an end of thread in its warp. Next moment they were gleefully
dancing hither and thither, while the silver shuttles flew swiftly from
hand to hand and the gossamer-like web began to grow upon the loom.
Presently the queen herself took part in the sport, and the thread she
wove into the fabric was the magical one which was destined to give the
cloak its wondrous power.
Long and swiftly the fairy band worked beneath the old moon’s rays,
while their feet tripped gracefully over the grass and their joyous
laughter tinkled like silver bells and awoke the echoes of the grim
forest surrounding them. And at last they paused and threw themselves
upon the green with little sighs of content. For the shuttles and loom
had vanished; the work was complete; and Queen Lulea stood upon the
mound holding in her hand the magic cloak.
The garment was as beautiful as it was marvelous—each and every hue of
the rainbow glinted and sparkled from the soft folds; and while it was
light in weight as swan’s-down, its strength was so great that the
fabric was well-nigh indestructible.
The fairy band regarded it with great satisfaction, for every one had
assisted in its manufacture and could admire with pardonable pride its
glossy folds.
“It is very lovely, indeed!” cried little Espa. “But to whom shall we
present it?”
The question aroused a dozen suggestions, each fairy seeming to favor a
different mortal. Every member of this band, as you doubtless know, was
the unseen guardian of some man or woman or child in the great world
beyond the forest, and it was but natural that each should wish her own
ward have the magic cloak.
While they thus disputed, another fairy joined them and pressed to the
side of the queen.
“Welcome, Ereol,” said Lulea. “You are late.”
The new-comer was very lovely in appearance, and with her fluffy golden
hair and clear blue eyes was marvelously fair to look upon. In a low,
grave voice she answered the queen:
“Yes, your Majesty, I am late. But I could not help it. The old King of
Noland, whose guardian I have been since his birth, has passed away this
evening, and I could not bear to leave him until the end came.”
“So the old king is dead at last!” said the queen, thoughtfully. “He was
a good man, but woefully uninteresting; and he must have wearied you
greatly at times, my sweet Ereol.”
[Illustration: “‘YES, YOUR MAJESTY, I AM LATE.’”]
“All mortals are, I think, wearisome,” returned the fairy, with a sigh.
“And who is the new King of Noland?” asked Lulea.
“There is none,” answered Ereol. “The old king died without a single
relative to succeed to his throne, and his five high counselors were in
a great dilemma when I came away.”
“Well, my dear, you may rest and enjoy yourself for a period, in order
to regain your old lightsome spirits. By and by I will appoint you
guardian to some newly born babe, that your duties may be less arduous.
But I am sorry you were not with us to-night, for we have had rare
sport. See! we have woven a magic cloak.”
Ereol examined the garment with pleasure.
“And who is to wear it?” she asked.
Then again arose the good-natured dispute as to which mortal in all the
world should possess the magic cloak. Finally the queen, laughing at the
arguments of her band, said to them:
“Come! Let us leave the decision to the Man in the Moon. He has been
watching us with a great deal of amusement, and once, I am sure, I
caught him winking at us in quite a roguish way.”
At this every head was turned toward the moon; and then a man’s face,
full-bearded and wrinkled, but with a jolly look upon the rough
features, appeared sharply defined upon the moon’s broad surface.
“So I’m to decide another dispute, eh?” said he, in a clear voice.
“Well, my dears, what is it this time?”
“We wish you to say what mortal shall wear the magic cloak which I and
the ladies of my court have woven,” replied Queen Lulea.
“Give it to the first unhappy person you meet,” said the Man in the
Moon. “The happy mortals have no need of magic cloaks.” And with this
advice the friendly face of the Man in the Moon faded away until only
the outlines remained visible against the silver disk.
The queen clapped her hands delightedly.
[Illustration: “‘GIVE IT TO THE FIRST UNHAPPY PERSON YOU MEET.’”]
“Our Man in the Moon is very wise,” she declared; “and we shall follow
his suggestion. Go, Ereol, since you are free for a time, and carry the
magic cloak to Noland. And the first person you meet who is really
unhappy, be it man, woman, or child, shall receive from you the cloak as
a gift from our fairy band.”
Ereol bowed, and folded the cloak over her arm.
“Come, my children,” continued Lulea; “the moon is hiding behind the
tree-tops, and it is time for us to depart.”
[Illustration: “SAID THE MAN IN THE MOON.”]
A moment later the fairies had disappeared, and the clearing wherein
they had danced and woven the magic cloak lay shrouded in deepest gloom.
[Illustration: JIKKI.]